AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The general house of the supreme Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee on March 29 unanimously passed the annual budget of Rs. 1106 crore ($170m/£136m) announcing that a lot of focus is to be made on Sikh religious education, now compulsory in primary wings of schools running underthe SGPC’s management. The SGPC budget has now seen a 8.65% rise from last year’s budget of Rs.1064 crore.
The 30-page budget document was read out by the SGPC’s general secretary S. Amarjit Singh Chawla. The budget was given consent by the SGPC members with the Sikh celebratory exclamation of ‘Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’.
Alongside giving consent to mark the 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Sultanpur Lodhi, the SGPC’s general house also cut the salary of Chief Secretary Harcharan Singh from Rs.300,000 per month to Rs.100,000 per month. SGPC President Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar confirmed that the Chief Secretary has agreed to work on monthly salary of Rs.100,000.
To promote Sikhism across the world, the SGPC has decided to spend Rs 2 crore and Rs 15 lakh in this financial year for distributing ‘bheta rahit’ (free of cost) Sikh religious literature and Holy Scriptures respectively. It has also made provision for Guru Granth Sahib Research Centre, which would also preserve and display the historical scriptures.
The SGPC has also announced to reward Sikh candidates with uncut hair with Rs. 100000/- if they clear the IAS/IPS (Indian Administrative Services/Indian Police Services) exam and Rs. 75000/- if they clears the PCS (Punjab Civil Services) exam. Similarly, if a baptized Sikh secures a position in one of the top 20 positions in any state or central exam, he/she would be given reward worth Rs. 51000/-.
Acknowledging the significance of the internet and social media, the SGPC has decided to launch apps for iPhone and Android-based mobile phones. “With the introduction of these apps, every devotee across the world will be directly connected with Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple),” said the SGPC president Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar.
To provide relief to cancer patients in Punjab, the SGPC has also made a provision of Rs. 9 crore for help to patients.
In another significant decision, the SGPC has made a budgetary provision for purchasing all utensils made of ‘sarabloh’ (cast iron) by a handful of families in Gharuan village in Kharar Tehsil of Mohali district. These families have been making ‘sarabloh’ utensils since the time of the seventh Sikh master, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.
MAJOR ALLOCATIONS:
General Board Fund: Rs 64.5cr – Trust Fund: Rs 51.19cr – Education Fund: Rs 33cr
Other decisions:
1. Provision of Rs 80 lakh for helping Sikligar Sikhs
2. Rs 1.5 crore for centenary functions
3. Rs 78 lakh for Khalsa sports
4. Rs 78 lakh for Gurmat culture in society
5. Rs1.63 crore for helping poor students
6. Rs 63 lakh for research in Sikh history and its printing
SGPC needs to promote following values
1) Scientific temper
2) Innovation
3) Technology
4) Entrepreneurship
5) Space research ,exploration and travel
WGJKK WGJKF!
Wow Gurmat culture in society. Yes the culture of Gurbani, is our cultural heritage given to us by Guru Nanak, and kept in tact by our BELOVED 10th MASTER Dhan Dhan Shree Singh Sahib Guru Gobind Singh Jee Maharaj Jee.. I owe my Sikhi to my beloved master to whom I gave my head without reservation.
If you truly believe that we as Sikhs of the Guru are follows of Gurmat culture. We most then act as such and not being hypocrites saying one thing and our action are far more remov from what we lip service and act more like Hindus/Hinduism. The world is watching and listening so beware no double standards. This goes for the Akal Takhat leadership the world non Sikhs are watching your actions against non Punjabi origins. WaheGuru WaheGuru WaheGuru Dhan Sikhi.
How much of these many millions will be used to connect the Nation with the Guru and how much will be used to connect, presumably paying, ‘devotees’ to the Committee?