Sikh Charity

If you are looking for Sikh/Punjabi charities/NGO's to work with and support, then please surf through these articles below. I have also included my journey of how I found the Punjabi charity of my choice. There are many charities to choose from. Just pick one and make a difference and stop making excuses.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Cleaning Up Rivers, Building Roads, All In A Days Work

A godman (Sant Balbir Singh ji) in rural Punjab is preaching an unusual way of salvation — through cleanliness. Kali Bein, a sacred rivulet here is a unique example of his efforts at that.

Kali Bein, the rivulet, associated with Guru Nanak Devji’s enlightenment had over the centuries become sewage-ridden and choked due to weeds. But thanks to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, Kali Bein today flows clean.

Baba Balbir Singh organised people and cleaned 160 km-long polluted and choked Kali Bein. One can feel fresh water flowing in this rivulet released from the Tarkiana barrage one year ago.

Earlier he was known as Sarkewala Baba (roads Baba) for he was instrumental in the widening and repair of roads in the area without government assistance but now is known as Bein wala Baba for undertaking the cleaning up the Bein in the past four years.

Kali Bein, which starts from Dhanoa village near Mukerian and culminates at Hari ke near Makhu is considered the backbone of Kapurthala district. Revival of the rivulet has recharged the water table of the area as the hand pumps which had gone dry for the past more than four decades have started pumping out water.

The Baba cleared the Bein of weeds and hyacinth and built bathing ghats at five places. He also built more than 100-km long kutcha road on the bank of the rivulet. The only problem the rivulet has been facing is discharge from factories and the sewers of Kappurthala, Mukerian, Dasuya and Begowal flowing into it.

The Baba to stop the discharge of sewage into the Bein persuaded the Municipal Committee of Bholath to stop the practice. The Baba helped the municipal authorities of Bholath dig a pond retaining the sullage. He also plans to divert the sewage of Kapurthala by pumping it into the fields and will meet the municipal authorities shortly for this.

An NRI from Britain has donated Rs 20 lakh worth JCB machine to speed up cleaning the Bein. The Baba and his followers are now beautifying the Kanjali by doing pitching work on one side of the bank of the rivulet.

People of the town visit the place to see the kar seva (community service) undertaken by the Baba. “We will build a bathing ghat at Kanjali and beautify it by planting saplings and ornamental trees,” the Baba told reporters here.

The students of the Kanjala Training Centre and the followers of the Baba are involved in the project.

The Baba has been demanding a notification on the sacred rivulet as announced by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh a few months ago. He also wants the capacity of the regulator enhanced from 200 cusecs to 500 cusecs being installed at Mukerian Hydel channel and the stoppage of discharge of the factories polluting the rivulet.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Verma says that water sports would be introduced at the Kanjali picnic spot to attract tourists. He says sewerage treatment plant would start functioning this year work for which was going on.

He lauded the efforts of the Baba for cleaning up the Bein. He also welcomed government decision releasing 100 cusecs of fresh water into Bein through simple siphon system from Mukerian hydel channel.

While the Baba’s efforts are very praiseworthy, one must ask why did we allow such a historic place to ever fall into such a state of disuse.

Those that wish to see more pictures and know about additional projects of the Baba may visit - http://www.nirmalkuteya.com/

Source - http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040506/punjab1.htm