More funds likely to tackle problems of sikhs abroad

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Amritsar March 22:

Even as Sikhs are facing issues like turban frisking at airports and the ban on the kirpan in various institutions abroad, all eyes are now on the SGPC budget, scheduled for March 24, as the community is expecting its mini-parliament to allocate ample funds for setting up Sikh missions abroad to spread awareness about the religion.

Last year the SGPC, in its Rs 508.7 crore budget presented on March 31, had allocated Rs 46 crore for the propagation of Sikhism which accounted for less than 10 per cent of the budget. However, in view of the problems that Sikhs are grappling with abroad, the SGPC may well have to increase this amount substantially. The SGPC has already announced its decision to establish a Sikh mission in Washington, besides getting Sikh literature printed in different foreign languages.

The Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh outfit, has demanded that the budget allocation for the propagation of Sikhism should be doubled. “The Sikhs are facing an identity crisis abroad. The SGPC should allocate 10 per cent of its budget for creating awareness among people who matter in governments abroad. The SGPC should hire professionals who have a knowledge of international diplomacy and skills to convince people having a say in policy decisions,” said Kanwar Pal Singh, party spokesperson.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh said Sikh bodies like the SGPC and the DSGMC had their annual budgets close to Rs 1,000 crore and they should ensure that the funds were properly utilised. He said the SGPC should certainly set up Sikh missions abroad but at the same time it should form a panel of experts to deal with issues confronting the community there.

“The SGPC should hire professionals or rope in those who are engaged in meaningful work on these issues in foreign countries,” he added. However, there are a few who feel that instead of setting up Sikh missions the SGPC should utilise gurdwaras that have come up in foreign countries to spread awareness. “There is adequate number of gurdwaras from where the awareness campaign can be run. The need of the hour is that the SGPC should coordinate with Sikh leaders abroad,” said Shiromani Panthic Council chairman Manjeet Singh Calcutta. But he was all for the proposal to publish Sikh literature in foreign languages.

“We should also run a campaign in the foreign media about the separate Sikh identity and our religious symbols,” he added. SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said there would be no dearth of funds. The maximum funds would be utilised to deal with these issues depending upon the requirements.

 
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