AMRITSAR: During today's general meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a budget of 1260 crore 97 lakh 38 thousand rupees was passed for the year 2024-25.
In this meeting which was held in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the Teja Singh Samundari Hall within the Shiromani Committee office, the General Secretary of the SGPC Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta presented the budget, which was approved by the members present amid cheers.
On this occasion, the members of the Shiromani Committee including the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh and President of the Shiromani Committee Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami were present. While presenting the budget, General Secretary Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta shared the details of the income and expenditure for various departments and institutions of the Shiromani Committee and presented the data about the amount secured for the works to be done on a priority basis in the future.
Sharing information with media persons after the budget meeting, Shiromani Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami termed the budget presented by General Secretary Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta as balanced.
He said that this time a 14 percent increase has been recorded over the previous budget.
The SGPC President said that especially during the next financial year priority will be given to religious preaching, education and panthic works. He said that this time the budget of Dharm Prachar Committee is Rs 100 crore. Giving the details of the amount reserved for the works to be done through the Dharma Prachar Committee, Advocate Dhami said that 3 crore rupees have been specially reserved for celebrating the coming centenary of the 450-year-old Jyoti Jyot Day (Death anniversary)of Sri Guru Amardas Ji in the month of September.
Along with this, 2 crore rupees for preparing Sikh youths for administrative services through the Dharma Prachar Committee, 2 crore rupees for free education for Amrit-dhari girls, 2 crore 50 lakh rupees for fees of Amrit-dhari students, 1 crore 80 lakh for Amrit Sanchar events. Rupees, religious literature, libraries, armory, 4 crore 45 lakhs for historical memorial projects and showing religious films to devotees through video vans, 1 crore 15 lakhs for further strengthening the Dharma Prachar movement, 1 crore 60 lakhs for connecting children with Gurmat through religious examination and Rs. An amount of 9 crore rupees has been kept for Sikh missionsSimilarly, a special provision has been made in the budget for other functions of Dharma Prachar Committee.
Advocate Dhami said that this time the budget of Gurdwaras is 994 crore 51 lakh rupees.
Similarly, the budget of educational institutions is 251 crore rupees, the budget of printing presses is 7 crore 94 lakh rupees.
He specifically mentioned that in this year's budget, a special arrangement has been made for the outstanding salaries of the staff of educational institutions. He said that special arrangements have been made for the payment of all outstanding salaries till 31 March 2024. A special amount of Rs. 10 crore has been reserved for the Education Fund from the General Board Fund for this purpose.
He said that although the income of the General Board Fund, Trust Fund, Education Fund, Sports Fund etc. is low, tithe and necessary funds are taken from the Gurdwara Sahibs for them. The work done through all these funds is very important.He said that this time a special amount has been kept for Panthak works through these funds, including Rs. 60 lakhs for pursuing the cases of Bandi Singhs, Rs. 40 lakhs for monthly honorarium to Bandi Singhs, Rs. 40 lakhs for pious soldiers, Sikligar and 60 lakh rupees for commercial Sikhs, 50 lakh rupees for poor students, naturalRs 1 crore 48 lakh has been provided for calamities, Rs 3 crore 6 lakh for sports.Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that a special amount has also been set aside for research works through the Sikh History Research Board. Apart from this, 1 crore 5 lakh rupees have been arranged for Baba Budha Charitable Hospital Bir Sahib. He also specifically mentioned that 8 crores have also been set aside for the Miri Piri Medical College established by the Shiromani Committee at Shahbad Markanda in Haryana. He said that although there are many difficulties in starting this medical college in full form, but it is hoped that it will be able to be started properly from next year. He said that necessary machinery and other expenses are being arranged in this regard.
Advocate Dhami said that the budget of the Shiromani Committee and its related institutions depends on the Maya and tithe offered by the Sangat as a whole. He said that within very limited resources, the Sikh organization carries out religious evangelism, education, health services and humanitarian work on panth welfare. The Shiromani Committee is also playing a leading role in the works that are to be done by the governments. He clarified that the budget of the Shiromani Committee is less than 1 percent compared to the Punjab government, while some people deliberately create a narrative that the budget of the Shiromani Committee is more than the Punjab government. He expressed commitment that the Sikh organization will maintain its dynamism on national issues along with the promotion of Sikhism with the support of the Sangat and will be two steps ahead in the work done for the advancement of the nation.
During the budget session, senior members of the Shiromani Committee. Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Member Baba Gurpreet Singh Randhawa, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bains and S. Sukhharpreet Singh Rode also addressed. Proceedings of the meeting Secretary of the Shiromani Committee. Run by Pratap Singh. Ardas Singh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh offered and Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh took the holy order.
On this occasion, former president of Shiromani Committee Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal, s. Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Senior Vice President Harbhajan Singh Masana, Jr. Vice President Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta for General Secretary, Inner Committee Member S. Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, s. Jasmer Singh Lachhru, s. Khushwinder Singh Bhatia, Mr. Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Mr. Amarjit Singh Bhaliapur, Bibi Jaspal Kaur, s. Jaswant Singh Purain, SGPC member. Daljit Singh Bhinder, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, S. Baldev Singh Qaimpur, S. Jagsir Singh Mageana, s. Gurpal Singh Gora, Bibi Kiranveer Kaur, S. Natvej Singh Kavni, s. Kaur Singh Bahawala, Bibi Parminder Kaur, s. Darshan Singh Brar, s. Pritam Singh Malsihan, s. Balwinder Singh Bhamman Landa, s. Satpal Singh Talwandi, s. Gurmeet Singh Booh, Bibi Narinder Kaur, S. Gurmail Singh Sangatpura, s. Sukhharpreet Singh Rode, Bibi Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, s. Sher Singh Mandwala, S. Phumman Singh, Bibi Joginder Kaur Rathore, s. Surjit Singh Raipur, Bibi Paramjit Kaur, s. Gobind Singh Longowal, s. Malikit Singh Gahalal, S. Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Bibi Sharanjit Kaur, s. Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan, s. Hardev Singh Rongla, s. Satwinder Singh Tohra, s. Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, S. Nirmail Singh Jolan, s. Surjit Singh Garhi, Baba Gurpreet Singh, S. Avtar Singh Riya, s. Ravinder Singh Khalsa, Mr. Charan Singh Alamgir, S. Harpal Singh Jalla, Mr. Gurpreet Singh Garcha, s. Jagjit Singh Talwandi, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bains, Mr. Sarbans Singh Manki, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, S. Baldev Singh Kalyan, Bibi Davinder Kaur Kalra, s. Ranjit Singh Kahlon, Bibi Gurmeet Kaur Bhatnura, Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, S. Jarnail Singh Dogranwala, s. Baljit Singh Jalalusman, s. Amarjit Singh Bhaliapur, S. Balwinder Singh Venaipuin, s. Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, Bhai Manjit Singh Bhurakohna, S. Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, s. Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, s. Bawa Singh Gumanpura, s. Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Bibi Balwinder Kaur Lopoke, s. Amrik Singh Vichoa, Bibi Swaran Kaur Tera, s. Amarjit Singh Bandala, Mr. Bhagwant Singh Sialka, s. Surjit Singh Tughalwal, s. Gurinderpal Singh Gora, s. Gurnam Singh Jasal, Bibi Jasvir Kaur Jafarwal, S. Ravinder Singh Chak, s. Surinder Singh Contractor, S. Jang Bahadur Singh Roy, s. Amarjit Singh Chawla, Mr. Ajmer Singh Khera, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Launderan, Bhai Ram Singh, Baba Charanjit Singh Jassowal, S. Sukhjit Singh Qadien, Member of Dharma Prachar Committee, Bhai Ajaj Singh Prakshahi, Federation Leader. Jasbir Singh Ghuman, Secretary of the Shiromani Committee. Pratap Singh, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, Additional Secretary. Sukhminder Singh, Mr. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, s. Paramjit Singh Saroa etc. were present.