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* Registered under Societies Registration Act., 1860 (S-15907),
* Project of Mata Gujri Sukh Niwas (Old-Age Home & Orphanage) registered under section 35AC.
Donations to this project eligible for 100% exemption for donors in India.
* Registered with Government of India for receiving donations in foreign currency from abroad.
* Registered with Government of India for receiving donations in kind
under the Indo-US/UK/Swiss/German/Swedish Agreements.
* Registered under Section 12A(a) of Income Tax Act, 1961. Donations
eligible for exemption under section 80-G in India.
Introduction, Aim and Objectives:
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Seva, Simran and truthful living are a few basic
concepts of Sikh way of life apart from Daya, Dharam, Santokh, Sanjam and
Nimrata. Those who start with Seva without expectation of any reward (Nishkam-Seva)
and go on doing it, are bestowed with the boon of Simran from which
follows the Truthful living and other qualities.
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According to Encyclopedia of Sikhism:
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"True seva according to Sikh
scriptures must be without desire (nishkam), guileless (nishkapat),
in humility (nimarta), with purity of intention (hirda shuddh),
with sincerity (chit-lae) and in utter selflessness (vichon
ap gavae). Such seva for the Sikh is the doorway to dignity
as well as to mukti (liberation). "If one earns merit here
through seva, one will get a seat of honor in His Court
hereafter."
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According to Sikh tenets, "You become like
the one you serve". Therefore, for those who desire oneness with God,
serving God and God alone is the prime way. But God in Sikhism is
transcendent as well as immanent. The Transcendent One is ineffable and
can only be conceived through contemplation. Service of God, therefore,
only relates to the immanent aspect of God and comprises service of His
creatures. Humanitarian service is thus the Sikh ideal of seva.
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Sri Guru Nanak has said:
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"Truth is above everything but higher still
is truthful living". Thus seva is the first step to achieve the
final goal of eternal peace.
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With the above ideals in mind, the idea of forming
"Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council" was conceived by a few
like-minded persons and it was formed as a "Non-Political"
body with the sole objective of serving the humanity especially the
helpless widows, orphans, destitute etc. irrespective of caste, creed and
religion. The Council also helps the able-bodied poor people by providing
interest-free loans.
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Policy of the Council:
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Though the idea of forming the Council was conceived
much earlier, but the November, 1984 happenings in the country accelerated
its setting up and taking in hand the work relating to relief and
rehabilitation of the affected persons.
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The emphasis of the Council in the relief and
rehabilitation effort was not on distribution of ration or giving
cash doles, but on making the people self-supporting by providing
vocational, medical and educational assistance. Though
initially due to availability of limited resources and difficult
circumstances, the assistance was mainly provided to the affected families
of November, 1984 happenings, especially the orphans and widows, but with
the passage of time and slow and steady build up of resources, the
assistance is being provided without any distinctions as per teachings of
"Sri Guru Granth Sahib". The only visible change in the
policy over a period of time is that the services, which were earlier
directed towards the urban population, are now being oriented towards the
rural folks, where the need is more. This is quite visible with Nishkam
setting/taking up the following projects/services: -
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(i)
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Setting up of Mata Gujri Sukh Niwas at
village Khanpur, Kharar (Punjab);
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(ii)
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Punjab Elementary Education Project (PEEP) in Patiala III
education Block;
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(iii)
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Setting up of a Dental Clinic at Mata Gujri
Sukh Niwas, Village Khanpur, Kharar (Punjab)
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(iv)
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Medical services in the villages around Mata
Gujri Sukh Niwas, village Khanpur, Kharar (Punjab), with the help of
Medical Van provided by Sadh Sangat of Bangkok, Thailand;
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(v)
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Computer education to children of the
villages around Mata Gujri Sukh Niwas;
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Activities of the Council:
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Immediately after setting up, with aid from
"Indian Express Relief Fund" and "Ajit Relief Fund"
and philanthropic individuals/Trusts, Nishkam provided vocational
assistance to about 300 families of Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Tilak Vihar
and other areas of Delhi. In addition doors and windows were got fitted in
houses in Mangolpuri and the jhuggies, which had been badly damaged and in
some cases even burnt down in Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri were got repaired
or even reconstructed to make them livable for their occupants.
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Thereafter, besides providing relief materials,
ceiling fans in about 700 houses of widows of Tilak Vihar, Sangam Park,
Raghubir Nagar, Garhi and Jahangirpuri etc. in Delhi were provided, and a
number of rehabilitation projects were taken up brief details with regard
to which are given in the brochure. With whole-hearted support of Sadh
Sangat, the projects are still continuing and serving the suffering
humanity as per teachings of "Sri Guru Granth Sahib".
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Nishkam also played a very positive
and effective role: -
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(i)
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In getting jobs in Banks/Govt. offices/Govt.
Schools etc. for the widows of November, 1984 happenings;
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(ii)
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In persuading Delhi Govt., not to recover
the cost of houses allotted to widows of November, 1984 happenings.
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As and when the need arose Nishkam took up disaster
relief projects also, the major ones of which are:
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(i)
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Relief and Rehabilitation assistance to
flood affected people in Punjab in 1988.
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(ii)
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Relief assistance to families affected due
to earthquake in Uttarkashi in Uttar Pradesh.
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Relief assistance to families affected due
to massive earthquake in Gujarat in 2001.
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Administration/Financial System of the Council:
The affairs of the Council are managed by the Managing Committee through a
Governing Body, which is selected for a period of 3 years. The day to day
activities are managed with the help of staff as well as Nishkam Sevadars.
No Nishkam Sevadar is paid out of Council's funds and they even avail
services on payment of normal charges, without any concessions. The effort
in the Council has been to have a sound financial system so that the
money, contributed by Sadh Sangat is fully accounted for and utilized for
the purpose for which it is contributed. With this end in view the Council
has been maintaining regular accounts on computers, which are audited by a
Chartered Accountant, as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act and
return is filed with the Income Tax Department every year. As required
under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, the Council
maintains separate Bank Account for the foreign contributions received by
it. All payments in this account are made through crossed cheques/bank
drafts and annual return/audited accounts are submitted to the Government
of India.
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Our Sincerest Gratitude to:
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Sadh Sangat and our regular donors, who have all
along been supporting not only the on-going projects but have encouraged
us to take up new projects.
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