AMRITSAR: The SGPC on March 30 unanimously adopted its budget for 199394 amounting to Rs 38.11 crore.
The one day budget session, which was presided over by Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC chief, was held in Tej Singh Samundari Hall here.
The budget was presented by Gurdial Singh Roranwali, general secretary of the SGPC. Onkar Singh Mattenangal, senior vice president, read out the budgetary proposal for the Dharam Parchar Committee on behalf of Roranwali.
The general house unanimously adopted a nonofficial resolution making an appeal to all Akali factions to bring about unity among themselves in the larger interest of the Sikh Panth.
While the budgetary proposals were by and large welcomed by members belonging to almost all Akali factions, many members criticized the wasteful expenditure, over staffing and demanded a ban on new recruitment.
Wadala suggested the formation of an educational board or trust to look after all Sikh educational institutions on the pattern of the DAV institutions. He demanded that either the printing of the volumes of Guru Granth Sahib should be made in foreign countries with Sikh populations or effective arrangements made to supply volumes of the holy scripture to Sikhs living aboard.
Tota Singh urged Tohra to bring reforms in the gurdwara managements. Tohra disclosed that in collaboration with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a trust with an initial fund of Rs 1 crore was being set up to help and educate the children of Sikh martyrs. The trust was being named as “snath balak khalsi trust,” Talking about the management of Sikh shrines in Pakistan, Tohra narrated his meeting with Gen ZiaulHaq the then President of the country, and said that while the Pakistan Government recognized the SGPC in all matters relating to the Sikhs. India never cooperated the SGPC in such matters, including deputing Sikh sevadars and other staff to perform daily religious services in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Dehra Sahib and Panja Sahib.
Since there was no Sikh population in Bangladesh, he said it was not possible to undertake pilgrimage of historical Sikh shrines in that country as suggested by certain members.
Pointing out that liquor vends in Punjab had been auctioned this year for Rs 575 crore, Tohra said it was a challenge for the SGPC to intensify an “Amrit sanchar,” campaign and to desist the Sikh youth from consuming alcohol or wine and other intoxicants. Gurmat seminars, he said, would be organized at all district headquarters for the purpose.
Man Singh Grewal, a coopted member from Calcutta, moved a nonofficial resolution, expressing serious concern over the “Panthic shakti” split in various Akali factions and making an appeal to all factions and organizations to forge unity among themselves.
Joginder Singh Bhutani, who seconded the resolution, said the Panth had been passing through a critical juncture. About one lakh Sikh boys had been killed but achievement was zero.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 2, 1993
