Punjabi NRIs contributing generously to their native land

Jaswant Singh Gandam & Raman Nehra

PHAGWARA: Giving back generously to their native land, Punjabi NRIs are doing yeoman’s service by carrying out humanitarian work in their home state, especially their birthplaces.
Two Canada-based NRI brothers Jaswinder Singh Kukku Aujla and Iqbal Singh Aujla sponsored a free eye check-up-cum-operation camp at their native village Aujla Dhak.
Another UK-based NRI Mohinder Behl organized a similar camp at Boota Mandi, Jalandhar, for the benefit of the needy.
Both the camps were held under the aegis of Punarjot Welfare Society, an NGO wedded to providing sight to the visually impaired, according to its coordinator Ashok Mehra.

He disclosed that the annual camp by the Aujla family was held in memory of Mohinderpal Singh Aujla and Baldev Kaur Aujla, grandparents, and Master Jasbir Singh Sabi Aujla, father of the organizing NRI brothers.
Canada-based Punjabi NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Sukhi Bath, founder of Surrey’s (British Columbia) Punjab Bhavan, inaugurated the camp.
Addressing the gathering, Bath made an impassioned plea that “our heart must beat for our society”.
A known promoter of Punjabi language and culture, Bath called upon people to associate themselves with Punjabi “boli” and commit themselves to giving back to society which had given them so much.

“Do something tangible with visible contribution to society to prove true to its salt,” he stressed.
Bath also emphasized on the paramount need of inculcating and preserving moral values, amity and harmony at family level.
He honored Iqbal Singh Aujla with a memento and a shawl. He was also feted by the organizers.
Mehra said that 400 eye check ups-were done in the camp. Fifty two cataract operations were performed in the Superspeciality Eye Care and Lasik Center, Ludhiana, by its Director Dr Ramesh and his team.

In the Boota Mandi camp, 500 eye check-ups were done while 12 cataract surgeries were performed, added Ashok Mehra.
Community leaders Hardeep Bhogal, Amrik Singh Palahi, Dharminder Masani and others lent their services at the camps.