CHICAGO: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) Board members unanimously passed a resolution in their May 17 board meeting recognizing Sikh employees and honoring Sikh Americans in general for their contributions to America.
A motion was introduced by Frank Avila, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC), and seconded by Commissioner Martin J. Durkan. The motion was carried by acclamation chorus of ayes.
Commissioner Frank Avila read out the Resolution which enumerated and honored the achievements, services, and contributions of Sikhs in America, and presented the document to Dr. Pardeep Singh Gill, the president of Sikh Religious Society, Palatine Ill, who in turn thanked the commissioners and the MWRDGC Board President Mariyana Spyropoulos.
Dr. Hardarshan Singh Valia and Prof. Kulwant Singh Hundal expressed gratitude to the MWRDGC board and briefly spoke about the significance of Sikh turban, ethos and values of Sikh faith which are same as American values.
Nearly 20 Sikh Chicagoans attended the MWRDGC board meeting to witness the adoption of this resolution.
Commissioner Avila had earlier helped the successful implementation of the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Waiver from mandatory wearing of hard hat for turban wearing Sikhs working at MWRDGC. The supervisors and the managers did not realize that a turban is a religiously mandated article of faith for practicing Sikhs and becomes an extension of their body when out in public.
MWRDGC is premier organization in US for waste water treatment and flood control in Cook County Illinois with annual budget of over 1.1 billion dollar and employs about 2000 persons.
Sikh Americans are mostly an immigrant community originally from Northwestern State of Punjab in India. The Sikh soldiers fought in combat wearing turbans without any other head protection like hat or helmet.
Rajinder Singh Mago
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