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“Ek
on Kar Satgur Prasad”
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Guru
Gobind Singh Study Circle, Maharashtra, India
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Gurmat Missionary College, Mumbai, India |
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Appeal received from National
and International Government agencies: |
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Relief Work Carried out for the
people of India and Sri Lanka affected by |
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Sunday the 26th
December 2004 was a black
day for the people of South Asia. Early morning at about 06.10 hours THE TSUNAMI took life of thousands of people. This
caused destruction to the properties of innocents; some sleeping into their
beds never rose again to see the rising sun. The sea, which gave lakhs of
people their livelihood through fishing, boating, etc., took their lives
inhumanely. No house was left untouched with either death or destruction and
sometimes both entered. Many bodies were found lying dead and many more
unknown. This deadly tide rose from Sumatara taking within its arms
Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar Island,
Tamil Nadu & many more parts of South Asia. This is one of the largest
calamities & costliest destruction that the world has witnessed with
widespread damage, the suffering reaching the same magnitude as that caused
by the explosions of the atom bombs during World War II. There were
heart-rending scenes of loss of life, damage to houses of the poor and
disruption of normal life in different places during the recent impact of the
tsunami in these coastal areas. |
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Messages of sympathy
poured in from many heads of state and citizens. Many philanthropists and
social organizations have come forward and mounted a programme for assisting
the affected. Human action should defeat the ferocity of nature. Many social &
religious institutions in India and Indians abroad sent the messages that
they would like to educate orphaned children. The civic sense; the compassion
from individuals; institutions and corporates, getting themselves deeply
involved in relief operations taking it as their own work are really
touching. Many companies are sending their employees as volunteers, dedicated
religious minded hardcore social workers, doctors, etc. have relocated
themselves there. Here we see a spark of Humanity, a silver lining. |
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Sikhs better known
for their service to mankind (Sewa)
stood together worldwide to extend their aid in the form of physical
services, donations, food, clothing, shelters, etc. Guru Gobind Singh Study
Circle (Regd.) under the banner of Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Mumbai,
India have left nothing behind in rendering every possible aid to the victims
of tsunami in India and abroad. |
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Appeal received from National and
International Government agencies: |
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Sri Lankan Consulate approached Sikh Sangat (Guru Gobind Singh
Study Circle, Maharashtra) for providing assistance for the rescue,
relief and rehabilitation for the affected people. |
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The collector of Cuddalore District (Tamil Nadu) also requested and
appealed in general to the Sikh Community to render aid in constructing
houses for the homeless in 23 villages under Cuddalore Taluka in Tamil Nadu. |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Dadar has sanctioned Rs. 5 Lakhs to
Chief Minister Relief Fund. The funds will be collected from all Gurdwaras in
Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and the cheque will be handed over the Chief Minister
collectively taking into confidence the relative committee members of every
Gurdwaras. |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Dadar has promised to pay Rs.2 lakhs to
Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (Regd.) and volunteers assisting to the
affected areas for relief and rehabilitation work. |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Dadar has also agreed to give 1000
blankets and 10 tones of rice/sugar to Sri Lankan Consulate for relief to Sri
Lanka victims. |
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Punjab & Maharashtra Co-op. Bank Ltd. has sanctioned Rs.5 lakhs to
Chief Minister Relief Fund for the victims. |
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An appeal has been made through ETC (Punjabi) channel, banners,
posters and announcement at different Gurdwaras for collection of Clothes,
Food Grains, Medicines and in cash. |
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Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Dadar, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha,
Vashi and Gurdwara Sri Dashmesh Darbar, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar were made the
collection centers for the above aids. |
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Sri Guru
Singh Sabha, Vashi, Navi Mumbai put a lot of efforts in collecting relief
in the form of cash and kind. |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Vashi, collected more than Rs. 51,000 and handed
over to Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Dadar for passing on this money to Guru Gobind
Singh Study Circle, on 15th January 2005. |
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They also collected about 400 kg of rice and large number of clothes
and handed over them to Gobind Singh Study Circle on 15th January
2005. |
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First
Phase of Relief Work
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On receiving an
appeal dated 29th December, 2004 from Sri Lankan Consulate,
Mumbai, dated 29th December, 2004 the volunteers with wide heart
and hand started collecting clothes, food, blankets, medicines etc. and
within 8 days i.e. on 6th January, 2005 one container full of the
said materials were dispatched to Sri Lanka through their official courier
M/s. Allied Lemuir Movers Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai which was later acknowledge by
Sri Lankan Consulate vide their letter No. MUM/ADM/1/42 dated 14.01.2005
(copy enclosed). |
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Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (Regd.) has also been rendering
services of Loading/unloading and transporting to M/s. Allied Lemuir Movers
Pvt. Ltd., Kanjurmarg, Mumbai for relief collected on behalf of Sri Lankan
Consulate by various other agencies and NGO’s in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai |
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Five volunteers of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (Regd.) have been
deputed on 2nd January, 2005 for survey at Cuddalore &
Chidambaram Taluka and have forwarded the report for aid, relief and
rehabilitation to be rendered in the above places. |
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Out of 23 villages in Chidambaram Taluka in Tamil Nadu, 3 villages
naming (a) Mudasal Odai, (b) Mulukkuthurai & (c) M.G.R. Thittu are selected out for rehabilitation and
construction of houses, for which detail official list of population of
theses villages, amount and materials required are faxed to us for
consideration. |
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Second Phase of Relief Work
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In the second phase,
a group of following five-member team visited from 03.01.2005 to 08.01.2005
to survey the affected areas of Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu State of
India and informed the disastrous condition of this place. |
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Jaspal Singh |
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Kuldeep Singh |
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Tejinder Singh |
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Bhupinder Singh |
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Kuldeep Singh |
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On personal meeting
with the local administration, S. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, I.A.S., District
Collector, Cuddalore District our volunteers collected the data of the places
with population & destruction at those places. |
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Third
Phase of Relief Work
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In the third phase a
team of following five members visited from 8.1.2005 to 19.1.2005. |
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Kulwant Singh |
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Jaspal Singh |
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Jaswinder Singh |
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Ravinder Singh |
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Bhupinder Singh |
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They met the
committee member of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha, T. Nagar, Chennai
and arranged a collective meeting of representatives from the following
organizations: |
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Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Mumbai |
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Gurdwara Sri Dashmesh Darbar, Mumbai |
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Gurmat Missionary College, Mumbai |
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Gurmat Prachar Charitable Trust (Regd.), Mumbai |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Regd.), Khar, Mumbai |
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Khalsa Aid, U.K. |
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Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha (Regd.), Chennai |
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Guru Granth Sahib Study Centre (Regd.), Chennai |
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Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Bangalore |
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Karnataka Sikh Welfare Society (Regd.), Bangalore |
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Servants of the People Society, Delhi |
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Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council (Regd.), New Delhi |
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Co-ordination committee of Guru Nanak Sarbat Sikh Sangat
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The names of members of
Co-ordination committee of Guru Nanak Sarbat Sikh Sangat are given in Annexure-A. |
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A core Committee was formed to look after the working of this relief
& rehabilitation work at Cuddalore. (Annexure-B) |
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A Bank account was opened with a committee of three members. (Annexure–C) |
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A resolution (Annexure-D) was passed on 10th January
2005 at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha, Chennai for carrying out various
relief operations. This was passed with the consent of all the Co-ordination
committee members. |
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A memorandum was
handed over to the Governor of Tamil Nadu – S. Surjit Singh Barnala. (Annexure-E) |
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An offer / acceptance
letter was handed over to the District Collector, Cuddalore S. Gagandeep
Singh Bedi. (Annexure-F) |
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A memorandum was
handed over to Shri Ram Kapse, Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Island
on his visit to Governor House, Tamil Nadu at Chennai on 14.1.2005. (Annexure-G) |
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The team of following
members visited the site i.e. Muzhukkuthurai village for survey and found the
condition very dreadful. |
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Jaspal Singh Mumbai |
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Kulwant Singh Mumbai |
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Rajinder Singh Mumbai |
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Ravinder Singh Mumbai |
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Bhupinder Singh Mumbai |
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Jaswinder Singh Mumbai |
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Surjit Singh Chennai |
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Balbir Singh Pawa Bangalore |
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Pritam Singh Bangalore |
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Surjit Singh Bangalore |
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Pritpal Singh Bangalore |
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Lakhwinder Kaur Singapore |
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Ravinder Singh U.K. |
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Relief Work at Muzhukkuthurai,
Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu |
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All the 163 houses
were destroyed and the people were sheltered in camps run by Government &
NGO’s at Cuddalore. On having a meeting with the local people of this
village, they refused to settle in the same place and have asked to construct
the house at land little away from the destroyed land which has to be
purchased by us to rebuild the houses
for them. |
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The land owner opted
for Rs. 45,000/- per sq. acre and about 8 acres has to be purchase for construction,
which may cost us about Rs. 4,00,000/- after legal formalities. They also
refused to surrender the old land to the Government. They also insisted us to
build the houses as being constructed by Chennai Water Board at MGR Thittu. |
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We approached the
D.C. to consider the cost of land, who has agreed that either the cost will
be born by authorities or may ask some other organization to purchase the
land and the same land will be handed over to us for construction as early as
possible. We are waiting for the reply from the local authorities. |
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Relief Work at Campbell
Bay, Port Blair |
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A team of following
members left for Port Blair & further to Campbell Bay on 13.1.2005 and
met the committee member of Gurdwara Dr. Diwan Singh at Port Blair and
traumatize to know the condition of Campbell Bay and the people at Island
which has about 35% of Sikh Population. |
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Ravinder Singh (U.K.) |
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Kulwant Singh and |
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Bhupinder Singh |
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Due to administrative
denial only S. Kulwant Singh was permitted to visit Campbell Bay. Ravinder Singh of Khalsa Aid and Bhupinder
Singh of Bhai Ghanaiyaji Sewa International have returned from Port Blair
after 2 days visit and have reported the lack of assistance from the Local
Authority of the island in dealing with the situation of the Sikhs from
Campbell Bay. |
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Ravinder Singh &
Bhupinder Singh met the Governor of Tamil Nadu S. Surjit Singh Barnala &
Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Island Shri Ram Kapse who was also
present at Governor House, Chennai on 15.01.2005 & brought to their
notice the worse condition of the situation and non availability of aid at
Campbell Bay. The authorities assured all possible assistance in short time.
This issue has to be given priority so that the logistical difficulties are
minimized and not affected by the bureaucracy. The local Sikh community in
Chennai are very concerned about the situation at Campbell Bay and are
working to establish a meeting of all senior Sikh figures |
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Campbell
Bay: The Southern Most Tip Of India
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Campbell Bay, the
only populated locality of then island. The fifty-five kilometer Long island
has a mountainous terrain with dense unapproachable forest at the center.
This huge island has an area of 1045 sq. km. |
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This southern tip of
the Great Nicobar island, “Pygmalion Point”, is then southern most point of
India. Though the “Vivekananda Rock” of Kanyakumari is the southern most
point of Indian mainland, the “Pygmalion Point” is actually the southern most
point of the country as it is situated at a lower latitude and closer to then
equator. After the demise of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, this point was named “Indira
Point”. |
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The island has
unapproachable dense virgin forest extremely rich in rare varieties of flora
and fauna. A 52 km Long north-south road connects Campbell Bay with the
southernmost tip of the country, the Indira Point. All along the metalled
road, Ex-servicemen from Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are all
settled along this road. Campbell Bay is a small locality with a natural
harbour. Till a few years back it was a primitive place. But now, with the
government offices, it has grown into a small township. |
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S. Ajaib Singh came
to the Great Nicobar island in 1969 from Ludhiana as one of the first
ex-servicemen settler in this island having very little idea about the
location and the terrain of this island. He was invited to come to the place,
as this vigilant lot was considered most suitable to occupy this remote
island. Initially a group of 69 ex-servicemen families from Punjab was
brought to the Campbell Bay. Within
the first year another 39 families joined them. Bulldozer cleared lands for
cultivation. Government gave free ration to every family for sometime.
Initial settlers were given 15 acres of land per family. Later ex-servicemen
from other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were also sent
there. Legal heirs of Ajaib Singh were quite happy till yesterday, as they
reaped the harvest of his early years of struggle. They were even happy with
the basic facilities available in Campbell Bay. |
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The teams at Chennai
are arranging the food and are doing their best to dispatch the shipment as
soon as they can. Kulwant Singh ji of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India has sent a report upon arrival from Campbell Bay, an
island at Nicobar from Andaman & Nicobar District in India. (ReportCampbellBay.doc) |
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The Sikh community on
the island has suffered immense damage. Most of the families are in camps;
atleast 75 families have lost most of their possessions including the houses.
The Gurdwara Sahib in Campbell bay has been totally destroyed and two copies
of Sri Guru Granth Sahibs have been destroyed by water. Looking at the utmost emergency Khalsa Aid
through Gurdwara Sahib, Chennai food materials list marked as Annexure-“H”
was dispatched on 16.1.2005 through Jet Airways to Port Blair for onward
shipment to Campbell Bay. (AnnexureHReliefMaterial.doc). |
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Ravinder Singh (U.K)
and Ravinder Singh (Mumbai) also left for Port Blair on 16.1.2005.
Consignment of about 4 tonnes consisting of food materials, clothes, utensils
were received from Mumbai through Gurdwara Sri Dashmesh Darbar, on 17.1.2005
via Madras Mail which was shipped by Naval ship on 22.1.2005 from Chennai to
Campbell Bay island which is expected to reach on 27.1.2005 for distribution. |
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A fresh team of the following members from Mumbai reached Chennai on
2*.1.2005 for relief work at Campbell Bay as demanded by Ravinder Singh
(U.K). |
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Rajinder Singh |
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Kuldeep Singh |
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Donations |
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You are requested to send your donations to |
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Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Gurdwara Sri Dashmesh Darbar, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India |
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Please contact the following persons for further information |
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Kulwant Singh 09821353984 |
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Bhupinder Singh 09821421058(m), |
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Jaspal Singh 09869274076 |
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Jaswinder Singh |
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Ravinder Singh |
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Email =
sarbjitsingh@yahoo.com |
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The efforts
are still going on for the noble cause of rehabilitation of the affected
families. |
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