AMRITSAR: The budget of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for the financial year 2025-26 of Rs 1386 crore 47 lakh 80 thousand was passed today.
The budget session held in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall located at the Shiromani Committee office was presided over by Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, while General Secretary Sher Singh Mandwala presented the budget.
During the session, Additional Head Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Giani Amarjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh were present in a dignified manner.
The budget of Rs 1386 crore 47 lakh passed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee this year has registered an increase of 9.95 percent over the previous year. While presenting the budget, General Secretary S. Sher Singh Mandwala shared the details of the income for various departments and institutions and disclosed the amount kept for future works. He also shared the details of the Panthic, educational, religious propagation and public welfare works carried out by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the past period. According to S. Mandwala, the Sikh organization under the leadership of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Dhami has done important work for religious propagation, education propagation, Panthic works and public welfare and this time too, special amount has been arranged for these areas in the budget.
Talking to reporters after the budget session, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the budget presented by General Secretary. Sher Singh Mandwala is a reflection of the sentiments of the Sangat and special attention has been paid to the facilities for the Sangat. Under this, efforts will be made to achieve better results by effectively increasing new Sarais, health and education services and introducing new amendments and guidelines in the field of religious propagation. Sharing details, he said that this year the budget of the Dharam Prachar Committee is Rs 110 crore, while the budget of the Gurdwara Sahibs is Rs 1062 crore.
Similarly, special funds have been arranged for the General Board Fund, Trust Fund, Education Fund, Sports, Printing Presses and Educational Institutions. He said that Rs 4 crore 95 lakh has been reserved for Panthic welfare works, Rs 8 crore 40 lakh for free education to Sikh children, Rs 3 crore 9 lakh for sports, Rs 1 crore 50 lakh for natural disasters, Rs 44 lakh for free dispensaries set up in various gurdwaras. He said that Rs 2 crore 63 lakh has been reserved for the ongoing Nishchay Academy to prepare Sikh youth for administrative and judicial services, and Rs 1 crore 95 lakh for giving free kakar for Amrit Sanchar.
Similarly, Rs 1 crore 14 lakh will be spent to spread the religious propaganda movement, Rs 60 lakh for the affairs of the imprisoned Sikhs, Rs 60 lakh for Sikligar Sikhs, Rs 2 crore 50 lakh for the fees of Amritdhari students, Rs 2 crore for free education for Amritdhari girls, Rs 8 crore for Miri Piri Medical College, Haryana, and Rs 8 crore for Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University.
Advocate Dhami said that the main source of the SGPC budget is the amount donated by the Sangat and the tithe.
He said that for the last two-three years, the budget has been increasing from the estimated amount, which is the result of adjusting the expenses according to the need and regularizing them. He expressed his commitment that the work of the Sikh organization will be continued according to the spirit of the Sangat and especially priority will be given to the facilities of the Sangat.
He specifically mentioned that when the governments are proving to be a failure in the propagation of education, then at such a time, the contribution of the SGPC in this field in the society is of great importance, which is why a large amount has been kept in the budget for the propagation of education.
The SGPC President termed the noise and commotion made by some members during the budget session as unfortunate and said that such a behavior is not right in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Advocate Dhami said that everyone's opinion is respected but it should be done within the etiquette and rules.
He clarified that he himself wanted to talk about the ongoing discussion about the Jathedars of Takht Sahibs on the agenda but some members did not consider it appropriate to listen to him and they kept shouting against etiquette.
The SGPC President said that he himself is serious about making rules regarding the appointment, jurisdiction and retirement of Jathedars, that is why in principle approval has been given in this regard in the session and suggestions will be taken regarding this soon and a policy will be made after considering them through the committee to be formed.
He said that this is a serious matter of the Panth which he is ready to discuss with everyone but it should be done within the etiquette. He appealed to all members to cooperate and move towards a resolution of this matter with confidence.
During the general session, apart from SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Senior Vice President S. Raghujit Singh Virk, Junior Vice President S. Baldev Singh Kalyan, General Secretary S. Sher Singh Mandwala, Interim Committee Member Bibi Harjinder Kaur, S. Amrik Singh Vichhoa, S. Surjit Singh Tugalwal, S. Paramjit Singh Khalsa, S. Surjit Singh Garhi, S. Baldev Singh Qaimpur, S. Daljit Singh Bhinder, S. Sukhharpreet Singh Rode, S. Ravinder Singh Khalsa, S. Jaswant Singh Pudain and S. Paramjit Singh Raipur, Chief Secretary S. Kulwant Singh Mannan, Former President Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, S. Alvinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Bibi Jagir Kaur were present beside others.