MERA PIND 360 Launches ‘Punjab Di Rooh SEWA Grant’ to Inspire Rural Youth
Pilot project dedicated to late S. Swarn S. Bhangu; Foundation urges NRIs to revive ancestral village homes as community centres
AVTAR SINGH BHANWARA
Chandigarh, September 4: The MERA PIND 360 Foundation has launched the ‘Punjab Di Rooh SEWA Grant’, a unique initiative aimed at reviving the spirit of sewa (selfless service) among the rural youth of Punjab while equipping them with practical skills in project planning and community development.
The initiative was announced during a press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club, where prominent personalities and representatives of the Foundation explained the vision, objectives and functioning of the project.
The pilot project has been dedicated to the memory of S. Swarn S. Bhangu, late husband of renowned actress Gurpreet Bhangu. S. Bhangu had been managing one of the MERA PIND 360 centres at Bassi Gujran in Ropar district and was remembered for his lifelong commitment to selfless service and helping others.
Malkiat S. Rauni, a well-known personality associated with the initiative, provided an overview of the Punjab Di Rooh SEWA project and highlighted the broader vision of the MERA PIND 360 Foundation to promote sustainable development and opportunities in rural Punjab.
Bal Mukand Sharma, associated with the Foundation, explained the functioning of MERA PIND 360 centres established across rural Punjab. He said the Foundation is transforming ancestral homes of NRIs and affluent Punjabis in villages into community centres where villagers can access facilities, knowledge and services under one roof.
The centres provide a wide range of facilities, including book libraries, tool libraries and computer labs for IT training and skill development. The centres also work towards increasing farmers’ incomes, providing handicraft training to women, conducting webinars and seminars, organising awareness programmes, and facilitating access to various state and central government services.
The Foundation is also promoting e-health check-up clinics and exploring employment opportunities for trained rural youth. In a significant development, some youngsters trained through these centres have already started undertaking IT-related work for overseas clients, opening new avenues for rural employment.
Davinder S. Garcha elaborated on the logistics of the Punjab Di Rooh SEWA Grant, stating that the initiative has a dual objective — to reconnect the younger generation with Punjab’s traditional culture of sewa and community service, while simultaneously teaching them how to conceptualise, plan and execute meaningful social-development projects.
Under the pilot programme, selected rural youth will be encouraged to identify community needs, develop project proposals and participate in implementing service-oriented initiatives. The detailed project steps and timeline will be announced separately.
Prominent personalities, including Pukhraj Bhalla and Shivinder Mahal, were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering remotely from the USA, Bhupinder S. Hundal, Founder of the MERA PIND 360 Foundation, thanked everyone associated with the initiative and appealed to NRIs to come forward to revive their ancestral homes in Punjab and transform them into centres of community service and development.
He assured interested NRIs of comprehensive support from the Foundation, including assistance in establishing and operating new MERA PIND 360 centres in villages. NRIs and other interested persons can contact him at +1 630-802-2179.
The Foundation expressed hope that the ‘Punjab Di Rooh SEWA Grant’ would create a new generation of socially responsible rural youth who combine the values of sewa with modern skills, innovation and community leadership.
