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The Kalgidhar Society runs an orphanage by the name ‘Akal Child Welfare Foundation’ at Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, India, which looks after the needs of unfortunate children who have lost both their parents at an early age. These orphaned children irrespective of their cast, creed, religion or region to which they belong are given all the facilities so that they grow up to be responsible, honest, hard working citizens and be a source of strength for the country.
800 such children have been enrolled in Akal Child Welfare Foundation. It looks after all their basic needs including boarding, lodging, medical and health needs. These children are provided education in Akal Academy Baru Sahib and are given the same facilities as other students of the academy. |
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The old age home set up by The Kalgidhar Society at Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, is a home for more than 200 aged persons, who are the victims of changing family values and behavioral patterns leaving them neglected and deserted for the want of food, accommodation etc. in their day to day life.
These aged persons are provided with utmost care and protection at the ‘Akal Home for the Elderly’. All their daily needs including food, clothing, medical services and lodging are provided by the Akal Home for the Elderly. They spend their twilight years in safe, secure, comfortable and serene surroundings in this valley of Divine Peace. The spiritual atmosphere enable them attain good human values and virtues, suppress five vices (lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego) and get rid of cycles of birth and rebirth by becoming better human beings. By attaining increased concentration of mind, commitment and good company, they become productive human beings to spread the message of universal brotherhood all around.
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The Kalgidhar Society has set up a home for widows and destitute women at Baru Sahib that houses 200 such unfortunate women who have lost their husbands or have been discarded by their families. The Akal Home for Widows and Destitute Women ensures an honourable life for these women in a safe and secure environment and help them raise their kids in serene, healthy and comfortable surroundings.
The Akal Home for Widows and Destitute Women provides these women various vocational courses and employment opportunities to retain their daily living with honour and self-respect. Their medical, physical and dietary needs including boarding, lodging and clothes etc. are provided by the Akal Home for Widows and Destitute Women.
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Through De-Addiction centers being run at village Cheema (Punjab) and Baru Sahib (Himachal Pradesh), The Kalgidhar Society aims towards the gigantic task which ails our youth, who get addicted to various kinds of drugs, alcohol and narcotics from an early age. The De-addiction Centers are helping in eradicating vices amongst the rural folk and bringing down the crime rate, conflicts, litigations etc amongst these sections. The alcohol free movement under the pattern of the ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ is proving as a saviour against marital discords and exploitation of the womenfolk.
The following methodology is adopted to treat the patients in the de-addiction centers:
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Seminars are conducted from time to time in different villages enlightening the youth against drug-addiction and alcoholism. |
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Patients are admitted in the de-addiction camps in the batches of 20 for a duration of six weeks. If required, they are kept in the camp for a longer time also.
They are examined by the panel of doctors which includes one M.B.B.S., one Psychiatrist and one Psychologist. |
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The treatment is done through yoga sessions and daily meditation. Emphasis is laid to turn their maximum attention towards spirituality.
Every patient gets up at 1.45 A.M. - 3.30 A.M. for Nitnem and Waheguru Gurumantar Jaap in Darbar Sahib. After that they are examined by doctors, vital information is noted and medicines are given accordingly. One preacher is there to take care at the time of Nitnem and recites Sakhis to them.
Apart from the early morning and evening spiritual sessions, three more additional spiritual sessions are conducted during the day. It gives them the additional will-power and determination. |
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Through counseling, they are enlightened against the evil vice of drug-addiction. This de-addiction camp is being run under the supervision of Dr. Rajinder Singh (MBBS, DPM, MD) who volunteers his services for the camp. One MBBS doctor and two compounders provide their services round the clock for the patients of the camp. |
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To the new patients, counseling is also done through the persons who were treated from the vice of drug-addiction by attending these same de-addiction camps. They act as an example to the new patients as they inspire others to renounce alcohol and drugs. |
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Throughout the duration of the camp, the patients are provided free food, lodging and boarding. The entire treatment is also done free of charge. |
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The stupendous 80% success rate is believed to be the result of spiritual atmospher prevailing here. The centre is located in the holy place of Cheema Sahib which is the place of birth of Sant Attar Singh Ji. Patients admitted to the centre are treated mainly due to their recitation of gurbani and counselling by the Psychologist. Medicines are used to a very lesser extent. Regular follow-ups of the discharged cases by the doctors and volunteers of The Kalgidhar Society in their home town is another reason for this success rate. Patients come to the de-addiction center from far off villages of not only Punjab but also other states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi & U.P. etc. It has been observed in the follow-up visits that the discharged patients transform into totally newer personalities after their 6 weeks' stay at the center. They remain regular in Nitnem and inspire other addicts to denounce drug-addiction and alcoholism. They also guide other addicts to this centre.
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This de-addiction movement was started on 19 July 2004 with the admission of 3 patients. Already more than 1500 persons have benefited from this centre. It has helped in reducing marital discords/bitterness and crime/litigation amongst families in this region. The success rate of reforming addicts is to the tune of 80%. |
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The economic upliftment of the backward hilly rural area initiated by The Kalgidhar Society is unique in its own perspective.
The Kalgidhar Society has started an independent school at Baru Sahib to cater to the basic needs of education of this backward hilly rural area. This school conducts classes from VI to X, wherein 70 students are imparted education free of cost.
The Kalgidhar Society offers employment on preferential basis to the masses of this backward area to enable them achieve their daily basic needs. More than 450 people have been exclusively employed under this programme.
The Kalgidhar Society has taken utmost care to consume various products produced by these peasants. Instead of relying on meager production from rain-fed crops like maize, these local people are encouraged to grow vegetables and fruit which are yielding high dividend as readymade market is available at Baru Sahib. Moreover, the daily consumption of milk at Baru Sahib is to the tune of 1100 liters and the rates provided by The Kalgidhar Society for milk, vegetables and fruits are comparatively higher than the local co-operative societies.
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