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| Message From Jassi |
| This Month I have spent almost entirely with my family, enjoying a summer holiday. We spent 2 1/2 weeks in the UK, then travelled to Prague, Eurodisney and Istanbul. Now I am starting to have a less peripatetic life to keep up with work and family commitments, leisure travel has become a pleasure once more! With Sabina at University in London it's been a super opportunity for us all to relax together as a family. Whilst I have been away my father has been carrying out Public Day's in the Halqa Office and activities have continued in the villages. I have also been getting regular updates from all my teams. I'm now looking forward to being back in Ludhiana and the Halqa, and will no doubt have much more news for you next month. |
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| Public Day in Halqa Office |
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Whenever Jassi is away from Ludhiana on a Monday, Public Day still goes ahead. His father, Jagpal Singh Khangura, takes the helm and continues to address the issues of people from the constituency, on whatever topic. Jassi and his father feel that it is vital that there is no break in the continuity of Public Day as many issues are raised and resolved on these occasions.
"Sardarji" or "Chairman Sahib" as Jagpal Singh Khangura is called by almost everyone, addresses many issues for villagers. His seniority and long relationship with his visitors means that they often address deeply personal matters with him. Frequently people will seek his advice or arbitration on matters of their children's marriages, for example problems faced by daughters in their in-laws homes. Or about the land or rights of access to common areas in the villages. His calm and fair counselling plays a crucial part in addressing the problems faced in the Halqa. |
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A typical Monday in the Lok Daftar can see up to 300 people visiting during the day. Otherwise the Halqa office is open 6 days a week from 9am to 6pm with a skeleton staff on Sundays and out of hours emergency support always available. Jassi says "Public Day in my office is one of the most energetic days of the week - I never know what I'm going to encounter and it's always a great pleasure to meet people who have taken the time to come into the office to share their thoughts and problems. My whole team works exceptionally hard to give everyone the best welcome and care we can." |
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| MDVL - Protecting the Environment |
At MDVL we are keen to ensure that our environmental impact is well managed and kept to a minimum. With that in mind we are building biogas plants at our farms. The first one, at Khandoor, is well underway. It's a biodigester unit that produces gas through anaerobic digestion of dung, and that gas is turned into electricity. The dung from the Community Dairy Unit at Khandoor should enable us to produce about 450KWH of energy in 24 hours.
Not only will these biodigesters save methane and other gases entering the atmosphere, but they will enable us to be independent from the grid. We will also be able to make a high quality compost from the waste from the biodigester, which can be used as a fertilizer for the fodder for our cows. It's an exciting project and one we are proud to be developing! |
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| MDVL - Promoting Bovine Genetics |
Everyone was also very excited this month by the birth of the first twin female calves at the Central Unit, as a result of the breeding program at the dairy. Even with a breeding program, twins are not common, with chances about 1 in 1000, so there was much joy at their arrival in our world.
These twins are part of Macro Dairy Ventures Pvt Ltd's plan to expand its current herd of milch cows through good, and highly refined, breeding practices carried out on our own farms. The first step towards improving the next generation of milch animals is to breed the current generation with superior genetics imported from USA. Using the data about each cow's milk yield that we collect every day on the farm, we can use the best and healthiest cows to breed the next generations. This will gradually increase milk yields and herd strength across our project. |
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| The MDVL breeding program should enable us to gain a leapfrog growth in milk productivity to benefit the consumer and the Women Entrepreneurs. |
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| Media |
This month Jassi has written two open letters to the Chief Minister of Punjab. The first was to highlight the plight of Ludhiana Tehsildar Major Benipal, who was so viciously assaulted in his office a year ago. Jassi was disgusted that neither the CM nor Deputy CM had been to visit Major Benipal even once during this year, neither to check on his welfare (in fact he is not being paid sick pay), nor to assure him that, although the alleged attackers were claiming to be acting in the name of an Akali Councillor, the greatest possible care would be taken to ensure his safety. Jassi therefore wrote to the Chief Minister calling him to account on this matter, which was not even referred to in the newspapers on the anniversary of the heinous attacks.
The second letter was to ask the Chief Minister why it was that when everyone else, including the Prime Minister, deems the Canadian NRI community of great importance to India, he continued to neglect them. Jassi challenged the CM to explain why, despite the freeloading visits of his officials and MLAs, neither he nor his son had visited the Canadian NRI community. Jassi challenged CM Badal that perhaps he was in fear of the wrath of those who had lost property under the Badal regime.
To read both these open letters, please visit:
1. One Year On: No Safety, Justice or Salary for Tehsildar Benipal
2. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh treads where the Badals fear to go |
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| IELTS |
Our volunteer English teacher, Steven Vincent, sent us this update about the IELTS course he is running in Latala. We decided it summed things up so well we'd put it in the newsletter for you all to get a better picture of how the course is:
Steven says: "The first thing I learned in my teacher training, was if the student has not learned then the teacher has not taught". Fortunately, the course we've just delivered at Latala seems to have been successful – with students responding with an enthusiasm that would put their western cousins to shame. |
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We've covered topics varying from modal verbs to arranged marriages, the past perfect tense to the IPL. Most of it has been done with smiling faces and a willingness that is exemplary and the last day of the course was given over to a get-together with food & soft drinks, a game of "antakshri" and a general knowledge competition.
Special thanks must be given to Yadwinder Singh, Ravinder Kaur &
Harinder Kaur whose help and commitment throughout has been essential and
very welcome. |
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Course two will commence on Wed 14th July after a couple of test days and
a well deserved rest for the tutors.
The reading classes will continue and it is envisaged that with a
potential 150 new students these will increase from the present number
of 10 to well over 20. In addition, I will be starting the course with a segment on English grammar.
The people who have instigated this program can be proud of
their contribution to the education of some the young people of
Punjab and their generosity has been repaid by a high level of
attendance, an excellent attitude to the learning process and a deep
respect for their surroundings. |
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| NRI World |
Each month we'd like to cover the work of an NRI back in their native village or town. Do please send us any information on health camps, support for a school, book giveaways, life event assistance etc that you or a friend has carried out and we'll follow up with you if we think we can run the story! As ever, send your submissions to info@qilaraipur.org attn Mandeep or Taruna and we'll get back to you!
This month we're going to start our NRI World section with a health camp in Gujjarwal arranged by Mrs Gurminder Randhawa from London, in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Ludhiana. Mrs Randhawa was very keen to work with the CSR team of Apollo to benefit her native village. She liaised regularly with Apollo surgeons and marketing department to plan a program that would offer benefit to Gujjarwal village community by providing free health checks for them. |
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The hospital organizes free camps to build awareness amongst the public about life threatening diseases and their prevention. People are also educated on preventive health care and other social evils like female foeticide and drug addiction during such camps.
The camp was also supported by Jassi who has always encouraged such activities in the Qila Raipur area. His halqa team were in contact with Mrs Randhawa to help plan the camp. The local arrangements were put in place by the Kohluwala family of Gujjarwal. The three brothers Late S. Sarwan Singh Grewal, Late S. Arjan Singh Grewal and Late S.Surjan Singh Grewal were leading members of the Kohluwala family. In keeping with their dedication to helping the local community, the family wanted to support the health camp and underpin it's success by encouraging as many people as possible to attend. |
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| Team Member of the Month |
Mr Harbans Singh Kanwal is possibly one of the best known faces at Majestic Park Plaza. Referred to by those who don't know him as "The Gentleman with the hat" or by those who do as Mayor Uncle or Kanwal Uncle, he is a tireless presence at Majestic Park Plaza. Twice Mayor of Hounslow in the UK, but originally from Punjab, Mr Harbans Kanwal is a Director of Majestic Park Plaza and a close advisor to Jassi, always vocal in regard to Jassi's work, and especially supportive of his work with NRIs.
He says "Jassi is a traditionalist and strongly demonstrates these traditional values in his day to day life, being one of the most tireless and hard working MLAs and social workers there is. The MDVL project he founded demonstrates perfectly the character of someone intent on improving the lot of the poor, who have never had chance for proper employment". |
Mr Harbans Singh Kanwal |
| Mr Harbans Kanwal originally moved to the UK along with Jassi's father Jagpal Singh Khangura and others, and the bond between everyone has remained strong ever since. A man who loves books, and laughs freely, Harbans Kanwal is known to all for his immense hospitality and attention to detail. Always impeccable in thought and appearance, he is a discreet and invaluable guide to many in Jassi's office. He says "I very strongly believe in discipline. And there are values I think are critical for any individual – those of honesty, loyalty, sincerity and integrity. I believe that a person should be honest to himself and to those with whom he works. Above all, I believe one should be punctual because time is of the essence in everyone's life". |
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| Firmly Settled in Chandigarh |
After Jassi's summer holidays he is very pleased to have his daughter Sabina back in India for some time, before she starts her second year at university in London. Meanwhile Jaibir is enjoying a summer of golf lessons and swimming. He is now at school in Chandigarh. Hindi is a compulsory part of his curriculum, but Jassi will also be ensuring that he learns Punjabi.
Also in Chandigarh Jassi is planning for governance. With this in mind he is building an annexe to his house where he can serve the constituency. When Congress are back in Government, Jassi has no intention of applying for a government house. He says that "as an opposition MLA the role is very different to when your party is in government, at which time one's constituency needs representing more actively in Chandigarh. I am therefore adding an annexe to my house suitable for that purpose." |
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Best regards,
Jassi Khangura MLA
Punjab's Most Responsive MLA
Read my CV Read My Communications Watch My Videos Go To My Website
Office: +91 161 4378030
Mobile: +91 98761 97761
Fax: +91 161 277 1888
www.qilaraipur.org |
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