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| Message From Jassi |
I must firstly thank everyone who rallied round and offered support for the campaign for my Mamaji, Mr Gurcharan Singh, in the UK General elections. Unfortunately, his bid was unsuccessful but I sincerely thank everyone who worked hard towards his effort.
On returning to India immediately after voting day in the UK, I was absolutely delighted to find that over 350 rural youngsters had signed up for the free IELTS preparation course I am offering in the villages, from Latala. Steve, our volunteer English teacher from the UK is also thrilled and there's more about this story below.
But perhaps the biggest personal milestone for me this month has been the commencement of commercial production of TruMilk. It's the first milk produced under our own Dairy Pride brand name for the Punjab market. Not only am I confident in offering the cleanest, freshest, only full cold chain milk to consumers here, but am proud that MDVL is doing so through the business model of Women Entrepreneurs - providing rural employment and upliftment where it is needed most. At times on the MDVL journey this milestone had felt very far away - so the moment was a big one for all the MDVL team as well as the Khangura family.
As summer really steams ahead, with record temperatures in places, I hope everyone manages to stay cool and well. I'll be back next month with more news. As ever, do please feel free to write to me (as so many of you already do). Your thoughts and comments and inputs are always appreciated. |
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| TruMilk Launched by MDVL |
The Khanguras' community dairies venture reached another milestone with commercial processing of milk starting on the evening of 1 June, which coincidentally was World Milk Day 2010. The next day pasteurised "Tru Milk" was distributed in Jalandhar, the chosen city for the test launch.
The milk produced by Women Entrepreneurs in rural Ludhiana, working in Self Help Groups, has been proven by independent tests to be the freshest, cleanest and safest milk in Punjab. As production increases at the various community dairy units the distribution of “Tru Milk” will extend to other cities. By year end it is likely that all major cities in Punjab will be covered.
Jassi stated “I am delighted that this joint effort of local farmers, poor women and formerly unemployed youth is benefitting the local economy and providing income to financially distressed families. The milk consumers of Jalandhar now have a real alternative to the poor quality milk that they have had to accept to date. My family and I are committed to the financial and educational upliftment of poor families.” |
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| Free IELTS Classes at Latala |
Steven Vincent, who you may remember was with us for 4 months last year, returned to India in April to commence a 6 month IELTS preparation program in the Qila Raipur area. We had ascertained that there was a great desire amongst youth in the area to improve their spoken and written English, but that course costs could be prohibitive for those youth, as well as the travel requirements as most courses are held in Ludhiana. Steve returned as a volunteer having devised a program using all his training and experience, to enable students to get the maximum benefit possible.
The course was advertised around the villages through Gurudwaras and village elders. Students came to meet Steve and sign up on fixed days. The numbers they came in astounded everyone. The first day saw some 75 arrive. The following days left us with a total over 350. Steve then set to work testing each of these individuals for their current levels of English, finding some were very skilled, and others at a more basic level. They were filtered into the correct class of 15 students and lessons commenced! |
Volunteer English tutor Steven Vincent from the UK, at Latala Farm House with his first batch of IELTS students, May 2010 |
| Students include youngsters who wish to take an IELTS exam to help them find better work opportunities, and some who just wish to enhance their language skills. Due to the enormous numbers of students they have been split into two batches, one starting now, and the next in June. Any further course dates will be determined at a later time. |
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| Manish Tewari and Jassi Tour Qila Raipur's Village |
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On 14 May, Manish Tewari MP and Jassi Khangura visited 8 villages in the Qila Raipur area, which fall under the new Dakha constituency. Those villages were Mini Chappar, Chappar, Dhoorkot, Ghugrana, Lohgarh, Chaminda , Balowal and Jodhan.
On the visit, Manish Tewari provided grants for the development of villages and schools from his M.P fund. He also accused the Akali BJB of failing to take advantage of various centrally sponsored development schemes for the villages of Punjab.
Manish Tewari stated that various public welfare schemes have been announced by the UPA Government, demonstrating that either the Punjab government has failed in executing the schemes, or has failed to provide the mandatory grant match from State funds - a likely prospect since Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has admitted being unable to sleep for worry about Punjab's debt!
Manish Tewari also distributed grants for schools in Chhapar, Jhodan and Ghungrana villages from his MP fund, saying he was giving 80 per cent of the grants from his fund to schools and hospitals in rural areas.
Jassi Khangura added that Akalis are trying to claim false credit for work carried out by Congress. He referred to the operation of the Ludhiana-Delhi flight, the commencement of which was down to the efforts of Manish Tewari and the UPA Government at the Centre. |
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Jassi Khangura with Manish Tewari MP at village Mini Chappar. Also pictured: Mr Pawan Dewan, Parminder Singh Latala, Avtar Singh Gandhi, Ravinder Singh Romi, Sarabjit Singh Chappar, Manmohan Singh Narangwal, Kamalpreet Singh Kangura, Ranjit Singh Mangat and other supporters |
Jassi Khangura and Manish Tewari were honoured on their visit to village Lohgarh. Parminder Singh Latala, Bhupinder Singh, Balwinder Singh Sohi, Satwinder Singh Jawaddi, Pawan Dewan, Maan Singh Sohi, Ranjit Singh Mangat, Satwinder Jwaddi and many others accompanied them. |
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| MDVL – Farewell to Dr Renu Suri |
| The MDVL team and the Khangura family said farewell to Dr Renu Suri, Director CSR on 18 May. Dr Suri has been with MDVL for over a year leading the Women Entrepreneurs from strength to strength and supervising each of the Community Dairy Units started to date. Dr Suri said "it is with great sadness that I leave the MDVL team… but I have always placed importance on a proper work/life balance and right now, my family needs me". No doubt we will all be in regular contact and hope Dr Suri will be able to come back and visit us often! |
 Dr Renu Suri is bid farewell by the MDVL team and Harbaksh Singh Khangura |
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| Health Awareness Camp held for Women Entrepreneurs at Phallewal |
A camp was held on 5 May for all MDVLs Women Entrepreneurs. The camp was fully interactive with plenty of dialogue between Dr Suneet Aurora of Sampoorna Foundation, Dr Suri of MDVL and the Women Entrepreneurs.
The focus was on general health awareness including issues such as heat stroke, fungal infections, importance of a balanced diet, and sanitation.
Women were also shown how to make home remedies for some minor ailments. The Camp was designed to be relevant to low income women with little or no education so it is relevant to the problems the face daily. The open forum style also meant that WEs discussed their own personal scenarios which were subsequently addressed by Dr Aurora.
This was the first camp of 4 planned for the Women Entrepreneurs on this topic. |
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| Ludhiana – Delhi Flights |
Finally there are flights between Ludhiana and Delhi! The route was resumed in May and will, no doubt, be heavily utilized. But the flights have not been without controversy with the Badal government (many representatives of whom were on the inaugural flight) claiming they are to thank for the development. Manish Tewari, as both Ludhiana MP and Congress Spokesman, slammed these claims as the mere flights of fancy they are.
Manish Tewari said that even Manpreet Badal had made it clear that it was the Airports Authority of India that was responsible for the upgrade, including the Rs. 9.8 cr costs. Tewari said further proof was in his own correspondence with Union Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav.
Most importantly though, Ludhiana is reconnected by air - and that's good news for everyone, whatever their politics! |
Jassi Khangura and supporters welcomed the maiden flight to Sahnewal Airport, Ludhiana |
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| Employee of the Month |
| This month we introduce you to Onkar Singh, who hails from Amritsar. He has worked as personal assistant to Jassi since 2007, but joined the team in the back office in 2003. Onkar is usually to be found within a few feet of Jassi, answering phones, taking messages, and directing visitors who have come to meet Jassi. Onkar is also the person most of the office asks when they want to know the whereabouts of Jassi, and his presence acts as an early warning system of Jassi's arrival!! Always cheerful and discreet, Onkar is a well liked member of the team. He has two children. |
Onkar Singh |
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| Coming Up... |
| June is vacation month. Jassi, with his family, will be mostly in the UK with excursions to Paris and Prague, and a week in Turkey on the way back to India. As ever, Jassi will keep in close contact with constituency affairs and will also be meeting many NRIs in the UK. |
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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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