Deputy High Commissioner, Canada, Delhi, India visits Mehar Baba Charitable Trust in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 19,2024
Stewart Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in New Delhi along with Brian Amrstrong visited MBCT Community Development Centre, Bassi Pathana. They were given a warm traditional Punjabi welcome by the students and welcomed by Trustees Alfred Singh Mejie, Maj Gen Surat Singh Sandhu, Dr Kavita Marriya and Advisor Harkiran Mejie. They also welcomed Rommel Al Bazi and Tejinder Sethi from Ottawa Canada.
Hema Panesar gave a digital presentation on MBCT’s mission n vision, which covered the 4 different avenues of public service, MBCT’s Partners, its achievements and success stories. Dr. Kavita Marriya, Trustee brought up the stellar role played by Prof. Mejie in mobilising village girls to be skilled to become economically independent. Hassan Mejie Managing Trustee informed the guests of key role played by Late Prof. Hardarshan Singh Mejie in establishing the Trust and navigating it for 10 years till 2014. He informed the guests of the history of the building which served as a mint cum treasury of then Mughal Governor of Sirhind, circa late 1600s, with its secrets of hidden treasures buried beneath. Prof. Mejie had entrusted Manmohan Singh Virdi, a renowned Architect, with the design and construction of MBCT Community Development Centre in October 2004, the 3 storeyed 20,000sft building was completed in flat 5 months on 31 March 2005. The very first “ multi Speciality Medical Camp was held in April 2005. The building’s earthquake proof structural design, passed the test when it withstood the very strong tremors of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan on 8 October 2005.
Thakur Mejie, Trustee gave brief introduction of MBCT’s Hockey Nursery, the projects and programs carried out with CFLI Funding and association with Fraser Valley University, University of Utah, Sydney University, Punjab University and PGIMER. Baldev Singh former Sarpanch of Damheri spoke of his experiences of past two decades of working with MBCT and how with the support of Canada’s High Commission Delhi and others the communities in 187 adopted villages of Fatehgarh Saheb had benefitted immensely. Dr. Tarundeep Singh of PGIMER informed the guests of his decade long association with MBCT which began exactly 10 years ago in April 2014.
Stewart Wheeler met with Kamaljeet Kaur, Monika, Paramjit Kaur, all three were beneficiaries of the CFLI funded Project 2023-24 “Improving Livelihoods of Rural Punjabi Women through Development of Traditional Craft with Design & Digital technology”.
Thakur Singh Mejie along with other trustees took the guests for a tour of the Vocational Training Centre, the Computer Learning Centre and the Phulkari Makers Bassi Pathana – the Rural Artisans Production Enterprise. Stewart Wheeler enjoyed the tour of various departments, he was fascinated by the skills of the young students in applying Henna (Mehndi).
Deputy High Commissioner, Canada, Delhi, India visits Mehar Baba Charitable Trust in Punjab. Stewart Wheeler expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Trust to uplift the Rural Youth especially the women. He remarked that he could see the spark of leadership in the youth and would work together with the Trust to see them blossom into successful individuals in their chosen career paths and as responsible citizens.
Maj. Gen Surat Singh Sandhu & Alfred Mejie Trustees thanked the visiting dignitaries and expressed their gratitude be conveyed to the High Commissioner and all officials of CFLI at High Commission of Canada, New Delhi for supporting the cause of the women in general and specifically the Rural Women of District Fatehgarh Sahib.
