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Qila Raipur | February 28, 2004 11:05:10 AM IST

Punjab's non-resident community that has done well for itself around the world is known for strong links with the motherland, and valuable contributions to industry and social welfare back home. UK-based Jagpal Singh Khangura, for example, has brought online connectivity to a remote village in the state, opening up huge possibilities in social and infrastructural development.
The dusty interiors of rural Punjab, as good as never in any limelight, miles behind on the road to development as compared to the towns and cities.

The villages of the Doaba region of north Punjab is looked at as being more prosperous than the rest with the greater fertility of its soil, but perhaps more so through its non-resident sons, sending in generous remittances, and making contributions to social welfare.

In this direction, 81 backward villages of Kila Raipur constituency hold a bright future. The area has been given a website of its own, part of several initiatives by NRI Jagpal Singh Khangura for the betterment of his hometown.

A trust founded in the name of his father Babu Joginder Singh has laid out extensive plans towards welfare and progress of society here.

Says Khangura, "The people of Kila Raipur have big reason to be happy because NRIs living all over the world can be linked directly to this village. They can come to know of what is happening here, developmental work and can even see their friends on screen and talk to them. I'd like to tell all my brethren to write in to the website from where it can be uploaded for the world to see. It is a big advantage for NRIs too."

To start with, Khangura and his wife, through the trust, have donated 50 computers for educational purposes to 11 local senior secondary and high schools, besides 114 sewing machines for industry among women in 20 villages of Kila Raipur area. While enabling a more modern education for students, the aim is to develop a sense of self-sufficiency in professional incomes at the village level too.

Khangura had migrated to the UK in the late 60s but remained attached to his roots. Though he has big business concerns in England, his wife was elected to the state legislature in 2002.

He urges others like himself to explore possibilities to serve their homeland too. "I intend to stay and do business here. And for this I have got a lot of help from the state governments. I urge all fellow NRIs living around the world to invest in their village. Organisations like the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) will provide all help in setting up industry. NRIs can set up businesses here and also do social welfare activity especially for the youth. But I feel al lot more NRIs who are attached to their homeland should come home," he says.

The greatest benefactors of the largesse of sons of the soil settled abroad - the village schools. Largely through NRI donations besides support from the local administration, computers are part of the curriculum even at the secondary level. Provision of equipment has come together with training programmes for teachers.

It is reflected in a renewed enthusiasm on the part of local instructors as well as students. Approximate figures say NRIs of this belt have pumped in some 6.6 million US dollars into primary education in the state over the last five years.

Non-resident Punjabis are credited with vast improvements in the infrastructure around primary education in the rural areas of the state, especially the Doaba region, over the last few years. Efforts of the village governing bodies and non-governmental organisations also deserve mention. Speaks volumes of the potential at their command. (ANI)


	NRIs donate computers for remote village in Qila Raipur Qila Raipur \| February 28, 2004 11:05:10 AM IST Punjab's non-resident community that has done well for itself around the world is known for strong links with the motherland, and valuable contributions to industry and social welfare back home. UK-based Jagpal Singh Khangura, for example, has brought online connectivity to a remote village in the state, opening up huge possibilities in social and infrastructural development. The dusty interiors of rural Punjab, as good as never in any limelight, miles behind on the road to development as compared to the towns and cities. The villages of the Doaba region of north Punjab is looked at as being more prosperous than the rest with the greater fertility of its soil, but perhaps more so through its non-resident sons, sending in generous remittances, and making contributions to social welfare. In this direction, 81 backward villages of Kila Raipur constituency hold a bright future. The area has been given a website of its own, part of several initiatives by NRI Jagpal Singh Khangura for the betterment of his hometown. A trust founded in the name of his father Babu Joginder Singh has laid out extensive plans towards welfare and progress of society here. Says Khangura, "The people of Kila Raipur have big reason to be happy because NRIs living all over the world can be linked directly to this village. They can come to know of what is happening here, developmental work and can even see their friends on screen and talk to them. I'd like to tell all my brethren to write in to the website from where it can be uploaded for the world to see. It is a big advantage for NRIs too." To start with, Khangura and his wife, through the trust, have donated 50 computers for educational purposes to 11 local senior secondary and high schools, besides 114 sewing machines for industry among women in 20 villages of Kila Raipur area. While enabling a more modern education for students, the aim is to develop a sense of self-sufficiency in professional incomes at the village level too. Khangura had migrated to the UK in the late 60s but remained attached to his roots. Though he has big business concerns in England, his wife was elected to the state legislature in 2002. He urges others like himself to explore possibilities to serve their homeland too. "I intend to stay and do business here. And for this I have got a lot of help from the state governments. I urge all fellow NRIs living around the world to invest in their village. Organisations like the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) will provide all help in setting up industry. NRIs can set up businesses here and also do social welfare activity especially for the youth. But I feel al lot more NRIs who are attached to their homeland should come home," he says. The greatest benefactors of the largesse of sons of the soil settled abroad - the village schools. Largely through NRI donations besides support from the local administration, computers are part of the curriculum even at the secondary level. Provision of equipment has come together with training programmes for teachers. It is reflected in a renewed enthusiasm on the part of local instructors as well as students. Approximate figures say NRIs of this belt have pumped in some 6.6 million US dollars into primary education in the state over the last five years. Non-resident Punjabis are credited with vast improvements in the infrastructure around primary education in the rural areas of the state, especially the Doaba region, over the last few years. Efforts of the village governing bodies and non-governmental organisations also deserve mention. Speaks volumes of the potential at their command. (ANI)