Bureau
Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has selected 11 candidates for the first batch of its 'Nishchai Civil Services Training Academy', to prepare Sikh youths for the competitive exams. The expense of fees, accommodation, and food of the selected candidates in this academy will be borne by the SGPC.
In the recent past, the SGPC executive had decided to establish this academy, under which, it was approved to prepare 25 Sikh students every year for the competitive exams of IAS, IPS, IFS, and PPSC, etc.
Today at the SGPC’s sub-office in Chandigarh, the SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami handed over the admission letters to 11 candidates selected for the first batch. On this occasion, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that trend of the youth of Punjab to study abroad is very alarming, due to which there is a vacuum of Sikh youth in the administrative circles of Punjab.
“This is a concern, because if there our children are not posted in high positions in the state, then the cultural and regional heritage will not be represented as desired. Therefore, the SGPC opened an academy for preparing Sikh youths for civil and administrative services, in which, 25 Sikh youths will be trained every year”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
He said that 11 candidates have been selected for the first batch and the process will be started again for filling the remaining 14 seats. He said that the SGPC had received applications from 350 students, after which, 11 students have been selected through screening at various stages. The SGPC President said that the selection has been done on the basis of merit in a transparent manner.
Among the selected candidates includes one girl from Bhopal and two girls from Jammu and Kashmir, while the rest are from Punjab. He said that currently, the SGPC academy has made an agreement with a prominent coaching centre in Chandigarh, where coaching will be given to the selected candidates. He also told that among these students who want to study further, the SGPC will also make arrangements for the same.
SGPC President also expressed his gratitude to the organizations and Sangat from the country and abroad for their support in this important work. He said that the SGPC wants to expand this work further and it is a matter of happiness that many organizations from the country and abroad are coming forward to support.
On this occasion, SGPC General Secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, member Ajmer Singh Khera, Dr Charanjit Singh Kalewal, members of the selection committee Dr Kehar Singh, Prof Brijpal Singh, retired IAS Kahan Singh Pannu, Prof Ajaib Singh Brar, Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, Dr Amarjit Singh, and secretary Sukhminder Singh were present.