New Delhi, December 8, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee will set up exclusive departmental stores under brand name “1984 Stores” in all 10 historic Gurdwars in National Capital for economic Empowerment of 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors to enable lucrative livelihood to Thousands of sikh families who are victims of “heinous genocide” which took place after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in various locations in National Capital said Manjinder Singh Sirsa President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today.
These stores will be run on the co-operative store models which will be managed , operated,administered and run by 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors family members and all the profit earned from the stores will be utilised for the welfare , advancement and development of 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors to ensure dignified livelihood to the victims families.
First such departmental store in the series will be opened at prime location in Connaught place in the premises of historic Gurdwara Bangla Sahib by the end of this month which will be one -stop–shop for customers for groceries items like Pulses, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Ghee, Edible Oils, stationery items etc.
The second such store will be opened in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj during Jan 2020 and the model will be replicated in all other Gurdwaras in the National Capital in Phased Manner to cover entire National Capital and ensure optimum benefits to the 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors.
The departmental store will also sell articles of sikh faith such as Sikh Turbans (Dastar) Kangha (a wooden comb for the hair), Kara (an iron bracelet), Kachera (100% cotton tieable undergarment (not an elastic one)) and Kirpan (an iron dagger large enough to defend oneself) and Sikh Religion Boooks, Literature etc as these have great religious significance and have ready made market in the gurdwara complexes as most of the devout Sikhs find it difficult to find such genuine articles at one place with good quality and reasonable rates.
He said that besides it Home made daily household products made by 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors such as Namkeen ,spices ,Pappad ,Murabba, Biscuits, Sweets, Home made Pickles etc will also be made available to customers mostly visiting devotees. said Manjinder Singh Sirsa President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today
He said that DSGMC will tie up with prestigious manufacturing companies , business houses and corporate sector like Verka,Nafed, Markfed for procuring these items on highly competitive prices so as to provide them to customers on reasonable rates and maximise the profit for the 1984 Anti Sikh Violence Survivors to achieve the sole objectives of benefiting them through business enterprise said Manjinder Singh Sirsa President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today.
At present around 35000 devottees besides 2000 domestic and foreign tourist visit the holy shrine in ordinary days while around 1,00,000 (one Lakh only) devottees visit holy shrine during weekend and holidays which will be strong customer base for this departmental store.
The majority of visitors are Sikhs /Punjabis who themselves have witnessed and experienced the gory scenes when frenzied mobs butchered thousands of Sikhs in 1984 and are emotionally attached with victims which will provide committed /loyal customer base to the departmental store.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the biggest Sikh Shrines situated in heart of National Capital New Delhi has also emerged as most sought after destination for international tourists in recent years and around 12 lakh international tourists visited the holy shrine last year which will also provide strong customer base to the departmental store.
At present DSGMC is spending around 1.5 crore rupees annually for providing pension to widows of 1984 riots and added that each court witness of 1984 riots is being provided monthly pension of 10,000(Ten Thousand Rs ) per month thus enabling expenditure of around 25 lakhs on court witnesses in order to ensure financial safety to them.
He said that each DSGMC member has dedicated fund of around Six lakhs per annum which is also used to provide various items of daily use , assistance for marrigae of riot vicitms and provide other assistance to victim families.
Around three thousand sikhs were massacred while around 11000 houses were burned damaged and 4000 commercial properties damaged /destroyed while around 3000 sikhs members were seriously injured in 1984 sikh massacre said Manjinder Singh Sirsa President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today.
