SGPC passes Rs 1159 crore annual budget

ShiromaniGurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Sikh apex religious body of the Sikhs, here today passed its annual budget of Rs 1,159 crore, an increase of nearly Rs 59 crore, over last financial year.

Amidst the chanting of Sikh religious slogans at Teja Singh Samudari hall here, the budget for the 2018-19 fiscal was passed under the supervision of newly-elected SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal.

The budget was presented by SGPC General Secretary Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala, who also highlighted the religious activities of last year.

Reading out the budget document, Karmuwala informed that for the upcoming financial year 2018-19, the SGPC has kept Rs 36.50 crore provision for educational funds, besides Rs 228 crore for the educational institutions which are run by the SGPC.

Likewise, adequate funds have been provided in the budget for promotion of religious activities and for management of the Gurdwaras.

Longowal informed that for cancer patients, a sum of Rs 9.50 crore has been kept to extend medical help to those patients who cannot afford the medical expenses, while a sum of Rs 61 lakh has been reserved to extend help to the victims of various natural disasters.