Vikramjit S Sahney, a recipient of the Padma Shri and International President of the World Punjabi Organisation (WPO).
WPO is joining hands with the Centre and the Afghanistan consulate to evacuate over 400 Afghani Sikhs and Hindus staying in various camps in the war-torn country by chartered flights and rehabilitate them here.
Since March 25, Vikramjit S Sahney,has been restless. The deadly terrorist attack on a Gurdwara in Kabul, in which 26 people lost their lives, had left him shaken.He had been in touch with the Afghan community in Kabul, to devise a plan to help all Sikhs and Hindus there who wanted to come back to India.
With the support of WPO, Sahney is all set to organise chartered flights to evacuate over 400 Sikhs and Hindus in the next few days. All arrangements for chartered flights have been made in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Embassy in Kabul, with long-term visas having been issued by the Indian Embassy, with a permanent residency and Indian citizenship granted to them in due course.
The endeavour to evacuate 400 Afghani Sikhs and Hindus has been a collective effort, as the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee will provide temporary accommodation to these migrants in Delhi at three gurdwaras for 2-3 months.
A special skill development centre set up by his foundation at Jail Road in Delhi, he says, will provide young Afghani Sikhs and Hindu boys and girls free skill training in various fields, which will help them secure jobs and earn a dignified livelihood.
“We will feel we have been able to extend a helping hand once they all are rehabilitated and after a year, we will evaluate the progress,” Vikramjit Singh Sahney says, now waiting for ministry approval to put the plan into action.
