EIGHT Sikh societies of British Columbia raised $100,000 [about Rs 5.8 million] in a couple of months to support COVID-19 fighting efforts in India and work with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to manage their program in India.

The societies are Akali Singh Sikh Society, Vancouver; Alberni Valley Gurdwara Society, Port Alberni; Bear Creek Punjab Culture Society, Surrey; Gurdwara Sahib Brookside, Surrey; Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver; Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple, Victoria; Khalsa Diwan Society York Center, Surrey; and Sri Guru Ravidas Sabha, Burnaby.

Malkiat Singh Dhami, President of Vancouver’s Khalsa Diwan Society (KDS), said that KDS, acting on behalf of the eight Sikh societies, have entered into an agreement with the DSGMC in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements. This agreement sets specific guidelines for expenditure, accounting and reporting back to KDS.

Dhami said: “On behalf of all the societies involved in this fundraising, I want to thank the Sangat [congregation] who donated so generously to make it a success. Working together, we can accomplish any goals we set for ourselves.”