MBCT Diabetic Awareness Road Show At Village Ghumandgarh
   Thursday 7th August 2008 6am to 9am

MBCT initiated Diabetes Awareness Camp in September 2007 with the aim of making the villagers aware of this disease and for them to be able to understand the Symptoms, causes and remedies. The Trust makes an attempt to visit atleast 6 villages every month under this Diabetes Awareness Program. This is the 1st Roadshow of the month of August 2008, next camp is in vill. Bhanguan on Saturday 9th Aug. 08.

Ms. Seema Arora Director FTP Mohali met the women / girls of the village and introduced them to the courses being offered by "School of Design & Craft" on Fashion designing and Garment manufacturing at Mata Harnam Kaur Community Development Center, Bassi Pathana. Registration for Fashion Designing and Garment Manufacturing course is now on for the next session beginning w.e.f. 1st September 2008.

MBCT Diabetic Awareness Road Show At Village Sill
   11th July 2008

MBCT held it's 3rd Diabetes Awareness Road Show for the month of July at village Sill - Batta located on Chunni - Morinda Road. As usual the MBCT TEAM reached Sill Batta at 6am and started checking patients for Diabetes, 56 persons were checked for Blood Sugar 4 persons were found to have Low sugar and _______ persons had High Blood Sugar levels. They were all advised about the serious consequences of ignoring this disease, which if diagnosed early can be controlled by various methods. A leaflet mentioning the Symptoms, Diagnosis method, care and Treatment were handed over to the patients, so that they become more aware of this "silent killer"

VENUE SILL village Gurduwara
Total Number of Patients 56 ( 18 women, 38 men. Age Group 26 to 80 )
Persons with High Blood Sugar 9
Low Blood Sugar Patients 4

Prof Hardarshan Singh Mejie Patron MBCT, Sh. Hassan Mejie Advisor MBCT, Ms. Seema Arora Director FTP, Ms. Raj Rani Technical Assistant FTP, Dr. Swarn Singh Nirdoshi Spokesperson MBCT they all reached the village SILL Gurdwara venue of the meeting to interact with the village heads and women and Girls of the villages of SILL & Batta. Mr. Mejie informed How the Panchayat of SILL & Batta had approached MBCT to adopt their two villages in the list of 128 vilages where MBCT was already providing Medical/Educational and Social assistance. It was heartening to learn that the word of good work being carried out by MBCT in the region was being recognized & appreciated by the public. As the joint team of MBCT & FTP had done some exercise a day earlier in explaining the purpose of the visit and the medical, educational & vocational training facilities available at MHKCDC Bassi Pathana, there was not much to explain in this meeting other than the view points of the villagers. Dr. Nirdoshi explained to the gathering that the purpose of the TRUST making all this effort was absolutely SELFLESS service to the rural people of the area, which he mentioned was Prof. Hardarshan Singh Mejie's brain child as he himself was a product of a village. He was fortunate enough of having good education, which in turn helped him in attaining enough, whereby, he is in position today to help the needy of the rural Punjab. It is his utmost desire to see his fellow rural brethren in good health and for the youngsters to have proper education so as to become ACHEIVERS in life.

Ms Seema Arora Director FTP did put across ONE view quite strongly to the men folk of the village in presence of the women wrt "the Growing burden on the rural women and the Need for their men folk to keep pace with changing times, to change their mindset wrt their women in accepting them as equals". This she said would benefit the individual families, the village and the nation as a whole.

Prof. H S Mejie & Dr. Nirdoshi presented the Book on the Life of Dr. Thakar Singh ( Ghaderite - Freedom Fighter- 1st President of SGPC - Founder of Akali Dal in 1920s') to the Sarpanches Harchand Singh of SILL & Balbir Singh of Batta. Also present were panches Ranjit Kaur & Surinder Singh of SILL and panch Malkeet Singh of Batta.

MBCT Diabetic Awareness Road Show At Village Grangan (Distt. Mohali)
    14th July 2008


MBCT held it's 4th and the last for the month of July 2008 Diabetes Awareness Road Show at village Grangan ( Mohali District) located on Chunni - Morinda Road. Grangan is yet another village which was earlier not in the LIST of villages adopted by MBCT for carrying out various Health and Women Empowerment related social activities, through word of mouth the village Panchayat learnt about the TRUST and it's activities, they approached the Field Officer Onkar Singh and conveyed interest in being adopted by the TRUST. Hence the TRUST deliberated on this and agreed to extend it's services to the village with the hope that the village Panchayat would be actively participate.

Today was the 1st such ROADSHOW in Grangan organized by MBCT, our FIELD OFFICERS were present in the village Panchayat Ghar adjoining the Gurudwara Sahib early in the morning and had were ready for the exercise by 6am. In all 35 persons were checked for Diabetes between 6am and 9am, out these 11 persons were found Diabetic ( 9 had High Sugar Levels and 2 had low sugar levels) 4 women had high sugar level. Printed Leaflets giving information on the Symptoms, Diagnosis method, care and Treatment of Diabetic condition were handed over to the patients, so that they become more aware of this "silent killer" and take preventive action in time.

VENUE Panchayat Ghar vill. Grangan ( Mohali)
Persons checked for Diabetes 35 ( 12 women, 23 men. Age Group 28 to 74 )
Persons with High Blood Sugar 9
Persons with Low Blood Sugar 2

Prof Hardarshan Singh Mejie Patron MBCT, Sh. Hassan Mejie Advisor MBCT, Sh. Amarishwar Singh MBCT, Ms. Raj Rani Technical Assistant FTP, Dr. Swarn Singh Nirdoshi Spokesperson MBCT they all reached vill. Grangan's Panchayat Ghar adjoining the Gurdwara Sahib which was nominated as the venue of the meeting to interact with the village heads and womenfolk.

Dr. Swarn Singh Nirdoshi introduced the members of MBCT & FTP team to the village Panchayat and the Women gathered at the meeting. He explained in details the facilities created and services being provided by MBCT at the Mata Harnam Kaur Community Development Center, Bassi Pathana. The services being provided are Computer & Spoken English Language education, Play School for the underprivileged children, MBCT together with Fashion Technology Park, Mohali has started imparting Vocational Training in Needle Work Embroidery & Tailoring. All these Training programs are non profit based and virtually free of cost to the needy from rural areas. The programs range from a period of 3 , 6 & 12 months, at the end of the program examination is taken and successful candidates are issued certificates. Further he informed that Every Month one FREE Medical Check Up Camp is held at MHKCDC, this is on the last Sunday of the month from 9am to 1pm, specialist doctors who are dedicated for providing free consultancy are available at the Center on that day and free medicines are issued by the TRUST as prescribed by the Doctors. These Medical Camps are divided into three groups i) Cardiology-Endocrinology-Nephrology ii) Gynaecology - Pediatric iii) Skin-Orthopedic-Dental, they are held every month on a rotational basis and the same doctor specialists attend to the patients, so as to enable the doctors to provide TOTAL CARE. Next Camp is Gynecology- Pediatric on Sunday 27th July 2008.

Mr. Hassan Mejie thanked the village Panchayat for the confidence they have entrusted in the activities of the MBCT and in opting for cooperation and joint effort in the field of Health and Women Empowerment through various programs of MBCT.

Prof. H S Mejie briefly touched upon the need of the village elders to grasp this opportunity of making the best utilization of the facilities and free services of MBCT and to encourage the YOUTH of the village to be well prepared (educationally) for the FUTURE and to look BEYOND the immediate boundaries whether political or professional in their own interest and that of their families and their State PUNJAB. Prof. Mejie gave the example of his Grand Father Dr. Thakar Singh of village Ikolaha, who was well educated in those days, was encouraged by his elders to seek the world beyond; he like many young people of his time in early 1900 went abroad to Hongkong & China. There he had exposure and opportunity to interact with great world leaders & experienced events, which chiseled him into a fine personality, a leader in his own right, who then left an indelible mark in the history of India's Freedom Movement and in creating the Institutions like SGPC & Shiromani Akali Dal in the 1920's. Prof. Mejie presented the Book written by famous Indian Historian Dr. Harjinder Singh 'Dilgeer' on the Life of Dr. Thakar Singh ( Ghaderite - Freedom Fighter- 1st Acting President of SGPC - Founder of Akali Dal in 1920s') to the Sarpanch & Panches Kesar Singh, Gurdev Singh, & Jatinder Singh and a copy was presented to Harminder Singh & Gurnam Singh social workers of the Grangan village, a copy was also presented to former Sarpanch Ujjagar Singh.

Panch Gurnam Singh concluded the meeting and thanked Prof. H S Mejie Patron MBCT for being with them in their village and offering advice & assistance for the welfare of the youth, he also thanked the TRUST for organizing the FREE Diabetes Awareness Roadshow and for offer of free technical training to the women by FTP. He said it was heartening to know that over 14 Girls had enrolled today for the FREE Technical Training Course being offered by FTP at Bassi Pathana. He said, though there was a problem of transportation, but he felt they would sort out the timings with the private Transport companies plying in their area.

MBCT Panchayat Meet Cum Diabetic Awareness Campaign (Saidhpura and Bhatt Majra)
   9th July 2008


MBCT Member:
1. Hardarshan Singh Mejie Patron
2. Hassan Singh Mejie Advisor
3. Dr. Swaran Singh Nirdoshi Spokesperson


MBCT Staff Members who attended the Camp:
1. Ajay Malhotra Manager
2. Sandeep Dhiman
3. Sarbjeet Sohi

ELDERS Village Saidpura:
1. Pritam Singh Sarpanch (Saidhpura)
2. Charanjit Kaur Panch ( Saidhpura)
3. Bal krishan Dhiman Principal & Social Worker

This is the 2nd such camp to be held by MBCT in the month of July 2008. The Diabetes Awareness program started as usual at 6am at the village mandir premises. In all 43 persons ( between age group 26 to 73 of which 12 were women and 31 were men ) were checked for diabetes 3 persons were found to have high sugar level and 3 persons with Very Low Sugar levels. They were all apprised of the symptoms, causes and precautions for such diabetic conditions, leaflets prepared by MBCT on this subject were distributed among the people gathered and were advised to consult specialist doctors immediately.

In the Face to Face meeting between MBCT & the Panchayat, Prof. H.S Mejie (Patron) emphasizes the need to take Diabetes very seriously and if detected it need be treated at the earliest so as to avoid serious health problems if left unattended. He spoke at length of MBCT's commitment for EMPOWERING WOMEN & women upliftment through skill enhancement, for which a well equipped Learning Center was created at Mata Harnam Kaur Community Development Center at Bassi Pathana. He invited the village elders to visit the Center and see for themselves the Facilities available for Training the young persons.

Ms. Seema Arora Director FTP Mohali, spoke to the gathering of appx. 35 village women / girls about the hopes and ambitions in improving their own life and that of their girl prodginy and advised that it was possible only if they had some skill of value in today's world. She explained the facilities provided at MHKCDC Bassi Pathana for imparting needle work, embroidery and garment manufacturing certificate courses, how they would give training in these skills and hold their hand till they were able to stand on their own two feet. She also spoke of creating SELF HELP GROUPS among village women to produce goods and market them with the help of the TRUST of which they would be made members for life. Dr. Swarn Singh Nirdoshi Spokesperson urged the village people that the TRUST can only create the facility and inform the rural youth of the availability, rest depended on the young people to catch hold of such opportunity with both hands to get additional Training / coaching FREE OF COST.

Prof. H S Mejie informed the villagers that he too came from a village called Ikolaha near Khanna, but by accident he acquired the right educational qualifications, hence a total change in his standing in life. He narrated the life of his Grand father Dr. Thakar Singh of Ikolaha who was a Freedom Fighter, a visionary and institution builder of his time and his contributions are well documented in various archives of Freedom Movement, SGPC Edicts and Shiromani Akali Dal's records between 1910 - 1945. A book on the Life of Dr. Thakar Singh Ikolaha was presented to Pritam Singh (Sarpanch) and Bal Krishan Dhiman (Principal).

Mr. Bal Krishan Dhiman, thanked Patron Sahib for visiting their village and for arranging a free Diabetic Awareness Campaign in their village. He said, though the field workers of MBCT visited their village over the past three years to pre register for the monthly medical camps, but they all ( the villagers ) used to ignore such offers for free medical aid. Mr. Bal Krishan said the visit of the TRUSTEES to their village has shown their true commitment for improving the lot of the rural people and said from now on Saidpur in all earnest would involve itself in participating in the camps held by MBCT and also work towards motivating the youth of the village to grasp the opportunity for career improvement being offered by MBCT.

MBCT PANCHAYAT MEET & DIABETES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
   7th July 2008

The first Awareness camp of the month of July 2008 was held at village Fatehgarh Newan on Monday 7th July 2008. MBCT Team of Field workers led by Ajay Malhotra reached the village Panchayat Ghar at 6am and started Diabetes testing. He was assisted by Sandeep Dhiman and Sarbjeet Sohi of MBCT and Kulwant Singh ex Sarpanch, Gurmukh Singh (JE PSEB) & Rakesh Kumar social workers, Shingara Singh & Sukhdev Singh Panches and Ram Singh Sarpanch of village Fatehgarh Neuwan. In all 76 persons (13 women & 63 men, age group 18 to 78 years) were tested for diabetes with electronic diabetes testing machines and 10 persons were found to be diabetic (8 were High Sugar levels & 2 persons had low sugar levels).

A meeting of Panchayat members and women / girls were held at the residence of Rakesh Kumar Social Worker appx. 35 persons attended the meeting. Here Ms. Seema Arora Diorector Fashion Technology Park Mohali introduced the ladies to the Women Empowerment program being run jointly with MBCT at Bassi Pathana MHKCDC for training women and girls in Needlework & garment manufacturing FREE OF COST. The courses are run for 3 months (with extra 3 months work experience) & 6 months (with extra 6 months work experience) with 3 months compulsory. The work experience of 3 months and 6 months respectively is compulsory, wherein the institution after having imparted Training course work, puts the students on track to being self sufficient by procuring commercial orders and distributing the same among trained women/girls. She explained that once the Girls are trained from the center they had several options: 1st to start their own business 2nd to join some Boutique / MNC manufacturing Garments or form SELF HELP GROUP under MBCT FTP umbrella.

Prof H S Mejie Patron MBCT touched upon the need of training the young in skills needed to get better paid jobs, the need for women folk of villages to be self sufficient and contribute to the familys's earnings. Prof Mejie also opresented the book on Dr. Thakar Singh to Ram Singh Sarpanch , Gurmukh Singh Social worker, Shingara Singh Panch for the village Library and to Rakesh Kumar. Prof Mejie explained how it was a tradition of the MEJIE family right from his grandfather's time (Dr. Thakar Singh) to engage in social work by contributing time and part of the wealth, he informed that Dr. Thakar Singh in 1920's was pioneer in improving the education level of the women, he was involved in RAISING FUNDS FOR Kanya Mahavidlaya Ferozepore and several other institutions for girls in the villages around Khanna. He also enquired about the preparations for setting up English Language Lab (as had been agreed upon in November 2007 MBCT-PANCHAYAT MEET) in the village Senior Secondary School, for which the village was to construct a room and get a teacher allocated, who would be trained FREE OF COST at MBCT Lab in Bassi Pathana. Mr. Hassan Singh Mejie Advisor MBCT explained the infrastructure created by MBCT at Bassi Pathana, Computer cum English Laborotary which is one of it's kind north of Delhi, the medical camps held on the last Sunday of every month and the Diabetes Awareness Campaigns held in 8 villages every month. Dr. Nirdoshi urged the gathering to make the best use of the opportunity being provided by MBCT FREE OF COST in the field of skill upgradation, medical assistance and awareness campaigns, he said the villagers were lucky to get this opportunity to get FREE Training for their women/Girls in Needlework and Garment manufacturing which must be taken up with utmost earnest and urgency as such opportunities do not come twice. Several girls started registering for the course while others took the registration forms to discuss with their families.

One or two very peculiar problems arose out of this meeting both related to the male dominated society, wherein women / girls are not encouraged to travel out of the house to get such training, infact one women Gurmail Kaur was in tears as she had the skill and capability to earn extra money for the family by weaving durries and laces, but was forbidden to leave her house. Ms. Seema Arora asked her to show some samples of her work, she immediately went to her house and returned with two hand made cotton durries, which wer of very good quality and as an encouragement patron sahib purchased both the durries from her to be displayed at Mata Harnam Kaur Community Development Center. The 2nd problem related to sending women / girls to Bassi Pathana which is appx. 11 kms from MHKCDC, to which Gurmukh Singh a social worker of the village explained, How he had no inhibition of allowing his daughter in law to travel to USA for furthering her career, and sending the village girls to Basssi Pathana which is only 11 kms away should not be an obstacle in improving the lot of the village women. He promised to find a solution by organizing a common transport from the village to Bassi Pathana to ferry the women for training.

Good wife of social worker distributed Tea and biscuits to all gathered and the meeting was called to an end.

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