What he saw from a hospital bed
Gurvinder Singh’s journey into social service grew out of a painful turn in his own life. He worked as a mechanic repairing farm equipment. After an accident left him paralysed, he began using a wheelchair. During his hospital treatment he watched an NGO give patients free milk and bread. That moment later became the seed of his own work.
From a glass of milk to a Trust
He began with a free milk service at Sirsa Civil Hospital, and in the mid-2000s set up the Bhai Kanhaiya Manav Sewa Trust. According to his official Padma citation, the Trust has developed blood-donation camps, an ambulance service, care for destitute people, education and rehabilitation. Since July 2008, the citation records ambulance help for more than 10,844 accident victims and delivery cases.
A home, and a way home
At the Bhai Kanhaiya Ashram, homeless, disabled and destitute people are cared for. The citation records more than 406 people served there, and 380 who were reunited with their families or sent home after they recovered. The Trust’s education wing gives about 250 homeless, orphaned and very poor children free transport, books, stationery, uniforms and meals.
His story is not about remaining a recipient of help after disability. It is about building a whole system of service for others.
Sources
- Padma Awards 2024: official citation
- Bhai Kanhaiya Manav Sewa Trust: official site
- The Tribune: Padma Shri conferred on Sirsa social worker
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/2024113.pdf
- bkmstrust.org/
- tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/padma-shri-conferred-on-sirsa-social-worker-613617/