With the amended Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the Golden Temple has been granted the necessary registration to receive direct foreign donations. The Canada India Foundation (CIF) has welcomed the move and announced a donation of approx AUD $22,000 to the langar at the Golden Temple.
The langar provides over 100,000 people free meals each day.
READ ALSO: Gurdwara in Pakistan handed over to Sikhs after 73 years
“We were very excited to hear the news that people from all over the world can now directly donate to the Golden Temple langar seva. We at the CIF want to be among the first to show our appreciation,” CIF Chairman Satish Thakkar said.
Thakkar thanked India for fulfilling the long-pending demand of the Indo-Canadian diaspora to make direct donations to the world’s biggest langar at the Golden Temple.
“Thousands of devotees from Canada were prevented from sending money to the langar seva because of the stringent provisions of the FCRA. The Indo-Canadian community has reacted favourably to the Indian announcement,” added Foundation convenor Ritesh Malik.
Toronto Sikh Bhupinder Singh Khalsa, founder member of the Foundation, called this “a great step by India to help us to stay connected to the source of our faith.”
Set up in 2007, the CIF is an advocacy group aimed at promoting India-Canada relations.
The Foundation’s C$50,000 Global Indian Award also honours a prominent Indian each year. The late President APJ Abdul Kalam, industrialist Ratan Tata, Congress leader Sam Pitroda and noted economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia are among the past recipients of this award.
IANS
READ ALSO: Sikh Heritage: A succinct and delightfully-photographed glimpse into the Sikh community