Local MP visits India with members of Hounslow Gurdwara

Local MP Mary Macleod recently visited the Punjab region of India with the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Hounslow (General Secretary Mohan Singh Nayyar and Gurdwara eye camps facilitator, Sarabjit Kaur Hothi) and the Head Teacher from Brentford School for Girls, Marais Leenders.  The group visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a women’s conference in Jallandhar and several schools and colleges in the region.

A special highlight was seeing the free eye camp, sponsored by the Hounslow Gurdwara, where hundreds of people living in rural areas are given access to treatment at the camp and at the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital. Whilst the delegation visited the hospital, the Hounslow Gurdwara General Secretary, Mohan Singh Nayyar, presented a donation for the purchase of an MRI scanning machine.

On the final day, Mary hosted a seminar on gender justice to look at the value of women and girls in society and heard the great work being done by many organisations, including DfID (Department of International Development) and Actionaid.

Mary said:

“The visit to the Punjab was an incredible insight into the history and heritage of India. It was wonderful to see the eye camps that the Hounslow Gurdwara sponsors and the great work that is done. We had the opportunity to see for ourselves some of the challenges that are faced by women and girls, as well as the difficulties in educating the poorest areas in rural parts of the country.”

Among the organisations they visited was Pingalwara charity, which provides a home for the homeless, underprivileged and mentally ill and is a safe haven for abandoned children, especially those with learning difficulties.

Mary commented:

“The Pingalwara has helped so many people in need and is an amazing place to visit.  Dr Bibi Inderjit Kaur is inspirational for the work that she has done. It would be wonderful to take some young people from Hounslow to visit the Pingalwara in Amritsar, to show the difference that a person can make to rebuilding society and saving lives.”