Formation of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Welfare Board in Rajasthan | 17 Apr 2023

Why in News?

On 14 April 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the formation of the Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Welfare Board for specific social, economic & cultural upliftment and all-round development (welfare) of the Sikh community, a notified minority community, on Baisakhi festival. A notification regarding the constitution of the board has been issued by the Minority Affairs Department.

Key Points

• The Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Welfare Board constituted by the state government will have a total of 7 nominated members, of which there will be a president, a vice-president and 5 members. Also, representatives of various departments will join it as members. The Deputy Director level officer of the Minority Affairs Department will perform the work in the post of Secretary of the Board.
• The term of the chairman, vice-chairman and members of this board will be three years.
• The purpose of this board is to propose schemes for the upliftment of various sections of the people of the Sikh community and to give suggestions regarding the promotion of employment.
• This board will also give suggestions on better implementation of welfare schemes for the Sikh community. Along with this, the board will also give suggestions to promote the art & culture of the Sikh community and to modernize the traditional businesses of the community.
• According to the notification, the board will continuously review the participation of the Sikh community in social, economic & educational schemes, the progress of new schemes for the community and the difficulties and solutions coming in their implementation.
• The work of this board is to identify the problems of different sections of the Sikh community, conduct surveys and work for their overall development. Its purpose is to propose various schemes for economic growth, upliftment, and welfare of the people of different sections of the Sikh community and to suggest measures to promote employment.
• Along with this, the work of the board is to prepare draft plans related to the development of different sections of the Sikh community by sending them to the state government with its recommendation, to suggest concrete measures against the social evils and malpractices of the Sikh community to the state government with recommendations, to co-ordinate with various departments and give suggestions for better implementation of various welfare schemes for the Sikh community.
• Apart from this, the main tasks of the board are to give suggestions for upgrading the present status of the traditional business of the Sikh community, methods of change in the situation from a modern point of view, to suggest measures to promote the art and culture of the Sikh community, to suggest the government to provide better employment opportunities/facilities to the Granthis/Sevaks and employees working as personnel in the religious and social institutions and trusts of the Sikh community.
• The administrative department of the Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Welfare Board will be the Minority Affairs Department.