Let us talk a bit of rare philanthropy in place of politics, economy and social issues etc. that are being discussed often in media. A video clip has gone viral nationwide particularly in the northern region announcing that a high-tech sophisticated hospital is opened for the common people for providing free kidney-dialysis, a rare gesture of philanthropy in today’s world of highly commercial and consumerist mindset. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) needs yet big round of applause for opening in New Delhi on Saturday (07.03.2021), biggest but most ultra-modern totally free hospital for kidney-dialysis with five-starred facilities and free food for both patients and their attendants. The hospital does not have a cash-counter at all. Funding for setting up and running of the hospital will be done through corporate-social-responsibility (CSR) fund mandatory for all companies and Ayushman Bharat Yojna of Government of India and of course through voluntary contributions.
The presenter in the Video appeals the people to avail this free service and for further spread of the message to the masses. Such an admirable initiative in the service of humanity needs to be emulated by other charitable and philanthropic bodies in other regions of the country to provide a similar type of free medical facilities on modern lines for the poor who cannot afford the costly medical treatment!
This is not the first time that DSGMC has done such a nice job. It opened its first-ever no-profit no-loss shop of generic medicines at Gurudwara Bangla Saheb in New Delhi to benefit the public where generic medicines usually have printed Maximum-Retail-Price MRP which is even ten times the distributor-price. DSGMC should open more such shops at different Gurudwaras of Delhi. DSGMC known for providing free daily food at various Gurudwaras of Delhi was in news for the same sacrificing spirit even in lockdown-days during corona-crisis by serving hygienic food to the needy irrespective of caste or religion at various outlets apart from normal langars in Gurudwaras. It also offered 850 beds for corona-patients in Delhi.
Delhi government and civic bodies should provide space for opening medicine-shops of generic and branded medicines separately at no-profit no-loss to DSGMC at all their hospitals considering selfless service for humanity by DSGMC. Delhi government provide land to DSGMC solely for purpose of building more such super-speciality hospitals for different diseases on the line, it has opened a hospital for kidney-dialysis on Saturday.
Philanthropy has a very long tradition in India. All practising religions embody the idea of philanthropy and the concept of a tithe (one-tenth of one’s earnings in Daan) across religions and cultures. This praiseworthy project will surely be a case study for the other religious/social bodies and NGOs, a unique sociological and empirical perspective in contrast to what is happening in India.
