Episode no. 66
This interview with Gurpreet Singh Mintu, founder of “Manukhta Di Seva” social service organization known as Supanyan Da Ghar was published on 21 August 2022. The Ludhiana-based NGO Manukhta Di Sewa Society (MDS) has been helping destitute persons with mental health challenges since 2016. The NGO runs a shelter for the mentally challenged persons, provides them with medical care and food, and helps them return to their families if their families accept them. We often watch their videos on social media also. Even words are fail to praise him for this service. In the beginning of the interview, Gurpreet Mintu told how his life changed and how the spirit of serving people came in his heart. Mintu said that he was brought up in a Nanaka family and Mama ji served the people as a leader. From which he got a sense of service. He said that when his father was sick, he saw other people in the hospitals who were suffering due to poverty and illness. This also had a deep impact on his mind. He has been serving people since 2016 when he used to run a dhaba. He told how for the first time a needy person came to him in a very bad condition for food and after that many people came to eat at his dhaba every day to whom he served selflessly. During the conversation, Gurpreet Mintu shared with the audience many painful stories of youngsters who have ruined their lives because of drugs , victims, patients, hearing which the heart trembles. Mintu said that drugs are being given to the youth to commit genocide of Punjabis. He said that the previous governments had never done anything to eliminate drugs from Punjab and there is a question mark for the current government as well. Talking about his NGO, he said that 1400 volunteers are serving, but due to the negligence of the government, even their paper work is not being done yet.He said that the NGO works with transparency and instead of taking money from anyone, ration, medicines, milk and hospital bills are collected. He said that SGPC should open such NGO’s and hospitals in Punjab. He also explained how a positive and happy atmosphere is maintained in his organization. Finally, he appealed to the Jathedar of SGPC and the government to form such organizations.
~kulwinder kaur bajwa