Mr. J.S. Sahota, IPS
Founder Member of Vidya Mandir

 Introduction 

           We take the honour and privilege to introduce you to a School which is unique in many ways.

           It came into existence in a strange way, may be it was the destiny of kids of God forsaken place called "Maqboolpura" on the outskirts of Amritsar. After reading a newspaper report regarding drugs in Maqboolpura locality, Mr. Brij Bedi, a social worker went to this locality where Master Ajit Singh introduced him to the area. He saw children like ants in dingy rooms. He even saw a few drugs addicts. It was just pathetic.

          They knew, to fight drug mafia was not possible for them so Mr. Bedi told Masterji to gather twenty children so that they could educate them. Master AJIT SINGH a teacher and resident of street no. 10 same locality brought twenty Children to Mr. Bedi's place in 1999 whom they formerly adopted and started teaching them in Masterji's house. Thus was born CITIZENS FORUM VIDYA MANDIR, a school for the children of drug addicts. The school now has strength of over 400 children, who are victims of drugs. Nobody knew, that the small step taken in 1999 by them would become such a giant leap.

MAQBOOLPURA: THE LOCALITY OF WIDOWS & ORPHANS

          The locality is situated at a distance of 1.75 kilometers from the Amritsar Central Bus Stand. It falls within ward no. 57 of the Amritsar Corporation and is populated by about 20,000 human lives. It is the most backward area. It earned its eponym from Chudhary Maqbool, who lived here prior to the INDO-PAK division of 1947. Most of the people of this locality have migrated from the Pakistan districts of Sargodha, Lyallpur and Multan. They earned the terminology of Barrie. 
          Most of the people are caste ridden social groups of Hindus, but hard workers and labourers. They started earning their livelihood by perpetrating  petty job such as Watchman of Fruit Gardens, Rickshaw Pullers, Lorry Drivers etc. Around the Amritsar City, there were numerous fruit gardens where they used to work as watchman. These garden had plenty of hemp plants. They used to scrub the plant leaves on their palms prepare Charas and then smoke in cigarettes. Some of the Local rich peasants provoked them to prepare countrymade wine and most of the migrants took this job as occupation. Even now some of them practice the same business. 
          Here is one more reason which has become the cause of their being drug users. A youth hostel established by the government is situated quite near to this locality. Amritsar being the Major tourist place, tourists from Europe and other parts of the world used to visit the city, The rickshaw pullers and lorry drivers used to serve them as source of transport. The local inhabitants witnessed these tourists inhaling the Narcotics in cigars.

        Besides the aforementioned drugs, the inhabitants of the locality have started consuming smack and opium, the costly item in the world of Narcotics. The addicts of the locality cope with their need by using capsules and injections. The situation has led them towards dreadful results, their bodies become unable to work and have become sluggish. With a view to meet with their needs, the theft and looting has become their routine business. Since the year 1990 the death rate of these addicts have been increasing rapidly. Due to this reason this locality is also named as the " Locality of widows".

The Establishment of Vidya Madir

          To give this inspiration a sound foundation, 20 wards of these families were adopted. Citizens Forum Vidya Madir was established. Presently as per last records 403 children of these widows/sufferers families are studying. In the morning, the senior students teach the juniors while the seniors take their lessons from Master Ajit Singh in the evening. Mrs Satpal Kaur, wife of Master Ajit Singh also provides her helping hand. 

          Mrs. Kiran Bedi, IPS and SUPERCOP, who is the also the patron of this school, when recently visited the school announced a grant of Rs. 6000 a month for the school

          Showing concern towards this noble cause Mr. Jagjit Singh walia, Director, Press & Publications, Guru Nanak Dev University has impressed upon the Nishkam Sewa Society (Delhi) Amritsar chapter to pay monthly salary to the two teachers and to provide the furniture to the school.

 
          We hope that the efforts taken by the founders of this school would definitely bear fruit. They have provided some solace to the sufferers. Now, these Kids feel somewhat protected. Their bright future is the only hope for the widow mothers located and for the others. We want to build a strong society.

          We extend our cordial invitation to all readers and viewers to join us and make this effort a mass movement. This is a war against the unethical evils of the society. We have no other alternative but to win over this war. We don't want to be the loosers otherwise our generation will never forgive us.

Thanking you,

Vidya Mandir