JOIN USHe pays blood money to save lives
Businessman has installed water purifiers in many Punjab prisons. His journey as an engine mechanic to a multi-billionaire hotelier-businessman was extraordinary to say the least. But somewhere within was a deep sense of realisation that his hard earned cash-rich status was just a means to accomplish what he always cherished to do. Punjab-born SP Singh Oberoi is a man on a mission. He’s known for the work he has done, beyond just wealth creation.
And it’s a long journey ahead for this philanthropic turbaned Sikh. Besides, much of what he has achieved as a social activist with his humanitarian deeds, Oberoi is well known for saving the lives of 54 Indians on death row in Arab jails. Oberoi had paid several crores of rupees from his pocket as “blood money” under the existing laws in Arab nations to secure the release of all of these convicts, 39 of them from Punjab. The money was paid to the aggrieved families after seeking their consent. Four among these convicts who were saved from the gallows were Pakistan nationals.
More than 750 airline tickets were provided by Oberoi to prisoners. Oberoi has lent infrastructure support to jails in India, especially in Punjab. This, with the sole purpose to ensure that prisoners at least get the basic facilities while they are behind bars. The man is credited with installing commercial reverse osmosis (RO) water purifying plants in various jails in Punjab. His charitable organisation, “Sarbat Da Bhala”, has made sure inmates get safe drinking water in jails. The organisation has installed RO water system in Patiala Jail for 2,500 prisoners. The same has been done at the Ferozpur Central Jail. At the Ludhiana Central Jail with 4,000 prisoners, Oberoi’s charitable trust installed similar commercial pure water systems.
At least 33 toilets and bathrooms were built in the Patiala Central Jail by the organisation. Dough mixer plants were provided in Ferozpur and Faridkot central jails in Punjab. In a first, his organisation opened a crèches-cum-school in Patiala and Ludhiana jail for children of the inmates. Oberoi, who is the Chairman of Apex Group of Companies, has interest in construction and runs the Dubai Grand Hotel in Dubai. Oberoi says all what he does is ordained in the name of god. He says philanthropic deeds are just a way to thank the almighty for what he has given.
His list of benevolent deeds is long. Oberoi has arranged more than 18,000 marriages of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. His charitable trust over the years has focused on education and needs of special children. The trust has constructed a school for
special children and mentally retarded near Patiala with a capacity of 200 students. A hostel too has been constructed for 100 such students.
For Oberoi, saving lives, perhaps, has been most satisfying. That’s why Oberoi makes sure he takes care of these youth like family. Ask Baljit Chahal of Jalandhar, one of those who was on death row in Arab jails and was saved after Oberoi paid huge blood money. Baljit got married last month. Oberoi, his wife, Maninder, reached to bless the couple. “I have come to the wedding of my son,” Oberoi had said.
Baljit says he is living today because of his “Godfather SPS Oberoi”. “We were counting our days in Arab jails. We had lost all hope. But a miracle happened. We were saved from the gallows. A lot of people have money, but few have a heart of gold,” Baljit said. His family cannot stop thanking Oberoi enough.
As the managing trustee of the charitable trust, Oberoi has sponsored more than 350 students for higher studies in medical, engineering, civil services, etc. Nearly 40 Nepali orphan children have been adopted for education and upkeep. Education and everyday needs of over 800 slum children in the country are being taken care of by the trust.
It lends monthly aid to dozens of schools, handicap centres, disability and rehabilitation centres, Breast Cancer Trust, Chandigarh, orphanages, Football Sports Club, Rurka Kalan, Jalandhar. The trust also provides free medicines to poor patients. Monthly financial aid to widows of Punjab Home Guards and free education to their children is provided by the trust. Blood donation camps, free eye surgery camps and a lot more add to the list of philanthropic deeds. Oberoi says he has also promised to Dubai Health Authorities to donate 1,000 blood units every year.
So what’s more lined up. Oberoi says the plan is to make functional an old age home with a capacity to house 500 needy people in Patiala. A destitute centre for abandoned children, a technical training institute to develop skilled professionals, a charitable hospital, a Sikh museum and library, a classical sangeet academy, 10 crèches in Punjab and Haryana jails, 10 computer centres for girls in Punjab and special care units for thalassemia, chemotherapy and burn patients.
Who says goodness is on the wane?