Sewa is not something that is done by counting the number of hours one works in a day because it is not work, it is an emotion. During the Coronavirus induced lockdown, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia was approached by Kolkata Municipal Commissioner to immediately provide langar/food to the people who were kept in the temporary shelters. Satnam Singh Ahluwalia accepted his request immediately and then didn’t look back. During the last year IHA Foundation volunteers continued their Sewa under the guidance of its Chairman Satnam Singh Ahluwalia. IHA Foundation during these extraordinary times of Covid 2019 pandemic and Cyclone Amphan had served cooked food to over 12000 people daily day and night, continuously, thereby being able to serve over 25 lac people during the last one year. Our motto is Sarbat da Bhalla – service of all humanity and our volunteers are people who belong to different faiths and somewhere it became our responsibility when even after few months we observed that many people were fighting to have two square meals, therefore we pledged to ensure that no one sleeps hungry in Kolkata.

Apart from the above he has started another initiative “Sharing is Caring” to provide relief to the daily wage workers who have been impacted by this sudden lockdown. Satnam through his team of IHA Foundation volunteers very carefully identified the needy daily wage workers -¬ labourers, domestic help, taxi drivers, rickshaw pullers, mutthiahs and others who depend on earning daily wages and manage their livelihood, staying in different areas all around Kolkata, but due to this lockdown could not manage their livelihood any further, ration kits was provided to them weekly to strive over the difficulties of the pandemic.

From celebrations to natural disasters, protests and pandemic, IHA Foundation has been serving people relentlessly and selflessly. The concept of Langar of Wheels is to serve meals to all, regardless of caste, class, religion, gender, social or economic status or political consideration – especially at a time when it is most critical and moreso on the move, when people cannot come to the Gurdwara’s due to restrictions and protocols of the pandemic.

‘Langar on Wheels’ has proved to be beneficial for people who cannot make it to a Gurdwara or don’t have one nearby. Also, at a time of a pandemic, when maintaining social distance is one of the key defences against the virus, Langar on Wheels is a fruitful option and which is continuing even till date.

During COVID-19 last year we saw that people were more scared of hunger than the virus. People are willing to work, earn and put food on their table but they had lost their means of livelihood during the lockdown. We saw people starving, mothers wailing to feed their children, and elderly crying for medical assistance. Seeing this our volunteers used to work in the heat for 16 to 18 hours a day. We would ask them to take some rest but they would simply deny and say, ‘Another hour in the kitchen will mean more rice and daal to serve and in turn more hungry people that we manage to feed. This is the spirit of Sarbat da Bhalla.

With the spur of the second wave of Covid 19, and surge in coronavirus cases across the country, Health services are under tremendous pressure. With the lack of availability of beds in hospitals coupled with a shortage of oxygen, IHA Foundation are also providing and arranging for medical help, medicine to everyone who is in need. IHA Foundation are also in the process of procuring oxygen concentrators machine , so that they can serve more people whose condition is deteriorating due to lack of oxygen. IHA Foundation volunteers is also helping people who are overseas and are worried about their parents health and care, by providing them information and assistance to their parents.

Manav di seva, param dharam" (service to humanity is the highest religion) is the core mantra that has been driving us. The situation has gone out of control for the past few days, people are feeling jittery. Every other phone call is related to some sort of medical help. We have been serving and striving to serve mankind, and shall continue to do so. We are aiding and assisting people outside Hospitals, Bus stands, Railway Stations and Bustees.Last year our Sewa was continuous and relentless, and we shall be continuing to serve the needy and underpriviledged under all situations.