Decades of Struggle End for Sikligar Community
In an emotional ceremony that marked the end of generations of hardship, 35 Sikligar families in Jujhar Nagar, Mohali, finally received keys to their permanent concrete homes on Sunday. The moment proved overwhelming for 80-year-old Bakhtora Singh, who broke down in tears as he held the keys that symbolized the end of his community's decades-long struggle for proper housing.
The elderly man's voice trembled with emotion as he recalled his family's journey from Pakistan during the 1947 partition riots. "We had nothing," he shared. "We spent ten days here, ten days there, living under makeshift cloth sheets. I even worked with former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, but no one ever held our hand."
From Temporary Shelters to Permanent Homes
For over three decades, these families had endured life in tarpaulin shelters and straw-roofed huts that leaked during monsoon rains and often lost their roofs during storms. The community, consisting of traditional weapon-makers who once crafted arms for Guru Gobind Singh's soldiers, had lived in Jujhar Nagar for 35 years without permanent housing.
The Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust handed over the first 35 of 70 newly constructed houses to the families as part of the "Sunny Oberoi Housing Scheme." The project, built at a cost of approximately Rs 2 crore, was dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Dr S P Singh Oberoi, who inaugurated the project along with Justice M M S Bedi and Dr Raj Bahadur, emphasized that the trust was not merely providing houses but restoring dignity, security, and hope to the Sikligar community. "These homes are not just buildings but a new life and a new beginning for the families," he stated.
Community Reactions and Future Plans
The entire locality resonated with celebration and relief as families stepped into their sturdy, lintel-roofed homes for the first time. Baghauri Kaur, wife of Bakhtoura Singh, expressed her gratitude, saying, "We are in the last stage of our lives now, but our children are happy. Getting permanent houses is a great blessing for us."
Gyan Kaur highlighted how previous local representatives had failed the community. "Many people became sarpanches and panches, but their work never went beyond building a few drains. This kind of work has happened for the first time," she noted.
Kamaljit Singh Ruby, Mohali district president of the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, explained that after surveying all the families and witnessing their distressing living conditions, the project was immediately approved. He added that similar houses are being constructed in the nearby village of Jhanmpur to uplift Sikligar families there as well.
For 32-year-old Raju Singh, who was born and raised in the temporary shelters, the new homes represented a dramatic transformation. "Dr Oberoi has taken us out of hell and brought us into heaven. No government ever listened to us, nor did any officer," he expressed.
The sentiment was echoed by 90-year-old Chand Kaur, who simply stated, "I don't know much, but the Sardar who gave us these permanent houses is nothing less than God for us."
The housing initiative represents a significant step toward improving living conditions for the historically marginalized Sikligar community, providing not just shelter but renewed hope for future generations.
