Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association

Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association (BGWA) (Nepali: भारतीय गोर्खाली कल्याण समिति) is a non-political social organisation established in 1981^[1] in Bangalore, Karnataka. It has undertaken a lot of initiatives in serving the Gorkha(Nepali) community.

Vision and Mission

Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association is a non-political non-profit organisation formed with the vision of a United and Progressive Gorkhali Community.

The mission of Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association involves an endeavour to provide welfare, foster social and cultural bonding and stimulate advancement of the community in general.

Activities

BGWA has performed numerous services for the welfare of the Gorkhas, including:

1. Obtaining a 2% reservation for Gorkhas under the OBC category for admission into government colleges in Karnataka after fulfilling certain criteria.
2. Providing scholarships to meritorious students from Class 1 to Class 10.
3. Providing various vocational courses to resident Gorkhas.
4. Instrumental in procuring from the government 12 houses for resident Gorkhas. About 120 houses will be provided shortly to people through the association.
5. Holding numerous cultural and sports events for the Gorkhas of Bangalore from time to time.
6. Providing a helpline for resident Gorkhas in times of emergency.^[2][3]
7. Recognized by many areas and states in India including Darjeeling and Sikkim as a socially responsible organisation and maintains good relations with major organizations in those areas.
8. Providing career counselling and placement assistance for the Gorkhas.

Current initiatives

Sahayog

This is a BGWA initiative for providing free accident insurance to its members. It was launched on 25 January 2009 at the occasion of the 14th General Body Meeting of the BGWA.^[4] A group of students and members from the unorganised sector, who do not get insurance cover from their employers have been provided insurance. This initiative will spread to all the members of BGWA who lack such insurance cover. BGWA can also arrange for health insurance to its members at a very low premium. Sahayog has entered into a partnership with a reputed NGO to help facilitate the paperwork and claims procedure for the insurance policy so that the members will have a steady support in their times of need. Additional facilities of Sahayog include opening of a bank account (with debit card facility) for the members from the unorganised sector.

Aashwas

A series of career counselling, personality development and vocational training programmes. As an attempt to attain its objective of advancement of the Gorkha community, Aashwas (Nepali translation being "Reassurance") has been organised by corporate and industry professionals residing in Bangalore. With the enthusiasm and drive to share professional wisdom and acumen to the budding sections of community, Aashwas provides a ready forum to students and professionals alike, wherein ideas and concepts are freely discussed and exchanged - all within the hope that the younger generations of our community become aptly equipped to take on the professional world as and when they do so. To those from the non-corporate arenas, Aashwas is roping in stalwarts from respective industries in order to buttress their positions and growth prospects thereon. Aashwas is a social welfare initiative of BGWA, wherein NO remuneration has been charged by the professionals in mentoring the attendees.^[5][6]

Sajilo

BGWA's initiative Sajilo - Hami Sabai Ko Lagi is aimed at sharing information amongst the Gorkhas in Bangalore. This is done via the BGWA website, emails and SMSes.

Gorkha Saanjh

A cultural event was organised in Bangalore by the Bharatiya Gorkhali Welfare Association on the evening of 14 September 2008 at the St. Johns Auditorium, Koramangala, Bangalore. The cultural festival was attended by over 2000 people.^[7]
The second Gorkha Saanjh was organised on 12 September 2009 at Ambedkar Bhavan, Bangalore. The theme for Gorkha Saanjh 2009 was "Tapaiko Sahayog, Hamro Aashwas" with the objective of raising funds for the two social welfare initiatives of BGWA.

Mantra - Live in Bangalore

On 19 September 2010, BGWA organized a concert by Mantra, a Nepali rock band from Darjeeling, at St. Johns Auditorium, Koramangala, Bangalore.

References