CHANDIGARH / VANCOUVER (TIP): Red tape and a callous bureaucratic attitude derailed ambitious development projects initiated by NRIs in collaboration with the Punjab Government, said Harbance Singh (Herb) Dhaliwal, the first Indo-Canadian Cabinet Minister, in a conversation with The Tribune in Chandigarh.
Dhaliwal was referring to the efforts of the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of British Columbia, which launched development projects in 20 villages across the districts of Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. Started in 1999, the projects focused on wastewater treatment, underground sewerage, street lighting, tree plantation, gender empowerment, clean drinking water, paved streets, hygiene, and computer education.
“The initiative was led by Dr Gurdev Singh Gill, the first Indo-Canadian physician in 1958, known for his public service and grassroots activism. He stayed in Punjab to personally anchor the programme,” Dhaliwal said. “We began with Kharaudi village in Hoshiarpur district, which was later visited by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam,” he added.
The programme received early support, and former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh even announced that 700 villages would be developed as model villages during a function in Bahrampur, Ludhiana.
“Initially, the state government responded positively, but over time, things changed. Bureaucratic hurdles and delays in project clearances made it difficult to move forward. Officers offered only lip service. Eventually, we withdrew. After Dr Gill passed away in 2023, our connection with the government was lost,” Dhaliwal shared.
He added, “The project had the enthusiastic support of Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal and Capt. Amarinder Singh. I also discussed it with former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh, I.K. Gujral, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. NRIs from the USA joined efforts in at least one village.”
He remarked that despite good intentions from political leadership, the state machinery failed to offer sustained cooperation, and we were left stranded midway.
Political Career
A member of Jean Chrétien’s government, Dhaliwal served as Canada’s Minister of Revenue in 1997, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in 1999, and Minister of Natural Resources in the same year.
Personal Journey
Dhaliwal’s grandfather had migrated to Russia in 1904, then to the USA, and eventually settled in Vancouver. Born on December 12, 1952, in Chaheru village (Kapurthala), Dhaliwal moved to Canada at the age of five.
“My parents worked as laborers and encouraged me to focus on education. I supported myself with jobs in sawmills and other small tasks,” he recalled. He earned a B. Com from the University of British Columbia in 1972 and started a maintenance business from his basement. He later expanded into transportation and real estate. A self-made millionaire, Dhaliwal donated $1 million to his alma mater for medical cannabis research. Dhaliwal’s wife, Amrit Kaur, passed away. He is father to two daughters and a son and has five grandchildren.
Canada Still Needs Indian Youth
On the recent deportation of thousands of Indian students from Canada, Dhaliwal called it a temporary phase. “Canada is facing an aging population crisis. We need young people,” he said. “The current situation is due to poor planning—lack of housing and jobs. But in the long run, Canada will need more youngsters to lead the country forward. Better planning is the need of the hour.”
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to create a very good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to make a really good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
Technical explanations are easier to evaluate when they state their assumptions and provide enough context for the reader.
Explore Bitcoin news with attention to what happened, when it happened and which evidence supports the report.
Cryptocurrency tools deserve careful evaluation. Read documentation and understand access requirements before relying on a service.
An independent collection of reading references on blockchain structure, transaction history and the limits of simplified analogies.
Transaction fees are easier to discuss when the network, transaction type and current conditions are clearly identified.
A reading reference for building familiarity with Bitcoin vocabulary before moving into more specialized subjects.
An independent collection about the wider digital asset ecosystem and the terminology used across its many services.
An independent reading collection about wallet fundamentals, including the differences between addresses, keys and recovery information.
Explore how evidence, attribution and publication dates affect the usefulness of cryptocurrency information.
Bitcoin reporting covers many subjects, including software, businesses and policy. Context helps explain which part of the ecosystem a story concerns.
Technical explanations are easier to evaluate when they state their assumptions and provide enough context for the reader.
Explore Bitcoin news with attention to what happened, when it happened and which evidence supports the report.
Explore the questions behind cryptocurrency adoption without assuming that every use case or product has the same requirements.
Explore the role of authentication, backups and source verification in discussions about digital asset security.
Cryptocurrency news is easier to assess when reporting, analysis and advertising are treated as different kinds of information.
A useful cryptocurrency introduction explains its scope and makes clear where a reader may need more detailed information.
A thoughtful approach to blockchain learning asks what is being recorded, who verifies it and which rules apply.
Cryptocurrency education benefits from careful reading, source checks and a willingness to separate explanations from promotional claims.
Explore cryptocurrency as a subject of study, with attention to sources, technical explanations and the context behind each claim.
Cryptocurrency learning is an ongoing process of refining definitions, checking examples and revisiting earlier assumptions.