Shamsher Singh
Shamsher Singh is a Social activist, who is running an abandoned and disabled persons care center
named as ‘Prabh Aasra’ at Kharar near Mohali in Punjab. He was born on 15-2-73 at Mohali, Distt.
Roppar in Punjab, India in the house of S Nashatar Singh and Surjit kaur. He obtained his qualification as
a Pharmacist and started his chemist shop business. After some time his business increased and he had two
shops. He was highly influenced by Bhagat Puran Singh who had been taking care of the disabled persons
(Pingals in Punjabi) and a thought always came to his mind that he should also do something for the care
and rehabilitation of the unclaimed persons who are generally seen unattended on the roadsides. When he
came across such persons, hungry and diseased, living in difficult weather conditions on pavements, he sold
one of his shops at Kharar and brought such persons there to look after them by providing them foods and
medicines.
His wife Sdn. Rajinder Kaur joined him and both of them started their efforts on 15th December
2003. Gradually in a rented portion a home for such helpless persons was started at Chandigarh. Three
trained teachers and two caretakers were employed for helping them. As the number of patients increased
then the inmates were shifted in a new house at Village Khanpur, District Mohali. When S. Kuldeep Singh
of Kharar volunteered to gift his one Kanal land to the society formed by S. Shamsher Singh, the activities
to help such persons were increased. The society formed by S. Shamsher Singh is called Universal Disabled
Caretaker Social Welfare Society (Regd.) Prabh Aasra, home for the helpless is being looked after by this society. They bring such abandoned persons who are not kept by their near and dear ones and here they
are looked after very well. Some of these persons are reconciled with their own persons at home and or
sent back to them. A firm believer in Gurbani considers such a service to mankind as supreme by quoting
‘Vich Duniya Sev Kamayiai Ta Dargeh Baisan Payiai’. He and his wife are definitely a role-model couple
in this regard. They are taking care of more than 300 destitutes at Headquarter at Padiala, Kharar and
another center at Jhanjhari. The serving coupled also guided and helped in opening a similar center at
Ganganagar. They are of the opinion that there should be many centers as to take care of such destitutes who
are abandoned by their near and dear ones and live in miserable conditions. The Government should pay
attention to such people and make arrangements to rehabilitate them by providing funds and appointing
the concerned authorities to do the needful. S. Shamsher Singh has also filed a PIL in the High Court of
Punjab and Haryana in this matter. There is no doubt that they are doing a unique service and are a source
of inspiration for all other people.