Jalandhar, December 13
“According to unofficial estimates, over 70,000 Punjabis are suffering from AIDS.” This was stated by philanthropist and NRI Dr Raghbir Singh Bains while talking to The Tribune.

Settled in Canada for around 18 years, Dr Bains is nowadays in India and is spreading general awareness about AIDS, especially among the youth.

The 72-years-old NRI, who usually comes to India every year, has addressed a number of seminars at Khalsa College, Jalandhar, and other educational institutes in Nawanshahr and Kapurthala districts.

Asking the Punjabi youth to remain vigilant against the deadly disease, Dr Bains said, “More than half of the new HIV victims are in the age group of 15 to 24 years. According to the revised figures by the government of India in 2007, more than three million people are living with HIV or AIDS in India.’’

With an aim to educate youth, he carried out a state-level rally against AIDS in Jalandhar on World AIDS Day with the help of Prof Naranjan Singh Dhesi. His initiative was backed by the Lyallpur Khalsa College Governing Council (Jalandhar), the Volunteer Health Association (Punjab), UNAIDS (India), the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, the health department, Punjabi Sath Punjab, Dhart Suhavi Punjab, Savi Dharti Punjab and dozens of colleges and other NGOs.

Already recipient of several awards and titles, including the Order of British Columbia, Order of Khalsa, Sikh Scholar of Computer Age and Community Mentor Award, Dr Bains was recently felicitated by Press Club Fatehgarh Sahib with the “Drugs and Aids Education award 2007” for his services.

Dr Bains came into limelight with his encyclopaedia of Sikhism that was released by the Canada’s Prime Minister in parliament. He won laurels in the world by producing the robotic and LCD touch screen “Multimedia Sikh museum”. His hard work bore fruits when his biography was included in the book “Canadian Who’s Who”, which depicts biographies of famous people in the country.