(This report was published in a News Paper “Daily Hari Bhumi” on 23.05.2002)

Mr. Baldev Singh Shokar, living in Canada for the last many years decided to establish a Charitable Hospital (Harminder Pal Shokar Memorial Charitable Hospital and Research Centre – HPSMCH) in his native birth place, village Bhusla, sub-division Guhla(Distt. Kaithal, Haryana) in the momeory of his brother Harminder Pal Shokar who had died a premature tragic death.

Mr. Baldev’s father had also died due to lack of medical facilities. These two incidents had an impact on Mr. Baldev Singh’s mind and he planned to establish a Charitable Hospital having all the modern medical facilities.

The construction of the hospital was started in 1994 and the building was completed in 1997. The hospital started functioning on 4th October, 1998. Dr. Parwana(who took over as Director of this hospital in January, 1999) informed this correspondent, with sorrow,  that a charitable society in Canada had donated, to Mr. Baldev Singh Shokar, equipment worth about rupees two crores for this hospital but the customs authorities in India demanded customs duty worth about rupees one crore. Mr Baldev  met the then Prime Minister Mr. Deve Gowda and later Mr. I. K. Gujral but with no positive outcome. Due to rigid rules and regulations, the equipment worth more than two crores was auctioned to scrap vendors for a meagre 24 lakh rupees. Now with blessings of Mr. Baldev Shokar and hard work of Dr. J. S. Parwana, this hospital is progressing by leaps and bounds. The hospital is now equipped with X-ray machine, ECG machine, operation theatre  and arrangements for antenatal care and delivery of pregnant women.

Free medical camps are organised in the nearby villages. Many such patients,  who were referred to Post Graduate Medical and Research Hospital, Chandigarh by medical practitioners of the nearby villages and towns, have been successfully treated in this hospital