Sikh charity president donates dialysis machines to Thai hospitals; also funds schools to improve education for underprivileged children

AMRITSAR: Following the Sikh tradition of Dasvandh—donating ten per cent of one’s income—the Sikh president of the Thai-Indian Peace and Happiness Charity, based in Thailand, has been raising and donating funds to the Kidney Foundation of Thailand.

This support has helped the Foundation acquire 30 dialysis machines, which have been installed in government hospitals across the country, offering free advanced dialysis treatment to underprivileged patients.Darshan Singh Sachdev, an Indian-origin, second-generation turban-wearing Sikh and president of the charity, said they recently donated 5 lakh Thai Baht (approximately ₹13 lakh) to the Foundation at a function in Bangkok for the purchase of one dialysis machine.

He explained that the Foundation directly procures high-quality dialysis machines and installs them in government hospitals. So far, 30 machines have been provided through the charity’s donations. Quoting Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings of Vand Chhako (share with others) and Kirat Karo (earn through honest work), Sachdev said the charity encourages people to donate at least dasvandh — one-tenth of their income — towards humanitarian work that upholds the Sikh values of selfless service, equality, and generosity.

He added that not only people of Indian origin but many Thais also contribute to the charity for various philanthropic initiatives across the country. Notably, Darshan Singh’s grandfather, Daulat Singh, hailed from Ugoki town in the Sialkot district (now in Pakistan) and later migrated to Thailand. His father, Harinder Singh Sachdev, was born there, and Darshan Singh himself was born in Yala city, southern Thailand, in 1949. He further shared that the charity also funds the construction of school buildings to promote education, particularly among underprivileged communities. These schools are later taken over and managed by the government to ensure long-term support and quality education.