Sikh Gurdwara project

If faiths are to make a difference they must start with themselves and their own communities.

One possible example is the Sikh gurdwaras in India. Most of the 28,000 gurdwaras, or temples run free kitchens or langars where anyone, regardless of need, creed or caste, can be fed. The Sikh community gives food to anyone who comes – about 30 million people a day, with for example the five great gurdwaras of Delhi feeding more than 10,000 hungry people every day.

	Sikh Gurdwaras in India have pledged to reduce their fuel consumption

The energy consumption for such an undertaking is vast. It is hoped that in the future the amount of fossil fuels used for heating, lighting and cooking at Delhi’s eight largest gurdwaras will be reduced by the use of solar power, and that later, gurdwaras in rural areas will be fitted with fuel-efficient cooking equipment. These initiatives would reduce energy consumption in these gurdwaras by up to 15 per cent.

This plan was put up in 2000 as a Sacred Gift, but to date very little has happened: it is waiting for an energetic, driven and popular local leader to take up the cause.