Selfless Service endears
The ensuing elections to City Councils and Local Boards throughout the country will witness a record number of people of Indian origin evincing interest in politics.
Be it a new sense of awakening or a maturing community, Indians are beginning to arrive on the political scene and their influence will continue to grow.
Among the community leaders making a bid to be a Councillor at the new Auckland (Super) City Council from Otara Papatoetoe under Labour Party is Daljit Singh.
He has risen into prominence in recent years not only as a businessman dealing in property sales but also as a person keen to help anyone in need.
His role as the Chairman of The Supreme Sikh Council of New Zealand and as the spokesman for the New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland Inc has taken him close to communities and understand their needs and aspirations.
“I have always felt closer to people and as a Councillor, I will be able to work for them and ensure their continued progress and prosperity as citizens and residents of this great country. There are also many people whose voices are never heard and their needs never addressed. I would be privileged to assist them,” he said.
Immigration has been an area in which he has been involved for the past eight years, handling more than 1200 cases, most of them considered “difficult.”
What made a success in the field was that he “fought causes” and did not charge any of his clients.
“They were already under stress and fleeced by some unscrupulous people. I did not want to put them under any more financial burden,” he said.
Mr Singh obtained a licence to practice as Immigration Adviser in November 2009 as per the new law that came into force.
He said licensed Immigration Advisers are professionally qualified people with a high level of expertise and integrity.
“Their charges vary depending on various factors. But I have decided to offer my services completely free of charge because I want to serve the Indian community and the people of New Zealand. Although free, there will be no difference in the standard of service offered,” he said.
Mr Singh believes that it is time to serve the larger communities in New Zealand, especially in Otara and Papatoetoe, for which he is seeking representation.
“Auckland is increasingly becoming diverse and the creation of the Super City would pose additional challenges to communities. I would like to accept those challenges and serve the people,” he said.
Phone: 021-803512 Email: daljit@xtra.co.nz
Waste Not Want Not
There are people who believe in conservation and consolidation of resources and directing them towards the betterment of communities and societies.
Among them is Ram Rai, who is a Citizens & Ratepayers candidate for Puketapapa (Mt Rosill) in next month’s Auckland City Council election.
Neither politics nor public service is not new for this ‘man of his word’ and hard worker. He entered the former as a student in his native India and currently a Deputy Chair of the National Party’s Northern Region and Chair of the Party’s Mt Roskill Electorate in Auckland. As for the latter, his ability to understand and meet needs was augmented as an entrepreneur in the food business until recently.
Fluent in six languages, Mr Rai has what it takes to represent people with a commitment that has involved him in the health sector as well.
His work experience in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and New Zealand provided him the ability to assimilate and appreciate cultural plurality and a penchant for public service.
As an immigrant, as an employer of over 30 staff, and as a medium size business owner, Mr Rai understands the problems faced by the average New Zealander across the ethnic and income spectrum.
He has assisted a number of people with immigration woes, giving either sound advice or guiding them to the appropriate people.
“Ostentatious and wasteful expenditure must be avoided at all costs,” he says with a pun. “Aucklanders deserve a better life, with affordable rates, efficient and cost-effective transport and a healthy system that meets their expectations,” he said.
Mr Rai is passionate about the youth of this country and believes that given the right challenges and the opportunities to overcome them, our young men and women will be more productive and useful members of the society.
He is also passionate about the Puketapapa (Mt Roskill) region.
“We must encourage residents to shop locally and make Mt Roskill an attractive destination to travel and shop. With a new Art Gallery opening at Monte Cecilia Park, we have a great opportunity to promote Mt Roskill across the Auckland Region,” he said, in his recent column in Indian Newslink (August 15, 2010).
Mr Rai said, as a representative of the people, he would encourage various communities to work together for the common good.
“We must celebrate our diversity as a means of utilising all of us as New Zealanders,” he said.
Phone: 021-655922 Email: ramrai1@xtra.co.nz
Health is Wealth
Many of us have always believed that medical practitioners including doctors and nurses belong to a noble profession and that their services are vital for the progress of any country. On such a score, those keen to enter public administration deserve public patronage and support.
Auckland based Planet Ayurveda Director Dr Ajit Singh has since long been an advocate of quality life to all New Zealanders, hoping to make a difference whenever he is accorded an opportunity to do so.
He could well be on the threshold of a new status in his career if elected to the County Manukau District Health Board (DHB) in the ensuing Local Body election.
As the only candidate of Sub-Continent origin, he is confident of pursuing the goal of enhancing the wellbeing of people from this region who are often victims of such diseases relating to the heart, diabetes and other ailments.
“We need a holistic approach to health and should not allow anyone to suffer for lack of planning and care. New Zealanders deserve quality healthcare and I hope to make a beginning if elected to the Manukau DHB,” he said.
Dr Singh said Ayurveda, which concentrates on the preventive rather than curative aspect of care, is the oldest form of medicine known to mankind, influencing the lives of people for at least 5000 years.
He was the main architect in the establishment of the Australasian Ayurvedic Practitioners Association in New Zealand and Australia and is currently a member of the International Council of Ayurvedic Medicine.
Dr Singh is acknowledged as the driving force behind the creation of synergy between Ayurveda and Western medicine to enable people to lead healthy lives, free of stress, disease and other afflictions.
His clients laud his professionalism, pleasing manners and deep-rooted knowledge of the Ayurvedic philosophy.
Dr Singh and his wife Rippan Sandhu have developed Ayurda, an Ayurvedic skincare range which has reportedly redefined the concept of natural skin and hair care.
Their product range includes cleansers, toners, moisturisers, creams, face packs, shampoos and gels.
Dr Singh is also a Director of Australasian Institute of Ayurvedic Studies, the premier Ayurvedic Institute in the Australasian region.
Established in 1999, the centre offers NZQA (New Zealand) and VETAB (Australia) approved courses, with full-time, part-time and distance learning modules.
Phone: 021-913625 Email:drajit@planetayurveda.co.nz
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