G.K.Singh

G.K.Singh Dhaliwal (born 17 June 1957) is an Indian civil servant who currently serves as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation for the city of Ludhiana^[1] in the state of Punjab. He is a 1986 batch officer of the Punjab Civil Services, was later promoted to Indian Administrative Service in 2001. He is also the founder of an NGOs Village Development Council, Jalwana,^[2] involved in the integrated development of backward areas of Punjab and is also the founder member of Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust,^[3] instrumental in rehabilitation of disabled.

Gopal Krishan Singh Dhaliwal ਗੋਪਾਲ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ
G.K.Singh,at the inauguration of Virasat-e-Khalsa Sri Anandpur Sahib,November 25, 2011
Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana
Incumbent
Assumed office December 27, 2014
Preceded by	Pradeep Aggarwal
Director General School Education, Punjab
In office June 29, 2014 – December 26, 2014
Preceded by	Anjali Bhawra
Succeeded by	Pradeep Aggarwal
Deputy Commissioner, Patiala
In office April 20, 2012 – May 23, 2014
Preceded by	Vikas Garg
Succeeded by	Varun Roojam
Deputy Commissioner, Ropar
In office April 3, 2011 – April 19, 2012
Preceded by	Arunjit Singh Miglani
Succeeded by	Pradeep Aggarwal
Personal details
Born	(1957-06-17) June 17, 1957 Jalwana, Sangrur, Punjab
Nationality	Indian
Spouse(s)	Neel Kamal Kaur Brar Dhaliwal (1988– )
Children	Rohan B.S. Dhaliwal, Kanwar Partap B.S. Dhaliwal
Residence	Chandigarh, India
Profession	Indian Administrative Services
Religion	Sikhism

Early life and education

G.K.Singh was born to Sukhdev Singh Dhaliwal and Mata Gurdial Kaur in village Jalwana, on the border of Districts of Ludhiana and Sangrur. He received his initial education in Government Primary School, Village Lohatbaddi. He was enrolled at Government Rajindra College, Bathinda for his higher studies. Here he excelled in academics and stood first in all his subjects including Political Sciences, Economics, Punjabi and English. He later joined, Panjabi University,Patiala with Political Sciences as his major subject in Honors School. He became the youngest gold medallist at the age of 20 years 6months in the history of the university.

Personal life

He married to Neel Kamal Brar in 1988 in Bathinda. He has two sons Rohan Bir and Kanwar Partap. His sons are doctors by profession.

Teaching years

He was appointed as a lecturer in this specialization field of International Politics by the Government of Punjab before he completed his masters in 1978 at an age of 21 years. He taught post graduate students in Government College, Mukatsar, Patran (Patiala) and Malerkotla (Sangrur)^[4] before quitting his job on being appointed as an officer in the Punjab Civil Services in 1986. He is invited to various universities and schools to give lectures about topics concerning various social issues.

Punjab Civil Services and Indian Administrative Services

G.K.Singh accompanying His Excellency Sh.Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab, inspecting Guard of Honor at Y.P.S.Stadium,Patiala

He was selected as an officer in the Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) after clearing the Punjab Public Service Commissioner exam. After completion of his training he was appointed Executive Magistrate,Bathinda. He later held the position of GA to DC,Faridkot. He was posted as District Transport Officer, Bathinda from 1991 to 1993 and Regional Transport Authority(RTA) from 1994 to 1996. During his stint as RTA, Ferozepur,^[4] he was instrumental in organizing the annual Road Safety Awareness Week. He joined as the Additional Deputy Commissioner(Development) in April 1996. He also served Departments of school education as Joint Secretary. He was appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur for a period of three years from 1999 till 2001. He also held the post of District Census Officer for 2001 Census Operations. He was awarded the President of India's Silver Medal for the same. He was appointed as Officer on Special Duty to Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mrs.Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. He was promoted to the Indian Administrative Services with the batch of 2001. He was posted as Director, Colonization, Punjab. He joined as the Deputy Commissioner, District of Rupnagar on 5 April 2011.^[5] During his tenure there he was instrumental in improving sanitation and greenery in the city as well as district. He was instrumental in stopping illegal sand mining in the area. He also played in conducting free and fair elections for state assembly in 2012. He was later given the charge of the Deputy Commissioner of District of Patiala in 2012. After a two year stint in Patiala, he was posted as Director General School Education, Punjab looking after the primary, middle and high school education in the state.^[6] As DGSE,Punjab he laid emphasis on student safety and took steps to prevent child abuse.^[7] He also banned phubbing by teachers during school hours.^[8] On December 25, 2014 he was given the charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana.^[9] He laid emphasis on promoting Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan improving the green belt and people's participation on joining his new assignment. During his tenure,Ludhiana was chosen as one of the 98 cities for the implementation of Smart City Scheme by the Ministry of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation,Government of India.

Awards and Honors

Certificate of Recognition by the House of Commons of Canada

1. President's Silver Medal 2001
2. Commendation Certificate by the House of Commons, Canada through MP Mr.Gurbax Singh Malhi
3. Certificate of Honor by Ms.Susan Fenell Mayor of Brampton,Canada.
4. Certificate of Honor by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta through MPP Mr.Darshan Kang
5. Certificate of Honor by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia MPP

Village development council

He along with the residents of his village Jalwana founded the Village Development Council on 13 April 1999. In the very first gathering of the village, a target was set to make it a model village by achieving the following 8 targets:^[10]

1. Construction of the village periphery road having a length of 1.25 km.
2. Redesigning the water drains and connecting them to Tallewal drain
3. Construction of a modern Old Age Home for village elders
4. Developing the village cremation ground.
5. Street lighting of all village streets and periphery roads and ensuring 24hour electricity supply
6. Building up of peaceful mutual brotherhood conducive to development of entire village
7. Providing a strong financial support to brilliant students for higher studies.
8. Steps towards mutual co-operation for removal of unemployment.

Within a year the Council was successful in achieving 6 of the above given targets. While carrying out these developments of projects the people's participation in all the activities was a great example for the surrounding areas. They not only contributed in terms of money but physically participated in all these activities.Whether it was the construction of village circular road, redesigning of village drains,development of village cremation ground and construction of mourners' shed or planting ornamental trees on the periphery of the village.It was the mutual co-operation and peoples participation which provided strength to their efforts and created an environment of mutual brotherhood in the village.

The honour of being the first village in the district having total street lights goes to this village.The periphery and streets of the village have been provided with halogen lamps and electric tubes.The villagers also think that not only darkness of streets is removed but also going to remove darkness from their hearts-the darkness of illiteracy, social evils etc. It is important to mention here that very rare Criminal Case has been reported in the last 15 years from the village.

G.K.Singh along with philanthropist S.P.S.Oberoi on a radio talk show hosted by RED FM, Surrey B.C.

The Governor of Punjab His Excellency Gen.J.F.R.Jacob declared it a "Millennium Village" on his maiden visit to the place.

Columnist

He is a regular columnist for leading Punjabi newspapers in India and Canada namely Gurmat Parkash(published by SGPC), Punjabi Tribune, Ajit, Indo Canadian Times, Desh Sewak, Desh Videsh on various social issues plaguing Punjab. He contributes to many vernacular magazines as well. He has been interviewed on talk shows in India(AIR) as well as Canada (RED FM).He launched a magazine named BALPREET,for school children as Deputy Commissioner, Patiala. This magazine is published by the District Child Welfare Council, Patiala, consists of contributions by the school children and is circulated in all government and private schools. He is also the advisor and founder member of "SAADE PIND" magazine published by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, Govt. of Punjab. It consists of articles to enlighten farmers about the latest farming practices and overall rural development. In 2015, his article about the martyrdom of Sahibzadas published in Gurmat Parkash was quoted by the Head Granthi of Sri Harimandir Sahib during the katha of the Daily Hukamnama from Sri Manji Sahib,Sri Amritsar Sahib.

References