Phagwara jal sewa completes forty years of selfless service

In a unique and heart-warming tradition of community service, Janta Jal Sewa Samiti Phagwara has entered its 40th consecutive year of providing free cold drinking water to railway passengers at Phagwara Railway Station during the sweltering North Indian summer months.

The initiative, now a hallmark of Phagwara’s deeply rooted culture of seva (selfless service), was formally launched in 1986 by local social worker Vipin Khurana. Drawing inspiration from earlier efforts by Manav Sewa Sangh Phagwara, led by the late Tilak Raj Mata and Romesh Mata during the 1970s, Khurana and a group of committed volunteers revived and institutionalised the service with the support of generous philanthropists.

As mercury levels in North India approach 35°C, volunteers of the Samiti have resumed their annual campaign. Each day, dozens of volunteers assemble at the station with tubs of clean, ice-cooled water and colourful plastic glasses. As trains pause briefly on the busy Amritsar–Delhi and Jammu–Delhi corridors, the volunteers swiftly move along the platforms, offering water to passengers during the short halt.

Due to the limited stoppage time, passengers are encouraged to toss the used glasses onto the platform, where they are promptly collected, washed and reused by the team, ensuring both hygiene and sustainability.

“Offering water to a thirsty soul is among the highest forms of service,” says Khurana, who personally oversees the quality of water and sanitation every day. He even inspects ice slabs for cleanliness before they are added to the large tubs strategically placed across both platforms.

A tradition of giving

What distinguishes this initiative is not just its scale but the level of community involvement. On festive occasions like Ram Navmi, Baisakhi and Janmashtami, sweetened water is served to passengers in celebration. Volunteers also refill passengers’ personal water bottles and surais (traditional earthen pots), making the act of giving both practical and culturally considerate.

Each summer, the Samiti faces a recurring challenge—missing glasses. Yet this is never a setback, as local residents replenish the supply daily, often arriving at the station with new glasses, unasked and unpaid. “Perhaps nowhere else in India does such a grassroots effort thrive so consistently and purely,” remarks one long-time volunteer. The sentiment is echoed by travellers who pass through Phagwara, many of whom are deeply moved by the service.

Support from all walks of life

The Samiti’s mission is sustained by strong community backing. Philanthropists and local leaders continue to support the effort financially and morally.

Among the notable contributors are Kuldip Sardana, GNA University Chairman Gurdip Singh Seehra, exporter Sat Pal Sethi, and political leaders including former Union Home Minister Som Parkash, Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, former Municipal Committee President Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, former Mayor Arun Khosla, and former ministers Joginder Singh Maan, Smt Santosh Chaudhary, Vijay Sampla and current MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal.

Their continued support reflects the city’s collective belief in the power and importance of service.

Sewa beyond summer

While the jal sewa (water service) remains the Samiti’s primary summer mission, their compassion extends throughout the year. In the winter months, volunteers shift their focus to Phagwara’s civil hospital, distributing hot milk, bread, fruits and basic medicines to underprivileged patients, furthering their commitment to community welfare.

Jalandhar