The Sikh Human Development Foundation (SHDF) is a non-profit, non-political, tax-exempt (under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of USA) organization. It was registered in the State of Maryland, USA, in May, 1999. By May 2009 it would have completed 10 years of dedicated service to our youth back home in India.

Profile of the SHDF Board (Executive Council) Members

SHDF is comprised of dedicated professionals from the Washington metropolitan area. A brief profile of each member is given below.

Chairman: Amar Jit Singh Sodhi (IAS Retd.) : Spent over two decades in the World Bank leading task teams to a dozen developing countries in Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe to help design and implement rural development and poverty reduction programs. Earlier, in India, as member of the I.A.S., served successively as District Commissioner (team leader and systems coordinator for comprehensive rural development) in three large districts; Managing Director (CEO) of the largest seed corporation in India; Director, small farmers' development program (Government of India), Agricultural Production Commissioner in Bihar, Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Agriculture and director on the board of a number of large corporations.

Secretary General: Gajinder Singh Ahuja : Worked in the World Bank for 25 years in the area of finance and retired as a Co-financing Officer. Highly experienced in budgetary matters; worked on several countries in the Bank. A Senior Judge in the panel of judges in the Hem Kunt Foundation. Widely respected in the community for his contribution to social development; has strong interpersonal skills.
Treasurer: Surinder Singh : President and CEO, EMC2, Inc., a company based in Maryland, USA, specializing in engineering, management and civil construction of large public and private projects. Enjoys community recognition for selfless service and managements skills.

Public Relations Officer: Veena Oberoi: She develops, designs and teaches leadership courses to professionals drawn from various streams at the Northern Virginia Regional Training Academy, and philosophy courses at the George Mason University. Also, conducts/facilitates seminars on related topics with the assistance of nationally renowned consultants. She is an ex-Chairperson of the Sikh Foundation of Virginia.

Member: Harbaksh Singh Sethi : (former Treasurer, SHDF). A reputable engineer with wide international experience. Retired as Procurement Advisor to the World Bank after over two decades of service. An ex-Chairman of the Sikh Foundation of Virginia.

Member: Rajwant Singh : a dental surgeon. Also National Chairman, Sikh Council for Religion and Education, USA, and Director, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in the Washington metropolitan area. Runs coveted courses and short duration camps in Gurmukhi and Sikhism for children.