Patiala, August 16:- On the occasion of the country’s 80th Independence Day, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian hoisted the National Tricolour in Patiala and said that the Punjab Government is working towards creating the “Rangla Punjab” envisioned by the martyrs. On the occasion, he inspected the parade, took the salute from the marching contingents and honoured the descendants of the families of freedom fighters. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal and SSP Varun Sharma were also present.
Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who also holds the portfolios of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Food Processing, paid tributes to the freedom fighters of the country’s independence movement, Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Diwan Singh Kalepani and other freedom fighters who participated in the freedom struggle. He said that Punjabis made the greatest sacrifices for the country, due to which we are able to breathe in an atmosphere of freedom today.
He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on the very first day of the formation of the present government, had taken an oath at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, to fulfil the dreams of the martyrs, and the Punjab Government is fully committed to fulfilling this pledge. He said that the Bhagwant Mann Government is firmly committed to the welfare of soldiers, families of martyrs and ex-servicemen. He also mentioned the decision to provide an ex-gratia amount of ?1 crore to the families of soldiers who attain martyrdom, particularly Agniveers who are martyred.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Khuddian said that Punjab’s farmers have made the highest contribution to the country’s food grain reserves, even at the cost of their soil and groundwater resources. Referring to the positive changes brought about by the initiatives undertaken by the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in the agriculture sector, he said that incidents of stubble burning decreased by 53 per cent during the last Kharif season and subsidies ranging from 50 to 80 per cent were provided on 1.58 lakh crop residue management machines.
He said that this year, to conserve groundwater, direct sowing of paddy has been brought under an area of 4 lakh acres, compared to 2.93 lakh acres last year. Similarly, major improvements have been made in canal irrigation by spending ?7,200 crore, resulting in a historic and exemplary increase in the use of canal water for irrigation instead of groundwater.
Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that efforts are being made to acquaint the younger generation with the rich legacy of the Gurus and Bhagats. He said that the Punjab Government is celebrating the 650th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji on a large scale. Besides this, programmes such as “Hamare Ram” and “Ek Shaam Shiv Ke Naam” are also being organised. Earlier, the government had also commemorated the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji with devotion and reverence.
Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian highlighted various initiatives of the Punjab Government, including employment and education for youth, making Punjab a leading state in the country, the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhian Satikar Yojana, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, Aam Aadmi Clinics, promotion of industry and trade, the war against drugs and gangsters, construction and renovation of roads, upgradation of link roads, electricity, transport, clean drinking water, administrative reforms, rural development, sports and the Rangla Punjab Development Scheme. He said that the Punjab Government is moving forward with the objective of making the state a “Rangla Punjab”.
During the programme, a splendid parade comprising 10 contingents under the leadership of Parade Commander DSP Fateh Singh Brar took part in the March Past and presented the salute to the Cabinet Minister. The contingents included ITBP, Patiala Police, Home Guards, NCC, the Pipe Band of 1st IRB, Red Cross St. John Ambulance Brigade, Purani Police Lines School and Guide Squad, Senior Secondary Model School and students of Punjabi University.
Afterwards, the Chief Guest distributed sewing machines to seven beneficiaries and needy women, six tricycles and one wheelchair through the Indian Red Cross Society, Patiala.
Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian also announced a holiday in all government and private schools of Patiala district on Monday, August 17, in view of the Independence Day celebrations.
A large number of students from various schools and colleges presented an impressive cultural programme, while members of Miri Piri Ranjit Akhara Budha Dal and students of schools and colleges displayed their skills in Gatka.
Tableaux depicting the development works and achievements of the Education, Police, Health, Forest, Social Security and Women & Child Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sports Departments and Municipal Corporation were also presented.
During the event, the Patiala district administration honoured Chief Guest Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian with a memento. The Cabinet Minister also honoured four martyr families of the district and Simrandeep Kaur, Rasneet Kaur and Jayant Garg, who cleared the UPSC examination and became IAS officers.
Among those present on the occasion were Lok Sabha Member Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi, MLAs Ajitpal Singh Kohli, Chetan Singh Jauramajra and Gurlal Ghanaur, Sanour In-charge Ranjodh Singh Hadana, Mayor Kundan Gogia, District Planning Committee Chairman Tejinder Mehta, Improvement Trust Chairman Harpal Singh Virk, Jagdeep Jagga, Chairman Baljinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman Ashok Sirswal, Traders Commission Chairman Sanjeev Gupta, Gurpreet Singh Dhamoli, District and Sessions Judge Avtar Singh, Padma Shri Jagjit Singh Dardi, theatre personality Pran Sabharwal, Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jaishankar Singh, Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Open University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rattan Singh, Divisional Commissioner Vinay Bublaani, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, SSP Varun Sharma, ADCs Damanjit Singh Mann and Anuprita Johal, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pooja Syal, SP Vaibhav Chaudhary, along with a large number of councillors.