Nawanshahr, August 15:- Punjab Cabinet Minister for Technical Education and Industrial Training, Higher Education and Languages, School Education, Information and Public Relations, and Local Government, S. Harjot Singh Bains, hoisted the National Flag at the Government ITI Ground on Saturday on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day.
During the occasion, the Minister highlighted the transformative achievements of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann over the past four years and reiterated the government’s commitment to building a vibrant and prosperous Punjab.
MLA Banga Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, District and Sessions Judge Jatinderpal Singh Khurmi, Chairman Improvement Trust Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Vice Chairman Kuljit Sarhal, constituency in-charge Jaspreet Singh Robbie Kang, and District President Satnam Chaudhary were also present on the occasion.
After unfurling the Tricolour, the Minister inspected the parade along with Deputy Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh and SSP Tushar Gupta. He paid tribute to freedom fighters including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai and Udham Singh, remembering their sacrifices for the nation. He said, “Punjabis have made an unparalleled contribution to the freedom of the country and continue to remain at the forefront in safeguarding the interests of the nation.”
The Minister also highlighted the major achievements of the state government, including the Mawan Dhian Satkar Scheme, Chief Minister Health Scheme, Chief Minister Tirath Yatra Scheme, free electricity, Punjab Education Revolution and several other initiatives. He said year-long programmes are being organised to commemorate the 650th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji, for which ?100 crore has been allocated in the budget.
He said that the Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Study Centre is also being developed at Dera Sachkhand Ballan for the study of the life, philosophy and sacred Gurbani of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji. The centre will be spread over more than 10 acres and will be developed at an estimated cost of ?37 crore. The Cabinet Minister further said that, as part of the year-long celebrations, Guru Ravidas Ji’s gardens are being established across Punjab on 650 acres of land.
Besides this, a campaign is being undertaken to plant 6.50 lakh saplings and distribute 6.50 lakh commemorative flags. During the first week of October, four Shobha Yatras will be taken out from Varanasi, Faridkot, Bathinda and Jammu to Sri Khuralgarh Sahib. As part of these celebrations, 50 mobile vans will also travel to 13,000 villages across all districts to screen documentaries on the life, philosophy and teachings of Guru Ravidas Ji.
Similarly, 25 new ITIs are being established, while 13 existing institutions are being upgraded. To improve the quality of education, the state government has sent 264 principals and education administrators to Singapore, 288 primary teachers to Finland, and 243 headmasters to IIM Ahmedabad for training.
Emphasising the benefits of free electricity, the Minister said that nearly 90 per cent of domestic consumers are benefiting from 300 units of free electricity every month.
Following the march-past, students from various institutions presented a patriotic cultural programme. The Minister honoured families of freedom fighters, police personnel and participants in the parade, besides felicitating individuals who have made outstanding contributions in different fields. He also distributed tricycles to persons with disabilities and sewing machines to needy people.