Punjab News:80th Independence Day celebrated with great pomp & show in Pathankot
Cabinet Minister Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak hoists the National Tricolour; Pays tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs
Punjab Government giving special priority to Education, Health, Employment, Farming, Sports and Public Welfare: Lal Chand Kataruchak
The country’s 80th Independence Day was celebrated with great reverence, enthusiasm and patriotic fervor at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium, Lamini, in District Pathankot.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Forests & Wildlife Preservation Minister Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak, attended the district-level function as the Chief Guest. He hoisted the National Tricolour and took the salute of the parade.
On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Pathankot Dr. Pallavi, SSP Pathankot Daljinder Singh Dhillon, along with district administration officers, police officials, officers and employees of various departments, school students, and a large number of residents were also present.
The ceremony began with the National Anthem. Thereafter, the Chief Guest Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak hoisted the National Flag and a rendition of the National Song was presented by the band of Pratap World School. The Chief Guest inspected the parade. On this occasion, balloons were released into the air to convey the message of the country’s unity, integrity and communal harmony.
In his address, Cabinet Minister Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak extended Independence Day greetings to all the people of Punjab and said that the freedom of the country is the result of the immense sacrifices of countless freedom fighters and martyrs. He paid humble tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Sukhdev, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Udham Singh, Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad, Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra, Shaheed Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani and countless other great freedom fighters.
He said that Punjabis made unparalleled sacrifices during the freedom struggle and take pride in their great heritage. He added that the Punjab Government is committed to building a Punjab of the martyrs’ dreams. In this regard, pictures of Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh and the architect of the Constitution, Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, have been installed in government offices. After naming Mohali International Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam has also been installed there.
The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government is undertaking special initiatives for the welfare of soldiers, families of martyrs and ex-servicemen. The ex-gratia amount for the heirs of martyred soldiers has been increased from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore, and this now also includes Agniveers. A financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore has also been arranged for the families of police personnel.
He said that Punjab is the land of Gurus, Peers and Saints. A budget of Rs. 100 crore has been set aside for year-long events dedicated to the 650th Parkash Purab of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj. Similarly, Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Study Centre is also being developed, and a campaign is also being run across Punjab to set up Shri Guru Ravidas Ji gardens, and plant saplings.
Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak further said that the Punjab Government has launched the ‘Mukh Mantri Maan-Dhian Satkar Yojana’ for the respect and economic empowerment of women. In addition, under the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana’, cashless treatment is being provided in government and empanelled private hospitals in Punjab and Chandigarh. He said that through Aam Aadmi Clinics in the state, lakhs of people are receiving free treatment, medicines and tests.
He said that to fulfill the promise of providing employment to youth, the Punjab Government has provided more than 69,000 government jobs since April 2022. Domestic consumers are being given 300 units of free electricity per month, and more than 90% of households are receiving zero electricity bills. The facility of free electricity for agriculture is also continuing for farmers.
Speaking about the government’s campaign against drugs, he said that strict action is being taken to eradicate drug trafficking from its roots. Along with this, a decisive campaign is also being run against gangsters. He said that modern technology and special task forces are being deployed to further strengthen the security and law and order in the state.
Highlighting the achievements of the Punjab Government in the field of education, he said that teachers and principals of government schools are being trained at institutions such as Singapore, Finland and IIM Ahmedabad. Students of government schools are also performing remarkably well in competitive exams like JEE and NEET.
Mentioning the development works carried out in Pathankot district, the Cabinet Minister informed that there are 32 Aam Aadmi Clinics in the district and 12 new Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened. Through these, people are being provided free medicines and lab tests. A large number of people in the district are availing free treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana.
He informed that a new MRI and Ultrasound machine is being installed at the District Hospital Pathankot for the convenience of patients. In addition, a new OPD block is also being constructed. New Medical Officers and Staff Nurses have been recruited in the Health Department.
Significant work is also being done in the fields of education and sports in the district. Principals, Headmasters and teachers of Pathankot schools have been sent for training at foreign and national-level institutions. 58 sports grounds are being built in the district, while 29 sports grounds are being developed in the Bhoa constituency, as many as 30 gyms have also been set up in villages.
The Cabinet Minister said that in Pathankot district, 265 link roads — about 370 km long — have been specially repaired or are under progress. In addition, 25 new link roads have been constructed or are under construction. He said that the Punjab Government is continuously working to strengthen the basic infrastructure in rural areas.
He said that the Punjab Government is effectively implementing schemes for the welfare of farmers, women, youth, students, labourers, elderly and every section of society. The government’s aim is to once again make Punjab ‘Rangla Punjab’ through modernizing education, health, employment, sports, agriculture and industrial development.
In the end, Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak paid humble tributes to all the great martyrs who laid down their lives for the country’s freedom and prayed for the prosperity, progress, unity and integrity of Punjab and the country. He urged the people of the district to strengthen mutual brotherhood, harmony and unity and contribute to making Punjab a prosperous and developed state.
During the ceremony, Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, and NCC and non-NCC students from various schools presented the march-past and saluted the Tricolour. The CM’s Yogshala team gave an excellent presentation, and various schools presented colorful cultural programs.
Those who presented cultural programs and participated in the march-past, along with youth and employees who performed exceptionally well in the district, were honored with certificates of appreciation. Sewing machines, tricycles and wheelchairs were also distributed to beneficiaries under various schemes.
On the occasion, the Chief Guest Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak announced a holiday in all schools of the district on Monday.
The District Administration honored the Chief Guest, Cabinet Minister Punjab Shri Lal Chand Kataruchak and his wife Smt. Urmila Devi with a memento and by presenting them with shawls.
Among others present on the occasion included Shri Amandeep Sandhu, District President Pathankot; Thakur Swarn Singh Salaria Constituency Incharge Sujanpur; Rohit Sial, Constituency Incharge Pathankot; Rekha Mani Sharma, Member Punjab State Women Commission; Naresh Saini, Majha Zone Secretary BC Wing; Saurav Behl, Chairman Improvement Trust Pathankot; Ashwani Sharma, MLA Pathankot; Gurpreet Kaur, Chairperson Zila Parishad; Sahib Singh Saba, Vice-Chairman Zila Parishad; Pawan Bhardwaj, Chairman Block Samiti Gharota; Contractor Amarjit Singh, State Secretary SC Wing; Roshan Lal Bhagat, District President SC Wing; Baljinder Bunty, President Kisan Wing; Geeta Devi, Chairperson Block Samiti Pathankot; Subhash Verma; Natinder Singh, Constituency Organization Incharge; Vijay Kumar Bitta, District Incharge BC Wing; Dinesh Subha, State General Secretary Youth Wing; and other office bearers.