PATIALA: Punjab Local Bodies, Parliamentary Affairs, Elections and Grievance Redressal Minister Mr Brahm Mohindra, today, hoisted the National Flag at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex (Polo Ground) in Patiala on the occasion of 75th Independence Day. On this occasion, Mr. Brahm Mohindra also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi along with the great freedom fighters of the country and great martyrs who sacrificed for the freedom of the country and also congratulated the people on Independence Day.
Listing the various movements for the independence of the country, he said that the great grandsons of Punjab Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kartar Singh Sarabha and Madan Lal Dhingra, Diwan Singh Kalepani, Shaheed Udham Singh and others have ever been remembered for their sacrifices. He said that Punjab has fought every battle for the country at forefront. He said that Punjab had fought hard for independence including the dark ages of terrorism and today our state was on the path of progress in a peaceful and prosperous environment under the steward leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Mr Brahm Mohindra while referring to the significant achievements of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh said that the Punjab Government was committed to the secure future of three lakh temporary/contractual employees and three lakh permanent employees of the state and soon they would get good a news. He said that after the implementation of the report of the Pay Commission by the Chief Minister, the dis-parity between the demands of the employees and the report is being addressed by the sub-committee, which would present its report in the next cabinet meeting.
The Local Bodies Minister while apprising Captain Amarinder Singh's concern over the depleting table of ground water in Punjab, said that the state government had decided to provide 24x7 supply of canal based clean drinking water in Jalandhar and Amritsar including Patiala and the projects have been started. He said that despite inherited GST, denomination, poor economic condition and now Covid pandemic, the Punjab government had not allowed any stagnation in the development of the state. He said that Punjab has been declared as the number one state in the country in the field of education in the PGI ranking released by the Government of India. Mr Brahm Mohidra especially congratulated the students of schools and colleges on the occasion and also announced the holiday on Monday 16th August in the educational institutions (Schools/Colleges) of the district.
He said that the Captain Amarinder Singh Government had provided 50 percent reservation to women, free bus travel facility besides free medical treatment worth Rs 450 cores and doubling of social security pensions. In addition, the government has given cash prizes of Rs 28.36 crore to the athletes and players who have excelled in the Tokyo Olympics to promote sports and athletes. He further said that the Punjab Government had also raised its voice in favor of the farmers and convened a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution to nullify the three anti-farmers laws in Punjab.
Highlighting the achievements of the Local Bodies Department, Mr Brahm Mohindra said that the Punjab Government had launched a housing scheme to provide proprietary rights to the homeless and poor in the state under which more than 7000 people were given proprietary rights. Apart from this, a one-time settlement scheme was also introduced to provide relief to the long-time occupants of properties under the Municipal Committees. In cities LED Lights have been installed, Ludhiana's Budha Nalla renovation project, renovation of Badi and Chhoti Nadi in Patiala city and other important projects have been implemented.
Mr Brahm Mohindra said that the state Government had taken special steps to maintain law and order in the state and also to protect the youth from drugs. He also applauded the services being rendered by Corona Warriors, doctors, paramedics, sanitary workers under Mission Fateh.
Mr Brahm Mohindra said that although Corona has slowed down the pace of development of the entire world but we are proud that under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Punjab today has achieved sustained development goals in fields of agriculture, power and infrastructure, urban development, all round development of villages, education, Health sector, industry and Citizen Services.
During the district level function, Mrs Preneet Kaur MP and Mr Brahm Mohindra, Cabinet Minister also felicitated the doctors, health personnel, police personnel, cleaners and social workers who rendered exemplary services during the COVID pandemic.
On this occasion, a march past led by Parade Commander DSP Neha Aggarwal and comprised of two units of District Police, one unit of Punjab Police Women's Wing, Punjab Home Guards, 4th Girls Battalion NCC Army Wing, 3rd Punjab Air Squadron NCC Wing, 5th Punjab NCC Army Wing and Band group of first IRB, Punjab Police gave salute to the National Flag and Chief Guest. On this occasion, MP Mrs Preneet Kaur, Divisional Commissioner Mr Chander Gaind, DIG Mr Vikramjit Duggal, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Kumar Amit and SSP Dr Sandeep Garg presented a memento to Local Government Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra.
On this occasion, District and Sessions Judge Rajinder Aggarwal, MLAs Madan Lal Jalalpur, Rajinder Singh Samana, Biba Jai Inder Kaur, VCs Prof. Arvind and Leut. Gen. J S Cheema, PRTC Chairman K K Sharma, Harinderpal Singh Harrimann, Mayor Sanjeev Sharma, Improvement Trust Chairman Sant Lal Banga, Mrs Harpreet Mohindra, Advocates Mohit Mohindra and Baksh Mohindra, Chairperson Punjab Social Welfare Board Gursharan Kaur Randhawa, Information Commissioner Amrit Partap Singh Honey Sekhon and Member Minorities' Commission Bahadur Khan were also present.