JASWANT SINGH GANDAM / RAMAN NEHRA
India Post News Service
PHAGWARA: Addressing the state-level 73rd Independence Day function at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar August 15, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh warned inimical forces against any attempt to destroy peace and harmony of the country and called upon all people to join hands in fighting such forces.
Addressing the gathering after unfurling the Tricolour, the Chief Minister said that there were anti-national forces that were envious of the peaceful atmosphere and development in the state.
“Let us rededicate ourselves to work collectively to build a strong and prosperous Punjab, and to cement the bonds of love, peace and amity,” he said.
Highlighting the immense contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, the Chief Minister said it was now the people’s collective duty to preserve the hard-earned freedom attained through countless sacrifices.
Recalling his visit to Jung-e-Azadi Memorial to inaugurate its third phase August 14, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the memorial would be instrumental in spreading awareness amongst the youngsters about various facets of the legendary Indian freedom struggle.
The Chief Minister said that 2019 is a historic year in view of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy.
He recalled the various development and infrastructural projects worth Rs 145 crore in Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts and laying of foundation stones of different projects at a cost of Rs 132 crore for the holistic development of both districts. The Chief Minister also referred to development projects inaugurated by his cabinet colleagues on August 14 across the state.
Referring to the crusade against drug abuse, Singh pointed out that 27,744 cases had been registered under NDPS Act with the arrest of 33,622 persons besides recovery of 767 kg of heroin and a huge quantity of other contraband substances. As many as 87,000 addicts were being treated in 178 OOAT centres in the state.
On the farmer-friendly initiatives, the Chief Minister said that the state government was contemplating to disburse Rs 520 crore to 285,000 farm labourers and landless farmers who are the members of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies. Under the debt relief scheme till date, 562,000 marginal and small farmers had been benefitted by settling their standing crop loans of Rs 4700 crore. He also stated that the total annual remuneration of farmers on account of government procurement of food grain had increased to Rs 1.24 lakh crore since 2017, thereby registering a hike of about Rs 30,000 crore over the earnings in the corresponding seasons of the previous government. Thus, farmers’ income through the sale of food grains had increased by over 32 per cent ever since his government took over, he said.
On the education front, the Chief Minister said for the first time in several years, government schools had outperformed private schools thereby registering an increase of 8.7 per cent in overall pass percentage of class 10 and 4.45 per cent in class 12 board results. He said 261 smart schools had been set up, covering all 217 educationally backward blocks at a cost of Rs 30 crore and nearly 4,000 primary, middle and high schools had been transformed into smart schools with the support of CSR, NGOs, NRIs and charitable institutions and individual donations.
Announcing that the state government would organize the Fifth 5th Mega Job Fair at different venues across the state from September 9 to 30, Captain Amarinder Singh said about 200,000 jobs in the private sector would be offered to the unemployed youth and 100,000 applicants are likely to be assisted for self-employment. Under the state government’s flagship ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar Scheme’ more than 900,000 youth had been facilitated in getting employment in private/government sectors or self-employment since March 2017. Nearly 600,000 youth had been assisted in self-employment, 260,000 lakh in private sector jobs and 40,000 in government jobs.
The Chief Minister also announced that the youth would be provided free smart mobile phones shortly, under the Digital Punjab initiative.
Captain Amarinder Singh also appealed to the people to plant 550 saplings each in all 12,700 villages in the state as part of 550th Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak. He said four million saplings had already been planted so far in 3500 villages to make the state clean, green and pollution-free.
On the revival of industry, the Chief Minister said that the new industrial policy had given a big boost with over Rs 50,000 crore in investments being firmed up.
To give a further push to rural development, the Chief Minister pointed out that an outlay of Rs 680 crore had been kept under the Smart Village Campaign – an umbrella program to ensure all-round development of villages, of which Rs. 198 crore had been released as the first instalment.
Prioritising the welfare of SC/BC, the Chief Minister said that 200 free units of power were being provided to SC, BPL and BC households. Similarly, his government had already enhanced the monthly social security pension from Rs 500 to Rs 750 for two million beneficiaries with an annual expenditure of Rs 1600 crore, besides enhancing the financial assistance under Ashirwad Scheme from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000. Under the Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana, 928,000 persons had been provided requisite relief/benefit out of around 1.2 million distressed persons identified under the Yojana.
Earlier, the Chief Minister took the salute during an impressive march past by the contingents of ITBP, Punjab Police, Rajasthan Police, Chandigarh Police, Guardians of Governance, Punjab Home Guards, NCC and PAP Pipe and Brass Band, and CRPF led by the parade Commander DSP Gursher Singh.
On the occasion, 10 tableaus displayed the plantation drive of 550 saplings in all villages in commemoration of the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak and Ghar Ghar Haryali by the Forest Department, Padho Punjab Padhao Punjab of Education Department, Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana of Health Department, Ghar Ghar Rozgar Scheme and Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana by ADC (Development) and District Bureau of Employment and Entreprises, Anti-Drug Campaign by SSP Rural, MGNREGS and Smart Village Campaign by ADC (Development) and DDPO, Save Water, Earn Money and Debt Relief Scheme of PSPCL and Cooperation Department, Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry Departments, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao by District Program Officer, and Smart City and Urban Environment Improvement Program by CEO Smart City and Commissioner Municipal Corporation.
Earlier, a colorful variety program comprising tent pegging by Punjab Police besides mass PT show, Giddha, Bhangra and other traditional folk dances performed by the school and college students enthralled the audience.
The Chief Minister also honoured three freedom fighters. Namely, Prem Sagar, Dev Brat Sharma and Jawahar Lal besides distributing sewing machines to the needy women and tricycles to physically challenged persons.
In a symbolic gesture, Captain Amarinder Singh also handed over appointment letters to five newly recruited youngsters who got employment in the private sector under Ghar Ghar Rozgar Scheme.
He also gave state awards to 21 eminent personalities.
Prominent among others who were present on the occasion were Member of Parliament Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Lt Gen (Retd) TS Shergill, MLAs Pargat Singh, Sushil Rinku, Chaudhary Surinder Singh, Rajinder Beri, Bawa Henry, and Hardev Singh Laddi, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta, former MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee, and ADGP Ishwar Singh.
