At the district-level Independence Day function held at Police Line Stadium, Sangrur, Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora paid glowing tributes to India’s great martyrs and freedom fighters. He said that the nation enjoys independence today because of the sacrifices and struggles of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai, Diwan Singh Kalepani and many others. He added with pride that Punjabis made some of the greatest sacrifices during the freedom movement.
Minister Sanjeev Arora recalled that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann took his oath of office at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and thereafter decided to display portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in government offices. He also mentioned that Mohali International Airport has been renamed after Bhagat Singh and his statue installed there.
ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸੰਜੀਵ ਅਰੋੜਾ ਨੇ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਦਿਵਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਵਿਖੇ ਤਿਰੰਗਾ ਝੰਡਾ ਲਹਿਰਾਇਆ।
ਇਸ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣੂ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਘੁਲਾਟੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਾਰਸਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ।
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ… pic.twitter.com/cRy2gHWK8y— Government of Punjab (@PbGovtIndia) August 15, 2025
Highlighting key initiatives, Minister Sanjeev Arora said the Punjab Government has taken historic steps including expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics, introduction of new ambulances, 300 units of free electricity, easy registry services, cleaning of village ponds and tanks, a war against drugs, anti-corruption drives, construction of rural playgrounds, allowances for players before jobs and competitions, universal health insurance of ₹10 lakh, and creation of industrial committees to boost industries.
Minister Sanjeev Arora further stated that the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib will be commemorated with state-level events from November 19–25. As part of the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Hariyaval Sankalp, 3.5 lakh saplings will be planted in each district during 2025-26, along with the creation of 52 ‘Sacred Forests’ under the Pavitra Van scheme.
Minister Sanjeev Arora informed that Punjab has ensured more than eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to farmers during the current paddy season. The state topped the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024, surpassing Kerala, and is converting 118 government senior secondary schools into Schools of Eminence to further improve education.
Under the third phase of the “War Against Drugs,” an anti-drug curriculum has been introduced in government schools for classes IX–XII, sensitising nearly eight lakh students. Moreover, 115 schools have been renamed in honour of freedom fighters, martyrs, and eminent personalities.
Minister Sanjeev Arora also highlighted the launch of the Business Blast program to encourage entrepreneurship among Class XI and XII students, with seed funding of ₹10.32 crore and the first-ever expo held in Ropar. ITI seats have also been expanded from 35,000 to 52,000 to meet rising demand for vocational training.
On the industrial front,Minister Sanjeev Arora said that 24 sectoral committees have been formed to improve policy, while the OTS scheme has resolved long-pending issues of industrialists. The government has also allowed conversion of leasehold industrial plots into freehold. An Invest Punjab online portal has been launched to provide all industrial clearances within 45 days.
Sharing fiscal achievements, Arora said Punjab has registered a record 28.26% growth in GST collections during the first four months of 2025-26. The state collected ₹9,188 crore in GST till July, which is ₹2,025 crore higher than the same period last year. He noted that this marks the continuation of Punjab’s consistent trend of record-breaking growth in tax revenues over the last three and a half years.