Cabinet Minister Mohinder : Emphasizes Punjab Government’s Dedication to Honoring the Vision of the Martyrs.
Punjab’s Minister for Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture, Cabinet Minister Mohinder, hoisted the national flag during the district-level 76th Republic Day celebrations at ITI Ground in SBS Nagar. Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, SSP Dr. Mehtab Singh, and Parade Commander DSP Shahbaz Singh, the Cabinet Minister inspected the parade and took the salute during the ceremonial march past. On this occasion, the Minister recognized freedom fighters, families of martyred soldiers, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society.
Additionally, he distributed tricycles and sewing machines to those in need. A remarkable cultural program, celebrating patriotism, was presented by school children, featuring vibrant performances of Giddha and Bhangra. The tableaux, showcasing the achievements of various departments, were a key highlight of the event. The event was also attended by MLA Banga and Chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehouse Corporation, Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, and MLA Nawanshahr Nachhatar Pal.
Cabinet Minister Mohinder distributed tricycles and sewing machines to those in need during the event. Schoolchildren presented a vibrant cultural program celebrating patriotism, featuring traditional Giddha and Bhangra performances. The event also showcased tableaux highlighting the achievements of various departments, serving as a key attraction. Distinguished attendees included MLA Banga and Chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehouse Corporation, Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, and MLA Nawanshahr Nachhatar Pal.
In his Republic Day address, Cabinet Minister Mohinder extended greetings to the district’s residents and paid homage to the countless patriotic heroes who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Minister Bhagat reaffirmed the Punjab government’s unwavering commitment to realizing the dreams of the nation’s martyrs. He highlighted Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s symbolic oath-taking at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh. Furthermore, he noted the Punjab government’s initiatives, including installing portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Dr. Ambedkar in government offices and naming the Mohali International Airport after Bhagat Singh. The government has also erected a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam at the airport to honor his legacy.
Cabinet Minister Mohinder announced that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has planned the construction of an 850-meter-long heritage street in Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village, Khatkar Kalan. This street will showcase Punjab and Punjabis’ remarkable contributions to India’s freedom struggle. He also highlighted the state government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of military personnel, martyrs’ families, and ex-servicemen. The ex-gratia amount for martyrs’ families has been increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore, now extending to Agniveers. Similarly, ₹1 crore is provided to families of police personnel who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s security.
Additionally, financial assistance for religious soldiers has been raised from ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 per month, while the pension for freedom fighters or their heirs has been increased from ₹9,400 to ₹11,000 per month. Provisions have also been made for direct recruitment of freedom fighters’ descendants. On the agricultural front, the Punjab government has focused on diversification, increasing the area under horticulture from 4,39,210 hectares to 4,81,743 hectares.
Cabinet Minister Mohinder further outlined key priorities of the Punjab government, including employment, healthcare, education, free electricity, and administrative reforms, with significant progress made in each area. The government has also taken substantial steps to promote sports and tourism, conserve groundwater, encourage allied agricultural industries, manage stubble burning, support sugarcane farmers, establish village libraries, and ensure the holistic development of villages and cities. Investments in road infrastructure, industrial growth, and creating an investor-friendly environment have also been prioritized.
Notable initiatives include the Road Safety Force, the Farishte Scheme, and the Anti-Corruption Action Line. The government has streamlined services for NRIs, including launching an online portal and setting up a facilitation center at New Delhi Airport. Cabinet Minister Mohinder emphasized that, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, the Punjab government is dedicated to transforming the state into a vibrant, prosperous, and happy Punjab, with continuous efforts driving this vision forward.
During the event, the district administration presented the chief guest with a grand memento as a token of honor. The chief guest announced a contribution of ₹5 lakh from his discretionary fund for the ITI Ground and declared January 27 as a holiday for all schools in the district.
The event was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including ADGP (Provisioning) Nageshwar Rao, District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood, Vice Chairman of the Punjab State Technical Education Board Lalit Mohan Pathak (Ballu), Vice Chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation Kuljeet Singh Sarhal, Chairman of the District Planning Committee Satnam Singh Jalalpur, Chairman of the Improvement Trust Nawanshahr Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Chairman of the Market Committee Nawanshahr Gagan Agnihotri, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rajeev Verma, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Avneet Kaur, SDM Nawanshahr Dr. Akshita Gupta, as well as judicial, civil, and police officers, and a large gathering of distinguished guests.