80th Independence Day: Jails, NRI Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Ravjot Singh unfurls tricolour at Hoshiarpur
Punjab Government committed to realising dreams of freedom fighters
650th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji to be celebrated on a large scale
Underlines need of unified efforts to transform state into ‘Rangla Punjab’
Punjab shines on map of education and healthcare in country
Punjab becomes first state to resolve issues of NRIs through online
Announces holiday in all schools of Hoshiarpur district on Monday
Chandigarh/Hoshiarpur, August 15 (WISHAVWARTA);- Punjab Jails, NRIs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Saturday unfurled the National Flag at the Police Lines Ground here to mark 80th Independence Day. He emphasised that unified efforts should be made to transform the state into a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
The Minister assured that the Punjab Government would provide all possible support to realise the dreams cherished by the great martyrs of the country.
After unfurling the national flag, inspecting the parade and releasing tricolour balloons, Jails and NRIs Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh while addressing the district-level Independence Day function said that the Punjab Government had carried out immense development and welfare works for every section and sector of the society during the past four and a half years. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab had set new milestones in the fields of education and healthcare thus securing a leading place on the national map in these sectors.
Paying tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Diwan Singh Kalepani and other freedom fighters, Dr Ravjot Singh said that Punjab had always played a pivotal role in safeguarding country’s unity and integrity and Punjabis had made the maximum sacrifices during the freedom struggle.
Listing the achievements of the Punjab Government, Dr Ravjot Singh said that Punjab government had undertaken several initiatives for the welfare of armed forces personnel, families of martyrs and ex-servicemen. He said that the ex-gratia amount for the next of kin of martyred soldiers had been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The pension being provided to the family members of freedom fighters in the state had also been increased from Rs 9400 to Rs 11000. He said that under the Mukh Mantri Maawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, financial assistance of Rs 2274.42 crore had been transferred to the accounts of more than 74.59 lakh women across the state so far. He said that 28734 self-help groups had been formed during the past four years through government initiatives, providing self-help support to nearly three lakh women.
Under the Ashirwad Scheme, assistance of Rs 51000 is provided, and during 2025-26, more than 62000 beneficiaries received assistance amounting to Rs 318.32 crore. Talking about the Mukh Mantri Meri Rasoi Scheme, Dr Ravjot Singh said that licences had been issued to 2,800 new depot holders, thus enabling ration card holders to get free ration from nearby depots without going faraway. He said ration kits were also being provided under the Meri Rasoi Scheme, containing essential household kitchen items. Regarding the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, he said that free treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh was being provided at more than 900 government and empanelled private hospitals.
Dr Ravjot Singh said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government would make all out efforts to wipe out drugs from the state so that future generations could remain free from this menace. He said that the state’s Sadak Surakhya Force had saved more than 25000 people by providing immediate first aid at spots. He said that this year, 361 students from government schools qualified for JEE Mains, 64 students for JEE Advanced and 882 students qualified for the NEET examination.
The Cabinet Minister also said that the Public Works department had constructed 45000 kilometres of roads in the state. He said the Punjab Government was adding 1279 new buses in the existing fleet making the total number of government buses to 3546 which would be the biggest increase during the last two decades.
Dr Ravjot Singh said that 437 citizen services were being provided through Sewa Kendras. People could also avail these services by calling 1076 also. He said that through the Easy Registry project, more than 3.70 lakh land registrations had so far been completed in a transparent manner. On reforms in the Jails department, Dr. Ravjot Singh said the government’s objective was to transform jails into centres of reform, rehabilitation and reintegration, enabling inmates to rebuild their lives and return to society as responsible citizens. He said that free electricity was being provided to 14 lakh agricultural tubewells and an amount of Rs 9992 crore had been earmarked for this purpose during 2025-26. He added that uninterrupted power supply of more than eight hours had been ensured for farmers during the paddy season. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government had made arrangements for irrigation through canal water for 60.30 lakh acres across the state by incurring Rs 7200 crore.
NRI Affairs Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said that Punjab had become the first state in the country to resolve the issues of NRIs through an online system. He said that NRIs could send their grievances through WhatsApp number 90560-09884. He said that so far, 21103 documents of Punjabis settled abroad had been counter-signed through the online system.
The Cabinet Minister also said that the Punjab Government would celebrate the 650th Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji on a massive scale, for which a budget of Rs 100 crore had been earmarked. Under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme, the people are being taken to the holy places for darshan. He said that in view of the 650th Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidas Ji, the State Government was setting up baggichis (nurseries) on the name of Guru Sahib were being established over 650 acres of land across Punjab. A campaign was already underway to plant 6.50 lakh saplings and distribute 6.50 lakh commemorative flags in every district. He said that in Hoshiarpur, 53 Nanak Baghichis, six sacred forests and around 5,000 saplings along roadsides were being planted.
At the conclusion of the district-level Independence Day function, Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh announced a holiday in all schools of Hoshiarpur district on Monday, August 17.
During the function, the Cabinet Minister, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain, SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik and Parade Commander DSP Kulwant Singh, inspected the parade. The parade led by Parade Commander DSP Kulwant Singh and Second-in-Command Inspector Jasvir Kaur, comprised contingents of Punjab Police personnel, the Women Wing of PRTC Jahan Khelan, Punjab Police Women Wing, Punjab Home Guards, NCC 12 Punjab Battalion, Girl Guides, Scouts and the PRTC Jahan Khelan band also took a march past.
On the occasion, MLA Bram Shanker Jimpa, MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, MLA Karamvir Singh Ghuman, MLA Dr Ishank Kumar, Mayor Praveen Saini, Chairman BACKFINCO Punjab Sandeep Saini, Chairman District Planning Committee Karamjit Kaur, Chairman Improvement Trust Gurwinder Singh Pabla, Chairman Market Committee Hoshiarpur Jaspal Singh Chechi, Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kumar, Deputy Mayor Sandeep Chechi, District and Sessions Judge Rajinder Aggarwal, and other officers were also present.
