Chandigarh, August 15:
Punjab Information and Public Relations, New & Renewable Energy Sources and Housing & Urban Development Minister Mr. Aman Arora, on Monday, hoisted the National Flag and inspected the parade on Independence Day at Fatehgarh Sahib.
Greeting the people of the state on this momentous day, Mr. Aman Arora said that S Bhagwant Mann led state government is working 24×7 with dedication and honestly to fulfil the dreams of martyrs and Punjab will soon be made a front-runner state of the country.
After inaugurating an “Aam Aadmi Clinic” at Chaleri Khurd village in the district, Mr. Aman Arora said that as many as 75 new Aam Aadmi Clinics have been dedicated to the people of the state on Independence Day in the first phase. All these clinics will be operationalised today to ensure the best possible healthcare services to the people at their doorsteps. Three Aam Aadmi Clinics are being operationalised in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The state government will also upgrade the infrastructure in government hospitals and dispensaries so that people can get health facilities free of charge at all government facilities, he added.
Addressing the I-Day function, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab Government has enhanced the amount of ex-gratia grant given to the families of martyred soldiers from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1 crore. The next of kin of soldiers who laid down their lives in various operations for the defence of the country are being given financial assistance by the state government.
The Mann government is also making every effort to free the state from gangsters, drugs and sand mafia. The state government has formed an Anti-Gangster Task Force to wipe out the gangsters from the state. Many gangsters have been arrested/neutralized during the last few months.
Encouraging the farmers towards crop diversification, he said that a financial aid of Rs 1,500 per acre is being provided to each of the farmers who go in for direct seeding of rice. Apart from this, the state also procured moong dal at minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 7275 per quintal from farmers and it was the first time that the state government had purchased a crop other than paddy or wheat on MSP.
Punjab Government has also fulfilled its promise to provide free electricity to people of the state. Each household is now getting 300 units of free electricity every month from July 1.
The minister also felicitated Freedom Fighters and persons who rendered remarkable services in various fields. District administration and Red Cross Society distributed sewing machines and tricycles to needy people. School students presented cultural program during the Independence Day function.
Prominent among other present on the occassion include MLAs Advocate Lakhbir Singh Rai and Mr Rupinder Singh Happy, Deputy Commissioner Ms Parneet Shergill, DIG Roopnagar Range Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and District President Aam Aadmi Party Mr Ajay Singh Libra
