“To maintain the country's independence, every citizen should responsibly perform duty” said Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Bharat Bhushan Ashu at the district level function held at the local Dana Mandi on the occasion of 72th Independence Day, after hoisting the National Flag and taking salute from the parade.Extending felicitations on the completion of 71 years of independence, Mr. Ashu said that due to the freedom struggle launched by the freedom fighters of India from time to time, on August 15, 1947 we attained independence. He honored about half a dozen freedom fighters’ families and 40 eminent personalities belonging to the district, including employees, sportspersons and meritorious students. Tricycles were given to 16 beneficiaries while 30 needy women were given sewing machines.Apart from this, debt relief certificates were given to the 11 farmers who taken loans from commercial banks, 20 letters of acceptance were given to new eligible pension beneficiaries under old age pension and financial assistance scheme, appointment letters under ‘Ghar- Ghar Rozghar’ were handed over to 16 unemployed youth and the 12 unemployed were given the loan approval letters for setting up means of self employment.
During his address, the Minister paid tributes to the patriots who sacrificed their life in the freedom struggle of the country.He said that even though people of every section, religion and region participated in the country's freedom struggle, but the Punjabis are proud that more than 80% sacrifices in India's struggle for independence are from Punjab.Referring to the achievements of the Punjab government, Mr. Bhushan Ashu said that special efforts were being made for the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the state. He said that till now the state government has given debt relief worth Rs. 1,710 crore by waiving off loans of more than 3 lakh farmers who had undertaken loan from the cooperative banks .He said that employment fairs were organized by the government to provide employment to the youth under the ‘Ghar-Ghar Rozghar’ scheme and STF has been formed to save the youth of Punjab from drugs. He said that 'Tandarust Punjab Mission ' has been launched to improve the health of the people of the State. He said that Congress government is committed to the welfare of scheduled castes/tribes, backward classes and the minorities. Mr. Ashu went on to say that the government has reduced the power tariff for the industry to promote industrialization in the state and education and health have been accorded top priority.
He also enlisted the achievements of the Food and Civil Supplies Department saying that about 112 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was procured by the state's procurement agencies last Rabi Season. He said that in order to ensure smooth procurement of paddy during this year, arrangement of procurement of 200 lakh tonnes of paddy is being done by the Department. He said that it was a great challenge for the department to bring the public distribution system back on track, under which first of all smart card ration cards were created by identifying beneficiaries of about 35 lakh families of the state. He said that the public distribution system is now aadhar linked and is absolutely transparent. He said that fulfilling the long pending demand of the depot holders, their commission has doubled also been doubled. He called upon the people to rise above narrow, self centered issues and make join hands and for the development of the State and the Country.Among other prominent personalities present on the occasion include former Minister Mrs. Malti Thapar, Dr. Harjot Kamal, S.Darshan Singh Brar, S. Sukhjit Singh Lohgarh(all MLAs) President and General Secretary District Congress, District and Sessions Judge Tarsem Mangla and other senior civil and police officials.