Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday honoured nine state police officers with the Chief Minister’s Police Medals in recognition of their outstanding performance and discharge of duty with utmost sincerity, dedication and commitment.On the occasion of the 70th Republic Day, the Chief Minister presented police medals to SSP Faridkot Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu, DSP Investigation Rupnagar Varinderjit Singh, Inspector SAS Nagar (Mohali) Tarlochan Singh, Inspector PRTC Jahan Khelan, Hoshiarpur Darshan Singh, SI Nitin Narula, SI Fatehgarh Sahib Sarbjit Singh, SI 5th Commando Battalion Bathinda Naresh Kumar, ASI 2nd Commando Bahadurgarh Jaspal Singh, ASI (CR) 5th Commando Battalion Bathinda Anil Kumar.As many as 21 freedom fighters and seven next of kin of such freedom fighters were also honoured by the Chief Minister for contributing to the national freedom struggle.Besides, more than 100 eminent personalities from different walks of life were also honoured by the Chief Minister with a memento and a certificate each, for outstanding contribution in their respective fields.On the occasion, Captain Amarinder Singh also honoured 22 Government school teachers from all districts for their immense contribution in imparting quality education to the students. He also honoured 25 eminent sportspersons for bringing laurels to the state in different sports.
The Chief Minister also distributed 51 cycles to the girl students of class XI and XII of Government Schools, besides giving away 19 tricycles and wheelchairs to the physically challenged and 24 sewing machines to the needy and destitute women. The Chief Minister announced holiday on January 28 (Monday) in those schools and colleges which participated in the Republic Day functions organised by the District Administrations across the state. The Chief Minister interacted with the Drug Abuse Prevention Officers, Buddy volunteers and beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana to elicit their views regarding the implementation of DAPO, Buddy programme and MGSVY respectively.Earlier the Chief Minister, after unfurling the National Flag, also inspected the parade and took a salute during an impressive march past by the contingents of PRTC Jahan Khelan, Patiala Police, Punjab Homeguard, NCC Air wing, Girls Battalion and Army wing, St. John Ambulance Red Cross, Girl Guides, Scouts, Patiala School of Blind, Saifdipur, Brass Band of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur and Pipe Band of Punjab Armed Police Jalandhar. The march past was led by the parade commander DSP Gurpartap Singh Sahota and DSP Jaspreet Singh.
A total of 18 tableaux highlighting the significant achievements, projects and schemes of various departments including Health, Employment Generation & Training, Horticulture, Agriculture, Milkfed, Sports, District Programme Officer, Fisheries, Soil Labs, Ajeevka Mission , PSPCL, Markfed, Animal Husbandry, Forests, Traffic Police Patiala, Pakeeza-a pilot project of sanitary napkins, Patiala Association of Deaf and Dumb and District Election Officer.Scintillating events like Tent pegging by daredevils of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy Phillaur and Punjab Public School, Nabha besides PT Show, rhythmic dance, Bhangra and Giddha also regaled the gathering. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his wife and former Union Minister Preneet Kaur. Others present at the event were Media Advisor to CM Raveen Thukral, Advisor to CM Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, MLAs Hardyal Singh Kamboj, Madam Lal Jalalpur, Rajinder Singh and Patiala Member Parliament Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi. Chairman PRTC K.K. Sharma, Chairperson of Punjab State Social Welfare Board Gursharan Kaur Randhawa, Patiala Mayor Sanjiv Bittu, Senior Deputy Mayor Yoginder Singh Yogi, Deputy Mayor Vinti Sangar, PPSC Chairman Lt. General NPS Hira and Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. B.S. Ghuman, Chairman PSPCL Er. B.S. Sran besides Divisional Commissioner Deepinder Singh, IG Patiala A S Rai, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit and SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu were also present.