In order to perpetuate the rich legacy of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji in every nook and corner of the world, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday announced a budgetary grant of Rs. 5 crore annually for already existing the Bhagwan Valmiki Ji’s Chair in Guru Nanak Dev University. In recognition to the immense contribution of Valmiki community in the overall development of the State, the Chief Minister also announced to establish a chair in the name of legendary Sikh Warrior Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh ji (Bhai Jaita ji) and a devout companion of Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, who carried the severed head (sheesh) of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji from Chandni Chowk, Delhi to Anandpur Sahib braving all odds amid the tyranny unleashed by the then Mughal regime.Addressing the gathering during the state level function, the Chief Minister greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Pragat Divas of 'Karuna Sagar' Bhagwan Valmiki ji. The Chief Minister said that the upcoming Baba Jiwan Singh Ji’s chair would also be given annual grant of Rs. 5 crore every year to undertake extensive research on the teachings and philosophy of iconic Sikh warrior. The Chief Minister further said that Bhagwan Valmiki Ji was the “Pitaamah” of Sanskrit language and first poet or the Adi Kavi of the world who by his immortal and masterpiece composition the “Ramayana” propagated the message of victory of good over evil. He also said that great epic has from centuries taught the way of life to the people and has been a lighthouse of the ethical and moral living for the people which were far more relevant in the present materialistic society.Exhorting the people to follow the path and high ideals shown by Bhagwan Valmiki Ji so as to carve out an egalitarian society, the Chief Minister urged the people to further strengthen the ethos of peace, harmony, brotherhood and amity, which was need of the hour.
Making a firm resolve to fill over one lakh vacant posts in different departments shortly, Channi said that all these vacancies would be filled purely on the basis of merit in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. He also warned the aspirants and their parents not to fall prey to the nefarious designs unscrupulous elements by giving them money. The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet had recently taken a landmark decision to abolish the prevalent system to recruit Group-D employees through outsourcing and in future such employees would be recruited only on regular basis like other categories of employees. Taking a dig on those, who blame his Government for giving freebies at the cost of State’s exchequer, the Chief Minister said that he was crystal clear in his approach to spend peoples’ money on peoples’ welfare. Slamming the SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia for their open loot of state exchequer, Channi said at least he was spending Government funds for the betterment of poor and needy instead of Akalis, who plundered the state through illegal means in pursuance of their personal narrow interests. Ridiculing the Aam Aadmi Party for misleading the people by making false promises in the guise of Aam Aadmi, Channi said whereas the Congress high command had actually demonstrated its will to install a common man with humble background as the Chief Minister in the letter and spirit.Conceding the long pending demand of the Safai Sewaks, the Chief Minister announced that these employees would be given a weekly off besides they would also be entitled for all gazetted holidays at par with other government employees.Realising the plight of the poor and economically weaker sections of the society, the Chief Minister also said that detailed instructions had already been given to all Panchayats to allot 5-Marla plots to the houseless people and complete the entire process shortly. The CM also announced that he and his Cabinet colleagues and MLAs would personally light the earthen pots (Diyas) on the day of Deepawali to handover the symbolic possessions to eligible beneficiaries under Basera Scheme.Reiterating his Government’s decision to implement pro-poor initiatives already taken in the right earnest, Channi said that process for the waiver of outstanding electricity bills up to the load of 2KW of all categories with a financial liability of Rs 1200 crore had already been started. Likewise, the Cabinet has recently gave approval to provide free power for all rural water drinking schemes. Now, the rural residents would have to pay only Rs. 50 instead of earlier Rs. 166 per month thus giving them a major relief, said Channi adding that similarly the water usage charges had already been reduced to Rs 50 per month for domestic connections of all categories having plot size of above 125 sq yards in Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats limits. All the outstanding arrears of water supply and sewerage charges for domestic connections are also waived off, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Rana K.P. Singh extended greetings on the Pragat Diwas of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji and called upon the people to follow the teachings of Bhagwan Ji to carve out a harmonious society. He said that the decision of Congress High Command to elevate Channi as Chief Minister of the State reflects the visionary approach of social justice as propagated by the architect of Indian Constitution Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.Extending heartiest greetings to the people on this pious occasion, Deputy Chief Minister O.P. Soni lauded the path-breaking pro-poor initiatives by Channi as Chief Minister. He said that the 10-days performance of Channi’s Government was far ahead of Akali’s regime of 10-years. Greeting people on Bhagwan Valmiki Pragat Diwas, Medical Education & Research Minister Dr. Raj Kumar Verka said that the Akalis were sadly mistaken as they were dreaming to form the next Government but in reality the Congress Party would contest the assembly polls-2022 under the dynamic leadership of Charanjit Singh Channi’s as he would also be the next Chief Minister as the mood of rank & file in congress is upbeat. Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of state of the art PANORMA here at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal Complex at a cost of Rs. 25 Crore. This PANORAMA being created by using modern technologies such as augmented reality, projection mapping, scenography, holographic screen projection in various galleries would offer an immersive experience to the visitors from the world. He also inaugurated Façade lighting of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Temple with a cost of Rs. 4 crore.Making various announcements for the holistic development of Bhagwan Valmiki Sthal, Channi said that a Filtration Plant for purifying the water of Holy Sarovar at Bhagwan Valmiki Temple at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, Amritsar is being installed at a cost of nearly Rs. 3.50 Crore to be completed by December 15 this year. He further said that the construction of Public Toilets, boundary wall, barbed wire fencing, balance parikarma and other civil works are being executed at a cost of Rs. 4.14 Crore, likely to be completed by December 31, 2021. Likewise, the Sarai at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal is also being furnished by providing furniture & other furnishing items at an approx. cost of Rs. 1.50 Crore, added Channi.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Members of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Mohammad Sadiq besides MLAs Tarsem Singh DC, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Pawan Adia, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Sunil Dutti, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Chairman Joginder Singh Maan, Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu, Chairman Zila Parishad Dilraj Sarkaria, Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira, SSP Rakesh Kaushal and others. Besides several senior leaders and workers of Congress Party were also present.