City celebrates spirit of freedom

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 16

Reiterating the commitment of the state government to make Punjab a debt and a drug-free state, the Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi gave a clarion call to youth to come forward for achieve the mission.

The minister, who unfurled national flag during a district-level function to commemorate 72nd Independence Day at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here on Wednesday, said the path breaking-initiatives taken by the state government under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in the past one and a half year, had started showing results.

Addressing the mammoth gathering on the auspicious occasion, the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister asked the youth to take a pledge for making the state free from the curse of drugs and farm debt. He said state government had already brought debt-relief scheme and fulfilled its promise by waiving off loans of farmers besides launching Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme and setting up Special Task Force (STF) to wipe out the drug menace from Punjab.

He said the state government had already provided 2 lakh jobs under the Ghar Ghar Rozgar scheme since it haad been introduced in March 2017.

The minister also disclosed that government was going to announce the New Sports Policy which would focus on securing a livelihood for the players, who brought laurels for the state and country in the field of sports, besides ensuring their holistic development.

Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi further said the sports policy would ensure timely promotions to the players inducted in government service besides focusing on internal and international coaching for the coaches.

He also honoured freedom fighters Dev Vrat Sharma and Jawahar Lal. He also announced a financial assistance of Rs 25,000 for them from his discretionary funds.

The chief guest took a salute during an impressive march past by 18 contingents of Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibet Border Police, Punjab Police, Home Guards, NCC, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Guardians Of Governance (GoGs) and Tandarust Punjab.