I-Day fervour: Spirit of patriotism comes alive

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 16

Dressed in the colours of the Tricolour, students of different schools performed on several patriotic songs during the state-level Independence Day function held at the Guru Nanak Stadium here on Wednesday.

Several announcements were made during the function in the packed stadium, in which CM Capt Amarinder Singh unfurled the National Flag.

The CM announced several social-welfare schemes, including the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme and handed over cards to some of the beneficiaries to provide cashless healthcare facilities and treatment to members of the cooperative societies and their families across the state. Every beneficiary is entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs2 lakh on family floater basis in any approved hospital and on reimbursement basis in any government hospital in Punjab.

Handing over the keys and allotment letters of flats constructed under the BSUP scheme to 10 beneficiaries out of 750 under Punjab Shehri Awas Yojana, Captain Amarinder Singh said the new housing scheme would provide free home facilities to eligible candidates from reserved category communities in urban areas in the state. The flats have been constructed at Vishwakarma Colony, Khokha Market.

Freedom fighters were honoured and sewing machines were handed over to women to help them become self-employed.

After that, students performed lazium and other cultural programmes.

Tableaux from different departments of the district administration went for a round in the city, through which awareness regarding the work of different departments was created.

City celebrates I-Day with fervour

The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated in the city with gusto as citizens hoisted flags in their societies and community centres. The general public donned Tricolour dresses and waved the Indian flag with pride.

NGOs pledge to make city green and clean

The People for People Welfare Society team carried out a tree plantation drive on Wednesday at Issa Nagri playground. The objective of the drive was to make Ludhiana greener and better by planting more trees. The tagline was “Adopt plantation as the new fashion”. Members of Shiv Welfare Society celebrated at Clock Tower Square. President Bittu Ghumber urged the gathering to instill a sense of patriotism among youth.

The Management of Dream and Beauty Charitable Trust organised a ceremony at Heavenly Palace, Doraha. The event started with the flag hoisting ceremony by Dr Sardara Singh Johl, advisor; and Col Sanjay Bhatia, general manager. Patriotic songs were presented by kids of Heavenly Angels and residents of Heavenly Palace to pay tribute to freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.

FICO honours dignitaries

The Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO) held I-Day celebrations at MSME Development Institute (SISI). FICO honoured 10 dignitaries with the Award of Excellence for their distinguished services in their respective fields. United Cycle & Parts Manufacturers Association celebrated Independence Day. Harjit Singh Sondh inaugurated the function by hoisting the national flag. Independence Day was celebrated at the office of OPA at South City. President Parveen Aggarwal hosted the national flag outside the official premises of OPA.

Flag hoisting at hotels, club premises

A flag hoisting was conducted in the presence of staff of Blu Hotel MBD, Ludhiana, and MBD Neopolis Mall. Special laddus were later distributed among everyone as they celebrated Independence Day. Lions Club, Ludhiana, celebrated the day with all members and children by hoisting the flag at Lions Bhawan. Underprivileged children groomed by IDP presented a spectacular show on patriotism. Around 30 children from the club and IDP participated in Independence Day celebrations by presenting dance, songs and patriotic scripts.

Hospitals conduct free check-up camps

Independence Day was celebrated at Christian Medical College and Hospital with patriotic spirit. The programme started with thanks giving service, followed by flag-hoisting ceremony. Principal of Christian Medical College, Dr Jeyaraj Pandian introduced the chief guest Rajinder Gupta.

A blood donation camp was also held to mark the Independence Day celebrations. An eye camp was also organised at the CMC where over 200 patients were given free screening, eye check-up, medication and 20 free cataract surgeries are scheduled to be done

On occasion of Independence Day, Hero DMC Heart Institute, in association with Women in Cardiology and Related Sciences (WINCARS), conducted free heart check-up camp for female teachers of Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar. Dr Shibba Takkar (Associate Professor of Cardiology, HDHI) examined the patients and said women need to take care of their health. She said it was now scientifically proved that women too were prone to cardiovascular diseases and they should take proper precautions and adopt preventive measures. An informative lecture was also conducted by Dr Shibba Takkar, in which she stressed about various preventive measures to be adopted for leading a healthy and balanced life style. In total, as many as 100 teachers were examined during the camp.

Three from city conferred state award

During the 72nd Independence Day celebrations at Guru Nanak Stadium, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh conferred state awards on 17 persons from across the state. Of these, three awardees were from Ludhiana district. The awardees from Ludhiana are industrialists Sanjiv Arora and Anil Bharti, who have been involved in social work, and Shalma Sall, who has been running a gaushala despite zero-milk production from it.

• Sanjiv Arora: Sanjiv Arora (see pic) was honoured for serving cancer patients and ensuring free-of-cost treatment to more than 100 cancer patients from poor families since 2005. He founded Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Charitable Trust, an NGO, in the name of his parents, who suffered and died due to cancer. Having seen his parents suffer from this disease even though they had all resources, this Trust was formed to minimise the sufferings of the poor. Most of these patients are treated at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.
• Industrialist Anil Bharti: Bharti, who is president of the Swami Vivekanand Swarg Ashram Trust, Ludhiana, was honoured for his exemplary social services, which runs an old-age home, an eye hospital and cremation ground at Model Town extension. A free homeo dispensary was also opened by the trust.
• Salma Sall: Salma Sall of Payal sub-division was awarded for successfully running a gaushala and looking after 33 cows having zero-milk production. Salma (33) says that she has been looking after cows for the past 11 years. Salma used to feel for stray animals suffering since childhood. But it was in 2007, when a stray bull entered her home, and it had a large wound. Gradually, she started looking after more bulls and cows and a gaushala was started.

During his speech after unfurling the National Flag, CM Amarinder Singh announced funds for three common effluent treatment plants for treating waste water and effluents from the industry, subsidy on agricultural equipment, which helps remove stubble without burning it in addition to surface water project, which would reduce dependence on groundwater.  The Captain announced funds for the long-pending projects, including Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) —50 MLD CETP for Tajpur Road; 40 MLD CETP for Focal Point dyeing industry; 15 MLD CETP for Bahadarke Road industry to be set up at a cost of Rs 56 crore, Rs 55 crore and Rs 23 crore, respectively.  As the water table has been going down rapidly, the CM announced surface water project for the districts of Ludhiana, Bathinda, Patiala and Jalandhar to decrease the dependence on groundwater. A total of Rs 1,470 crore have been earmarked for the project, which would see use of river and canal water supply for domestic use.  To stop farmers from burning stubble, a subsidy on agri-machinery was also announced. The CM announced 10 new Mandi townships in the state for better management of foodgrain. He said Rs 800 crore has been allocated for this purpose. An additional Rs 750 crore has also been allocated for ‘Mandi development programme’, he said. — TNS