Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 27
The 71st Republic Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour at Multipurpose Sports Stadium here on Sunday. Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu presided over the function as the chief guest who unfurled the national flag.
Cultural activities and contingents of the Punjab Police and the NCC wing enthralled the audience during the event. Achievers from different walks of life were felicitated during the function. The Health Minister, along with Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan and SSP Nanak Singh, took the guard of honour.
He appreciated the Bathinda Police for their efforts to manage vehicular movement in the city. The Health Minister lauded the initiative of growing medicinal plants in government schools in the district. “As many as 45.89 lakh beneficiaries have been included under the ambit of Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana who can avail medical services at 206 government health centres/hospitals and 475 private hospitals. Under the scheme, 2,330 heart patients have taken benefits, 3,522 elderly patients got their knee replacements and 2,066 cancer patients availed of free medical treatment so far. Besides, the state government has waived off loans to the tune of 4,736 crore for 5.83 lakh small-scale and marginal farmers. The loan waiver scheme will continue and in the next phase, we would achieve the set target,” added Sidhu.
The chief guests of the event were Amrit Varsha Sethi, a philanthropist and member of Inner Wheel Club, and social activist Amrit Sethi, a pioneer of Bathinda cycling group and renowned eye specialist. The guests of honour were Vandana Jee and Tanmay.
On the day, various cultural events were presented by students of Shiksha Kendra, a school run by DPS for underprivileged children. Students exhibited extraordinary talents in various activities such as group song, speech and dances. All eyes were moist when the children presented a short choreography on the life and sacrifice of Indian Soldiers.
The chief guest said, “As citizens, we all must undertake the responsibility to liberate our minds from unnecessary evils and by working as a unit to preserve, respect our Constitution as that will finally show how much we understand the essence of a Republic nation.”
Faculty members and doctors, including assisting staff members, at the Bathinda AIIMS and Advanced Cancer Institute, Bathinda, also celebrated the Republic Day by unfurling the national flag on Sunday. Students and faculty members of Central University of Punjab also celebrated the 71st Republic Day on its main campus at Ghudda with great zeal and patriotic fervour. At the start of the programme, Vice-Chancellor prof RK Kohli unfurled the national flag.
On the occasion, everyone sung the national anthem and after this, the entire university campus echoed with patriotic songs. After the flag-hoisting ceremony and the inspection of the parade, the VC extended the Republic Day greetings to everyone.
To commemorate the day, a cultural programme was also organised wherein university students showcased their beautiful performances of patriotic songs, poetry recitations and dance on the nationalistic theme.
Students and teachers of Silver Oaks School also celebrated the Republic Day with patriotic fervour. Students participated in various activities on the theme of patriotism to mark the day. The function concluded after everyone participated in the national anthem.
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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti unfurled the national flag on the Republic Day at Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.
Lauding Punjabis’ contribution towards the national freedom struggle movement, Bhatti said though the state had only 1.6 per cent geographical area of the country, the participation of its people in the freedom struggle was up to 80 per cent in the country.
The roads leading to the venue and those around Nehru Stadium were sealed by cops who allowed entry to selected vehicles. As it was a sunny day, a large number of people flocked to the function.
Facts About Republic Day
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