Hoshiarpur, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Cabinet Minister for Jails, NRI Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Ravjot Singh on Saturday hoisted the national flag at the Police Lines Ground in Hoshiarpur on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day and called for collective efforts to realise the dreams of the freedom fighters and build a “Rangla Punjab”.
Addressing the district-level Independence Day function after inspecting the parade, Dr Ravjot Singh said the state government was committed to ensuring development and welfare across all sections of society. He said Punjab had established a significant position in the country in education and healthcare during the past four years under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Paying tribute to freedom fighters including Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai and Shaheed Diwan Singh Kalepani, the minister said Punjabis had made immense sacrifices during the freedom struggle and had always played a leading role in protecting the unity and integrity of the country.
Highlighting welfare measures, Dr Ravjot Singh said ex-gratia compensation for families of martyred soldiers had been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, while the pension for freedom fighters and their descendants had been raised from Rs 9,400 to Rs 11,000.
He said more than 74.59 lakh women had benefited under the Maawan-Dhiyan Satkar Scheme, with Rs 2,274.42 crore transferred to their accounts. During the past four years, 28,734 self-help groups had also been formed, benefiting nearly three lakh women. The free bus travel facility for women continued to remain in place, he added.
Under the Ashirwad Scheme, beneficiaries receive Rs 51,000, while more than 62,000 beneficiaries received assistance amounting to Rs 318.32 crore during 2025-26.
The minister said 2,800 new ration depot licences had been issued under the Chief Minister Meri Rasoi Scheme, bringing ration outlets closer to cardholders. Ration kits containing essential kitchen items were also being provided under the scheme.
On healthcare, he said the Chief Minister Health Scheme provided free treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh at more than 900 government and empanelled private hospitals. He said the government was also pursuing a comprehensive campaign against drugs.
Dr Ravjot Singh said the state’s Road Safety Force had saved more than 25,000 people by providing immediate first aid. In education, he said 361 students from government schools qualified in JEE Main, 64 in JEE Advanced and 882 in NEET this year.
He said the Public Works Department had constructed 45,000 km of roads across the state, while 1,279 new buses were being added to the government fleet. This would take the total number of government buses to 3,546, which he described as the biggest increase in two decades.
On rural development, the minister said 2,670 panchayats had been elected unanimously this time following the Chief Minister’s appeal. The government had released more than Rs 133 crore in grants at Rs 5 lakh per panchayat.
He said 437 citizen services were being provided through Sewa Kendras and could also be accessed by calling 1076. Through the Easy Registry project, more than 3.70 lakh registrations had been completed transparently.
Dr Ravjot Singh, who also holds the NRI Affairs portfolio, said Punjab had become the first state to resolve the issues of NRI Punjabis through an online system. NRIs can submit their grievances through WhatsApp at 90560-09884, while 21,103 documents had so far been countersigned through the online system.
He said the government was also working to transform prisons into centres focused not only on security and punishment but also on modernisation, reform and rehabilitation.
On agriculture and irrigation, the minister said free power was being provided to 14 lakh agricultural tubewells, with Rs 9,992 crore allocated for the facility during 2025-26. Farmers had been ensured uninterrupted power supply for more than eight hours during the paddy season, he said. Canal irrigation had been expanded to cover 60.30 lakh acres, with Rs 7,200 crore spent on the initiative.
650th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji
Dr Ravjot Singh said the 650th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji would be commemorated on a large scale, with Rs 100 crore allocated in the budget for the celebrations.
He said the government respected all religions and was organising programmes in accordance with public sentiment. The Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme was also facilitating visits to religious places.
As part of the 650th birth anniversary celebrations, Guru Ravidas Ji-named gardens were being developed across 650 acres in Punjab. A campaign was also underway to plant 6.5 lakh saplings and distribute 6.5 lakh commemorative flags in every district.
In Hoshiarpur, 53 Nanak Bagichis, six sacred forests and around 5,000 roadside saplings were being developed or planted, he said.
Holiday Announced for Schools on Monday
At the conclusion of the district-level celebrations, Dr Ravjot Singh announced a holiday for all schools in Hoshiarpur district on Monday, August 17.
During the function, the minister, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain, SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik and Parade Commander DSP Kulwant Singh, inspected the parade while travelling in a jeep.
The parade featured contingents of the Punjab Police, PRTC Jahan Khelan Women’s Wing, Punjab Police Women’s Wing, Punjab Home Guards, NCC 12 Punjab Battalion, Girl Guides and Scouts, along with the PRTC Jahan Khelan band. The minister also took the salute during the march past.
MLAs Bram Shanker Jimpa, Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, Karamveer Singh Ghuman and Dr Ishank Kumar, Mayor Parveen Saini, BACKFINCO Punjab chairman Sandeep Saini, District Planning Committee chairperson Karamjit Kaur, Improvement Trust chairman Gurwinder Singh Pabla, Market Committee Hoshiarpur chairman Jaspal Singh Chechi, Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kumar, Deputy Mayor Sandeep Chechi, District and Sessions Judge Rajinder Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain, SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik and other officials were present.
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