CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday called upon all the intellectuals, academicians, industrialists, bureaucrats and other stakeholders to join hands for emerging Punjab as the frontrunner state in the country.
Addressing the gathering during ‘Vision Punjab’ seminar here at Panjab University, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is a fertile land which has been blessed by saints, seers, prophets and martyrs. He said that despite being a sacred land Punjab has lagged behind in the pace of development due to the apathetic approach of the previous regimes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state have made the country self-reliant in food production but are facing the apathy of those in power at the centre.
The Chief Minister said that those farmers who are known as the food growers today will face criminal charges after a fortnight for burning the paddy straw. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that lodging FIRs against the farmers is not the solution to tackle this problem as it involves social stigma adding he underlined the need for developing a sustainable mechanism for the management of the paddy straw burning menace. He said that it is unfortunate that despite huge lip service no tangible solution for paddy has been found so far for the paddy straw burning.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that it is a long pending issue of the entire northern region but the farmers lack any viable mechanism to manage Crops residue. He said that the farmers don’t want to burn the stubble as at the first, the families of farmers have to face the brunt of this menace. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Union government and state governments have to join hands by preparing a joint action plan to combat this menace by ensuring proper paddy straw management.
Batting for guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the alternative crops to safeguard the interests of the farmers, the Chief Minister said that to make the country self-reliant in food production, Punjab had suffered by losing its only available natural resources in terms of over exploitation of fertile soil and water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for producing one kilo of Rice around 3500 litres of water is consumed due to which the water table of the state has gone to danger level. He also said that farmers of the state can adopt alternate crops only if they get the MsP of these crops adding that the assured marketing of these crops can encourage the farmers for crop diversification.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab is the only state across the globe which has its franchise all over the world as Punjabis dominate the affairs in every other country. He said that Punjabis are blessed with an indomitable spirit to work hard and excel due to which they had carved a niche for themselves in the world. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of great pride for all of us that 45 percent engineers in Boeing are from GNE, Ludhiana, adding that CEOs of Flipkart, Ola, Mastercard and others are also Punjabis.
The Chief Minister said that these youngsters possess inherent qualities to excel in every field and their capabilities must be utilized properly adding that the students and youth are like planes and the state government will provide them a launchpad to go ahead in life. Bhagwant Singh Mann unequivocally said that he won’t rest until the students of Punjab don’t achieve their desired goals. He said that the state government is making concerted efforts for rejuvenating the health and education system in the state.
The Chief Minister said that Schools of Eminence have been set up across the state to impart quality education to the students adding that in similar manner the government health system is also being upgraded. He said that the previous regimes had deprived people of quality education and health services just to ensure that they do not progress in society. Bhagwant Singh Mann on the contrary his focus is to empower the poor students by assuring quality education to them.
The Chief Minister said that the result is in front of everyone as 158 students from the government schools have for the first time cleared the coveted JEE exams. He said that this is just the beginning as more such results will be visible in the coming days for which his government is making strenuous efforts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has given more than 45000 jobs to the youth completely on the basis of merit.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government is opening eight hi-tech centres for imparting training to the students for competitive exams. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these centres will provide quality training to youth for clearing the UPSC exams and sit on coveted positions in state and country. He said that the target of the state government is to ensure that youth sit in high offices and serve the country.
Asserting that Panjab University, Chandigarh is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of the state, the Chief Minister categorically said that they need no share of Haryana in the University, which is an apex educational institute of the region. He said that neither any college of Haryana will be given affiliation from the university nor will any attempt of Haryana for back door entry in the senate of university be allowed. Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that regular attempts are being made to change the status of the university but he said that the Punjab government will not allow any such move in the larger interests of the students.
Training his guns against the opposition, the Chief Minister said that due to his pro- Punjab and development oriented stance opposition leaders don’t miss any chance to target him. He said that this criticism is totally irrational and based on their whims and fancies. Bhagwant Singh Mann categorically said that this won’t deter him from performing his duty well and he will work tirelessly for the well being of Punjab and Punjabis.