IEP Chandigarh, August 4
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Friday, announced that the state of Punjab will honour its freedom fighters and martyrs in a unique way by constructing memorials in every village to commemorate our brave martyrs. The “Meri Maati-Mera Desh” campaign will be held from 9th to 30th August, with various programs organized from village level to Delhi. The Cabinet Minister informed that the Ministry of Culture and Department of Youth Affairs, Govt of India, are organizing the nationwide “Meri Maati, Mera Desh” campaign as a culminating event of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, paying tribute to freedom fighters, defense personnel, Central Armed Police Forces and State Police who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He said that various events will be held at the panchayat/village level from August 9 to August 15, and memorials will be erected to honour the martyrs and warriors of each village. The names of all the brave-hearts will be inscribed on the memorial stones. Felicitation ceremonies will be held by the panchayats to honour the freedom fighters, the families of deceased freedom fighters, martyrs, retired personnel from Defense, CAPF, State Police and the families of those brave hearts who sacrificed their lives. During the event, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister said that the residents of the villages will take a pledge holding the soil of their village in their hands. Apart from this, 75 saplings will be planted in each village. People will take a selfie while taking the pledge with soil in hand and upload it to the dedicated website. The Cabinet Minister said the soil collected from each panchayat/village will be taken to the block level by youth volunteers and other individuals. From each block, mitti-kalash containing soil from all panchayat/villages will be carried to the National Capital. In the last week of August, a program will be organized on Delhi’s Kartavya Path, where the collected mitti-kalash will be transported. The mitti from all parts of the country will be used to develop a unique memorial and garden, with the plantation of indigenous species.
