Honors at the Punjab Urdu Academy, Malerkotla
MSP to farmers is also essential for nation's development, Sandhawa
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh/Malerkotla, February 24-
The Punjab Urdu Academy, Malerkotla, is ab esteemed organization that is making sincere efforts for language promotion so that the young to promote and conserve Urdu.
The Speaker Punjab Legislative Assembly, Kultar Singh Sandhawan said while addressing a gathering at the annual awards distribution ceremony of Iqbal Auditorium, Punjab Urdu Academy held at Malerkotla today. He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the overall development of the Punjab Urdu Academy. MLA Malerkotla Dr. Jameel-ur-Rehman was also present at the event.
Speaker Sandhawan said that the ongoing farmers' agitation initiated across country is not only in the interest of individual farmers but also in larger interest of entire nation. While talking to media persons he said that some factions were presenting demands of farmers and agitation in a wrong manner. However, the truth was that MSP is not only meant farmers but for nation's development as well.
He added that countries like America have also deviated from the path of development by stopping MSP for crops. Therefore, it was mandatory that the centre government releases MSP for crops according to the demands of farmers without any further delay. He said that big markets are not only dangerous for farmers and laborers but also for small traders, as a common commercial avenue (shopping mall) is causing the loss of employment for hundreds of small shopkeepers. Therefore, it is necessary to make agriculture allied businesses profitable.
He added that the Haryana government first booked farmers under NSA and later retracted it's action implying that the BJP led government was adapt at taking u turns. He said that the decision of the Haryana government to impose NSA on farmers was very unfortunate, which even the citizens of the country did not accept.
MLA Malerkotla Dr. Jameel-ur-Rehman said that the present Punjab government is continuously making efforts for the promotion of the Urdu language. A budget of about Rs 2. 23 crores was allocated for the promotion of the Punjab Urdu Academy and Urdu language in the budget for the financial year 2023-24. Centers for language were started in 8 districts of Punjab, which is a commendable initiative. To inspire society for drug prevention and to make our state Rangla Punjab and dreamland of martyrs, two days of poetry sessions were organized, and in the future, such seminars and poetry sessions will be organized against addiction.
At this occasion, the lifetime achievement award was presented to Col Karnail Singh 'Sardar Panchhi' along with a cash prize of Rs 1. 50 lacs, a shawl and a certificate of honor. Besides this, Saadat Hasan Manto Urdu Prose Award was given to Muhammad Bashir, Krishan Chandar Urdu Prose Award to Dr. Renu Bahal, Rajinder Singh Bedi Urdu Prose Award to Anwar Ahmad Ansari, Kunwar Mahinder Singh Bedi Poetry Award to Khushbir Singh Shad, Tarlok Chand Maherum Urdu Poetry Award to Anjum Qadri, and Allama Iqbal Urdu Poetry Award to Nadim Ahmad, who were also honored with a cash prize of Rs 50000 each, shawl, and certificate of honor. Apart from this, students studying Urdu in schools affiliated with all universities of Punjab and Punjab School Education Board were also honored by distributing cash prizes with the help of the Academy.
At this occasion, Senior Deputy Commissioner (D) Mr. Harbans Singh, DPSKATAR Punjab Urdu Academy Dr. Ranjodh Singh, Member Punjab Cow Service Commission Mr. Amit Jain, along with other dignitaries were also present.