KURUKSHETRA | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK

Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said the teachings of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas have guided humanity for centuries and continue to hold deep relevance in contemporary society. He said Guru Ravidas envisioned a society where there would be no place for suffering, injustice or discrimination and called upon people to strengthen the values of humanity, social equality and harmony.

Panwar was speaking as the chief guest at a Kalash Vandan Yatra organised in Mathana village on Sunday. The event was held as part of the wider initiative to spread the message and teachings of Guru Ravidas and promote social harmony.

On his arrival at Mathana, Panwar was welcomed by Kailash Saini, in-charge of the Chief Minister’s Office. The minister, along with Kailash Saini, District BJP President Ramesh Saini and Chairman Satish Mathana, participated in the religious ceremony at the Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Temple.

The dignitaries installed a sacred kalash containing soil brought from Varanasi, associated with the birthplace of Guru Ravidas. The ceremony was presented as a symbol of connecting devotees and communities with the spiritual heritage and teachings of the revered saint.

During the programme, Panwar announced ₹11 lakh for initiating construction work of the Dr BR Ambedkar Bhawan at Mathana. He said the government would continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening social infrastructure and providing communities with facilities for educational, social and cultural activities.

The minister said that the teachings of Guru Ravidas emphasise social equality, human dignity and the welfare of every section of society. He said these principles are consistent with the government’s objective of ensuring that welfare schemes and development opportunities reach the last person in society.

Panwar said the Haryana Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, is working to extend the benefits of development and welfare programmes to all sections. He said the spirit of Antyodaya and social harmony should not remain limited to government policies but should also become part of people’s everyday lives.

Highlighting a major initiative related to Guru Ravidas, Panwar said a grand Guru Ravidas Dham is being developed at Umri in Kurukshetra on approximately five acres of land at an estimated cost of ₹124 crore.

He said the project is intended to promote the teachings of Guru Ravidas and strengthen social consciousness and harmony. According to the minister, the tender process for the project has already been completed and construction work is expected to begin soon. A 125-foot-high statue of Guru Ravidas will also be constructed as part of the project.

Panwar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan across the country in connection with the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas. The sacred Kalash Yatra is being organised under this initiative to carry the soil of Guru Ravidas’ birthplace in Kashi to different parts of the country.

According to the minister, the yatra began on July 29 and is travelling through Haryana with the message of social awareness, national unity and human dignity. He said the sacred soil would reach villages and households, providing an opportunity for people to connect with the legacy and teachings of Guru Ravidas.

Panwar said the Haryana Government is working for the development and upliftment of all sections in accordance with the message of Guru Ravidas. He also highlighted the government’s recruitment policy, stating that talented young people are being provided opportunities to enter government service through a transparent system based on merit.

He said the government has followed a “no bribe, no recommendation” approach in recruitment and claimed that more than two lakh young people have received government jobs during the past 12 years on the basis of merit.

The minister also referred to measures concerning the Scheduled Caste community. He said the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes has been established for the protection of the rights and interests of members of the Scheduled Caste community.

Panwar also outlined several development projects planned or underway in the Ladwa Assembly constituency. He said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has approved a bypass between Umri and Mathana, for which the Detailed Project Report has already been prepared.

He further announced that a centre of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University would be established at Mathana. A Revenue Training Centre is also proposed to be established in the area, he said.

The minister said the government has also worked towards strengthening educational infrastructure in the region. He referred to the establishment of a college at Ramsharan Majra, adding that classes have already commenced there.

He said Sewage Treatment Plants are also being established at Babain and Umri as part of efforts to improve civic infrastructure and environmental management.

Panwar said that development works are being undertaken across the Ladwa Assembly constituency and claimed that no part of the constituency has been left outside the government’s development agenda.

He said infrastructure development should go hand in hand with social development. According to him, providing roads, educational institutions, sanitation facilities and other public infrastructure is important, but strengthening social harmony and ensuring equal opportunities is equally necessary for comprehensive development.

Addressing the people participating in the Kalash Vandan Yatra, Panwar appealed to them to take the teachings of saints and great personalities to every section of society. He said the message of social equality, brotherhood and harmony should reach the younger generation.

He called upon people to strengthen mutual respect and brotherhood and work collectively for the welfare of society. He said an organised, united and aware society is the foundation of a strong Haryana.

Panwar said the life and teachings of Guru Ravidas provide a message of equality and human dignity that remains relevant irrespective of caste, community or social status. He urged people to adopt these principles in their personal and social lives.

The minister said that remembering great saints should not be limited to commemorative occasions. Their teachings should be reflected in public life through service to humanity, respect for others, social responsibility and efforts to eliminate discrimination.

The Kalash Vandan Yatra, he said, provides an opportunity to take the message of Guru Ravidas from the place associated with his birth to different communities and strengthen awareness about his contribution to social reform.

Panwar concluded by appealing to the people to actively participate in initiatives promoting social harmony and to work towards creating a society based on equality, dignity, brotherhood and collective progress.

POD/DESK