Achievers get their pride of place

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 24

All achievers in Haryana will now have their names and details put up on ‘gaurav patts’ (village pride boards) installed in their native villages. The government has started installing boards in villages to throw light on achievers from villages who are generally not highlighted.

All ministers have been assigned districts to put up ‘gaurav patts’. The boards will have information about the village population, voters, martyrs, freedom fighters, sportspersons and geographical location. The boards will display detailed history of the village from its origin till date.

“Seventeen soldiers of World War I were from Dhakla, my native village. Risaldar Badlu Ram, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, hailed from my village. Many youngsters are unaware of the achievements of residents. The idea is to make all villagers aware of the achievements of local residents,” said Om Prakash Dhankar, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation.

Ministers unveiled ‘gaurav patts’ in 22 villages today, one in each district, during the first phase of Swarn Jayanti celebrations. Special committees of government employees had been collecting village-wise details of achievers.

Officials told The Tribune that details were being compiled and the task would be completed shortly. After collecting all details, the installation of ‘gaurav patts’ would start across the state. The government wanted to complete installation throughout the state during the Swan Jayanti year.

“We all know about current sportspersons like boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt. We need to tell our coming generations about former sportspersons who had won laurels for the state and the country. We did not have Internet and other means earlier to keep their memories alive. A majority are still unaware of our earlier heroes,” said Dhankar.

He hoped that the promotion of achievers at the village level would help stop migration to cities. “We hope that when villagers get to know about the achievements in the past without basic amenities in the villages, they will be inspired to win laurels for their areas,” he said.