http://www.newkerala.com/news5.php?action=fullnews&id=43588
Rich tributes paid to Bhagat Kabir Ludhiana, July 1: Rich tributes were paid to Bhagat Kabir, a great saint and social reformer, at a function here to mark his 609th birth anniversary last night. Addressing the function, Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Bhagat Kabir was a great scholar and a revolutionary poet of his time, who boldly and bravely denounced the social and economic disparities, casteism, injustice to the downtrodden and social evils prevailing at that time in the society. Bhagat Kabir continued his relentless fight against social evils in spite of atrocities by then rulers on the people, he added. The Minister called for creating casteless society as envisioned by Bhagat Kabir. He said the real tributes to Bhagat Kabir would be to accomplish his mission for the creation of a harmonious society, where every person irrespective of caste, creed and race could avail equal opportunities to grow and flourish. ''Our great Gurus had accorded great respect to Bhagat Kabir and incorporated his verses in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib and the whole humanity is seeking inspiration from these verses'', Mr Majithia said. He said as Bhagat Kabir had struggled for the rights of the poor and downtrodden during his whole life, the state government, following his path, had accorded special attention to the uplift of weaker sections. Funds amounting to Rs 1330 crore had been earmarked in the current year's plan for the welfare of SCs and STs, which constitute 26 per cent of the total plan, he added. The Minister informed that the state government had waived off pending loans of Rs 14 crore against 26000 Dalits and economically weaker families. The government would bear half of the fee of Scheduled Caste students of Nursing training in the state. He said the government had established a dedicated social security fund of Rs 482.46 crore to release regular pensions under various schemes of social security departments. Mr Majithia said the SAD-BJP government immediately after coming into power had enhanced the amount of grant for the construction of houses for houseless SC families from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 per unit. Mr Majithia announced that all demands of Sat Guru Kabir Sewa Sang and Bhagat Kabir Sabha would be fulfilled. On this occasion, Mr Majithia on behalf of the state government honoured Bhagat Chunni Lal, MLA, representing Bhagat Kabir Community and released a souvenir. Minister for Jails, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Hira Singh Gabria also addressed the function. --- UNI
