Punjab 2021 year ender-year starts with Covid, Kisan agitation ends in Political uncertainty
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
2021 has brought Punjab lots of happiness, anxiety, uncertainty, turmoil, sadness throughout the year.
The year 2021 starts with ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, Kisan agitation. But, Punjab govt started its new year on positive note, appointed 409 pharmacy officers, three new Directors in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab on the first day of the year.
The year ends with another good news when Punjabi actress-model Harnaaz Sandhu made India proud after she beat contestants from 80 countries to win the Miss Universe title. Punjab-based Harnaaz Sandhu represented India at the 70th Miss Universe 2021, held in Eilat, Israel on December 13,2021
Covid -19 pandemic continued and created havoc in the lives of Punjabi’s, Indian’s in 2021. Second wave proved very dangerous. Punjab government played constructive role in managing the shortage of oxygen in the second wave. Government hospitals saved many lives in the Covid pandemic
Avian Influenza outbreak in Punjab in the month of January and the state bans import of Poultry and declares whole state ‘Controlled Area’.
Republic Day fiasco -A plan to defame Punjabi’s on Republic day fallen flat. An untoward incident was happened at Lal Qila in Delhi during the ongoing Kisan agitation and plot to defame the community also fallen flat.
Kisan Agitation-The Kisan agitation saw many ups and downs throughout the year and finally 382 days of continuous agitation, Kisan unions lifted their dharna from outside the Delhi borders, after the prime minister announcement to quash the three farm bills.
Political Turmoil- The Punjab saw its biggest political turmoil in history in September 2021 when Capt Amarinder Singh was asked by his party high command to prove his majority in his own party and he resigns. After the submission of Capt Amarinder Singh resignation, the congress party saw an uphill task to select chief minister, ministers, advocate general, director general of police.
New CM-After the incumbent chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi took over the reins of the state government, lots of developmental activities were announced, implemented many people friendly schemes in short period of his tenure.
Party Infighting-The congress infighting becomes open when party president Navjot Singh Sidhu also submitted his resignation to the party high command. Till the end of the year, the party high command failed to solve their issues.
New Party-Punjab gets another regional party. In November Capt Amarinder Singh floated his own party Punjab Lok Congress.
BSF Jurisdiction issue-Punjab government once again passed a resolution against the Union home ministry’s October 11 order. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution in November, in its last assembly session, against the Centre’s notification that extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) up to 50km inside the international border.
Power Pangs-Punjab saw its first ever power disruption, in this government regime. The power generation dipped when it is most required. Snags in Power generating plants, Powercom purchases costly power, state saw power cuts, power department becomes hotch-potch. First time in the history of PSEB, PSPCL the head office of the powercom remained locked for many days. The agitators blocked the entry. All the cadres of PSPCL/PSTCL remained on agitation mode for many days. In December, after many hitches powercom gets a technocrat as its CMD
6th pay Commission-Punjab government announces most awaited implementation of 6th pay commission, after regular postponements. After the announcement, employees started agitation over the certain conditions in the pay commission and goes on pen down, regular strike, throughout the state.
Employment to congress Kins- State government has to shelve the proposal to appoint kin’s of MLAs, political leaders, after much hue and cry made the opposition, party leaders. But appointed many politicians, their kins on key jobs, throughout the year and faces backlashes.
Durg seizures-BSF, Punjab police seizes hundreds of kilos of drugs , worth crores of rupees in the international market, in the border state, throughout the year.
Kartarpur Corridor-Central government just few days before the parkash purab of Guru Nanak Dev ji, opened the Kartarpur sahib corridor for pilgrimage. The central government closes the corridor amid covid pandemic.
Sports achievements-Punjab players brought laurels for the nation, state when they won medals in the Olympics, para-olympics, world championships, international, national level sport events.
Higher Education-Many state government, private universities, higher educational institutes figured in prestigious NIRF, AIRRA, TIMES and other rankings for imparting quality education. New private universities opened. Whereas the state government fails to appoint vice chancellors of many state universities.
School Education-For the first time, Punjab topped the national performance grading index of school education for 2019-20 released by the Centre this year, seven lakhs students admitted in government schools in 2021, state government releases the list of best government schools for the session 2020-21 on the basis of overall grading.
Governor-The state gets its new governor Banwari Lal Purohit in September, after the five years term of VP Singh Badanore ends in august 2021.
Bureaucrats Protest-This year saw a rare PCS officers association going on mass leave in solidarity with their colleagues, after the state vigilance booked officials of revenue department in alleged illegal gratification cases.
Punjab police-Punjab police also saw many ups and downs throughout the year. The state police officials got honours on Republic day, Independence day for meritorious services from central, state governments, busted terror modules, solve many critical cases, killed gangsters, seizes drugs, illegal weapons etc throughout the year. Punjab police has to face criticism as their recruitment paper were leaked. They have to cancel their recruitment exams. Punjab police has to face embarrassing situation when a confidential letter written by its ADGP to DGP got leaked on social media.
New Districts/ sub divisions- Keeping its poll promises, Punjab govt has made Malerkotla as district and made towns as new sub-divisions.
Local Bodies elections- Punjab government holds local bodies election in 2021. Ruling party emerges as winner in almost all the municipal corporation, municipal councils, nagar panchayat elections.
Padma Awards-This year many Punjabi’s got prestigious Padma awards.
Centenary Celebrations-Shiromani akali dal celebrated its 100 years of establishment.
SGPC-SGPC elected its president Advocate Harjinder singh Dhami through voting, after many years.
December 31,2021
