Chandigarh, December 2: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that while realizing Dr. Mangal Sen's dream of Antyodaya, the State Government has targeted to increase the income of the poorest of the poor families and to bring them in the APL category for their economic upliftment.

The scheme has been started by the State Government for the upliftment of the families at the bottom of the pyramid. Under Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojna, about 3.5 lakh families with annual income less than Rs 1 lakh have been identified, and a target has been set to increase their income up to Rs 2 lakh by ensuring benefits of welfare schemes through special Antyodaya Gram Utthan Melas. Such Melas are being organized in the state till December 25, 2021.

During the programme organized on the 31st death anniversary of former Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, Dr. Mangal Sen at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Chief  Minister released a book titled “Dr. Mangal Sen- Saidhantik Rajneeti Ke Pathik” based on the thoughts of Dr. Mangal Sen. 

Earlier, he also inaugurated the renovation work of Dr. Mangal Sen Multi-Purpose Hall being done at a cost of 2.5 crore and laid the foundation stone of Kabbadi Hall to be constructed at an amount of about Rs. 8.50 crore.

Chief Minister inaugurated the programme by lighting the traditional lamp and paid floral tributes on the statue of Dr. Mangal Sain. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Manohar Lal said that Dr. Mangal Sen always devoted his life to social service.  After the partition of the country, he rehabilitated the people in the rehabilitation camps and gave them medicines. 

He called upon the people of the state to read about the life of Dr. Mangal Sen and acquire from him the spirit of philanthropy and social service.  Charity is the biggest religion, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that more than 40 research chairs have been set up by the State Government in various universities for research on the life and thoughts of many great men so that through them the young generation could be made aware of the thoughts of these great men. 

He called upon the attendees to follow the path of Antyodaya shown by Dr. Mangal Sen which he said would be a real tribute to him.  On October 27, the State Government had decided to constitute Dr. Mangal Sen Shodhpeeth to pay tributes to Dr. Mangal Sen on his birth anniversary on October 27.

The Chief Minister said that the expenses of the Shodhpeeth should be borne by the followers of the concerned social person so that there is no financial burden on the University.  He said that quality research related to the life and thoughts of great men should be done by these research benches so that their ideas could reach the common man.

Remembering the time spent with Dr. Mangal Sen, Sh. Manohar Lal said that he has learned a lot about social service while working with Dr. Mangal Sen for many years. He said that he himself started social work in 1981 and till 1984 he was closely associated with Dr. Mangal Sen. 

Dr. Mangal Sen used to take everyone along and the spirit of public service was filled in him.  He was the epitome of simplicity, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

He said that all Universities should be financially self-sufficient.  For this, alumni meetings should be organized every year, in which the person who pursued education from the institute should participate and contribute to the expansion of the institute according to their ability, he added.

He said that even in ancient India, education was given free of cost and the society also had a full contribution in promoting education.  After receiving education, Guru Dakshina was given to the Guru at the convocation, from which he used to earn his living.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is expanding facilities like education, health, etc. in the state.  Now, the State Government has decided to establish medical colleges in all 22 districts, under which medical colleges have either been established in 19 districts or their process is in progress. 

He said that medical colleges would also be established in the other three districts.  Medical College was established in Rohtak in the year 1960.  He said that Haryana is the first state where efforts are being made to increase the income of BPL families to include them in APL. 

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Rajbir Singh, Lok Sabha MP, Dr. Arvind Sharma, Former Minister and Vice President, BJP, Sh. Manish Kumar Grover, Vice-Chancellor, PGIMS, Dr. Anita Saxena, Mayor, Sh. Manmohan Goyal,  Deputy Commissioner,  Captain Manoj Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Sh. Narhari Singh Bangar, Superintendent of Police, Sh. Uday Singh Meena and the faculty members of the University also remained present on this occasion.