Celebrations galore

Patiala
India’s 61st Republic Day was celebrated with great fervour in Patiala. The State Bank of Patiala marked the occasion in their head office,with managing director Ashok Nayar unfurling the tricolour. A cultural show was also presented by the staff members and children of the Deaf and Dumb School,Patiala,and students of SOS village,Rajpura. Senior officials of the bank were present on the occasion along with their families. At the Punjab State Electricity Board headquarters in Patiala,administrative member Gurbachan Singh Bachi unfurled the national flag on Tuesday. Despite heavy fog,several PSEB officers and employees attended the function. Bachi inspected the Guard of Honour. At the Punjabi University,Vice- Chancellor Jaspal Singh unfurled the national flag and took the salute during R-Day celebrations on the campus. Dean (Academics) M S Saini,Registrar S S Khehra,Dean (Colleges) Manjit Singh,Dean (Students) K S Dhillon and Dean (Research) G R Kataria also addressed the gathering.

Ropar
The Republic Day was celebrated with much fervour at Ropar on Tuesday. Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal unfurled the national flag at a district-level function held at Nehru Stadium. He also took the salute from an impressive march past by the contingents of Punjab Police,Home Guards,NCC Cadets,St John’s Ambulance,Girl Guides and ex-servicemen. While speaking on the occasion he recalled the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters for the freedom of the country and highlighted the achievements of the Punjab government. He also honoured 29 personalities for their achievement in their respective fields and distributed tricycles to physically handicapped and sewing machines to the needy.

AMBALA
Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker H S Chatha unfurled the national flag at a district-level Republic Day function held at the Police Lines on Tuesday. Schoolchildren presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. Chatha honoured 47 persons for their outstanding performance in various fields. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the school for mentally retarded children which is under construction. Chatha also distributed tricycles and wheeled chairs to 41 handicapped persons and honoured freedom fighters and war widows.

State Bank of India
The State Bank of India,Chandigarh Circle,celebrated the nation’s 61st Republic Day with great enthusiasm. Chief General Manager S K Sehgal unfurled the national flag. A cultural programme was put up with various patriotic songs by artistes,a skit by Theatre Age Group and the national anthem by schoolchildren of Government Model High Secondary School,Sector 22,Chandigarh. On the occasion,Sehgal handed over a cheque of Rs 2.13 lakh for purchase of a Maruti van to the president of Global Cancer Concern India. The vehicle will be used to render homecare services in Chandigarh. Savita Sodhi,president of the society,thanked the bank for the gesture.
Meanwhile,president of the Chandigarh BJP unit,Sanjay Tandon,senior BJP leader Jai Ram Joshi,The British School,Panchkula,Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee,Modern Housing Complex (Duplex) Residents’ Welfare Association,Manimajra,Green Castle Public School,Sector 47,and Canara Bank Officers’ Association also celebrated the day.