Tarn Taran Diary: Dr MS Gill helped renovate SGAD Government College in Tarn Taran
SGAD Government College, Tarn Taran, has played a remarkable role in the progress of the area. It is a pioneer co-educational institution established in 1966 when it was a privately managed institution. Before the present building came up, there was Shri Guru Arjun Dev (SGAD) Khalsa Senior Secondary School being run by a management that included prominent personalities in which Dr Gurdial Singh Dhillon, once Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Dilbag Singh Daleke, former Punjab minister, played a key role. In 1966, when SGAD Khalsa College was established, the school was shifted to the building in front of the college. On June 2,1974, the college was taken over by the state government and the name was changed to SGAD Government College, Tarn Taran.
The building was not fit by college standards and the state government did not release sufficient grants to update it for years. Efforts were made by Dr MS Gill who was the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and then entered politics when Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He was also made a cabinet minister in the Union Government. The progress of this college was top priority for Dr MS Gill and he released sufficient grants for the college. The double-storey building has been renovated with the grants released by him from his MPLAD funds. Right from the office of the principal to classrooms, library, science laboratories, canteen, common room, staff room and the surroundings, all have been given a new shape. The college hall has been totally renovated. The college gym too has been given a new look with required apparatus. Dr Gill released grants worth Rs 2.2 crore in installments in his 10 years as an MP. He did much when he was a Union minister. Gurminder Singh Rataul, a local leader, played a key role in getting grants released for the college and other purposes. It is the only educational institution which has a playground in about three acres which is used by the people for walks and to play different games. Other educational institutions too organise tournaments in this playground. The role of Dr MS Gill would be remembered forever by the people of the area for his contribution in the progress of SGAD Government College, Tarn Taran.
Creating awareness on COTPA
The Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab, has been trying to make all sections of society aware against violating the provisions of COTPA which stands for Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. The Act relates to production, supply, distribution and trade of tobacco products, including cigarettes. It is a fact that tobacco products are the root cause of heart and lung diseases, diabetes, reproductive health, immune system, eye disease, pregnancy, nicotine addiction, communicable diseases etc. Lung diseases are the most serious problem caused by the use of tobacco products. Gurpreet Singh Rai, Civil Surgeon, Tarn Taran, said that the department has activated its staff to take action against the violators of COTPA. Dr Rai said that 35 shops (Khokha operators) were warned by a team of the department. He said to prohibit the use of tobacco products, the publication of advertisements is totally banned and no one is allowed to do so. Dr Rai said no karyana shop operator is allowed to sell these products which happened decades back. The Civil Surgeon said that in a 50 meter area of educational institutions, no one is allowed to sell these products. A ban has been imposed on consuming tobacco in public places. The area of educational institutions, shops, schools, colleges, government and non-government establishments have been declared as tobacco-free complexes. Selling tobacco products has been banned for teenagers. The Civil Surgeon said that the violators are liable to three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh. Civil Surgeon Dr Gurpreet Singh Rai said that the department was determined to implement the Act in its true spirit.
Foundation stone laid 89 years back
On the Muradpur road in Tarn Taran town, there is an inaugural stone laid on May 7, 1935. It may be called historical. It was laid by the then Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar who was an ICS officer. Tarn Taran was then part of Amritsar district at that time. Decades back, this site was called the Dashehra ground which was under the control of the Municipal Committee (presently Municipal Council). The stone has gone so old that the name of the Deputy Commissioner is not legible on it.
