Contributions By S. Parkash Singh for Enhancing Pu
Do you know that there has been a major contribution of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal to the improvement of the Punjab state? He was a highly recognised Indian political figure and has served as the Chief Minister of Punjab several times. It is well said that Badal has won MLA elections a total of 11 times and has actively participated in social activities. He also became the Union Minister of the Agricultural Department.
Thus, all of his contributions and appreciable works are greatly recognised to date showing that he was a remarkable political figure. He also focused on agricultural policies, rural development and infrastructure projects to improve the overall socio-economic conditions of the state during his term in office. In this blog content, you will get to know about the works and political aspects of this highly honourable politician.
Early Life and Education Background of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal
He was born to a Jatt Sikh family on 8th December 1928 in Abul Khurana near Malout region. His father was a landlord namely Raghuraj Singh Badal and his mother was Sundri Kaur. He completed his diploma from FC College in Lahore and Panjab University. It is also noted that he became a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at a young age.
With his great potential and strong vision, he made a lot of contributions starting from the initial stage of his political career. In 1959, he married Sardarni Surinder Kaur and they both had two children namely Sukhbir Singh Badal and Parneet Kaur. In 2011, his wife died due to a long illness caused by cancer.
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal passed away on 25th April 2023, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Indian politics.
Insights on Political Career of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal
As embraced above, he started his political journey at a young age and he was also the leader of the Akali movement which is often referred to as the Gurdwara Reform Movement, organised officially to take an initiative to reform gurdwaras in India in the early 1920s.
He started his political career in 1947. Initially, he became sarpanch of his village and later on Chairman of Block Samiti before becoming involved in the politics of Punjab. Then, he was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1957 for the first time from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party. At this time he was thirty years old.
In 1969, Badal was re-elected and served as the Minister for various domains such as Community Development, Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry, Dairying as well as Fisheries. In the following years, especially 1972, 1980 and 2002, he was leader of the opposition.
Also, with a strong potential to fight against the opposite political parties, he had been elected in Vidhan Sabha for a total of 10 times, in 1957 and each election since 1969. Moreover, he won four elections in a row and also served as the 8th Chief Minister of Punjab from 1970 to 1971, 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2017.
Parkash Singh Badal was also appointed as the Union Minister in 1977 during the government of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. At that time, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.
He lost the election in February 1991, in which he led the boycott of state elections by the Akalis. Then, in 1997 he won the elections from Lambi Assembly constituency and was considered as winner in four terms.
Highlighting the Recognised Political Activities of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal
As a five-time Chief Minister of Punjab, he spearheaded various development projects and initiatives that transformed the state. Here are the notable works and initiatives taken by Sardar Parkash Singh Badal under the government of Akali Dal listed below:
- Free Food Service: The Atta Dal Scheme launched by Sardar Parkash Singh Badal provided essential nourishment to those in need, ensuring that vulnerable individuals and families had access to nutritious food. By alleviating the financial burden of purchasing essential food items, the scheme aimed to improve the overall well-being and health of the underprivileged population.
- Free Ambulance Service: Sardar Parkash Singh Badal initiated the free ambulance service project in 2011 to ensure that people had access to timely and cost-free emergency medical transportation. This project aimed to provide swift and efficient ambulance services to those in need, potentially saving lives by enabling quick access to medical care during emergencies. Additionally, the free ambulance service helped alleviate the financial burden on families during medical crises, ensuring that individuals could receive timely care without worrying about the cost of transportation.
- Electricity Service: During his ten-year tenure from 2007 to 2017, three private power plants with a total capacity of 3920 MW were commissioned in Punjab. This included L&T’s 1400 MW thermal power plant, Nabha Power Limited, in Rajpura, Vedanta group’s 1980 MW thermal power plant, Talwandi Sabo Power Plant, in Talwandi, Mansa district, and GVK group’s 540 MW thermal power plant in Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran district of Punjab. These new power plants made more electricity available in Punjab, which meant fewer power cuts and more reliable electricity for homes and businesses. This helped people live more comfortably and supported the growth of businesses in the area.
- Changes in Transportation Policies: Under the Akali Dal party, he started a new transportation policy that mainly reduced taxes applied to air-conditioned buses. By taking this initiative during his tenure, they made the luxury bus operations more cost-effective. This initiative may have also contributed to enhancing the overall quality of public transportation services, offering passengers a more pleasant and convenient travel experience.
- Sangat Darshan Programme: Sardar Parkash Singh Badal popularised the Sangat Darshan public outreach program, setting a precedent for other political parties to follow. This program allowed people to directly interact with their political representatives, enabling them to voice their concerns and seek assistance for local issues. This initiative fostered greater transparency and accountability in governance, empowering citizens to participate in decision-making processes and facilitating the resolution of community-specific challenges.
- Conducted Several Rallies: He led numerous morchas, including the movement for Punjabi Suba (statehood), and was imprisoned during the Emergency and the Satluj-Yamuna link canal agitation.
- Initiative for Farmers: Badal made significant contributions to the welfare of farmers and the weaker sections of society, earning praise from Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister. Additionally, such efforts helped the farmers in reducing disparities and promoting social equity, thereby uplifting the living standards of populations.
- Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act 2009: Badal’s government passed the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act 2009 to address groundwater depletion and protect farmers from commission agents. He also introduced a new agriculture policy to reduce the area under water-intensive crops and implemented a direct payment system for farmers.
- Launching of Rural Growth Centres: During his 1977-1980 term as CM, Badal launched Rural Growth Centres, known as Focal Points, to promote economic growth and infrastructure development in villages, laying the foundation for rural growth and the green revolution.
- Related to White Revolution: In his third term as chief minister (1997-2002), Badal focused on the white revolution, establishing the Punjab Dairy Development Board to support dairy farmers, promote milk production, improve dairy farming practices, and enhance economic opportunities for dairy farmers. Additionally, these efforts contributed to addressing nutritional needs by ensuring a more reliable and sustainable supply of dairy products for the people of Punjab.
- Establishment of an Oil Refinery: In his third term (2007-2012), Badal oversaw the establishment of an oil refinery at Talwandi Sabo, an international airport at Mohali and iconic educational institutions in Mohali, Ropar and Amritsar. His governance reforms commission and the introduction of Suvidha centres were notable outcomes of his administration.
Apart from this, his party initiated several notable religious projects during Badal’s tenure including the Minar-e-Begampura in Hoshiarpur’s Khuralgarh Sahib and the Heritage Street at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. He also initiated several schemes for the students of government schools and provided them with facilities of cycles and other educational materials.
Conclusion,
Sardar Parkash Singh Badal was a remarkable political figure who worked really hard and took better initiatives to support the people below the poverty line and others. He launched several schemes, inaugurated notable projects and established policies to transform the socio-economic scenario of the Punjab State. Furthermore, the Akali Dal party figures out the general problems that the public is facing and provides them with facilities to sort out and help the society for better development of the rural and urban areas. To know other details of the politicians, visit the link www.proactivepoliticians.com/ to explore the biography, political career and major contributions of the top-rated Indian politicians to shape the social and economic conditions of the country.
