To commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 2019 in a grand and befitting manner, Punjab chief minister Cap Amarinder Singh has sought assistance of Rs 2,145 crore from the Centre for infrastructure projects and special programmes in towns and cities associated with the first Sikh Guru.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM, also the chairman of the state-level organising Committee, has suggested that a national organising committee, under the chairmanship of the PM, be constituted to oversee celebrations. “I will also be meeting the PM soon to discuss the issue,” he said.
In a memorandum, submitted along with his letter, the CM has sought Rs 875 crore for upgrade of infrastructure in the four historic towns. The CM has also sought a special grant of Rs 350 crore from the Union ministry of human resource development for setting up the Sri Guru Nanak Dev National Institute of Inter-Faith Studies at Amritsar. The CM has sought assistance of Rs 500 crore for setting up of a 500-bed Sri Guru Nanak Dev Medical College and Super-Specialty Hospital in Gurdaspur.
A special grant of Rs 200 crore has also been sought through the Ministry of Culture for setting up a Heritage Village — Pind Babe Nanak Da, which will depict the life and times of the Guru. The proposed village, to be set up in 75-100 acre in Sultanpur Lodhi, will be modelled as a typical village of the 15th/16th century. It will have a number of dwelling units, each depicting a particular incident of the life of Guru. This heritage village will be a part of a multidisciplinary project and will include rejuvenation and development of Kanjli wetlands and the holy Kali Bein river. Another Rs100 crore has been sought for setting up 40 other heritage villages across 15 districts of Punjab, travelled by the first Sikh Guru.
{{/usCountry}}A special grant of Rs 200 crore has also been sought through the Ministry of Culture for setting up a Heritage Village — Pind Babe Nanak Da, which will depict the life and times of the Guru. The proposed village, to be set up in 75-100 acre in Sultanpur Lodhi, will be modelled as a typical village of the 15th/16th century. It will have a number of dwelling units, each depicting a particular incident of the life of Guru. This heritage village will be a part of a multidisciplinary project and will include rejuvenation and development of Kanjli wetlands and the holy Kali Bein river. Another Rs100 crore has been sought for setting up 40 other heritage villages across 15 districts of Punjab, travelled by the first Sikh Guru.
{{/usCountry}}A grant of Rs 100 crore has also been sought for the proposed year-long commemorative events, which will kick-start with a nagar kirtan from either from the Nankana Sahib or the Wagah Border, with the main events beginning at Sultanpur Lodhi, a town closely associated with the first guru. The celebrations, as well as the nagar kirtan, will conclude at Dera Baba Nanak, adjoining Kartarpur (now in Pakistan), where the Guru breathed his last.