MRSAFPI CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE: EIGHT DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HONOURED WITH ACHIEVER AWARDS

*— Aman Arora congratulates eight young officers honoured with Achiever Awards*

*— MRSAFPI Emerges as Premier Feeder Institute for Armed Forces, Says Major General Ajay H. Chauhan*

CHANDIGARH, December 17:Reaffirming the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government to support aspirations of youngsters, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) in SAS Nagar celebrated the achievements of its distinguished alumni by honouring eight recently commissioned officers with the prestigious Achiever Awards.

The Achiever Award ceremony recognised eight AFPIANs who were commissioned into the Defence Services in 2025, with seven commissioned in November/December 2025 and one in March 2025. The young officers interacted with the cadets under training, sharing insights from their pre-commissioning academies and motivating them to bring pride to the State and the Nation.

Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora congratulated the eight young officers honoured with Achiever Awards, while stating, "Their success will inspire Punjab's youth to serve the nation with honour & bring pride to Punjab.”

Director of MRSAFPI, Maj Gen Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd) complimented the Young Officers on their commissioning and hoped that the training received by them at MRSAFPI will continue to provide them a good launch pad to achieve excellence in their service careers. He added that the Institute is being robustly supported by the Punjab Government which under the leadership of the Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann and Cabinet Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Department Mr. Aman Arora is providing adequate opportunities to the youth of Punjab to join the Defence Forces.

Meanwhile, the Institute which commenced functioning in 2011, is turning out to be a major feeder institute for the Defence Forces. Till date 278 of its cadets of the Institute have joined NDA/other academies with 186 of them having been commissioned as officers. As we go to press, 10 additional cadets have received joining letters to join NDA/ other academies and 47 cadets are preparing to proceed for their Service Selection Board (SSB) Interviews.

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Forest & Nature Awareness Parks being developed to increase green cover & preserve ecology

Chandigarh, December 17:With a view to ensure the increase in forest cover in the State as well as leaving a clean and green environment for the future generations, the Punjab Government is developing 8 Forest & Nature Awareness Parks. Four of these parks are being developed in Pathankot, 2 in Patiala and 1 each in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur under the Greening Punjab Mission.

The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department under the tutelage of Cabinet Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak is working on war footing with regard to the completion of these projects. In Pathankot, Environment Parks are coming up at Village Gharota (0.50 Hectare), Kataruchak (0.75 Hectare), Panchayat land at Haibat Pindi (0.60 Hectare) and ITI Bamiyal. Likewise, the environment parks are in the process of being developed in Patiala at two spots including Baron Minor. In Amritsar, environment park is coming up at village Jagdev Kalan Pul while a Van Chetna Park is underway at Bassi Purani in Hoshiarpur.

As regarding the park at Haibat Pind, the work concerning nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipments and the open air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway. At Gharota also, the work concerning nature trail with interlocking tiles has been completed while the installation of play equipments and the open air shelters (Gazebo) is currently underway. In Village Kataruchak, the work to install nature trail with interlocking tiles and the play equipments installation is continuing at a very rapid pace.

It has been the sincere endeavour of the State Government to ensure maximum possible green cover as well as undertake measures to protect the environment for the sake of posterity. In this regard, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department, Punjab, is in the process of drafting 'The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025' with the aim to maintain green cover, ensuring ecological balance and preventing the pollution of environment besides conserving the soil.

The Act would be extendable to all the urban areas of Punjab. As per the act, the limits of a Nagar Council, Municipal Corporation, Notified Area Committee, Town Area Committee or any Urban Development Authority/Body. It also has the provision of a Tree Officer which means an Executive Officer in the urban local bodies in Punjab or any other officer so notified by the State Government.