Punjab Govt to Honor 16 'Farishtas' on Independence Day for Aiding Accident Victims

Acknowledging the efforts of individuals who aided accident victims in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government under its flagship ‘FARISHTEY’ scheme will honour as many as 16 Farishtas on the occasion of Independence Day-2024, said Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh here on Wednesday.

He said that all the Farishteys, who rescued the accident victims and help them in saving their lives, will be conferred with commendation certificates and a cash prize of Rs 2000 at their respective District Headquaters.

The Farishtas, who will be honoured, are Varinder Singh and Jagtar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib; Gurnaib Singh and Sukhchain Singh from Ferozepur; Anu Kumar, Rajinder Kumar and Abhishek Sharma from Jalandhar; Harpal Singh and Rajneet Kaur from Moga; Nand Lal from Pathankot; Arjun, Gursewak Singh, Happy, Iqbal Singh, Lovepreet and Vinod Kumar from Patiala.

The Health Minister said that all Deputy Commissioners have been asked to ensure that these Farishtas will be recognised during Independence Day function at their respective district Headquarters, with the cash award being directly transferred to the bank accounts of the Farishtey.

The Health Minister said that the Punjab Government had launched this ambitious Farishtey Scheme with the intent of lowering the morbidity rates resulting from injuries sustained in road accidents and providing immediate, hassle-free treatment in the available Government/empanelled private hospitals. A total 180 public and 313 private hospitals have been empanelled in the scheme, he added.

He said that to encourage common people to come forth and help accident victims and save the lives of the victims, such “Farishteys” are being felicitated with cash rewards, commendation certificates and provided immunity from legal complications and police inquiries.

Pertinently, the scheme has been successfully running under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) State Health Agency (SHA) Babita Kaler and under the supervision of Deputy Director SHA-cum- Nodal Officer Farishtey scheme Sharanjit Kaur Nodal Officer.