PAKISTAN DELEGATION CALLS ON CHAIRMAN
PUNJAB STATE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Chandigarh April 4, 2008
Shikha Nehra
; A Pakistan delegation headed by Mr.Ansar Burney, Former Federal
Minister for Human Rights, Pakistan and Member Advisory Committee,
United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva today called on
Justice R.S. Mongia , Chairman Punjab State Human Rights Commission
at Chandigarh and discussed vital issues concerning human rights
in the state of Punjab and Pakistan.
Mr. Burney said that his priority was to strengthen the Indo-Pak
relationships, promote mutual understanding, goodwill and amity
between the two neighborly countries. He said that his visit to
India was intended primarily to discuss issues relating to peace,
justice and human rights. He said that nobody wanted terrorism,
war, and any kid of discrimination between the people of these
two countries in the region. He made a fervent appeal to the people
of both countries to strengthen the existing relationships
through frequent interaction, exchange of ideas and free movement
between the two sovereign states.
Referring to the Pakistani prisoners in various jails of Punjab,
he said that steps were being taken to expeditious their repatriation
to Pakistan. The Punjab Govt. has promised to take up the issue
with the Govt. of India regarding the release of all the 49 prisoners
who have completed their sentence in Punjab jails.
Speaking on the occasion Justice R.S.Mongia, Chairman PSHRC said
that during a recent inspection, 46 internees belonging to foreign
countries were found lodged in the transit camp at the Central
Jail, Amritsar. Most of the internees were complaining that though
they had already completed the term of their imprisonment, but
they were not being deported to the country of their origin. The
Jail authorities offered the explanation that they had already
informed the authorities concerned of the Union Government for
deportation of the internees, but due to certain technical problems,
deportation was being delayed. Some of the internees said that
they were having valid passports and entered India legally. They
over-stayed or did not go back to their country due to certain
reasons beyond their control. They requested that their case might
be dealt with separately. The Jail authorities were asked to expedite
their cases in accordance with law and deport them to the country
of their origin as soon as possible in order to avoid violation
of their human rights.
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia. Information and Public Relations
Minister Punjab, Mr.B.C.Rajput, Justice R.L.Anand, Mr K.K.Bhatnagar
all members of PSHRC and Mr. B.Sarkar, Secretary PSHRC were also
present on the occasion.
PUNJAB CM CONDOLES THE SAD DEMISE OF GURBAX
SINGH BANUANA
CHANDIGARH APRIL 4, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of a veteran journalist
Mr.Gurbax Singh Banuana popularly know as 'Baba Banuana', who
died at Nakodar after a prolonged illness this morning. He was
80 and is survived by his widow a son and a daughter.
In a condolence message, Mr.Badal said that Mr. Banuana was an
outstanding journalist who performed his professional duties with
utmost dedication, commitment and sincerity. In his death the
journalist fraternity has lost a gem and a vacuum has been created
which was difficult to be filled.
Mr. Badal expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the members
of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to grant peace
to the departed soul and give strength and courage to them to
bear this irreparable loss.
Meanwhile, Member Parliament and President Shiromani Akali Dal
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the death of Mr.Gurbax Singh
Banuana.
Information & Public Relations Minister Mr.Bikram Singh
Majithia also shared his condolences with the family of Mr.Banuana
and described him a multi faceted personality dedicated to the
cause of freedom of the press.
Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr.Harcharan Bains also mourned
the death of Mr.Banuana. He said; 'Mr.Banuana was a journalist
to the core and a social activist who sincerely propagated the
ethics of journalism'.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Information & Public Relations
Mr. DS Jaspal and Director Information & Public Relations
Mr.Tejveer Singh also mourned the sad demise of Mr.Banuana.
It may be recalled that Mr.Banuana worked as journalist in Nawan
Zamana, Ajit and Akali Patrika and presently he was an editor
of Punjabi managzine 'Virsa' published by Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall
Committee, Jalandhar. He also edited 'Gadar Goonjan' and many
books on freedom movement. He was honoured with an award of 'Shiormani
Patarkar' by the Punjab Government.
SCHEMES TO IMPART PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
TO YOUTH –SWARNA RAM
Chandigarh, April 4, 2008
P.K.
Under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash
Singh Badal, Technical Education and Industrial Training Department
was always keen to impart professional training to youth of the
state so that they could avail better job opportunities.
Disclosing this here today Ch. Swarna Ram, Technical Education
& Industrial Training Minister Punjab said that centrally
sponsored schemes such as "up gradation of Government ITI's
in to Centre of Excellence and up gradation of government ITI's
through Public Private Partnership were also initiated in the
Institutions of the State. Under these Schemes all government
Industrial Training Institutions were being upgraded.
Under Centre of excellence Schemes up-gradation of 20 ITIs has
been started in which latest technology training programme has
been started. Besides this three more institutions would start
the training during the month of August, 2008. During the year
of 2007-08, 23 institutions were also given the status of Centre
of Excellence by Central government in the year of 2008-09, 10
to 11 more institutions would be given the status of Centre of
Excellence. Under this scheme Rs. 3.5 crore outlay was kept for
each centre of excellence of in which 75 percent grant was provide
by the Centre Government which would benefit 7000 apprentice,
he added.
The Minister further said that remaining 70 ITIs were being
upgraded under "up gradation of Government ITI's through
Public private partnership scheme Rs. 50 Crores has been allotted
for the up-gradation of 20 ITIs of the state during this month.
Under this scheme 3000 apprentice would get the benefits and after
the implementation of these schemes skilled labour could meet
the requirements of Industrial units in the state.
TARGET TO SUPPLY 7.93 LAC MT. FERTILISER TO FARMERS
DURING KHARIF SEASON 2008
Chandigarh, 4 April, 2008
Naginder Singh
State Government has made all arrangements to supply 7.93 lac
MT of fertilisers to farmers during Kharif season 2008, so that
they could get maximum yield from their crops.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Sucha singh Langah, Agriculture
Minister Punjab said that 6.27 lac MT of Nitrogen , 1.26 lac MTof
Phosphorus and 0.40 lac MTs of Pottash would be provided timely
to farmers of the state. The Minister said to ensure proper distribution
of fertiliser 10546 sale points have been identified out of which
Cooperation agencies was allotted 3644 sale points, PAFC 19 while
private agencies would distribute fertilizer from 6884 sale points
in the state.
During Kharif 2007 total 7.10 lac MT of fertilizer was consumed.
There would be no shortage of fertilizers during Kharif season
assured the Minister.
PUNJAB ORDERS SEMESTER SYSTEM FOR ALL
PG COURSES
Chandigarh, 4 April, 2008
H.S.Grewal
The Punjab Government has decided to start semester system in
colleges in Post Graduate Courses from this academic year. Under-Graduate
courses would be covered by the semester system from the next
academic year i.e 2009-2010.
This decision was taken by Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education Minister
Punjab in a meeting with Vice Chancellors of all the Universities
of the state held here today. The Vice Chancellors accepted the
proposal of higher Education department Punjab to hold the Semester
System in PG Courses in the colleges as well as in University
neighbourhood campuses. It may be added here that semester system
was already in place in all the University campuses.
It was also decided in the meeting that these universities would
coordinate with each other for uniform syllabus and standardization
of courses being run by the Universities.
The Education Minister has instructed the Secretary Higher Education
and Vice Chancellors to send their suggestions / objections to
the National Council for Teacher Education New Delhi regarding
dilution in the academic and building norms for running of B.Ed
Colleges in the State.
It was also decided to rationalise the various posts in the
Government colleges where strength of students is not up to the
norms on University Grants Commission (UGC). The number of students
for a subject in Urban and Rural Colleges were also fixed to run
a course.
In this meeting among others Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Secretary Higher
Education, Mr. Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University,
Mr. R.P. Sobti, Vice Chancellor Punjab University and Mr. R.S.
Bawa, Registrar Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Kanwarjit
Singh DPI Colleges Punjab were also present in the meeting.
PUNJAB'S DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION 7 NGOs ARRESTED-4 CONVICTED
IN GRAFT CASES
Chandigarh April 4, 2008
H.S.Grewal
:State Vigilance Bureau in a drive against corruption in public
life arrested 7 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in 7 different cases
last month and was able to secure the conviction of 4 corrupt
officials in 2 different cases. Those convicted by special courts
included a Panchayat Officer, Panchayat Secretary, former Sarpanch
and a Revenue Patwari for two years and one year imprisonment
each on embezzlement and graft charges respectively in two different
cases.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, Joint
Dierctor (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has
put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public
servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction,
the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate
assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not
escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.
During this period VB has registered 7 Vigilance Enquiries and
9 criminal cases to probe into the allegations.
Giving details he added that in the last month Mr. Tirlok Singh
Panchayat Officer, Mr. Mukhtiar Singh Panchayat Secretary, Mr.
Balwant Singh former Sarpanch of village Mianwind distt. Tarntarn
have been sentenced by the court of Mr H.S Dhaliwal Additional
Sessions Judge Tarntarn after finding them guilty in an embezzlement
case for two years imprisonment with fine of Rs. 3000/- each.
In another corruption case Mr. Amarjit Ram Revenue Patwari, Mal
Halqua, Bhandal Himat, Distt Jalandhar has been convicted by the
court of Sh. S.K Mehta Additional Sessions Judge Jalandhar for
one year imprisonment with fine Rs. 1000/- in a corruption case
registered against him.
