Chandigarh April 21, 2008
The Punjab Government has decided to start vocational
course in the stream of general health care in 307 medical institutes
to open new vistas of employment for our youth.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education
& Research Minister said that Punjab Government under the
leadership of Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab was
focusing on increasing the employability of our students, by offering
them those courses that have a greater demand in international
job market. He said that CBSE has already started offering new
elective subject of general health care and it would be appropriate
for the medical institutes of the state to start certificate/diploma/degree
courses for students clearing 10th and 10+2 examination.
He said that the instructions has been issued to Baba Farid University
of Health Sciences to evolve these courses at certificate/diploma/degree
level and offer these courses to 307 medical institutes affiliated
to the university. He said that courses should be evolved in the
stream of general health care for the students clearing class
10 and 10+2 examination from various boards.
He said that there was great demand for qualified general health
care professionals in India and abroad and this course would open
new areas of employment for our youth.
Mr. Jagjit Puri, Secretary Medical Education and Research informed
that Vice Chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences
has been asked to frame the curriculum and course material of
new courses and coordinate with Medical Institutes affiliated
to the university to ensure initiation of these courses from this
academic session.
Bhatthal, Amarinder spat
Sukhbir
to Sonia: Break silence on Congress role in terrorism
Chandigarh April 21, 2008
Member of Parliament and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir
Singh Badal today asked the Congress President Ms. Sonia Gandhi
to break her silence on charges that dreaded terrorists in Punjab
were sheltered and aided by senior Congress leaders like Captain
Amarinder Singh and Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhatthal.
"Incontrovertible evidence on the murky role played by the
Congress party in the terror blood-bath that rocked Punjab for
more than a decade and half has now been provided by two former
Chief Ministers belonging to this party. Independent and credible
reports about the bloody games of the Congress had been circulating
the media and political circles for a long time. The Bhatthal-Amarinder
spat in broad daylight has only confirmed those reports and proved
beyond any doubt that terrorism in Punjab had been mothered, nursed
and sustained by the then ruling party as a part of its diabolic
conspiracies to defame the SAD and the Sikhs for cheap political
gains," said Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal in a statement released
here.
The SAD president further said that it was no secret that the
Congress party acted as a mafia gang of murderers and looters
during those mad days in Punjab. "But now, these killers
and looters have fallen foul of each other and have started revealing
the dirty truth in public," he said, adding that Mrs. Sonia
Gandhi must come clean on this highly sensitive issue.
The SAD president said that his party would welcome a thorough
probe by a central agency like the CBI into the entire gamut of
the Congress role in the tragedy of Punjab. He said that the exchange
of incriminations and recriminations between Captain Singh and
Mrs. Bhatthal could not be dismissed as an internal affair of
the Congress party as it involved the question of accountability
for senseless killings of thousands of innocent Punjabis. "At
stake also is the issue of security, unity and integrity of the
country. Also, the Congress owes an explanation to the Sikh quom
as to why it chose to paint a fiercely proud and patriotic community
as traitors and terrorists while the entire conspiracy was in
fact the handiwork of the opportunistic leadership of this party."
Referring to the on-going spectacle of running battles between
the "brother-sister duo" of Captain Singh and Mrs. Bhatthal,
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the truth revealed by each against
the other had frightening implications for peace and communal
harmony in the state and the country and Mrs. Gandhi must state
clearly as to why such leaders had been so honoured by her party
as to be rewarded with the high office of the state Chief Minister.
It may be recalled that while Captain Singh has been publicly
accusing Mrs. Bhatthal of sheltering terrorists, she on her part
has come out with evidence of his collusion with anti-national
elements and his open support for the Khalistani Babbars.
Captain Singh had even described Beant Singh's killer Jagtar
Singh Hawara as a "gentleman". Hawara conveniently staged
a highly dramatic and filmy tunnel-escape from jail and freely
roamed Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts during Amaridner's
regime. It was left to a police party from the Delhi police to
nab him from Punjab. Mrs. Bhatthal had gone to the extent of accusing
Amarinder of patronizing and funding the activities of Khalistan
terrorists, both in India and abroad. She has also referred to
his visit to the Dixie Gurdwara where he proudly got himself photographed
in front of a banner proclaiming 'Khalistan Zindabad', and to
his numerous clandestine trips to undisclosed international destinations.
"Captain Singh and Bhatthal seem to believe that by turning
approver against each other, they could perhaps get themselves
absolved of their own individual crimes against humanity. They
are sadly mistaken in this because the people of Punjab will never
forgive those who planned, funded and organized senseless killings
of innocent bus passengers, morning walkers, school-going children,
infants, women and the aged."
PUNJAB PROCURES
30.60 LAC TONNES WHEAT FOR CENTRAL POOL
Chandigarh, April 21, 2008
The Punjab Government has made a payment of more than Rs. 2000
crores to the farmers of the State for wheat procured upto April
19, 2008 fullfilling the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister Mr.
Parkash Singh Badal to ensure payment to the farmers within 48
hours of lifting of their wheat.
A spokesman of the Punjab Government today said that Punjab Government
has already set aside Rs. 11000 crores for total procurement season
to ensure hassle free payment to the farmers. He said that Rs.
8000 crore has been placed at the disposal of Food and Supply
Department for the month of April alone.
The spokesman said that six government agencies and private millers
have procured more than 30.60 lac tonnes of wheat in Punjab for
central pool.
According to an official spokesman Government agencies and private
millers procured more than 31.17 lac tonnes of wheat till Sunday
evening. Out of total procurement of 31, 17,250 tonnes of wheat
in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies
procured 30, 60,806 tonnes of wheat (98.2%) till date whereas
millers have lifted 58845 tonnes (1.8%) of wheat. Till April 20,
PUNGRAIN had procured 5, 50,030 tonnes (18.5%) whereas MARKFED
procured 7, 39,757 tonnes (24.2%). PUNSUP procured 7, 12,185 tonnes
(23.3%), PSWC procured 3, 87,402 tonnes (12.7%) whereas PAIC was
able to procure 3,69,267 tonnes (12.1 %) of wheat.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 285458
tonnes (9.3%).
He added that Patiala District with 642144 tonnes of procurement
was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District
with 539390 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ferozepur
district with 407045 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up over 1615 procurement centres
and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement
of wheat, the spokesman added
