CM PUNJAB WILL UNFURL THE NATIONAL FLAG
AT LUDHIANA
Chandigarh August 8, 2008
Punjab Government has announced the programme for unfurling
the National Flag and taking salute on the Independence Day the
15th August, 2008.
Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal will unfurl National
Flag in a state level function at Ludhiana on 15th August, 2008.
Whereas Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Nirmal Singh Kahlon will
unfurl the National Flag at Gurdaspur, Mr. Manoranjan Kalia Local
Government and Industries Minister at Amritsar, S. Ranjit Singh
Brahampura Rural Development and Panchayat Minister at Tarn Taran,
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh Co-operation Minister at Patiala, Mr. Manpreet
Singh Badal Finance Minister at Jalandhar, Sh. Tikshan Sud Medical
Education and Research Minister at Hoshiarpur, Dr. Upinderjit
Kaur Education Minister at Ferozepur, S. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon
Food & Civil Supplies Minister at S.A.S Nagar, Mrs. Lakshmi
Kanta Chawla Health Minster Punjab at Fatehgarh Sahib, S. Ajit
Singh Kohar Revenue Minister at Nawanshahr, Master Mohan Lal Transport
Minister at Barnala, S. Gulzar Singh Ranike Animal Husbandry Minister
at Mansa, S. Parminder Singh Dhindsa PWD (B&R) Minister at
Faridkot, Ch. Swarna Ram Social Security Minister at Kapurthala,
S. Sucha Singh Langah Agriculture Minister at Mukatsar, S. Janmeja
Singh Sekhon Irrigation Minister Bathinda, Mr. Hira Singh Gabbria
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister at Sangrur, S. Bikram Singh
Majithia Information & Public Relations Minister at Ropar,
Similarly Deputy Speaker and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries
will unfurl National Flag as follows, Sh. Satpal Gosain Deputy
Speaker at Moga, Sh. Jagdish Sahni at Batala, Harish Rai Dhanda
at Malerkotla, Sh. Sarwan Singh Phillaur at Phillaur, Sh. Jagdeep
Singh Nakai At Rampura Phul, S. Sheetal Singh at Bagha Purana,
Smt. Mohinder Kaur Josh at Dasuya, Sh. Arunesh Shakar at Mukerian,
S.Bikramjit Singh Khalsa at Khanna, S. Sher Singh Ghubiaya at
Abohar, Sh. Avinash Chander at Jagraon, S.Sukhpal Singh at Zira,
Sh. Raj Kumar Khurana at Rajpura, Sh. Desh Raj Dhugga at Garhshankar
and Sh. Nand Lal at Pathankot.
BADAL EXHORTS INTELLIGENTSIA FOR THE CREATION
OF AN IDEAL SOCIETY
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon
the Punjabi writers, intellectuals and artists to extend whole
hearted support and cooperation to the state government in eradicating
the social evils from the society on one hand and to promote the
cause of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat not only in the country
but across the globe on the other.
Addressing a "Shiromani Sahitkar Puraskar" function
organized by Punjab Languages department held here at the Law
auditorium of the Panjab University, Mr. Badal who was the guest
of the honour said that the government would introduce a bill
for the legislation of the amended Punjab State Languages Act
in the forthcoming monsoon assembly session to make it more effective
besides to take steps to ensure working in Punjabi in all the
Government offices and take punitive action against errant officials,
from top to bottom, violating these guidelines. He commended all
the political parties for the enactment of this Act cutting across
the political affiliations. He said that it was a land mark decision
to give due honour and recognition to the Punjabi language with
the passing of this legislation.
Appreciating the Punjabis for their indomitable spirit of leadership
and entrepreneurship, Mr. Badal pointed out that they have carved
out a special place for themselves where ever they settled in
the world. He bemoaned that we had been denied our legitimate
rights despite our immense contribution to the extent of 70% in
the national food pool. He also mentioned that Punjabis had made
over 80% sacrifices in the Indian freedom struggle but none had
ever recognized our contribution rather they tried to marginalized
us and some times branded us communal and separatist. He stressed
the need to initiate a vigorous movement to wipe out this misconception
from the minds of the people by instilling the feeling that Punjabis
were patriots to the core and therefore he asked the Punjabi intelligentsia
to play a pro-active role in this behalf.
Presiding over the function, Education & Language Minister
Dr.Upinderjit Kaur highlighted the role of Punjabi in the Indian
literature and underscored the need to translate the Punjabi literature
in all the foreign languages recognized by the UNO. She complimented
the Chief Minister for acceding to the request of the state languages
department to be named after its first Director and a noted Punjabi
writer Giani Lal Singh.
As many as 28 literary personalities from different fields were
honoured for various 14 Shiromani Awards for the years 2007 and
2008. The name of Punjabi Sahit Shiromani Award had been rechristened
as Punjabi Sahit Rattan. The prize money for the Punjabi Sahit
Rattan Award had been doubled from Rs. 2.5 lac to Rs. 5 lac and
for other Shiromani awards, it had been increased from Rs. 1 lac
to 2.5 lac. The Punjabi Sahit Rattan Awards for the years 2007
and 2008 had been presented to novelist Mr. Jaswant Singh Kanwal
and writer Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana respectively.
Mr. Kartar Singh Suri and Mr. Pargat Singh Sidhu had been honoured
for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar Award for the year 2007 and 2008,
Dr. Chander Trikha (2007) and Mrs. Virender Sandhu (2008) for
Shiromani Hindi Sahitkar Award, Mr. Prem Kumar (2007) and Dr.
Nashir Naqvi (2008) for Shiromani Urdu Sahitkar Award, Dr. Brij
Bihari Choube (2007) and Dr. Ravinder Kaur (2008) for Shiromani
Sanskrit Sahitkar Award. Dr. Harinder Singh Mehboob and Mrs. Sukhwinder
Amrit had been honoured for Shiromani Punjabi Kavi (poet) Award
for the years 2007 and 2008 respectively, Dr. Karnail Singh Thind
(2007) and Dr. Jaswinder Singh (2008) for Shiromani Punjabi Gyan
Sahitkar/Alochik Award, Mr. Parminder Sodhi (Japan) (2007) and
Janab Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) (2008) for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar
(overseas) Award, Mr. S Saki (2007) and Mr. Chotu Ram Moudgil
(2008) for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar Award (out of Punjab), Dr.
Sukhwant Kaur Mann (2007) and Mr. Jasbir Singh Jass (2008) for
Shiromani Punjabi Bal Sahitkar Lekhak (writer) Award, Mr. G.S.
Sidhu Damdami (Punjabi Tribune) (2007) and Mr. Paramjit Singh
Sasan (Ajit) (2008) for Shiromani Punjabi Patarkar Award, Bhai
Banta Singh Ragi (2007) and Bhai Gursharn Singh Ragi (2008) for
Shiromani Ragi/Dhadi/Kavishar Award, Mrs. Gurmeet Bawa (2007)
and Mr. G.S.Sachdev (flute) (2008) for Shiromani Punjabi Singer/Musician
Award, Mr. Amrik Gill and Mr. Jatinder Brar had been honoured
for Shiromani Punjabi TV/Radio/ Theater/ Natak/ Actor/Producer/Writer
Award for the years 2007 and 2008 respectively.
16 Executive Officers Promoted
Chandigarh, August 8, 2008
Naginder Singh
Local Government Department Punjab today promoted 16 class-3
Executive Officers working in different Nagar councils and Nagar
Panchayat as Executive Officer Class-2 with pay scale of Rs. 7220-10980.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia said that officers
and officials of the Department, whose promotions are due would
also be promoted, in due course of time.
Executive Officers who got promotions included, Sh. Rajneish
Kalra posted at Gobindgarh / Suda, Sh. Shakti Kumar at Lougowal,
Sh. Parvinder Singh at Cheema, Sh. Tejinder Singh at Khamano,
Sh. Paramjit Singh at Phagwara, Sh. Sarbjit Singh at Garhshankar,
Sh. Rajpal Makkar at Bhueho Mandi, Sh. Sandip Tiwari at Hoshiarpur,
Sh. Manmohan Singh at Randhawa, Ajnala, Sh. Barinder Kumar Jain
at Rajpura, Sh. Satrajit Sharma at Sahnewal, Sh. Kulwinder Kumar
(S.C) at Amloh, Sh. Balwinder Singh (S.C) at Dhilwan, Sh. Pardip
Kumar (S.C) at Goraya, Sh. Ramesh Kumar (S.C) at Kartarpur.
PUNJAB TO RECRUIT 247 DOCTORS---CHAWLA
Chandigarh August 8, 2008
SHIKHA NEHRA
The Punjab government has evolved a massive plan to strengthen
the existing health care services in the state by appointing 100
medical officers and 147 doctors of various specializations in
the state.
Stating this here today Prof.Lakshmi Kanta Chawla Health and
Family Welfare Minister Punjab said that although there was a
shortage of 600 doctors in Punjab but the health department has
been given the approval to immediately fill 247 posts of doctors.
Keeping in view the acute shortage of doctors in the state in
general and in Malwa region in particular, the Minister said that
doctors would be appointed for this region on priority.
Referring to the steps taken by the government towards child
and maternal care in the state, the minister said that the Infant
Mortality Rate (IMR) in Punjab was 49 in contrast to 60 of the
country. The state has made a big achievement in the indicator
of fully-immunized child as per the report of the Rapid House-hold
Survey vide which the state was placed at 3rd position amongst
the bigger states. She agreed that Majority of the infant deaths
occur in the early neo-natal period and accordingly steps were
being taken by the authorities to enhance social mobilization
and awareness for promotion of institutional deliveries and care
of the newborn, deliveries by skilled birth attendants and re-sensitization
of birth attendants at the PHC/ Mini PHC level by medical officers
was being constantly ensured. The minister also said that timely
supply of delivery kits to the birth attendants has also being
planned much in advance. The Multi-year Plan under the Strengthening
of Immunization Project under the NRHM has been launched for assured
100% immunization coverage with stress on dropouts from BCG to
Measles by repeated sensitization of the authorities concerned
during review meetings at state head quarter and district level
monthly meetings, said the minister.
The minister also said that the government was equally concerned
about the maternal health. The MMR in Punjab was 2 in contrast
to 4 at the National level. The objective of the programme launched
for safe motherhood was to bring down the MMR further by promoting
complete check-up and increase in number of institutional deliveries
as also to enhance health care of the women during the reproductive
period. The minister sought the involvement of Link Workers from
the community with provision of cash incentives for promoting
early registration of pregnant women, ANC checkups, and institutional
deliveries. Sensitization of these link workers should be done
through organised workshops, she stressed. To encourage the workers
the Punjab government has initiated Best Worker Award at Block/
District and State level on annual basis. To reduce the unwanted
maternal deaths MTP services would be provided at least in 50
Primary Health Centres of the state. Effective implementation
of MTP Act through regular monitoring and supervision has been
thoroughly ensured, assured Prof. Chawla.
5-MEMBER PANEL CONSTITUTED TO IDENTIFY
THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN SATLUJ RIVER AND SIRHIND CANAL
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2008
The Punjab Government has constituted a five-member panel headed
by Special Secretary Irrigation Alok Shekhar to undertake a survey
of the entire reach of river Satluj and the Sirhind canal system
to identify the various sources of pollution and to recommend
remedial measures. The other members of the panel would be Chief
Engineer (Canals), Chief Engineer (Drainage), Chief Engineer (Water
& Sanitation) and the Member Secretary of Punjab Pollution
Control Board. The panel had been asked to submit its report positively
within a fortnight.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the state government
said that a decision to this effect was taken at a high level
meeting held on Wednesday chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr.
Parkash Singh Badal to review the progress of the cleaning of
Buddha Nullah.
The panel had also been asked to undertake a survey to identify
the unauthorized discharge of effluents into the rivers and canals
on one hand and the treated effluents being discharged in the
rivers which did not comply the prescribed pollution norms as
well as the municipal/domestic waste on the other.
BADAL ANNOUNCES TO SET UP AN AUDITORIUM
IN THE MEMORY OF NOTED PLAYWRIGHT HARPAL TIWANA
Pb Govt to Organise State Level Function on Birthday
of Ishmeet
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced
to set up a state-of-the-art auditorium in the memory of noted
playwright Mr. Harpal Tiwana to perpetuate his vision and passion
for Punjabi theatre for generations to come.
Addressing a galaxy of eminent artists and Punjabi singers here
at Punjab Bhawan after releasing a book titled 'Oh Jo Si' authored
by his wife Mrs Neena Tiwana on the life and works of late Mr.
Harpal Tiwala on his 73rd birthday, the Chief Minister said that
the state government was committed to promote the Punjabi performing
arts and culture in a fulfilment of a dream nurtured by Harpal
Tiwana. Mr. Badal asked the Harpal Tiwana Foundation to submit
the detailed report of the project for setting up a theatre either
at Patiala or Mohali as per its choice. He asked the foundation
to work out the finer details in consultation with the prominent
artists to make this auditorium as one of the best auditoriums
in the country.
Mr. Badal said that Mr. Harpal Tiwana's superb contribution for
the promotion of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat would be ever remembered
by one and all for the times to come. He said that the setting
up of this auditorium would not only cherish the aspirations of
the foundation but also further propagate the Punjabi theatre
movement in every nook and corner of not only in the country but
abroad also.
The Chief Minister also announced to commemorate the birthday
of 'Voice of India' late Ishmeet Singh which falls on September
2 to pay befitting tributes to the budding singer youngster. He
also mentioned that the state government had already decided to
set up a 'Sangeet Academy' dedicated to Ishmeet for his outstanding
performance in promotion of Punjabi culture. He solicited the
cooperation from the renowned singers to advise the government
for conceptualization and planning of this academy.
Earlier welcoming Mr. Badal, the chairperson of the foundation
Mrs.Neena Tiwana said that Harpal was the true custodian and champion
of the Punjabi theatre movement whose legacy would continue to
inspire future generations. "In paying tribute to him, we
pay tribute to God's very own artistic son", said Mrs.Tiwana
adding he was born for theatre and died for it.
Speaking on the occasion, creative director of the foundation
and Harpal Tiwana's son Manpal Tiwana said that the aim of the
Harpal Tiwana Foundation was to create a permanent legacy that
would honour Harpal Tiwana's commitment to Punjabi performing
arts and to preserve, enhance and promote Punjabi culture through
the medium of performing arts.
Mr. Om Puri, Internationally acclaimed actor Miss Nirmal Rishi,
acclaimed cine actress and eminent Punjabi singer Gurdas Mann
paid their rich tributes through sharing their experiences with
Harpal Tiwana.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra
and Mr. Amarjit Singh Sidhu (both senior Akali Leaders). The function
was attended by renowned artists and singers including Hans Raj
Hans, Dr. S. Anjum Bhatti, Mr. Pammi Bai and Mr.Bhagwant Mann.
RECALL VOHRA -DEMANDS TIKSHAN SUD
Chandigarh August 8, 2008
Senior BJP leader and Punjab's Medical Education & Research
Minister, Mr. Tikshan Sud today demanded the immediate recall
of J & K Governor Mr. N.N.Vohra, whose first ever controversial
decision of taking back land from Amarnath Shrine Board sparked
off nationwide protests.
In a statement issued here today Mr. Sud said that Mr. Vohra
who was touch with various militant groups in J & K as an
official emissary appointed by U.P.A. Government prior to his
appointment as J & K Governor, has been blinded by anti-Hindu
charade of separatist groups and this decision of taking back
land from Shrine Board was under the pressure of separatist lobby.
Mr. Sud wondered that Congress has been so much blinded by the
appeasement policy towards Muslims that it is failing to even
listen to the demand of Congress Unit of Jammu of sacking Vohra.
Threatening to intensify the agitation in every nook and corner
of the country, Mr. Sud informed that Punjab BJP would organize
a DHARNA at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh on August 11 demanding immediate
restoration of land to Shrine Board including recall of N.N.Vohra.
The BJP leader warned UPA government to desist from appeasement
of minorities keeping vote bank in mind otherwise Hindus of this
Country would unitedly dig the grave of Congress and its allies
in ensuing Vidhan Sabha Elections in six States and also in Lok
Sabha Elections.
