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Press release for Punjab Govt
Jan 14, 2008

 

PACS to market consumer goods on CSD pattern: Capt. Kanwaljit Singh

  • To distribute and collect electricity bills from Feb 1st, 2008
  • Rain insurance scheme to be implemented in whole state


Chandigarh , January 14
Kanwaljit Singh

In order to bail out farmers from the current financial mess and improve the condition of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), Punjab government has chalked out an ambitious plan to market consumer goods on CSD pattern in the state. This was disclosed by Punjab Cooperation Minister, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh.

Addressing a press conference here after concluding a workshop on "Strengthening of Cooperatives in Punjab" Cooperation Minister said that farmers in the state were facing a serious financial crisis and it was only cooperative movement which would be able to bail them out. He said in order to strengthen the PACS, Cooperative Deptt has evolved an ambitious plan in which PACS would purchase consumer goods like TV, Fridge etc. directly from the manufacturers and market it to its members. He said that arrangement of purchasing would be made at State level but PACS would collect the goods from their nearest dealers. He said that through this method PACS would not only be able to mobilize more funds for refinancing to its members, but the consumers would also get goods at cheaper rates at their doorsteps.

He also announced on the occasion that Cooperative Deptt has tied up with Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) for distribution of its bills by the PACS in villages. He said that more than 1 crore consumers in the villages would get direct benefit of it and in the process PACS would earn more revenue by collecting Rs. 8 per bill. He said that out of this Rs. 5 would be paid by the consumer and PSEB would give Rs. 3 per bill to the PACS. This would also lead to generation of more funds for the societies.

The Minister also announced launching of its Rain Insurance Scheme (Barish Beema Yojna) in the state. This scheme was first implemented in Patiala Division on experimental basis which has yielded good results. 6 thousand farmers of 350 PACS had paid a premium of 72 lacs which would now get a more than 1 crore 25 lacs as compensation. He said that "under the scheme it is the weather that matters and farmer gets compensation if rain falls more or less than average".

Capt. Kanwaljit Singh informed that Punjab has gained from opposing the recommendations of Vaidyanathan Committee as the state was getting only 82 crores out of total 20 thousand crores which now would get an indirect benefit of more than 500 crores as Nabard has agreed to bear the losses of PACS. He said that Patiala District alone would get a benefit of 19 crores which was only 92 lacs earlier.

The Minister said that there were about 3500 PACS in the state out of which 1100 were defaulters. He said that the above schemes have been formulated for helping these defaulter societies to strengthen their economic base which in turn would strengthen farmers as these societies not only perform refinancing job for its members but were proving multi beneficial organizations for them.


PR DEPARTMENT PUNJAB MOURNS DEMISE

OF S. KULWANT SINGH
Chandigarh January 14, 2008

The officers of the department of Information & Public Relations Department Punjab today mourned the sudden demise of S. Kulwant Singh, Deputy Director (retd.) of the department who died here today after a brief illness. He was 73 and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

He was cremated here today and his cremation was largely attended by people of different walks, his colleagues different walks his colleagues and officers of the department.

No.PR-08/20


PUNJAB POLICE- IPS Probationers calls on Punjab DGP

Chandigarh, January 14:

An 8-member team of IPS Probationers today calls on Punjab DGP Sh. N.P.S. Aulakh here at his office and evinced keen interest in the functioning of various wings of the force.

While addressing the young police officers, who were at present on a four week training at PPA, Phillaur, the DGP apprised them of the challenges ahead in the service and numerous opportunities to serve the community in a better way in comparison of other jobs. The DGP also gave them a brief outline of recently passed Punjab Police Bill, proposed new Punjab Police Rules and initiatives undertaken for an efficient functioning of the force with a thrust on the new concept of community policing. While enquiring about their training schedule, the DGP urged them to strictly adhere to the training as it immensely helps an officer throughout his career. He also assured the young probationers about the job satisfaction in police as it was the only service which can provide an instant justice to the suffering humanity. He wished them a bright career.

The members of the visiting team were Ms Dhanpreet Kaur, Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Milind Dumbere, Vikram Jit Singh, Abhishek Dullar, Ashok Kumar, Pardeep Kumar Yadav and Pushpinder Kumar, all IPS Probationers.

Mr. S.K. Sharma, IGP Training, Mr. M.K. Tiwari IGP IRB and Ms Anita Punj SSP Hoshiarpur were also present on the occasion.