DRUGS WORTH 30 LAKHS
SEIZED FROM LUDHIANA
Chandigarh July 3, 2008
shikha
In one of the biggest seizure of intoxicating drugs in the state,
the Punjab health department today seized habit forming scheduled
drugs worth Rs.3O Lakhs from the shop and godowns of Pawan Medicos
of Pindi street Ludhiana. During a raid conducted by a team headed
by Mr. Bhag Singh State Drug Controller Punjab along with 9 drug
inspectors of different districts other than Ludhiana, the state
was able to nab one of the biggest supplier of drugs in the state.
It may be added that with this major haul, habit forming drugs
worth Rs. 2 crore 50 lakhs have been seized during various raids
conducted by the Health Department Punjab all over the state during
last 6 months.
Disclosing this here today Prof.Lakshmi Kanta Chawla Health
and Family Welfare Minister Punjab said that during a recent raid
on the premises of Pawan Medicos two unlicensed godowns and one
shop had already been sealed and two different cases under section
18C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act have been registered against
the shop owner besides a departmental action has also be initiated
against him amounting to even the cancellation of his license.
She further said that the drugs seized were being sold at the
prescription of the RMP and were used as intoxicants.
The minister said that a special team has been constituted to
explore the inter-state network of this firm and determine the
source of these drugs so that this evil could be nipped in the
bud. She said that the department has established a network in
the state to gather information about such nefarious activities
of the chemists and the system of exchanging information with
police department has also been established.
Seeking the cooperation of the public to tackle this menace,
the Minister sought information from the general public .She said
that the persons supplying information to the government would
be suitably rewarded. Praising the officers' instrumental in nabbing
the culprits, she said that the department would acknowledge their
contribution and same would be recorded in their service record
books. She has urged them to be more courageous and work with
full dedication
PUNJAB CM CALLS
VCs AND PRINCIPALS TO JOINTLY CHALK OUT AN ACTION PROGRAMME TO
IMPART QUALITY EDUCATION
CHANDIGARH JULY 3, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon
the Vice Chancellors and College Principals from the state to
come forward to jointly chalk out a strategy to impart quality
education to the economically poor and bright students especially
with rural background who had hardly any access to the modern
educational avenues despite their enormous capacities and capabilities.
Presiding over a conference of the Vice Chancellors of the Universities
and Principals of the colleges from all over the state here at
Law auditorium, Panjab University, Mr. Badal said; "It is
my endeavor that none should be left illiterate and uneducated
in the state because the growth and development in terms of physical
infrastructure is meaning less until we improve our human resource
development through imparting quality education to our youth at
all levels of schools, colleges and universities".
Mr. Badal pointed out that for the first time in the history,
Punjab had introduced career counseling for all 10+2 students
in the state in order to facilitate aptitude-oriented professional
placement for the state's youth. The Chief Minister also mentioned
that a state wide counseling exercise for students securing first
division or above had been organized from June 20 to July 3 in
the Government colleges affiliated to the concerned Universities
under the direct supervision of Secretary, School Education, Punjab
and the Vice Chancellors in the first phase. Besides the other
students had also been given the career counseling by the principals
of their respective colleges in the special sessions organized
at district head quarters during the second phase.
Mr. Badal asked the vice chancellors to allow starting 'add
on courses' in the colleges affiliated to their respective universities
to enable the students to get vocational training so that they
could be gainfully employed later on. The Chief Minister underlined
the need to motivate the students to bring a paradigm shift in
their mind set to opt for professional courses rather than traditional
bachelor degrees courses like BA.
The Chief Minister also impressed upon the Principals to keep
liaison with the authorities of concerned universities, Director
Public Instructions (Colleges) and Universities Grants Commission
to derive maximum benefit from the schemes relating to scholarships
for the students under different categories, grant for expansion
for infrastructure in the colleges and recruitment of qualified
and trained staff.
Speaking on the occasion Vice Chairman of University Grants
Commission (UGC) Prof. Mool Chand Sharma asked the Principals
to send comprehensive proposals under various schemes offered
by the UGC including career advancement programme, autonomous
colleges, rural hilly remote areas scheme and colleges with potential
for excellence. He also mentioned about the 374 new colleges to
be jointly set up by the Ministry of Human Resources and UGC which
would be almost 100% funded by the Commission. He urged the Principals
to mobilize teachers of their colleges to play a pro active role
in shaping the destiny of the students saying, "Reputation
of any institution rests on the quality of the students which
it produces".
In his welcome address Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr.
R.C. Sobti briefly outlined the special courses started by the
University especially for the benefit of the rural students.
Meanwhile, Joint Secretary UGC Mr. A.K. Dogra explained the
nitty-gritty of the various schemes offered by the commission.
Earlier the Chief Minister released a calendar on the various
scholarship schemes for the students prepared by the Punjab DPI
Colleges. Dr. Sobti presented a memorabilia to the Chief Minister
on the occasion.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included
Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. Jaspal Singh, Secretary
Higher Education Ms. Anjali Bhawra, Special Principal Secretary
to Chief Minister K.J.S Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary
Parveen Kumar, DPI Colleges Dr. Kanwarjit Singh, Director SC/BC
Welfare Hussan Lal.
PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS TO BE REVISED
IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh July 3, 2008
Sh Vijay Kain, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab here today informed
that the Photo Electoral Rolls for all the Vidhan Sabha constituencies
as per the newly delimited assembly constituencies are being revised.
This is being done in accordance with the guidelines and the programme
issued by the Election Commission of India. Those citizens who
have attained the age of 18 years as on 1st Jan 2008 and are eligible
to be voters, may approach the Electoral Registration Officer
or Officers authorized by him and fill the Form No 6 to get their
name registered as Voters. In case of correction in the existing
roll, the voter may fill and submit the Form No 8 and in lieu
of any objection, Form No 7 may be submitted with the Electoral
Registration Officer.
Sh Vijay Kain further stated that as per the programme issued
by Election Commission of India the draft publication of Electoral
Roll has already been made on 2nd July 2008 and any claims/ objections
can be lodged from 2nd July onwards till 15th July 2008.
He further informed that in case of new voters, along with main
Form No 6, an additional Form No 001- A, which would carry a Passport
size photograph of the applicant, needs to be deposited so that
a Photo Voter Card could be issued to the eligible voter.
Sh Vijay Kain appealed to the general public and all the political
parties to cooperate, whole heartedly and coordinate with the
Electoral Registration Officers in accordance with the programme
issued by Election Commission of India, so as to ensure that the
name of any eligible voter is not left out of the electoral rolls.
He informed that for any further clarification the Deputy Commissioner
cum District Election Officer/ Electoral Registration Officer/
Election Tehsildar and the Booth Level Officer of the concerned
district can be approached.
PUNJAB ANNOUNCES
MAJOR RELIEF IN COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT CASES
Chandigarh, July 3, 2008
The Punjab Government today amended the Compassionate Appointment
Policy, giving major relief to the families of deceased government
employees.
According to an official spokesman it has been decided that
in the case where the deceased government employee leaves behind
his/her minor children, who are studying at the time of death
of the employee and are not qualified for a employment in the
government and spouse is not in a position to join the government
job, in such cases a dependent child would be allowed to apply
for compassionate appointment by the Competent Authority with
in a period of one year from the date of attaining the age and
qualification by the child of deceased for Group 'C' and 'D' appointment.
The spokesman said that it had come to the notice of Chief Minister
that many families fail to get compassionate appointment as their
children were minor at the time of death of government employee
and Chief Minister ordered review of the policy.
The spokesman added that on humanitarian consideration, it has
also been decided as a special one time measure to extend this
benefit to all old deserving cases. In such cases, an application
for employment should be made within six month from the date of
issue of these instructions, if not already made. The spokesman
said that all Administrative departments had been instructed to
complete the process of giving employment within period of nine
months, from the date of issuance of these instructions. The spokesman
clarified that no further relaxation would be provided under any
circumstances.
The spokesman added that copy of these instruction were today
issued to all Heads of Departments, Commissioners of Divisions,
Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrate in the state
of Punjab for compliance.
SUD WARNS OF DE-RECOGNITION TO MEDICAL
INSTITUTES OPERATING FROM NON-SANCTIONED PLACES
Chandigarh 3 July: Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education & Research
Minister today issued a strict warning of de-recognition to all
those Private Medical/Ayurvedic/Homeopathic/Nursing and Para-Medical
colleges that are operating from a place for which they had not
been given sanction by the State Government.
In a statement issued here today the Minister said that recent
inspection conducted by a special team of the Department has a
revealed glaring irregularities including shifting the site of
Medical institutes from the sanctioned location. He said that
State Government was contemplating strict action including de-recognition
against all such erring colleges, if they failed to shift the
College to the sanctioned location.
Mr. Sud said that SAD-BJP government was committed to provide
world-class medical education infrastructure to the students and
any lapse by any institution would not be tolerated. He said that
Baba Farid Medical University had already conducted PMET test
successfully and counseling was underway.
Mr. Sud informed that all steps are be taken to provide sufficient
faculty to the Medical and Dental Colleges and Departmental Promotion
Committee meetings are being held successively to promote eligible
faculty members of Medical Colleges.
PUNJAB'S DRIVE AGAINST
CORRUPTION 3 GOs & 9 NGOs NABBED-
2 CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASE
Chandigarh July 3, 2008
State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public
life, arrested 3 Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and 9 Non-Gazzetted
Officers (NGOs) in 11 different cases last month and was able
to secure the conviction of 2 corrupt officials in a graft case.
Those convicted by special courts included a Block Primary Education
Officer and her senior clerk for one year imprisonment and Rs.
2000/- fine each on graft charges.
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 a vigilance enquiry and 4
criminal cases against the suspect officials to probe into the
allegations.
Giving details he added that in the last month Mrs. Raj Updesh
Block Primary Education Officer Mansa and her senior clerk Ratan
Lal have been sentenced by the special court of Mansa after finding
them guilty in a red handed trap case for one year imprisonment
with fine of Rs. 2000/- each.