Forceful Implementation of Bonded Labour system (Abolition) Act,
1976
and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 ensured
in Punjab
Chandigarh, March 17:
Dr. L. Mishra, Secretary to Govt. of India (Retd.) and Special
Rapporteur National Human Rights Commission during his two-day
visit to Punjab today reviewed the performance of the implementation
of Child Labour and Labour Laws in the state with special focus
on child labour and bonded labour.
While addressing the officers of various departments of Punjab
Government including health and family welfare, Social security,
education, public relations, rural development and the department
of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mishra explained at length about
the Bonded Labour system (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and emphasized on the need
to implement these two Acts as per the guidelines laid down by
the Govt. of India to check the menace of Child and bonded labour
in both letter and spirit.
Assuring Dr. Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the department
of Labour said that as per the guidelines issued by the Government
of India with regard to child and bonded labour along with strict
compliance have already been given to all the district administrative
heads of the state. A survey, as per the directions of Govt. of
India, was got conducted in five districts of the state namely
Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala. Jalandhar and Bhatinda by two different
agencies and found 3 cases of bonded labour in Jalandhar and 2
in Hoshiarpur. A high powered state screening committee on bonded
labour to review measures to prevent bondage and to implement
the provisions of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 has
also been constituted, said Mr. P.Ram.
Referring to the Socio-Economic problem of Child labour in the
state, the Principal Secretary said that to educate the child
labour and also to mainstream themin the state, projects were
being run by the NGOs at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana under
National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) sponsored by Government
of India. The filed staff of the labour departments,said Mr. Ram,
have also been directed to do the needful for eradication of the
problem of child and bonded labour and send their reports to the
head office regularly.
DEATH WARRANTS OF SARABJIT SINGH
BADAL WRITES TO PM FOR DIRECT INTERVENTION WITH GEN MUSHARRAF
CHANDIGARH MARCH 17
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged
the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to personally intervene
with the Government of Pakistan at this stage to review its decision
on death warrants against the Indian National Mr. Sarabjit Singh.
He asked the Prime Minister to directly urge General Parvez Musharraf
and "to seize this historic opportunity to uphold the virtues
of mercy, as preached by all religions, including Islam. "
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr.Badal said that the issuances
of death warrants had sent shock waves in Punjab and throughout
the country. He said that charges against Mr. Sarabjit Singh could
not be proved "beyond reasonable doubt" as the key witness
in the case had turned hostile and had even alleged that"
pressure" was being put on him to depose against the accused.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Mr. Harcharan
Bains said that effortsw were on to seek a personal audience with
the Prime Minister as early as possible to discuss the issue in
the light of the urgency suddenly thrown by the issuance of death
warrants against Sarabjit. Mr. Bains said that the Ms. Daljit
Kaur, sister of Sarabjit, had requested for the issuance of early
passports to the family to enable them to travel to Pakistan quickly.
" The Chief Minister is in touch with the Government of India
to ensure every possible help to the beleaguered family,"
said Mr. Bains, who spoke to Ms. Daljit Kaur twice over the phone
today.
The Chief Minister further stated that an important segments
of the intelligentsia and people of the sub-continent at large
had also advocated a lenient approach in the case. He reminded
the Prime Minister that the Punjab Government and he (Mr. Badal)
personally had repeatedly pleaded with the Government of India
to pursue the matter vigorously with its counterpart in Pakistan
to secure clemency for Mr. Sarabjit Singh. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha
had also twice unanimously urged the Union Government to this
effect.
"Now that death warrants have been issued against the Indian
National in a case which is prima facie a case of 'mistaken identity',
the situation has taken a more serious turn. But we believe that
it is still not too late for the President of Pakistan to show
human dignity, grace and magnanimity in the larger interest of
peace and human brotherhood among people of different countries
in the world in general and those of the sub-continent in particular,
said the Chief Minister," wrote Mr. Badal to the Prime Minister.
Mr.Badal requested the Prime Minister to personally intervene
at this stage and directly urge the President of Pakistan to seize
this opportunity to uphold the virtues of mercy, as preached by
all religions, including Islam.
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha appeal to Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
to "act fast and direct" to save the life of Sarabjit
Singh,
Chandigarh March 17
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously adopted a resolution
moved by Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal , re-iterating
its appeal to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to "act fast
and direct" to save the life of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian
national facing death warrants in Pakistan.
The Appeal, the second by the house in less than a week, came
in the wake of reports that the authorities in Pakistan had issued
death warrants against Sarabjit Singh. The House had earlier also
sought the PM's intervention in the matter.
Today resolution's said that the case against Mr. Sarabjit Singh
deserved a lenient view as it prima facie appeared to be a case
of mistaken identity.
Resolution also referred to the possible fall out of the execution
of warrants on the atmosphere on the sub-continent and i9ndeed
the whole world, especially at the people to people level. "The
situation had become grim with the issuance of the death warrants
and necessitated immediate diplomatic efforts at all levels. The
news had caused pain and anxiety among the people of the sub-continent.'
"The House once again appeals to the Hon'ble Prime Minister
to take up the issue with the Pakistan President General Parvez
Musharraf as a case of extreme priority," said the Resolution
moved by the Chief Minister.
Rotational Programme for
irrigation for the Rabi Season through Canal water
from 18 March to 25 March, 2008
CHANDIGARH, 17 MARCH.
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
Programme for irrigation for the Rabi Season through Canal water
from 18 March to 25 March, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal
System would run on priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bhatinda
Branch, Bist Doab Canal, Abohar Branch and Patiala feeder respectively.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line, in Group
'A' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. all the
direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in-group "A"
being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Abohar Branch off taking from
Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors in-group "B".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries
being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch
and Main Branch Lower with its distributaries.
SINGAPORE HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLS ON PUNJAB CM
Chandigarh March 17:
A three member delegation led by High Commissioner Singapore
Calvin Eu called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal
this evening at his residence and put forth proposals to make
investments in infrastructure, power and housing.
While interacting with Mr. Badal, the visiting Singapore High
Commissioner informed that Singapore based company- Jurong international
had already conceptualized various mega housing and shopping mall
projects in Punjab besides preparing master plans for Mohali,
Ludhiana and Amritsar. He also evinced keen interest to participate
in the thermal power projects through PPP mode to be set up by
the State Government. He assured the Chief Minister that Singapore
government would also explore ways and means to collaborate with
the Punjab Government to make investments in the roads and bridges.
He also extended an invitation to Mr. Badal to lead a delegation
to Singapore to study the development in different facets of Singapore
economy.
Mr. Calvin informed Mr. Badal that Senior Minister Singapore
Mr. Goh Chuk Tong would lead a delegation of members of Parliament
and Ministers of state from Singapore soon to further explore
the possibilities of mutual cooperation on technology sharing
and making investments in collaboration with the state government
in the Industrial and infrastructural sector. He was accompanied
by First Secretary (Political) Mr. Timothy Chin, and First Secretary
(Commercial) Mike Ng.
The Chief Minister assured Mr. Calvin that the Punjab Government
would extend all possible assistance to the Singapore government
for setting up of new joint venture of mutual interest.
Prominent amongst others who are present on the occasion included
Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary
Punjab Mr. R.I. Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr.
D.S. Guru and Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce Mr.
A.K. Talwar and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
A.K. Mahajan.
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLS ON SUKHBIR BADAL
Chandigarh, March 17:
British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg today called on President
SAD and Member Parliament Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal at his residence.
Sir Stagg accompanied by Councilor Commercial Ms. Jane Owen, and
Advisor UK Trade & Investment Ms. Tanisha Thiara.
During interaction with the visiting British High Commissioner,
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal urged him to extend support and cooperation
to the Punjab Government for the development of quality education.
Sir Richard Stagg assured Mr. Badal that he would explore possibilities
to tie up with the Punjab based educational institutions especially
in the technical education with the British Collages and Universities.
Mr. Badal informed that the delegation of the British High Commission
shown keen interest in the development of Punjab and hoped that
with the initiatives of British High Commission development of
quality education would certainly get a boost.
