Sukhbir emerges as 'New
Hockey Hope'
Secures Punjab Government support for training national teams
BACKS IOA EFFORTS AT REJUVINATION OF THE SPORT
Chandigarh May 8, 2008
Indian Hockey found a new hope today with the mercurial SAD
president and MP, Sukhbir Singh Badal declaring " his own,
his party's and the Punjab government's unstinted support to the
new administrative dispensation for the rejuvenation of the sport.
Mr. Badal declared that hockey was 'my personal agenda' and
said that he had already successfully persuaded the Punjab government
to "
sponsor the preparation of the Indian hockey teams for all international
outings for the next four years."
The last time the Punjab government had sponsored the preparation
of the Indian hockey team was in 1974 when India went on to win
the third World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, beating Australia, Holland,
West Germany and Pakistan on the way. That team, led by the legendary
centre-half Ajit Pal Singh, had been trained at National Institute
of Sports, Patiala, under the aegis of the Punjab government.
Meanwhile, Mr Harcharna Bains, Media Advisor to the Punjab Chief
Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal confirmed that the Punjab government
was willing to sponsor the preparation of Indian hockey teams
for International events. Mr. Bains said that the Chief Minister
had been 'deeply pained' at the manner in which the sport had
suffered a decline in recent years and was willing to "contribute
in every possible manner to help the revival of the country's
premier sporting discipline."
In a statement here, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal extended his "full
support to the IOA-backed organizational restructuring of the
'affaire de la hockey' and said that he had already secured a
commitment from the SAD-BJP government in Punjab to the sponsor
not only the preparation of the Indian hockey teams for the international
events but also all efforts towards the rejuvenation of the sport
at the grass-root level throughout the country. Mr. Badal said
that he was in touch with the India Olympic Association on "charting
the way forward for the Indian Hockey".
The youthful MP from Faridkot said that the people at large
and the hockey lovers in particular had been shocked by the "shameful
manner in which the country had suffered hockey humiliation at
the international level, failing for the first time event ot qualify
for the Olympics. He said that the painful decision to dissolve
the Indian Hockey Federation led by former Punjab Director General
of Police, Mr. K.P.S. Gill was perhaps the last option left with
the country and despite his political differences with the present
government at the centre, he would lend all support to the IOA-backed
committee for running the affairs of the hockey.
Mr. Badal said that hockey could not be managed by keeping the
hockey stars at the bay. "We intend to involve hockey players,
including present and past stars, in finding the way forward for
reviving hockey as the national sport. I really do not believe
that politicians, bureaucrats or businessmen understand hockey
better than the hockey players themselves. Players have to be
the centerpiece in any planning for running the sport. Politicians
or bureaucrats can at best be facilitators. In that capacity,
I wholeheartedly offer my services to the players and lovers of
the game," said the SAD president.
It may be recalled that Mr. Badal already secured the consent
of the Punjab government for setting up hockey astro-turfs at
key hockey centers including one at the Mecca of Hockey, Sansarpur
(Jalandhar).
He is also pushing for an international level football academy
at the country's soccer nursery, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district.
BADAL DIRECTS ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES TO SECURE
TIMELY RELEASE OF FUNDS FROM GoI UNDER CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES
CHANDIGARH MAY 8, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed
all the Administrative Secretaries to personally initiate immediate
steps for getting requisite funds released from Centre for the
Centrally Sponsored Schemes for the current financial year on
the top priority.
Taking cognizance of the media reports in a section of press
that some departments of the state government could not take optimum
advantage of Centrally Sponsored Schemes during last financial
year 2007-08, the Chief Minister had directed the administrative
secretaries to send comprehensive proposals to the GoI within
a fortnight for the current financial year for the release of
funds and pursue vigoursly with the respective departments of
GoI for an early release of funds. Mr. Badal asked his Principal
Secretary Mr. DS Guru to monitor the entire case and to follow
up with the concerned administrative secretaries to ensure that
the requisite proposals were sent in time.
Meanwhile, the State Finance Department had assured the Chief
Minister that there would be no hurdle in the release of its share
towards the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
CATHRINA CLAAS CALLS ON PUNJAB CM
CHANDIGARH MAY 8, 2008
Deputy Chairperson of the Shareholders Committee of Claas India,
a Germany based group in combine harvesters Ms.Cathrina Claas
today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal here
at his residence.
Ms. Claas along with Group Executive Vice President Mr.Jan Hendrik
Mohr during a breakfast meeting with the chief minister apprised
him about the assembly line operations which had started from
Morinda based plant on Wednesday. They invited the Chief Minister
to inaugurate the manufacturing operations which was slated on
15th October, 2008.
Taking part in deliberations, Ms. Cathrina hoped that the wide
product range of combine harvesters offered by the group would
cater to the needs of all segments of farming community. She said
the Crop Tiger 30, Crop Tiger 60 and Crop Tiger Tera Trac would
put the conventional agriculture in the country's largest agrarian
state in the most mechanized and scientific mode thereby making
agriculture economy far less labour intensive and highly productive
besides depleting residual standing crops. She expressed keen
desire to visit rural Punjab to assess first hand information
on farming community, their needs and its applications which could
be translated into effective instruments of macro applications
through research and development of Claas Germany.
The Chief Minister appreciated the group's concern in setting
up a full-fledged plant at Morinda with both assembly line and
manufacturing operations with in the record time of just 8 months;
probably it was the shortest ever period to launch a mega project
of its kind in the state. He also urged the visiting delegation
to introduce agricultural equipment/machines for paddy transplantation
and cotton picking as both these operations was labour intensive.
He also asked the M/s Claas India to introduce a new range of
tractors with features of combine harvesters having different
types of blades for the use of small and marginal farmers at competitive
price.
Mr. Badal also asked Mr.Cathrina to send a deputation of specialized
drivers and mechanics to train our youth as drivers and mechanics
which would provide them assured employment based on the certification/accreditation
to be issued by Claas Germany. He said that since Punjab was pre-dominantly
an agrarian state could provide an assured market to the group
besides generating tremendous direct and indirect employment potential
through setting up of ancillary units in the state.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Secretary
Industries SS Channy, Director Industries VK Janjua, Additional
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister AK Mahajan and Head Claas
India Operations Pardeep Malik.
INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT,
PUNJAB PUNJAB PROCURES 30% MORE WHEAT THIS YEAR
Chandigarh, May 8:, 2008
Six government agencies and private millers in Punjab have procured
more than 98.63 lac tonnes of wheat against 71.82 Lac tonnes procured
till date last year recording a growth of over 30% than last year.
According to an official spokesman, out of 9863780 tonnes procured
till date which 9334391 tonnes (94.6%) has been procured for the
central pool and 2,61,529 tonnes (2.7%) for the State pool whereas
traders lifted 267860 tonnes of Wheat.
The spokesman said that till May 7, PUNGRAIN had procured 17,
47,797 tonnes (18.7%) whereas MARKFED procured 21, 20,007 tonnes
(23.8%). PUNSUP procured 21, 47, 810 tonnes (23%), PSWC procured
11, 54,811 tonnes (12.4%) whereas PAIC was able to procure10,
57,019 tonnes (11.3 %) of wheat for the central pool. The Central
Government agency FCI had been able to procure 10, 06,947tonnes
(10.8%) for the central pool.
He added that Ferozepur District with 11,27,320 tonnes of procurement
was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District
with 9,36,565 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana
district with 8,30,096 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The Punjab Government allocated more than Rs. 9385.77 crores
to the agencies for making payment to the farmers for wheat procured
upto May 6, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours
of lifting of their wheat.
The State Government has set up over 1615 procurement centres
and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement
of wheat, the spokesman added.
GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB WILL PRESENT AWARD OF HONOUR
TO LANGAH
Chandigarh, May 8: His Excellency the Governor of Punjab General
(Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, would present an award of honour to Sh.
Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister Punjab during the world
Red Cross Day Celebrations on 9th May at Law Auditorium of Punjab
University Chandigarh.
Mr. Langah was getting this prestigious award for his generous
contributions to the 30 bedded Drug De-Addiction, Treatment cum-
Rehabilitation Centre in Border district of Gurdaspur, which was
being run by the Punjab State Red Cross Branch Chandigarh. The
Centre at present was providing facilities like fully Air-Conditioned
ward, free medicines, multipurpose Gym, a well equipped laboratory,
pure water supply through Aqua Guard. Vocational Training like
hardware networking , software and mobile repair, etc.
Mr. Ramesh Mahajan Project Director of De-addiction Centre Gurdaspur
said that Mr. Such Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister, visits
regularly to the centre and educate the addicts regarding the
ill effects of addiction which besides the loss of health , spoils
the entire family life and dark clouds of sorrow and sufferings
glooms on addicts and on their families.
