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PUNJAB STEPS UP DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION- LAUNCHES PORTAL AND TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION OF CORRUPTION COMPLAINTS
·        SUKHBIR DESCRIBES IT AS A MAJOR TOOL TO INVOLVE PUBLIC IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORRUPTION

Chandigarh, October 31:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today stepped up its drive against corruption by launching a special portal and toll free number to enable public to register their complaints of corruption online or through toll free number.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal while launching the portal and toll free number described it as a biggest tool to involve the general public in this campaign against corruption. The website has unique facility for uploading audio & video/footage and photos along with the online complaint.  This would help the vigilant public to videograph/photograph any corrupt activities being indulged by the public servants & upload the same on the vigilance Bureau website so that bureau could take action against the guilty.

Stressing upon the need for launching multimedia campaign to sensitize people against corruption and educate them regarding new portal and toll free number, Mr. Badal said that these posters should be put up prominently in all offices where public dealing was involved. He also asked Mr. Arora to focus on electronic media by running a strip permanently on various channels giving out the website name and toll free number for the information of public.
The Deputy Chief Minister also released newly obtained Toll Free Number facility (1800-1800-1000) for the people of Punjab. Mr. Badal said that people can now register complaints on toll free number (1800-1800-1000) and provide details regarding any complaint or information. The concerned Vigilance Bureau officer will contact them to follow up the matter. Mr. Suresh Arora, Chief Director Vigilance giving the salient features of portal said that the this was accessible from all kinds of gadgets like Mobile Phone, I-Pad, Desktop, Laptop etc. (W3C Complaint)  and would also provide an online NRI Help desk for NRI community. It would also have facility to lodge & check the status of a complaint online.
He said that the website provides all vital information about Vigilance Bureau such as officers posted, location of offices, official phone numbers and email id, list of Chief Vigilance Officers  of respective departments in a systematic and user friendly manner. The Photographs of P.Os/absconders has been displayed on the website, which will enable the people to give information regarding same. The Vigilance Bureau has written to all the government departments to provide link of its website on their websites.
          Mr. Arora informed that the Vigilance Bureau has taken new strides in the fight against corruption by launching awareness drives, creating Internal Vigilance Cell & Special Unit for checking its own staff etc. The Vigilance Bureau is also providing valuable suggestions to the government for procedural reforms essential for prevention of corruption.
He said that latest step in this series of initiatives is creation of official website of the Vigilance Bureau www.vigilancebureaupunjab. org.

Mr. Arora informed that Vigilance Bureau Punjab was also putting up information boards and banners at the important public places for publicizing the website and the toll free number.  This will help in spreading awareness about the website of Vigilance Bureau, increase accessibility to the common public, provide an online platform for citizen interface & also improve the grievance redressal machinery. Vigilance Bureau solicits active co-operation and suggestions from the people of Punjab and also the NRIs settled abroad.

On this occasion the Deputy Chief Minister also has given token of appreciation to the team involved in development of website.  The team included Mr. H. S Rai, Dean Guru Nanak Engineering College, Mr Pritpal Singh Consultant, Mr Surya Kumar, Mr Mukesh Kumar. Mr B K Bawa, Director Vigilance Bureau, Ms. Neerja IG/VB and Mr. D.P. Singh, Joint Director were also present on the occasion.

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Capt Amarinder warns gherao of mandis over procurement issues

CHANDIGARH, October 31:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Akali-BJP government in the state for its failure in lifting the paddy on time.
Capt Amarinder warned, if the farmers issues were not addressed on time, the Congress will gherao the mandis across Punjab.
He said, so much so the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who claims himself to be the guardian of the farmers’ interests has failed the farmers of his own district and constituency.
In a statement issued here today, the PCC President said that the farmers had not only to wait for days together to get their paddy lifted, but they also had to grease the palms of the corrupt officials patronized by the corrupt Akali jathedars.
The PCC President disclosed that the farmers had to pay something between Rs 50 to Rs 100 per quintal for their produce to the corrupt officials and Akali jathedars who seem to have now taken over the mandis.
He pointed out, so much so the farmers from Muktsar district including those from the Chief Minister’s native village, Badal, had to stage protest for timely payment of their produce. He said, both the farmers and the arthiyas (the commission agents) were feeling cheated, intimidated and exploited at the hands of the officials and jathedars.
Capt Amarinder warned the government that in case the government did not streamline the procurement and ensured timely and proper payment to farmers the Congress will launch a statewide stir to gherao the mandis.

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SHIROMANI AKALI DAL-- SUKHBIR GREETS PUNJABIS ON NEW PUNJAB DAY
•    REITERATES SAD COMMITMENT FOR EARLY RESOLUTION OF LONG PENDING
TERRITORIAL ISSUES
CHANDIGAH, OCTOBER 31
    The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Deputy Chief
Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today greeted the Punjabis on the New
Punjab Day adding said that Punjab had made rapid strides in every
sphere after its creation as new state.
    In a press statement issued here today, S. Badal said that the ‘New
Punjab Subha’ was the outcome of relentless efforts spearheaded by the
Shiromani Akali Dal during its long struggle. Therefore, SAD was
emotionally involved with the people of Punjab and was all concerned
about their well being and prosperity. He said it was a historic fact
that whatever progress has been made by Punjab that only took place
during the regime of Akali Governments.
    Staking claim to the territorial issues, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal
reiterated that SAD was committed to resolve all the long pending
demands like transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas in
Punjab and rational sharing of river waters besides other related
demands.

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Glowing tributes paid to Ms Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary

CHANDIGARH: Glowing tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi on her twenty-eighth death anniversary here today. The main function was organised at the Congress Bhawan which was presided over by senior leader and the Punjab Congress vice president Mr Laal Singh.
Among others present on the occasion included Dr. Malti Thapar President Punjab Mahila Congress, Surinder Gupta President DCC Faridkot,  Rajinder Kaur Member AICC, Rajni Mehta Member PCC, Krishna Mittu Ex Vice President PPCC, Sharma, Lakha Ram Dawesar, Promila and others.
The leaders paid floral tributes on Ms Gandhi’s portrait. Speaking on the occasion Mr Laal Singh recalled her great sacrifice for the unity and integrity of the country. He said, India can never forget the great sacrifice she laid down for safeguarding the unity of the country.

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SUKHBIR CALLS ON KEETU’S FAMILY TO CONDOLE TRAGIC DEMISE
·        ‘GOT A CLUE TO THE KILLERS, EXPECT AN EARLY BREAKTHROUGH’ - ASSURES SUKHBIR

Bilaspur (Moga) October 31: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today assured early arrest of accused of murder of Former Barnala SAD MLA Malkit Singh Keetu who was gunned down by assailants on October 29.
Accompanied by Revenue Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia and Member Parliament Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Badal was speaking to the media persons after sharing the brief with his wife Gurdeep Kaur and son Kulwant Singh. Mr. Badal informed that police is working on a clue and he expected an early arrest of killers.
Mr. Badal recalled that Mr. Malkit Singh Keetu was a grass root level dedicated worker who contributed a lot in strengthening the base of the party. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal would stand by the bereaved family in this difficult hour and his family would continue to get total support from the party.

Earlier, Mr. Badal had a closed door meeting with the ADGP (Law and Order) Mr. S.K. Sharma and the senior civil and police officers of the district who briefed him about the progress in the case.
Mr. Badal, Mr. Majithia and Mr. Dhindsa remained with the family for 27 minutes.
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BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON NEW PUNJAB DAY

• STAKES CLAIM FOR TERRITORIAL ISSUES

          Chandigarh October 31:
          The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the people of Punjab on the eve of New Punjab Day.
          In a message, the Chief Minister said the new Punjab has emerged after a great struggle and still lot was to be done to cherish the aspirations of the Punjabis as far as the long pending demands of the transfer of Chandigarh as its Capital and Punjabi Speaking areas to Punjab are concerned.
          The Chief Minister recalled the supreme sacrifices of Punjabis in the Country’s freedom movement and their enormous contribution in the post independent period as sword arm and food basket of India by making it self-reliant in the food production despite the fact Punjabis just constituted two percent of country’s population.
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MAJITHIA GREETS PEOPLE ON NEW PUNJAB DAY

• LAUDS PUNJABIS FOR THEIR IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND SECURITY OF COUNTRY

Chandigarh, October 31
            Revenue and Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia today greeted the people on the anniversary of New Punjab Day.
            In a message, Mr. Majithia appreciated the immense contribution of the Punjabis in the overall development and progress of Punjab as well as in the nation building. He said that Punjab’s enormous role in making our country self-sufficient in food production besides safeguarding our borders from internal and external aggression would be ever remembered by one and all.
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BHATTAL TO DESIST FROM MUDSLINGING -MAHESHINDER GREWAL
CONGRESS MLAs KEEN TO JOIN SAD - REVEALS ADVISER

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 31: Reacting sharply to the statement of senior leader of Congress Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal appeared in a section of press about the possibilities of mid-term polls in the state, the Adviser to the Chief Minister Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal termed the statement as her day dreaming.

In a statement issued here today Mr. Grewal advised Mrs. Bhattal to keep the house of UPA led Congress Government in order at Centre. He said that Mrs. Bhattal should avoid issuing such politically immature, misleading and hypothetical statements and focus on some strategy to save their government at the centre whose days were numbered. He further revealed that several legislators from the state Congress side were keen to join SAD due to its pro-people policies and programmes of SAD-BJP alliance government in the state.
The pace of development during SAP-BJP regime was reflector of the policies and programmes which had never been the part of previous congress governments’ agenda in the state, added Mr. Grewal. He further said that the people friendly attitude of SAD-BJP has provided much needed solace for the masses.

He dared the congress leader to come clean on the numerous scams and scammers of Congress government like 2G Spectrum, Adarsh Housing Society, Coalgate and Common Wealth games’ etc. scams.
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KOHAR BANS USE OF VULGAR SONGS IN BUSES

• DRIVERS VIOLATING DIRECTIVE TO FACE MUSIC

Chandigarh October 31: Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar, Transport Minister Punjab has banned the use of vulgar and provocative music in the state run transport buses with immediate effect. While giving formal directions to the department to stop airing the vulgar songs, Mr. Kohar said that any bus driver violating government’s directive would have to face strict departmental action.
            The Minister reiterated that the Punjab government was committed to provide best transport services to its people and it was imperative for the officers concerned to ensure the proper and forceful implementation of the instructions in larger public interest. Random surprise checks would be conducted by a specially constituted committee to check the use of provocative music in the buses, said the minister. He also said that the frequent use of vulgar and loud music in the buses not only generates mental pollution amongst the passengers but instrumental in fatal accidents occurred due to distraction of the drivers. This type of music goes contrary to both the rich cultural heritage of the state and also the dictate of the independent state level censor board which was especially constituted to check vulgarity in the Punjabi songs. The minister also urged the general public to contact him personally if they come across anything erroneous with regard to the transport facilities extended to them by the Punjab Government.
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STATE LEVEL CANCER AWARENESS & SYMPTOM BASED EARLY DETECTION COMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 1, 2012- MITTAL

Chandigarh, 31st October 2012:
Based on the experience of the pilot project regarding Cancer Awareness and symptom based early detection campaign would  be launched in the state from  December 1, 2012 and would be accomplished within one month. This was revealed here today by Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal Health & Family Welfare Minister Punjab while interacting with the media persons at Punjab Bhawan Chandigarh.
The Minister stated that Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab in the last six months has been taking various initiatives for improved delivery of health services to the people of Punjab.  The state is facing the problem of both the communicable as well as non communicable diseases. One of the major challenges in the latter group before the state has been the problem of cancer.
The department has chalked out a gigantic plan of cancer awareness and symptom based early detection campaign by door to door visits. In light of the opinion of the experts District Faridkot had been selected as a pilot district for this campaign.
The Minister further said that with the approval of the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the pilot campaign was launched on Gandhi Jayanti. Special Secretary Health Government of India Mr Keshav Desiraju specially came to Faridkot as a special invitee to the launch. The task has been completed within the stipulated time frame as part of which 744 teams of dedicated field workers have conducted the door to door visits and have covered the population of the district spread over 173 villages and the three cities of Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaito. The work done by 502 field workers including  ASHAs, ASHA Facilitators, ANMs, Multipurpose health workers in Rural areas 242 teams of Nursing students in the urban areas has been commendable .
On the basis of  on preliminary compilation based on various symptoms the department had identified 2950 suspect cases while 785 persons have informed that they are suffering from cancer in  5,83,105 residents visited in 1,04,707 houses of the district.
The suspected cases are yet to be confirmed by taking them to the doctors in the health centres and specialists at secondary and tertiary level. However even on face value the figure of 132 per lakh population is not alarming.
The campaign has been duly monitored by a team headed by Smt. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare, Punjab internally, and external evaluation is being carried out by the experts of PGIMER Chandigarh as proposed by the President of Medical Council of India. Report is yet awaited.
After the analysis of the total data, the Department shall take further action regarding various steps including strengthening of manpower and infrastructure facilities
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vini Mahajan, Director Health & Family Welfare Mr. Ashok Nayyar, Executive Director State Health System Recsource Centre Mr.Pyare Lal Garg and Expert from the PGI Chandigarh Mr. J.S. Thakur
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OLD SEWERAGE SYSTEMS TO BE REPLACED IN PUNJAB JAILS--PHILLAUR
Chandigarh October 31: Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Jail Minister Punjab said that on the recommendations of Prison Reforms committee, an amount of Rs. 3.50 crore has been sanctioned for replacing old Sewerage system in Central Jail, Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana and Rs. 1.20 Crore for renovation and repair of buildings of other Jails of Punjab. The construction Agency, Punjab Police Housing Corporation has already completed 80% of the work.  The upgradation of Sub Jail Barnala as District Jail was also under consideration, said Mr. Phillaur.   
The Punjab government in collaboration with Rotary International would set up a clinical laboratory for blood test etc. of prisoners in the Central jail, Amritsar. A Psychiatrist for running the De-addiction Centre in Jail would also be provided.  Modalities have already been worked out in a meeting held between the Governor, Rotary International, Mr. Upkar Singh Sethi and the I.G.Prisons. In this meeting he has ensured that funds would be provided for establishing a laboratory, hardware for Computerization of the entire laboratory and counselors, if required for the de-addiction centre within the jail premises, would also be provided by Rotary International, said the Minister.
            In an effort to bring about radical changes in the mindset of the Punjab jails inmates, the Minister said that Art of Living Courses and Yoga Camps would be organized in Jails and Vocational Training trades would also going to be started in Women Jail, Ludhiana together with SAMPARN,  a Punjab based N.G.O. Similarly, a Cretch and Nursery for lady prisoners and children would be opened in Central Jail, Patiala with the aid of NGO “Sarbat da Bhala”.
            Referring to the installation of video conferencing units, the Minister said that in the first phase, installation of video conferencing in 10 Jails and 32 courts has been completed and according to BSNL, the installation of video conference in 15 jails and 24 courts in second phase is likely to be completed within a week. Adding further, the Minister said urged the Government of India to release the required amount of Rs 1.88 crore at the earliest so that the upgrading of the video conferencing as installed in first phase could be completed.
            The minister has also directed the officers of the department for early disposal of the pending list of 141 cases of premature release of the prisoners. Regarding premature release cases of Prisoners, a weekly meeting would be held with Principal Secretary, Home Affairs, said Mr. Phillaur.
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GRADING SCHEME FOR FARMERS- BABBEHALI

Chandigarh October 31
The Punjab Government has launched the scheme of Grading of Foodgrains & oilseeds in 89 markets of the state. While disclosing this, Chief Parlimentry Secretary Agricultur S Gurbachan Singh Babbehali said that under this scheme wheat, paddy, Toria (rape seed), Sarson(Mustard seed) and sunflower seeds are graded in the market before auction. Samples are drawn from the heaps of the produce for measuring different parameters, Such as moisture, dust and dirt, trash, weevil led, shriveled and damaged grains, grains of other varieties and other commodities and foreign matter etc. The grade cards are displayed on heaps before auction. Grading staff has been trained by the Government of India. The future programme includes laboratory analysis of important quality factors of commodities. The buyer shall be encouraged to pay price to the farmer on the basic of scientific information.
In an effort to ensure better remunerative price to the farmers for their quality product, the Punjab Government has also initiated Cotton Grading Scheme in the state. He said that this visual grading scheme has been launched in the 25 markets of the state. He said that three modern laboratories have also been set up for this purpose, one each at Rampuraphul, Malout and Mukatsar. Five more laboratories would be set up at Bathinda, Mansa, Abohar, Kotkapura, Gidderbaha with the help of Technology Mission on Cotton (Govt. of India).
He said that in these labs different quality Para- meters of cotton like fineness, maturity, strength, span length, ginning percentage & trash contents are numerically tested. The basic objective of grading is to ensure the remunerative price to producer and refine quality of product for the purchaser. He said that the grade is assigned to the produce (Cotton) before its sale so that farmers and purchasers must know the quality of the produce to fetch better remunerative price commensurate with quality. For farmers the grading tests are free whereas nominal fee is charged from the traders.
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OPTION OF 1 YEAR EXTENSION ALSO APPLICABLE ON ENGINEERS OF IRRIGATION, PWD AND WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 31:
The Punjab government today clarified that option of one year extension would also be applicable for the engineers of Irrigation, PWD and Water Supply and Sanitation Department. Amended notification in this regard has been issued.
Clarifying this, an official spokesperson of the Finance Department said that earlier this extension of one year service was not applicable on the engineers of Irrigation, PWD and Water Supply and Sanitation Department. Now the clause 3.26 (c) has been deleted, which abandoned them to fall in the purview of one year extension option and were restricted them to retire at the age of 58 year. Now rule 3.26 (a) and 3.26 (b) would also be applicable on the engineers of Irrigation, PWD and Water Supply and Sanitation Department. The spokesperson further said that besides this, provision has been made for PCS (judicial branch) on basis of earlier amendment.

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PTC NEWS ANCHOR AND OUTPUT HEAD HARPREET SINGH SAHNI BEREAVED –
MAJITHIA MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS SON
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 31:
Revenue and Public Relations minister of Punjab today expressed deep shock over the tragic death of four month old son of PTC News anchor and output head Mr Harpreet Singh Sahni.
Mr. Majithia expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.

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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE FISH FARMING
MORE LAND TO BE BROUGHT UNDER FISH FARMING----DHUGGA
Chandigarh October 31:  The Punjab government has decided to encourage farmers to engage in fish farming during the current season with a target to bring an additional 1,000 hectares of land under alternative farming.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Des Raj Dhugga, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries said that under this programme, the state government would provide subsidy to the fish farmers. The fish production in the state has increased from 6000 kg per hectare to 6560 kg per hectare during last two years. He also said that during the last two years about 2000 hectare new area has been brought under fish culture as a result of which 11287.00 ha total area is under fish culture in the state. With the result 50,000 people got direct and indirect employment.
          Adding further, he said that special efforts have been made to utilized waterlogged areas in the state for fish farming. A joint project with dairy department at village Abul Khurana has been initiated. One demonstration Pond of 2.50 acre is being established under this project for development of water logged area for fish culture, added Mr. Dhugga. Referring to the last two years’ revenue earned from out of fish farming, the CPS said that an income of Rs.398.28 lac has been earned from the auction of fishing rights of the notified waters of the state.
 He said an estimated 2,247 lakh new fish seeds would be prepared in the current season, besides imparting training to 6,000 fish farmers. The proposal regarding mobile establishment of fish lab, holding fish fairs and arranging fish markets, besides initiating fish development projects has been sent for approval, he added.   He added that the development program also included stocking of fishes in Ranjit Sagar Dam at Gurdaspur and construction of 9 cluster ponds in Mukatsar district on subsidy basis worth Rs 5.56 lakh.     He also said that 11 model fish ponds have been established in different districts of the State in which intensive fish farming on scientific lines was being developed. A target to produce 8-10 tonne fish per hectare has been set up. With the success of this programme the farmers around these areas will be motivated and more & more farmers will come forward to adopt intensive fish culture, said Mr. Dhugga.

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9214841 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 31:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 9214841  tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 9214841  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 8694550 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 520291  tonnes of paddy. Till October 30, PUNGRAIN procured 2495476  tonnes (28.7%), MARKFED procured 1977158  tonnes (22.7%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 2016966 tonnes (23.2%) PSWC procured 895299 tonnes (10.3%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  911481 tonnes (10.5%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 398170  tonnes (4.6%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ludhiana with 911409 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Patiala  with 890728  tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Moga with 807599  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
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THREE IAS AND ONE PCS OFFICER TRANSFERRED
Chandigarh October 31:-
            The Punjab Government today transferred three IAS and one PCS officer in the state with immediate effect.  
            Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Smt. Ravneet Kaur IAS Secretary, Defence Services Welfare has been posted as Secretary School Education vice Mr. Husan Lal and in addition Secretary Higher Education & Languages vice Mr. G. Vajralingam.
            Mr. Husan Lal IAS Secretary School Education has been posted as Secretary Home Affair and Justice (will look after the work of Secretary Jails, Punjab).
            Mr. Parveen Kumar Thind IAS ADC (G) Fatehgarh Sahib has been posted ADC (D) SAS Nagar against vacant post.
            Mr. APS Virk PCS Secretary (Examination) Punjab Public Service Commission Patiala has been posted as ADC (G) Fatehgarh Sahib.

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BADAL MEETS UNION COAL MINISTER; SEEKS DEDICATED COAL LINKAGE FOR UPCOMING POWER PLANTS IN STATE ON PRIORITY
DEMANDS TEMPORARY ALLOCATION OF 1.4 MILLION TONS OF COAL FROM COAL INDIA FOR GOINDWAL SAHIB THERMAL PLANT
JAISWAL ASSURES CM OF POSITIVE OUTCOME
CM CALLS ON SCINDIA; UPDATES HIM ON ONGOING POWER PROJECTS
SCINDIA PROMISES CM OF TAKING UP COAL LINKAGE ISSUE WITH UNION COAL MINISTER

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 30:
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today called on the Union Coal Minister Mr Sriparkash Jaiswal to seek dedicated coal linkage immediately for the upcoming thermal plants at Goindwaal Sahib, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo.
            The Chief Minister met Mr Jaiswal in his office here at the Shastri Bhawan this afternoon and apprised him that the GVK Power Limited was constructing thermal Power plant at Goindwal Sahib, the first unit of which was likely to be made operational by May 2013. The project has been allotted Tokisud Coal block in Jharkhand state exclusively, which has been delayed due to some of its area under Forest land. Mr Badal informed the Union Minister that he had also called up his Jharkhand counterpart Mr Arjun Munda for getting the transfer of land expedited. In the light of these circumstances the coal supply from the said Coal block was likely to be delayed further and therefore the Chief Minister requested Mr Jaiswal to direct the Ministry of Coal for providing temporary allocation from the mines of Coal India limited of 1.4 million tons of coal for one year to the project from February 2013 to January 2014.
He pointed out that this would ensure that the 540 MW Power plant capacity does not remain idle and the GVK Power limited would return such loaned coal after commencement of Coal production from Tokisud Coal block. Mr Badal said that early commissioning of the project would ease pressure on the already heavy loaded northern regional grid.
Flagging another issue to enhance the sanctioned coal linkage from 1200 MW and 1800 MW by the Ministry of Coal to 1400 MW in case of Rajpura Thermal plant and 1980 MW for Talwandi Sabo Thermal plant, the Chief Minister sought personal intervention of Mr Jaiswal to resolve this issue at the earliest otherwise the commissioning and power generation of both these plants would be adversely affected. Mr Badal also told the Union Minister that the Ministry of Power had already approved the installed capacity of 1400 MW and 1980 MW of Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo thermal plants respectively. 
Responding to the issues raised by Mr Badal, the Union Minister assured him of positive outcome and said that he would soon convene a special meeting of the senior officers of his ministry and the Coal India limited to amicably resolve all these pending matters to ensure the timely commissioning of these thermal plants in the state.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also met the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power Mr Jyotiraditya M Scindia this morning in his office at Shram Shakti Bhawan to update him about the status of these three thermal power plants at Goindwal Sahib, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo. Mr Badal also informed the Union Minister of State that the state was committed to complete all these ongoing power projects within the time frame so that these could be commissioned for generation but the only difficulty being faced by the state government was in the allocation of Coal blocks.
Realising the hardships faced the state government in getting the Coal linkage for its power plants Mr Scindia promised to the Chief Minister that he would soon take up the entire issue with the Union Coal Minister to be resolved at his personal level on the priority so that the Power generation, which was a critical factor for the overall development of any state should not be hampered in Punjab.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary Mr KJS Cheema, Secretary Power Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Mr K Siva Prasad and Director Generation PSPCL Mr GS Chhabra.      

CM MEETS GHULAM NABI AZAAD; SEEKS EARLY CLEARANCE OF OUTREACH CENTRE OF PGI AT SANGRUR

PROPOSED INSTITUTE WILL PROVE TO BE A MILESTONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF MALWA REGION

APPRISES AZAAD ABOUT THE INITIATIVES TAKEN BY STATE GOVERNMENT TO ERADICATE CANCER FROM STATE

AZAAD LAUDS STATE FOR SENSITISING PEOPLE TOWARDS QUALITY HEALTHCARE

New Delhi, October 30-
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal urged the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azaad for seeking early clearance of the outreach centre of PGI at Sangrur to provide the best Health care and diagnostic facilities to the people of the Malwa region.
            The Chief Minister called on Mr Azaad at his residence on Monday evening and apprised him that the state government had already identified a land of 25 acres for setting up of this outreach centre of PGI as a premier Health and research institution in Malwa belt. He said the proposed institute would prove to be a milestone for the people residing in the far flung areas of the region who had to now go as far as to Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar besides Bikaner in Rajasthan for the treatment of cancer.
Mr Badal also apprised the Union Health Minister that the state government had already taken major initiatives in the up-gradation of Health infra structure in Punjab especially in the Malwa belt where there was a high incidence of Cancer as per the study conducted by the PGI. The Punjab government had launched a flagship program to provide free treatment to the Cancer patients and now we were mulling to provide medicines to these patients on subsidised rates. He hoped that this outreach centre of PGI would act as a catalyst to further intensify their efforts to eradicate cancer from the state.
The Chief Minister also told Mr Azaad that he was paying focused attention to organise Mega Medical camps across the state to provide an opportunity especially to the under privileged and downtrodden for on the spot medical check up and effective treatment, in case of any ailment. Such camps have already been organized in Sri Muktsar Sahib District and now another two-day camp was being held at Mansa on November 3 and 4. Mr Badal invited the Union Health Minister to preside over this camp to personally see that how popular these camps have became amongst the people.
Lauding the efforts of the state government to provide quality Healthcare services to the people, Mr Azaad promised to the Chief Minister that he would certainly get the proposal of PGI outreach centre thoroughly examined so that it could be established at the earliest. Thanking for the invitation extended by Mr Badal, the Union Minister said that he was keen to attend such camps and motivate the people there so that they could be sensitised towards the personal hygiene and healthcare.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary Mr KJS Cheema and Resident Commissioner Punjab Mr K Siva Prasad.

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Trainings to Medical Officers & Coders on ‘Medical Certification of Causes of Death (MCCD)’ 

Chandigarh October 30: Under the Civil Registration System, the mandate of implementing the Registration of Births and Deaths lies with the Office of the Registrar General, India. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 provides for compulsory registration of Births & Deaths. The data generated through a comprehensive & up to date system of Civil Registration is essential for socio-economic planning and to evaluate the effectiveness of various population related programmes. The mortality statistics also serves as a cornerstone of public health systems.
 As per the Section 10 (2) & (3) of the aforesaid Act, Medical Certification of Causes of Death (MCCD) is an important component which aims to provide a reliable database for generating mortality statistics-an integral part of the Vital Statistics System. The age, sex and cause-specific mortality rates are also important indicators of monitoring the health trends in the population. Data on causes of death is useful for health planners, administrators and medical professionals for undertaking cost-effective remedial measures which are evidence based. Under this scheme of MCCD medical officers and coders of various medical institutions, both public and private are given training on the system of medical certification of the causes of death (MCCD). 
Giving details about this scheme, Smt. Seema Jain, IAS, Joint Secretary (MHA) and Director of Census Operations, Punjab said that such 14 trainings are being organized at ten districts of Punjab between November to December 2012. Such trainings are an important tool for obtaining accurate and reliable mortality statistics. They provide valuable inputs in assessing the effectiveness of public health programmes, better health planning and management and deciding priorities of health and medical research programmes.

These training are arranged in Civil Surgeons offices where Medical Officers & Coders  from government and renowned private hospitals of the respective districts are invited. In this one day training all issues relating to RBD which is also called Civil Registration System besides MCCD, are covered.

During CFY 2012-13 also, 14 trainings in 10 districts of Punjab will be held during the months of November - December 2012. These districts are Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Firozpur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and S.A.S Nagar. In all 450 Doctors and 39 Coders shall be imparted training on the subject. 
Besides this, the Joint Secretary cum Director Census has written to all Nodal Officers of all public & private hospitals in Punjab seeking their co-operation in implementing the various provisions of RBD Act, 1969 and also giving them detailed guidelines about the same. Recurring educational sessions, practical workshops of medical officers and periodic audit of primary data collection mechanism shall go a long way in streamlining implementation of the Act in Punjab.
As per 2008 data, only 2 major States namely Kerala and Punjab could achieve 90% and more registration level of deaths whereas registration of Births is more than 90 % in 8 States including Punjab.
Among all States, only 4 States namely Goa, Kerala, Mizoram and  Punjab have achieved the level of more than 90% registration of both births and deaths during 2008.
The all India level of Registration of Births has also increased from 56.8 % in 1999 to 76.4% in 2008 and Deaths from 50% in 1999 to 69.2 % in 2008.  

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DISTRICT LUDHIANA LEADS IN PADDY PROCUREMENT IN PUNJAB

8722428 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, october 30:
Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. District Ludhiana with 840367 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Patiala  with 834223 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Moga with 748801  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
        Government agencies and private millers procured more than8722428 tonnes of Paddy till last evening.
        The spokesman added that Out of total procurement of 8722428tonnes of Paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 8207426  tonnes of Paddy till date whereas private traders procured 515002 tonnes of Paddy. Till October 29, PUNGRAIN had procured 2352099 tonnes (28.7%) whereas MARKFED procured 1872260 tonnes (22.8%). PUNSUP procured 1892569 tonnes (23.1%), PSWC procured 850184  tonnes (10.4%) whereas PAFC was able to procure 861927 tonnes (10.5%) of Paddy. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 378387 tonnes (4.6%).
The State Government has set up more than 1770 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of Paddy, the spokesman added.
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DHINDSA GIVES AWAY FIRST PRIZE WORTH RS.2 CRORE OF VAISAKHI BUMPER

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 30:
Mr. Parminder Sindh Dhindsa, Finance Minister, Punjab today gave away the cheques worth Rs. one crore each to the two first prize winners of Punjab State Lotteries Vaisakhi Bumper-2012.
While handing over the cheques to the winners in a simple function organized in Punjab Civil Secretariat here, Mr. Dhindsa wished good luck to the winners. Mr. Ramavtar Aggarwal, Mayur Vihar, Delhi and Mr. Surinder Kumar, Dhariwal, Gurdaspur were the lucky winners of the first prize.
The prominent amongst other, who were present on the occasion included; Mr. Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary and Mr. Jaspal Singh, Secretary, Expenditure of Finance Department.

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                             ANIMALS TOO CAN BE ADOPTED- JAYANI

Chandigarh, October 30:
The Punjab Government has initiated a new scheme called ''Animal Adoption Scheme'' enabling the individuals, NGO, Corporate houses. Industialists and companies to adopt animals of their choice in the Zoos of Punjab by meeting the expenses of their food, medicines and upkeep of their houses in the zoos on annual basis.
          Disclosing this here today, Forest Minister Punjab Mr.Surjit Kumar Jayani said that the department had worked out the financial modalities for such adoption. The adoptions of animals could be done any time during the year by simply depositing the calculated amount in the selected zoo for the animal to be adopted. Mr. Jayani further said that efforts would also be made that the adopters get income tax exemption on the amount donated for this purpose. Such schemes were becoming popular in the Zoos of India like Mysore Zoo, Lucknow Zoo and so on.
          Mr. Jayani said that the adoption programme was aimed at exhibiting support for wildlife conservation, by adopting your favorite animal; you contribute towards feeding of the animal for one-full year/month and support zoos efforts in wildlife conservation. Zoos were involved in captive breeds programme for endangered species and their conservation projects all which need support of concerned people like you and your institution, he said.
          The animal adopter name would be prominently displayed on a board near the adopted animal's enclosure and allowed free entry pass for his family or for five persons to visit Zoo 4 times in a year. The adopter would be permitted up to the animal complex to meet the adopted animal every week and also would invite as a special guest during various celebrations where public functions are involved. The adopter would be ex-officio member of Zoos development society. The adopter would get a certificate of adoption and get all information regarding animal.
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SIRHIND CANAL’S CLOSURE EXTENDED

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 30:
The Sirhind canal’s closure has been extended for 4 more days. Now the canal would be closed up till November 4, 2012 instead of October 30 (both day inclusive).
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Irrigation Department said that the Sirhind Canal off-taking from Ropar Head Works, has been closed due to the construction of four-laning of road with flyovers along with Sidhwan Canal by Public Works Department (B&R).
He said that notification in this regard under rule 63 of rules framed under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (Act VIII of 1873) has been issued.

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CM SEEKS BUDGETARY PROVISION FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE IN PUNJAB
PAWAR TO CONVENE A JOINT MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICERS OF CENTRE AND STATE GOVERNMENT AT LUDHIANA TO PREPARE A ROADMAP FOR AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION
DEMANDS TO LAUNCH A TECHNOLOGY MISSION WITH AN ALLOCATION OF RS 5000 CRORE
PLAN TO SHIFT 12 LAKH HECTARES FROM PADDY TO ALTERNATE CROPS
TREAT DAIRY AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES AS AGRICULTURE FOR INCOME TAX AND OTHER BENEFITS
PAWAR LAUDS STATE INITIATIVES FOR AMENDING APMC ACT AND ENACTING A LEGISLATION FOR CONTRACT FARMING
FEASIBILITY OF SAS NAGAR TO BE STUDIED FOR INCLUSION IN NVIUC

New Delhi, October 29-
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today demanded a special budgetary provision in the next Union Budget for diversification of agriculture in the North West states especially for Punjab on the similar pattern of economic package to boost agriculture in the eastern states in the country.

The Chief Minister met Union Agriculture Minister Mr Sharad Pawar here in his office at Krishi Bhawan this evening and sought the Government of India’s (GoI’s) support and co-operation for giving impetus to the much needed Agriculture diversification program in the state as the traditional wheat/paddy cycle was no more profitable due to the squeezed margins on account of high agriculture inputs and low MSP. Mr Badal urged the Union Minister that it was the need of hour for GoI to come forward to bail out its beleaguered peasantry by incentivizing the promotion of the cultivation of alternative crops to paddy and wheat adding that this was not merely a problem of Punjab but must be viewed in a broad perspective as national problem.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to immediately launch a technology mission for 'Diversification of Agriculture in Green Revolution Areas' with an allocation of Rs 5000 crore for 12th Five Year Plan period, on the pattern of the mission for 'Bringing Green Revolution to the Eastern India'. Mr Badal underscored the need for diversification away from the production of food crops mainly Rice, which was utmost necessary to sustainably manage the natural resource base and to adjust to the changes taking place in the domestic demand and supply of food grains.
Outlining the diversification program, the Chief Minister apprised Mr Pawar that the state government has planned to reduce the area under paddy from 28 to 16 lakh hectares in a phased manner over a period of six years. It was purposed to shift this area to Maize (four lakh hectare), Cotton (two lakh hectare), Sugarcane (1.5 lakh hectare), Fodder (1.5 lakh hectare), Agro Forestry (two lakh hectare), Pulses and Fruits & Vegetable (one lakh hectare).
The Chief Minister impressed upon Mr Pawar to provide remunerative MSP coupled with assured marketing mechanism for the alternate crops especially Maize as the Punjab Government was seriously contemplating to enhance the present area under Maize cultivation from 1.5 to 5.5 lakh hectare. Mr Badal also asked the GoI to relook the policy of blending of petrol with ethanol by increasing it from 5% to 15% to promote conversion of Maize into ethanol. He also requested Mr Pawar to take up the issue with the Ministry of Food Processing to incentivize the setting up of Maize processing industry in the state to encourage its value addition and assured marketing support.
The Chief Minister also demanded that a Regional Centre of ICAR for research in pulses and Soyabeen should be established in the state to develop suitable varieties of these crops for cultivation in the state. Likewise Mr Badal also asked the centre to expeditiously set up a centre of excellence for Citrus at Abohar as the state government was planning to enhance the area under Citrus Orchards.
Reiterating that diversification to livestock sector was necessary to supplement the income of the farmers, the Chief Minister posed program to be funded by the Central government for the promotion of Dairy, piggery, Goatry and fisheries. Mr Badal also urged the Union Minister to treat livestock sector at par with the Agriculture in terms of Income tax, interest rates, issue of Kisan credit cards etc. He also demanded to provide subsidized insurance cover to livestock irrespective of the size of the herd. The Chief Minister also urged Mr Pawar to set up a Dairy research centre in Punjab on the pattern of already established such institute in Karnal to further boost the prospects of Dairy sector in the state.
Responding to the issues raised by Mr Badal relating to diversification of Agriculture and development allied sector, the Union Minister said that he would convene a joint meeting of the senior officers of the Centre and state government at Ludhiana on November 20 to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to intensify efforts to boost crop diversification program along with major breakthrough in fishery, Dairy and Animal Husbandry. He also promised to look into the feasibility of setting up of Fishery research institute in Punjab to explore potential of fishery in the waterlogged areas of southern Punjab. 
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister on the state diversification plan Mr Pawar appreciated the concerted efforts of the state government to implement the ambitious diversification plan to shift an area of 12 lakh hectares from paddy to other crops. He assured all possible assistance and co-operation on behalf of the GoI to make this mission a huge success. Mr Pawar also lauded the initiative of the state government to amend Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) Act 1961 and to enact a new legislation on Contract Farming, which would be instrumental in providing forward linkages to the farmers to markets and industries. Mr Pawar reiterated that the GoI would cover Amritsar for development of peri-urban cultivation of vegetables under National Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters (NVIUC) adding that the possibility of including SAS Nagar (Mohali) under the ambitious scheme would also be explored. The Union Agriculture Minister that he would soon take up the matter with his counterpart in Ministry of Textiles for opening more textile parks in Punjab to give an impetus to the processing of raw cotton in the state.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Animal Husbandry Minister Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Des Raj Dhuga, Chairman Punjab Farmer's Commission Dr GS Kalkat, Financial Commissioner Development Mr GS Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Jagpal Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu and Advisor Agriculture and MD Milkfed Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu. 

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CM AND SUKHBIR BADAL SEEKS PM’S INTERVENTION TO ADVISE MHA TO ASK DELHI GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW DELHI SIKH GURDWARA (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2012

• INTERFERENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF SIKHS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CONFLICTS IN THE COUNTRY-CM
• BADAL DESCRIBES MOVE OF DELHI GOVERNMENT AS TOTALLY ABSURD AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
• DEMANDS AMENDMENT IN SGPC ACT BY PARLIAMENT OR TO DISENFRANCHISE SEHAJDARI SIKHS FROM VOTING
• URGES PM TO HEAD GOM FOR AGRICULTURE DIVERSIFICATION
• CM AND DEPUTY CM ALSO MEETS SHINDE; FLAGS DSGMC AND SEHAJDARI ISSUE

New Delhi/Chandigarh, October 29-

Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal today met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and sought his personal intervention to advise the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for taking appropriate measures to stop the Delhi State Government from going ahead with the proposed move of “Delhi Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2012” regarding direct election of President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
The Chief Minister along with Deputy CM called on Dr Manmohan Singh here at his official residence this evening to apprise him about this ill conceived and politically motivated move of the Delhi Government, which could pose serious ramifications with a potent apprehension of pushing the country into avoidable conflicts. The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that he was constrained to point out that despite express assurances from successive Governments of India and eminent national figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, cases of brazen interference in the religious affairs of the Sikh community still continue. This was despite the fact that the country in general and Punjabis in particular had to pass tragic circumstances because of such ill-advised moves on the part of the Government of India and the other state governments. He mentioned that it was not merely a coincidence that recourse to such needless, eminently avoidable and disastrous moves has been initiated under Congress regimes. Mr Badal categorically said, “The interference of the Government in the religious affairs of the Sikhs could lead to serious conflicts in the country”.
The Chief Minister referred to the latest instance of such a dangerous resort to politically opportunistic but socially and nationally destructive move which came in the wake of the Delhi Government’s decision to amend Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971 enacted by the Parliament to facilitate direct election of President DSGMC. He impressed upon the Prime Minister to ask the Delhi Government for its immediate withdrawal to ensure peaceful and congenial atmosphere in the country as well as in Punjab besides tormenting the Sikh psyche. 
Showing deep concern over the inordinate delay in the General elections of DSGMC which was due since January, 2011, the Chief Minister informed Dr Manmohan Singh that it appeared to be a calculated conspiracy of the government to delay these overdue Gurdwara Elections in the guise of this amendment bill adding that it clearly aimed at subverting the spirit of the order of the Supreme Court which had vide its order issued on September 17, 2012 directed the concerned authorities “to ensure that general elections to the post of members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee are completed by December 31, 2012 positively”. However, immediately after the pronouncement of the aforesaid Supreme Court’s Orders, the Government of Delhi swung into action and introduced the said  “Delhi Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2012”regarding direct election of President of the DSGMC, which was passed by the Delhi Cabinet on 8th October, 2012, hurriedly without assessing its pros and cons.
Mr Badal asserted that the purported move of the Delhi Government thereby giving undue benefits to the ruling office-bearers of the ‘Committee’ to cling to their offices and to enjoy their extended term was a calculated defiance of the court orders. He said, “It is against the law of natural justice and defeats the very purpose of the original Act”.
Describing the amendment bill as totally absurd, the Chief Minister pleaded that it violates the letter and spirit of the agreement reached between Late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Master Tara Singh, known as Nehru-Tara Singh Pact, which specifically stated the commitment of the Government of India (GoI) not to take any steps with regard to the affairs of the Sikh community without consultation with and consent of the representatives of the Sikh community through SGPC. This attempt on part of government would lead to fresh suspicion, resentment and alienation in the minds of the Sikh community, already recovering from the painful and discriminatory blows. In addition, it would also lead to unprecedented corruption and horse trading in Gurdwara affairs at the behest of the stooges of the Delhi state government. 
The Chief Minister also mentioned that there was no such provision either in the apex body of Sikhs i.e. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar and/or any religious or other body in India. Similarly, even there was no provision for a direct election of a President in any of the elected constitutional bodies in the country, right from the office of the President of India, the Prime Minister down to the Panchayats.
Raising another vital issue related to SGPC elections, the Chief Minister apprised Dr Manmohan Singh that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had disenfranchised Sehajdari Sikhs from voting in SGPC elections by a notification, which was challenged by Sehajdhari Sikhs in Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Court ordered that debarment of Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting could not be done by Ministry of Home Affairs by issuing a notification and the Court held this could only be done by adopting legal ways thereby amending the Act.  Consequently SGPC filed an appeal in the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs also became a party. Mr Badal sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs for taking necessary action either by amending the act in the Parliament or by issuing an ordinance right now to disenfranchise Sehajdari Sikhs from voting in SGPC elections.
The Chief Minister also urged upon Dr Manmohan Singh to head a Group of Ministers (GoM) for pushing the much needed Diversification of Agriculture in the state as a “Second Green Revolution” to save the beleaguered peasantry on one hand and to prevent the depleting ground water and eroding soil texture from further degradation on the other. The Union Agriculture Ministry had already cautioned the state to make a paradigm shift from traditional wheat/paddy cycle to the high yielding crops like oilseeds, Maize, sugarcane and others in this hour of crisis.  
Earlier the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister called on the Union Home Minister Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde in his office at North block this morning and sought his all out support and co-operation in resolving the contentious issue of “Delhi Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2012” and disenfranchising Sehajdari Sikhs from voting in SGPC besides asking the Delhi state government to conduct elections to the executives and office bearers of DSGMC at the earliest as per the directions of the Supreme Court in accordance with the existing act.            
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CM CALLS ON KAMAL NATH; UPDATES HIM ON JNNURM REFORMS
SEEKS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF PENDING FUNDS WORTH RS 108 CRORE
KAMAL NATH PATS CM FOR PATH BREAKING REFORMS TO IMPLEMENT URBANIZATION
ASKS CM TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OF MONO RAIL PROJECTS IN THE STATE

New Delhi/Chandigarh, October 29, 2012

            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today called on the Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Mr Kamal Nath at his office here today, to update him on the recent reforms initiated by the state government to put the process of urbanization on fast track.

            Briefing the Union Minister, Mr Badal informed that the state government had already implemented the decisions to levy Property Tax besides the enactment of the Rent Control Act. Likewise the Public Private Partnership policy for recovery of Operation and Maintenance of charges of water supply and sewerage system has also been framed and was under the active consideration of Cabinet Sub Committee. He also mentioned that the state government had already a created a dedicated a Municipal Service Cadre, which was mandatory to seek Financial grants under JNNURM. Mr Badal urged the Union Minister to immediately release the pending funds to the tune of nearly Rs 108 crore under JNNURM so as to expedite the various Urban Development oriented projects across the state. 
Appreciating the efforts initiated by the state government, Mr Kamal Nath assured the Chief Minister that Punjab would be accorded top priority in the centrally sponsored schemes focused on the Housing and Urban Development. He asked the Chief Minister to speed up the Metro Rail project at Ludhiana to decongest the traffic so that this industrial hub could be further developed to boost investment prospects there especially from the NRI investors. Mr Nath also impressed the Chief Minister to come up with Mono Rail projects for other major cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Patiala and SAS Nagar (Mohali) to provide an alternative and efficient Public Transport system to reduce the traffic influx in these cities. He asked the Local Government department of the state to get the Detailed Project Reports ready from the internationally acclaimed experts in the field of Mono Rail by floating global tenders as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development had adequate funds for Mono Rail projects.
            Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Union Minister for state Mrs Deepa Dass Munshi, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr Suresh Kumar and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu.

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CM CONDOLES PASSING AWAY OF MALKIT SINGH KEETU
Chandigarh, October 29-
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today mourned the untimely and sad demise of former Barnala MLA Mr. Malkit Singh Keetu, in a shootout incident at Bilaspur village of Moga district on Monday.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described Mr. Keetu as a disciplined soldier of the party and a votary of the downtrodden and oppressed sections of the society. Mr. Badal recalled the outstanding services rendered by the former Barnala MLA who tirelessly worked to strengthen the party at the grassroots level and for the welfare of the unprivileged sections of the society.
Sharing his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give courage to them to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of crisis. 
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SUKHBIR CONDOLES FORMER MLA MALKIT SINGH KEETU’s TRAGIC DEMISE
Chandigarh, October 29:
            The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed shock over the untimely and tragic demise of former Barnala MLA Mr. Malkit Singh Keetu.
In a condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister recalled the commitment of Mr. Keetu for the party and his selfless service for the unprivileged sections of the society.
Expressing his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, the Deputy Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the family bear this irreparable loss.
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MAJITHIA MOURNS DEMISE OF EX MLA MALKIT SINGH KITTU
Chandigarh, October 29:
            Revenue and Public Relations Minister of Punjab Mr Bikram Singh Majithia, today expressed deep shock on the tragic demise of former SAD MLA from Barnala, Mr. Malkit Singh Kittu, Who was shot dead today morning. 
In a condolence message, the Minister said that the selfless services of Mr Kittu towards SAD would be remembered always. He said that Mr Kittu was a leader of masses and always worked for the interests of common man. 

Former MLA Malkit Singh Keetu’s murder-
DGP rushes ADGP (L&O) to Moga
Chandigarh, October 29: The Punjab DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh today rushed Mr. S.K.Sharma, ADGP/Law & Order to Moga to coordinate and supervise investigations in the case murder of Former MLA of Barnala Mr. Malkit Singh Keetu, who was shot dead by his nephews and their accomplishes at his native residence in village Bilaspur today in the morning.
The DGP has directed Mr. Sharma to camp in Moga till all the accused were arrested by the police. Mr. Sharma would coordinate with district police and take required steps necessary for early arrest of the accused.
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IG CRIME TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF JAGJIT KAUR
Chandigarh October 29:- The official spokesman of Punjab police has informed that Central Police Office ( CPO ) has ordered ADGP/Crime to club all the complaints of petitioner Jagjit Kaur and get them probed thoroughly through an IG rank officer of Crime Wing within four weeks time.

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REGULAR LIGHT AND SOUND SHOWS AND OTHER PLAYS TO BE STAGED AT PRESTIGIOUS MEMORIAL SITES- BADAL
CM DEDICATES OPEN AIR THEATRE AT BABA BANDA BAHADUR WAR MEMORIAL
MEMORIALS SITES TO ENLIVEN THE CHERISHED MOMENTS OF OUR RICH HERITAGE- BADAL

Chapparchiri (SAS Nagar), October 29-
                Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal announced to hold regular shows of light and sound and other plays at weekends shortly, to highlight the rich legacy of Sikhism at Baba Banda Bahadur War Memorial Chapparchiri besides other prestigious memorials of Virasat-e-Khalsa Sri Anandpur Sahib, Wadda Ghalugara at Kop Rahiran and Chota Ghalughara at Kahnuwan Chhamb. 
                Addressing the audience on the occasion to dedicate the open air theatre to the nation here at Baba Banda Bahadur War Memorial on Sunday evening by staging a play ‘Main Tera Banda ‘directed by the noted theatre personality Mr Manpal Tiwana, the Chief Minister said these plays on the theme of watershed movements in the history of Sikhism at these memorials would create awareness amongst our younger generations about their glorious religio-cultural past. Mr Badal said the SAD-BJP government made humble efforts to construct these memorials so as to provide a missing link to our future generations and enliven the cherished moments of our rich cultural heritage. He apprised the public that the Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib has evoked overwhelming response from the people as daily seven to eight thousand persons visit this heritage marvel adding that the Canadian Prime Minister Mr Stephen Harper would also visit the memorial on November 7, which was a matter of great honour and pride for the entire nation especially for Punjab when a dignitary of such International fame had evinced keen interest to visit Sri Anandpur Sahib in his itinerary during his official trip to India.     
The Chief Minister said that the state government in its endeavour to further promote this cause has taken a major initiative to construct the state-of-art ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial at Kartarpur near Jalandhar over an area of 25 acre to showcase the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. Likewise the government had already taken up another prestigious project of restoration work at Bassian Kothi near Raikot in Ludhiana district to give a facelift to the erstwhile PWD rest house of British Raj, where Maharaja Daleep Singh the son of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh was held in captivity before taking to England. He said this project was near completion and would be dedicated soon to the nation.   
On the occasion the Chief Minister honoured the script writer Ms. Nirmal Rishi and Director of the play Mr Manpal Tiwana besides veteran theatre artist Mrs Neena Tiwana, the wife of the legendary playwright and theatre personality late Mr Harpal Tiwana. People from different walks of life were enthralled by the superb performance of the artistes.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included former Union Minister Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema besides the senior officers of civil and Police administration of Mohali district. Apart from these senior party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP besides members of SGPC were also present on the occasion.        
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Capt Amarinder takes objection to Ms Bhattal’s statement

CHANDIGARH, October 28: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh has taken serious objection to the statement of the former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in Jallandhar on Sunday questioning various party decisions of which she was very part and parcel.

In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said, Ms Bhattal should avoid making such statements in public or in media. He said, if she has really any opinion about the functioning of the party, she should better give it to the party high command particularly the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi.
The PCC President maintained that the party high command has strictly asked all the leaders not to air their personal opinions about the party functioning in public and a senior leader like Ms Bhattal should better follow the party discipline and the guidelines lest it leads to confusion in the party rank and file.
Capt Amarinder said, Ms Bhattal has been party to everything, whether it was the election campaign of the distribution of tickets. He said, it was surprising as how could she say it was the wrong distribution of tickets when she was part and parcel of the ticket distribution process and the campaigning in the state.

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CM NOT TO MEET MPs, MLAs BESIDES GENERAL PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 30 AND 31

Chandigarh, October 28-
          Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal would neither meet MPs, MLAs and the senior party leaders nor general public on October 30 and 31, due to some pressing engagements.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Mr Badal would be participating in the meeting of National Water Resources Council, to be presided over by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at New Delhi, so he would not attend his office on Tuesday October 30 to meet the MPs, MLAs and the senior party leaders from 11am to 12:30 pm as per schedule. Likewise on the same day, the Chief Minister would also be unavailable to the general public from 4 to 6 pm at his residence.
The spokesperson further said that as the Chief Minister would be away to Himachal Pradesh for campaigning of state assembly elections there on October 31 so he would be unable to meet MPs, MLAs and senior party leaders besides general public on Wednesday also.
 Inconvenience caused to MPs, MLAs besides general public was highly regretted, the spokesperson added.

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BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON THE PARKASH UTSAV
OF MAHARISHI VALMIK JI
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 28:
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today greeted the people of Punjab on the auspicious occasion of Parkash Utsav of Maharishi Valmik ji and exhorted them to follow his teachings and ideology to carve out an ideal society regardless of caste, colour and creed. In a message, Mr. Badal said that Maharishi Valmik ji was a great exponent and harbinger of Indian culture & civilization, the creator of first ever epic the holy 'RAMAYANA' which is a fountainhead of human culture, moral values & ethics, reservoir of wisdom besides storehouse of all eternal human values.  Maharishi Valmik ji propagated the message of ideal life based on Righteousness (Dharma) to the mankind through Ramayana which is replete with examples of ideal father, son, husband, wife and brother etc.The Chief Minister called upon the people to celebrate this sacred occasion collectively rising above the parochial consideration of casteism thereby paving a way for altruism in human life as preached by Maharishi Valmik ji.
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SUKHBIR AND MAJITHIA FELICITATE PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF MAHARISHI VALMIKI JAYANTI

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 28: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister today felicitated the people on the eve of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti.

In a greeting message, Mr. Badal said that Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana had been a great source of inspiration even today. He said that Bhagwan Valmiki was the first writer to use Sanskrit for magnum opus. Mr. Badal said that Maharishi Valmiki was a great spiritual ambassador, who gave the message of social equality, emancipation, communal harmony and welfare of downtrodden and oppressed groups. He said that we all should follow the teachings of Maharishi Valmiki ji for maintaining communal harmony besides for the welfare of oppressed sections.

Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister Punjab also extended greetings to the people on the eve of Valmiki Jayanti. He said that Maharishi Valmiki Ji shown us the path of social integrity and accord and we all should follow his teachings. Mr. Majithia said that Maharishi Valmiki was a great and revolutionary messiah of downtrodden, and his unmatchable contribution for the welfare of deprived sections of the society would always be a remembered.
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CHUNNI LAL BHAGAT GREETS PEOPLE ON THE PARKASHUTSAV OF BHAGWAN VALMIKI JI

Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Local Bodies Minister of Punjab, today greeted the people ofPunjab on the Parkash Utsav of Bhagwan Valmiki ji and emphasized the need to follow his teachings for creating an ideal society.
In a message, Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat said that Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, the creator of first ever epic the holy ‘RAMAYANA’ is a perfect model of our Indian culture & civilization. He said that Bhagwan Valmiki ji was a great saint who propagated the message of universal brotherhood and high values.
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RECORD PLACEMENT OF 799 ITIs TRAINEES IN AUTO MAJORS

•        GREAT DEMAND FOR PUNJAB ITI TRAINEES IN MARUTI AND TATA MOTORS

•        PUNJAB TO TRAIN 30,000 HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERS EVERY YEAR

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 28:

The ITIs in the state got a thums-up from the auto majors as record 799 ITI trainees of 3 ITIs in Patiala, Rajpura and Batala got their placement in Maruti and Tata Motors.

          Disclosing this here today, Mr. Anil Joshi, Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister said that ITIs in Punjab were focusing on employability of the trainees by providing them training according to the requirement of the industry. He said that department had organized an employment fair at Patiala, Rajpura and Batala. During this job fair more than 2021 trainees/students have participated, out of which 799 job seekers were selected by the both the auto majors. 
He said that the state government has committed to provide jobs to the trainees and professions being trained in various polytechnics, Information Technology Institutions and industrial trainings institutions (ITIs) in the state. The academic and training institutions have been asked to shape their courses and training per the need and skill based requirements of different trades.
      
          Mr. Joshi said that the aim of the Technical Education Department was to secure maximum placements for the students and to achieve the target and department was continuously organizing employment fairs. He said that it was the result of endless efforts of technical education department that the number of placements has been increasing up year after year. He said that technical institutes were focusing on weeding out obsolete trades to assure placement to youth getting training there. He said that there were 111 government and 294 private ITIs in the state providing training to over 64,000 youth every year.
            Emphasising on training 30,000 heavy vehicle drivers every year, Mr. Joshi said that there was lot of demand for skilled drivers and we must tie up with Tata, Mahindra, Toyota, Maruti, Escorts, Ashok Leyland and other automobile companies to open driver training school in every block so that we could supply skilled drivers to the booming market in India and abroad.
            The Minister said that it was the call of the hour to adopt professional studies to counter the menace of unemployment. He said that to inspire the students towards professional courses, the technical education department would organise more employment fairs besides inviting more companies during placement drives in engineering and polytechnic colleges.
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KOTKAPURA-MUKTSAR AND BATALA-MEHTA-BEAS ROAD TO BE 4 LANED –DHILLON

• CONSTRUCTION FROM APRIL 2013 ON Rs 140 CRORE PROJECT

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 28: The Punjab Government has approved two major four lane road projects on Kotkapura-Sri Muktsar Sahib and Batala-Mehta-Beas routes with a total cost of Rs. 140 crore. 

          Disclosing this here today Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister said that the construction on 30 kilometer long stretch on Kotkapura-Sri Muktsar Sahib and 36 kilometer on Batal-Mehta-Beas would start in April 2013 while the project would be completed by December 2014. He said that on Kotkapura-Sri Muktsar Sahib four lane project would also witness two high level bridges.

          Mr. Dhillon said that the construction work of Kotkapura-Sri Muktsar Sahib project has been allotted to SPML-SIL (JV) Gurgaon. He said that with the completion of this project in one and half year the traffic scene on NH-95 (Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road) to NH-15 would become smoother. Similarly, the Tantia Constructions Limited, Kolkata has been awarded the work of Batala-Mehta-Beas project, which would eliminate traffic congestions on the route besides benefiting the traffic on NH-1 (Jalandhar-Amritsar) and NH-15 (Amritsar-Pathankot Road).
          Mr. Dhillon said that the four lane construction of 56 kilometer long Ropar-Chamkaur Sabhib-Neelon-Doraha road has been executed with a total cost of Rs. 240 crore along Sirhind Canal. He said that this four lane project would become operational by August 2014. He also informed that a Railway Over Bridge would also be constructed on this road and after completion of this project the lakhs of daily commuters from Himachal to Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur via Ropar could enjoy the easy and smooth travelling.  
          Giving details about ongoing construction of 4 lane of 30 kilometer stretch of Morinda-Kurali-Siswan-Baddi road, Mr. Dhillon said that this road would also become operational by June 2014, easing and reducing the travel time to various cities of Himachal Pradesh. He said that it would also reduce the traffic burden on Kurali-Kharar-Chandigarh road by saving the precious time of commuters.  

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BADAL CANCELS TRIP TO BOLOGNA IN VIEW OF AUSTRALIAN PM’s VISIT IN STATE

CM WAS TO LEAD DELEGATION AT FARM EXPO-2012 IN ITALY

Chandigarh, October 26-
            In view of the impending visit of the Australian Prime Minister Ms. Julia Gillard to the state on November 7, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal has cancelled his official trip to Bologna in Italy.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Mr Badal was scheduled to lead a delegation of eminent farm equipment manufacturers and progressive farmers from the state at the “International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition-2012” there from November 7 to 11.
Assuming the significance of the maiden visit of Ms. Julia Gillard, the Chief Minister took this decision to immediately cancel his visit to Bologna. The Australian Prime Minister was slated to visit Sri Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar to pay her obeisance there and the prestigious Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, the spokesperson added.  

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UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE FROM DUTY-DEPARTMENTS TOLD TO INITIATE DISMISSAL/REMOVAL FROM SERVICE PROCEEDINGS

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 26: The Punjab government today issued directions to all departments to initiate dismissal/removal proceedings against employees absenting from the duties unauthorizedly as per procedure without any delay.  
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the state government said that all the government departments have been directed to give such officers/officials a three day notice for rejoining their duties and in case any officer or employee did not join his duty in the stipulated time then considering him as absent from duty, dismissal/removal process against him should be initiated under Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970.
The spokesman said that any such officer/official should not be allowed to rejoin without the pre-approval of competent authority and the concerned administrative department should discuss the issue with Finance department under Punjab Civil Service Rules Vol-I, Rule 2.14 of Part-I. Besides this, departmental action should also be taken against those officers/officials, who during their study leave does business/work or gets other financial benefits considering it as violation of Rule 15 of Government Employees’ (Conduct), Rules 1966.
The spokesman further said that in case of non compliance of these instructions in true spirit, departmental proceeding should also be initiated against concerned officers/officials. He said that two proformas have been prepared, through which departmental heads would submit their reports regarding dismissal/removal or demotion of such officers/officials to the Administrative Secretary of the department by 30th of every month. After that Financial Commissioners/ Administrative Secretaries would send their compiled quarterly reports to Chief Secretary, Punjab (PP-2 Branch), he added.

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BADAL FELICITATES PEOPLE ON ID-UL-ZUHA (BAKRID)

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 26
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today greeted the Punjabis especially the Muslim brethren on the eve of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).
In his message, the Chief Minister said “Id-ul-Zuha evokes feeling of brotherhood, charity and empathy for the needy and the underprivileged.  Let us, reaffirm our resolve to further strengthen the spirit of brotherhood, unity of cultural bonds, peace and national integration”.
Mr. Badal appealed to the people to celebrate this festival in unison by rising above petty considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.
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SUKHBIR GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE
OF ID-UL-ZUHA (BAKRID)

Chandigarh, October 26: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today greeted the people of Punjab on the eve of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).
In a message, Mr. Badal said that Bakrid was a festival of sacrifice of worldly things for the will of the God. Extending heartily greetings to all Muslim brethren on this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that on this auspicious day of commemorative sacrifice, we should all rededicate ourselves to uphold the principles of love, compassion and understanding and affirm to live in fellowship as brothers and sisters, in the true.

MAJITHIA GREETS PEOPLE ON ID-UL-ZUHA 

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 26
Revenue and Public Relations Minister of Punjab, Mr Bikram Singh Majithia today greeted the People of Punjab, on the eve of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).The Minister said “Id-ul-Zuha gives us the massage of scarifies, brotherhood and peace.
Mr. Majithia calls on the people to celebrate the festival collectively by rising above caste, colour, creed and religion.
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INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB

6599311 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 26:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 6599311 tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 6599311  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 6125207 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 474104  tonnes of paddy. Till October 25, PUNGRAIN procured 1716950  tonnes (28.0%), MARKFED procured 1400597  tonnes (22.9%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 1405511 tonnes (22.9%) PSWC procured 638930 tonnes (10.4%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  648956 tonnes (10.6%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 314263  tonnes (5.1%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 662446 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Patiala with 563822  tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Ludhiana with 535507 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.   

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WITH FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN HONORARIUM IT IS
DIWALI BONANZA FOR HOUSE SURGEONS AND MEDICAL INTERNSHIP STUDENTS
·       HONOURARIUM FOR THE HOUSE SURGEONS INCREASED FROM RS. 4500 TO RS. 21000 PM
·       SCHOLARSHIP OF THE MEDICAL INTERNSHIP STUDENTS INCREASED FROM RS. 1500 TO RS. 9000 PM
·       GOVERNMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAS ALSO DECIDED TO FURTHER INCREASE THE HONOURARIUM FOR THE HOUSE SURGEONS FROM RS. 21000 TO RS. 30000 PM FROM APRIL 2013
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 26:
Junior Doctors of Medical Education and Research Department are in for Diwali Bonanza with Punjab Government today announcing five fold increases in their honorarium.  According to the new orders the Punjab Government has increased the honourarium of the House Surgeons from Rs. 4500 to Rs. 21000 per month whereas the scholarship for the Medical internship students has been increased from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 9000 per month.
          Disclosing this here today Punjab Medical and Research Education Minister Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat said that this recent increase in honourarium of the House Surgeons would be effective from October 8, 2012 and increase in the scholarship of the medical internship students would be effective November 1, 2012.
Mr. Bhagat said that internship students of the Government Medical/Dental/Ayurvedic Colleges of the state would be entitled to claim the increase in scholarship whereas House Surgeons of the medical education and research department would be eligible to get the increase their honourarium.
The Minister further said that Punjab government has also decided in principle to further increase the honourarium of the House Surgeons from Rs. 21000 to Rs. 30000 but this increase would be effective from April 1, 2013.
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SWISS AMBASSADOR CALLS ON SPEAKER CHARANJIT SINGH ATWAL
·       WOULD WORK TOGETHER IN EDUCATION SECTOR
·       ATWAL SEEKS SWISS SUPPORT TO INDIA FOR PERMANENT SEAT IN UN SECURITY COUNCIL

CHANDIGARH,OCTOBER 25
Dr Linus Von Castemur, Ambassador of Switzerland in India today called on Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal at his office and stressed  the need for improving bilateral relation between India and Switzerland. 
         During the hour long meeting with Mr Atwal , Dr Linus Kang said that he was quite impressed with the development of Punjab and surprised to know that the  Punjab was contributing more than 50 % food grains in the central kitty, having  just 1.6 % area of the country. He said that the Switzerland was desirous of strengthening ties with India in the field of Trade, Industry, and agriculture and especially in the education sector. He said that India, the biggest democracy of the world was a fountain head of true democratic set up and healthy practices. He also visited the Punjab Vidhan Sabha hall.
During the discussion Mr Atwal appealed Mr Lunis to support India for the permanent seat in the Security Council of United Nations as India is the largest democracy in the world and playing a key role in maintaining world peace and other important affairs. He also told the delegation about the development of Infrastructure in the state and invited the Swiss investors to invest in the state.   
Earlier, Mr Atwal welcomed the delegation and hounred them with a Phulkari and photo of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mr Atwal also briefly outlined about the Legislative procedures and practices of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

CM MOURNS SAD DEMISE OF CELEBRATED COMEDIAN
JASPAL BHATTI

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 25:
          Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sudden and tragic demise of eminent actor and satirist Mr. Jaspal Bhatti (57) who passed away in a fatal road accident at Shahkot in Jalandhar district on early Thursday.
          Describing Mr. Bhatti as a multi-facet personality and a true son of soil, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Bhatti through his rare sarcastic humor and wit made enormous contribution in sensitizing the general public especially at the grass roots level in eradicating social evils from the society.   The Chief Minister said that Mr. Bhatti being an icon of budding artists especially the humorists across the country has left an indelible imprint on the television and Punjabi film industry due to his relentless efforts to relieve the stressed minds in the present melancholic society through his healthy comedy as a ‘laughter king’ and became a household name in comedy.  Mr. Bhatti as a celebrated columnist also played a pro-active role in highlighting the social issues to the fore through his prolific writings.  Mr. Badal said in the death of Mr. Bhatti a void has been created in the arena of Punjabi film industry, TV and print media which was hard to be filled. 
          Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also wished a speedy recovery to his son Mr. Jasraj and others who were injured while travelling along with Mr. Bhatti on that fateful day.   
          Sharing his heart felt sympathies with the bereaved family, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give courage to family members, friends, relatives and millions of his fans to bear this irreparable loss. 
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SUKHBIR CONDOLES JASPAL BHATTI’S UNTIMELY DEMISE

Chandigarh, October 25: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed deep shock at  the tragic and untimely demise of renowned comedian  and satirist Mr. Jaspal Singh Bhatti, who died early in the morning in a road accident.
Describing Mr. Bhatti as a unique artist, Mr. Badal said that he was a great satirist who always pointed out the menaces spread in our society and tried to leave an impact with his lucid but sharp comments. He said that with his death a void has been created in comedy world which could not be fulfilled. Mr. Badal prayed to Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.

DEMARCATION OF WARDS FOR PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS BE COMPLETED TILL JANUARY 31: RAKHRA
·       PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS THIS TIME TO BE CONDUCTED WARD WISE
·       TO BE HELD BEFORE MAY 31, 2013
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 25
The Punjab Rural Development and Pancahyat Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra issued directions to complete the demarcation of ward for Pancahyat election by January 31, 2013 as Panchayat elections are to be held before May 31, 2013.
Presiding over a high level meeting here today he said that for the first time in Punjab the Panchayat elections would be conducted through wards and every ward would elect its Panch whereas the Sarpanch would be elected through direct poll. He said also issued directions to the officers to complete preliminary arrangements for the elections in time. The Minister said that employees of department are being sensitized about the procedure of conducting elections through wards so that there must not be any objections in the folk.
The Minister said that in every village minimum 5 and maximum 13 wards would be demarcated. Divulging the details the villages having population between 300 to 1000 would have 5 wards, population between 300 to 1000 would have 5 wards, population between 1001 to 2000 would have 7 wards, population between 2001 to 5000 would have 9 wards, population between 5001 to 10000 would have 11 wards and population more than 10001 would have 13 ward.
Mr. Rakhra said that geographically the every ward would be joined with one another. He said that election of Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections would be held before May 15, 2013 by all means. He said that in Panchayat Samiti minimum 15 and maximum 25 members elected and in Zila Parishad minimum 10 and maximum 25 members elected.

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Armed forces flag day would be observed on 7th December , 2012 to pay tributes to  all those known and un-known soldiers who sacrificed their lives  guarding the frontiers of our country.

Chandigarh, October 25: Armed forces flag day would be observed on 7th December , 2012 to pay tributes to  all those known and un-known soldiers who sacrificed their lives  guarding the frontiers of our country.

          According to an official spokesman this day is observed to salute the velour of Soldiers both serving and veterans, who fought for unity and integrity & sovereignty.
          The spokesman appealed to the public to contribute liberally for armed forces flag day fund. The ceremonial pinning of Flags on VIPs and all citizens of India would take place on 7th December, 2012. All Departments and the District Administration would give a lead in honouring the soldiers and in pinning Flags on students and citizens.
           The spokesman further said that the Financial contributions were to be collected by the Department/District Administrations in honour of the Flag. These funds are utilized for a number of welfare programmes instituted by the Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Boards. The contributions provide benefits to widows, disabled soldiers, ex-servicemen and  serving  personnel. The total number of people who would be benefited by this fund was  over a crore.  The contributions to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund are exempted from the Income Tax as per Government of India, Ministry of Finance (Revenue Division), New Delhi dated 26 March, 2007.

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CHAIRMAN PUNJAB WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REMOVED
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER, 25:
The Punjab government has removed Mr. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon from the post of chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation Limited with immediate effect. It has been disclosed by an official spokesperson of the irrigation department. He said that notification in this regard has been issued.
          PR.NO/12/910

INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB
EMPLOYEES ON LEAVE OR LTC NOT ENTITLED FOR MOBILE ALLOWANCE, PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ORDERS
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER, 25:
The Punjab government has issued instructions to implement the recommendations of the 5th pay commission regarding mobile allowance to the government employees. disclosing this here today an official spokesman of the government said that mobile allowance would not be given to those employees who were proceeding on leave (except casual leaves ) for more than ten days or on LTC.
          He said that the finance department had issued written instructions to all the departmental heads of the government to implement these instructions in true spirit.
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6010614 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 25:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 6010614  tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 6010614  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 5547956 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 462658  tonnes of paddy. Till October 24, PUNGRAIN procured 1542506  tonnes (27.8%), MARKFED procured 1267715  tonnes (22.9%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 1269607 tonnes (22.9%) PSWC procured 580046 tonnes (10.5%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  592719 tonnes (10.7%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 295363  tonnes (5.3%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 634540 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran with Jalandhar 480763  tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Tarn Taran with 459170  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
 
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            Mother Tongue Survey of India under 12th Five Year Plan

The office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India has embarked upon a prestigious plan scheme “Mother Tongue Survey of India’ under the 12th Five Year Plan.  It is for the first time that pre-selected mother tongues are being surveyed by the Census organization. A total of around 1200 Mother Tongues have been earmarked for survey. The project primarily aims to survey the mother tongues and languages of modern India with the mission to assess the linguistic scenario of the country since the geo-political-cultural scenario has changed manifold. The secondary purpose of the survey is to preserve and document the mother tongues and languages of post-independence India. Based on the 2001 Census results, the languages having less than 500 speakers are being taken up for survey.
The previous Linguistic Survey of India, often referred to as the LSI was a project of the British Raj conducted between 1894 and 1928, under the direction of Sir George Abraham Grierson, an Irish philologist. This study established 179 languages and 544 dialects of the then India. It was noted that Grierson's works could not cover the north-east (former province of Burma), Madras and the then princely States of Hyderabad and Mysore. The result was that South India was under-represented in the LSI.
The current MTSI traces the changes in the linguistic scenario after Grierson’s study.  The work involves collecting the linguistic data from the field and analysis of the collected data by linguists.   A procedural improvement made consciously for this survey is that unlike choosing local language teachers or government officials as informants, non-linguistic persons are being used for collecting the linguistic data.
Elaborating on this Mother Tongue Survey, Smt Seema Jain, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and Director Census, Punjab said that “India’s linguistic diversity makes out a strong case for initiating a linguistic survey. Accurate information on the number of languages, specially smaller languages, spoken in the country was the need of the hour”. Six (6) languages have been selected for survey in Punjab for the current year. Field data collection will be conducted by the non-linguists i.e. statistical officials of the Census Directorate by using audio-visual equipments where the entire data elicitation from the actual informant/speaker of the selected mother tongue will be captured using videography. For this purpose, a training has been imparted to the officials where they have been equipped with the necessary skills and orientation to take up the task. The field data collected is being videographed for analysis and archival purpose.

The statistical personnel for the field survey will be accompanied by local guide cum interpreter and videographer. For each Mother Tongue, the data will be collected from a maximum of 8 different informants ( male & female under 50 yrs,  Male and female over 50 yrs ). The interview of each informant would take about 10 days of time. The questionnaire includes 1562 Wordlist, 543 Sentence list and a Story.

In Punjab, six different Mother Tongues, viz; Bhagalpuri, Bhaguri, Bhawalpuri, Bhagri, Peshawari and Ramdasi, have been selected for the survey for the current phase. A total of 8 samples are being covered under each of these 8 Mother Tongues, for which fieldwork has commenced in Punjab.

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GRADATION LIST OF IAS AND PCS OFFICERS READY

CHANDIGARH, October 25
Punjab Government has prepared the gradation list of IAS/PCS (Executive branch) officers according to the situation on 31 July 2012.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Government today said all Principal Secretaries, Financial Secretaries, Administrative secretaries and Deputy Commissioners has been asked to get it collected the gradation list from IAS branch between 3.30 Pm to 4.30 PM on any working day.
He also said that in the case of any wrong publication in gradation list, officers must bring it to the notice of Superintendent IAS branch, so that it should be corrected in the next publication. Besides that if any officers has increased his/her educational qualification, then he/she would have to provide the attested copies of certificates for further publication, he added.   
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Chandigarh, October 24: Punjab DGP Sh. Sumedh Singh said that “Capt. Amarinder Singh’s statement is distasteful. I again advise him to be ethical. I would not like to waste more time on this”.
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Capt Amarinder asks Saini not to breach his service brief

CHANDIGARH, October 24: Former Chief Minister and President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Capt Amarinder Singh today asked the Director General of Punjab Police Sumedh Singh Saini to stick to service discipline and not pass flippant comments.

He asked Saini to leave politics to politicians and get down to his own business of maintaining law and order in Punjab which is otherwise touching its nadir with rampant crime and drug addiction, both of which are on the increase.

Reacting to Saini’s statement to the press, Capt Amarinder asked him, “are you the Chief Minister or the Home Minister of Punjab to come out with political statements?”
  
The former Chief Minister said, the police officials have no business to indulge in political posturing to please their political bosses. This neither goes with the discipline of their services nor the decorum of the office of the DGP.

That a DGP should comment on the functioning of the Congress, which represents millions of people across the state, and level a mindless allegation against it is not the DGPs business, the PCC President said.

He reiterated his advice to the DGP to restrict his business to policing. He should look into the rising crime, the widespread drug addiction, the broad day light dacoities, robberies and murder which are his primary and only responsibility.

The Punjab police is a fine force, however a force at any particular time is only as good as the man who leads it. This is where he should concentrate, the former Chief Minister advised.

Capt Amarinder reminded Saini that he has been the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Punjab for five years and he knows how the police functions and should function.    “You should refrain from making statements about the Congress functioning and leave that job to me”, he asked him, while adding, “a public servant must act in accordance with set service rules and not by breaching discipline or exceeding his brief”.

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PUNJAB TO DEVELOP SOLAR POWER CLUSTERS TO ENERGIZE AGRI-PUMPS - SUKHBIR
v    DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER SETS THE TARGETS OF 500 MW POWER EACH IN BIOMASS AS WELL AS SOLAR POWER SECTORS IN NEXT 2 YEARS
v    BY PRODUCING 1000 MW CLEAN POWER PUNJAB CAN EARN LOT OF CARBON CREDITS
v    ASKS TO SUBMIT DETAILED PROPOSAL FOR ATTRACTING LARGE SCALE INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER PLANTS

Chandigarh, October 24:

The Punjab government has decided to explore the possibility of developing solar power clusters to energize agri-pumps in rural areas besides setting up of solar panels on canals and roof tops of big buildings.

Presiding over a meeting late last night to review the progress of biomass as well as solar power plants in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal pointed out that the state government was spending a huge amount on providing free power for agri-pumps in the state. He said that there was a large scope for development of solar power clusters in the rural areas to provide power for agri-pumps directly thereby cutting the subsidy and further investing the saved money for production of clean energy. He said that by producing 1000 MW clean power Punjab can earn lot of Carbon Credits besides saving on subsidy.He asked the Non-Renewable Energy Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia to get a thorough study including technical as well as financial viability of the proposed solar power clusters done. Mr. Majithia informed the Deputy Chief Minister that Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) was considering creating land pools in Kandi as well as Kalanaur area of Gurdaspur district to attract investment for setting up of big solar power plants.
Setting targets of minimum 500 MW power, each in biomass as well as solar power sectors in next 2 years, the Deputy Chief Minister categorically said that PEDA should analyze the reasons for slow implementation of such power plants and directed to remove the bottle necks, if any. He pointed out that the possibility of using solid waste should also be explored as in coming times the demand for agri-residue was set to be risen. Assuring full cooperation from the state government, Mr. Badal said that it was high time for the state to replicate the success solar power stories of Gujarat and Rajasthan in the state. He also directed for the cancellation of permissions to those companies who were dilly dallying their projects on one and another pretext. He underlined the need to encourage both new entrepreneurs and big players by giving permission to them up to 2 MW and up to 25 MW respectively. He said that for the new ventures in solar power the carbon credits aspect should also be taken into consideration.  

Punjab Non-Renewable Energy Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia informed that PEDA would soon invite bids for 400 MW solar power plants with provision both for new entrants as well as the big investors. He said that the process for identifying the canals and roof tops for setting up of solar panels has already begun. He said that the state has potential of more than 50 MW solar power productions from roof tops while the canals have the potential of setting up of solar panels for more than 500 MW solar power. He said that he would soon convene the meetings of biomass as well as solar power operators to give final touches to the new proposals and expressed confidence that soon the state would emerge on both the solar power and biomass power fronts in the country.

Prominent amongst other who attended the meeting included Mr. C. Roul, Principal Secretary Science & Technology, Ms. Bhavna Garg, Special Secretary Science & Technology and Mr. T.P.S Sidhu, CEO, PEDA.
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SIRHIND CANAL’S CLOSURE EXTENDED FOR 6 MORE DAYS

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 24:

The Sirhind canal’s closure has been extended to more days. The canal would now be closed up till October 30, 2012 (both day inclusive) instead of October 24.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Irrigation Department said that as per the earlier orders the Sirhind Canal off-taking from Ropar Head Works, was closed from October 15 to October 24, 2012 for 10 days due. He said that the canal has been closed due to the construction of four-laning of road with flyovers along with Sidhwan Canal by Public Works Department (B&R).

He said that notification in this regard under rule 63 of rules framed under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (Act VIII of 1873) has been issued.

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REPORT REGARDING MISUSE OF FUNDS IS BASELESS-LANGAH

 Chandigarh, October 24
 Former Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah today said that a news item in one of the leading news papers was not based on facts and it has appeared casting doubts over utilization grants released by some Hon’ble Ministers of the Punjab Government to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur. In order to set the record straight following facts are brought to the notice of everyone.
         Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Sucha Singh Langah said that the border area in the State of Punjab suffers from lack of basic infrastructure particularly relating to education and technical education. He said that in order to set up educational institutions for imparting quality and cheaper education a society by the name of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Kalanaur, Distt Gurdaspur was got registered with the Registrar of Firms and Societies, Chandigarh. The Society have 11 Founder Members which include Shri Sucha Singh Langah, Shri Rattan Singh Langah, Smt. Harbhajan Kaur (brother and wife of Shri Sucha Singh Langah respectively). There are also  8 other independent Founding Members of the Society.
                   The Society is running following 4 educational institutions :
1.          Guru Arjun Dev Management and Technology College, Dhariwal : imparting B.Sc., B.C.A. and M.Sc. course in I.T. and was set up in 2010 with affiliation of Punjab Technical University.  100 students are studying in this college.
2.          Guru Arjun Dev Polytechnic College, Dhariwal: was started in 2010 for imparting engineering education and is recognised by AICTE and Punjab State Technical and Industrial Training Board. 300 students are enrolled in thie college.
3.          Indian Heritage Public School, Dhariwal : was started in 2008 and is recognised by CBSE. 462 students are studying in this school.
4.          Guru Arjun Dev Nursing College, Dhariwal :   was set up in 2007 imparting education in B.Sc., Post B.Sc. and A.N.M. Nursing courses. Recognised by Punjab Nursing Registration Council and Indian Nursing Council. Two batches of 67 students  have passed out and 180 students are presently studying in the college.
Mr. Langah said that the infrastructure of above 4 colleges which includes buildings, furniture, laboratories, library etc. have been created out of the funds of the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College Society. The Society receives its income from donations given by public (duly acknowledge with receipt) bank loans, fee from the students as prescribed by the Government and Government grants. The Society has taken a loan worth Rs.1.5 Cr which is a major source for creating of infrastructure of these 4 institutes. The Society has constructed building covering 93000 sq/ft in these 4 institutes.
              He said that the Society received grants from 5 Ministers namely Shri Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Shri Gulzar Singh Ranike, Shri Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Shri Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Shri Surjit Jiani and 2 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya and Shri Sohan Singh Thandal amounting to Rs.38 lacs. These grants were deposited into the account maintained by the Society with Punjab National Bank, Dhariwal, as and when received. Out of these 7 grants 5 grants amounting to 23 lacs were received for construction of rooms/buildings and 2 grants (15 lacs) for setting up of laboratories. These grants of 23 lacs was used for constructed 11000 sq/ft area which otherwise costed 66 lacs to the Society. Out of 15 lacs received for setting up of laboratories 5 lacs for setting up of computer lab. and 10 lac for setting up of electrical lab. and electronics lab.
          These grants were duly reflected in the balance sheets and the accounts have been audited by a certified Chartered Accountant. These grants have also been reflected in the Income Tax Returns filed by the Society with the Income Tax Department.
          In addition to above, the Society has received 48 lacs of Government grants in favour of Guru Arjun Dev College of Nursing for setting up of library, buildings and laboratories.
           These grants as stated above have been duly utilized for construction of buildings and setting up of laboratories for the above mentioned colleges and schools. The physical infrastructure was created with crores of rupees which includes 1.5 cr of bank loan and these grants in addition to donations do exists at Fateh Nangal in Dhariwal which can be verified by any time.
         Mr. Langah said that another doubt has been raised that these grants can not be used for construction is also incorrect as para 6 of the instructions provides for usage of these grants for any purpose. The Society has its registered office at Haqimpur Road, Kalanaur, Distt. Gurdaspur.  It has also been incorrectly reported that Gurdaspur Improvement Trust allotted land measuring about 1 acre to the Society on reserve price. The Society purchased this plot through an open and transparent auction held by the Gurdaspur Improvement Trust for a price of Rs.40 lacs against the reserve price of Rs.17.25 lacs. This auction has also been upheld by the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court.
                   Therefore, what has appeared in the press is not based on facts.
                  He said that he was also taking recourse to appropriate legal action after consulting my legal team in this regard.

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 Punjab DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh today strongly refuted the allegations of Capt. Amarinder Singh of dragging Congress Party in the controversy of abduction of minor girl of Faridkot .

Chandigarh, October 23:

In a reaction , the DGP Said “It is definitely my business if facts are deliberately distorted and the issue of a minor girl is used to further personal interests, resulting in hindrance to investigation. I would strongly advise Capt. Amarinder Singh to leave policing and investigation to the police and devote his time to his own business, if he can. He should abstain from unethical behaviour or making issues where none exist. So far as the investigation is concerned, it has been carried out in a professional manner. Accused have been arrested from places as far as UP and Goa and the girl has been safely recovered. Strict action has been taken against the accused and the investigation will be taken to its logical conclusion. Regarding action taken in the matter, a DIG and an SSP were transferred because of insensitivity in dealing with the matter which is not a small administrative step. Perhaps Capt. Singh should look at the blatant matter in which he repeatedly maligned the name of a minor girl and attempted to make the issue into a virtual public spectacle”.

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DEPUTY CM NOT TO HAVE ANY POLITICAL APPOINTEES WITH HIM

·        CURRENT APPOINTEES TO FOCUS ON PARTY WORK

·        CM ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS OF DY. CM’s POLITICAL SECRETARY AND THREE OSDS

Chandigarh, October 23-
          Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal has decided not to have any political appointees working with him in official capacity for time being
Respecting the overall thrust of all the rationale behind Deputy Chief Minister’s decision his political secretary Mr Paramjeet Singh Sidhwan and three officers on special duty (OSDs) Mr Charanjeet Singh Brar, Mr Avtar Singh and Mr Gurvinder Singh have tendered resignations from their respective posts.
On the recommendations of the Deputy Chief Minister, these resignations have been accepted by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal.
However, all four have assured the Deputy Chief Minister that they would continue to assist him in his political work as President of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

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PUNJAB TO ORGANISE NRI SAMMELAN FROM JANUARY 3 TO 5 - SUKHBIR

v TO UNVEIL A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE FOR NRI PUNJABIs
v PUNJAB TAKES MAJOR STEP TO CHECK ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS- HUMAN TRAFFICKING BILL ON ANVIL
v A SEPARATE ACT ON COMPULSORY REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE OF NRIs TO CHECK ‘FRAUDULENT MARRIAGES’

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 23: The Punjab Government has decided to organize a three-day NRI Sammelan from January 3 to 5, 2013 in which Punjab Government is set to announce a comprehensive package for NRI Punjabis settled in various countries.
Accompanied by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today reviewed the working of the department and took revolutionary decisions to solve the long pending problems of NRI fraternity. It was decided in the meeting that all leading NRIs including elected representatives including former MPs, former MLAs and former councilors, media persons be invited for the three day convention.  The first two days of the session would be held in Chandigarh and concluding day session would be held at Jalandhar. On the first day a brainstorming meeting would be held with the elected representatives of various countries to get their suggestions for measures to be taken by the Punjab Government for the welfare of NRIs. The second day would be devoted to NRI Media and on the third day in the open session, the representatives of Punjab Government would listen to the problems and suggestions of NRI fraternity and announce important decisions.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that NRI Affairs Department has to adopt pro-active approach, open interactive channel of communication with the NRI fraternity, become single point center for redressal of their complaints besides inculcating a sense of confidence amongst the Punjabis settled abroad.
Expressing concern over illegal occupation of properties of NRIs in Punjab, Mr. Badal asked Mr. N.S. Kang, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs to form a sub-committee with IG NRI Affairs and come out with a legal frame work under which protection of the NRI properties would be ensured. It was also decided to have a suggestive list of lawyers for every city and that list be put on web so that NRIs could engage services of such lawyers for their legal disputes.
Concerned about number of youth, who had immigrated illegally abroad detained in various countries, Mr. Badal asked the NRI Affairs Department to conduct a global census of such youth in coordination with the concerned embassies to compile a comprehensive list so that modalities for getting them released or providing them legal aide could be worked out by the Punjab Government.
Worried about the rising number of cases of illegal immigration and travel agents fleecing the innocent youth, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government has already given its approval to the ‘Human Trafficking Act’ and was awaiting the ascent of Union Government. He said that after the notification of this act, we would be able to check the malpractices of unauthorized travel agents.
Taking a serious note of increasing cases of ‘Fraudulent Marriages’ by NRIs and leaving brides in lurch, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government was also awaiting the ascent of Union Government for compulsory registration of marriage by NRIs to check this menace. The Home Ministry was also allowed District Revenue Officers and Naib-Tehsildars besides Tehsildars to register the marriages of NRIs.
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister, asked IG NRI Affairs Mrs. Gurpreet Deo to work out a centralized monitoring system on the police complaints of NRIs and send them status of their complaints by emails within 15 days. It was also informed in the meeting that 2500 complaints have been registered by NRIs in various police stations, 1000 in NRI Police Stations and 600 with IG NRI Affairs. 
Prominent amongst others, who were present in the meeting included Mr. N.S. Kang, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs, Mr. D.S. Bains, Principal Secretary Home, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. R. K. Ganta, Commissioners NRI Affairs, Mrs. Gurpreet Deo, IG NRI Affairs, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan, both Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM.
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DEPUTY CM NOT TO HAVE ANY POLITICAL APPOINTEES WITH HIM

·        CURRENT APPOINTEES TO FOCUS ON PARTY WORK

·        CM ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS OF DY. CM’s POLITICAL SECRETARY AND THREE OSDS

Chandigarh, October 23-
          Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal has decided not to have any political appointees working with him in official capacity for time being
Respecting the overall thrust of all the rationale behind Deputy Chief Minister’s decision his political secretary Mr Paramjeet Singh Sidhwan and three officers on special duty (OSDs) Mr Charanjeet Singh Brar, Mr Avtar Singh and Mr Gurvinder Singh have tendered resignations from their respective posts.
On the recommendations of the Deputy Chief Minister, these resignations have been accepted by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal.
However, all four have assured the Deputy Chief Minister that they would continue to assist him in his political work as President of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

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CABINET APPROVES PUNJAB MUNICIPAL OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT POLICY -2012 

NOD FOR 68 NEW POSTS FOR DGR 

MINISTERS AND CPS TO CONTRIBUTE RS 10 LAKH AND RS 7.5 LAKH ANNUALLY FOR ‘JANG-E-AZAADI’ MEMORIAL 

CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE UNDER DEPUTY CM CONSTITUTED FOR MAINTENANCE OF CIVIC AMENITIES IN URBAN AREAS 

APPROVES SIGNING OF MOU FOR PURA

CHARITABLE HOSPITALS EXCLUDED FROM PUNJAB (INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER BUILDINGS) TAX ACT, 2011

Chandigarh, October 23, 2012

The Punjab Cabinet today gave a go ahead to the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertisement policy -2012 which would be applicable to all advertisements within the limits of Municipalities across the state.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal at CMO, this morning. 

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the policy was primarily designed to ensure that outdoor advertisement was not hazardous to traffic. The spaces meant for outdoor advertisement would be auctioned in a transparent manner to stop illegal practices in the trade. The Cabinet also approved to bring an Ordinance for amending the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 to ensure the implementation of the new Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertisement Policy, 2012 and Municipal Outdoor Advertisement bye-laws- 2012.  
In a bid to ensure effective functioning and streamlining of the state administration, the Cabinet also gave nod for creating 68 posts in the Directorate of Governance Reforms (DGR). The DGR was instrumental in improving the office procedures and systems besides carrying out administrative reforms and e-governance in all departments of the state government.
Responding to the proposal moved by the Chief Minister off the agenda, the Cabinet approved to contribute an amount of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 7.50 lakh from the discretionary funds of the Ministers and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries every year for the construction of ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial coming up at Kartarpur near Jalandhar to showcase the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle.   
The Cabinet also gave nod to form a Cabinet Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal to device a comprehensive policy for maintenance of Sewerage, Water Supply, Storm Water and Roads in the urban areas. The committee would comprise Finance Minister, Local Government Minister, Rural Development Minister and Health Minister as members. 
The Cabinet also approved the freight charges of nearly Rs 35.50 crore to be borne out by the state government on account of transportation of nearly 16 lac Million Ton paddy to the districts having surplus milling capacity from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar, as the procurement agencies were not in a position to incur this expenditure.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend section 100 of Punjab Land Revenue Act 1987 by inserting a provision, “The state Government may fix a scale of fees to be charged from any land owner seeking demarcation of his estate.”
The Cabinet also gave green signal to the proposal mooted by the Irrigation department to enhance the rates of canal water for drinking purposes from Rs 12 per 6000 cubic foot and Rs 32 per 2500 cubic foot for its bulk supply to Rs 18 and Rs 48 respectively, with a provision of 2 % hike in these rates annually. 
The Cabinet also approved the proposals put forth by the Food and Civil Supplies department for the smooth and prompt procurement of paddy during the Kharif Marketing season 2012-13 relating to gunny bags/baardana, labour and transportation arrangements, cash credit limit, lifting of stock during procurement, Paddy policy and custom milling policy 2012-13 besides grievances redressal mechanism for farmers.
The Cabinet also approved amending the Punjab (Institutions and Other Buildings) Tax Act, 2011 to exclude Charitable hospitals from the ambit of the Act.
The Cabinet gave approval for the signing of MoU between the state Rural Development &Panchayat Department and IL&FS Cluster Development Initiative Limited for the “Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA 2.0)” as a central sector scheme to be implemented through Public Private Partnership in the state to ensure urban public utilities in the rural sector.  
The Cabinet also gave approval for transferring the land/building of Faridkot Co-operative Sugar Mill to the state government to enable its sale along with the plant machinery and other miscellaneous assets by PUDA under the OUVGL scheme after developing it.   
   
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CABINET MOURNS THE DEATH OF JUSTICE SUKHDEV SINGH KANG AND SCRIBE AMRITA CHAUDHARY

APPROVES RS 5 LAKH AS EX-GRATIA GRANT TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF Ms. CHAUDHARY

Chandigarh, October 23

At the very outset of its meeting, the Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today mourned the sad demise of former Governor of Kerala and ex Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Sukhdev Singh Kang who recently passed away after a prolonged illness.  

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet recalled the outstanding services rendered by him towards the Nation as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and later on as Governor of Kerala. The Cabinet observed Justice Sukhdev Singh Kang as an illustrious personality and a fine human being besides a renowned legal luminary, jurist and above all an able administrator with the rare qualities of head and heart.
The Cabinet also expressed profound grief and condolences over the sad and untimely demise of Ludhiana based Principal Correspondent of the Indian Express Ms. Amrita Chaudhary who passed away in a fatal road accident on Monday.
Recalling the outstanding journalistic services rendered by Ms. Chaudary during her professional career spanning over 15 years, the Cabinet described her as a fearless and upright journalist who discharged her duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment to pursue the ultimate goal of freedom of press in true spirit. The Cabinet observed that in the death of Ms. Chaudhary a void has been created in the journalistic fraternity which was hard to be filled.
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family of Ms. Chaudhary, the Cabinet approved an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased besides incurring the entire expenditure on her treatment by the state government.
   On the occasion a two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect in the memory of the departed souls thereby praying to Almighty to grant eternal peace to them and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this huge loss.

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BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON DUSSEHRA AND DURGA PUJA
Chandigarh, October 23-
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the countrymen especially the Punjabis living in country and abroad onthe auspicious festival of Dussehra and Durga Puja.
In a message, Mr. Badal said that these two festivals surpass communal barriers and provide an opportunity to the people to reinforce their bonds of brotherhood, amity and goodwill.  Our nation has an age old tradition of celebrating Dusshera and Durga Puja that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and shows us the way of ideal and virtuous living to carve out a healthy and harmonious society.
The Chief Minister appealed the people to celebrate this joyous occasion in collectively with religious fervor and gaiety rising above of the parochial considerations of caste, creed and colour.

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ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO VICE CHAIRMAN OF PLANNING BOARD

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 23:
The Punjab Government has assigned additional charge to Mr. Rajinder Gupta, Vice Chairman, Punjab State Planning Board. As per the official notification, Mr. Gupta would also advise Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab on matters related to Governance Reforms, Employment, Skill Development, Technical Education, Industrial Investment and Infrastructure Departments, or any other responsibility as assigned by Deputy Chief Minister in addition to his present duties.

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‘UNFURL UNITED NATIONS’ FLAG WITH NATIONAL FLAG ON OCTOBER 24’
 
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 23:
The Punjab Government has issued instructions to unfurl United Nations’ flag along with National flag on government buildings on United Nations Day on October 24.
            Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of state government said that Commissioners of the Divisions and Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to ensure the compliance. It has been asked to unfurl the United Nations. flag on October 24 along with National flag on all the government buildings, where traditionally National flag unfurls in routine. As per the written instructions, it has been prohibited to unfurl United Nations’ flag upon Raj Bhawan/Raj Niwas and Vidhan Prishad, Raj Sabha and the buildings of upper courts. There is no restriction on unfurling United Nations’ flag on buildings of districts headquarters.

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PUNJAB INVITES PROPOSAL FROM DEPARTMENTS TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR OFFICES IN CHANDIGARH

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 23:
The Punjab Government has asked all its departments to send requisition for office accommodation so that land could be acquired in Chandigarh.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the General Administration Department has issued written instructions to all the Financial Commissioners and Principal & Administrative Secretaries to send the requisition of offices accommodation, keeping in mind next 50 year on prescribed Performa. The desired information should reach the office of General Administration within one week specifying total area of the offices in square feet.

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MORE FESTIVALS LIKE SARAS MELA ON THE ANVIL TO PROLIFERATE PUNJABI TRADITION AND CULTURE: RAKHRA
Chandigarh, October 23:
            The Punjab government has decided to folk festivals in line with SARAS Mela to promote Punjabi culture and tradition besides uplifting the economic standards of handicraft artisans and folk artists. Disclosing this here today Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra said that the success of SARAS mela implied that these festivals stile have relevance in the modern society.
            Mr. Rakhra said that this is first time in the history that More than 1.75 lakh people participated in the SARAS mela besides financial transaction of Rs. 1.75 core in the field of trade. He said that the Punjab Government has generated all its resources to make this tradition a success. He said that this fair would go a long way to promote tourism in the state. Minister said that 250 stalls were installed in the fair and 400 artists from 20 states participated and enthralled the audience. He said that Rs.70 lakh were incurred to conduct the fair, out of which Rs.20 lakh has been given by Union Rural Development and Panchayat Ministry. Mr. Rakhra said that Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department generated Rs.50 lakh from its own resources for the fair.
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PUNJAB PROMOTES 25 DSPs AS SPs
 Chandigarh, October 23: The Punjab government has placed 25 Deputy Superintendents of Police as officiating Superintendents of Police with immediate effect.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the state government said that Balbir Singh, TP/53, Hargobind Singh, 17/CID, Kuldeep Kumar, 325/PR, Harpreet Singh, 767/PAP, Gurmit Singh, 731/PAP, Narinder Singh, 709/PAP, Kuljit Singh, 772/PAP, Kehar Singh, 2198/LDH, Harvinder Singh, 132/J, Naresh Kumar, 1502/RPR, Dilbagh Singh, 8/J, Jagjit Singh, 3143/LDH, Sheilendra Singh, 493/J, Gurinderjit Singh, 164/PR, Som Nath, 1136/BTI, Naginder Singh, 50/FR, Mukhwinder Singh, 494/J, Parminder Singh, 3520/TT, Anil Kumar, 1/J, Onkar Singh, 5/FR, Satnam Singh, 351/PAP, Tarsem Lal, 357/PAP, 188/BR, Gurnam Singh, 1029/PAP, Sharanjit Singh, TP/123 and Darshan Singh, 1/PR (all DSPs) have been promoted as SPs.

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CM NOT TO MEET MPS, MLAS, THE SENIOR PARTY LEADERS besides general public on October 24
Chandigarh, October 23-
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal would be unable to meet MPs, MLAs and the senior party leaders at CMO in Punjab Civil Secretariat and general public at his residence on Wednesday October 24, due to public holiday on account of Dussehra.  
            Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that due to gazetted holiday Mr Badal would not attend his office on October 24 to meet the MPs, MLAs and the senior party leaders from 11am to 1pm as per schedule. Likewise on the same day, the Chief Minister would also be unavailable to the general public from 4 to 6 pm at his residence. Inconvenience caused to MPs, MLAs besides general public was highly regretted, the spokesperson added.
 No.CMO -12/344

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PUNJABI SAPTAH FROM Ist NOVEMBER-MALUKA
CHANDIGARH, 23 OCTOBER
Punjab Government has decided to organize Punjabi Saptah from Ist November, with an aim to promote the Punjabi language.
Punjab Education Minister Mr Sikandhar Singh Maluka today said that the inaugural function for this week would take place at the office of Language department, Patiala and a book fair would also be organized during the whole week.
He said that the Punjab Government was fully committed to restore the glory of Punjabi Language and it was only the SAD-BJP government led by S. Parkash Singh Badal, who made the use of Punjabi Language mandatory in offices, Schools with a Law passed in previous tenure. He also calls upon the whole Punjabi lovers to take part in Punjabi week.      
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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB
MAJITHIA GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF DUSSEHRA
CHANDIGARH, October 23
Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister  Mr Bikram Singh Majithia today greeted the people of Punjab on the eve of Dussehra.
In a greeting message, Mr Majithia said that the sacred occasion of  Dussehra provide an opportunity to the people to reinforce their bonds of brotherhood, amity and goodwill.  
He appealed to the people to celebrate this occasion collectively with religious fervor and gaiety rising above of the parochial considerations of caste, creed and colour , displaying in  the spirit of true “punjabiat”’ peace and the oneness of mankind.
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5123211 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 23:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 5123211  tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.

 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 5123211  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 4678097 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 445114 tonnes of paddy. Till October 22, PUNGRAIN procured 1259234  tonnes (26.9%), MARKFED procured 1066707  tonnes (22.8%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 1083502 tonnes (23.2%) PSWC procured 497022 tonnes (10.6%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  505371 tonnes (10.8%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 266261 tonnes (5.7%). 

          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 589315 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran with 455739  tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 434640  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
 

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SUKHBIR AND MAJITHIA CONDOLE THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF JOURNALIST AMRITA CHAUDHARY
 CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 22: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed deep shock at the untimely and tragic demise of  Ludhiana based Indian Express Special Correspondent Ms Amrita Chaudhary, who succumbed to her injuries after a accident near Kohara.
           In a condolence message Mr. Badal said that Amrita would be remembered for fearless and incisive journalism primarily raising the issues of deprived and oppressed people in the society.
           In a condolence message, Information and Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said that Amrita’s news stories focused on development in the remote rural areas and she would be remembered for extensive field reporting.
           Both leaders expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.  
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INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB

PUNJAB ANNOUNCES ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FROM 23 TO 30 OCTOBER

CHANDIGARH, October 22:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Rabbi Season through Canal water from 23-10-2012 to 30-10-2012. The channels and branches off-taking from Ropar Head Works, the channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda 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 BML, in Group ‘A’, being in the first preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor of Group ‘B’ respectively.
The spokesman further said that Punjab channels and Branches off-taking from Harike and Ferozpur Head Works, all the direct Distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in Group ‘A’ being in the first preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors, in Group ‘B’.
          The spokesman also said that the in the Upper Bari Doab Canal system, Sabhroan Branch with its distributaries, being in the 1st preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Kasur Branch Lower, Main Branch Lower and Lahore Branch with their distributaries, respectively.
No. PR/12/894
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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB

ENTRANCE TEST FOR 150 JEs IN IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 18

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 22:
The Punjab Government has decided to conduct entrance test for the direct recruitment of 150 Junior Engineers in Irrigation Department on November 18, 2012.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the irrigation department said that in pursuance of Punjab Government’s directions, the Irrigation Department has uploaded the names of eligible candidates on the C-DAC website. He said that eligible candidates must download their Admit Cards from the website. He said that candidates must bring these Admits cards with them for the entrance test. The spokesperson further said that the entrance test would be based on syllabus of Punjab State of Technical and Industrial Training, being taught in the Diploma Colleges of the state. He said that as no separate instructions are being issued by the department, so the candidates, before coming to the examination centre, must carefully read the instructions uploaded on the C-DAC’s website http://recruitment.cdacmohali.in/.
It is worth mentioning that the irrigation department had sought applications to fill the 150 posts of JEs, out of which 120 JEs would be recruited from civil, 25 from mechanical and 5 JEs from electrical trade.
NO.PR/12/895

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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB

PUNJAB TO CONDUCT 6TH ECONOMIC CENSUS FROM DECEMBER 2012: DHINDSA

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 22:
The Punjab Government has decided to conduct 6th Economic Census-2012 in the state from December, 2012 to January, 2013. State Level Steering Committee has been constituted and other arrangements for the census have also been completed. It has been disclosed by Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister, Punjab.
He said that the Economic Census is being conducted all over the country and in Punjab; Planning Department would spearhead this exercise in the state. Mr. Dhindsa said that the monitoring of census would be done by State Level Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Punjab. He further said that Economic Advisor, Punjab, who is also holding the charge of Additional Commissioner Census, has been deputed as Nodal Officer for the census.
Finance Minister said that for the smooth conduction of Economic Census, District Level Monitoring Committees have also been constituted. Deputy Commissioners concerned would be the chairman of these committees, who would also work in the capacity of Ex-Officio District Economic Census Commissioners. Similarly, Deputy Economic & Statistical Advisors of District Statistical Offices have been deputed as Nodal Officers, who would also be Assistant Economic Census Commissioners.
Mr. Dhindsa said that just like General Census, in this Economic Census, teachers and other staff of various departments would also be deputed as Enumerator, Supervisor and Charge Officer. He said that preliminary arrangements have been completed for the census.
NO.PR/12/896

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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB

BABBEHALI TAKES STOCK OF RABBI SOWING ARRANGEMENTS

Chandigarh October 22:  Chief Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Mr. Gurbachan Singh Babbehali has assured the farmers that there would be no shortage of fertilizers and other inputs during the sowing of ensuing Rabi crop in the state.
Disclosing this here today while taking stock of the progress of the ongoing schemes of Agriculture department and sowing arrangements for Rabi crop, Mr. Babbehali said that the state government under the progressive guidelines of S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab was committed towards the welfare of the farming community and adequate steps have been taken to provide best inputs to them for better yield. The state government was also in constant touch with the government of India on timely allocation of adequate supply of inputs for their crops. The state government has also chalked out a strategy to penalize the fertilizer dealers and companies by suggesting a few amendments in the existing law so that they supply quality products to the farmers. He has also directed the officers to organize awareness camps at the district and block level so that the farmers all over the state could get the correct knowledge of the schemes and programmes especially launched by for the farmers by the government.
          Referring to the sowing of nutritive wheat without wheat rust wheat in the semi hilly areas, Mr. Babbehali said that the best quality subsidized seeds would be made available to the farmers and the ongoing research work to get better seeds would be strengthened and streamlined in order to get high yielding produce. He expressed satisfaction over the latest techniques in paddy cultivation in the state. The process of filling of the vacant posts in the department was already in progress and the appointment orders to the selected candidate would be given once the formalities were over.
          Dr. Mangal Singh Sandhu, Director Agriculture apprised the CPS of the problems being faced by the department and steps taken by the department while implementing the crop diversification in the state. The director also explained at length the arrangements made by the department for the sowing of rabbi crop.
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Information and Public Relations Department Punjab

FANCY VEHICLE NUMBER TO BE AUCTIONED ON NOVEMBER 2

Chandigarh, October 22:  
 According to a spokesman of the Transport Department Punjab, the fancy vehicle number PB-65-S series would be auctioned on November 2, 2012 in the office of District Transport Officer Mohali.
The spokesman further said that open auction would be held under the Punjab vehicle rules and the reserved price for the PB-65-S -0001 has been fixed at Rs. 50,000 where as the price for some one digit number of PB-65-S-series has been fixed at Rs. 10,000. Adding further, he said that similarly the reserved price for some two digit number of PB-65-S series has been fixed at Rs. 3000 where as the price for some three and four digit numbers of PB-65-S series have been fixed at Rs. One thousand.
He also said that interested persons could submit the application with bank draft in the name of DTO Mohali by the October 31, 2012.
No. PR 2012/889

INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB

4652084 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 22:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 4652084  tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 4652084  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 4219256 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 432828 tonnes of paddy. Till October 21, PUNGRAIN procured 1119319  tonnes (26.5%), MARKFED procured 960956  tonnes (22.8%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 981396 tonnes (23.3%) PSWC procured 449516 tonnes (10.7%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  458957 tonnes (10.9%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 249112 tonnes (5.9%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 560148 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran with 448616  tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 410446  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
 PR-12/ 893
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FANCY VEHICLE NUMBER TO BE AUCTIONED ON NOVEMBER 2

Chandigarh, October 22,

 According to a spokesman of the Transport Department Punjab, the fancy vehicle number PB-65-S series would be auctioned on November 2, 2012 in the office of District Transport Officer Mohali.

The spokesman further said that open auction would be held under the Punjab vehicle rules and the reserved price for the PB-65-S -0001 has been fixed at Rs. 50,000 where as the price for some one digit number of PB-65-S-series has been fixed at Rs. 10,000. Adding further, he said that similarly the reserved price for some two digit number of PB-65-S series has been fixed at Rs. 3000 where as the price for some three and four digit numbers of PB-65-S series have been fixed at Rs. One thousand.

He also said that interested persons could submit the application with bank draft in the name of DTO Mohali by the October 31, 2012.

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DESIST FROM PLAYING WITH FIRE BY AMENDING THE DELHI SIKH GURUDWARA ACT: BADAL TO CONGRESS LEADERS

CM ASSAILS CONGRESS FOR MEDDLING IN THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF SIKHS

BADAL TO MEET PM AND HOME MINISTER OVER THE ISSUE

ADVISES RAHUL TO INTROSPECT: WHY CONGRESS WAS INVOLVED IN RAMPANT CORRUPTION

REITERATES COMMITMENT OF SAD TO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE FDI

RS 6000 CRORE TO BE SPENT IN NEXT THREE YEARS TO PROVIDE BASIC INFRA STRUCTURE IN ALL THE 145 TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE.

Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran), October 20

            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Congress leadership to refrain from playing with fire by amending the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act, 1971 which could disturb the hard earned peace of the state.

            Talking to the media person after inaugurating the Punjab Institute of Technology here today, the Chief Minister said the move of amending the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act, 1971 by Congress Government at Delhi was a testimony to the fact that the Congress was meddling in the religious affairs of the Sikhs thereby inciting their religious passions, which could never be tolerated. He said that in the past also due to such misdeeds of the Congress, the state had felt the brunt of terrorism due to which the peace, brotherhood, harmony and progress of the state were adversely affected. However Mr Badal said that the Congress leaders had hardly learnt any lesson from the past due to which they were hurting the sentiments of the Sikhs by fanning such proposals.
The Chief Minister categorically said that the sole aim of Congress leadership behind such tantrums was to give benefits to their ‘B’ team, led by DGMC Chief Paramjeet Singh Sarna and company, who were working at Congress leadership’s behest to weaken the Panth. Mr Badal said that he would soon meet the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde for seeking their immediate intervention in the matter so that the issue could be tackled well before it snowballs into a major political issue. He said that it was the duty of all the Punjabis to preserve the hard earned peace and communal harmony of the state by curbing the nefarious designs of anti-Punjab forces which were bent upon to derail its process of development.
            Assailing the successive Congress governments for lopsided development in the state¸ the Chief Minister pointed said that due to the apathy of the Congress leadership the border and Kandi areas of the state have lagged behind in the process of development. However he said that from the day one of assuming power in year 2007 the SAD-BJP government had focused on developing these areas so that people residing in them could reap the benefits of the development. Mr Badal said that realizing well that the education was the vital thing for developing these backward regions the Punjab Government had already laid special emphasis to impart quality education to the students in these far flung areas adding that for the first time in the history of state, the SAD-BJP government has constituted a separate cadre of teachers for both these regions so that the meritious students of these areas could contribute in the spreading quality education.
                        Likewise the Chief Minister said that he has recently passed directions to the Education Minister and Education Secretary to ensure that all the newly recruited teachers in the education department are asked to serve for atleast three years in these areas so as to give impetus of education in them. In the same manner he said that major thrust was also been laid for providing the basic civic amenities to the people of these areas for which a blueprint has been prepared by the state government to spend Rs 6000 crore in next three years to provide basic infra structure including drinking water, sewerage, roads and streetlights in all the 145 towns across the state.
            Listing the top priorities of the state government, the Chief Minister said that their government has paid special attention towards the development of the Health and education sectors adding that as a result of their concerted efforts the state today leads the country in the field of education and has been adjudged excellent by the agencies of the Government of India (GoI) in the infra structural facilities of Health care sector. Likewise Mr Badal said that the state government has also laid special emphasis on the revamping the infrastructure involving an investment of approximately Rs.25000 crore. He said that the work on strengthening and widening of the key roads of the state were already been carried out by the state on war footing.
          Reiterating the commitment of the state to ensure the welfare of the poor and downtrodden sections of the society, the Chief Minister said that in order to give the benefits of the welfare schemes like that of Shagun and other pensionary benefits to the beneficiaries in a time bound manner they have already passed on the necessary directions to the concerned departments. He also said that the government has already launched a project for the disbursement of pensions through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) scheme under which cash benefits would be disbursed to the beneficiaries directly in their bank accounts, so as to facilitate them and check the fraudulent practice.
            Later on addressing the gathering at a congregation in the memory of Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa at village Bhura Kona, the Chief Minister said that rather then introspecting the reasons of his party’s defeat in Punjab, the National General Secretary of the Congress Rahul Gandhi should peep into his conscience to search the reasons that why his party was neck deep in corruption at the national level. He said Rahul must remember that the sole reason of Congress party’s debacle in every poll was that the countrymen were fed up due to the anti-poor policies and rampant corruption of the UPA government. Mr Badal reiterated that these frequent visits of Rahul Gandhi to the state would hardly make any impact on the political scenario of Punjab adding that the SAD-BJP alliance would win all the 13 Parliamentary seats in forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
            Making a scathing attack on the UPA government, the Chief Minister said that the decision of the union government to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector would ruin the small traders of the country. Terming that this decision of the Union government was not in the interest of the common man, Mr Badal said that the SAD was duty bound to oppose this anti-people decision of the UPA government, tooth and nail.  
            Paying tribute to Sant Kartar Singh, the Chief Minister said that he was a legendary spiritual leader who actively disseminated the teachings and philosophy of Sikhism at grass root level. Describing Sant Kartar Singh as a true democrat, Mr Badal said that he had always raised his voice against the injustice and tyranny which could be aptly judged from the fact that he had vehemently opposed the imposition of Emergency by the then Congress government. However he said it was unfortunate that even today the country was lacking the genuine Federal structure as the Centre was bent upon usurping the rights of the states. 
            Earlier the Chief Minister also laid down the foundation stones of a Power sub station at village Kalsian and a charitable hospital to be constructed at cost of Rs 2 crore at village Pahuwind. 
            The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha, Member Parliament Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Vice chancellor of Punjab Technical University Dr Rajneesh Sharma besides SGPC members, senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP alliance.
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Capt Amarinder, Arvind Khanna mourn Express reporter Amrita Chaudhary’s tragic death

CHANDIGARH, October 22: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today mourned the sad and untimely death of Amrita Chaudhary, the Ludhiana based Principal Correspondent of the Indian Express, who passed away Monday evening after having met with an accident previous night.
In a condolence message Capt Amarinder said, this was quite tragic and unfortunate that Amrita lost her life at such a young age. He said, her loss will always be felt by everyone who knew her and particularly among the journalistic circles.
The PCC President said, he had known her personally for last so many years during his visits to Ludhiana. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
In a separate statement, Punjab Congress general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna also expressed grief over the sad demise of Amrita Chaudhary. He said, Amrita was one of the few extraordinary journalists in Punjab who would report fearlessly and will always be missed by her friends and colleagues.

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EMBEZZLEMENT OF FUNDS:

VIGILANCE BUREAU ARRESTS RANIKE'S PA SARBDYAL SINGH & HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW

Chandigarh October 20-In a major breakthrough State Vigilance Bureau today arrested Sarbdyal Singh, PA to Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike former Cabinet Minister Punjab from Nainital in Uttrakhand alongwith another accused Harjit Singh, brother-in-law of Sarbdyal, in the embezzlement of funds pertaining to Border Area Development Programme (BADP) grants and other state grants relating to discretionary quota of State Ministers.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sursh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that the Bureau was making persistent efforts to arrest the main accused by conducting continuous raids at different locations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand. Accordingly, a VB team under the supervision of SSP Vigilance Amritsar Range Mr. Opinderjit Singh Ghuman and headed by Mr. Manjit Singh, DSP Vigilance Tarntaran raided different locations in these two states from where accused Harjit Singh, brother-in-law of Sarbdyal, was arrested on the night of 19.10.12 from village Dhawni, Police Station Bilaspur, District Ramgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Subsequently main accused Sarbdyal Singh was also arrested today in the morning from Nainital in Uttrakhand.
He added that both the accused would be brought to Amritsar and to be produced in the designated court tomorrow for seeking police remand for their further custodial interrogation in the embezzlement of grants. Mr Arora further said that two criminal cases were registered against Sarbdyal Singh who embezzled funds pertaining to Border Area Development Programme (BADP) grants and different grants relating to discretionary quota of State Ministers in connivance with certain bank employees and local sarpanches/panches by opening fake bank accounts in different banks in Amritsar district.
He added that during the investigation of both the cases, 23 accused have been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau Range Amritsar whereas main accused Sarbdyal Singh and his brother in law Harjit Singh were absconding and evading arrest.
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VIGILANCE NABS BANK OFFICER IN BRIBERY CASE

Chandigarh October 20:
State Vigilance Bureau during its ongoing drive against rampant corruption nabbed an officer of Primary Agriculture Development Bank (PADB) red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000 in a corruption case.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sursh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP 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 Bureau caught Amrik Singh, posted as an Accountant-cum-Field Officer, PADB branch Lehragaga district Sangrur, demanding and accepting bribe from the complainant of Bhawishan Singh of village Dhindsa, block Moonak, district Sangrur.

He added that the complainant approached to the Bureau and accused that Field Officer Amrik Singh was demanding a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from him for getting his loan case of Rs. 2 lac processed & issuance of cheque to him for construction of parking shed. After finding the veracity of facts a vigilance team led by Mr K.D Shamra DSP laid a trap and the accused was nabbed red handed in the presence of a shadow witness and two government officials as witnesses. The tainted money was recovered from him. In this regard a vigilance case under FIR No. 20, u/s 7, 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 at Vigilance Bureau Police Station Patiala and further investigation was under progress.
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SUKHBIR LASHES AT CENTER FOR IGNORING THE LEGITIMATE CLAIM OF PUNJAB FOR Rs. 5112 CRORE DROUGHT RELIEF

·        CENTER SHOULD TREAT EVERY STATE EQUALLY

• QUESTIONS PUNJAB CONGRESS SILENCE ON GRAVE INJUSTICE TO PUNJABI FARMERS

 CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 19: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today lashed at Congress led UPA Government for ignoring the legitimate drought relief claim of Rs. 5112 Crore despite the fact that Punjab suffered 46 % deficient rains, maximum in the country.

            Addressing the media persons, Mr. Badal said that Punjab granary of the country had been contributing more than 50% grains in the national kitty and was solely responsible for making country self-sufficient on food security front. “By ignoring Punjabi farmers, Center was trying to eat the hand that was feeding him,” he commented. Mr. Badal said that it was surprising that the claim of Punjab has been ignored despite the public pronouncement by Empowered Committee set up by Union Government under Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar as chairman and Mr. Jai Ram Ramesh as its member to give direct relief to Punjab due to unprecedented rain deficiency in the state. He said that they also gave assurance in the press conference that Union Government would release the relief package, the moment the state government submits its detail memorandum giving details of loss. He said that despite submitting detailed memorandum seeking drought relief package of Rs. 5112 crore, the criminal silence of Center on this vital issue reaffirms the public perception of UPA’s discriminatory attitude towards Punjab.

            The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Punjab government submitted a detailed memorandum seeking relief of Rs.5112.9 crore that included Rs.2531 crore for additional power, Rs.850.80 crore to compensate farmers for incurring cost on diesel, Rs.893 crore for rescheduling of agriculture credit, Rs.300 crore for ground water irrigation, Rs.300 crore for restoration of capacity and installation of alternative tubewells, Rs.211.60 crore for fodder and Rs.26 crore for drinking water.

            Mr. Badal said that despite 46% deficient rains, the Punjabi farmers nurtured the paddy crop like their own baby, irrigating the fields by diesel pumps, mortgaging their ancestral jewellery to buy the diesel but Center was turning blind eye towards them by refusing to compensate them for extra cost incurred by them.

            Questioning the silence of Punjab Congress Unit on this vital issue concerning 70% population living in the rural areas, Mr. Badal said that Captain Amarinder Singh would not raise any issue that would hurt high command. He said that Captain has become so blind in the self-interest to protect his captaincy that he was mortgaging the interests of Punjabi farmers for the sake of his own chair.

            Mr. Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal MPs would raise this issue in the winter session of Parliament and he along with Chief Minister would call on Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister to seek early release of drought relief package for Punjab.

            Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Public Relations Minister, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Tourism Minister, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister and Mr. S.S. Saini, DGP Punjab.

ISRAELI ENVOY FIRMS UP TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR
DIVERSIFICATION IN PUNJAB
 
TWO CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR CITRUS AND VEGETABLES TO BE MADE OPERATIONAL BY MARCH 2013

 CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 19:
            The Punjab Government is all set to make two Centers of Excellence for Vegetables and Citrus operational under Indo-Israel work plan collaboration, by March 2013.
This was announced by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the Ambassador of Israel Mr. Alon Ushpiz who along with his team of experts, which called on him here at Punjab Bhawan last evening.   Mr. Badal said that the state government had accelerated the pace of work for the setting up of Rs. 9.73 crore Center of Excellence for Vegetables at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district and Rs. 10.39 crore Center of Excellence for Citrus at Khanaura in Hoshiarpur district. 
Mr. Badal apprised the visiting envoy that Punjab’s economy was mostly an agrarian and even having less than 2% of the entire land of the country Punjab was a major contributor of food grains to the national kitty with its 42% share of rice and 50% that of wheat, but now state had prepared a comprehensive plan for diversification to reduce the area under paddy cultivation from 28 lac hectare to 16 lac hectare and needed technical support and expertise from the advanced agrarian economy of the country like Israel for effective diversification. He also mentioned that areas like dairy farming, fishery besides maize, fruits & vegetables cultivation were some of the major sectors where Israeli agri-experts could provide vital know-how and technical support to our farmers.
Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Ushpiz said that Israel and India were sharing cordial ties and has special affinity as for as the agrarian economy of both countries were concerned.  He highly appreciated the Punjabis farmers who were known for their success stories in the world and assured the Chief Minister that the Israeli progressive farmers and experts would extend all possible technical support in agricultural field with firm commitment and zeal.  He said that Israeli farm experts and environmentalists could also suggest some private players for water management sector which was also a key issue as the visiting team observed that plenty of water was being wasted in Punjab whereas in Israel they were making optimum utilization of water by using every drop of it even after recycling the sewage water especially for irrigation purposes.
The Israeli envoy further said that Punjabis were excellent farmers and they could facilitate them in achieving further advancement in agriculture through these Centers of Excellence with their technical expertise in terms of provision of some of new varieties of different fruits and vegetables coupled with mechanical and technical skills.
During this meeting some of the progressive farmers also shared their views with the visiting envoy and put-fourth their issues related to non-availability of high yielding new variety seeds, plant dieses and post harvest problems.           
On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured the Mr. Ushpiz and his team members by presenting Plaques as a token of love and affection on behalf of the Punjabis.
Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included, Cabinet Minister Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Chairman Punjab Farmer's Commission Dr. GS Kalkat, Financial Commissioner Forests Mr. DS Bains, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. GS Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. Jagpal Singh Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Vice Chancellor PAU Dr. BS Dhillon, MD Milkfed Dr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu and Director Horticulture Dr. Lajwinder Singh Brar.
…
Fourth convocation of AIL
 BADAL ASSURES AIL OF ALL SUPPORT TO GRANT STATUS OF  
AS DEEMED UNIVERSITY

·        EXHORTS STUDENTS TO ENSURE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE ESPECIALLY TO POOR AND UNDER PRIVILEGED

·        PROMISE TO TAKE UP ISSUE WITH PUNJABI UNIVERSITY FOR STARTING LL.M COURSE

SAS NAGAR (MOHALI) OCTOBER 19:
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today assured the management of Army Institute of Law (AIL) to extend all possible support and cooperation to make the country’s prestigious law institute as deemed university at the earliest. 
Addressing the fourth convocation of Army Institute of Law here, Mr. Badal said that with the proposal mooted by the management of AIL to grant status of deemed university to this institution would go a long way in establishing AIL as one of the best institution in the field of legal education.  He congratulated the students especially who got their degrees on the successful completion of Law and wished them a bright future.  He exhorted them to play a pro-active role as upholders of law and justice in society and reminded them of their prime and foremost duty to “bring justice to the downtrodden, the under-privileged and the poor sections of the society.   He asked them to be ready to face challenges and shoulder new responsibilities as you have entered in the new phase of their life.  Mr. Badal said he was confident that all these years of training have equipped them well to not only achieve their goals but also face the challenges head-on.   It was a matter of great pride and honour that the student s of this institute have joined judicial services in Punjab, as also in Army, Banks, Corporate houses and law firms in metros like Delhi and Mumbai, added Mr. Badal.   
       The Chief Minister said that that his association with this institution has been right since its inception and he felt that Army institute of Law was a value addition to the legal education of Punjab and commands an excellent standing in the field of law education.  He called upon the students to perform their respective roles and duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment. 
       Conceding to the request of the management of AIL for starting LL.M classes from the next academic session, the Chief Minister asked them to send a detailed proposal to him so that he could take up this matter with the Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala with this institute was affiliated for seeking their approval in this regard.   The management urged the Chief Minister that  AIL was keen to begin LL.M on the same pattern and procedure being now followed in case of LL.B course.
       Later, a few students handling institute’s online magazine interviewed Chief Minister to elicit his view point on the scope and prospects of legal profession in the current scenario. 
       Earlier, the Principal of the Institute, Dr. Tejinder Kaur welcomed the dignitaries and applauded the achievements of students in various fields.  As many as 100 students were awarded degrees. 
       The Chief Minister award for being overall topper in Business Law Group was won by Minna (May 2012), Shbhra (May 2011) & Shubhneet (May 2012) in legal practice group it was bagged by Manik Mittal (May 2012), Harmandeep (May 2011) & Sahil Puri (May 2012) batch.  Chief of Army Staff Trophy was bagged by Abhilasha for 2005-10 batch, Meghna for 2001-11 batch and shuhneet for 2007-12 batch.  A cash award was given to Himanshu and Megha of AIL respectively for standing first and second in Punjab Judicial Services Examination.  
       Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Chief of Staff HQ Western Command and patron of AIL Lt. Gen. AS Chabbewal, Chairman Maj. Gen. SK Manchanda and Dean Colleges Development Council Punjabi University Patiala Dr. JA Khan. 
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I
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE COURT CASES THROUGH LOK ADALATS
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 19:

            The Punjab government has become leading State of the Country by adopting a policy of amicable settlement of court cases through Lok Adalats. Written instructions in this regard have been sent to all the departments, whereby they have been instructed to prepare the details of all such cases which are pending in the courts. They have been instructed to approach the registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard.

            Disclosing this here an official spokesman of the department of co-ordination said that the Punjab government has already framed a litigation policy. He said that the aim of this policy is to transform government into efficient and responsible litigant and also to reduce government litigation in the courts. He said that to reduce the pending cases of different departments in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, details of such cases would be prepared by the departments. He said that where conciliation is possible the registrar Punjab and Haryana High court would be approached and cases would be solved amicably through Lok Adalats. He said that Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court has assured full cooperation to resolve these matters through Lok Adalats.

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PARKING OF GOVERNMENT MONEY IN DIFFERENT BANK ACCOUNTS-DEPARTMENTS TOLD TO GIVE DETAILS

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 19:
The Punjab Government has taken strong exception to the different department parking the government money in bank accounts of different banks and asked all departments to immediately give details of bank accounts maintained by each department to the Finance Department at the earliest. In this regard the finance department has  issued directions to all the departments to submit complete information of their bank accounts on prescribed Performa within 15 days.
While disclosing this here, an official spokesperson of Finance Department said that it has brought to the notice of government that many departments have opened their accounts with different banks on their name. He said that in written directions to all the Departmental Heads, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, Finance Department have ordered to submit complete account detail up till September 30, 2012 of their departments within 15 days.

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3439307 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 19:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 3439307 tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770 procurement centers and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 3439307 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 3052522 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 386785 tonnes of paddy. Till October 18, PUNGRAIN procured 799636 tonnes (26.2%), MARKFED procured 677872 tonnes (22.2%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 712400 tonnes (23.3%) PSWC procured 327548  tonnes (10.7%) whereas PAFC was able to procure  328469 tonnes (10.8%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 206597  tonnes (6.8%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 454266 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran with 413637 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 334152 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
 
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Maluka exhorted NRIs to invest in
SCHOOLS OF the State

Chandigarh, October 19:

        The Education Minister Punjab Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka has exhorted the NRIs to invest money for the up-gradation of infrastructure of the schools in the rural areas of the Punjab. Making an appeal to this NRI Fraternity. He said that NRI's must recognized their duties towards their homeland. He said that repair of school building, up gradation of furniture and white wash of the school buildings are core areas where the NRI's could random their services. He said that the name of those NRIs would be inscribed on the boards outside the schools, who have the donated money more than Three lacs who a particular school.
        Mr. Maluka said that he has personally made these appeals to the NRI's during his recent visit in Canada. He said that many of the NRIs have assured their full cooperation in respect of cash and kind for the up up-gradation of school network of the state.

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WORK ON ‘MINAR-E-BEGUMPURA’ MEMORIAL COMMENCED: THANDAL

• CM CONSTITUTED 7 MEMBERS CONCEPT COMMITTEE TO MONITOR CONSTRUCTION WORK
• MEMORIAL TO BE BUILT OVER AN AREA OF 1520 ACRE IN DISTRICT HOSHIARPUR

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 18:
In order to spread the teachings of great saint Guru Ravidas Ji, the Punjab Government has initiated the work for the constructions of ‘Minar-e-Begumpura’. The monuments would be constructed over an area of 1520 acre in village Khuralgarh of district Hoshiarpur. The Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has constituted Guru Ravidas Memorial Foundation and concept committee consisting of 16 and 7 members respectively to expedite the construction of the memorial in a stipulated time period.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation said that the state government has already released Rs.12 crore for the construction of 18 feet road leading to the monuments site. He said that the Chief Minister has strictly instructed to conceptualize the layout of the monument, depicting the teachings of Guru Ravidas Ji. He said that in the 7 member concept committee apart from political personalities, eminent scholars and saints have been inducted. He said that the government has already demarked 1520 acre land for this purpose. Mr. Thandal said that the 7 members committee, comprising Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Tourism and Jail Minister, Punjab, Mr. Som Parkah, CPS, Saint Nirmal Das Joure Wale, Saint Surinder Das Kuthar Wale, Mr. Jasbir Singh Sabar, Scholar, Mr. Dharmpal Singhal and he himself, is making contact with scholars and saints all over the world having allegiance with teachings of Guru Ravidas in order to inculcate the philosophy of Guru Ravidas Ji.

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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ORDERS TO SPEED UP THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 18
The Punjab Government today issued orders to speed up the appointment process in various departments on compassionate ground.
A spokesman of the Punjab Government today said that it has been found that some department has been delaying the appointments on compassionate ground. He said that now Punjab Government has sought a report in 15 days from all departments and orders has been issued to all the all heads of departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners in this regard.

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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB

ADOPT PROACTIVE APPROACH AND GIVE REGULAR FEED BACK TO GOVT----MAJITHIA DIRECTS OFFICERS
 Chandigarh October 18:  
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Information and Public Relations Minister Punjab today asked PR Officers adopt proactive approach and focus on providing factual feedback of problems being faced by people and communicate them the policies and programmes of government in simple and logical language.
 Presiding over the meeting of District Officers and Media Heads of Public Relations Department of the department, Mr. Majithia pointed out that it was imperative for each PR professional to work like an intelligence wing of the government and report the effectiveness of programmes and policies launched by the government for the welfare of people. They must give a periodic feedback to the government regarding these policies and discrepancies, if any, in their implementation so that benefit of these policies percolate to the desired people, he added.
                He said that SAD-BJP government had implemented a series of programmes for the welfare of downtrodden, backward and scheduled castes, farmers, artisans and other section of the society. The purpose is that benefit of these polices should reach the each targeted section of the population. Mr. Majithia asked the officers to communicate the policies of the government to the people in a more forceful manner. Describing PR Officials as integral part of the government being its eyes and ears, Mr. Majithia said that it was imperative for all of us to assist the media by providing them required information on programmes and policies of the state government timely. Mr. Majithia also asked the officers in general and DPROS’ in particular to be considerate towards both electronic and print media in their respective districts so that more congenial atmosphere could be evolved in highlighting the achievements of the government. The Minister said that he was fully committed to the welfare of officials of the department and announced that where the hard working officers would be suitably rewarded there would be zero tolerance for any laxity on the part of any officer.
    The minister assured the officers that the financial constraints would not be allowed to hamper the functioning of the department at any cost. He said that the all the required infrastructure would be provided to the newly constituted districts of Fazilka and Pathankot.
                        He pointed out that the progress of the department would be reviewed regularly and genuine difficulties and hardships faced by the officers in the day to day functioning would be sorted out in these review meetings.               
   Addressing the meeting, the Media Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. H.S. Bains, asked the PR Officers to release special stories on various development projects. Mr. D.S.Mangat, Director Public Relations department urged the officers to perform their duties with utmost devotion, dedication and responsibility. He called them to tide over any sort of impediment in the way of their day to day functioning by upgrading their knowledge and professional skills.
 The officers assured the Minister that they would strive hard in realizing his aspirations to act as a bridge between government and masses.

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BADAL SEEKS INTERVENTION OF PM AND UNION HM FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF MERGER OF PUNJAB CIVIL POSTS INTO DANICS

·        URGES GoI TO WITHDRAW THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE IT SNOWBALLS INTO A MAJOR CONTROVERSY  

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 18:
          Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought personal intervention of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Minister for Home Affairs Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde urging them to issue instructions to the concerned authorities for immediate withdrawal of the proposed merger of the posts currently held by the officers of Punjab Civil Services as well as Haryana Civil Services into the cadre of UT Chandigarh with Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS), before it was allowed to snowball into a major controversy to vitiate the atmosphere in this region.
In two separate letters to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, Mr. Badal apprised both of them about the recent step undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs directing the UT Administration of Chandigarh to complete the procedural formalities for the above mentioned merger and send the draft Notification regarding the same to it, on the lines of already approved merger of DSP cadre of UT Chandigarh with Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS). The implementation of this would mean that the civil posts currently held by the officers of Punjab Civil Services as well as Haryana Civil Services would then be manned by the officers of DANICS cadre only.  He impressed upon the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to this proposal before it is allowed to snowball into a major controversy to vitiate the atmosphere in this region
          Terming this issue of extreme public sensitivity in Punjab, the Chief Minister asked Dr. Singh and Mr. Shinde to resolve it on the top priority as the casual manner in which the issue continues to be treated by the concerned policy makers in Government of India was highly deplorable.
The Chief Minister said “Government of India’s acknowledgement of Punjab’s right over this new move would strike at the roots of Punjab's inalienable right over its Capital City. All this will not only lead to widespread resentment among the officers and officials of the Punjab cadre but will also have the potential of blowing up into a major political controversy.  That, as you know, Sir, is something that is best avoided at this stage, considering how hard earned is the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in Punjab and the rest of the region”.
Mr. Badal informed them the issue related to the maintenance of the 60:40 ratioof representation of officers and officials of the states of Punjab and Haryana in the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh for them. This too was a strictly stop-gap arrangement in view of the unanimous nation-wide acknowledgement of Punjab's right over Chandigarh as its capital. This right has been repeatedly endorsed by all the highest forums in the country, including the Parliament.   
The Chief Minister also envisaged their attention to instructions, guidelines and administrative advice from the Government of India to the UT Administration regarding the maintenance of the 60: 40 ratio.   He recalled even the former Union Minister for Home Affairs Mr. P. Chidambaram through his communication in June, 2012  had assured him (Badal) that "the MHA is particularly concerned about the sensitivity of States of Punjab and Haryana  with regard to Chandigarh and, therefore, no steps “that generate any misgivings” over the issue will  be taken.  Mr. Chidambaram had also graciously informed him in the same letter that the Union Home Secretary had spoken to the Administrator, Chandigarh in this regard, asking him to ensure that the60:40 arrangement between Punjab and Haryana is respected and that not only the postings but even the allocation of departments between the officers from Punjab and Haryana continued as per  the above ratio. The Union Home Secretary had asked the UT Administrator that there should be no shuffling of Departments in violation of this settled principle.   
Mr. Badal bemoaned despite such categorical assurances given from time to time by persons holding highly responsible positions in the Government of India, there has been no let up in the unfortunate efforts to create confusion over the subject in order to dilute the claim and the legitimate right of Punjab on the Union Territory of Chandigarh. There has even been a move to empower the UT administration to undertake its own recruitment process rather than adopting officials and officers form the states of Punjab and Haryana, mentioned Mr. Badal.
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4th Global Sports Summit ‘Turf 2012’
SUKHBIR UNDERLINES THE NEED TO ACCORD TOP PRIORITY TO SPORTS
·        DEMANDS ENHANCEMENT OF UNION SPORTS BUDGET FROM PRESENT RS.700 CRORE TO RS.10,000 CRORE
·        UNVEILS THE SPORTS INITIATIVES OF PUNJAB GOVERNMENT
·        URGES BUSINESS HOUSES TO COME FORWARD TO ADOPT SPORTS
·        INAUGURATES 4TH GLOBAL SPORTS SUMMIT ‘TURF 2012’ AND EXHIBITION AT FICCI AUDITORIUM

New Delhi, October 18: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today underlined the need to accord top priority to sports to take the nation’s Olympic medal tally from 6 to 60.
After inaugurating the 4th Global Sports Summit ‘Turf 2012’ organized by FICCI here at FICCI Auditorium, Mr. Badal said that time has come to do something different and taking more committed initiatives to take the country on the path of glory in sports in international arena. He said that we , the nation of 1.2 billion peoples,  just have Rs.700 crore Union Sports Budget as compared to our expenditure of thousands of crores on organizing international sports events like Common Wealth Games, and it was not projecting our seriousness towards promotion of sports, creation of sports infrastructure besides developing sports culture in our country. He demanded minimum Rs.10,000 crore sports budget besides provision of special treatment to budding sports persons both at education and then employment level. Describing investment in sports infrastructure as the investment in building future, he said that it could save our youngsters from falling prey to drugs or other anti-social activities besides encouraging them to adopt healthy life style.
Mr. Badal said that we need to identify our weaknesses and areas of concern in sports promotion and then to chalk out a comprehensive plan to catch the sports talent from the very beginning then nurturing it by providing world class sports infrastructure with special stress on highly scientific and quality training. He said that our country was not lacking in availability of sports talent but the shortcomings were on our part that we were not able to convert those rare sports talents to world champions.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed that Punjab government has implemented a comprehensive sports policy and increased its sports department’s non-plan budget to three folds besides creating a dedicated sports fund of Rs.35 crore per annum. He said that the state government was giving final touches to its plan to set up a state centre of excellence in sports in 200 acres of land at Mullanpur near Chandigarh with provision of state-of-the-art facilities and world class training to produce sports stars of future. He said that the Punjab government has invested more than Rs.200 crore for setting up of 6 hockey stadiums with latest Astroturf, 7 multi-purpose stadiums and 1 international sports hostel. Besides this a sports school has been established at village Ghudda (Bathinda) at the cost of Rs.50 crore and land was being identified for such school at Amritsar or Tarn Taran. He said that with in next 3 years all districts of the state would have such sports schools. He said that the laying of more Astroturf in the state was to bring back the lost glory of Indian hockey as Punjab has a long tradition of producing world class hockey players. He said that with setting up of these new turfs out of the total 23 Astroturf in the country Punjab have a major share of 8 turfs. He said that the experiment of state government of promotion of Punjab style Kabbadi has proved to be a grand success as for the 3rd edition of World Kabbadi Cup being organized from December 1-15, 2012, the 16 teams which includes 2 African countries, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Argentina and Sri Lanka, all non-Kabbadi playing countries have already confirmed their participation.
He said that Punjab government has implemented the 3% reservation for outstanding sportspersons and created 10 Group ‘A’ posts for international medalists. He proudly announced that world renowned sports persons like Manavjeet Singh Sandhu, Avneet Sidhu, Ronjan Sodhi, Rajpal Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Manjeet Kaur and Palwinder Cheema were now officers of Punjab government.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the top business houses of the country to adopt one each game to make their significant contribution for the promotion of sports in the country. He said that by spending a little portion of their profits they can do a great service to the nation besides discharging their corporate social responsibility.
Outlining his agenda of sports promotion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that from creation of world class infrastructure to highly scientific training and then assured employment of sportspersons, the Punjab government would leave no stone unturned to regain its past glory by bringing the state on the national forefront in sports.
Later on, Mr. Badal presided over a meeting of Industrialists and explained them about the available investment opportunities in sports in the state and assured every possible help to them.
Earlier Mr. R.V. Kanoria, President FICCI welcomed Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. Mr. Aloke Malik, Chairman FICCI Sports Committee and MD ESPN Star Sports (India), explained the theme of the summit while Justice Mukul Mudgal (Retd.) Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court and Mr. Onkar Kedia, Joint Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports, GOI also expressed their views. Mr. Sanjeev Paul, Co-Chairman FICCI Sports committee and Vice President Corporate services Tata Steel conducted the stage.
Mr. Badal was accompanied by former Indian Hockey Captain Mr. Pargat Singh, MLA, Ms. Kalpana Mittal Barua, Principal Resident Commissioner, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister and Mr. Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Director Sports, Punjab.

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SUKHBIR INSTRUCTS TO CHECK ILLEGAL MINING WITH HEAVY HAND

• DCs INSTRUCTED TO ENSURE SUPPLY OF MINING MATERIAL AT APPROVED RATES OF MINING POLICY

• SSPs AND MINING DEPARTMENT TO LAUNCH COORDINATED CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING

• SSPs TO SUBMIT MONTHLY REPORT ON PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATION IN ILLEGAL MINING CASES

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 18:
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today issued strict instructions to all District Police Chiefs and Deputy Commissioners in the state to work in total tandem with the industry department and mining department to check the illegal mining in the state.

            In the instructions issued to all SSPs of the districts through Director General of Police and to the Deputy Commissioners through Chief Secretary Mr. Badal said that it would be their responsibility to launch a coordinated campaign against illegal mining of minerals in the state and launch prosecution against offenders as per law. Mr. Badal said that he would personally monitor the performance of each Deputy Commissioner and District Police Chief on this front. Instructions have also been issued to all DCs and SSPs to submit detailed monthly report to Deputy Chief Minister’s Office giving details of number of cases of illegal mining detected in that month, progress of investigation or submission of challan in the court in such cases besides progress in the court cases of illegal mining.

            The Deputy Chief Minister also asked Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh to issue instructions to all Deputy Commissioners to check such cases and keep a watch on availability of mining products to the general public. He said that it would be the responsibility of every Deputy Commissioner to ensure that there was no artificial shortage of mining products. He said that it would be also responsibility of DCs to ensure that public was supplied mining products as per the rates approved in the mining policy.

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3 PUNJAB IAS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED 
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 18:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod to the transfers and postings of three IAS officers with immediate effect.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Special Secretary Grievances & Pension Mr. SS Gurjar would now hold the charge of Director State Transport, relieving Mr. Mandip Singh, IAS of this additional charge. Additional Secretary Local Govt. Mr. Adapa Karthik has been posted as Additional Excise & Taxation Commissioner, Patiala against a vacant post. 
Meanwhile, Mr. RK Ganta, Secretary Higher Education & Languages and in addition Commissioner NRI’s Affairs has now been given the additional charge of Secretary Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commissioner reliving Mr. Pirthi Chand, IAS of this additional charge. 
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DISTRICT FEROZPUR LEADS IN PADDY PROCUREMENT IN PUNJAB

3072469 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, october 18:
Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. District Ferozpur with 417673 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran  with 397765 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 306551  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
        Government agencies and private millers procured more than3072469 tonnes of Paddy till last evening.
        The spokesman added that Out of total procurement of 3072469tonnes of Paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 2701042  tonnes of Paddy till date whereas private traders procured 371427 tonnes of Paddy. Till October 18, PUNGRAIN had procured 700224 tonnes (25.9%) whereas MARKFED procured 601296 tonnes (22.3%). PUNSUP procured 632376 tonnes (23.4%), PSWC procured 288071  tonnes (10.7%) whereas PAFC was able to procure 286980 tonnes (10.6 %) of Paddy. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 192075 tonnes (7.1%).
The State Government has set up more than 1770 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of Paddy, the spokesman added.
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VIGILANCE NABS JE AND KANUGO ACCEPTING BRIBES

Chandigarh, October 18: State Vigilance Bureau, during its ongoing campaign against rampant corruption, today nabbed Junior engineer Powercom and Revenue Kanugo red handed accepting bribes in two different cases.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Suresh Arora, DGP-cum-Chief Director Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Mr.Prem Nath, J.E. PSPCL, Kot Isse Khan, Distt. Moga was nabbed red handed from his office by a Vigilance team led by Mr. Bikramjit Singh, DSP/ V.B., Moga while he was accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000/- from complainant Mr. Sukhpal Singh of village Talwandi Nohbahar, Distt. Moga for installation of a new domestic electric supply connection at his residence. The complaint informed the bureau that the accused JE has been demanding money from him. After confirming the allegation, the VB team laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed from his office and tainted money was recovered from him in the presence of two official witnesses. He further added that FIR no.4, dated 18.10.2012, u/s 7, 13 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) at Police Station /VB Ferozepur have been registered against him and further investigation was under process.
The VB chief further said that that Jarnail Singh, Kanugo, Revenue Circle, Tehsil Jalandhar was nabbed red handed by a Vigilance team led by Mr. Baldev Singh, DSP/ V.B., Hoshiarpur while he was accepting bribe of Rs. 15,000/- from complainant Mr. Baljit Singh of Aslam Ganj, Ludhiana for the de-markation and Intqal of his plot at Santoshi Nagar, Jalandhar. The complaint informed the bureau that the accused Kanugo has been demanding money from him for the above porpose. After confirming the allegation, the VB team laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed and the bribe money was recovered from the front pocket of his shirt in the presence of two official witnesses. He further added that FIR no.5, dated 18.10.2012, u/s 7, 13 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) at Police Station /VB Jalandhar have been registered against him and further investigation was under process.

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PUNJAB TO UNVEIL FOOD/AGRO PROCESSING POLICY SOON-SUKHBIR

• FOCUS TO SHIFT FROM PADDY TO CASH CROPS
• MAJOR INITIATIVES BY PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSIFICATION IN OFFING
• PAU TOLD TO USHER IN DIVERSIFICATION REVOLUTION IN PUNJAB

LUDHIANA, OCTOBER 17: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Punjab would soon unveil its Food and Agro Processing Policy to give a big push to value addition of perishable crops and to encourage farmers to go for cash crops coming out of vicious Wheat-Paddy cycle.

          Inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of PAU Here today, Mr. Badal said that this University was catalytic in realising the dream of self-sufficiency on Food Security Front and was now required to become instrumental to give a big push to diversification of crops. Mr. Badal said that it was matter of great concern that while ensuring the food security of the country, the Punjabi farmers has drained out nutrients from the fertile soil of Punjab with ground water level depleting to dangerous point of black holes. He said that the enterprising farmers in mad race to surpass last year's production target have depleted the Punjab's natural strength that has not been recognised by the Union Government. He said that despite our intensive efforts, the farmers of Punjab were not getting remunerative prices for their agriculture produce and with every successive crop, the farmer was pushing himself deeper in the debt trap.

          Giving a call to come out of vicious Wheat-Paddy cycle Mr. Badal said that time has come that farmers should focus on profitability alone. Mr. Badal said that the opening of Wagha Border offers an opportunity to give a big push to vegetable cultivation as Pakistan has expressed desire to import total vegetable produced by Punjab farmers. Mr. Badal said that he was going to Pakistan next month to work out the modalities for export of vegetables, fruits and other perishable goods directly through road route and it was now imperative for PAU to work out a sustainable model for Vegetable cultivation.

          Giving broad outlines of Food and Agro Processing Policy, Mr. Badal said that he has constituted a sub-committee on this subject in which industrial giants specialising in this area would submit a report in November and by December he would hold the road shows in different parts of the country and US, UK and Canada to invite multi-national companies to set-up their units in Punjab.

          The Deputy Chief Minister said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has already sought Rs. 5000 crore central assistance to make Agriculture Diversification Policy, a great success.

          Calling upon PAU's Scientists to become harbinger of Agriculture Growth, Mr. Badal said that the time has come that PAU should regain its pre-eminent position in Agriculture Research and develop new strains of high production, heat resistant and pest resistant seeds to make Punjab farmers most progressive in the world. Mr. Badal said that we have a direct competition with international seed companies and PAU has to prove its excellence in this field.   
         
          Assuring the PAU for all types of cooperation, Mr. Badal also asked Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor of PAU to come with a detailed proposal for bringing PAU to the next height.

          Earlier on being asked about delay in paddy lifting, Mr. Badal said that there was no delay in lifting of Paddy and its procurement. He said that the directions have been issued to all the Deputy Commissioners to personally monitor the paddy procurement and lifting process. He said that for any lapses in the procurement process Deputy Commissioners would be held responsible.

          Releasing Postal Cover of PAU, Mr. Badal also honoured Dr. Arvind Kumar Kumar, Deputy Director General (Education) Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Dr. G.S. Kalkat, Chairman Punjab Farmers Commission, Dr. A.S. Khehra, Dr K.S. Aulakh, both former VC of PAU, Dr. C. D. Mayee, former Chairman Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board, Dr. R.B. Singh, President National Academy of Agricultural Scientists, Dr. S.L. Mehta, Former Deputy Director General (Education) of ICAR and Former Vice Chancellor Maharana Pratap Agriculture University, Udaypur and Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU for their distinguished services in the field of agriculture.

          Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated Technical and Product Sale Centre in PAU campus.

          Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Advisor to CM, Mr. Pawan Kumar Tinu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Mr. Simarjit Singh Bains, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bains (all MLAs) and Mayor Mr. Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria.

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Capt Amarinder lashes out at Chautala’s baseless allegations against Rahul Gandhi

CHANDIGARH, October 17:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at and ridiculed the allegations leveled against the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi by the former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. He remarked, “Chautala has stooped too low to level baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against Mr Gandhi apparently at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the eve of his (Mr Gandhi’s) visit to Jallandhar”.
Dismissing Chautala’s allegations against Mr Gandhi, Capt Amarinder said, the former Haryana Chief Minister, who is himself an epitome of corruption and whose corruption is legendry, has no moral authority to accuse Mr Gandhi for what he has not done. “It is a classic case of pot calling the kettle black”, he remarked, while referring to the corruption scandals Chautala is himself involved in.
Holding the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal equally responsible in the plot to defame Mr Gandhi on the eve of his visit to Jallandhar, Capt Amarinder observed that they (Mr Badal and Mr Chautala) are the birds of the same feather better known for corruption and amassing wealth than anything else.
The PCC president asked, had Chautala the moral courage he should not have gone to hold a press conference at as far off a place as Jallandhar where not many people know about his actual credentials. Had he held this press conference at Chandigarh or Delhi, Chautala would have found it difficult to defend himself rather than accusing someone else.
“What was the point in holding the press conference in Jallandhar when the issue related to Haryana?” he asked, while remarking just because Chautala did not want to face embarrassing counter questions he ran away to Jallandhar instead of addressing the press conference at some place in Haryana Chandigarh or Delhi.
Capt Amarinder reminded that it is the same Mr Chautala who was caught red handed smuggling watches from abroad at the Delhi airport way back in seventies while his father Devi Lal was the Chief Minister of Haryana. He said, it is the same Chautala who is himself mired neck deep in corruption scandals running into hundreds of crores. “He should better look at himself than pointing a finger at others’, he advised Chautala.

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Rahul Gandhi visiting Punjab again on Oct 19

CHANDIGARH, October 17: Congress general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi will once again be visiting Punjab on October 19. This time he will be visiting Jallandhar where he is scheduled to meet all the councilors of various Nagar Councils, corporators of various municipal corporations and the members of the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis.

Disclosing this here today, a Punjab Congress spokesperson said, Rahul during his previous visit had promised to visit Punjab again to elicit the views of all sections of the party for improving it in Punjab. The purpose of meeting all the elected councilors and others is to have a feel of the grassroots situation in Punjab as these representatives have a feel of the ground situation for their day to day interface with the common man.

The councilors and others from across Punjab have been asked to reach Jallandhar on October 19. The passes are being issued by the Punjab Congress.

In his first leg he went to Amritsar and Chandigarh. The councilors and others had not been able to meet him during his first visit.

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PARENT TEACHER MEETING IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS EVOKE FAVOURABLE RESPONSE

CHANDIGARH, October 17:
The major initiative taken by Education Department to involve, the members of the Civil Society whose wards study in Government Schools, by organizing Parent Teacher Meetings has evoked tremendous response.
Director General School Education Punjab, Mr.. K. S. Pannu had launched the programme of holding of the Parent Teacher Meeting in all the 19426 Govt. Schools in the State from Primary to Higher Secondary School classes, teaching 28 lacs students. More than 70% wards of the students attended the meeting held for the first time in an organized manner from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Simultaneously, meeting of all the 19426 School Management Committee were also held on the same day where the committees deliberated about the measure to improve the school functioning.
In addition meetings of the newly constituted 12 member School Management Committees were also held in all Govt. Schools in the state, where members deliberated about the measures to improve the functioning of the schools.
It is mentioned here that the student studying in Govt. Schools belong mostly to the weaker section of the society and therefore, most of daily wager parents do not get time to see the scholastic performance of their wards
Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu stated that exercise was an attempt to involve the Civil Society in the functioning of the govt. schools which shall result in more responsive and accountable behavior from the Govt. teachers. The overwhelming response by the young mothers of the about 13000 Govt. Primary Schools students was a notable feature of the exercise. These young ladies were found anxiously enquiring about the performance of their little one’s in the schools. This showed that the mothers belonging to weaker section of the society are becoming conscious about the learning standard of their wards in the Schools.
The Govt. machinery from DGSE to all Deputy Commissioners, Addl. Deputy Commissioners, SDM’s and all officers of the Education Department from DPI to block officers were deputed to monitor the progress of the Parent Teacher Meetings.
A very good response by the parents was really encouraging said Mr. Pardeep Yadav, Deputy Commissioner who himself visited two school to overseas the progress of Parent Teacher Meeting.
Mr. Pannu added that such meetings shall be conducted on regular basis after every six monthly evaluation of the students.

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PUNJAB TO CONSTRUCT 14045 DWELLING UNITS FOR THE SLUM DWELLERS TILL MARCH 2013: CHUNNI LAL BHAGAT

·       HOUSING FOR URBAN POOR IN MAJOR CITIES” MISSION TO COST RS 564.22 CRORE
      
 CHANDIGARH, October 17:
Punjab Government has chalked out a plan to construct new 14045 houses for slum dwellers with the cost of Rs 564.66 crore with an aim to provide the permanent shelter to persons living under below poverty line, besides improving the look of cities across the state.
Disclosing this here today Local Bodies Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat today said that the Housing for Urban poor in Major cities” mission would be completed till March 2013. Besides that Punjab Government has also decided to start the repair work of already built 3680 houses.  
He said that maximum 5728 houses would be constructed at Ludhiana with the cost of 149.22 crore, from which nearly 1500 houses are on the verge of completion, followed by  Amritsar where 1648 houses would be constructed with the cost of Rs 66.35 crore. He further said that in the district of Bathinda and Mansa Punjab Government has sanctioned Rs. 253 crore to build up the 5328 houses. Besides constructing new houses, Punjab Government has also started the repair work of already constructed 3640 houses at Jalandhar with the cost of Rs 42.40 crore.
The Minister also said that the undergoing construction of 720 houses at Rajpura with Rs 30 crore would be completed till the end of this year. Besides that 542  houses at Jalalabad and 79 houses at Batala would also be establish.

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BADAL ASKS GOI TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS FOR IMPROVING TRADE AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WITH CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES

TERMS THIS INITIATIVE AS SCRIPTING A NEW CHAPTER OF BILATERAL TRADE AND REGIONAL CO-OPERATION

SEEKS RELAXATION IN VISA NORMS TO STRENGTHEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC BONDS

ANSARI ENVISIONS CENTRAL ASIA AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE WORLD

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 17:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today impressed upon the Union Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with their counterparts in Central Asian Countries for relaxation in visa norms to promote trade and commercial activity amongst these nations in a big way to script a new chapter of bi-lateral trade and regional cooperation. 
Addressing a galaxy of eminent scholars, academicians, intellectuals and political thinkers during the 3-day National Seminar on ‘India and Central Asia: Perspectives on Bilateral and Regional Co-operation’ organized by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) in collaboration with Centre of Central Asian Studies (CCAS) University of Kashmir here today at CRRID, the Chief Minister underscored the need to promote trade amongst India and Central Asian Countries on the top priority as it would immensely benefit Punjab being a border state in heralding a new era of economic co-operation and partnership in the region besides giving a fillip to the all-round development of the state.  
Pleading for relaxation of Visa norms between India and these countries, the Chief Minister said that it was basic factor for promotion of bilateral trade because stringent rules, regulations and procedures further complicate matters both for tourism and trade between the countries. Likewise he also stressed on the need for interaction between the governments of these countries and the Indian government for improving the security scenario for prospective investors adding that the issue of legal security for investments and for guarantees for long term ownership rights, especially in lands also needs to be addressed. Mr. Badal also said that at present, there was a plethora problems regarding permission of trade with private entrepreneurs from these countries, which also needs to be resolved at the earliest.
The Chief Minister further said that Punjab being a land locked state had left with only option of opening land route with these countries to propel the economic and commercial growth, which was the need of the hour. Recalling the age old socio, economic and cultural ties of Punjabis with people from the Central Asian Countries, Mr. Badal bemoaned that due to the re-drawing of the geographical boundaries, these ties had been adversely impacted. Elated over the considerable improvement in the socio-economic ties especially the recent surge in the trade due to path breaking initiated by the national governments of India and Pakistan in terms of setting up of ICP at Attari-Wagah border, he said that the countrymen in general and Punjabis in particular were satisfied as the bilateral relations between both the countries had been enormously strengthened with a growing sense of mutual friendship, goodwill, amity, trust and peace amongst the people.
Emphasizing the thrust on the promotion of trade and commerce between India and Central Asia, the Chief Minister said that it would be bilaterally beneficial as these countries have bigger farms with few farmers, on the contrary we have smaller land holdings with more farmers well equipped with vast experience coupled with technical knowhow and expertise in the farm practices which could be aptly replicated in enhancing the crop productivity on vast and fertile but uncultivated lands of Central Asia. He said that it would open new avenues for Punjab farmers, who were already distressed due to their squeezing profits owing to immense pressure on state’s natural resources due to scarcity and fragmentation of land holdings. “This automatically creates a situation in which Punjabi farmers can use their talents on the lands in these countries for mutual benefit” added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister further said that Punjab on account of its huge locational advantage would be a major beneficiary with an uprising in the economic activity between India and Central Asia due to expansion in agricultural infrastructure such as cold chains, warehousing etc. near the border would result in the much required impetus to the development of the state. He further said that with the opening of this trade route Punjab would emerge as a hub for religious, cultural and medical tourism for people from these Central Asian countries adding that Amritsar would also regain its importance as a prime International Commercial Centre.
Lauding the keen interest shown by Vice President of India Mr. Mohammad Ansari by participating in this seminar, the Chief Minister hoped that it would go a long way in strengthening economic, social, commercial and cultural bonds amongst India and Central Asian nations. He also urged the delegates and participants to come forward with their learned and valuable suggestions on the steps which the Government of Punjab could take to help in facilitating greater flow of trade, commerce and cultural ties between India and Central Asia.
In his inaugural address the Vice President of India Mr M. Hamid Ansari has said that different aspects of modern Central Asia were being studied in different research institutions in the country and the need of the hour is to enhance coordination and cooperation amongst them to avoid overlapping, ensure better utilization of available resources and, eventually, more meaningful inputs for our foreign policy objectives. He said that greater attention also needs to be devoted to language skills and the study of social impulses in individual societies. Diligent field work is essential for both and must be undertaken.
The Vice President said that foreign policy formulation rarely begins with a clean slate. Its building blocks, instead, consist of ground realities. He opined that over the past two decades and despite being land locked, Central Asia emerged as one of the fastest growing regions in the world, and has displayed considerable development potential. It is resource rich in terms of oil, gas, gold, cotton, rare-earths, has relatively advanced infrastructure and human capital, and enjoys the benefit of a strategic location between Asia and Europe. Many of the Central Asian Republics have embarked on market-oriented economic reforms to boost private sector competitiveness and economic performance.  As a result, leading and aspiring powers are active in the region in quest of natural resources, energy pipelines and transit routes leading to wide ranging geopolitical considerations pertaining to security, prevention of drug and arms smuggling, and countering terrorism and fundamentalism. He complemented CRRID for undertaking this initiative of seeking perspectives on the potential for cooperation between Central and South Asia for peace, security and development.
In his address Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, highlighted India’s role in International diplomatic relations and said that  a connectivity at the government and public level is being established to improve relations with other countries. He further said that whereas Indian films and cultural exchange programmes have become a big vehicle for maintaining cordial relations with the people living abroad, especially in Central Asia, regular high level interactions with the world leaders are being made for the progress, prosperity and peace in the region. 
Prominent among others, who spoke on the occasion  include Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Mr TKA Nair, former Foreign Secretary of India Mr Salman Haider, Director  Centre for Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, Srinagar Prof. G.M. Mir, Executive Vice-Chairman , CRRID Mr. Rashpal Malhotra, and Director General, CRRID, Chandigarh Prof. Sucha Singh Gill.

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CM APPROVES REMOVAL OF CHAIRMEN AND VICE CHAIRMEN OF PEDA AND PUNJAB GENCO
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 17:
            The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod to remove the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and Punjab GENCO Limited with immediate effect.
            Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Mr. Badal cleared the file in this regard on Tuesday thereby paving way for the appointment of new Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to both these organizations.   
…

INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB

4 PPS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER  17:
The Punjab Government today issued postings and transfer orders of 5 PPS officers.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Lakhvir Singh, PPS, has been transferred and posted as SP (H) Ferozepur, Mr. Rachpal Singh, PPS, has been transferred and posted as CID Amritsar, Mr. Bahadur Singh, PPS, has been transferred and posted as SP (H) Moga and Mr. Sukhminder Singh Mann, PPS, has been transferred and posted as Commandant 5th IRB.

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BADAL INAUGURATES METRO CASH & CARRY WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT ZIRAKPUR

• ANOTHER CENTER TO BE LAUNCHED AT AMRITSAR BY THIS NOVEMBER END

ZIRAKPUR (MOHALI) OCTOBER 17:
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today inaugurated the third wholesale distribution center of the Germen based METRO Cash & Carry here at a simple but impressive ceremony this morning. 
Interacting with the senior Management of the METRO Group, Mr. Badal hoped the center would offer several direct and indirect job opportunities to the local youth besides giving an impetus to the trade and commercial activity in the region. 
            On the occasion, the Chief Minister also handed over the employment certificates to the 10 local youth.
            Earlier, the Chief Minister along with Managing Director METRO Cash & Carry India Mr. Rajeev Bakshi lighted a lamp to mark the formal launch of wholesale distribution center at Zirakpur and 12th in the country. 
            Meanwhile, Mr. Bakshi apprised the Chief Minister that the company would launch another wholesale distribution center at Amritsar by the end of November this year.  He also complimented the Chief Minister for full some support and cooperation extended to the team of METRO Cash & Carry by the Punjab government in setting up of this venture within a record time.  Mr. Bakshi also assured the Chief Minister that the METRO group would also look into the possibilities to ensure effective marketing mechanism for kinnow in the country besides its export potential in the international market. 
It may be recalled that wholesale distribution center at Zirakpur was spread over 4 acres with approximately 50,000 sq feet of selling space and has been constructed with an investment of approximately Rs. 120 crore. It has created almost 150 direct and 150 indirect jobs in the local area. The company already runs a farmer collection centre at Malerkotla for direct procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables.   With these four wholesale outlets the company has invested over Rs 450 crore in the state. It has also created approx 1200 local jobs opportunities in the state (600 direct and 600 indirect) of Punjab.
The company entered the Indian market in 2003. The company currently operates a total of eleven wholesale  distribution centres including two wholesale distribution  centres each  in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad and one each in  Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.  METRO Cash & Carry was represented in 29 countries with around 700 self-service wholesale centers. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, the company achieved sales of about € 31 billion in 2011. METRO Cash & Carry was a sales division of the METRO Group. 
            Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. NK Sharma, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director Operations India Mr. Alec Booth, Head Corporate Mr. Vishal Sehgal and Incharge Corporate Relations (North) Mr. Naveen Sharma besides the officers of civil and police of district administration Mohali.
…
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ONE HUNDRED NEW BUSES OF PRTC TO BE ON ROAD SOON
 Chandigarh, October 17: In order to further streamline the existing public transport services in Punjab, the state government has directed the officers of the department to ensure hassle free service to the daily commuters.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the government said that with a view to providing quality public transport facilities to the people of the state, about one hundred new buses of Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) would be on road very soon and for this purpose corporation had already invited the tenders for fabrication of these buses bodies’ before October 22.
Spokesman further said that adding 55 seated these one hundred new buses, the total fleet strength of PRTC would be reached at almost 1150 buses. At present PRTC has near 1050 buses in its fleet including 700 ordinary, two Integral coaches, 59 HVAC, 249 kilo meter scheme buses and 11 Integral coaches under kilo meter scheme. 
NO. PR-12/ 872
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PUNJAB FARMERS RICHER BY Rs. 1252 CRORE
FARMERS BEING PAID MONEY WITHIN 48 HOURS
2720352 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER, 17:
The Punjab Farmers are richer by Rs.  1252.81 crore as state procured more then 2720352 tonnes of paddy till last evening.The state government has mobilized the total government machinery to ensure hassle free procurement and make certain payment of produce to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their produce from the mandis.
A Spokesperson of the Punjab Government today said that in the Tarn Taran district  Rs 260.51 Crore Rupees has been deposited in the farmers accounts till 16 october.
District Ferozpur was on second place in payment where Rs.163.73 Crore had been deposited in the farmers accounts while District Kapurthala was third place in payment where Rs.161.27 Crore have been deposited in the farmers accounts.
        He added that government agencies and private millers procured more than 2720352   tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy. Out of total procurement of 2720352   tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 2363591 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 356761 tonnes of paddy. Till October 16, PUNGRAIN procured 612830  tonnes (25.9%), MARKFED procured 530509  tonnes (22.4%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 554172 tonnes (23.4%) PSWC procured 247560  tonnes (10.5%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 246457  tonnes (10.4%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 172063  tonnes (7.3%). 
          The spokesman added that District Ferozpur with 383100 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Tarn Taran  with 369155 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 279724  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
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INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING HIS ANCESTORS BLINDLY
RAHUL SHOULD APOLOGISE FROM PUNJABIS ON OCTOBER 19-MAJITHIA
·         COUNTDOWN OF UPA-II HAS BEGUN
·         SCORES OF TRADITIONAL CONGRESS FAMILIES JOIN SAD
·         MAJITHIA CALLS SAD WORKERS TO GEAR UP FOR 2014 POLLS

PATRAN (PATIALA), OCTOBER 16:

 Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue and Public Relations Minister Punjab today accused General Secretary of Congress Mr. Rahul Gandhi for deliberately tarnishing the image of Punjabi youth worldwide by misquoting a survey and demanded that Rahul should publicly apologize to Punjabi Community and Punjabi Youth on his ensuing visit to Punjab on October 19, instead of following the path of his ancestors Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi who always overlooked this border state and its vigorous Punjabis.
           Talking to media persons after presiding over a massive gathering here on the  mass marriages function of 14 couples, organized by Shutrana MLA Bibi Vaninder Kaur Loomba, Mr. Majithia said that Rahul should desist himself from such political gimmicks by distracting the youth of Punjab.
          He said that no congress leader has ever apologized to Punjabis till date for the genocide of 1984 and demanded that Rahul should apologise publicly for this deliberate act of dubbing Punjabi youth as drug addict by misquoting the survey.
           Answering a query, Mr. Majithia said that ill-informed Rahul has imposed the drug addiction on Punjabi youth by misquoting the survey conducted by Prof. Ravinder Singh Sandhu in on only 600 people out of 2.5 crore Punjabis, which exposes the immaturity level of a person propagated by Congress  as ‘candidate’ for the post of Prime Minister of the country. He said that according to his information the NSUI leader, who provided this survey to Rahul, is an addict himself and Rahul should rather get a survey conducted on youth congress cadre before dubbing all the Punjabi youth as drug addicts.     

          Reacting on advocacy of Rahul’s statement by Punjab Congress leader, Mr. Majithia said that it was unfortunate that the leaders of PPCC were supporting the misquoted facts of Rahul and they should also introspect themselves before toeing his line.   

          On being asked about the induction of Congress Leaders in Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr. Majithia described it as the countdown of Congress Party has begun and unearthing of daily new scams at National level would prove a last nail in the coffin of UPA-II. He said that the deserted leaders of Congress Party were joining SAD fold due to the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and visionary guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. He said that in 2014 Parliament polls not only in Punjab but also Nationally, the congress party would be completely decimated by the wise electorates of the country.
         
          Mr. Majithia also exhorted the workers of SAD-BJP to gear up to uproot the Congress Party in Punjab in ensuing Parliament Polls. He also extended congratulations to Mrs. Loomba for holding mass marriages for the welfare of needy people and assured that no stone would be left unturned for the development of Shutrana assembly constituency.   

          Meanwhile scores of traditional Congress families joined SAD in the presence of senior Akali leadership and Mr. Majithia honoured them by offering siropas. Mr. Majithia said that all the incoming leaders would be facilitated with due respect in SAD.Earlier MLA Vaninder Kaur Loomba, former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia also addressed the gathering. Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Mr. Deepinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman Zila Parishad Mr. Mahinder Singh Lalwa Mr. Nirmal Singh Haryao  and Mr. Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra.

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CM VISITS GASTRO INFECTED AREA OF BATALA: ANNOUNCES MEGA MEDICAL CAMP FOR CITY IN DECEMBER

EX-GRATIA GRANT WORTH RS 1 LAC ANNOUNCED FOR NEXT OF THE KIN OF EACH OF 21 DECEASED 

BADAL ASSAILS CONGRESS FOR RAISING BOGEY OF TERRORISM WHEN OUT OF POWER

CM LASHES OUT AT UNION GOVERNMENT FOR DISCRIMINATING WITH NON-CONGRESS RULED STATES

Batala, October 16-
            Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that keeping in view the grave situation of gastroenteritis in Batala city, the state government would soon organize a Mega Health camp in the city in the coming December to diagnose the patients with serious ailments in general and that of gastro in particular.
            Talking to the media persons after taking stock of the situation in gastro infected locality of Gandhi camp here today, the Chief Minister categorically said that as a part of the state government’s commitment to deliver world class health facilities to the people this mega camp would be organized in Batala on the lines of ‘Sangat Darshan’ program, which would facilitate the people to avail quality Health care facilities under one roof, that too without spending any money. Expressing profound grief and sorrow over the death of 21 persons due to the gastro in the city, Mr Badal said that it was unfortunate that this disease had made inroads in the area due to the contamination of sludge sewage with the drinking water due to the dilapidated condition of supply pipes.
Announcing an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 lac for next of the kin of each of 21 deceased, Mr Badal said that the state government was duty bound to help these people in this hour of crisis. He further said that the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) was already carrying out relief operations on war-footage in the city adding that free medicines worth Rs 3 lac are being supplied to the area residents for preventing any further mishap. Visibly peeved over the inhuman conditions in which the residents of Gandhi camp locality were residing, the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurdaspur and the political leaders present on the occasion to draft a suitable rehabilitation policy of these people with their express consent.
When asked to comment on the apprehensions of the state Congress leadership over the revival of terrorism in the state, the Chief Minister while ruling out any such possibility said that the SAD-BJP government was committed for promoting peace, brotherhood, communal harmony and amity at very cost. Mr Badal pointed out that the Congress leaders were making a false hue and cry over the issue because of their chronic habit of raising the bogey of terrorism when out of power.  He said that the state government was fully vigil to curb the nefarious designs of anti-Punjab forces, who want to derail the developmental process in the state. 
            Lashing out at the Congress party, the Chief Minister said that the Union Government was discriminating with the states ruled by the non-Congress parties by not issuing the requisite developmental grants to them. He said that it was a paradoxical situation in which the Congress ruled states were getting more money whereas those ruled by the non-Congress government were virtually getting nothing. Mr Badal said that to further aggrieve the situation the Union Ministers of the UPA government were also acting autocratically by diverting the projects and funds of their respective departments towards their native states due to which lopsided development was taking place in the country.
            The Chief Minister further said that Punjab was the worst sufferer of such discriminatory policies of the Union government as the state was hardly getting any grant from the Centre. However he said that if at all the Union government issues any grant to the state then such riders are imposed on it which makes its utilization impossible. Mr Badal said that it was a known fact that the successive Congress led governments at the Centre had always meted out step motherly treatment with the Punjab due to which the economy of the state has suffered a major setback thereby resulting in its retarded development.
Reiterating that the state government was making all out efforts to develop every nook and corner of the state, the Chief Minister said that no discrimination was being done with any part of the state while allocating the funds for development. He said that developmental grants were being given to every assembly constituency so as to provide basic civic amenities to the people besides ensuring the over all development of the area.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Speaker Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, former Cabinet Minister Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan and former MLA Mr Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal.    
   
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PUNAJB PAYS KEEN ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE-SHARANJIT DHILLON
·         FIVE GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNICS AND 26 COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 2013
·         CONSTRUCTION OF MULTI STOREY CAR PARKING IN LUDHIANA AND RESIDENTIAL COLONY ON DUGRI ROAD NEAR COMPLETION

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 16: Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Punjab today said that Punjab Government was paying extraordinary keen attention to the development of world class infrastructure by creating 4/6 lane road networks and constructing state-of-the-art building infrastructure in the state. Under this ambitious program of state government, the construction of 5 Government Polytechnics would be completed by March next year while the construction of multi storey parking at Ludhiana and Residential Complex on Dugri Road was on advanced stage of completion.
          Informing about the status of under construction 26 Community Health Centers, Mr. Dhillon said that these projects would be completed well in-time as the construction was on full pace and the 90% construction has been completed by the Building Construction Wing of the PWD.  He said that these state-of-the-art buildings were on advanced stage of completion with a total cost of Rs. 130 crores at Baleanwali, Bathinda, Chowk Mehta and Verka, Amritsar, Mehal Kalan in Barnala, Khera and Chanarthal Kalan in Fatehgarh Sahib District, Makhu and Wahawala in Ferozepur, Purana Shalla, Naushehra Majja Singh and Dhaliwal in Gurdaspur District, Benewal and Harta Badla in Hoshiarpur district, Hathoor and Koom Kalan in Ludhiana District, Kasal and Chabbal in Tarn Taran, Bariwala in Muktsar Sahib, Doodhan Sadhan in Patiala District, Bharatgarh in Roop Nagar district, Bareta in Mansa district, Bajakhana and Sadiq in Faridkot, Sherpur in Sangrur, Lalru in SAS Nagar, Dirba in Sangrur. He said that within six months the remaining constructions would be completed. 
          Mr. Dhillon said that 5 hi-tech buildings of Government Polytechnic Colleges were on advanced stage of completion at Amritsar, Batala, Hoshiarpur, Khooni Majra and Government work Center at Rajpura, Patiala. He said that 95 % constructions of these projects have been completed whereas the remaining 5% work would be completed in next two months. He said that SAD-BJP Government was also creating a world class grain market at sector 39 in Chandigarh with a combined cost of Rs. 12 crore, which would also be completed by April 2013.

          Divulging details of under construction multi storey car parking in District Administrative Complex at Ludhiana worth Rs. 7.5 crore, Mr. Dhillon said that by the next month this parking lot would be fully prepared while Residential Colony of PWD on Dugri Road with a total cost of Rs. 7.86 crore was also 50% completed. The Minister said that SAD-BJP Government has built 15 Universities Colleges by spending Rs. 180 crore. He said that 11 Tehsil Complexes were under construction with a total cost of Rs. 33 crore, which would be completed by March 2013.  

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Kohar directs officers to fix reflectors on vehicles

Chandigarh, October 16:
                   In continuation to the Punjab Government’s efforts to reduce road accidents in the state, Transport Minister Punjab and Chairman of Punjab State Road Safety Council, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar directed the officers of the department to get reflectors fixed on all those vehicles which had no light in front and rear side.
                   Expressing concern over the rise of fatal road accidents, Mr. Kohar said here today that it was unfortunate that almost 3500 persons lose their lives every year due to road accidents and the government was taking adequate steps to streamline the road safety measures. Priority of the government was to educate the people and generate a mass movement regarding road safety rules in the state so that road accidents could be reduced, said Mr. Kohar.   
                    Stressing an urgent need for reducing the road accidents, Mr. Kohar directed to all district Transport officers and other authorities concerned  to ensure use of reflectors on all the vehicles much before the ensuing foggy winters. He said that vehicle lacking the reflectors like tractor-trolley, bullock-cart, rickshaw; bicycles were mainly responsible for accidents.
                   He also appealed to general public to obey the traffic rules and use reflectors to minimize such accidents.
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JOSHI’s VISIT TO CHINESE INDUSTRIAL FAIR EVOKE POSITIVE RESPONSE
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER, 16:
Mr. Anil Joshi, Industries and Commerce minister, Punjab visited the 112th Canton fair at Guangzhou, China today. The majority of the companies participating in the fair from India represent Punjab. There are 24415 corporate exhibitors showcasing their products in hardware tools, chemicals, electrical gadgets, automobiles, and infrastructure and lighting solutions.
Disclosing this here today the spokesman of the Punjab government said that the visit of the Punjab delegation of industry stalwarts Would help them know more about the latest products and service in the industry and will bring together industry professionals and business experts at one place to discuss numerous trade related issues including business policies, future plans, future market conditions and their respective marketing strategies. More than 2 lac foreign participants are likely to visit this fair. The Chinese experts discussed with Mr. Joshi the prospects of more imports from India and cited that Government policies of both countries are quite different and that Chinese Government is spending a huge part of their GDP for the development of infrastructure with lesser bureaucratic interference, which the Government of India lacks. The Chinese businessmen discussed with the Minister that his visit as leader of the delegation would pave way for close business ties with industrialists of Punjab and would provide an opportunity to discuss China and Punjab growth successes for a high quality sustained and inclusive growth of the industrial scene in this border state.
He said that the participants also discussed that Chinese technology is only one dimension of international competitiveness and that low labour cost in their country was one more. Discussing the issue further, the entrepreneurs said that these are effective only if the system as a whole meets best in class standards and it always does not have to be state of the art but that it should be targeted to the state of market conditions.. The delegation was impressed by the natural networking as the best Chinese people's skill. The delegation of Industrialists from Punjab which is accompanying the Minister were exposed to advance technology, procedures and systems  which would help them in upgrading their own industrial units. Earlier Mr. joshi was accorded very warm welcome by FIEO (Federation of Indian Exporters Organization) which have organized India`s participation in this world Fair. Mr Vikas Pratap, Director and Secretary Industries and Commerce Punjab who is also accompanying the minister outlined measures taken by the Govt. of Punjab to facilitate trade from Punjab.      

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 2444960 TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 16:
          Paddy Procurement is on full swing in Punjab. Government agencies and private millers procured more than 2444960  tonnes of paddy till last evening. The State Government has set up more than 1770  procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy
 The spokesman of the Punjab government said that Out of total procurement of 2444960  tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 2109686 tonnes of paddy till date whereas private traders procured 335274 tonnes of paddy. Till October 15, PUNGRAIN procured 540175  tonnes (25.6%), MARKFED procured 474141  tonnes (22.5%). whereas PUNSUP had procured 492867 tonnes (23.4%) PSWC procured 217362 tonnes (10.3%) whereas PAFC was able to procure 224031  tonnes (10.6%) of paddy.The Central Government agency FCI had  been able to procure 161110  tonnes (13.7%). 
          The spokesman added that District Tarn Taran with 349034 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Ferozpur with 343483 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 260987  tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.       
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Capt Amarinder asks Badal, Sukhbir to take drug menace seriously, not to trivialize it

CHANDIGARH, October 16:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today asked the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal to take the issue of drug addiction in the state seriously as it was finishing the youth and not to trivialize it.
Reacting to Badal and Sukhbir’s daily statements on the issue, Capt Amarinder asked them, “better behave and act responsibly and don’t make a joke of such a serious problem”. He said, running away from the problem and denying it vehemently does not make the problem vanish away.
The PCC President pointed out, it was the Punjab government which had given the figures that 70 per cent of youth in Punjab in a particular age group had been affected by drugs which Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had referred to.
By criticizing what Mr Gandhi said, Capt Amarinder pointed out, the Akalis are contradicting their own stand in the court. He asserted, the Akalis cannot give one statement in the court that 70 per cent youth are affected by drugs and a different statement in the public to suit their petty partisan interests.
 “Instead of taking the issue seriously, the father-son duo joined by the others like Bikram Majithia have ganged up to continuously deny the problem and put the blame on others”, he remarked.
Questioning Badal blaming the Border Security Force for the influx of drugs into this part of the country from Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said, this was a classic case of passing the buck. The BSF personnel are doing their job, but what about the domestic drug industry that is flourishing here in Punjab, he asked Badal while adding, the state needs to set its own house in order.
The PCC President maintained that the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister should behave and act with a sense of responsibility and not make joke of a serious problem that is eating up the vitals of our society. He pointed out, a number of youth are not able to make it to the armed forces for lack of physical fitness which again is mainly due to the consumption of drugs.