• Jan 11, 2011CLICK PHOTOS

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• Jan 11, 2011PUNJAB CM SET UP NRI CELL IN CMO TO ADDRESS GRIEVANCES OF NRIs

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PUNJAB CM SET UP NRI CELL IN CMO TO ADDRESS GRIEVANCES OF NON-RESIDENT INDIANS

Chandigarh January 11:

Conscious of the problems being faced by the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and addressing their issues and grievances on priority basis, Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal today setup a NRI cell in his office under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Darbara Singh Guru, with other members including Financial Commissioner Revenue or his secretary level representative and Director General Police or his representative. Mr. D.S. Mangat OSD to Principal Secretary/Chief Minister will be the Member Secretary of this cell and his contact no. 9417079777 and email address is cm@punjabmail.gov.in.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister's office said that this Cell has been setup by the Chief Minister with a view to quickly respond to the problems being faced by NRIs and to ensure their speedy disposal under time bound programme from different quarters. He said that the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab has taken path breaking steps to build close relations with the NRIs and has been making sincere efforts to sort out their issues on priority basis.

The Spokesman further said that the Punjab Government has set in motion the process of drastically reforming the system through governance reforms to check the harassment of common people in government offices especially the NRIs. This newly introduced concept will improve the delivery systems in the state. He said that the government had already taken revolutionary steps for protecting the properties of NRIs and introducing online system for securing revenue documents & farads, copies of the FIRs. Dedicated police-stations for NRIs have been established and Exclusive and fast track courts have been set up to resolve their disputes. He said that the government has already done away with the unnecessary but cumbersome practice of filing affidavits in many spheres.BADAL APPROVES BHAI GHANHYA SEHAT SCHEME FOR THE YEAR 2011-12 CHANDIGARH JANUARY11:Punjab Chief Minister and Chairman of Bhai Ghanhya Trust Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave approval to initiate the process for renewal of Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme for the year 2011-12 in view of the enormous health care benefits available for the public under the scheme. A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while reviewing the progress of the scheme in the meeting of Bhai Ghanhya Trust held here at Chief Minister's residence late last evening. The present scheme would expire on January 31, 2011.Appreciating the efforts of the trust, the Chief Minister said that the scheme was highly beneficial for the people especially living in the rural areas to ensure the best cashless medical care facilities in a hassle free manner. The Chief Executive Officer Mr. K.S. Palne informed in the meeting that till date about 12,724 beneficiaries had availed cashless treatment to the extent of Rs. 16.35 crore and 95 women beneficiaries had been given an incentive of Rs.2100 each on the birth of girl child in their family besides covering the expenses of maternity in the hospitals. He further informed that under this scheme 2.83 lac beneficiaries of 1.20 lac families from February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011 were covered. It may be recalled that Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme is providing cashless treatment upto Rs.1.5 lac on family floater basis, to the beneficiaries in 247 approved private hospitals in the state. The approved hospitals include superspeciality hospitals namely Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Guru Ram Dass Hospital Amritsar, SPS Appollo Hospital Ludhiana, Hero Heart Hospital Ludhiana, C.M.C Hospital Ludhiana, Dashmesh Hospital Faridkot and Adesh Hospital Muktsar. Besides, the treatment is also available in Government Hospitals on re-imbursement basis. Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Financial Commissioner Cooperation Mr. Suresh Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Registrar Cooperative Societies Mr. Kirandeep Singh Bhullar and Chief Executive Officer Mr. K.S.Palne. ENCOURAGE LOHRI OF GIRL CHILD-APPEALS HARSIMRAT

Bathinda, January 11 : Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal Member Parliament Bathinda and Patron Nanhi Chhaan movement today appealed to the people to collectively encourage Lohri for Girl Child, to bring attitudinal change in the society, having preference for boy child. Speaking after distributing blankets and woolens to the orphan children in a orphanage at Nathana, Mrs. Badal said that the Prakash Utsav of Tenth Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji, was the right occasion to get Punjab,the sacred soil of Saints, Seers and Gurus, rid of stigma of female foeticide . She said that this could be attained only by bringing a change in the ‘thought process’ of society. She said that Nanhi Chhan movement was a first step to bring awareness in the society regarding the growing problem of declining number of girl child besides degradation of environment. She said that she was happy that with her efforts she could make awareness about female foeticide as a part of National Rural Health Programme. She said that during last four years this movement made a significant impact on the psyche of newlywed couples and people at large especially with Boota Prashad campaign. She said that it was matter of great satisfaction that over 12 Lakh families have received this Boota Prashad during last 4 years and this message has expended to remote rural areas of Punjab. Mrs. Badal said that movement was also focusing on nutrition, health and education of girl child. Mrs. Badal said that the most difficult task was to percolate the message of this movement in the remote villages and she along with the help of SGPC and other religious personalities could make a significant beginning in this direction. Emphasizing the symbolic importance of Lohri of Girl Child Mrs. Badal said that this Lohri festival offers us an opportunity to effectively display the equal importance of girl child in the society. She said that though Constitution of India has offered equality of rights irrespective of gender and now Nanhi Chhan has started this movement to actually translate these rights into reality. She said that people of Punjab in all the towns should collectively celebrate Lohri of girl child and society should honour those couples who are celebrating this festival for girl child. Seeking cooperation from the society in this noble mission Mr. Badal said appealed to the people to become part of this movement against female foeticide and restore the old glory of Punjab.