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SUKHBIR CONDOLES THE DEATH OF MRS. SHEILA GUJRAL-CHANDIGARH, JULY 11: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister and President Shiromani Akali Dal today expressed deep shock at the demise of Mrs. Sheila Gujral, wife of Former Prime Minister Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral and mother of Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral, who died at Delhi today. In a condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister described
AMARINDER MISLEADING PEOPLE TO COVER MISDEEDS OF CONGRESS PARTY : SADMATTER ALREADY IN SUPREME COURT : DR. CHEEMAChandigarh, July 14 : Shiromani Akali Dal has strongly condemned the latest statement of Punjab Pradesh Congress Chief Capt. Amarinder Singh on Hansi Butana issue and said that he was trying to mislead the people with his statements to save the face of his party’s government in Haryana and at the Centre. Reacting to the statement of Capt. Amarinder Singh on his advice to approach Punjab and Haryana High Court over the issue of Construction of wall along Hansi-Butana canal, the SAD Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that the matter of Hansi Butana canal as well as issue of construction of wall along the canal are already under the consideration of the Supreme Court and so High Court cannot take up this case. Dr Cheema said that infact Capt. Amarinder Singh was trying to indicate the Haryana government that Punjab was not united on the issue. He reminded the Congress leader that when the bill regarding termination of water agreements was introduced in Vidhan Sabha the SAD had not only fully supported the bill rather the then leader of the opposition S. Parkash Singh Badal accompanied the CM forgetting all the differences and went to the Governor of Punjab to get the bill approved He said that Congress was playing petty politics and ignoring interests of the state with the sole motive to please the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and to cover up the misdeeds of the Congress party. He said that this act of Congress leadership was a clear cut betrayal with the people of Punjab. Dr. Cheema reiterated that SAD-BJP government led by S Parkash Singh Badal was sincerely pursuing the case of Hansi Butana canal as well as of the wall being constructed along the canal in the highest court of Country and will take to the logical conclusion. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CHANDIGARH, JULY 14: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, today said that Right To Service Act would be implemented through out the state from 15th August this year, empowering the citizens to get 67 citizen services as a matter of right. The Deputy Chief Minister said that Ordinance in this regard has already been promulgated by Punjab Governor and Punjab Government has decided to notify this act from Independence Day this year. Accompanied by Local Bodies Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, the Deputy Chief Minister presiding over the meeting of all Deputy Commissioners of the state sought their cooperation to make this path breaking and historic act, a great success. He said that he has called this meeting of Deputy Commissioners to sensitise them about the provisions of this act and to ensure that they update their systems in their respective districts to implement this act without any teething trouble. He asked DCs to set up a special cell at every Suwidha Kendra on Sub Tehsil level to receive complaints regarding not providing scheduled services within stipulated time. He asked Chief Secretary Mr. S.C. Aggarwal to sanction separate budget for every district and provide requisite hardware support. He asked Secretary Planning Mr. Satish Chandra to synchronize timelines of various services of Suwidha Kendra with the provisions of the Act. Expressing concern over reported cases of touts operating in Suwidha Kendras, Mr. Badal asked DCs to strengthen their counter intelligence to check this menace. He also emphasized the need of increasing counters in those Suwidha Kendras that were witnessing more footfalls. Emphasizing the participation of District Administration in the ambitious program of gyms for the villages and wards, Mr. Badal said that every district would start receiving gyms for at least 50% villages and wards of each district and DCs would ensure their installation at grass root level. He said that DCs themselves would also monitor the delivery of bicycles to 1.46 lakh plus one and plus two girl students. He said that similarly they would ensure delivery of mid-day-meal utensils to every school. Underlining the need for making Rural Sanitation Program, a grand success, the Deputy Chief Minister said that 1 lakh toilets in Rural Areas sanctioned by Water Supply and Sanitation Department and Rural Development and Panchayats Department, under which each household would get Rs 10,000 for construction of toilet. He said that DCs would personally visit villages to ensure that each toilet was constructed according to the specified design. Reviewing the progress of digitalization of Land Records, Mr. Badal said that he was committed to put all digital records of the state on the web on October 1 and launch this statewide program on that day. He asked Financial Commissioner Revenue to ensure completion trial run of digitalization by September 15. He expressed concern at poor performance of certain districts and told them to pull up their socks to complete digitalization by the scheduled dates given to them. He said that he had sent special teams to check the satisfaction level and performance of ongoing fard kendras and found the performance of Mukatsar, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Ropar, Patiala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Mohali, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur satisfactory and asked other districts to improve the services as these teams would check the service level monthly. The Deputy Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that Patwaris update the revenue records twice a week so that information on the web was live. Besides Deputy Commissioners from all the districts, prominent amongst those participated in the meeting Chief Secretary Mr. S.C. Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Viswajit Khanna, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. A.R. Talwar, Secretary Transport Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Secretary Revenue Mr. Anurag Verma, Secretary Revenue Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary Food and Supply Mr. D.S. Grewal. ------ RAIDS CONDUCTED ON CHEMIST SHOPS IN MOHALI AND TARN TARAN · Habit forming Drugs recovered from two shops Chandigarh, July 14: The Punjab Health Department today swooped down on chemist shops in SAS Nagar Mohali and Khalra Mandi (Tarn Taran) and recovered huge stock of habit forming drugs from these two shops. The official spokesman said that the Health Minister Mr. Satpal Gosain took a serious note on the issue of selling drugs at chemist shops without prescription there by ruining the lives of youth. These raids were also simultaneously conducted on 3 shops in Mohali and also 3 shops in Khalra Mandi (Tarn Taran). In this raids drugs recovered from Larence Life Sciences SAS Nagar Mohali having total cost of 20 thousands. Drugs recovered also from Sharma Medical Store Khalra Mandi In order to cancel of licenses and for registration of criminal cases against guilty, Health Department has sent notice to concerned shop owners. Punjab Health Minister Mr. Satpal Gosian said that Punjab Government was determined to act strongly against the miscreants.
------ CHIEF MINISTER`S OFFICE, PUNJAB PUNJAB GOVT. RESTORES PENSION OF PRIVATE AIDED SCHOOLS STAFF CM CLEARS FILE TO RESTORE PENSION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT Chandigarh, July 14 In a significant decision to benefit as many as 5771 employees, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave approval for restoration of the pension to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Private Aided Schools across the state with immediate effect, which had been stopped by the previous Congress Government with w.e.f. May 31, 2003. A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal with the clearance of file relating to the restoration of pension to the said employees. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that this issue was pending over past sometime and the employees of the private aided schools had been making repeated representations to the Chief Minister for restoration of pension from time to time. It may be recalled that the state government had already extended the pensionary benefits to 3795 such employees who had been retired on superannuation prior to May 31, 2003 according to the new pay scales recommended by the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission w.e.f January 1, 2006 and a first installment on account of their pension arrears to the tune of Rs 40 crores had already been released. Likewise as many as 2814 employees who had been retired from June 1, 2003 to March 31, 2011 had also been given the benefit of pension as per the new pay scales w.e.f January 1, 2006 and the payment of first installment on account of their pension arrears have also been made. The spokesman further said that the Finance Minister in her budget speech for the Year 2011-12 announced that the pensionary benefits to the employees would be restored. The decision to restore the pension has been taken after careful consideration of the employees who have been facing lot of hardships in their day to day life in the absence of any financial support and were dependent only on the pension. The Finance Minister also took a very positive view and proposed that the Education Department should get the necessary Budgetary provision made at the time of revised estimates. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister had a detailed meeting with the representatives of Private Aided School Teachers Associations in which a decision was taken to restore the pension with immediate effect. It was also agreed by the representatives of the associations that the arrears of the pension would be paid in installments in accordance with the schedule fixed by the government.
----- WORLD BANK TEAM CALLS ON PUNJAB CM
It was informed by the WB team leader that in the current year 2011-12, Rs. 216.14 crore WB water supply scheme for identified 344 villages was being implemented and at present work in 161 villages had been initiated for which Rs 66.88 crores had already been released by the government in the first quarter. Mr. Sarkar further informed that in the year 2010-11 sewerage and water supply WB scheme had been implemented in 529 villages of which 121 villages were developed as ‘Role Model villages’. On the complaint of Mr. Sarkar regarding work being hampered at few places due to unsupportive attitude of the local people, Mr. Badal directed the concerned district Commissioners to look into the matter immediately for smooth execution of the WB project works. He also assured the WB team for fulsome support and cooperation of the state government. Taking part in the deliberations Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Principal
CM APPROVES FOUR NCC GROUP HEADQUARTER BUILDINGS CHANDIGARH, JULY 14 In a bid to give boost to the NCC in a big way, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that Punjab government would establish four NCC group headquarter buildings at a cost of Rs. 2 crore at Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar. A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while presiding a meeting to review the ongoing NCC development programmes in the state. Taking part in deliberations Mr. Badal asked the Additional Director General NCC, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Maj. General Mohabat Singh Virk to identity the sites in these four cities and prepare a comprehensive plan for the construction of their own buildings of NCC group headquarters, presently which were being run from rented accommodations in Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar cities. It was informed in the meeting that the construction work of two upcoming NCC state-of-the-art academies at Ropar and Malaut were at full swing along with a new navel wing NCC unit equipped with boats and other training equipments had been established and made functional at Bathinda. This Navel unit would impart Navel training both at junior and senior levels in the state through two years training covering A certificate for the Cadets at school level and next two year training covering B and C certificates in the colleges of the state, besides organizing regular campus at the Bathinda Thermal Plant Lake side to impart this training. The Chief Minister also approved to recruit the ministerial staff for the new NCC units and academies. He asked the higher education department to complete all the formalities in this regard at the earliest to ensure smooth functioning of NCC operations in the state. Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Finance Mr. KBS Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Assistant Director NCC Mr. Ashok Lohgarhi, Col. GPS Sawney and NCC Navel wing Commander Baljinder Singh Virk. ----------------
PUNJAB OFFERS US POLICE TO ORGANIZE JOINT POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMME CHANDIGARH, JULY 14 Punjab offered New York Police Department and John Jay College of Criminal Justice at City University, New York to organize A joint Police Training Porgamme. A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting, held at Punjab Bhawan late last evening, with 4-member US Police delegation comprising Deputy Chief OF Paterson Police Department Mr. William G. Fraher, Inspector Adjutant Robert E. Thursland, Head Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration (CJA) John Jay College of Criminal Justice Dr. Maria (Maki) Haberfield and Professor Michael C. Walker. Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal said that to make Punjab Police more responsive, people friendly and professionally skilled the Punjab Government intend to initiate a joint porgramme with New York Police department. He said that it would provide a healthy and meaningful platform for both sides to exchange their expertise and experiences for good policing through organizing special interactions, seminars and camps. Mr. Badal said this programme would further enhance criminal investigation skills and develop people friendly attitude in a result oriented manner amongst our cops. Responding positively, Dr. Maria (Maki) Haberfield assured the Chief Minister to take up this matter with higher authorities of US Police and College. She said that Police being an arm of the government was fully committed for the stability in the state, organizing such innovative programmes could prove to be an asset for creating an environment where people feel secure. She further said that during her this short visit to Punjab and interaction with high police officers, she realised that Punjab had a good baseline to achieve good Policing as the crime rate in state was already much lower than other parts of the world. She also assured the Chief Minister of full support and co-operation to start this new venture. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Jails Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal, Principal Secretary Home Mr. DS Bains, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Director General of Police Mr. PS Gill, besides various high officers of the Police department. ----------------
810 CRORE SPENT TO CONSTRUCT 5841 KM RURAL ROADS DURING LAST 4 YEARS:LANGAH Chandigarh, July 14: The Punjab Mandi Board had constructed 5841.09 Kilometers of Rural Roads at the cost of Rs 810.50 crore and is all set to complete 204.18 kilometer Roads with the investment of Rs 98 crore in next three months. Disclosing this here today Mr sucha Singh Langah Arriculture minister said that the thrust area for new rural roads would be border districts including the districts of Gurdaspur,Amritsar,Tarn Tarn and Ferozpur, He said that under the new scheme Punjab Mandi Board had been undertaking the work of widening of roads, Re-carpeting of old Roads and construction of new Roads. He said that Punjab Mandi Board had repaired 12618 kilometer of Roads to interconnect the rural areas with the Mandis. He said that the total investment on this venture was 1035.60 crore. He said that Punjab Mandi Board had approved a new scheme to repair Link roads. He said that the estimated cost on this scheme would be Rs 244 crore. He said that the work to repair 2376 kilometer roads was going on. He said that 90.06 kilometer of roads in the Barnala, Kapurthala, Ludhiana,Mansa and Mukutsar was in pipeline. ------
FLOOD RESCUE TRAINING OF 30 VOLUNTEERS OF DISTRICT PATIALA CONDUCTED AT SUKHNA LAKE, CHANDIGARH FROM JULY, 6 TO JULY 14, 2011 CHANDIGARH, JULY 14 Punjab has to face the fury of floods after every 2 or 3 years. This year water level of dams of Punjab is all time high. As of today is 60-70m feet high as compared to the last many years. As such if there is heavy rainfall in August and September, the flood gates need to be opened. Disclosing this here today Ms Rinkal Mahajan, Project Officer of the Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Department said that keeping in view the gravity of situation in the benign guidance of Special Secretary Revenue-cum-Director, Disaster Management Ms. Bhawna Garg had taken initiative to train the village youth and other stakeholders to tackle the disastrous situations especially arising due to occurrence of floods. During the rainy season this department approaches the Civil Defence and NDRF for conducting Flood Rescue Training of 30 volunteers of each districts namely Patiala, Sangrur and Roopnagar is underway. She further said that seven days Flood Rescue Training of 30 volunteers of district Patiala had been conducted at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh from July, 6 to July 14, 2011 by Home Guards and Civil Defence Training Institute, Mohali. These 30 volunteers will form a part of District Disaster Response Force who will actively work in case of emergencies such as floods and other disasters. This is an effort to motivate village youth in management of disasters in their districts. The department is paying honorarium of Rs.450/-per day per trainee. In the saameway training in Sangrur District is being conducted on Banasar Bagh, Sangrur by NDRF and in Roopnagar District at Sports Swimming Pool, Roopnagar. Where after the training will be imparted in Sutlej.
DGP DISBURSES EX-GRATIA GRANTS TO THE TUNE OF RS.46 LAC TO 23 FAMILIES
Chandigarh, July 14: The Punjab police has taken a new welfare initiative for the force in the form of new pension policy for those employees joined service after March 31, 2004. Besides this, a group health insurance policy is also under process with participative subscription by the beneficiaries. This was disclosed by the Punjab DGP Mr. P.S.Gill , while presiding over a state level welfare meeting of Police personnel of all ranks held here today. The Police Chief informed that the police personnel joining service after 31.03.2004 shall not be entitled for any pension and the new L.I.C. Pension Policy has been chosen for ensuring pension for such individuals in view of long term welfare of the families of Police personnel. As per the Policy a person, who will deposit approximately Rs. 2,000/- per month shall receive pension of Rs. 23,000/- on maturity, besides various other benefits of risk and death etc. The DGP revealed that the new Group Health Insurance Policy, which was under process had been deliberated upon in detail and a nominal subscription of Rs. 80/- by each individual while substantive contribution shall be made by the Government. He also explained about another initiative about pooling resources for Group Housing Scheme vide which all police personnel would regularly subscribe to the Housing Fund and the said fund would be utilized for Group Housing Scheme through Co-operative Societies at places all over the State. Earlier, Punjab DGP Sh. P.S. Gill and Sh. Govind Pandey, Vice President, HDFC Bank delivered the cheques to the tune of 46 lac to 23 the affected/bereaved families of Police personnel. It may be mentioned here that as the salary accounts of all the Police personnel have been entrusted to the H.D.F.C. Bank, the Bank has offered ‘Ex-Gratia Grant’ of Rs. 2 lac in the eventuality of Police personnel dying due to accident and Rs. 1 lac in case of natural death. Mr. Rajan Gupta, ADGP, Law & Order and Mr. Rajinder Singh, ADGP/ Policy and Welfare, Punjab was also present in the meeting. ------- 16 PPS officers transferred in Punjab Chandigarh, July 14: The Punjab Government today transferred 16 Police officers with immediate effect. Mr. A K Mittal has been posted as A I G/S B-1, Intelligence, Mr. Jaspal Singh PPS as SP Operation and Traffic, Gurdaspur, Mr. Rajeshwar Singh PPS as SP City, Hoshiarpur, Mr. Narinder Kumar PPS as SP City, Tarntaran, Mr. Pritpal Singh Thind as SP (D) Patiala, Mr. Daljit Singh PPS as SP City, Patiala, Mr. Balwinder Singh PPS as SP (D) Khanna, Mr. Satpal Joshi PPS as Add. DCP-1, Amritsar, Mr. Bahadur Singh as Add. DCP-1 (Crime) Amritsar, Mr. Jasdeep Singh as SP City Amritsar (Rural), Mr. Simratpal Singh as AIG (HQ) Intelligence, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Rampal as SP (CM Security), Mr. Arun Saini as Staff Officer DGP, Mr. Jatinder Singh Staff Officer to DGP (Law & Order), Mr. Narinder Kumar as SP City (Batala). Commandant Ladha Kothi in addition to his own duty would also look after the work of SP (Excise & Taxation) Zone 2. Xxxxxxxxx Three blasts in Mumbai, twenty dead, 113 injuredMumbai: In a seemingly coordinated attack, three explosions took place in Mumbai one after the other on Wednesday between 6.54 and 7.06 in the evening - the first at Zaveri Bazaar in South Mumbai, the second at kabutar khana in Dadar West, central Mumbai and the third again in South Mumbai at Opera House. The Maharashtra home secretary has said 20 people have died 113 are injured. The death toll may rise. This is an attack on the heart of India, says Maharashtra CM In Delhi, the Home Ministry has confirmed that this was a terrorist attack and Mumbai has been sealed and is on high alert. Mr Chidambaram said his ministry would make a statement every two hours or sooner. The next statement will be made at 11 pm today. (Watch: A coordinated attack by terrorists, says Chidambaram) Mumbai Police sources say the Indian Mujahideen is suspected to be behind the attack. Union Home Ministry sources too say that the hand of the IM working closely with the Lashkar e Taiba is suspected. Two members of the IM were arrested in Maharashtra yesterday by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad. However, sources confirm there was no intelligence alert or input that warned of today's terror attack. Mr Chavan said the blast at Opera House was of the highest intensity. All blasts took place during rush hour and in crowded places.The Zaveri Bazaar blast took place in an umbrella kept at the crowded Kahu Gali, a street of eateries. (Watch: Eyewitness accounts of the blast in Zaveri Bazaar) The Dadar West explosion took place in a meter box on an electric pole near a bus stop.The Opera House blast took place at Prasad Chamber building. Dadar, a middle class area also houses the Shiv Sena Bhawan and the famous Shivaji Park. The Home Ministry has said that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used.(Read: Find out who is behind the blasts, Shiv Sena tells Govt) There were also unconfirmed reports of an unexploded bomb being found in Dadar and a bomb hoax in Santacruz. Early reports said a police control room had received a call claiming that there were serial blasts in Mumbai. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) Team has rushed to Mumbai from Delhi to investigate. A National Security Guards (NSG) team and forensic experts have also been airlifted on a BSF plane and are bound for Mumbai. The police have appealed for calm. Zaveri Bazaar has been hit before - over 50 people were killed in twin blasts in 2002. Malls, markets and other crowded places in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore are on high alert. Xxxxxxxxxxxx Manpreet has hurt the sentiment of people with his anti Punjabi Suba Remarks : SADPPP leader has failed to understand basic problems of the people of the state : Dr. Cheema Chandigarh, July 13 : Shiromani Akali Dal strongly condemned the comments of People’s Party of Punjab leader Manpreet Singh Badal against the Punjabi Suba Movement and described it as totally baseless, malicious, misleading and aimed at appeasing the Congress party. It may be recalled the Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal has described the creation of Punjabi Suba as a mistake in an interview published in an English daily today. In a statement issued from party head office here today party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that his comments has not only hurt the sentiments of the people of the state but has also insulted the thousands of selfless akali leaders and workers who sacrificed their lives and spent several years in jails for the creation of a linguistic state. Dr. Cheema that it was astonishing to note that Mr. Manpreet Singh has opposed the creation of Punjab by terming it as “division of Punjab”. He said that SAD has launched the movement on creation of Punjabi Suba at a time when all the other states were created on the basis of language but Punjabi’s were denied their Constitutional right. He said that the comments by Mr. Manpreet Singh in an interview shows that he lacks the basic knowledge and truth about the historic struggle which people of the state waged for getting their just and legitimate right. Dr. Cheema further said that it was most unfortunate that Mr. Manpreet Singh has termed the most important issues of river waters and Chandigarh as “fodder” of the politicians and presented the struggle of the state on these issues as “political tamasha”. He said that Punjab had been struggling all along for its just, legitimate and genuine rights of river waters on the basis of riparian principles. He said that every body knows that the Congress Governments at Centre has betrayed the state and backtracked on its commitment on the issue of Chandigarh but unfortunately Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal was playing in the hands of same Congress party which was giving hidden support for his newly launched party PPP. Making a scathing attack on PPP leader on the issue of power subsidy, Shagun Scheme, Atta Dal scheme and other social welfare schemes, Dr. Cheema said that even after touring the state for 9 months Mr. Manpreet Singh has not only failed to understand the basic problems of people but was also ignorant about the responsibilites of the government in a welfare state. He said that SAD-BJP government was providing much needed relief to the poor people through these welfare measures but Mr. Manpreet wants to enlarge the tax base, stop the subsidies and other relief providing schemes and fill the coffers of the state by leaving poor and common man suffering in this unprecedented price hike era which shows his pro corporate and anti poor face. Xxx HARIJAN COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES TO GET TUBE WELL CONNECTIONS ON PRIORITY · SPECIAL CAMPS TO BE ORGANISED TO CLEAR ALL PRIORITY CASES ON THE SPOT CHANDIGARH, JULY 12: The Punjab Government today decided to give tube well connections to ‘Harijan Cooperative Societies’ on priority. Harijan Cooperative Societies having land one acre and above are eligible for this connection. According to an official spokesman, Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had been getting requests at various sangat darshans for giving tube well connections to Harijan Cooperative Societies so they can increase agriculture production raising their level of living in the society. The spokesman said that Secretary of the Harijan Cooperative Societies are requested to apply for connections directly to the additional Superintending Engineer (Distribution) or Senior Executive Engineer completing all formalities By directly applying to higher authorities, it would cut delays of processing and red tapism. The Chairman Powercom has issued instructions to the field staff to issue priority connections at the earliest. It may be added that the priority connections at present are being given to Gram Panchayats, Religious Bodies and Cowsheds. The Spokesman that the Chief Minister has already issued directions to all the districts to hold camps in which concerned XENs/SDOs, Tehsildars/Naib Tehsildars and BDPOs in the office of SDO Electrical every Saturday at 10am. Those who wish to apply for connections should reach office of SDO Electrical on Saturday. He said that in addition to the tube well connections for agriculture sector, other connections of the farmers would also be taken up in the camp to provide them service under one roof. The Spokesman expressed hope that the new facility given to the Harijan Cooperative Societies would be catalytic in improving the productivity of their farms besides improving the life standards of their members. Punjab enhances the limit of skilled works from Rs.15 lac to Rs. 30 lac for Cooperative labour and Construction Societies Chandigarh July 13: The Punjab Government has enhances the limit of skilled works from Rs.15 lac to Rs. 30 lac for Cooperative labour and Construction Societies. Disclosing this here today Chairman Labourfed Punjab Mr. Gurpartap Singh Khushalpur said that according to a notification issued by the Cooperative Department, the state government had reserved all unskilled works costing up to any value and skilled works up to Rs. 30 lac for Cooperative Labour and Construction Societies in the state. He said that only Cooperative Labour and Construction Societies would be eligible to apply for works up to Rs. 30 lac through e-tendering. He further said that these societies would be in-listed without any fee by PWD(B&R) as principal department and only gradation would be done by Irrigation department in future. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SUKHBIR ASKS DGP TO SUBMIT PLAN TO CHECK STAGNATION IN CONSTABULARY Record number of 7827 promotions and 11000 recruitments made in Punjab police Chandigarh July 12: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today issued directions to Director General of Police Mr. P.S. Gill to submit an action plan to check stagnation at the level of constabulary. In a meeting of Police department, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the constabulary was backbone of Police force and Punjab government must take all steps to raise the morale of constabulary besides taking various welfare initiatives for them. He said that it was matter of great concern that a Constable was offered first promotion after 16 years of services that too without any financial incentive. He said that DGP should submit an action plan within seven days to check stagnation at Constable and ASI level. He congratulated the DGP for taking personal interest in finalizing seniority lists at all levels thereby ensuring records numbers of promotions at all levels. He said that it was with his efforts that 7827 promotions of Non Gazetted Officers (NGOs) from Other Ranks (OR) were made which was highest number of promotions during last 65 years. He said that it is matter of great satisfaction that 1/10th of the force has got the benefit of promotion, that too in last 4 years. Appreciating the DGP for transparent recruitment of 11,000 Constables that too in last 4 years, Mr. Badal said that he was getting queries from others states for replicating this transparent model of this recruitment. He said that it was for the first time that 1/9th of the force has been freshly recruited. The Deputy Chief Minister said that he has asked Finance Department to clear the recruitment of 6200 more Constables on the posts lying vacant after resultant promotions to higher level or retirement. The DGP informed in the meeting that after a recent departmental promotion committee meeting 156 Inspectors of Police were promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police ( DSPs ) and another 70 posts of DSPs were being filled up by promoting equal number of police inspectors very soon. After promotion of 274 Sub-Inspectors of Police to the rank of Inspector, 150 more SIs would also be promoted as Inspector very soon. Similarly, 256 ASIs have been promoted as SIs and 72 more ASIs are also likely to get their promotion to their next rank. In the ASI rank, 564 Head Constables have been promoted as ASIs and 74 more are awaiting their promotion, the orders for which are likely to be issued very soon. 242 Senior Constables have been promoted as Head Constable and another 533 would shortly be promoted after the conclusion of their training at Phillaur this month, he added. He further said that even in the rank of Superintendent of Police, 81 officers were promoted from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, 31 in this year and 50 during the last year. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PUNJAB’S‘VAN MAHOTSAVS’ DRIVE TO WITNESS RECORD PLANTATION OF 1.14 CRORE SAPLINGS: SHAKIR · GOVERNMENT EXHORTS SARPANCHES TO CONDUCT VAN MAHOTSAV ON THEIR OWN LEVEL · DRIVE TO BE STARTED FROM MUKERIAN ON JULY 16 CHANDIGARH, JULY 12: Forest and Wild Life Protection Minister, Mr. Arunesh Shakir today announced that the Punjab government would start a special ‘Van Mahotsavs’ drive in the state from July 16, under which 1.14 crore saplings would be planted in the different parts of the state. The Minister said that the drive would be launched from the Mukerian Tehsil Complex falling in Hoshiarpur district. He also exhorted Non Government Organisations (NGO) to come forward for the sake environment to save not only green covers of the state but also to provide pollution free environment to the people of the state. Seeking cooperation from NGOs, Mr. Shakir said that the forest department would plant saplings in the government institutions besides other open lands. He said that Forest Department has deputed its staff to make the ‘Van Mahotsavs’ drive a big success and the staff has adopted the villages to nurture the plants and their growth. Mr. Shakir said that it is call of the day to plant saplings on large numbers across the state for securing pure and healthy environment for our coming generations. He also gave a call to sapling the oxygenic and medicinal plants in place of plants giving only beautiful look. He said that citizens should plant saplings in and around their homes, tube wells, fields and other open places to make the drive of state government a success. He said that due to modernization and urbanization the cutting of trees on rise, which was leading to several diseases and the only way to get rid from pollution, was sapling of plants. The Minister said that Sarpanches of villages should come forward to plant the sapling on Panchayati lands besides ensuring proper looking after of plants including their growth.
PUNJAB’S ORGANIC DRIVE-SET TO PRODUCE 307 LAKH TONNES GREEN MANURE AND COMPOST: LANGAH · CAMPS WOULD BE ORGANISED TO ENCOURAGE FARMERS CHANDIGARH, JULY 12: The Agriculture Department Punjab would encourage the farmers of the state to produce green manure and compost and has fixed a target of 307 lakh tones of green manure and compost during current season. Disclosing this here today, Agriculture Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah said that Agriculture Department has chalked out a plan to use Green Manure and Compost by preparing it on 2.05 lakh hectares of land. He said that for this purpose department would organize camps on district level besides providing free of cost seeds to the farmers. Mr. Langah said that department would organize 750 training camps on the district level and would dig up 25800 new holes for Compost while 16800 old holes would be repaired. The Agriculture Minister said that the Agriculture Department had held 733 and 743 camps to motivate farmers for producing green manure and compost respectively in 2009-10 and 2010-11 whereas in 2009-10 farmers had produced 297 lakh tones of Compost, which were 305 lakh tones in 2010-11. He said that in 2009-10 farmers had prepared green manure on 1.84 lakh hectares of land while in 2010-11 the land under green manure was 1.90 lakh hectares. The Minister said that urine of animals, leaves of trees, waste and rotten wheat and paddy straw could also be used to produce compost while for production of green manure the geographical structure of land and fertilization power of land would be beneficial. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx KVIC RECOMMENDS PRESIDENT AWARD FOR PUNJAB KHADI BOARD-TIKSHAN SUD REMAINS ON TOP CONSECUTIVELY FOR THREE YEARS Chandigarh, July 12 Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board has been recommended for President's Award for its achievements in successful implementation of Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme. The State Board attained the Ist position amongst Khadi Boards of all states for three years consectively. Disclosing this here today Punjab local Bodies and Industries Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud said that the Khadi and Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) had issued appreciation letters to the Board besides recommending the name of Punjab Khadi Board for President’s Award. Presiding over a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board here at Udyog Bhawan, Mr. Sud said that Punjab Government was contemplating to implement the pension scheme for the employees of the Board. He emphasized the need to grant pension to the board employees at par with the other employees of the Punjab government. He said that 52 employees of the Board have been getting pension. He said that keeping in view the good performance of Khadi Board, the vacant posts would be filled soon. Mr. Sud assured them to take up their demands with the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for immediate and appropriate action. Besides, Mr. Vijay Sampla Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, Members and Member Secretary were present in the meeting. NDRF TEAM TRAINS PEOPLE REGARDING PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN CASE OF FLOODS CHANDIGARH, JULY 12: 'National Disaster Response Force' (NDRF) men have started training to people in the state regarding preventive measures to save themselves and their property in case of natural calamities like floods. The teams was involving village panchayats and focusing on areas affected by floods last year. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Revenue Department said that training modalities was to be worked out for proposed teams of volunteers to be drawn from the Volunteer Home Guard, Village Youth, NCC, NSS, NYK or NGOs of this programme. He said that 20 District Response Teams have been constituted by taking 30 volunteers from each district. These volunteers would be given honorarium for undergoing the Disaster Management training and their services would be utilized during disastrous situations. The spokesman said that Training would be given to the volunteers at Harike Wet lands, Beas River, NDRF Bathinda , Kanjli Wet Lands, Sutlej Phillaur, Sutlej Head Works Ropar and Sukhna Lake Chandigarh, The spokesman further said that Seven days Flood Rescue Training would be given to these volunteers by Civil Defence Institute Mohali or by NDRF during the month of July-August, 2011. Besides this volunteers would be equipped well to deal with the flood like situations.
ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED CHANDIGARH, JULY 12: The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the kharif Season through Canal water from 17-07-11 to 24-07-2011. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Bist Doab, Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch respectively. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively. The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A' being in the First preference will run to their indent and 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 channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Main Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the channels of first Preference would run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilized in Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch, Kasur Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively. Xxxxxx PUNJAB TO HOST FOUR NATION HOCKEY TOURNAMENT: SUKHBIR · SIX FLOODLIT AND ASTROTURF HOCKEY STADIUMS TO BE READY BY 30TH AUGUST TO HOST FOUR NATION TOURNAMENT · ALL 13 STADIUMS SET TO BE COMPLETED BY 15TH SEPTEMBER HANDIGARH, JULY 11: Decks are cleared to host Four Nation Punjab Gold Cup Hockey Tournament from 22nd September to 2nd October 2011 and all the six floodlit hockey stadiums would be ready by 30th August. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, today reviewed the progress of construction work of the entire stadium in a high level meeting in which representatives from Sports Department, GMADA and GLADA, Improvement Trust Jalandhar participated. Mr. Badal said that it was matter of great pride for Punjab as state was hosting this tournament for which consent of participation has already been received from other three countries including Pakistan, New Zealand and Argentina. Mr. Badal said that these world class stadium with Astroturf and floodlights installed by GE International would be the best hockey stadium in the country. It was informed in the meeting that hockey stadiums in Government Barjindra College Faridkot, Olympian Prithipal Singh Hockey Stadium PAU Ludhiana, Hockey Stadium GNDU, Amritsar, Hockey Stadium Rajindra College Bathinda, Sports Complex Mohali would be ready by 30th August and remaining multipurpose stadiums in Bathinda, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Mansa, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana would be ready by 30th September 2011. Stressing upon the need for providing proper facilities to the spectators, Mr. Badal said that all stadiums should have proper canopies, fiber glass or steel seats, big screens on all the four sides of stadiums, proper parking, toilet facilities and fire fighting arrangements. Underlining the need for creating the unified maintenance authority for all these stadiums, Mr. Badal asked Secretary Sports Mr. P.S. Aujla to put the proposal for creating a statutory self financing body. Prominent among those included Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Former Minister, Mr. Manvesh Sidhu, Additional Secretary Deputy Chief Minister xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx NRAA PROJECT OF GROUND WATER RECHARGING NOT FOR TAMING OF GHAGGAR - GOVT. SPOKESMANCHANDIGARH JULY 11: A spokesman of the Punjab government today refuted the news reports in a section of press captioned ‘Punjab not keen on project to tame Ghaggar: Centre’ as totally baseless, misconceived and factually incorrect. He further said that it was a deliberate and mischievous attempt to deviate the attention of the people from the contentious issue of Hansi-Butana canal. Clarifying the position with regard to the interstate project in Ghaggar basin involving the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the spokesman said that this project was basically to recharge the artificially recharge depleting ground water and was a wasteful expenditure in the name of taming the Ghaggar especially during the flash floods. He further pointed out the said project would not serve any meaningful purpose in taming the river Ghaggar as claimed by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) and therefore, the Punjab government had not so far consented to the proposal. It may be recalled that the basic objective of the project is to utilize flood water for ground water recharging that have been spilled from Ghaggar in the adjoining fields. This project did not help in any way in protecting the vast area from the damage caused due to floods every year. The spokesman further said that the process of ground water recharging was very slow and it was difficult to say that the single injection well provided in the areas of 5-6 acres could save the submergence of the crops. Moreover there was not any established study or research that the flood water was suitable for ground water recharging. He said that it was wrongly claimed by the NRAA that the ground water utilizing Ghaggar flood water would tame the Ghaggar. It is time and again said that to mitigate the flood water in Ghaggar it should be widened and necessary embankments should be constructed besides removing obstructions created by the Hansi-Butana canal. The spokesman further revealed that this project would not solve the problem of submergence of large areas of Patiala and Sangrur districts in any case. The spilled flood water in these areas would automatically flow back into river Ghaggar with the receding of floods. Recharging could only be useful in the low lying pockets from where water does not return to river Ghaggar, that too only if this water was found suitable for recharging the ground water. He emphasized the need to have a detailed study to ascertain the suitability of flood water for artificial ground water recharging, the spokesman added. PUNJAB SIMPLIFIES MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT OF PENSIONERS
CHANDIGARH, JULY 11: The Punjab Government today issued notification simplifying the medical reimbursement bills of pensioners and their dependents by reducing the lengthy process of reimbursing of medical bills.
According to an official spokesman, the pensioners and their dependants residing in Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and its adjoining areas would produce the medical bills before the concerned Heads of Department, who would resolve their cases as per the fresh directions of Punjab Government if required could referred the issue to Director Health. The spokesman said that the pensioners and dependants residing in other areas of the state would produce their reimbursement cases before the district head of those departments, from which they retired. He said that in case of unavailability of department heads in the district, the applicants could register their case with the civil surgeon for approval. He said that besides such cases the State Government has paid special attention towards those pensioners and their dependants, who were residing outside the state of Punjab. He said that in these cases Government has asked to the Department Heads to accept their cases for approval.
He said that the necessary directions in this regard have been issued to all concerned authorities. He said that earlier the family members of pensioners had to adopt lengthy process for reimbursement of medical bills but now the pensioners would not have to face problems.
MEDICAL, ENGINEERING AND OTHER COLLEGES WARNED AGAINST CHARGING ADMISSION FEE FROM ELIGIBLE SC STUDENTS
CHANDIGARH, JULY 11: The Punjab Government today issued strict warning to all Medical/Technical Education and Higher Education Colleges asking them not to charge any admission fee from eligible scheduled castes students, who were covered under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. An official spokesman said that the directions have been already issued to concerned directorates that in the current academic session admission and tuition fees besides loan refundable fees and other charges would not be taken from those scheduled castes students, whose parents’ annual income is less than Rs 1 lakh, under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. He said that it has come to notice of the department that certain educational institutes were threatening to give admissions to next candidate if the SC candidates do not deposit the fee. He said that this was clear violation of guidelines of Punjab government. The spokesman said that any education institution found charging fee from eligible SC students would face disaffiliation Punjab as well as Union Government. The spokesman said that according to the procedure after completion of admission process of such scheduled castes students falling under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, the concerned educational institutions would have to send their filled forms to Director Welfare Department for further reimbursement process. He said that Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme was a program of Union Government in which Punjab Government has also contribute its share and after receiving the amount from the Finance Department, the Welfare Department forwarded the funds to the directors of the concerned departments for distribution of Scholarships. He said that special instructions have been issued to Secretary, Principal Secretary Technical and Industrial Training Department, Higher Education Department and Research and Medical Education for strict compliance of directions issued by government to make the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme a success. PENSIONS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Chandigarh, July:11 Punjab Government has increased Pensions and Medical Assistance of Freedom Fighters in the state with effect from 1-04-2011 from Rs. 4250/- to Rs.5000/-. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the above mentioned amount i.e. Rs. 5000 would include Rs. 200/- per month as medical assistance. He said that all the Districts Treasury Officers of the State has been asked to issue instructions regarding this increase in present PPO's of Freedom Fighters and their widows so that they could get their revised pension in time.
PUNJAB GRANTS SPECIAL ALLOWANCE TO FOUR MORE CATEGORIES
Chandigarh, July 11: The Punjab government today granted special allowance to four more categories other than those in the Punjab Civil Secretariat or equivalent offices. Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the State government said that now District Treasurer would get Rs. 480/-, Accountant/Accountant-cum-Cashier (in the scale of Senior Assistant) Rs.480/-, Assistant Treasurer Rs. 300/- and Clerk-cum-cashier/ Cashier-cum-clerk Rs. 240/-as special allowance per month. Xxxxxxxxxx Dhillon raises concern over state finance commission report Kewal SIngh Dhillon SHIROMANI AKALI DAL ‘MAHARAJA’ CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF PUNJAB VILLAGES: SAD LEADERS
Chandigarh July 10: Shiromani Akali Dal general secretaries Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, and Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal today said that Capt. Amarinder Singh’s criticism of Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal night stay in village schools was reflection of his fear to visit villages. In a statement issued here today SAD Leaders said that the Amarinder’s statement shows the contrast between the elitist Congress party and party of masses Shiromani Akali Dal. They said that Maharaja Amarinder Singh, who never moved out of the confines of Moti Mahal or his farm houses in Chail and Dotchi during his five year rule dreads to think of visiting villages. They said that Maharaja, who remained away from masses during summers as he hates the smell of perspiration of villagers, prefers to confine himself to his select coterie. They said that Amarinder Singh never met his MLAs during his tenure cannot think of spending nights with villagers in the village. People of Punjab were well aware of Capt.’s tactics of photo ops in villages clicked during hurried tours as Maharaja cannot expose himself to the sun for more than 10 minutes, they added. Lashing at Maharaja for his aristocratic life style, SAD Leaders said that those living in palaces would always remain away from villages. They said that it was Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal and party President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal who were spending days and nights in the villages redressing the problems of masses on the spot. They said that Maharaja was perplexed with the popularity of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and was trying to sidetrack the issue. They said that Maharaja should see writing on the wall as people of Punjab already made up their mind to honour SAD with repeat mandate and Congress should remain prepared to spend next 25 years without any power. They said that people in the villages were welcoming Chief Minister with open arms and hosting him to take meal at their homes which was creating fear in the minds of Congress leaders. SAD General Secretaries said that Maharaja cannot think about the problem of villagers as he was totally oblivious of hardships faced by village community. They said that Maharaja might not know the exact number of villages in Punjab what to talk of visiting these villages. Now Maharaja should understand the he is no longer a Maharaja but a common citizen of India, they added. XXXXX Bittu thanks Mr Parkash Singh Badal for taking inspiration from Sh Rahul Gandhi Mr Badal copying the ideologies of young dynamic leader Chandigarh 09-07-11 Mr Badal is now trying desperately to again go to the people in the villages, trying to sleep in the schools and listen to their problems. But why all this drama at the fag end of the ruling tenure? My perception is that Mr Badal had taken inspiration from Sh. Rahul Gandhi who actually started this concept of mingling with the poor by going to their houses and listening to their grievances. Just reminding Mr Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister of Punjab, that he was the only one who criticised the actions of Rahul Gandhi by saying it’s all kiddish but now he is the one who is taking clear inspiration from those actions of Rahul Gandhi and just implementing them. Talking about the stay of the chief minister S Parkash Singh Badal at the villages, S Ravnit Bittu, MP(Sri Anandpur Saahib) said that after four years of rule now Mr Badal has started staying in the villages why? Where were these poor people four years ago? I think after he saw Sh Rahul Gandhi getting massive response by going to the villages and interacting with the poor in the night or in afternoon, he also planned for it. Bittu thanked the chief minister for endorsing the policies of Sh Rahul Gandhi. He further cautioned him also against the blatant misuse of the government properties specially schools by the administration to make the chief ministers stay cosy. Anything on the cost of children education will not be tolerated by the people of Punjab.
RAIDS CONDUCTED ON CHEMIST SHOPS IN MOHALI · Habit forming Drugs recovered from two shops Chandigarh, July 9: The Punjab Health Department today swooped down on chemist shops near in SAS Nagar Mohali and recovered habit forming drugs from found two shops. The official spokesman said that the Health Minister Mr. Satpal Gosain took a serious note on the issue of selling drugs at chemist shops without prescription that was ruining the lives of youth. The raids were conducted on 5 shops and drugs were found in two shops. In this raids drugs recovered from Guru Nanak Medicos Phase-9 and Singla Medicos Baloungi having total cost of 11 thousands. In order to cancel of licenses and for registration of criminal cases against guilty, Health Department has sent notice to concerned shops. Punjab Health Minister Mr. Satpal Gosian said that Punjab Government was determined to act strongly against the miscreants.
BADAL ASSAILS CENTRE FOR NOT TAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST HARYANA GOVERNMENT ON HANSI-BUTANA ISSUE
-HOLDS CENTRE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FLOODS IN PUNJAB
Sri Mukatsar Sahib, July 9 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today slammed the Centre for any substantial damage caused to be life and property in the state due to the construction of toe-wall along with the Hansi-Butana canal by the Haryana Government as it had not paid any heed to the repeated requests and subsequent reminders to intervene in the matter to prevent Haryana from the ongoing construction. He categorically said that the entire onus would be on the Centre for any flash floods in the state during current monsoon season. Talking to the media persons during the *Sangat Darshan* Program held here, Mr. Badal said that he had already written a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to seek his personal intervention in this matter but no action initiated so far by the Centre, was a testimony of the centre’s indifferent and anti-Punjab attitude. The Chief Minister also pointed that Centre had not responded to its demand for sending a Special Central Team to assess the ground realities about the construction of illegal and unjustified wall along with Hansi-Butana canal. He said that the Punjab Government had already filed a petition against Haryana Government in the Supreme Court for restraining Haryana from the construction of this wall and the case is listed for next hearing on Monday i.e. July 11. Asked to comment on the probability of tie-up with BSP in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, Mr. Badal said that SAD could go for an electoral alliance with any party to defeat Congress. He however said that SAD had an everlasting ties with the BJP which would remain intact in future also. To another question about the prospects of People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) led by Manpreet Singh Badal, the Chief Minister replied that any political party is bound to have its election manifesto and base among the masses but in case of PPP there was neither any poll manifesto nor such base. Mr. Badal further said that special emphasis were being laid on the urban development in the state for which master plan had been prepared for all the towns and cities to ensure integrated development and growth of the urban sector. Mr. Badal stayed in Adarsh School at Kot Bhai during the last night and listen *Gurbani Kirtan *and partook *Langar* in the historic Gurdwara Sri Gupatsar Sahib in village Chhateana (Sri Mukatsar Sahib). Prominent among other those who were present on the occasion included Member Parliament from Ferozpur Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Mr. Harpreet Singh Kotbhai, MLA, Mr. Mitt Singh Brar, president Municipal Council, Mr. Manjeet Singh Barkandi, Distt president SAD, Mr. Diyal Singh Kolianwali and Mr. Gurpal Singh Gora (both SGPC members), Manjinder Singh Bittu, Circle president SAD, Manjeet singh Sandhu, Mr. Heera Singh Chadewan, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissnor Mr. A.S. Thind and Mr. Indermohan Singh, SSP. Xxxx Cognizance of Complaint by Mr. Sukhpal Singh Khaira regarding Police torture and illegal detention of a Child Chief Secretary,Govt. of Punjab, Punjab Secretariat. Chandigarh.160001 Sir, 1. This is to inform you that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is constituted under Section 3 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 to exercise the powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act. 2. The Commission, under section 14 of the CPCR Act, 2005, has all the powers of a Civil Court in trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) and, in particular, in respect of the following matters: (a) Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) Discovery and production of any document; (c) Receiving evidence on affidavits; (d) Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and (e) Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents. 3. The Commission has taken cognizance of complaint (a copy of the complaint is enclosed) dated 7.7.2011 from Mr. Sukhpal Singh Khaira regarding Police torture and illegal detention of a Child named Gurpreet Singh by DSP Bholath, SHO Begowal and others. The gist of the complaint is as under: “That the DSP Bholath under political pressure got registered an FIR No. 40 dated 09.06.11 u/s 380 etc. P.S. Begowal against three minor boys namely Gurpreet Singh age 17 years, Moti Sagar age 17 years and Sharanjit Singh age 14 years. Thereafter, the said DSP and the SHO Begowal started raiding the houses of these three juvenile boys. On the morning of 10.06.11 at approx. 7 AM the Begowal police picked up Gurpreet Singh minor boy from his house and took him to Police Station Begowal. Sh. Rashpal Singh and Sh. Sri Niwas Kuku and other respectables of the village approached the DSP Bholath and the SHO Begowal seeking release of the minor boy, on the grounds that the case has been registered falsely with political motives. The DSP and the SHO admitted to these persons that since the families of two boys namely Gurpreet Singh and Moti Sagar were hardcore Congress supporters, they were under instructions to register a false case, torture them and pressurize their families to join Akali Dal in favour of Bibi Jagir Kaur, Ex-Minister. That during interrogation, the minor boy Gurpreet Singh has sustained injury to his left ear which has impaired his hearing, there are bruises and other injuries on his body as well(Photos attached). The other boy Moti Sagar fearing torture at the hands of the police has fled home.” 4. You are accordingly requested to get the matter investigated and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) along with copies of the relevant documents to the Commission within 10 days from the issue of this letter. The report should indicate inter-alia the information on the following points: i. Whether an FIR has been registered against DSP Bholath, SHO Begowal and other Police officials and if any arrests have been made ? ii. Has medical treatment been provided to the victim for the injuries sustained ? iii. Whether departmental proceeding has been initiated against the DSP Bholath, SHO Begowal and other Police officials involved ? iv. Whether security has been provided to the children and their families? v. Whether the Child has been produced before the concerned Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) within 24 hours, if so when and under what grounds ? vi. Where is the child at present and what is his present condition? vii. Whether the children has been provided with legal aid and counseling by a professional counselor (with whom they may feel comfortable with)?
Yours faithfully, d/- (Lov Verma) Member Secretary Copy to: 1. The Director General of Police(DGP), Chandigarh. 2. The Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of Punjab, Secretariat, Chandigarh. 3. District Magistrate, Bholath, Kapurthala, Punjab. 4. Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Bholath, Kaputhala, Punjab. 5. SSP, Kaputhala, Punjab.
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