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PUNJAB CM SHOWER ACCOLADES ON THE VETERAN ATHLETE FAUJA SINGH
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 19:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today felicitated the veteran athlete Mr. Fauja Singh, who had recently set the record of becoming world’s oldest marathoner, for his rare feat.
Lauding the spectacular achievement of Mr. Fauja Singh, the Chief Minister said that through his success the veteran athlete has brought laurel for the country in general and Punjab in particular. His superb and unparalleled achievement as a veteran runner would ever remain a source of inspiration to kindle the urge to excel in sports especially amongst our budding sportspersons. He said that Indian-born Fauja Singh of England, famously known as the Turbaned Tornado, has proved that age could not restrict a person from excelling in any field. “Punjabis have a knack to lead in every sphere of life and Mr. Fauja Singh has aptly demonstrated the same through his resilience and indomitable spirit” he added
.
It may be recalled that 100-year-old Mr. Fauja Singh amazed the world when he completed a 42-kilometre marathon at the Toronto waterfront to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. Setting a new record he finished the Scotia bank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 11 minutes and 5.9 seconds and became the world's oldest marathoner. In more than 22,000 runners competed in the event, which included the full 42-km marathon, a 21-km half-marathon and a five-kilometer race, Singh was the only person of his age group to have ever run through a full-length marathon.
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Dr. Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Parkash Khannvi are Punjabi Sahit Ratan
Chandigarh, October 19:
The Punjab government has today announced the names of Dr. Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Parkash Khannvi for the highest literary award i.e. Punjabi Sahit Ratan for 2010 and 2011 respectively.
This was finalized in a meeting of the state Level Advisory Board of Language Department held here today under the chairmanship of Punjab Education and Languages Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan to select the names for prestigious literary awards Punjabi Sahit Ratan and Shiromani Awards for 15 different categories.
Later talking to media persons Mr. Sekhwan revealed that Dr. Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Parkash Khannvi have been selected for highest award i.e. Punjabi Sahit Ratan. Besides this, the names of Dr. Tejwant Mann and Surjit Haans for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar Award, Gurbachan Singh and Krishan Kumar Rattu for Shiromani Hindi Sahitkar Award, Sardar Anjum and Dr. Rubina Shabnam for Shiromani Urdu Sahitkar Award, Shiv Parshad Bhardwaj and Dr. Mahesh Chander Sharma Gautam for Shiromani Sanskrit Sahitkar Award, Surinder Gill and Surjit Judge for Shiromani Punjabi Poet Award, Haribhajan Singh Bhatia for Shiromani Punjabi Critics Award ( 2010 ) and Saroop Singh Alag ( 2011 ) for Shiromani Gyan Sahitkar Award, Ms. Veena Verma and Jarnail Singh Toronto for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar ( foreigner ) Award, Darshan Singh “Bhau” and Mr. Harbhajan Singh Komal for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar (outside Punjab) Award , Sukhdev Singh Grewal and Kamaljit Nillon for Shiromani Punjabi Bal Sahit Writer Award, Hukam Chand Sharma and Kamaljit Singh Banwait for Shiromani Punjabi Patarkar Award , Gurwinder Singh Dhaliwal and Jagdish Singh Waryam for Shiromani Punjabi Sahitik Patarkar Award , Joga Singh Jogi and Nirmal Singh Khalsa for Shiromani Ragi / Dhadi / Kavishar Award, Jatinder Kaur and Kesar Singh for Shiromani Punjabi Television / Radio / Theater Award and Amarjeet Gurdaspuri and Kuldeep Manak have been finalized for Shiromani Punjabi Singer / Musician Award for 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The Education Minister said that Punjabi Sahit Ratan Award carries Rs. 5 Lakh each, a Shawl, medal and plaque while Shiromani Awards winners to get Rs. 2.5 each a shawl, medal and plaque. He said that keeping in view the unique contribution in promotion of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture it was decided to honor Kirpal Singh Badungar and Harvinder Singh Khalsa with Rs. 1.5 Lakh each while Gulzar Singh Shounki with Rs. One Lakh award money. He informed that soon a special function would be organized to confer these awards.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Roshan Sankaria, Secretary Higher Education and Languages, Dr. Balbir Kaur, Director Language Department besides office bearers of different Sahit academies and members of State Advisory Board.
PUNJAB INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR ALLOTMENT OF 352 INDUSTRIAL PLOTS IN KAPURTHALA
KAPURTHALA FOCAL POINT SET TO CHANGE THE FATE OF DOABA REGION
CHANDIGARH, October 19: The Punjab government has invited applications from entrepreneurs for allotment of 352 industrial plots in Industrial Focal Point Kapurthala that is set to change the industial profile of whole Doaba region.
Disclosing this Mr. Tikshan Sud today said that Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation has established industrial focal point on an area of 226 acre. This state of art focal point is equipped with all the facilities like 24 hour electricity, water and 4 lane metalic roads creating a congenial atmosphere for prospective investors. Besides that it has also geographical advantage having good connectivity to national highway-1.
He said that Punjab government has invited applications for the allotment of industrial plots. He said that unit has 352 plots and keeping in the view the requirements of investors these plots divided into various size and categories.
Mr. Sud said that in this focal unit 50 acer area was reserved for I.T. park. He said that Doaba region has great potential in I.T sector. He said that besides that another IT park would also setup at Railmajra in S.B.S. Nagar. He said that it would be mandatory for allotees to build factory and start production in three years.
PUNJAB TO ACCEPT TAX ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THROUGH ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM ONLY
Chandigarh October 19:
The Punjab Government has decided to accept all kinds of taxes on commercial vehicles through online payment system only. This system has come into force from October 20, 2011.
According to Mr. Anurag Aggarwal , Secretary Transport , the online payment of taxes has been implemented in Punjab as part of e governance project implementation in the state.
He said that online payment of taxes would not only entail public convenience but would also luck leakage of Government revenue.
PUNJAB RAISES MINIMUM WAGES FOR UNSKILLED WORKERS
Chandigarh October 19:
The Punjab Government has raised the minimum wages of unskilled workers employed in the Industry, Trade, Brick kilns and agriculture sector. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Labour Department.
According to Mr. Arunesh Shakir Labour Minister unskilled workers employed on monthly wages have been given a raise of Rs. 174 per month where as those employed on daily wages would get a raise of Rs. 6.67 per day.
He said that unskilled workers working in 61 different trades would get revised minimum wage w.e.f. September 01, 2011.
It may be added that minimum wages of workers are calculated as per price index calculated by Economic Advisor of Punjab. Price Index of 6 cities including Abohar , Bathinda , Dhariwal, Nangal, Patiala and Phagwara is taken into consideration for calculating minimum wages of the workers.
47.73 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 19: More than 47.73 lakh tonnes of Paddy was procured by the Government agencies and private millers in Punjab till last evening against 47.64 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
An Official Spokesman here today said that out of total procurement of 47,73,263 tonnes of paddy, Government agencies procured 45.28 lakh tonnes (94.9%) and private traders procured 2,44,303 tonnes (5.1%) of paddy till date.
He said that PUNGRAIN had procured 12.23 lakh tonnes (27.0), followed by PUNSUP with 11.61 lakh tonnes (25.6%), MARKFED with 09.91 lakh tonnes (21.9%), PSWC with 05.79 lakh tonnes (12.8%) and PAIC with 04.91 lakh tonnes (10.9 %) of paddy. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 82306 (1.8`%) tonnes.
Ferozepur District with 05.05 lakh tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Jalandhar District with 04.86 lakh tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Patiala District with 04.16 lakh tonnes of procurement ranked at third position, he added.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
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Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Congress terms Sukhbir Badal’s claim of crime rate down by 22% in Punjab a cock and bull story and bundle of white lies.
Chandigarh October 18
Sukhpal Singh Khaira
MLA, Bholath
True to his character, Sh. Sukhbir Badal Dy. CM played another joke with the people of Punjab while declaring that the crime rate had gone down by 22% in the State. Congress terms it nothing but a cock and bull story and bundle of white lies in order to hoodwink the voters by fudging figures. The crime graph is bound to show a decline as criminals including Akali goons have gone scot free after having committed crimes despite hue and cry by complainants. Not a single Akali Jathedar has been booked for any crime during the last five years, courtesy the CM and Dy. CM.
Punjab today is nothing but a lawless state with jungle ‘Raj’ prevailing doubled with highly politicized police machinery watching as a mute spectator to the crumbling law and order situation. There is a massive political-drug-police mafia operating patronizing criminal gangsters in every nook and corner of the state. Incidents of dacoity, theft, chain snatching are a common thing in the country side. Women and older people do not venture out of their houses after sunset in the villages from fear of these ‘Goondas’ having political backing.
As stated earlier drug trade of smack, poppy husk, opium and other synthetic and chemical drugs is flourishing under the very nose of the police. There are gangs in virtually every village of the state of these unemployed youth. These drug dealers having political and police patronage and have large number of illegal weapons at their command. There is no fear of law in the minds of these criminal gangsters as they don’t hesitate to attack even the police as reported from Jalandhar where a Sub-Inspector of police was shot during broad daylight.
Police stations have been handed over to ‘Jathedars’ who call the shots and are able to get released ‘Goonda’ elements even in heinous crimes of rape, attempt to murder, theft, dacoity etc. I have only recently sent a list of more than two dozen such ‘goondas’ operating in my constituency of Bholath to the DGP law and order but to no avail. All these goons carry illegal weapons openly but because they have the support of local Akali leader Bibi Jagir Kaur, the police is helpless.
All trades of transport, cable network, sand mining and liquor have been hijacked by the political ruling elite with the help of these criminals across the state.
And lastly when the highly politicized police is unable to register FIR’s or cases against Akali backed ‘Goondas’ in the state, won’t the figures show a decline? Is this not only fudging of crime figures but protection of law breakers? If the Dy. CM has the political will, let him order a time bound judicial inquiry to be conducted by every Sessions Judge of the district to find the correct picture as to how many complaints were received and how many FIR’s registered? Thousands of aggrieved people are unable to get justice as the perpetrators of crime are Akali backed criminals, is this the way of bringing the crime graph down, questions the Congress?
SUKHBIR HANDS OVER APPOINTMENT LETTERS TO 55 PLAYERS IN POWERCOM
· Asks them to continue to participate in Sports and nurture new talent
Chandigarh October 18:
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister today handed over appointment letters to 55 players of different games, who have been appointed as Bill Distributers in Powercom on regular basis.
Handing over appointment letters to the players Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP Government was committed for the welfare of players and he has already issued instructions to all departments to fill the backlog of 3% sports quota.
Exhorting the players to continue their passion of sports even after gaining employment in Powercom, Mr. Badal said that it was imperative for them to nurture new sports talent and give coaching to the budding players.7 Players from Athletics , Two of Badminton, Five of Cricket, Seven of Hockey, Two of Lawn Tennis, Seven of Volleyball, Eleven of football, Two of Table Tennis, Six of Kabaddi, Four of Wrestling and Three players of Basketball were handed over appointment letters today.
Those who were given appointment letters today included Amarinder Singh, Amandeep Singh, Sahib Singh, Jaspal Singh , Ranjeet Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Jasbir Singh ( all Athletics) ; Rajkumar and Lakhwinder Pal Singh ( both badminton) ; Gautam Mandora , Ankur Jand , Hari Krishan Kali, Ved Parkash and Rupeet Inder Singh ( Cricket) ; Raju, Harpreet Singh, Ravinder Singh, Dalbir Singh, Manbir Singh, Kulwinder Singh and Amrik Singh ( all Hockey ) ; Sanjeev Kumar and Inderjot Singh ( both Lawn Tennis) ; Chamkaur Singh, Beant Singh, Harpreet Singh , Gurpreet Singh, Sukhbir Singh, Mandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh ( all Volleyball); Sunil Kumar, Bhupinder Singh , Kuldip Singh, Sikandar Kumar, Gurpeet Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Surjit Singh, Phuspinder Singh, Rajkumar and Sandeep Singh ( all Football ) ; Akram Baig and Rohit Mahajan ( both Table Tennis ) ; Amninder Singh, Harinder Singh, Pardeep Singh, Harpreet Singh , Saravjeet Singh and Jagdeep Singh ( all Kabaddi ) and Sher Singh , Narinder Singh, Ranbir Singh & Honey Kumar ( all Wrestling ) .
Mr. K.D.Choudhry, Chairman Powercom was also present on the occasion.
SAD-BJP GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO EMERGE PUNJAB AS FRONT RUNNER STATE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION- BADAL
STATE LEVEL FUNCTION ORGANIZED TO DISTRIBUTE FREE BICYCLES TO GIRL STUDENTS UNDER MAI BHAGO VIDYA SCHEME
Ludhiana, October 18-
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today envisioned that Punjab would soon become the number one state in the field of quality education in the country.
Addressing a public gathering here at the state level function organized to distribute free bicycles to Plus One & two girl students of government schools under state government's flagship program of Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme, the Chief Minister said that the sole objective of the government was to impart quality education to the students especially the girls in the far flung areas. He said that when the SAD-BJP alliance assumed the office after coming to power in the state, Punjab was ranked on 14th slot which was now at third position exclusively due to path breaking initiatives taken by us in all field of education be it school, college and university. The Chief Minister said that the Mai Bhago Vidya scheme would prove to be a milestone in promoting quality education on one hand and checking the drop out ratio amongst the girls at another. Mr Badal said that as Punjab was already number one in terms of the recruitment in Defence services and in the food production too, so the state government was committed to make it number one in education also. "Punjabis has a knack to lead in every sphere of development and prosperity, hence forth the day is not very far off when resilient Punjabis will also lead the country in the field of education”, said Mr. Badal.
He said that the sole purpose of initiating the Mai Bhago Vidya scheme was to motivate the girl students to pursue their education by facilitating them a hassle free access to the schools. Mr Badal said that under the scheme 1.5 lakh bicycles would be distributed free of cost to girl students by the state government, for which a budgetary allocation of Rs 42 crore had already been made. He also mentioned that initially the scheme was launched for the students of class 11th and 12th but it would be soon extended to the students of class 9th & 10th also. He said that our government was already imparting free education to the girls from class 1 to 12th and now with the launch of Mai Bhago Vidya scheme girl education would further get a impetus in the larger public interest. Mr. Badal said : "We are well aware of the fact that if a girl is educated then entire family gets educated, so we are committed towards the promotion of girl education with a broad objective to achieve the goal of empowerment of women ".
Lauding the role of girls being played in the contemporary era the Chief Minister said that the girls have virtually outnumbered the boys in almost every field. Mr Badal said that the SAD-BJP government had already introduced special recruitment drive for the women in Police, which has produced desired results as the women contingents were discharging their duties efficiently. Similarly, he said that the girls who had joined the Border Security Force (BSF) recently were also working with utmost dedication and commitment. “To provide quality education to the girls would ultimately pave a way to enable them to compete successfully with their male counterparts besides becoming ideal citizens of the society to serve the nation with far more devotion and zeal” said Mr. Badal.
Outlining the power scenario in the state, the Chief Minister reiterated that owing to concerted efforts by the SAD-BJP government to augment power generation, Punjab would become a power surplus state by the end of next year. He said that when we took the reins the production of power was only 6200 mega watts, which had been now enhance to nearly 10,000 mega watts due to strenuous efforts of the SAD-BJP alliance. Likewise, Mr Badal also said that the state government had already sharpened its focus on improving the health Infrastructure in the state by initiating several steps.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr Hira Singh Gabria and Prof. Laxi Kanta Chawla, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Mr Harcharan Singh Bains, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Department Mr TP Sarangal, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema, Director Social Security Department Mr Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Vice Chairman State Planning Commission Prof. Rajinder Bhandari,
BADAL INITIATES STATE LEVEL CAMPAIGN FOR SPREADING THE AWARENESS REGARDING CANCER FOR ITS EARLY DETECTION
CM TERMS SANJHA MORCHA AS "PACK OF POWER STARVED OPPORTUNISTS"
STATE CONGRESS LEADERSHIP WILL MEET THE SAME FATE AS THAT OF THEIR CANDIDATE IN HISAR
SAD TO GIVE UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT TO ANNA IF BJP PROPOSES IT AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Ludhiana, October 18-
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today kicked off the state level campaign for spreading the awareness amongst the people about the Cancer for the early detection of this fatal disease.
Addressing the gathering Mr Badal said that the state government had been endeavoring the check the spread of cancer in the state and from now onwards the tests for detection of cancer would be available free to the patients at all the hospitals across the state. Expressing concern over the cancer the Chief Minister said that the disease was spreading rapidly across the globe but unfortunately permanent cure for the disease is yet to be invented adding that even research being conducted to find the root cause of the disease has also not yielded the desired results. However the Chief Minister said that the early detection of this disease could very efficiently help in controlling this disease and thus saving the precious life of the people.
He said that in order to create awareness about this amongst the people about the early detection of the cancer, the SAD-BJP government has taken a unique initiative of organizing the camps across the state under which 440 camps are being organized by the Health department. Mr. Badal said that apart from it in order to provide free medical check up at the door steps of the people, Special Mobile Vans (SBV) equipped with latest machinery to conduct the cancer detection tests have been deputed in the villages. Apart from it the Chief Minister said that they have set up a corpus fund of Rs 20 crore for giving financial assistance to the people suffering from cancer adding that Rs 1.5 lakh is given by the state government to every cancer patient which is recommended by a Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner.
Mr Badal also said that with the efforts of the state government two Super Specialty Cancer Hospitals have been set up Bathinda and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) for providing cancer treatment to the patients. The Chief Minister also said that the alliance government in toe state has laid special focus on providing quality Health services to the residents of the state for which Rs 340 crores have been spent in an unprecedented manner for the upgradation of the infrastructure for such services.
Later talking to the media persons Mr Badal termed the Sanjha Morcha, floated by Former Chief Minister Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala and Former Finance Minister Mr Manpreet Singh Badal along with the Communist parties in the state, as a "pack of power starved opportunists". Terming both Mr Barnala and Mr Manpreet as traitors he said that the sole aim of these defectors is to grab power in the state by hook or crook. The Chief Minister said that he was pained to note that the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) is also the member of the front. Mr Badal rather advised both the left parties to abstain from this unholy alliance. "Both Manpreet and Barnala have a dubious record of deceiving the party which had helped them to rise in politics, so people must stay away from them" he added.
Commenting on the poor performance of the Congress candidate in the recently held bye-election of the Hisar Parliamentary constituency, Mr Badal said that it is the irony of fate that the Congress candidate from this prestigious seat could not even save his security deposit despite of the fact the party was in power both at Haryana and Centre.
He also said that a strong wind was blowing in favour of the state SAD-BJP alliance and state congress leadership and its candidate will also meet the soon same fate. The Chief Minister said that Congress has been routed by the people because of its failure in checking wide scale corruption, unemployment and inflation.
Referring to the prospects of social activist Mr Anna Hazaare being proposed as presidential candidate by the BJP, the Chief Minister categorically said that if their alliance partner proposes his name than they will extend support to him unconditionally. He also said that there was unanimity between SAD and Mr Anna Hazaare on the issue of the curbing the corruption and bringing the black money back to India, so they always welcome Anna's crusade against corruption.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Satpal Gosain, Jail and Tourism Minister Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema and officers of Police and District Administration.
SUKHBIR DEMANDS RS. 500 BONUS ON PADDY
· POLITICAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING SOON TO FINALIZE SAD CANDIDATES
· CONGRESS SET TO FACE DECIMATION IN PUNJAB ON HISAR PATTERN
· WADA STIPULATIONS TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED IN 2ND WORLD CUP KABADDI
Ludhiana October 18:
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded Rs. 500 bonus over and above minimum support price of Rs. 1110 on paddy as with increased price of diesel and fertilizers, the farmers cannot sustain in this profession.
Talking to media persons after reviewing the arrangements for closing ceremony of 2nd World
Cup Kabaddi in Guru Nanak Stadium here today, Mr. Badal said that it was matter of great regret that Congress led UPA Government was giving freehand to multinational fertilizers companies to double the price of fertilizers within a span of three months on other hand it had raised the MSP of Paddy by meager Rs. 80 only. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been demanding that MSP of Agricultural produce be linked to wholesale price index on the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission or farmers be given 50% profit over and above input cost but Congress party was all out to crush farming community to give free hand to import lobby. He said that farmers of Punjab have worked day and night to make country secure on food availability front but Congress party was out to wean away farmers from farming profession by making it un-remunerative.
When asked about plan of Shiromani Akali Dal to finalize candidates for ensuing Vidhan Sabha Polls in Punjab, he said that the party was giving final touches to the list of candidates and list will be finalized soon in the meeting of political affairs committee.
Describing so called 3rd front as a “Soundless Whistle” , Mr. Badal said that addition of many Zeros cannot make even one seatOn being asked about the waning graph of BJP in cities, Mr. Badal said that Hissar election was witness to the fact that BJP was on ascendancy whereas Congress candidates were finding it difficult to save their deposit. He said that Punjab would witness Hissar phenomena where Congress party is set to face decimation on electoral scene.
Mr. Badal said that WADA stipulations would be strictly enforced in 2nd World Cup Kabaddi as Punjab Government was fully committed to wean away youth from the drugs. Mr. Badal said that he has today reviewed the arrangements with the Deputy Commissioners of Majha and Doaba regions and he was fully satisfied with the arrangements. He said that this year Punjab Government has doubled the prize money to Rs. 2 crore for first position and One crore for 2nd position. He said that 14 countries are set to participate in this 20 day long sports extravanza.
RENOVATED PHULKARI EMPORIUM TO RE-OPEN ON OCTOBER 19
Chandigarh October 18:-
Punjab Government's Phulkari Emporium is all set to re-open with new face on October 19, 2011.
An official spokesman of the Punjab Government said that due to renovation the retail sale of this emporium had been suspended for the four months. A new look has been given to the emporium after renovation situated in sector 17, Chandigarh.
He further said that the range of the products has been widened and fresh stocks had been added. He said that due to festival season special discounts would be offered to the customers on all items. The major products available in the emporium included Phulkari Dupattas, Suits & Sarees, Punjabi Jutties, Leather goods, Handicrafts, Diamond, Gold & Silver Jewellary, Phulkari Bagh, Bed Sheets & Cushion covers, Kurta Pyjama, Painting & Gifts items etc.
NO ROLE IN SELECTION OF DOCTORS : SATPAL GOSAIN
Chandigarh, October 18:
Mr. Satpal Gosain, Health & Family Welfare Minister while reacting tonews reports regarding selection of doctors in Health Department Punjab here today stated that he would like to inform the public at large and media in particular that Health and Family Welfare Department had no role in selection of Doctors and the test for selection has been conducted by Baba Farid University of Health
Sciences, Faridkot.
Mr. Gosain informed that the list of selected candidates will be given to the Health Department by the Baba Farid University and no officer or any employee of Health Department is involved in the selection process. The only role to be played by Health Department is to issue posting orders after selection is done. However, the Minister added
that in case any complaint is received from any individual or
organization with regard to the selection, it shall be looked into by
the competent authority and proper action will be taken.
He further said that the postings and transfers which have been
affected in Health Department in recent past has been fair, impartial
and un-biased and done in view to provide good quality health services
to the suffering humanity.
Mr. Gosain told that in case of any complaint against
any official of health Department or anybody else he may be contacted
directly for immediate redressal of grievance. He also assured that
strict action would be pursued if someone is found guilty.
43.07 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 18: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 43.07 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 44.00 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 4307575 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 40.76 lakh tonnes of paddy (94.6%) till date whereas private traders procured 231417 tonnes (5.4%) of paddy. Till October 17, PUNGRAIN had procured 10.98 lakh tonnes (26.9) whereas MARKFED procured 08.91 lakh tonnes (21.9%). PUNSUP procured 10.45 lakh tonnes (25.6%); PSWC procured 05.22 lakh tonnes (12.8%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 04.45 lakh tonnes (10.9 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 73376 (1.8`%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 04.74 lakh tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Jalandhar with 04.45 lakh tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Kapurthala with 03.69 lakh tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
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Manpreet Badal's PPP joined hands with Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) to form “Sanjha Morcha”
Chandigarh, Oct 17, 2011:
People’s Party of Punjab has joined hands with Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) to form “Sanjha Morcha”, a synergy to save Punjab from the distress that it finds itself in.
The four parties shall together launch an “Izzat Sambhal Yaatra” on 6th November from Dhudike. Dhudike is of immense significance as it marks the birth place of Lala Lajpat Rai, a man who epitomized the pride and self confidence of all Indians. As a part of Yatra, we shall be travelling across the whole state over two months, where we shall explain to the people the deplorable condition in which Punjab itself in economically, socially, morally and culturally. Their pride and prestige are being compromised. “The scenario is so grim that if they don’t take control of the situation, Punjab’s name and the future of the generations to come shall be ruined forever by the most venal variety of politics seen anywhere in the world,” said PPP's President Manpreet Badal.
He expressed satisfaction that national parties such as CPI, CPI(M) and leaders of the stature of Sardar Surjit Singh Barnala and AB Bardhan have decided to associate with PPP. “Punjab is being torn apart by communalism, corruption, unemployment, disease, inequalities, pollution and depravation. PPP has waged a crusade against these evils and we fully support Manpreet in his initiative,” said the ex-Chief Minister Sardar Surjit Singh Barnala. As a part of this association, the four parties have formed a 20 member Sanjha Morcha Co-ordination Committee that shall deliberate and guide on the morcha’s future course. In the committee membership, PPP shall be represented by Jagbir Brar, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Kuldeep Singh Dhos and Gurpreet Singh Bhatti. From CPI’s side, Dr Joginder Dyal, Jagrup Singh and Bant Singh Brar shall be present while Com. Lehmber Singh Tagar, Com. Vijay Mishra and Raghunath Singh shall represent CPI(M). Gagandeep Singh Barnala, Baldev Singh Mann, Rupinder Singh Sandhu and Inderjit Singh Baghi shall be on the behalf of SAD (L).
S. Surjit Singh Barnala shall be patron of this alliance. Manpreet Badal shall be the Chairman while one person each from the four parties viz SS Johl, Nirmal Singh Dhariwal, Charan Singh Virdi, Baldev Singh Mann & Gagandeep Singh Barnala shall be Vice Chairmen.
“Izzat Sambhal Yatra” shall be a continuation of Jago Punjab Movement, Manpreet Badal said. “The movement, we started around a year back when I was expelled from Akali Dal for voicing my views and for not yielding to what I felt was wrong. We thought of launching a new political movement because it was necessary in view of depravity that had come to characterize Punjab politics. We were not sure that the path that we had chosen was correct or not. So we went to the people. We traversed all of the Punjab and then went to meet Punjabis in North America and everywhere we received overwhelming support, where common people expressed their solidarity with PPP and committed their unequivocal support for us. Today, we feel strengthened by the support of common Punjabis. Now we are going back to them again, this time apprising them of the extent of rot that has crept in our system and exhorting them to save our beloved state from heading towards perdition.”
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BADAL LASHES OUT AT UPA GOVERNMENT FOR PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF
RS 800 CRORES ON THE STATE FARMERS
MANPREET DELIBERATELY KEPT US ISOLATED FROM GIDDERBAHA- CM
CONGRESS ROUT IN STATE ASSEMBLY POLLS IS A WRITING ON THE WALL- BADAL
CM GIVES GRANTS WORTH RS 1.75 CRORE DURING SANGAT DARSHAN AT
GIDDERBAHA ASSEMBLY SEGMENT
Doda (Gidderbaha), October 17:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today slammed the Congress led UPA government at the Centre for putting an additional burden of Rs 800 crores on the beleaguered peasantry of state by recklessly hiking the cost of agricultural inputs especially the fertilisers.
Addressing the media persons during the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme of the Gidderbaha Assembly segment organized here today, the
Chief Minister said that the single point agenda of the UPA government
was to ruin the farmers of the state, despite of the fact that they
had made country self sufficient in food production. Coming down
heavily on the UPA government Mr Badal said that the Union government
was intriguing to bring Punjab at the bank of economic disaster
through its anti- Punjab stance and discriminating policies. He said
that exorbitant hike in prices of fertilizers and other agricultural
inputs like diesel, the Union government had broken the back of the
farmers, rendering them to at the mercy of the Centre.
Training his guns against former Punjab Finance Minister and his
nephew Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, the Chief Minister asserted that the
PPP leader had committed political suicide by leaving the party which
had groomed him politically. He said that party was supreme and no
individual was above it. Mr Badal also criticized Mr Manpreet Singh
Badal from keeping him and his family completely insulated from the
people of Gidderbaha by never allowing him to add Gidderbaha in his
iternary. However the Chief Minister assured the people that he would
now satiate to make all efforts to cherish the aspirations of the
residents of Gidderbaha to change the fate of region, which had been
knowingly ignored by the four times MLA.
The Chief Minister also thanked the people for supporting the
candidates of the SAD in the recently concluded general elections for
the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC). He asserted that
the verdict of people in the way they had denounced the candidates of
Congress sponsored Panthic morcha, had once again proved that SAD was
the only votary of the well being of panth. Mr Badal further said that
the entire state Congress leadership and its cronies would meet the
same fate and eventually would be wiped out from the scene.
Asked to comment on SAD-BJP’s prospects in the coming assembly
elections in the state, Mr Badal reiterated that we would certainly
stage come back by routing the Congress party from the state which
was “writing on the wall”. He claimed that due to the wrong policies
of the Congress the people were keen to teach the Congress and its
arrogant leadership lesson in the ensuing assembly polls in Punjab. “Unprecedented development in just four and a half years during our
regime as compared to Congress rule of above 30 years would certainly
tilt the balance in our favour, as the power hungry Congress through
its cheap tactics could not befool the innocent voters anymore ” Mr
Badal added. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister gave away 39 and 146 bicycles to the
girls students at village Mana and Doda respectively under the
flagship programme of Mai Bhago Education Scheme during his day long
Sangat Darshan programme. Addressing the gathering Mr Badal said that
the state government was committed for imparting quality education for
the girls to empower them so that they could become ideal citizens of
the society.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister disbursed a grant of Rs 1.75 crores for
the development of 10 villages during the Sangat Darshan.
CRIME RATE DOWN BY 22 PERCENT AFTER COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVES: SUKHBIR
- AIMING TO MAKE PUNJAB POLICE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL FORCE OF THE COUNTRY
PUNJAB FIRST TO INITIATE CITIZEN FRIENDLY SAANJH INITIATIVE
- DEDICATES 115 SAANJH KENDRAYAS TO PUBLIC
1 PERCENT PROMOTION QUOTA FOR COMMUNITY POLICE PERSONELL
- 5 STATE MEDALS FOR COMMUNITY POLICE INITIATIVES ANNUALY
AMRITSAR, OCTOBER 17: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, today laid the foundation of major initiatives to make Punjab police ‘Citizen Friendly’ as he inaugurated 115 community policing centers brand named ‘Saanjh’. The Deputy Chief Minister symbolically launched the first of its own kind community policing initiative by inaugurating state-of-the-art Saanjh Kendras at Majitha and Civil Lines, marking a new beginning to give civil citizen friendly face to Punjab Police.
Lauding the Punjab Police for realizing his dreams by constructing 115 Saanjh kendrayas within a record period of 4 months, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Police deserve pat for constructing the centers, preparing human resource backup for all theses kendras besides giving final touch to the hardware and software of these kendrayas within short span of time. He said that these Saanjh kendrayas would provide 20 civil services of Punjab Police including verification of tenants, registration and verification of servants, passport verifications, police clearance certificate, verification of vehicles, character verification for service, payment of traffic challans, information of impounded vehicles, receiving complaints of community traffic problems in the area, permission for political/sports/religious functions, NOC for armed license, permission for loud speakers for processions etc. He said that Punjab would become the first state that would provide copy of FIR online besides copy of cancellation or untraced reports. He said that crime information counter at the Saanjh Kendras would provide information regarding unclaimed bodies, lost vehicles, missing articles and documents, missing mobile sets, missing persons/child.
Giving the background of this initiative, the Deputy Chief Minister said that his basic endeavour was to reduce the interaction of general public with Khaki police. He said that there was an inherent fear amongst the common citizens to enter into Thana for even civil work, therefore, the Saanjh Kendras have been constructed separately from police stations and persons manning these Kendras were dressed in civil and corporate style dress. He said that the ambience of Saanjh kendrayas gives a look of corporate style office so that any citizen can without hesitation approach these Kendras.
Mr. Badal said that after the initiation of community police reforms and new Commissionerate system, the crime rate in Punjab has come down 22% reflecting that people has started reposing faith in the working of Punjab Police. The ambitious named Saanjh was launched in the state in 2010, which extended the concept of Community Policing Centre, to the Sub-division and the Police Station. Even more significantly, Saanjh Centres have been made the focal point of Police Community partnership. The state allocated Rs. 30 crores for the Saanjh Project in 2010-11 and another Rs. 30 crores in the succeeding financial year 2011-2012.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Saanjh project was an institutionalized set up of management of Community Police Resource Centers, named as Saanjh Kendras at 27 Police Districts,114 subdivisions and 359 Police Stations in the State. He informed that a Community Affairs Division headed by an IGP at Police Headquarters would supervise the functioning of the Saanjh Kendras across the State. Zonal IGPs and Range DIGs shall be the intermediary supervisory levels and to give a distinctive identity to the Saanjh Centres, all Centers have a uniformly designed building with standardized furniture, furnishings and layout. He revealed that every Saanjh Kendra would be run by a Police-Public Committee comprising of Police Officers, Representatives of Government Departments such as Health, Education, Women at the district and sub-divisional level and representatives from among Principals of Colleges, Professionals and Civil Society, Non Governmental Organizations
.
Giving the details of the working of Saanjh Kendras, a statewide IT platform with centralized server at Police Headquarters linked to every Saanjh Kendra shall enable centralized data uploading and access providing citizens with copies of FIRs, untraced reports, no objection certificates, etc., at a click of a button, in a time bound frame. Every Saanjh Kendra would provide all services to be delivered by the Police Department as enshrined in the Right to Service Act within prescribed time limits to the people from a single window. The citizen from any part of the State would be able to approach the nearest Saanjh Kendra for obtaining information/services from any Police Station in the state including remote locations, he added.
Mr. Badal said that for NRIs, the Saanjh Kendras would accept applications for registration of foreigners on arrival and departure, MRG enquiries in case of lost of passport abroad, complaint of fraud and cheating by travel agents, NRIs complaints and queries besides extension of residential permits for the foreigners.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the cadre for community policing was separate from general police and he has fixed a quota of 1 percent promotion for community police personnel. He said that to motivate the personnel working in community policing 5 state medals have been earmarked for community police initiatives. Mr. Badal said that he would personally monitor the working of community police initiatives and performance of senior police officers in this area would be recorded in their ACRs.
It may be mentioned here that today’s ceremony marked the opening of 115 Saanjh Kendras all over the state, whereas 116 more under construction Saanjh Kendras would be operational by the end of this year. The Deputy Chief Minister said that whole country was looking towards the success of Saanjh experiment in Punjab and he was receiving queries from all over the country as many state wants to replicate this experiment in their own state.
Earlier Mr. Tikshan Sud, Local Government Minister, said that electorate of Punjab are set to re-elect SAD-BJP government in Vidhan Sabha 2012 elections awarding it for ‘Citizen Friendly’ initiatives like Right to Service Act, Local Government package, e-governance initiatives in transport department and Saanjh Kendras.
Member Parliament, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that Punjab was showing to the whole country that how systemic changes can strike at the root cause of corruption.
Earlier, Punjab DGP Mr. Anil Kaushik welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and promised to make Saanjh concept a grand success. Mr. S.K. Sharma, ADGP/HRD and community Policing, Mrs Gurpreet Kaur Deo, IGP/NRI and Community Affairs Division, Mr. Parmod Ban, DIG Patiala Range and Mr. Shive Kumar Verma AIG Community Policing gave presentations regarding the whole concept and philosophy of ‘Saanjh Kendras’.
Prominent amongst others, who were present on the occasion Mr. Inderbir Singh Bularia, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia and Mr. Anil Joshi, both MLAs, and Mayor Mr. Shwait Malik.
SHIROMANI AKALI DAL
HISAR BY-ELECTION A TRAILER FOR 2012 PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA POLLS-SUKHBIR
- CONGRESS SHOULD REMAIN PREPARED FOR DECIMATION IN PUNJAB
- ELECTORATE ITICHING TO TEACH CONGRESS PARTY A LESSON FOR SHELTERING CORRUPT
- COMMON MAN OUT TO PUNISH CONGRESS PARTY FOR INFLICTING UNPRECIDENTED PRICE RISE
Chandigarh, October 17: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab and President Shiromani Akali Dal today said that Hisar Lok Sabha by-election was a trailer for Congress party for Punjab Vidhan Sabha 2012 election and Punjab Congress party should remain prepared for decimation from electoral scene.
In a statement issued here today Mr. Badal said that as Congress candidate of incumbent Congress party has lost his security deposit, most of the Congress candidates in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections should remain prepared for same fate. He said that people of this country were fed from Congress party for inflicting highest ever price rise on the common masses, for looting the treasury of nation in multi lakh crore scams besides shameless acts of congress to protect the corrupt ministers and were itching to teach Congress party a lifetime lesson. He said that these elections are an eye opener for Congress party who after getting elected in UPA-II had taken electorate for a granted and were virtually announcing from the rooftop that they had been given license by the electorate to loot the public for five years.
He said that Hisar by polls were historic by-election in which electorate have shown the power of ballot paper by ensuring forfeiture of deposit of Congress candidate that too when Congress party is ruling party in the state.
Seeking resignation of Congress led UPA Government on moral grounds, Mr. Badal said that Hisar by poll were not ordinary poll but the reflection of people’s anger against Congress party for non-governance, apathy, arrogance of power and most importantly multi lakh crore scams.
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Gatka Federation of India (Regd.)
'GATKEBAAZ' TO BE AWARDED INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS-GREWAL
SAS Nagar October 17 : In a bid to ensure proper distinction to Gatka players for their achievements in the national and international Gatka championships, the World Gatka Federation has decided in principal to award international rankings to the 'Gatkebaaz'. This was revealed by General Secretary Gatka Federation of India (GFI) Mr. Harjeet Singh Grewal on the concluding day of three-day national Gatka workshop-cum-refresher course held in Punjab School Education Board at SAS Nagar. The course was attended by 52 Gatkebaaz including men and women from various states, adding he said that this workshop was conducted to train Gatka officials like referees, judges and technical advisors for smooth conduct of first National Gatka Championship (Men & Women) to be held at Akal Degree College Mastuana Sahib (Sangrur) in November this.
He pointed out that Gatka experts threw light on various aspects of this prestigious game during this workshop through lectures and video presentations to enable 'Gatkebaaz' to demonstrate extra skills during competitions. Trainees were imparted practical training in the grounds as per Gatka rules set forth by the GFI later in the evening. On concluding day selection trails for Punjab and Chandigarh state Gatka teams were also conducted which would represent at the first National Gatka Championship being organised at Mastuana Sahib near Sangrur, added Mr. Grewal.
Mr. Grewal further said that GFI has first ever formulated Gatka rules & regulation book after valuable inputs provided by eminent Gatka experts and subsequently amended the same to make it far more broad-based and relevant not only at national but across the globe also. This book would also be brought out in other regional languages to distribute free of cost to the Gatka players in the country.
In order to train the budding Gatkebaaz vigorously, he informed that Gatka Training Centers in every state would be established. Mr. Grewal further said that to promote and popularize centuries' old martial art Gatka at National level in a big way, GFI would organize Gatka amateur competitions from village level to international level to inspire the budding youth to adopt this martial sport.
Besides, a Sikh Martial Art Research and Training Board (SMART Board) had also been constituted to grant scholarships to the research scholars pursuing Ph.D in the field of martial art, exclusively on the subject of Gatka, to enrich the legacy of centuries' old Indian martial art from the historical perspective, he added.
Photo caption : Trainee Gatkebaaz posing for photo finish at national Gatka refresher course held in Punjab School Education Board at SAS Nagar.
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SAD RIDICULES AMARINDER’S CLAIM ON INAUGRATION ON KHALSA HERIGTAGE PROJECT
RS. 160 CRORE SPENT IN LAST FOUR YEARS FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT : DR. CHEEMA
Chandigarh, October 17 : Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday ridiculed the claims of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Chief Capt. Amarinder Singh on inauguration of the Khalsa Heritage Project Anandpur Sahib and told the Congress leader that Rs. 160 crore have been spent during the last four and a half years to complete the project whose inauguration would be done by Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh.
It is worth mentioning here that Capt. Amarinder Singh had claimed that the inauguration of the project had already been done in 2006.
In a statement issued from party headoffice here today party Secretary and Spokeman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said Capt. Amarinder Singh tried to gain political mileage out of the so called inauguration of the incomplete project during 2006 only because elections for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha were due in 2007. He disclosed that till date Rs. 292 crore have been spent on the completion of the project out of which Rs. 160 crore have been spent during the last four and a half years and Rs. 132 crore were spent during the previous tenure of the SAD-BJP government. He questioned the Congress leader that if the project was complete in 2006, then why it was not opened for public?
Dr. Cheema said that people can well understand the frustration of the former Chief Minister who is eager to get back to power but has realized that due to unprecedented development works carried out by the present SAD-BJP government during the last four and a half years, the Congress party would get a humiliating defeat in the coming assembly polls of 2012. He said that as he had no issue to raise and the party even failed to raise any issue in the last Vidhan Sabha session, it was now unsuccessfully trying to raise non issues based on false and malicious propaganda.
SAD leader advised the Congress leader to publicly seek an apology from the Khalsa Panth for misleading the masses on completion of such an historic monument which is all set to become eighth wonder of the world.
PUNJAB GOVT ACCEPTS THE DEMANDS OF 7654 TEACHERS' UNION
REMAINING SALARIES AND APPOINTMENT LETTER TO BE ISSUED BEFORE DIWALI
Chandigarh October 17:-
On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, his Principal Secretary Mr. D.S. Guru presided over a meeting held with the delegation of 7654 teachers union. Mr. Guru accepted both the demands put forward by the union and ordered the officers to complete the official formalities within a week and implement the decision immediately
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that during the meeting the delegation of 7654 teachers union pointed out that although the second counseling has been completed but the appointment letter had yet not been issued to the remaining teachers. He said that Mr. Guru sympathetically considered this genuine demand of the teacher union and he issued directions to the concerned department to complete the official formalities within a week and to issue appointment letters to the remaining teachers.
The spokesman further said that the second demand of the teacher was that some of the teachers had not received the salaries since May, 2011. Considering it a genuine demand Mr. Guru asked the concern department to release the balance of salaries before Diwali positively.
Prominent among those who were present in the meeting were ADGP (Int.) Mr. Suresh Arora, Secretary Education Mr. Husan Lal, Secretary Finance Mr. Jaspal Singh, DPI (S) Dr. Avtar Chand Sharma and Director SCERT Mrs. Neelam Bhagat.
SAY NO TO DIWALI GIFTS-LAKSHAMI KANTA CHAWLA
Chandigarh, October 17:
In a determined attempt to curb the "organized corruption" by way of exchanging Diwali Gifts, Social Security, Women & Child Development Minister Punjab, Prof. Lakshmi Kanta issued the directions to the officials of the department regarding Diwali gifts.
The minister said that she was forced to take this step as the web of Diwali Gifts every year has cast its net over all sections of the society. She said that the Punjab Government was determined to provide free, fair and transparent administration in the State. Strict instructions have been given to all the concerned officers not to exchange gifts.
The exchange of gifts or freebies/favors to the men in authority was no less than an "organized corruption" which should have been curbed at the initial stage only, said the Minister. She believed that such practices always deviate the person from his actual goal and imbalance his partial approach in life particularly during his service career. Giving and accepting bribe in the form of gifts should be deemed as a criminal offence, said the Minister.
38.67 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 17: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 38.67 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 41.70 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 3867238 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 36.50 lakh tonnes of paddy (94.4%) till date whereas private traders procured 216802 tonnes (5.6%) of paddy. Till October 16, PUNGRAIN had procured 982212 tonnes (26.9) whereas MARKFED procured 791360 tonnes (21.7%). PUNSUP procured 936044 tonnes (25.6%); PSWC procured 475084 tonnes (13.0%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 403618 tonnes (11.1 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 62118 (1.7`%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 470796 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Jalandhar with 418629 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Kapurthala with 346805 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
ROAD CONTRACTORS IN PUNJAB WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR POTHOLES AND CRACKS WITHIN 24 HOURS: SUKHBIR
· STATE FIRST IN COUNTRY TO ADOPT OPRC PROGRAM
· CONTRACTORS TO HAVE SUBMIT SELF-ASSESSED MONTHLY REPORT FOR PAYMENT
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 16:
The Punjab Government has become first state in the country to start ‘Output and Performance-Based Road Contract’ (ORPC) system in the Rs.750 crore World Bank assisted road project, which would provide immediate road repairs and removal of road cracks in the state. Under this extraordinary OPRC model the potholes would be repaired within 24 hours and cracks would be eliminated within three days otherwise the contractors would have to lose part of their monthly payments.
Stating this, Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal disclosed that the Punjab Government has inked the OPRC project with the World Bank, making contractors accountable for immediate maintenance of roads. Mr. Badal said that primarily 6 roads of Punjab including Sangrur-Sunam, Bhawanigarh-Sunam-Bhikhi-SH13, Intersection-Kotshamir, Barnala-Mansa, Mansa-Talwandi Sabo, Dhanaula-Bhikhi and Bathinda-Kotshamir-Talwandi Sabo has been chosen in the state under this valued project of World Bank. He said that this system would not only make the contractors more efficient and effective in maintenance of roads and highways but also provide best road networks in Punjab.
Elaborating the commencement of OPRC in the state, Mr. Badal said that the Public Works Department (PWD) has fully prepared to initiate system in the state by floating tenders to award the improvement and maintenance work of six roads in Sangrur, Mansa and Bathinda areas. He said that this project will be awarded as per the new contract system of OPRC developed by World Bank with an aim to develop best practices in road building. He said that these roads would contain a total maintenance and improvement of 203 kilometers with a total cost of Rs 750 crores out of which Rs 630 crores would be provided by World Bank as soft loan.
He said that under this ambitious project the contractors would have to make requisite repairs and maintain the roads for 10 years since set monthly installments to the contractors has based on their performance in achieving specified service levels as agreed in the contract such as rehabilitation of the road, maintenance services, roughness of roads besides improvements. He said that this system would set the contractors accountable completing the task up to the mark level since earlier in cash contracts, the contractors build roads, maintain the roads only for only year and exit from the project while there were so many chances of substandard construction and the contractors were not held responsible for the deteriorating conditions of roads within few years after construction.
Mr. Badal said that to verify the standard of roads, the Government Agency would visit the sites and pick random samples, which may be in presence of contractors or independent auditor besides it, the commuters can also reports about the deficiencies in road building to the concerned authorities. He said that the under this program the road contract would be awarded to one entity for several roads in the state while the contractors would receive payments only if they would achieve the target in specified service levels including rehabilitation and maintenance of roads.
He said that the monthly payments of the contractors would be halted, if they fail to perform as per the desired standards. He said that the contract would also contain the self-reporting mechanism, where contractors would have to submit a self assessed monthly report for payment that includes all works including repair, accident report, emergency works, bridge and structure inspections and road signage etc.
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BRIGHTER DIWALI FOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS 251 PROMOTED AS SCHOOL AND 17 AS COLLEGE PRINCIPALS
· NO SCHOOL WILL BE WITHOUT ITS OFFICIAL HEAD IN COMING THREE MONTHS-SEKHWAN
· DECKS CLEARED FOR PROMOTIONS OF MORE 450 HEADMASTERS AND 3500 LECTURERES
Chandigarh, October 16:
The SAD-BJP government has ensured brighter Diwali for students and teachers of education department as Punjab Education Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan today ordered the record overnight promotions of 251 school principals so that no Government Senior Secondary school in state would remain without Principal. It may be mentioned here that the Education Minister had promoted 17 senior college lecturers as Principals to ensure principal each for all 52 Government colleges few days ago.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sekhwan pointed out that the State needs 1299 principal and with promotions of these 251 new school principals no senior secondary school would be san principal. He said that as Education Minister he felt that for development of any education institute it might have its regular official head and that the teaching fraternity could also be motivated through timely promotions. He informed that the decks have also been cleared for promotions of 450 more headmasters and 3500 lecturers in coming days as dates have been finalized for the required meetings of departmental promotion committees. He said that the Education department had already promoted 842 headmasters last week.
The Minister further pointed out the SAD-BJP government has till date recruited more than 54000 teachers in a total transparent manner and not even a single litigation regarding this mammoth recruitment drive speaks itself about the commitment of our government for ensuring quality education and provision of world class education infrastructure. He said that the Punjab has now reached at third spot on National Education Index, whereas it was slipped on 14th position during previous regime.
Listing out the initiatives of SAD-BJP government on higher education front, Mr. Sekhwan revealed that in a single year, the State government has set up 17 degree colleges that too in educationally backward areas through tie up with different universities and their academic session had already begun. He said that with the promotions of 17 college Principals, each of Punjab‘s 52 government colleges has now its official head. He said that Rs. 50 crores have been provided for up gradation these government colleges.
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SUBSIDY ON SPRINKLING AND DRIP IRRIGATION ENHANCED UPTO 85%
· MORE THAN 1000 FARMERS ENGAGE IN DRIP AND SPRINKLING IRRIGATION TO GET TUBE WELL CONNECTIONS ON PRIORITY
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 16: The Punjab Government today enhanced subsidy on Drip and Sprinkling Irrigation from 75% to 85% for the small and marginalized farmers in the state. The Government also decided to provide more than 1000 priority tube well connections to such farmers, who were engaged in such kind of irrigation.
According to an official spokesman, the Irrigation Department has chalked out a comprehensive scheme to lay underground pipes in private fields providing 50% to the farmers for the purpose of Drip and Sprinkling irrigation. He said that the Punjab government has also facilitated the farmers' 90% subsidy under National Agriculture Development Scheme to ensure irrigation in the areas having contaminated ground water.
The spokesman said that the farmers can save 50 to 70% water and can increase 30 to 100% yield by using the drip and sprinkling techniques of irrigation. He said that these techniques would also be beneficial for the farmers to leave the Paddy and Wheat crop circle adopting congenial environment for adopting cultivation of vegetables, pulses horticulture and other cash crops. He said that it is the need of the hour to adopt modern irrigation techniques since the ground water table has been depleting on large scale during past few years due to the limitless and unnecessary usage of ground water on Wheat and Paddy crop.
The Spokesman said that Punjab government has been spending Rs.120 crores under various schemes launched by Soil and Water Conservation Department to conserve and preserve 34000 hectares agriculture land in the state. He said that out of 141 blocks in the state 103 blocks have been 'black listed', where the level of ground water depleting fastly due to unnecessary and unlimited usage of water. He said that the sensing the sensitivity of depletion in such areas, the state government has been chalked out this new techniques of irrigation with a record subsidy for the farmers.
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PUNJAB ALL SET TO ELIMINATE CHILD LABOUR
· PREPARES PUNJAB STATE ACTION PLAN FOR TOTAL ABOLITION OF THIS MENACE
· RESPONSIBILITY OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLAN
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 16: The Punjab Government is all set to root out child labour in the state by framing first of its kind in the country 'State Action Plan' for complete elimination of this menace.
Labour Minister Mr. Arunesh Shakir, today disclosing the 'State Action Plan' said that the necessary instructions have been issued to the all district administrations for the proper implementation of action plan. He said that Punjab Government has also constituted a 'State Steering Committee' to monitor the implementation of plan while the District Administration would also responsible for the rehabilitation of released child labourers.
Mr. Shakir said that all requisite preparation has been completed on all levels and the punitive action would be taken against the erring officials. He said that through this action plan department of state government including Education, Health, Local Government, Labour, Child and Women Development, Police and Deputy Commissioners have been made responsible to bring the released child labourers in the main stream. The Minister said that the Education Department would provide education to the released children besides implementing the Center/State funded welfare schemes for these deserted children.
Elaborating the Action Plan, Mr. Shakir said that the Health Department would ensure the routine health examinations for such children by providing free medicines. The Minister said that a 'Special Task Force' has also been formed to conduct surprise raids on Dhabas, Hotels, Restaurants, Tea Shops and Brick Kilns. He said that the task force would also conduct raids in houses, where such labourers works as domestic helpers and no body behind the child labour would be spared at any cost. He said that the Local Bodies Department would assist the District Administration for the Rehabilitation of these children.
Mr. Shakir said that to implement the action plan properly in each district, the Deputy Commissioner concerned would convene meetings with the Task Force at periodic ends to evaluate the progress in this regard. He said that Labour Department has been made the nodal agency, which would ensure the complete abolition of Child Labour from their respective districts and would take legal action within 24 hours, where found child labour in operation. He said that Punjab Government is firmed to eliminate Child Labour and rehablititate the released children in the state. He said that the Labour Department has observed three 'Child Labour Elimination Weeks' after June 2010 to till date besides releasing 1443 Child Labourers and produced challans against the accused.
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Congress urges Sh. Advani to halt his anti-corruption ‘Rath Yatra’ to introspect the rampantly corrupt BJP ruled states, particularly the Karnataka govt.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira
MLA Bholath
The arrest of Sh. B.S. Yeddurappa Ex-CM has completely exposed the blatant and rampant corruption in BJP ruled states of the country.
In the event of arrest of one of BJP’s senior most leader and Ex-CM of Karnataka, Sh. Advani has no moral right to pursue his ‘Rath-Yatra’ on the issue of corruption. It amounts to “running with the hare and hunting with the hound”, you can’t indulge in double standards on such a vital issue to hoodwink the people.
As we are aware the special Lokayukta court of Karnataka has indicted Sh. Yeddurappa on three counts of corruption for de-notifying land worth hundreds of crores in south and east Bangalore, for making monetary gains for self and family as CM. The ‘yatra’ would be meaningless and hollow since the BJP has chosen to shield and protect corrupt leaders like Sh. Yeddurappa, instead of punishing him.
Besides this, the Punjab Congress urges Sh. Advani to introspect the misdeeds of his Akali alliance partners in Punjab. The Badal family can rightly be termed the epitome and monument of corruption; they have with the might of the state hijacked the trades of transport, cable network, sand mining and liquor in the state. Punjab is neck deep in corruption and is being ‘looted’ with both hands by the SAD-BJP. Only recently BJP ministers had to resign after being caught by the CBI taking bribe in their official residences.
In case the ‘Rath-Yatra’ Sh. Advani enters Punjab, it would be making mockery of a serious issue like corruption that has spread like cancer in the state, due to the SAD-BJP alliance. The Badals have virtually rendered the institution of Lokpal a defunct body by not providing it with necessary staff so that complaints pending against the govt. cannot be probed. Under these circumstances the Congress advises Sh. Advani to immediately disband his ‘Rath-Yatra’ to first set the corrupt BJP ruled states in order, he should first expel leaders like Yeddurappa and then resume his ‘Yatra’.
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Punjab constitutes task force to combat 'tobacco' menace
· resolve to make punjab "tobacco free zone"
Chandigarh, October 16:
In a significant development to make Punjab tobacco free zone the Punjab Government today constituted a task force. Health and Family Welfare Mr. Satpal Gossian disclosing this said that this task force will ensure the proper implementation of the tobacco act so as to save the youth of Punjab from the clutches of this dangerous habit of tobacco chewing.
The Minister said that the task force would comprise of six officials and one non-official member. He said that officials members would be of the rank of Deputy Commissioner or an officer nominated by him, SSP or officer nominated by him (not below the rank of DSP), Civil Surgeon or District level nodal officer of district tobacco control programme, Drug Inspector, Food Inspector and District Attorney. Non-official members of this task force would be taken from reputed NGO or renowned philanthropist or a religious leader.
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INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB
36.94 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
DISTRICT FEROZEPUR LEADS IN PROCUREMENT
Chandigarh, October 16: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 36.94lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening.
Out of total procurement of 3694479 tonnes of paddy in all the 1745 procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 33.14 lakh tonnes of paddy (89.7%) till date whereas private traders procured 3.79 lakh tonnes (10.3%) of paddy. Till October 15, PUNGRAIN had procured 889819 tonnes (26.8%) whereas MARKFED procured 720586 tonnes (21.7%). PUNSUP procured 848804 tonnes (25.6%),PSWC procured 432997tonnes (13.1 %) whereas PAIC was able to procure 367866 tonnes (11.1 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 54869 (1.7%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 441266 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Patiala with 437387 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Jalandhar with 385793 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centers and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
PR-11/
- Chandigarh, Oct 15, 2011
People’s Party of Punjab has elected its General Council. The first meeting of the newly elected General Council shall take place on Monday, the 17th October, 2011 and the Council shall then elect the Central Committee. Once the Central Committee is formed, it shall further select the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). ......Read
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Lok Adalat for disposal of different categories of cases such as Civil
A Mega Lok Adalat for disposal of different categories of cases such as Civil Suits, Land references cases, Civil Appeals, Hindu Marriage Act cases, Maintenance petitions, execution applications, cancellation reports, juvenile cases, traffic challans, challans under the Shop Act and prelitigative cases of different banks and BSNL, was held at Mansa where Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.M. Kumar, Acting Chief Justice and Executive Chairman, Punjab Legal Services Authority, Hon'ble Mr. Justice, Ranjit Singh, Chairman, Building Committee (Punjab), Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.K. Garg, Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.K. Jain, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajan Gupta, Administrative Judge, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Paramjit Singh Dhaliwal and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik accompanied the worthy Acting Chief Justice to preside over the Lok Adalat and the Seminar held in the same pretext. In the said Lok Adalat about 2300 cases were taken up, which include the prelitigative cases of different banks and people showed immense interest in the Lok Adalat and resolution of their disputes during the same and about 1700 cases were disposed of. As many as 10 Benches were constituted and lot of rush was seen on the Benches of Lok Adalat where people gathered to resolve their disputes. By this visit of Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice and Hon'ble Judges it appears that people were enlightened about their rights and the services rendered by the Punjab Legal Service Authority and its ancillary authorities and the people showed lot of interest to gain knowledge about the Lok Adalat and the free legal aid given to the poor people. Hon'ble Mr.Justice M.M. Kumar, Acting Chief Justice apprised the people about their rights to free legal aid and to protect their civil rights.
Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice also laid the foundation stone of A.D.R. (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Centre at Mansa, which will provide the services of free legal aid and Lok Adalat to the general public.
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RUPNAGAR TO HAVE PRESTIGIOUS NSSC - BADAL
DECISION ON PARTY TICKETS ONLY AFTER ANNOUNCEMNET OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
RUPNAGAR OCTOBER 14: National Service Selection Center (NSSC) for Armed Forces would soon come up at Rupnagar.
This was announced by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal at the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan while talking to the media persons this afternoon. He said that the prestigious NSSC would be established over an area of 200 acres land, which was being made available to the armed forces by the Punjab government in the vicinity of the local camps of IIT. He said that the upcoming Centre would give a huge boost the recruitment drive of our youth in the Defence services and the Ministry of Defence had already confirmed its decision through the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army. Mr. Badal said: "Rupnagar would soon become a hub of Defence institutions in the country with the setting up of new NSSC besides NCC and Naval academies already coming up here.
Asked to specify the timing of the distribution of tickets to the SAD candidates in the forthcoming assembly polls, Mr. Badal said that the entire exercise would be taken up and finalized in consultation with the Political Affairs Committee of SAD only after the announcement of the elections in the state.
Asked to comment on the issue raised by the President State Youth Congress & MP Ravneet Singh Bitu for alleged diversion of funds meant for the welfare schemes for scheduled castes in the Sangat Darshan programs, Mr. Badal said that these leaders were issuing such irresponsible statements out of sheer frustration. He said that it was amply clear that not even a single penny could be spent for any other purpose adding he clarified that the entire grants in the sangat darshan programs were being disbursed out of the rural development fund collected by levying market fee on the food grains procured by the state government. He lamented that the Centre was hardly allocating adequate grants to carry out development works in the state therefore it was obligatory on the part of the state government to generate funds from its own resources to keep up the tempo of development both in rural as well as urban sector.
Replying to another question about the nomination of PCS officers amongst the quota of District Revenue Officers/Tehsildars, the Chief Minister said that the government had already given in principle approval in the regard and the process for the selection of these officers would be initiated soon.
Referring to another query about the non-allocation of staff against 59 posts sanctioned for the Divisional Headquarter Rupnagar, Mr. Badal said that requisite supporting staff had already been sanctioned by the Cabinet along with another decision to include SAS Nagar (Mohali) district in the newly created Division.
Earlier, addressing the sangat darshan, Mr. Badal said that Punjab was the only state in the country to have a unique 'sangat darshan' program to redress the day-to-day problems and grievances of the common man on the spot. He said that the sangat darshan was the most effective program to sort out the development issues on the spot to the satisfaction of the people and added that it was not only a platform to disburse development grants but it was a useful program to feel the pulse of the people in order to serve them in the right earnest. The Chief Minister also directed the Chairman Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. to release the tubewell connections on the priority to the village panchayats and rural cooperative societies as per the policy so that these grass root level institutions could supplement their resources for income generation.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister disbursed development grants worth Rs.6.50 crore to 95 village panchayats for the execution of various on-going projects and welfare schemes. Mr. Badal also handed over a cheque of Rs. 1.55 crore to the President of the local Municipal Council for the overall development of the Rupnagar city. He also gave away 80 bicycles to the girl students of Government Schools under Mai Bhago Scheme.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion, included Advisor to Chief Minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Chairman District Planning Committee Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr. Tara Singh Ladal and Mrs. Satwant Kaur Sandhu (both former Ministers), Member SGPC Mr. Amarjit Singh Chawla, Chairperson Zila Parishad Rupnagar Mrs. Daljit Kaur Kang, Chairman Improvement Trust Dr. RS Parmar and President Municipal Council Mr. AS Satyal besides Deputy Commissioner Mr. GK Singh and SSP Mr. Jatinder Singh Aulakh. Several leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP besides SGPC members also attended.
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PUNJAB HIKES REIMBURSEMENT TO EMPLOYEES FOR REPLACEMENT OF KNEES AND HIP JOINT IMPLANT
Chandigarh, October 14: The Punjab Government decided to enhance the reimbursement charges to employees/Pensioners and their dependent family members for replacement of knees and hip joint implants.
According to the notification issued now the employees would be eligible for reimbursement of Rs. 65000/- per knee implant and Rs. 1,00,000/- for revised knee implant. He said that employees would be reimburse indoor charges ICU, Monitoring, Operation, charges of medicines, consumable and disposable surgical physiotherapy and laboratory test charges on the pattern of AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh.
The notification said that in the case of Hip Joint Implant the employees would be reimburse to Rs. 40,000/-+ Rs. 5000/- for bone cement the normal Cement T.H.R . The employees below 50 years would get Rs. 80,000/- + other reimbursable charges for non-cement T.H.R (Iso-Elastic) used for hip diseases.
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Review the spread of Dengue in Punjab
Chandigarh, 14th October:
Sh Satpal Gosain, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab here today conducted a special meeting with Sh.Karan A. Singh, Principal Secretary, Health; Dr J.P. Singh, Director, Health & Family Welfare, Punjab and S. Gurdip Singh, Additional Secretary, Punjab to review the spread of Dengue in Punjab and to discuss the measures and modalities to contain it. During the meeting the Health Minister was informed that the Chief Secretary Punjab had recently convened a meeting of senior officers and heads of various departments including Health Department, Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Finance Department, Local Bodies Department and Water Supply and Sanitation Department for inter-sectoral coordination viz-a-viz the measures to
control and contain Vector Borne Diseases, especially Dengue and Malaria. Instructions were issued by the Chief Secretary to all concerned departments to effectively implement the modalities discussed and finalized for the same.
Sh Gosain directed the officers of the health department to issue fresh communication to Deputy Commissioners of all the districts of Punjab asking them to take appropriate measures at their level in coordination with the Civil Surgeons of their respective districts involving all the other concerned departments so as to effectively and properly implement the multi-pronged strategies as decided at the state level coordination committee meeting to combat the vector borne diseases like Dengue and Malaria. Besides this the Health Minister asked the Director Health to address a urgent communication to the Heads of the various departments who participated in the State Task Force urging them to extend their wholehearted support and cooperation to help contain any further spread of Dengue. Sh Gosain further directed that special teams from the state headquarter be rushed to the 3 most affected districts of Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Ludhiana and Bathinda from where most cases of dengue have been reported. These teams will visit these 3 districts tomorrow and inspect and examine the intervention strategies and steps taken by the local health authorities there and also impart any further requisite training to the local health workers. Sh Satpal Gosain also appealed to the various social and religious heads of the state urging them to sensitize people to follow the preventive measures and other instructions and guidelines issued by the state
health department to guard themselves against these diseases.
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BATH PRAISES SCOUT SUMIT PAL
Chandigrah: October 14, 2011
Captain Balbir Singh Bath minister for NRI affairs today praised Scout Sumit Pal Singh Dakoha for being selected as a delegate for the International Peace Mission Camp for Scouts held at Jidheh in Saudi Arbea. He said that only Scout was selected for this peace mission camp from India and Sumit Pal was the only candidate from Punjab who took part in this international Camp which is a matter of pride for the whole state.He said that the achievement of Sumit Pal would set an example to the youth.
It is worth mentioning that Scouts from 100 countries were participated in this Camp. Sumit Pal is son of Sukhdev Singh of village Dakoha who is philanthropist as well as president of teachers union Dakoha.
27.56 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 14: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 27.56 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 31.55 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 2756839 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 25.66 lakh tonnes of paddy (93.1%) till date whereas private traders procured 190640 tonnes (6.9%) of paddy. Till October 13, PUNGRAIN had procured 694402 tonnes (27.1%) whereas MARKFED procured 557538 tonnes (21.7%). PUNSUP procured 654554 tonnes (25.5%),PSWC procured 330358 tonnes (12.9%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 295445 tonnes (11.5 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 33902 (1.3%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 338003 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Jalandhar with 313055 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Kapurthala with 267924 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
NO VOTES TO BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE TO VOTER -ELECTION COMMISSION ISSUES DIRECTIONS
Chandigarh, October 14: The Election Commission of India today said that being an Election year no votes shall be deleted without issuance of prior notice to the affected persons.
This was stated by Chief Electoral Officer Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu in a press statement. She said that these instructions shall remain in force till the elections to the Punjab assembly are held. Ms. Sidhu said that instructions in these regards have already been issued to all the Electoral Registration Officers. She said that no vote can be deleted from the list without issuing prior notice to the concerned persons while the only exception is in the case of death of a voter where in the lists supplied by the Registrar Birth and Death. She said that Electoral Registration Officers shall also display the lists of voters purposed to be added /deleted on the notice board of their respective offices.
Ms. Sidhu said that the process of accepting claims, objections and updation of Electoral Role would remain in process till October 20, 2011. She said that if any persons desiring of make his/her vote or deleting vote or seeking correction in details may do so in Form-6, Form-6A, Form -7, Form 8 and Form 8-A respectively, which available with all Booth Level Officers BLO) and Electoral Registration Officers in the state. The Forms can also be downloaded from the website http//www.ceopunjab.nic.in
Ex-servicemen to guard jails
Chandigarh, October 14:
Punjab Government has been entrusted the security of newly constructed Sudhar Gahrs (Central Jails) at Kapurthala, Faridkot and Mansa to Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation. This was revealed by Major General US Sidhu (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director of Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation to the Members in the 111th meeting of Board of Directors held here today. Gen. Sidhu also informed that about 50 security guards would be provided at each Sudha Ghar. Orders to this effect have been received from Director General of Prisons. It was also placed on record that Director General of Police had already short-listed 1577 police posts which would be relieved by PESCO Security Guards at other, strategic points. Thus the services of Police Personnel so relieved would be available for law and order and other police related duties. He further said that PESCO was also planning to establish Ecological Battalion by employing ex-servicemen of the State of Punjab. The Board of Directors of PESCO also approved the Annual Report for the Financial Year 2010-11 with the all time record profit of Rs. 3.57 crores, he added.
SO CALLED 'PANTHIC MORCHA' GETS A BIG JOLT: ITS SGPC MEMBERS IN HARYANA JOIN SAD FOLD
· SAD MAKES CLEAN SWEEP IN HARYANA AS ALL 11 SGPC MEMBERS BELONGS TO SHIROMANI AKALI DAL
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 13: The final nail in the coffin of so called Panthic Morcha was struck today as its only two SGPC members from Haryana (Ambala) today joined Shiromani Akali Dal in the presence of Party President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC President S. Avtar Singh Makkar.
Joining the 91 years old Panthic Party Shiromani Akail Dal both members namely Harpal Singh Pali and Amrik Singh Janet said that SAD has always safeguarded the Panthic principles and fought for the rights of Sikhs. They said that they were dismayed with the Panthic Morcha as it was having secret parleys with anti-Sikh congress party and have said goodbye to Panthic Morcha for ditching the Sikhs.
Welcoming the duo in the party fold, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that party would give them due recognition and regard and utilise their services in the Gurmat Prachar in Haryana region to keep new generation tied with the Sikhism.
It is pertinent to mention here that now SAD has fully occupied the 11 seats of SGPC in Haryana as 8 SAD candidates had won the elections while the 2 independent winners had already joined the party fold.
BADAL BLAMES CENTRE FOR DELIBERATELY ROTTING THE FOOD GRAINS DUE TO PAUCITY OF STORAGE SPACE
PUNJAB TO BECOME POWER SURPLUS STATE BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR- CM
CM UPGRADES KOT ISSE KHAN TOWNAS SUB TEHSIL AND NAGAR PANCHAYAT
DEVELOPMENTAL GRANTS WORTH RS 2.82 CRORES DISBURSED TO 67 VILLAGE PANCHAYATS
Fatehgarh Panjtoor (Moga), October 13- Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today slammed the Congress led UPA government at the centre for deliberately spoiling the precious food grains by not providing the permission to Punjab government for constructing the silos for storing them.
Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of his second day of his Sangat Darshan programme in the Dharamkot Assembly segment Mr Badal said that it was very unfortunate that the farmers of the state by their immense hard work were providing the grains to the country but the apathetic Union government is not at all bothered to store it properly. He asserted that as Punjab was serving the needs of the country by making it self sufficient in food grain production so it becomes the utmost duty of the Union Government to ensure adequate facilities of storage and timely movement of the food grains. But Mr Badal regretted that despite of the fact that they had been requesting the Government of India (GoI) time and again for setting up of silos on scientific lines, no heed has been paid towards their requests. He said the movement of grains is to be carried out by the railways which were under the exclusive control of Centre but as they have failed to perform their duty so the situation has aggrieved further.
Lambasting the Union government the Chief Minister said that the Union government was infact conspiring to ruin the economy of the state adding that the continuous hike in the prices of agriculture inputs like diesel and fertilisers which aims towards breaking the backbone of the Punjab’s economy is also a part of this conspiracy. “The SAD-BJP government is committed for the welfare of the farmers of the state and we will not allow the Union government to ruin the farmers” he added.
Giving another example of the discrimination of the Union government with the Punjab the Chief Minister said that the state was not getting its due share in the revenue collected from taxes and only 38% of the total revenue collected from the state was given to them, which was too miniscule. He said that the Union government was largely focusing on getting the credit for welfare works by starting the schemes that too by the money collected from the states, which was totally unjustified. He demanded that out of the remaining 62% also the Union government must give some more funds to state so as to ensure the welfare works in Punjab.
Replying a query regarding the Power situation in the state the Chief Minister asserted that owing to path breaking initiatives taken by the SAD-BJP government for power generation, the state would become a power surplus state by the end of next year. He said that the state government was committed for the all round development of the state and no stone would be left unturned for it.
Commenting on the demand of various government employee unions of the state for implementing the 4-9-14 scheme, the Chief Minister said that they have already accepted more than 90% of the genuine demands of the employees adding that the remaining ones would also be accepted after examining them. Mr Badal also said that the state government has taken many steps for the welfare of the employees and promotions along with hike in salaries, in parity with the current inflation had been given to them in an unprecedented manner.
Mr Badal also reiterated that the people of Mansa region want that Peona Thermal plant should be established in village Gobindpura of the district due to which more than 90% of the farmers have given their consent wilfully for acquiring the land. However he said that certain organisations who do not want to see a prosperous Punjab were politicising the issue. The Chief Minister reiterated that as per their policy of land acquisition the state government was not inclined to acquire even an inch of land without the express consent of the farmers.
Later on during the Sangat Darshan programme at Kot Isse Khan the Chief Minister accepted the long pending demand of the residents to give the status of Sub Tehsil to the town along with upgrading its status from Gram Panchayat to Nagar Panchayat. He said that the status of Sub Tehsil to Kot Isse Khan would provide a new impetus to the all round development of the town. On the occasion the Chief Minister gave 20 bicycles to the girls studying in the schools under its flagship programme of Mai Bhago Scheme. On the occasion Mr Badal said that the state government was committed for imparting quality education for the girls to empower them so that they could become ideal citizens of the society.
The Chief Minister disbursed a grant of Rs 2.82 crores to 67 village panchayats falling in Dharamkot assembly segment during the Sangat Darshan programme. He also asked the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Moga to organise village level camps for providing tube well connections to Panchayats for irrigating the waste lying common land in the villages, which could supplement income of the concerned village panchayat. Meanwhile Jaswinder Singh Sidhu the President of ETT Teachers Union Punjab, who had unsuccessfully contested the election for SGPC from Dharamkot as candidate of Panthic Morcha, joined the fold of SAD in the presence of the Chief Minister. Welcoming him to party Mr Badal hoped that the leader would contribute in strengthening the party. Similarly expressing faith in leadership of the Chief Minister, Sidhu said that he would untiringly work for the welfare of the party.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP from Faridkot Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Sheetal Singh, Former Minister Jathedar Tota Singh, Chairman Zila Parishad Mr Gurbax Singh Kapure, SGPC Member Gurmeet Singh and Youth Akali leader Mr Barjinder Singh Brar.
DIWALI BONANZA FOR PUNJAB FOREST SERVICES AS GOVERNMENT INCREASED THEIR SALARIES
- ALSO IMPLEMENT 4-9-14 SCALE FOR PFS
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 13: The Punjab Government today enhanced the salaries of Punjab Forest Services (PFS) with effect from October 1, 2011 implementing the scale of 4-9-14 besides increasing the initial pay of Foresters.
According to an official spokesman, the notification of revised scales for the officials of Forest Department has been issued and now they would get the increased salaries from October 1, 2011 as per the revised pay scales. He said that Forest Officials would get the initial scale of Rs 15600-39100, which was earlier 10300-34800 with an increased grade pay of Rs 5400, which was Rs 5000 earlier. The spokesman said that now the basic pay of officials would be Rs 21000. He said that the officials with a regular service of 4, 9 and 14 years in the department would get grade pay of Rs 6600, 7600 and 8600 respectively. He said that Foresters in the department would also get the increased grade pay of Rs 3000 as they were getting Rs 2400 earlier. The initial pay of the foresters has also been revised and now they would get Rs 11470, which was Rs 9880 earlier.
DIWALI BONANZA FOR HEALTH EMPLOYEES
· Pay scales of Analytical Assistants, Analyst, Chemical Examiners, Pharmacist, Multipurpose Health Workers hiked
Chandigarh October 13:
The Punjab Government today announced Diwali bonanza for Health Employees by substantially enhancing their pay scales.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Govt. has revised the pay scale of Junior Analytical Assistant w.e.f 1st October 2011. The Junior Analytical Assistant who were earlier in the pay band of 5910-20200 with grade pay of 3000 and initial pay of 11470 w.e.f 1-1-2006 have been put in the pay band of 10300-34800+ GP 3200 with initial pay of 13500 w.e.f 1-10-2011.
Similarly, Senior Analytical Assistants who were in the pay band of 10300-34800 with grade pay of 3200 and initial pay of 13500 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 have been put in the pay scale of 10300-34800 with grade pay of 3600 with initial pay of 14430.
The scale of Analyst that was 10300-34800 with GP 3800 and initial pay of 14590 w.e.f 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 4200 GP with initial pay of 16290 w.e.f. 1-10-2011. The pay scale of Deputy Public Analyst that was 10300-34800 + 4200 GP with initial pay of 16290 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 4600 GP with initial pay of 18030. The scale of Assistant Chemical Examiner that was 10300-34800 with GP 4200 and initial pay of 16290 w.e.f 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 4600 GP with initial pay of 18030 w.e.f. 1-10-2011.
The pay scale of Deputy Chemical Examiner that was 10300-34800 + 4400 GP with initial pay of 17420 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 has been revised to 15600-39100 + 6000 GP with initial pay of 24140. The pay scale of Government Analyst that was 10300-34800 + 5400 GP with initial pay of 20300 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 has been revised to 15600-39100 + 6600 GP with initial pay of 25250.
Similarly, Pharmacist who were in the pay band of 5900-20200 with grade pay of 3000 and initial pay of 11470 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 have been put in the pay scale of 10300-34800 with grade pay of 3200 with initial pay of 13500. The pay scale of Multipurpose Health Worker (Male & Female) that was 5900-20200 + 2000 GP with initial pay of 8240 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 has been revised to 5900-20200 + 2400 GP with initial pay of 9880.
23.83 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 13: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 23.83 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 28.19 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 2383261 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 22.20 lakh tonnes of paddy (93.2%) till date whereas private traders procured 162539 tonnes (6.8%) of paddy. Till October 12, PUNGRAIN had procured 601389 tonnes (27.1%) whereas MARKFED procured 485155 tonnes (21.8%). PUNSUP procured 562497 tonnes (25.3%) , PSWC procured 284627 tonnes (12.8%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 260718 tonnes (11.7 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 26336 (1.2%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 287447 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Jalandhar with 277020 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Kapurthala with 238975 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
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BADAL ASKS THE CONGRESS HIGH COMMAND TO WELCOME THE MOVEMENT OF ANNA HAZAARE
YATRAS OF HAZAARE AND ADVANI TO BE WELCOMED IN THE STATE
OPEN TO POSSIBILITY OF ALLINACES WITH LIKE MINDED PARTIES FOR DEFEATING CONGRESS
Mehna (Moga), October 12-
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Central Congress leadership to welcome the crusade of social activist Mr Anna Hazaare against corruption, rather than opposing it.
Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan programme of Dharamkot assembly segment held here today, the Chief Minister made a scathing attack on the Congress by asserting that on the one hand its state President Captain Amrinder Singh was welcoming the movement of Mr Hazare and on the other hand the Central leadership of the party was busy in criticising him. He said that Mr Hazare was a nice person and was fighting for a noble cause, so all the political leaders including Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh should solidly rally behind him and welcome his initiatives. Mr Badal said that corruption has made deep roads in the whole system and the need of the hour is that it must be weeded out through such movements.
However he said that due to their own vested interests the Congress leaders are never going to acknowledge the excellent work being done by people like Mr Anna Hazare. Reiterating the stand of the SAD-BJP alliance against corruption Mr Badal said that their government would welcome all such yatras in the state, including that of Mr Anna Hazare and Former Deputy Prime Minister and Senior BJP leader Mr LK Advani, which aims towards removing the corruption for the welfare of common man.
Training his guns against the former Chief Minister and State Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh, Mr Badal said that he was habitual of issuing irresponsible statements against SAD-BJP government adding that he is largely confined to issuing such activities and is least bothered about the welfare of the state and its people. Moreover he said that the statements of the Congress leaders depict the frustration amongst them due to the spectacular victory of SAD in the recently concluded elections of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC), in which the Congress had supported the anti SAD front in clandestine manner.
Replying a query regarding the possibility of alliance with some other party in the coming assembly elections the Chief Minister said that they were open to all such possibilities for giving a crushing defeat to the Congress. However he reiterated that alliance between SAD-BJP was firm and any further alliance would took a concrete form after the consent of both parties.
Talking about Peona Thermal Plant at village Gobindpura in Mansa district, Mr Badal said that state government had not done any forcible acquisition of land for the thermal plant adding that the land has been acquired with the consent of the farmers. He asserted that the Thermal plant was the need of the state and the issue has been unnecessarily politicised by some organisations that are not interested in the development of the state and have their own vested interests behind it. The Chief Minister said that farmers of the region are very well aware about the importance of the project due to which 93% of the farmers have taken the compensation of the acquired land. Mr Badal also said that they have already offered to leave such land where the farmers have not given their consent for acquisition for the thermal plant. “If the farmers of the village Gobindpura are ready for giving their land than why are the farmer organisations making hue and cry on the issue” he added.
Replying a query Mr Badal said that the SAD-BJP government of the state has accepted more than 90% of the demands of the employees including the hike in the wages of the employees in accordance with the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. He also said that a wide scale recruitment drive has been initiated by them for providing recruitment to more than 1 lakh unemployed youth during which a transparent method has been evolved to recruit the meritorious youth in various government departments.
Earlier the Chief Minister disbursed a grant of Rs 3.25 crores for the development of 79 villages falling in Dharamkot assembly segment. Similarly Mr Badal also laid the foundation stone of 66 KV Sub Stations to be constructed at villages Fatehgarh Korotaana and Kot Mohammed Khan by the POWERCOM at the cost of Rs 3.50 crores each. These Sub Stations are expected to benefit 20 feeders and 2000 tube wells of the area.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP from Faridkot Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Sheetal Singh, Former Minister Jathedar Tota Singh, District Planning Board Chairman Mr Tarsem Singh Rattian, Chairman Zila Parishad Mr Gubax Singh Kapure and Youth Akali leader Mr Barjinder Singh Brar.
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What have the Badals to say about hijack of cable network trade in Punjab?
SUKHPAL SINGH KHAIRA
MLA Bholath
October 12
Capt. Amarinder Singh may have given govt. sponsored ads to Punjab Today TV channel as alleged by Akali Dal but did he ever gag other TV channels or hijack the cable network in the state to favour congress?
The Badals owe an explanation to the people of Punjab for having ousted each and every player in the cable network trade including the Citi Cable co. The entire cable network as of now stands hijacked and monopolized by front companies of the Badal family such as Fastway cable. Like the hijack of transport business, all cable operators across the state were muzzled and coerced to hand over their respective areas to ‘benami’ companies owned by the Badal family having a Ludhiana businessman in the front.
The modus operandi was simple to misuse the police to register false criminal cases of piracy, theft etc. against these local cable operators forcing them to hand over their trade to Fastway cable network co.
The conspiracy to hijack the cable network in the state was hatched by the Badal family for political gains. Having their own PTC channel with one sided programmes and news favouring the SAD-BJP govt. was part of the meticulous and well planned conspiracy to influence people. Any TV channel that highlighted the anti-people policies of the govt. such as Day and Night TV channel, they are never allowed space on the cable network. Only those TV channels that swear allegiance to the Badal family are allowed on the cable network, since a very large viewership is still dependent on cable network and do not have private dishes.
Therefore, I support the gauntlet thrown by Capt. Amarinder Singh to the CM on the issue of gagging of media, let the CM decide the venue and time and the congress will expose threadbare the nefarious designs of hijack of cable network at the behest of the Badals.
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SUKHBIR ADVISES AMARINDER TO LAUNCH “CONGRESS BACHAO YATRA” AS HIS PARTY FACING DECIMATION IN THE COUNTRY
· THE GEN X CITY MOHALI PREPARES TO LEAP FROG AS SUKHBIR DEDICATES RS. 400 CRORE PROJECTS
· SAD-BJP GOVERNMENT QUENCHED THE DECADES OLD THIRST OF MOHALI BY RS. 335 CRORE KAJOULI WATER WORKS PROJECT
· CONGRESS IGNORED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOHALI
· INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM MOHALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEXT MONTH
· PRIME MINISTER COMING TO LAY ITS FOUNDATION STONE
SAS Nagar/Chandigarh, October 12
: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today advised Capt. Amarinder Singh to launch “Congress Bachao Yatra” as his party was facing decimation in Punjab in next Vidhan Sabha elections whereas Congress party all over the country was out to lose its entity in anti corruption tirade.
Talking to mediapersons after launching Rs. 400 crore 11 development projects including Rs. 335 crore fifth phase of Kajouli water works project Mr. Badal said that Capt. should focus on protecting his entity in the party as intra party feuds in his party were threatening his own leadership in the party.
Lashing at Congress for its anti development stance Mr. Badal charged the party for totally ignoring the development of this satellite town during their tenure. He said that Congress party failed to get a single drop of water from UT administration in first four phases of Kajouli water works exposing its residents to water scarcity. He said that his government took initiative to pressurise UT administration to give its due share to Mohali in Kajauli water works project and allocated highest ever allocation of Rs. 335 crores to permanently solve the problem of water scarcity in the town. He said that it was his government that dug up 31 tubewells at the cost of Rs. 375 crores to provide immediate relief to the people of the city.
Promising to make Mohali as IT hub of Asia Mr. Badal said that international airport at Mohali would be the fame changer for whole northern India. He said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has agreed to lay its foundation stone next month and international flights from Mohali International airport would also start next month. He said that when he envisioned International airport for Mohali Congress party was first to ridicule it. He sought apology from the Congress party for befooling the masses.
Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government has initiated record number of development works and Mohali district has got highest ever allocation for development. He said that besides ambitious development in Aerocity and Eco city, sports stadiums in sector 59, 61, 63, 65, 69 , 78 and 71 were being constructed with facilities like indoor swimming pool, badminton courts, table tennis hall, indoor squash court, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, indoor and outdoor skating rinks, wrestling and boxing rings at the cost of Rs. 46. 50 crores and all these works would be completed by the end of this year.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Mohali district witnessed highest ever population growth but Congress party failed to upgrade the road infrastructure to meet the demand of higher population density.Praising Mr. NK Sharma Chairman Chairman District Planning committee for pursuing each and every development work, he said that on his persuasion virtually every road of Mohali was being upgraded, widened to meet the demand of increasing population. He asked Mr. Sharma to personally monitor the progress of every ongoing project in Mohali district and submit him weekly reports in this regard.
Reiterating his commitment to make Mohali as IT hub of northern India Mr. Badal said that world class signages at the cost of Rs. 5 crore were being put on every road and every roatary has been beautified by the professional landscaping firms and entry and exit points of the city had been done up reflecting its modern outlook. Mr. Badal said that the nature park in sector 62 would be the best in the country whereas auditorium in the same sector being constructed with the cost of Rs. 15 crore would be able to attract international conventions. He said that to repair the roads after extended monsoon he has allocated Rs. 3 crore for recarpeting all internal roads of the city.
Earlier Mr. Badal besides inaugurating learning license initiative in Government College Phase 6 and online deposit of transport tax in truck union also laid the foundation stone of Rs. 335 crore Kajouli water works, Rs. 5 crore project of commercial street lights in phase 5, widening of Radha Swami road, Rs. 5 crore nature park in sector 62. He also laid the foundation stone of sports stadium in sector 78 besides laying the foundation stone of EWS housing scheme in sector 114.
FIRST EVER INITIATIVE IN THE COUNTRY
VEHICLE DEALERS IN PUNJAB TO ISSUE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES ALONG WITH PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLE-
PRINCIPALS OF COLLEGES TO ISSUE DRIVING LICENSES
STATE STARTS ONLINE DEPOSIT OF TRANSPORT TAXES
SUKHBIR FOR MAKING DRIVING SAFETY RULES PART OF SCHOOL CURRICULUM
LAYS THE FOUNDATION STONE OF RS. 4 CRORE BUS TERMINAL
INAUGRATES RS. 3 CRORE CHC IN DHAKOULI
Zirakpur/Mohali/Chandigarh, October 12 :
As Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today handed over smart card registration certificate to Naib Singh who purchased Maruti alto from Vehicle dealer in Zirakpur, Punjab today scored the major initiative to become first state in the country authorizing vehicle dealers to issue permanent registration certificates at the time of purchase of new vehicle. Mr. Badal also inaugurated another important citizen friendly e governance initiative authorizing Principals of Government Colleges to issue Learner’s driving license after conducting mandatory tests besides recommending permanent driving license to DTO.
The young dynamic Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated the portal of Punjab transport department enabling any vehicle owner to pay its taxes through online banking.
Describing it a historic day for the common man of Punjab Mr. Badal said that this major initiative of transport department has been able to save them from the harassment of repeated visits to transport department, treasury and banks for simply getting registration certificate and driving license. He said that this inititiative took three years as total old record of transport department had to be computerised besides amending rules and legislation to enable these citizen friendly reforms.
Mr. Badal said that the conventional system for registration of vehicles was an ordeal for common man who had to go to bank/treasury for payment of taxes, then to DTO/ SDM offices multiple times for inspection of vehicles, allotment of permanent number and finally to collect RC. He said that the entire process was not only time consuming but painful as he had to wait in long queues and make several visits. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the new online registration of vehicles the interface with the government department including banks has been totally eliminated. He said that now citizen while purchasing new vehicle pays motor vehicle tax through online system at dealer vehicle point, gets permanent number wherein he can make choice out of 50 numbers displayed on real time basis. He said that after filling the form online while purchasing vehicle he can go home and would get smart card registration certificate at his residential address though courier within three to four days.
Mr. Badal said that he was pained as college students had to make repeated visits to DTO office to get learner’s license. He said that most of the students to escape the ordeal used to drive vehicles without license, paying fines several times. He said that now transport department has authorised college Principals to issue learner’s driving license after conducting mandatory tests of traffic rules and regulations. He asked Transport Commissioner to distribute printed literature about traffic rules to every school and college to educate the students.
Stressing upon the importance of traffic rule education Mr. Badal asked Chief Secretary Mr. SC Aggarwal to make traffic rule education a part of curriculum and schools and colleges. Mr. Badal said that even for permanent license a person after getting authority from the college Principal would have to go to DTO office to get his photograph clicked as his data would be transferred to DTO via internet.
Mr. Badal also inaugurated the online payment of taxes under which owners of commercial vehical would be able to pay their taxes online without visiting government offices, banks and treasury. Every vehicle owner would get a user name and password for payment of online tax wherein permanent record of previously paid taxes of each vehicle would be maintained. If stopped by traffic constable or transport authority to check status of payment of tax of that particular vehicle, he would just send an SMS and would get reply SMS within 30 second showing the payment record of that vehicle. Similarly any vehicle owner can get print out of history of payment of taxes to be shown to authorities anywhere.
Thanking Chief Secretary MR. SC Aggarwal, Secretary Mr. Anurag Aggarwal and total transport department for their unflinching support and dedication making these transport reforms a success story Mr. Badal said that he was already getting queries from neighbouring states regarding the new online system of registration certificates as these states also want to follow the footsteps of Punjab.
Mr. Badal said that whole exercise of e-governance was focussed on eliminating corruption by making system transparent, empowering citizens by giving them services a matter of right. The Deputy Chief Minister commented that he was the happiest person with these reforms as he would not get repeated sifarish for the coverted post of DTO as after these reforms nobody would like to become DTO.
Earlier the Deputy Chief Minister was given presentation regarding the new online system of RC. He also handed over vehicle registration certificates to two owners of vehicles Mr. Naib Singh and Mr. Vipin Kumar who had purchased vehicles in the authorised agency . He also handed over learner licences to two beneficiaries.
Earlier Mr. Tikshan Sud lauded Deputy Chief Minister for envisioning governance reforms for every sector that has cut the red tape specially in the public dealing services.
Earlier Mr. Badal also laid the foundation stone of Rs. 4 crore Bus Terminal fulfilling the long pending demand of this fastest expanding satellite town. He also inaugurated full equipped Community Health Centre (CHC) in Dhakouli constructed at the cost of Rs. 3 crore.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, District Planning Committee Chairman Mr. NK Sharma, Local MLA Jasjit Singh Bunny, Chief Secretary Mr. SC Aggarwal and Prinicpal Secretary Mr. Anurag Aggarwal.
ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIFF SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, October 12:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the current Khariff Season through Canal water from 13-10-2011 to 20-10-2011. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Patiala feeder, Abohar Branch, Bist Doab Canal, Sidhwan Branch and Bathinda Branch respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being in the first preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available will be utilized in direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' respectively.
The spokesman further said that Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and distributries in Group "B" being in the First preference will run to their ident. Balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries of Group 'A'.
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the first Preference would run to their indent .Balance water supplies water available would be utilised in, Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch, Main Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively.
20.38 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 12:
Government agencies and private millers procured more than 20.38 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 24.84 lakh tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 2038311 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 18.83 lakh tonnes of paddy (92.4%) till date whereas private traders procured 155019 tonnes (7.6%) of paddy. Till October 11, PUNGRAIN had procured 515084 tonnes (27.4%) whereas MARKFED procured 411717 tonnes (21.9%). PUNSUP procured 478728 tonnes (25.4%) , PSWC procured 239461 tonnes (12.7%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 218643 tonnes (11.6 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 19659 (1.0%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Jalandhar with 241189 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Ferozepur with 234663 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Tarn Taran with 216446 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
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- LAXMI KANTA CHAWLA APPEALS TO GOVT. OF INDIA FOR STOPPING DURANTO EXPRESS AT JALANDHAR, LUDHIANA AND SIRHIND
- MASS SCALE PUBLIC MOVEMENT TO BE LAUNCHED AGAINST GOVT. OF INDIA IF DEMANDS NOT MET
Chandigarh, October 12:
Prof. Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Minister Punjab has urged the Government of India to take decision about stopping the Chandigarh-Amrtisar Duranto Express train on at Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Sirhind so that the passengers of these cities can also avail this facility.
Adding further, Prof. Chawla said that the present departure time of the train is 7.00 pm which is very late and daily commuters do not find it convenient to reach back home in time. Keeping in view the demand of the passengers, the departure time of Duranto Express should be changed to 6.00 pm instead of 7.00 pm. She also suggested that half of the seats should be reserved where as remaining half should be reserved under Tatkal Services. With this changed reservation system, Government could earn more on one hand and general public could be benifitted on the other. She, however, said that the government of India did not respond to her earlier appeals in this regard, it was evident that the centre Government was under influence of the Transport Mafia, she added.
Reiterating her stand, Prof. Chawla made a fervent appeal to the Govt. of India to immediately pay adequate attention to the demands and requirements of general public in regard with Duranto train, failing which a mass movement headed by the minister herself, would be launched against the Central Government.
SUD DIRECTS TO HOLD INDUSTRIAL FACILITATION COUNCILS'S MEETINGS EVERY FORTNIGHTLY
Chandigarh October 12
Local Government, industries & Commerce Minister Punjab Mr. Tikshan Sud directed to hold the Industrial facilitation councils meetings every fortnightly at zonal district headquarter to facilitate the industry.
The spokesman of the Punjab Government said that industrial facilitation council had been constituted by the government u/s 21 of the micro, small and medium enterprises development act 2006. The main objects of industrial facilitation council were to provide speedy and convenient services to medium and small scale enterprises of Punjab.
The spokesman further said that the meetings of jurisdiction of Amrtisar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran will be held at zonal head quarter Amritsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Barnala, Fazilka at Bathinda zonal head quarter, Jalandhar, Hoshiparpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahar at Jalandhar Zonal head quarter, Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur, Sangrur at Ludhiana Zonal head quarter and Mohali, Ropar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib at Mohali Zonal head quarter.
15-Member Religious Delegation led by Sri Guru Ravidas Sadhu Sampardai Society Calls on Badal
EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR GURU RAVIDAS AYURVED UNIVERSITY
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 11:
A 15-member religious delegation of Sri Guru RaviDas Sadhu Sampardai Society led by its head Sant Baba Nirmal Das of Dera Raipur Rasulpur called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to thank him on behalf of the Ravidasia Community for establishing Sri Guru Ravidas Ayurved University at village Kharkan in Hoshiarpur district.
The delegation met Mr. Badal here at his official residence this morning.
Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, Sant Baba Nirmal Das said that the entire Ravidasia community was indebted to him for naming the Ayurved University after great saint Sri Guru Ravidas ji. He said the upcoming university would be a befitting tribute to Guru Ravidas - a great spiritual ambassador and messiah of the poor and unprivileged sections of the society taught us to lead a virtuous and noble life.
During interaction with delegation, Mr. Badal highly appreciated the efforts of Sri Guru Ravidas Sadhu Sampardai Society in the field of education and social service aimed at bringing awareness among the masses against the menace of drug addiction and female foeticide.
Responding to the demand put forth by Baba Nirmal das for establishing Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in the name of Sri Guru Ravidas ji at village Churwali in district Jalandhar over an area of five acre, Mr. Badal assured him that he would soon get the feasibility of the said ITI examined from the Technical Education and Industrial Training Department. Mr. Badal also extended invitation to all the members of the delegation to participate in the inauguration ceremonies of the Khalsa Heritage Complex at Sri Anandpur Sahib besides Wada and Chota Ghalughara and Chappar Chiri memorials in the coming days. Conceding their another demand, Mr. Badal directed the Deputy Commisioner Ropar to allot four canal plot at Sri Anandpur Sahib for construction of Dharamshala.
Later, the Chief Minister presented siropas (rob of honour) to all the members of delegation.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included: Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. D.S.Guru, General Secretary BJP Mr. Rajesh Bagha besides Sant Bhagwan Das, Sant Nirmal Singh, Sant Chandan Hans, Sant Tehal Nath, Satvinder Singh,Sant Bibi Neena ji Jejon Wale, Sant Satnam Singh, Sant Kulwant Ram and Sant Harcharan Das.
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-Sukhpal Singh Khaira
MLA Bholath
I urge Sh. Badal to tender an unconditional apology for playing cheap politics on Davinderpal Bhullar clemency matter and his failure to bring a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha.
By failing to bring a resolution seeking clemency for Davinderpal Singh Bhullar in the just concluded Vidhan Sabha session, Sh. Badal stands completely exposed as a double faceted and a weak kneed politician.
Well aware of the political implications in the run up to the SGPC elections Sh. Badal had announced to bring in a resolution supporting clemency for Davinderpal Singh Bhullar to garner support of the Sikh masses. After romping home in the results on September 22nd, Sh. Badal made a complete U-turn on the issue after having exploited the sentiments of the Sikhs for cheap political gains.
More saddening is the abject surrender of Sh. Badal before his alliance partners the BJP backed by the RSS. In fact Sh. Badal has throughout his political career cheated the Sikhs and Punjab on vital issues pertaining to the community and the state. It is now abundantly clear that the alliance of SAD with the BJP is nothing but a marriage of convenience, that has no common ideology and that they are only partners to the ‘loot’ of Punjab.
Sh. Badal should have had the political courage to bring in a resolution, if he and his Akali Dal were sincere in seeking clemency for Bhullar. The fact of the matter is clear now that Sh. Badal had raked up the clemency issue only for political gains in the SGPC elections and that he never was interested to actually save the life of Bhullar.
The dichotomy of Sh. Badal is clearly evident from the fact that he continues to shield and offer patronage to Sh. Sumedh Singh Saini IPS, charged with the physical elimination of father and uncle of Davinderpal Bhullar. While defending Sh. Saini in the Supreme Court, Sh. Badal in an affidavit has labeled Davinderpal Bhullar a terrorist and hard core criminal with a well organized international base.
In fact if Sh. Badal was ever serious to save the life of Bhullar, this resolution should have been brought in the Vidhan Sabha, when the clemency petition of Bhullar was pending before the President of India.
Therefore, I urge Sh. Badal to tender an unconditional apology to the Sikh masses and the family of Bhullar for playing fraud with the community on the clemency issue.
EMINENT INDUSTRIALIST KAMAL OSWAL APPOINTED AS INDUSTRIAL ADVISOR TO CM
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 11:
The Punjab Government today appointed the renowned Industrialist Mr. Kamal Oswal as Industrial Advisor to the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal with immediate effect.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that formal orders to this effect would be issued shortly.
It may be recalled that Mr. Kamal Oswal belongs to well known Rs. 3500 crore. Punjab based Industrial Group in Ludhiana, popularly known as OWM Nahar Group. He is presently, the Vice-Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Nahar Industrial Enterprises Ltd. and MD Cotton County Retail Ltd, besides the Director on the Board of several companies viz. Oswal wollen Mills, Nahar Spinning Mills, Nahar Poly films, Nahar Capital & Financial Services and Monte Carlo Fashions Ltd. Having a vast experience of 29 years in Industry dealing in cotton yarn, cotton fabric and sugar, Mr. Kamal Oswal was also nominated as member of Consumer Grievance Committee of State Electricity Board. OWM Nahar Group has given employment to more than 30000 persons directly or indirectly in Punjab.
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CONGRESS LED UPA GOVERNMENT HAS NO MORAL RIGHT TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE DUE TO SECURITY COLLAPSE- BADAL
90% OF THE POLL PROMISES OF SAD-BJP MANIFESTO IMPLEMENTED SAYS CM
BADAL EXORTS PEOPLE TO FOLLOW TEACHINGS OF BHAGWAN VALMIKI MAHARAJ JI
Hoshiarpur, October 11- Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that owing to its total failure in providing security to the countrymen, the Congress led UPA government at the centre had lost its right to rule the country.
Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the state level function held here to mark the Pargatutsav of Bhagwan Valmiki Maharaj Ji, the Chief Minister asserted that there was complete chaotic situation in the country as the UPA government has totally failed to provide security to the people. Making a scathing attack on the UPA government Mr Badal said that owing to the lapses in security of the borders on the one hand many precious lives were being lost in frequent bomb explosions across the country and on the other hand the Chinese intrusion in the territory of the country had posed serious question mark on sovereignty of the country. "The Union government has failed miserably on all the fronts and the people must get rid of it" added Mr Badal.
Commenting on the achievements of the SAD-BJP government in the state the Chief Minister said that the biggest achievement of their government has been that it has ensured communal harmony and peace in the state despite of the fact that all the other parts of the country are facing this severe problem. Mr Badal also asserted that the state government has fulfilled more than 90% of the promises made by them in the election manifesto of the alliance adding that remaining ones would also be fulfilled in the coming months. He said that owing to the good policies of the state government the state has made unprecedented progress in the fields of power, infrastructure development, Health and Education. The Chief Minister further claimed that due to all round development of state the Union government had decided to set the Borlaug institute in the state, which would be helpful in developing the agriculture of the state.
Earlier addressing the gathering at the state level function the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed for abolishing the contract system of the sanitary workers. He said that final decision regarding the matter would be taken soon by the Local Bodies Department of the state. The Chief Minister reiterated the commitment of the state government for the overall welfare of the oppressed sections of the society in line with the philosophy of Bhawan Valmiki Ji Maharaj to emerge an equalitarian and harmonious society in the state. Expressing gratitude to the Valmiki community for reposing full faith in the policies and programs of the SAD-BJP alliance, Mr. Badal said that the basic ideology of our government was to safeguard the rights of the less privileged sections of the society. He said that the schemes like atta dal, shagun, old age, widow and destitute pension were initiated by the SAD-BJP in view of their economic hardships. The Chief Minister further said that their government has taken path breaking initiatives to improve the life of SC’S and BC’S adding that during the current tenure of SAD-BJP government special attention has been focused to address long pending issues concerning this segment of the society which had been a target of blatant neglect of the previous congress government.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government has taken special care of the people belonging to this oppressed section of the society adding that in order to safeguard the interests of the people belonging to Scheduled Castes community the state government has taken an unprecedented step of constituting the State Safai Karamchari Commission and the Dalit Development Board. The Chief Minister also said that apart from it due representation has also been given to the representatives of the community in various boards and corporations of the society.
Paying floral tributes to Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Maharaj, the Chief Minister said that he was the “Pitaamah” of Sanskrit language and first poet or the Adi Kavi of the world who by his immortal and masterpiece composition the “Ramayana” propagated the message of victory of good over evil. He also said that the great epic has from centuries taught the way of living to the people and has been a lighthouse of the ethical and moral living for the people which were far more relevant in the present materialistic society. He urged the people to follow the path and high ideals shown by Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Maharaj.
The Chief Minister also said that they have laid special focus on development of the religious places associated with great Gurus and saints and likewise Ram Tirath which used to be the ashram of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Maharaj has been developed by the state government and more then Rs 20 crores has been spent for its beautification. The Chief Minister also assured the people that if they want more funds, the grants would be released in coming time so as to ensure the development of this sacred religious place.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Local Bodies Minister Mr Tikshan Sud, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, Former Rajya Sabha MP Mr Varinder Singh Bajwa, Chairman of Dalit Development Board Mr Vijay Danav and Chairman of Safai Karamchari Welfare Board Mr Raj Kumar Atikay.
Earlier the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of 66KV Power Sub Station at village Lachowal which would be constructed by POWERCOM at the cost of Rs 5 Crores.
NO PROPERTY REGISTRATION ABOVE COLLECTOR RATE-SUKHBIR
· INAUGURATES STATE OF ART 3 SUB REGISTRAR OFFICES
· AMENDMENTS IN THE REVENUE ACTS AIMED AT TRANSPARENCY AND TO CURB THE CORRUPTION
· AMBITIOUS GPS PROJECT TO RECORD EVERY DETAIL OF EACH URBAN PROPERTY ON WEB
LUDHIANA, OCTOBER 11: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, today said that SAD-BJP government has brought revolutionary changes in the Revenue Acts to bring transparency in the property transactions, to curb harassment of general public besides with the singular aim of curbing corruption.
Speaking to Media after inaugurating state-of-the-art, fully digitalized and computerized Sub Registrar Offices at Transport Nagar, Gill Road and Humbran, Mr. Badal said that three years ago he initiated the task of revenue reforms to bring transparency in its working. He said that Punjab government has recently passed a legislation to ensure that nobody could be forced by Revenue Authorities to register property above collector rates. He said that he was moving with a mission to curb discretion of revenue authorities in property transactions as discretion leads to corruption. He said that a separate legislation has also been issued doing away the discretion of revenue authorities in fixing registration fee on the property component. According to the new instructions now collector rate of ground floor of property would be 10% of collector rate of land and every additional floor of the property would attract additional 5%. He said that this transparent and people friendly formula has done away with the discretion of revenue authorities thereby putting a check on corruption.
Speaking about the ambitious GPS program launched by the Revenue Department in association with Union Government, Mr. Badal said that now every city was being put on Global Positioning System map through INSAT-4 sattellite and GPS would have complete detail of each property in the urban areas besides showing detailed building plan of each specific building. He said that through this system different urban areas would be cleared demarcated domestic and commercial areas thereby bringing uniformity in the classification of property. He said that he was concerned about touts playing fiddle in the property transactions and has ordered close circuit camera surveillance of each Sub Registrar Office to collect documentary evidence of such element to put them behind the bars.
Elaborating the governance reforms initiated by the Government, Mr. Badal said that legislative reforms in archaic revenue acts improving citizen services delivery by IT initiatives were set to make the administration transparent. Illustrating the revenue act amendments Mr. Badal said that to expedite the revenue disputes now no appeal was allowed against interim order and power of remand in appeal cases has been restricted to first appellate authority only. He said that after amendment now Divisional Commissioners and Financial Commissioner Revenue cannot remand the case to lower revenue authority and they would have to decide the case. Similarly, amendments in the tenancy act would enable ejectment of tenant after stipulated period.
Earlier Mr. Badal also inaugurated a state-of-the-art sports stadium constructed in sector 38-39 at the cost of Rs 5 crore. He also opened Partap Chowk Flyover constructed at the cost of Rs 23 crore to the public. Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion, Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Jails Minister, Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa Public Works Department Minister and Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, former MP.
ANTI DEVELOPMENT FACE OF CONGRESS FULLY EXPOSED IN PUNJAB-SUKHBIR
· UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT, CITIZEN FRIENDLY GOVERNANCE REFORMS SET TO BRING BACK SAD-BJP GOVERNMENT FOR ANOTHER TERM
· BET BELT OF MACCHIWARA ALL SET TO GET DEVELOPMENT BOOST WITH Rs 70 Crore BRIDGE ON SUTLEJ IN MATTEWARA
MATTEWARA (LUDHIANA), OCTOBER 11: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, today said that anti-development and anti-people face of Congress party has been fully exposed before the people of Punjab as congress leaders including Captain Amarinder Singh were working overtime to stall release of funds for development works of the state.
Addressing an unprecedented mammoth gathering after laying the foundation stone of Rs 70 crore high-level bridge on Sutlej River near Mattewara that would shorten the travel distance from Ludhiana to Nawan Shahr by 30 kilometers, Mr. Badal said that it was SAD-BJP government that was constructing second bridge to develop this area, first being in the Rahon. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal was moving with the missionary zeal to ensure development in this Bet area, has taken personnel interest in sanctioning this bridge. He said that he was surprised at the anti-development stance of Captain Amarinder Singh camping in New Delhi to get the grants of development works of Punjab, stopped. He said that Punjab unit of congress party was perplexed, seeing their decimation in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha polls as electorate of Punjab were determined to honour SAD-BJP government with a repeat term for record development initiated by this government.
Lashing at Captain Amarinder Singh for his phobia from SAD-BJP combine, Mr. Badal said that Congress party deliberately ran away from any fruitful discussion in the Vidhan Sabha as they feared the exposure of their failure. He said that Right to Service Act, a historic act, has reflected the sincerity of SAD-BJP government in fighting the graft. He said that Governance Reforms initiated by this government besides RTS strike at the very root of corruption.
Mr. Badal said that this bridge was lifeline of this area that would act as a bridge of development between Doaba and Malwa, shortening the route to Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Congress party deliberately kept this area backward and befooled the masses.
Reacting to the demands of former MP Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mr. Badal said that he would request Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to expeditious clearance of Laduwal-Khamano Road Bridge, Macchiwara-Khamano-Laduwal, Ring Road on Sutlej River, four laning of Ludhiana-Macchiwara-Rahon Road, World Class Race Course on 250 acres of land, upgradation of primary school in Mangali and BoothGarh to Middle and middle school in Mattewara to High School. He also promised to pursue for the opening of Government College in the area.
Earlier Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister, Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Tourism Minister, Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal Former Minister, Mr. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board, Mr. Santa Singh Umedpuri Chairman SSS Board, Mr. Jagjiwan Pal Singh Khirnia and Mr. Ranjit Singh Talwandi, both MLA, also spoke on the occasion.
BADAL GREETS PEOPLE ON THE PARKASH UTSAV OF MAHARISHI VALMIK JI
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 10:
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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SHIROMANI AKALI DAL
SAD ASKS CAPT. AMARINDER SINGH TO CLEAR HIS POSITION ON PUNJAB TODAY ADVTERTISEMENT SCANDAL
GOVERNMENT SUFFERED HUGE LOSSES BECAUSE OF SCANDAL : DR. CHEEMA
Chandigarh, October 10 : Shiromani Akali Dal has asked Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief and former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to publicly clear his position on big media scandal involving Punjab Today news channel which was paid crores of rupees without airing government advertisements during his tenure as Chief Minister.
In a statement released from party head office here today party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that during the regime of Amarinder Singh government crores of rupees were paid in advance to the twin channels of Punjab Today and Balle-Balle promoted by STV Enterprises a company of JK Jain, a confident of Capt. Amarinder Singh. He said that although the payments were made in advance no advertisement was aired on the channel.
Releasing figures regarding the scandal Dr. Cheema disclosed that Marked had released advertisement worth Rs. 9.21 crore to the media out of which Punjab today group got 7.21 crore rupees in which Rs. 3.86 crore were given to Punjab Today and 3.73 crore were given to Balle-Balle Channel of the above said company. He said that likewise Punjab Agro gave advertisement of Rs. 8.42 crore to the Punjab Today group whereas all the other media group got advertisement of Rs. 4.94 crore. Milkfed gave advertisement worth Rs. 77 lakhs and Punjab Small Saving Corporation paid Rs. 3.1 crore to the Punjab Today group for the advertisements.
He further disclosed the even the mandatory policy of DAVP rates was not followed and the Punjab Today group charged the government according to its own free will. He said that although officials of Punjab Agro had repeatedly pointed out that the corporation was not in a position to issue advertisements more than Rs. 30 lakh, but still then it was not only force to pocked out Rs. 8.42 crore but the money was paid in advance in instalments of Rs. 60 to 70 lakh each.
He said that Punjab Today group never aired the advertisements and even after four years of the Congress government being out of power officials of the Punjab Agro could get a meagre amount as refund whereas Rs. 76 lakh were still pending with the news Channel whose cheques bounced a number of times.
SAD leader asked the former Chief Minister to come clean on the facts about this scandal which has caused huge lossed to government exchequer. He said that it is an established fact that this scandal was forced on the government institutions by Capt. Amarinder Singh and his coterie and he should come out with the truth
EVERY PUNJABI IS KING NOW AS SUKHBIR UNVEILS PUNJAB RIGHT TO SERVICE ACT
FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO OFFER 67 SERVICES UNDER THE AMBIT OF ACT
NO MORE ‘MAI BAAP’ CULTURE AS CITIZENS WOULD GET SERVICES AS A MATTER OF RIGHT
RTS STRIKES AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF CORRUPTION
FORTNIGHT LONG CAMPAIGN TO DISSEMINATE ACT AT THE GRASS ROOT LEVEL
LUDHIANA, OCTOBER 10: The State of Punjab today took lead in the country in the anti-corruption campaign scripting a new history in the independent India by unveiling “The Punjab Right to Service Act-2011 (RTS)”, ensuring timebound delivery of 67 citizen services to the citizens as a matter of right.
Launching the Act in the inaugural function of Public interaction to disseminate the new legislation and seeks suggestions from Public to further improve it, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal described it a historic moment for empowering citizens. He said that this act strikes at the root cause of corruption by taking away discretions of the government officials besides binding them to deliver time bound services.
Describing it a furtherance of Anna Hazare’s Anti-Corruption Crusade, Mr. Badal said that by making the systems transparent through e-governance and e-tendering we had struck heavily on corrupt practices. “If congress led UPA government had gone for E-tendering for allocation of spectrum, there would not have been any 1.76 lakh crore 2G Scam,” Mr. Badal quipped. He said that RTS coupled with governance reforms and IT enabled services besides E-Governance would make it a most successful model of governance.
Giving the historical background of this landmark act, Mr. Badal said that this act was planned as a part governance reforms initiative by the Government as citizen was getting service as ‘Khairat’. He said that he wanted to empower citizen as a ‘King’ doing away the culture of ‘Mai Baap’ since British Rule. He said that the purpose of this act was empowering citizens restoring their dignity, reposing trust of the citizens in the transparency of administration and making administration accountable to the public.
Mr. Badal said that elimination of affidavits, doing away with discretionary powers of Tehsildars allowing citizens for self-certification of certificate rather than by Gazetted officers, self-certification of building plans were certain measures that empowered the citizens.
Giving the salient features of the act, Mr. Badal said that this act was backed by statutory provisions ensuring timely delivery of services and has definite scope for improvement. He said that this act was a learning process and after stabilising in implementation of this act, more services would be added in the scope of this act.
Giving details of notified services covered in the act, Mr. Badal said that the act covers 12 services of local government department, 9 of transport department, 8 of housing and urban development department, 6 of revenue department, 4 of health, 4 of home, 2 of social security, 1 of food and civil supplies, 1 of rural water supply and record 20 services of Police department.
The act provides sanction of building plans within 30 days, occupation certificate within 15 days, NOC within 21 days, conveyance deed within 15 days, No Due Certificates within 7 days, retransfer of property within 15 days, retransfer of property in case of death within 45 days, permission to mortgage within 7 days, completion certificate within 15 days, sanction of water connection within 7 days and sewage connection also in 7 days. Now citizens would be able to get copies of birth/death certificates within 2 days, post-mortem reports within 3 days, certified copies of record within 7 days, demarcation of land within 21 days, attestation of uncontested mutations within 15 days.
Elaborating the governance reforms initiated by the Government, Mr. Badal said that legislative reforms in archaic revenue acts improving citizen services delivery by IT initiatives were set to make the administration transparent. Illustrating the revenue act amendments Mr. Badal said that to expedite the revenue disputes now no appeal was allowed against interim order and power of remand in appeal cases has been restricted to first appeleate authority only. He said that after amendment now Divisional Commissioners and Financial Commissioner Revenue cannot remand the case to lower revenue authority and they would have to decide the case. Similarly, amendments in the tenancy act would enable ejectment of tenant after stipulated period. He said that now dealers would be able to issue Registration Certificates (RCs) and college principals have been authorised to issue learner’s license.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that computerisation of Land Record, smart card based driving license and RCs, e-tendering in all departments, e-gram centres and e-barriers for toll collection were certain citizen centric steps that would make the life of citizen pleasant. Mr. Badal said that 137 Fard Kendras have already started working and 17 more would be operational within one month.
Congratulating the people of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that his core team of officers, under the Chief Secretary Mr. S. C. Aggarwal have made this act possible and they deserve a pat on the back.
Taking the message of to the grass root level, Mr. Badal said that a fortnight long campaign has been launched throughout the districts and a secretary level office would hold ‘Citizen Awareness cum Interaction Programme’ at block level to educate the public regarding the provisions of new act so that they could benefit from this.
Earlier Mr. Tikshan Sud, Local Government and Industries Minister said that this act was reflection of commitment of SAD-BJP Government to fight corruption and he lambasted congress led UPA Government for giving shelter to corrupt people.
Earlier Chief Secretary Mr. S.C. Aggarwal spoke about the salient features of the act. He said that realising the problem of shortage of staff in the field level, service selection board has been requested to notify the selection of 3000 new recruitments so that they could be deputed in the districts. He said that department of planning has already equipped Sub Divisions and Districts with requisite computer software and hardware for effective implementation of this act.
Deputy Commissioners from all the districts, all Financial Commissioners and Secretaries, who have been deputed in the districts for educational program of this act were amongst thousands of dignitaries, who were witness to unveiling of this historic act.
BRIGHTER DIWALI FOR URBAN REPRESENTATIVES AS PUNJAB INCREASES THEIR HONORARIUM AND ALLOWANCES SUBSTANTIALLY – TIKSHAN SUD
Chandigarh, October 10:
The Punjab government today increased the honorarium and allowances for the Presidents and the Councilors of all the all Municipal Councils in the state with effect from October 1, 2011.
Disclosing this here today Local Bodies Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud said that the President of Class-1 Municipal Councils would now get increased honorarium of Rs. 10,000/- per month instead of Rs. 7500 earlier whereas President of Municipal Corporations Class-II would now get Rs. 7500/- per month. Similarly, Presidents of Municipal Councils Class-III would be eligible to get Rs. 6000/- per month honorarium. Mr. Sud said that earlier Presidents of Class-1 MC were entitled for Rs. 7500/- per month, Presidents of Class-II MC were getting Rs. 6000/- and Presidents of Class-III MC were entitled for Rs. 4500/- per month as honorarium.
He said that the government had also increased the allowance for the meeting of councilors from Rs. 300/- per day (at the maximum Rs.3000/- per month) to Rs. 500/- per day (at the maximum Rs. 5000/- per month). He said that the area allowance of the President and Councilors of the Municipal Council had also been increased. He said that for Class I Municipal Council area allowance had been increased from Rs. 4000 per month to Rs. 7000/- per month. For Class-II from Rs. 3000/- per month to Rs. 5000 per month and for Class-III Municipal Council /Nagar Panchayat area allowance had been increased from Rs. 2000/- per month Rs. 4000/- per month.
Mr. Sud said that the Telephone allowance had also been increased from Rs. 500/- per month to Rs. 1000/- per month. He said that the Presidents of Municipal Councils would get Telephone allowance separately, which would not be a part of the other allowances sanctioned to them. All these increased allowances would be implemented from October 1, 2011.
DIWALI BONANZA FOR TEACHING EMPLOYEES
· Pay scales of JBT/ETT/Head Teachers/ Classical & Varnacular Teachers/Centre Head Teacher/Master/ Mistress/BPEO/School Lecturer/Vocational Masters/Head Masters enhanced
Chandigarh October 10:
The Punjab Government today announced Diwali bonanza for teaching Employees by substantially enhancing their pay scales.
Disclosing this an official spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Govt. has revised the pay scales of JBT, ETT and Head Teachers w.e.f 1st October 2011. The JBT, ETT and Head Teachers who were earlier in the pay band of 5910-20200 with grade pay of 3000 and initial pay of 11470 w.e.f 1-1-2006 have been put in the pay band of 10300-34800+ GP 4200 with initial pay of 16290 w.e.f 1-10-2011.
Similarly, Classical & Varnacular Teachers who were in the pay band of 10300-34800 with grade pay of 3200 and initial pay of 13500 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 have been put in the pay scale of 10300-34800 with grade pay of 4400 with initial pay of 17420.
The scales of Centre Head Teacher, Master and Mistress that was 10300-34800 with GP 3600 and initial pay of 14430 w.e.f 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 4600 GP with initial pay of 18030 w.e.f. 1-10-2011. The pay scale of BPEO, School Lecturer and Vocational Masters that was 10300-34800 + 4200 GP with initial pay of 16290 w.e.f. 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 5000 GP with initial pay of 18450. The scales of Head Masters that was 10300-34800 with GP 2000 and initial pay of 17420 w.e.f 1-1-2006 has been revised to 10300-34800 + 5400 GP with initial pay of 20300 w.e.f. 1-10-2011.
13.98 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, October 10: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 1398040 tonnes of Paddy till last evening against 1937842 tonnes procurement of previous year.
Out of total procurement of 1398040 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 12.74 lakh tonnes of paddy (91.1%) till date whereas private traders procured 123949 tonnes (8.9%) of paddy. Till October 9, PUNGRAIN had procured 360713 tonnes (28.3%) whereas MARKFED procured 170440 tonnes (21.2%). PUNSUP procured 319215 tonnes (25.1%) , PSWC procured 158883 tonnes (12.5%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 153023 tonnes (12.0 %) of paddy.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 11817 (0.9%) tonnes.
The spokesman added that District Tarn Taran with 176028 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Jalandhar with 174352 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Kaputhala with 153964 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.
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SUKHBIR MOURNS THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF GAZAL MAESTRO JAGJIT SINGH
Chandigarh October 10:
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed deep shock at the untimely and sudden demise of Gazal exponent Jagjit Singh who died today at Mumbai after brain haemorege.
In a condolence message Mr. Badal said that Mr. Jagjit Singh would be remembered for popularizing gazal amongst masses while maintaining the richness of traditional music. He said that this contribution in brining Punjabi folklore on international seen would be remembered by all.
He expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to god to give peace to the departed soul and strength to them to bear this irreparable loss.
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INTACH TO EXECUTE RESTORATION OF BASSIAN KOTHI
TO DEVELOT IT AS MAHARAJA DALIP SINGH MEMORIAL
FARM TOURISM CERTIFICATE VALIDITY ENHANCED
FROM TWO TO FIVE YEARS
FIRST SIKH CIRCUIT TOURISM TRAIN TOUR
FROM 25TH NOVEMBER APPROVED
CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 10;
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal approved to engage the services of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for restoration work of Bassian Kothi at a cost of Rs. 2.65 crore to develop it as a memorial in the remembrance of Late Maharaja Dalip Singh, where he was arrested prior to his exile in Uttar Pradesh by the British in 1849 after the Punjab was annexed.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister at a high level meeting held at his residence late last evening. Mr. Badal asked Director Tourism & Cultural Affairs to release Rs. 80 lac as initial money to INTACH immediately to start work on this prestigious project.
On the occasion the Chief Architect of INTACH Mr. Divya Gupta along with the Governing Council Member of INTACH Dr. Sukhdev Singh explained the whole restoration project through a power point presentation.
Meanwhile, in an another significant decision in a separate meeting of Tourism department regarding the Sikh Circuit Tourism in the state, Mr. Badal approved the plan of first Sikh Circuit Tourism Train tour of nine days. The Principal Secretary Tourism Mrs. Geetika Kalha informed in the meeting that Ministry of Railways had agreed to provide a luxury train to visit all Sikh Religious places, which would start from Amritsar on 25th November and would cover the route through Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Bathinda, Delhi, Patna Sahib, Nanded Sahib, Gwalior, Agra and return to Amritsar via Delhi, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar on 4th January 2012.
Mr. Badal also approved the action plan of state Tourism Department to invite the private players to start Luxury and Budget AC buses for five-day Sikh religious Circuit Tourism with in the state.
To boost Farm Tourism in Punjab, Mr. Badal also approved to enhance the validity period of Farm Tourism Certificate being issued by the state government from two years to five years. He said that there was a huge tourism potential in the state as the Punjab state had been ranked at 14th position as tourism destination in the country from 28th in last two years.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal, Principal Secretary Tourism Mrs. Geetika Kalha, Secretary Expenditure Mr. Jaspal Singh, Director Tourism & Cultural Affairs Dr. Karamjit Singh Sra, Secretary PWD(B&R) SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Transport Mr. Hussan Lal, Director local Government Mr. Sumir Kumar, Chief Architect of INTACH Mr. Divya Gupta and Governing Council Member of INTACH Dr. Sukhdev Singh.
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CHIEF MINISTER`s OFFICE, PUNJAB
BADAL CALLS FOR CHANGE IN CRITERION OF POPULATION BASED RECRUITMENT IN DEFENCE FORCES
SAS NAGAR (MOHALI) , October 10
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Ministry of Defence, GoI to immediately change its criterion of population based recruitment quota so that the valiant people of Punjab who had a rich legacy in the Indian Military since its inception, should not be denied an opportunity to serve in the Armed forces.
Addressing a state level rally of ex-serviceman here after laying a foundation stone of Sainik Sadan and its Bhumi Pujan, Mr. Badal said that he had already taken this issue with the Government of India several times at different forums even with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also. Mr. Badal said he had also taken up this issue with the Union Defence Minister Mr. A.K. Antony recently in a meeting at New Delhi and demanded these parameters for the population based recruitment must be done away with and the selection in defence forces should be only allowed on the basis of abilities and capabilities of the aspirants, a like in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and other state civil services.
He said that our defence personnel have inherited the indomitable spirit for self sacrifice from our great Gurus. He said the SAD-BJP government was committed for the overall welfare of the ex-servicemen and we were indebted to them for their outstanding contribution to defend the national security.
On the occasion, Mr. Badal announced to raise an eco-batalian in the state to preserve and protect the environment from the pollution. He said that the state government had taken several landmark initiatives to revive the trend for recruitment of our youth in the national defence forces, which had been considerably declined in the past. He mentioned two NCC battalions for boys and girls were being established at Ropar and Malout. The Chief Minister further said that to motivate the state’s youth to join the Defence service by setting Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Institute for Military Training at Mohali, which had been made functional and the first batch was being imparted training. Likewise, a network of C-PYTEs across the state had been imparting training to our youth to enable them to be gainfully employed in defence forces and nearly 30 % of the trainees from these centres had been recruited in the Army. He said plans were afoot to upgrade the C-PYTEs into Institutes so that they could impart training to our unemployed youth in far more efficient and result oriented manner. He also appreciated the role of Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO) in the rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen. Mr. Badal also stated that our government had launched a unique scheme to encourage our youth to join defence services first of its kind in the country by honoring the cadets hailing from Punjab, who have been selected in the Indian Military Academy and National Defence Academy with a cash award of Rs. One lac.
Earlier, the Defence Services Welfare Minister Capt. Balbir singh Bath in his welcome address, said that the state government was making all out efforts for the welfare of the Ex-Servicemen so that they could lead their life with self-respect and dignity. He said the upcoming War Museum in the memory of our brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifices in defending the security of our country would be soon dedicated to the nation.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of `Sainik Sadan` to be built over an area four acres at a cost of Rs. 4 Cr. here in Phase-X, which would be completed in 18 months. He also awarded cash prizes to seven ex-servicemen out of them one posthumously amounting Rs. 42.5 lac besides also gave away three appointments letters for Government jobs to the next of kin killed in the army operations.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Defence Services Mr. C. Roul, Brig. Raj Kumar from Western Command, Chairman PESCO Mr. U.S. Sidhu, MLA Dera Bassi Mr. Jasjit Singh Bunny, Director Sainik Welfare Lt. Col. Harvinder Pal Singh.
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