IEP Chandigarh, August 21
Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra, today directed that records of land related to the horticulture department in the state will be digitized soon.
Addressing a meeting of the department’s head office and district officials in his office here, S. Jauramajra said that officers should submit district-wise lists and images of departmental land within 15 days so that complete data can be uploaded online. He said that with this, the possibility of encroachment on the land owned by the department will be zeroed, on the other hand the department will be able to generate more income resources by planting saplings on the vacant land. He said that the purpose of making the department’s data online is to ensure more transparency in the functioning.
The Cabinet Minister also directed the Principal Secretary Mr. KAP Sinha to immediately issue letters to district horticulture officers to expedite action in this regard.
Issuing directions to ensure registeration of private nurseries with the department, S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra said that the officials will also ensure the plantation of state-specific saplings for the commercial purposes.
In addition to these matters, NHM employees’ demands were also discussed. Cabinet Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra said that these employees are an integral part of the department. And, the demands of the NHM staff will be considered sympathetically. He asked to submit detailed report in this regard. He said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government is committed to creating maximum employment in the state and no activity to end the services of the any employee will be tolerated.
The Cabinet Minister asked Director Mrs. Shailender Kaur to visit all the offices of the state and submit a report regarding the staff and equipments.
During the meeting, emphasis was also laid on adopting crop diversification to increase the income of farmers. He said that the horticulture department should make an important contribution in crop diversification to make agriculture a profitable occupation and should sensitize more and more farmers about the schemes of the department. Reviewing the progress of the district offices, S. Jauramajra directed the officials to provide technical information about horticulture schemes to farmers through camps so that they can earn more income than the conventional crops.
Apart from this, the issues of promotion in the department, the proposal regarding the recruitment of grade-4 employees and the latest situation regarding the rules of sub-inspectors, malis and beldars were also discussed in the meeting.
