Chandigarh, April 4:

In a pioneering move to empower government school students, Punjab has taken a lead across the country to introduce one-of-its-kind “School Mentorship Program” wherein top brass bureaucrats are being roped in to inspire and guide young minds to aim high in life, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, School Education Minister, Punjab.

Addressing the media here at Punjab Bhawan today, S. Harjot Singh Bains said that under this ambitious program, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has invited IAS, IPS, IFS and other civil service officers to mentor rural government schools to revitalising public education and nurturing young minds for excelling in life. A notification has also been issued today for implementation of the program.

“Behind every successful child is someone who once believed in them. Through this program, our most accomplished officers will become mentors to our most underserved schools. It is a chance to go beyond administrative duties, and truly transform lives,” said S. Harjot Singh Bains.

Highlighting the program, the Education Minister said that the top bureaucrats can voluntarily adopt one government school for mentorship. Mentorship is envisioned not as an administrative role but as a deeply humane and inspiring relationship.

He said that officers will engage with students, teachers, and principals to motivate students to dream big and pursue ambitious goals, besides, supporting teachers in adopting innovative pedagogy and leveraging their experience and networks to bring improvements in school infrastructure, resources, and exposure opportunities.

S. Harjot Singh Bains said that officers will be encouraged to mentor schools located in remote, rural, or challenging settings, and once assigned, they would nurture the mentorship for at least five years, ensuring long-term engagement, bonding and impact. The Officers would continue to mentor their schools irrespective of their transfers and postings, he added.

“Civil service officers bring with them a wealth of experience, exposure to governance, and a demonstrated track record of excellence,” he said, while adding that their journeys can inspire students to aim for institutions such as IITs, AIIMS, NDA, and the UPSC, while their networks can help schools access resources, partnerships, and new learning opportunities.

Urging the bureaucrats to adopt government schools, S. Harjot Singh Bains, “A school in Mansa, a village in Fazilka, or a border town in  Tarn Taran—every child there has dreams, but often lacks direction. Your mentorship can provide that direction. Through a single session, a scholarship reference, or a university visit, you could transform someone’s future.”

He said that mentor officers will be frequently visiting, and collaborating with their schools and facilitating students’ career counselling, exposure visits, teachers’ training on innovative pedagogies, increasing parental participation in school, piloting innovative ideas, and improving the learning environment of the schools. The entire approach will be outcome oriented, he added.

Meanwhile, outstanding contributions will be acknowledged at state-level education events to honour the efforts of mentor officers. Interested officers can adopt a school by filling the Google Form (link:https://forms.gle/V4kcHjjVfsomdJz9A) by April 20, 2025, he added.

Chandigarh, April 4:

          Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has established a dedicated control room to prevent fire incidents in wheat crops during the ongoing harvest season.

          Providing further details, Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO informed that the control room has been set up to address emergencies related to loose or low-hanging electric wires and GO switches that can cause sparking and potentially ignite wheat fields. He urged farmers to immediately report such issues to the nearest sub-divisional office, complaint center or the control room at 96461-06835, 96461-06836 or toll-free number 1912 for timely rectification of these electrical hazards. The Cabinet Minister added that pictures of loose or low-hanging wires or sparking incidents, along with location details, can be sent via WhatsApp to 96461-06836.

          Underlining special precautions for farmers, the Cabinet Minister advised that harvested wheat should not be kept under power lines or near transformers and GO switches. He urged cutting of wheat one marla around transformers in advance and keeping a 10-meter area around field transformers wet to prevent potential fires from sparks. He also cautioned against smoking cigarettes or beedis near wheat fields.

          The Cabinet Minister further warned against tampering with electric lines using bamboo poles or sticks, stressing that unauthorized persons should not be allowed to operate GO switches. He also said that wheat stubble or residue should not be burnt to prevent pollution.

          S. Harbhajan Singh ETO appealed to farmers to operate harvester combines only during daylight hours and to be vigilant about sparks from combine parts. He cautioned against combines colliding with electric poles, wires or pole stays. The Cabinet Minister specifically said that there is need to monitor mischievous elements to protect wheat crops from fire incidents.

          He also urged the public to immediately report any electrical line sparking to the concerned PSPCL staff, Junior Engineer, Sub-Divisional Officer or the control room.

Chandigarh, April 4:

Amidst the ongoing intensified drive against substandard and illegal agricultural inputs as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has raided two firms in Hoshiarpur district, leading to seizure of banned pesticides and expired stocks.

Disclosing this here on Friday, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that a special team under the supervision of Joint Director (Extension & Training) Dilbagh Singh conducted surprise check at M/s Janak Raj Narinder Kumar in New Grain Market, Hoshiarpur.  The team has found 99 packets (100 grams each) of banned Ammonium Salt of Glyphosate 71% SG, manufactured and marketed by Iprochem Agri Care, Panchkula, Haryana, he said.

The Agriculture Minister further informed that the raid has also led to recovery of large quantities of expired and non-addition pesticides including 20 packs of Pendimethalin (1 litre), 10 packs of Profenophos+Cypermethrin (1 litre), 40 packs of Thiamethoxam (250 gm), five packs of Carbendazim (250 gm), 75 packs of Clodinafop Propargyl (160 gm), 23 packs of Atrazine (500 gm), five packs of Metalaxyl+Mancozeb (250 gm) and 10 packs of Mancozeb (1 litre).

“Samples have been drawn and an FIR has been registered at Police Station Model Town, Hoshiarpur under the relevant sections of Insecticides Act, 1968 and Rules, 1971,” said S. Khudian. 

In another action, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the team has also inspected M/s Vij Traders in the same market where they collected two each samples of pesticides, fertilizers and seeds. “The sale of pesticides and seeds has been stopped immediately as the firm was operating without proper license endorsements under relevant Acts,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister urged farmers to purchase agricultural inputs only from authorised dealers and take bill of purchased products.

Dr. Basant Garg, Administrative Secretary (Agriculture), stated that the necessary directions were given to all Chief Agriculture Officers of the State to keep regular check on Agri-inputs dealers/manufacturing/marketing companies to ensure quality products to farmers.

Chandigarh, April 3 :

          Through the intervention of Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman S. Jasvir Singh Garhi, a college management has withdrawn its cheque bounce case against a student’s father.

          Providing details on the matter, S. Garhi said that Ramanjit Singh, son of Balwinder Kumar from Janta Nagar (Dhuri) filed a complaint with the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission on March 25, 2025. The complaint stated that Ramanjit had enrolled in B.Tech. Civil Engineering at Gurukul Vidyapeeth Institute of Engineering and Technology (Banur), attending regularly through the third semester. However, due to his father’s surgery, he was unable to take his fourth semester examinations.

          As per the complaint, the college administration never issued any formal notification regarding his absence during the fourth semester, yet continued to collect fees from Ramanjit Singh until 2018 (through the eighth semester).

          Subsequently, Ramanjit Singh visited the campus multiple times in 2022 to retrieve his academic documents but was consistently denied access. When he approached Gurukul Director Manmohan Garg to collect his records, Ramanjit Singh was subjected to verbal abuse and threats.

          The college management then initiated legal proceedings over a bounced cheque that Ramanjit’s father had provided as security. Court proceedings commenced with a verdict expected on April 2, 2025. Seeking justice, Ramanjit Singh appealed to the Commission for assistance.

          Taking prompt action, the Commission summoned college officials on April 1, 2025 and directed them to withdraw the case against Ramanjit Singh’s father. The college management complied by submitting a formal withdrawal request to the court today, thereby safeguarding the future of both the student and his Scheduled Caste family.

Chandigarh, April 3

          Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced the successful completion of the allotment process for 207 Retail Excise Groups for the financial year 2025-26. The process, which commenced on March 5, 2025, and concluded on April 2, 2025, has yielded unprecedented revenue, generating an annual license fee of Rs. 9,878 crores, surpassing the projected target of Rs. 9,017 crores. This represents a 9.5% rise over the set Reserve price, marking a historic achievement for Punjab’s Excise Department. 

          Revealing this in the press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Excise Department has allotted 207 retail groups successfully through online Auction and the whole process saw a very spirited response from the stakeholders. The Finance Minister attributed this outstanding success to the progressive and stakeholder-centric approach embedded in the Excise Policy 2025-26, which was designed to foster a transparent and well-regulated liquor trade.

          Emphasizing that the total Excise Revenue for the year 25-26 is set to cross 11500 Crore, the Finance Minister said that the Punjab Excise Department’s consistent year-on-year success is a direct result of strategic policy formulation, which defines revenue expectations, establishes market routes, and streamlines supply chain management. He said that Punjab’s dynamic excise policy ensures the availability of high-quality liquor at competitive prices, reinforcing the state’s commitment to balancing revenue growth with consumer welfare. 

          The Finance Minister further commended the dedicated efforts of Excise officers and officials in combating the illicit liquor trade and smuggling (both intra- and inter-state). “By leveraging cutting-edge technology for monitoring and enforcement, and maintaining seamless coordination with Civil and Police Authorities, the department has successfully strengthened trust among stakeholders and ensured a transparent and supportive ecosystem for the liquor trade”, he added. 

          Reaffirming Punjab’s position as a leader in Excise Management, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Excise and Taxation Department remains steadfast in its mission to enhance revenue generation while upholding regulatory integrity and consumer welfare. He said this year’s milestone achievement sets a new benchmark, further cementing Punjab’s status as a frontrunner in excise sector modernization and transparent governance.

Chandigarh, April 3:

Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today instructed department officials to further enhance the state’s road network.

While chairing a meeting with Public Works Department officials regarding the budget allocated by the Punjab Government for the fiscal year 2025-26, S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is continuously working to foster comprehensive development to set the state on a path of progress, adding that a superior road network is essential for accelerating development projects across the state.

The Cabinet Minister stressed that special attention must be paid to the quality of all roads being constructed in the state to ensure they don’t require repairs for an extended period. The Public Works Department Minister categorically directed to complete necessary processes regarding the Amritsar-Tarn Taran route, construction of a bridge on the Mubarakpur-Dhakoli road in Dera Bassi, the Garhshankar-Sri Anandpur Sahib route and expedite completion of the village Meerthal route. He directed that process pertaining to construction work of Chittiwind Bridge be completed within two months so that work on this bridge can commence at the earliest.

The Cabinet Minister also instructed department officials to conduct a high-level meeting with Forest Department officials at the earliest to resolve obstacles related to obtaining approvals for road projects from the Forest Department. He directed officials to swiftly complete work related to the state’s planned roads.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Secretary PWD Dr. Ravi Bhagat and various other officials.

Chandigarh, April 3:

Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday paved way for checking illegal mining in the state and further reducing the price of sand and gravel for public.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held here under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister at his official residence.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet also has approved significant amendments in the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy which aims to enhance the supply of raw materials in the market, reduce illegal mining and corruption, reduce consumer prices for the public, increase state revenues, and eliminate any potential monopoly in the mining sector. The amendment stipulates Crusher Mining Sites (CRMS) thereby enabling crusher owners who possess land with gravel can now obtain a mining lease. This move is expected to curb the illegal transportation of material from other states and increase the availability of crushed sand and bajri in the market, which are essential for development activities in the state. Similarly, Landowner Mining Sites (LMS) will facilitate the Landowners with land containing sand deposits to apply for a mining lease and sell the material in the open market at the government’s notified rates.

Previously, many mining sites remained non-operational due to the lack of consent from landowners, as they were unwilling to allow unknown individuals to mine their land. The introduction of LMS will increase the number of operational mining sites, which will, in turn, boost market supply and state revenue. This move will also prevent monopolies in the mining sector.

Additionally, Deputy Commissioners have been granted the authority to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for government and Panchayat lands, as they are the custodians of these lands. This change will streamline the process and expedite the operationalization of mining sites on government lands. The royalty on sand has been increased to Rs 1.75/cft with a corresponding pit-head price of Rs 7/cft.

The royalty on gravel/RBM has been increased to Rs 3.15/cft with a corresponding pit-head price of Rs 9/cft. The Cabinet reiterated the commitment of state government to ensuring transparency, fairness, and economic growth. These amendments will not only address the needs of mining stakeholders but also create an enabling framework for the legal and transparent conduct of mining activities across the state. The policy aims to boost the state’s economy while upholding environmental and regulatory standards.

Green signal to provisions of Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme

Similarly the Cabinet also gave approval for provisions of Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme under which senior citizens will be taken on a pilgrimage at the government’s expense. The government will bear the entire cost of the journey, including air-conditioned travel, comfortable accommodation, and meals. To make the pilgrimage memorable, the government will also present a special gift/ souvenirs to the travellers.

All citizens aged 50 years and above can avail from this scheme and it will be open to people of all castes, religions, income groups, and regions. Residents from both cities and villages of Punjab can benefit from this initiative. The objective of this journey is to showcase the state’s rich spiritual, religious, and cultural heritage by covering major religious sites.

Throughout the journey, spiritual discourses and devotional singing (satsang and kirtan) will be organized. At the end of the pilgrimage, prasad will be distributed to all travelers. A budget of ₹100 crore has been allocated for this scheme, and if necessary, it will be further increased. The registration for Yatra will start from last week of April and yatra will begin from month of May.

*Approves School Mentorship program *

The Cabinet also gave nod to implement School mentorship program in the state thereby stipulating that the IAS/IPS officers adopt rural schools across the state and mentor the students for excelling in life. This Pilot project will be introduced in 80 schools of eminence of the state and every officer will be allotted the school for a period of five years irrespective of their place of positing. This move will further strengthen the atmosphere of education through conversation with students and teachers along with it the officers will prepare the students for competitive exams and ensure training to teachers for upgrading their skills. These officers will act a catalyst for mustering resources and resource person for development of these schools adding that these officers will work as mentors and not as bosses and this work will be voluntary service and interested  officers will have to perform it along with their already allocated duties.