Chandigarh, July 18:

Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh today met with representatives of the Sanitation Workers and Sewermen Union and assured swift resolution of their legitimate demands.

Presiding over meeting at the Municipal Building along with Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Sh. Tejvir Singh, Chairman Punjab State Safai Commission Sh. Chandan Grewal, Dr. Ravjot Singh listened to the various demands of union representatives and assured that their legitimate demands would be sympathetically resolved promptly.

Dr. Ravjot Singh said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is committed to the welfare of all sections of society. He instructed officials to conduct joint meeting by referring demands related to various departments so that meaningful solutions to different issues can be found.

The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government is continuously striving to ensure the welfare of sanitation workers and sewermen. The Minister, while calling sanitation workers and Sewermen the backbone of the department and appreciated their contributions toward achieving cleanliness goal, reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Punjab’s cities garbage-free.

The Local Government Minister said that all legitimate issues that can be resolved at the committee/corporation or departmental level will be addressed quickly. Necessary action will be swiftly implemented to resolve demands related to the state government or other departments as well, he added.

Chandigarh, July 18

The Patiala GST division has recorded an impressive 40 percent growth rate in GST collection during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, outpacing all other divisions in Punjab. This was disclosed during the quarterly review meeting of the Excise and Taxation department, chaired by Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema. Following Patiala division in growth were Ropar division with 34.97 percent and Amritsar division with 30.26 percent. The department has also successfully met its excise revenue targets, bolstered by intensified enforcement efforts that have effectively curbed the illicit liquor trade.

While Patiala division led in growth rate, Ludhiana division registered the highest gross GST collection across the state, bringing in Rs. 1998.76 crore, a significant increase of 23.89 percent compared to the same period in FY 2024-25. In the first quarter of FY 2025-26, Ropar division collected Rs 1315.66 crore, Amritsar division Rs 687.19 crore, and Patiala division Rs 679 crore. These figures represent a substantial rise from the previous fiscal year’s first quarter, where Ludhiana division collected Rs 1613 crore, Ropar division Rs. 975.53 crore, Amritsar division Rs. 527.54 crore, and Patiala division Rs. 484.98 crore.

Finance Minister Cheema commended the diligent efforts of the departmental teams in the top-performing divisions and encouraged other divisions to emulate their success. He engaged in extensive discussions with the Deputy Commissioner State Tax (DCST), in-charges of these divisions, delving into their areas of excellence and identifying aspects that require improvement.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister also reviewed the status of GST and VAT arrears, encouraging department officers to adopt innovative strategies for their recovery. He further assessed the progress of ongoing GST inspections, including the number of inspections conducted and cases disposed of during the first quarter. He issued directives for the timely resolution of all pending cases.

The performance of the enforcement wings of both the Excise and Taxation departments was also thoroughly reviewed. Discussions focused on the State Intelligence and Preventive Unit’s (SIPU) efforts to curb tax evasion. Additionally, the Excise teams provided a detailed report on their enforcement activities aimed at tackling illicit liquor and the smuggling of alcohol into Punjab from other states. Finance Minister Cheema expressed satisfaction with the enforcement wings’ performance and motivated them to further enhance their efforts.

Finally, the Finance Minister reviewed the status of GST and VAT appeal cases, examining both pending and newly instituted cases during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. He stressed the importance of thorough and continuous follow-up on all these cases, particularly emphasizing the need to pursue cases against individuals involved in hooch tragedies and illicit liquor trade to ensure they face appropriate legal consequences. He also directed the Excise teams to redouble their enforcement activities, ensuring that no bootlegging occurs in the state.

Prominent amongst others, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Excise, Dhirendra Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Taxation, Ajit Balaji Joshi, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal were also present in the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, July 18:

 To enhance awareness and effective implementation of child protection laws, the Community Affairs Division (CAD) of Punjab Police, in collaboration with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), successfully conducted a two-day training program on the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, here on Friday.

 The valedictory session was presided over by Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) CAD Gurpreet Kaur Deo, who emphasized the importance of these Acts in safeguarding children, including those in conflict with the law. She urged police officers to work in close coordination with statutory bodies including Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), and District Child Protection Officers (DCPO), whose roles are pivotal under the JJ Act. 

 Over 65 officials, including DySPs, SHOs, Women Helpdesk in-charges, Child Welfare Police Officers (CWPOs), and CWC Chairpersons from SAS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Rupnagar, participated in the program. The second day specifically focused on sensitizing officers about the POCSO Act, 2012, highlighting legal provisions for protecting children from sexual abuse. 

 Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo appreciated the contributions of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) as the training partner and thanked their resource persons for providing valuable insights on the two Acts. She also informed that CAD, with BBA’s support, has conducted similar training sessions across all eight Police Ranges in Punjab, ensuring wider awareness and compliance with child protection laws. 

 The program aimed to strengthen inter-agency coordination and equip officers with the necessary knowledge to handle cases involving children with sensitivity and legal precision.

Malerkotla, July 18:

Reiterating that there will be no mercy against the people who had spread the curse of drugs in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the ‘ drug Jarnails’ who were considered invincible have been put behind the bars. 

Addressing the gathering after dedicating new Tehsil complexes at Ahmedgarh and Amargarh, the Chief Minister said that the drug trade was flourished and patronised by those who were elected by the people to serve them but unfortunately they supplied drugs in their official cars. He said that these leaders enjoyed paramount power during their heydays and no one dared to touch them despite the fact they were hand in glove with the drug smugglers. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has put these leaders behind the bars as they had committed genocide of the youth by flourishing drug trade.

The Chief Minister solicited fulsome support and cooperation of the people for teaching these traitors of Punjab a befitting lesson. He said that the resounding success of the Yudh Nasheyan Virudh is a testimony to the fact that the people of state are with the state government in this war against drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this crusade will further continue in the coming times so as to make Punjab free from scourge of drugs.

The Chief Minister said that all was not well in the Badal-Majithia clan as the internal feud was at the peak due to the ongoing power tussle. He said that Congress and Akalis was a divided house as squabble for power was going on amongst its leaders. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these power hungry politicians can’t survive without it and are getting restless as people had ousted them to choose AAP.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will take a number of pro-people decisions in the coming days which will benefit all the stakeholders. He said that the focus of his government is to ensure that youth become job givers instead of job seekers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the need of hour to carve out a progressive and prosperous Punjab by proactive involvement of the youth. 

Reiterating his government’s commitment to curbing sacrilege, the Chief Minister shared that on Monday, the government introduced the Punjab Prevention of Crime Against Religious Scriptures Bill, 2025 in the Vidhan Sabha. He said this sensitive and critical issue affects all Punjabis and has far-reaching implications for both current and future generations. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that stringent punishment is necessary to serve as a deterrent for those committing such heinous crimes.

The Chief Minister noted that Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints, and seers who preached love, harmony, and tolerance. However, he lamented that certain anti-Punjab forces have been trying to destroy this fabric of unity by orchestrating sacrilegious acts against holy scriptures since 2016. Bhagwant Singh Mann reaffirmed his government’s unwavering resolve to ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits involved in such acts.

Highlighting key public welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister spoke about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna — the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment worth ₹10 lakh to every resident family of Punjab. He proudly noted that Punjab has become the first state in India to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage to every household. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will provide a huge relief to the general public by offering them quality healthcare services.

The Chief Minister said that the political leaders have lost their credibility because of their dubious character which have been exposed before the people. He said that the people had shown the door to the Congress and Akali leaders because of their anti-Punjab and anti-people stance. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is fortunate to have got so much love and affection from the people of the state, who had given thumping majority to his government.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has set a new benchmark by giving government jobs to more than 55,000 youth in the state in more than 36 months of its tenure. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a foolproof mechanism has been adopted for the entire recruitment process adding that these jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that transparent recruitment has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here.

The Chief Minister said that he was indebted to the people who had attended the event in a huge number despite bad weather. He said that these projects will immensely benefit the masses by delivering them citizen centric services in a time bound manner.  Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such modern tehsil complexes are being built across the state to facilitate the people.

The Chief Minister said that the earlier governments had never paid any heed towards such initiatives to serve the people in a better manner. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that previously the reign of the state was in the wrong hands earlier due to which the state had suffered adversely. However, he said that ever since assuming the charge of office his government has been according top priority to such works of immense public importance.

The Chief Minister announced that such buildings are being constructed while keeping in-view the future needs of people. He said that the state government has introduced path breaking Revenue reforms in the form of Easy Registry and Easy Jamabandi to facilitate the people by providing these services at their doorsteps. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these out of the box initiatives have been taken to avoid inconvenience of the people and ensure that they get services in a time bound manner.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and none of the corrupt officers is being tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every corrupt officer will be nailed and strict action will be taken against them. He said that the state government is working zealously to bring transparency, effectiveness and responsiveness by providing citizen centric services to people at their doorsteps.

On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and others were also present.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, July 18, 2025:

The Punjab Horticulture Department organized a two-day State-Level Pear Show and Seminar at Maharaja Farm, District Amritsar. The event was formally inaugurated by Shri Mohinder Bhagat, Minister for Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture, Punjab, who attended as the Chief Guest.

While addressing the gathering, Shri Mohinder Bhagat emphasized that the Punjab Government is making concrete and consistent efforts to develop the horticulture sector and enhance farmers’ income. He said that events like the pear competition are an important part of these initiatives. Such shows, exhibitions and seminars not only boost farmers’ knowledge but also help build market linkages that contribute directly to their economic upliftment.

The Minister highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government has ensured regular supply of canal water to agricultural lands—providing a major thrust to horticulture in Punjab. During the event, farmers also raised their concerns, which were assured prompt redressal by the Minister and departmental officials.

Deputy Director Horticulture, Amritsar, Shri Tajinder Singh Sandhu informed that a total of 714 entries of high-quality pears and value-added fruit products were received from various districts of Punjab. Winners were awarded first and second prizes by the Chief Guest. District Amritsar stood out by securing 28 prizes in the competition.

Several departmental exhibitions were also set up at the venue, while experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, shared valuable insights on pear cultivation and marketing strategies.

Prominent attendees included SDM Shri Gursimran Singh Dhillon; Assistant Director Horticulture Shri Jatinder Singh Sandhu; horticulture officers Sukhpal Singh, Harvinder Singh, Tejbir Singh, Kiranbir Kaur and Harpreet Kaur, along with other ministerial and field staff, all of whom played a key role in the success of the event.

CHANDIGARH, July 18:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 139 days, Punjab Police on Friday arrested 125 drug smugglers and recovered 8.6 kg heroin, 500 grams opium, 151 kg poppy husk and Rs 11,980 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 22,533 in just 139 days.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 180 Police teams, comprising over 1300 police personnel, under the supervision of 81 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 423 locations across the state leading to the registration of 81 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 493 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 83 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, July 17, 2025: In a breakthrough for advanced mental health care in the Tricity region, Fortis Hospital Mohali has introduced Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), a non-invasive FDA-approved brain stimulation therapy providing new hope to patients who have not responded to traditional medication or psychotherapy. Launched four months ago, the therapy has already been used to treat 15 patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). dTMS was introduced so that it can penetrate deeper and stimulate areas of the brain that Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) cannot reach, making it a more effective option for certain treatment-resistant conditions.

During a press conference, Dr. Hardeep Singh, Additional Director – Psychiatry at Fortis Mohali, highlighted successful clinical outcomes post using dTMS.

A 40-Year-Old Woman whohad been living under the relentless grip of severe OCD for nearly 16 years, consumed by overwhelming fears of contamination, she spent hours each day performing exhausting cleaning rituals, leaving her physically drained and virtually confined to her home. Despite seeking help from several leading medical centres over the years, her symptoms persisted at an extreme level, severely impacting her quality of life. She was kept on dTMS to target deeper brain regions involved in OCD.

Explaining her condition, Dr. Hardeep Singh, Additional Director – Psychiatry at Fortis Mohali, said, “Within just six weeks of dTMS treatment, her condition improved dramatically. Her Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score, a standard measure of OCD severity, dropped significantly from 32 –  indicating extreme symptoms, to 13, reflecting only mild OCD. She has been able to regain control over her life, dramatically reducing her compulsions and reclaiming her independence. dTMS is revolutionizing the way we treat depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. It’s a precise and safe therapy that provides long-term relief without the side effects of traditional medications,”

dTMS works by delivering targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate specific regions of the brain implicated in various mental health and neurological conditions. It has shown remarkable efficacy in treating OCD, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, migraines, and nicotine addiction. Researchers are also exploring its potential benefits in managing Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome and autism.  Patients typically undergo 20 – 30 outpatient sessions over the duration 4 to 6 weeks. The treatment is completely non-invasive and does not require anesthesia. Patients remain awake and communicative throughout the session.  

Dr Nishit Sawal, Senior Consultant, Neurology, said, “dTMS is also helpful for treating post-stroke patients for aphasia and post-stroke rehabilitation. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. It can impact speaking, understanding, reading and writing. Aphasia is usually caused by damage to language-related areas of the brain, often due to stroke or head injury.”

Reinforcing Fortis Mohali’s commitment to innovations associated with mental health condition, dTMS is bridging the gap in access to advanced, effective therapies, bringing new hope to individuals and families across the region.

Fortis Healthcare Limited – an IHH Healthcare Berhad Company – is a leading integrated healthcare services provider in India. It is one of the largest healthcare organizations in the country with 27 healthcare facilities, ~4,750 operational beds (including O&M facilities), and over 400 diagnostics centers (including JVs). The Company is listed on the BSE Ltd and National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India. It draws strength from its partnership with a global major and parent company – IHH, to build upon its culture of world-class patient care and superlative clinical excellence. Fortis employs over 23,000 people (including Agilus Diagnostics Limited) who share its vision of becoming the world’s most trusted healthcare network. Fortis offers a full spectrum of integrated healthcare services ranging from clinics to quaternary care facilities and a wide range of ancillary services.

Chandigarh, July 17 – Haryana’s Minister of Industries and Commerce Rao Narbir Singh has directed officials of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) to work in alignment with the core objectives of the corporation. He emphasized that the primary aim of the corporation is to provide modern industrial infrastructure in the state and dedicated efforts must be made in this direction.

Rao Narbir Singh issued these instructions during a recent review meeting with HSIIDC officials. He said under the Haryana Land Partnership Policy—2022, farmers and rural residents should be made aware that HSIIDC will develop half of the land provided by them and make them stakeholders in the project. To ensure this, a large-scale awareness campaign should be conducted with the help of professional agencies to help people better understand the corporation’s functioning.

The Industries Minister informed that Gurugram has now become the first choice for global companies. As a result, industrial activities are rapidly expanding in areas like Sohna, Manesar, and Bawal. He suggested the development of a convention centre near the Dwarka Expressway. For this, land belonging to the Municipal Corporation in Sector 65 of New Gurugram should be identified, and the foundation stone for the convention centre should be laid on November 1, on the occasion of Haryana Day.

The Minister said that a high-quality guest house with modern facilities should be constructed in every Industrial Model Township (IMT) developed by HSIIDC, to ensure proper accommodation for industry representatives and visitors.

Under the Green Haryana campaign, he emphasized the need to develop maximum green belts in all industrial estates of the corporation. He also directed that no tiles should be laid on the footpaths alongside the green belts to avoid obstruction in natural water recharge.

Rao Narbir Singh said the 135-kilometre-long Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway is a very important asset of HSIIDC. A special action plan should be prepared for its complete maintenance and beautification. He directed that a large-scale plantation drive be conducted on both sides of the KMP and solar-powered pumps be installed every 5 to 10 kilometers to ensure irrigation of plants after rainfall.

He said the section of the KMP Expressway from Manesar to Palwal requires urgent repairs, and the tendering process for the same should begin without delay.

Chandigarh, July 17- The Haryana Government has directed that District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee meetings must be held every month in all districts. In addition, meetings of the District Development and Monitoring Committee should be convened as per requirement. The government has also instructed that no delay in financial allocations should occur due to the non-conduct of these meetings.

A letter issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi further stated that if the designated chairperson is unable to preside over the meeting in any given month, then the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district shall chair the meeting on the last working day of that month.

Chandigarh, July 17- The Haryana Right to Service Commission has taken serious note of a case from Faridabad where a citizen did not receive timely service and was issued a birth certificate instead of a death certificate. The Commission found that the applicant had applied for his father’s death certificate on March 22, 2025, after his father passed away on March 19, 2025. However, due to negligence by the concerned office, the applicant was mistakenly issued a birth certificate of a child.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the commission said that, during the investigation it was found that the certificate issuance process was handled by a clerk at the NIT Zone-II office of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad, who uploaded the wrong certificate and closed the application.

Taking this as a case of serious administrative negligence, the Commission has imposed a symbolic fine of Rs.3,000 on the employee under Section 17(1)(h) of the Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014. The Commission has also directed that Rs. 3,000 be paid as compensation to the applicant. The total amount of Rs. 6,000 will be deducted from the concerned clerk’s salary for July 2025 and disbursed as per rules in August 2025.

The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Faridabad has been directed to ensure compliance with the order and submit a report to the Commission by August 11, 2025. The applicant has been asked to send his bank details to both the Commission and the Municipal office so that the compensation can be transferred to his account.