Chandigarh August 7: In a landmark move toward civil hospital modernization, the Haryana Health Department has launched a transformative initiative to upgrade all civil hospitals across the state to match the standards of private healthcare facilities. This initiative fulfills the budget announcement made by Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

The visionary effort focuses on comprehensive infrastructure renovation, including everything from toilet repairs to whitewashing and painting, all aimed at improving patient hygiene, comfort, and overall experience.

This was informed in the review meeting of District Civil Hospitals chaired by Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini here today.

Special repair and renovation work underway in 8 civil Hospitals

It was informed that the work for the special repair and renovation have already started in 8 civil hospitals in Panchkula, Jind, Gurugram, Kaithal, Mandikhera (Nuh), Rewari, Sirsa and Kurukshetra. In addition, work will soon be started in 13 other district hospitals at Ambala, Bhiwani, Palwal, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Narnaul, Fatehabad, Faridabad, Rohtak, Hisar and Charkhi Dadri.

Setting a new benchmark: Haryana’s modern, patient-friendly civil hospitals

The plan includes major upgrades to essential utilities, such as electrical repairs, improved lighting systems, and reliable air conditioning to support patient care and staff efficiency. Practical improvements like fixing internal roads and updating hospital signs will make it easier to get around and create a more welcoming environment for both visitors and healthcare workers. The project also focuses on both safety and appearance. Hospital buildings will get upgraded facades, new fire safety systems, and more greenery through horticultural improvements. With these changes, Haryana is setting a new standard for modern, patient-friendly public hospitals.

All civil hospitals being upgraded with advanced facilities to reduce dependence on private care

The Chief Minister said that he had announced from the floor of the House the plan to modernize all civil hospitals across the state, equipping them with modern facilities for patients. He emphasized the State Government’s commitment to ensuring that every patient visiting a civil hospital receives all essential services. He said that all civil hospitals are being upgraded with advanced treatment facilities so that people do not have to go to private hospitals for care.

All equipment should be kept in optimal condition to guarantee uninterrupted care for patients

The Chief Minister also reviewed the services available to patients at district hospitals, including private rooms, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRI, automated labs, blood banks, and X-rays. He directed that all machines be kept in proper working order to provide uninterrupted services to patients. He also emphasized the need to ensure sufficient staff is available to operate these machines effectively.

Process to fill 450 vacant doctor posts to begin soon, boosting quality healthcare

The Chief Minister said that the present State Government has ensured the availability of a sufficient number of doctors and paramedical staff in government hospitals across the state. He directed that the process to fill 450 vacant posts of doctors be initiated at the earliest to strengthen efforts in providing quality healthcare services to the people.

Jan Aushadhi Kendras in district hospitals to operate round-the-clock

He also directed that Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating in district hospitals be made functional round-the-clock. To achieve this, these Kendras can be managed through cooperative societies. Currently, Jan Aushadhi Kendras are run by hospital staff during working hours and provide medicines to the public at prices significantly lower than market rates. It was informed that sufficient stock of listed essential medicines is available in all district hospitals. In December 2023, 272 types of medicines and other consumable items were on the contract list which has now significantly increased to 534.

Five new medical and surgical packages added to existing 114 government-reserved packages

The Chief Minister was informed that with an aim to increase participation of Public or Government Hospitals under Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY / CHIRAYU scheme and to curb over-utilization of Medical and Surgical packages under the scheme, five Medical and Surgical package, in addition to already 114 Government reserved packages have been made government reserve in Haryana under AB-PMJAY. These included Phacoemulsification with foldable hydrophobic acrylic, Abdominal Hysterectomy, Acute exacerbation of COPD, acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration and cholecystectomy – without Exploration of CBD – Lap.

Furthermore 10 more packages have been proposed for making government reserved. These included Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement, Tympanoplasty, Hernia Repair, Appendicectomy, Adenoidectomy, Haemorroidectomy, Tonsillectomy, Hydrocele and Circumcision.

The sex ratio in the state has significantly improved as a result of focused efforts

He was informed that, due to concerted efforts, the sex ratio in the state has significantly improved. It has increased from 899 as of July last year to 907 by July 2025, showing an 8-point rise.

He was further informed that a State Task Force has been constituted, and review meetings are held every Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department. Reports from MTP centers are closely analyzed, and any center performing MTPs on pregnant women with two live girl children is rigorously monitored.

Additionally, pregnant women with one or more live female children are identified and linked with an ASHA or Anganwadi worker, who tracks their pregnancy and provides necessary support for successful delivery. Abortions or MTPs of these pregnant women are being reverse-tracked to prevent misuse.

Haryana Chief Secretary Sh Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare Sh Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister  Dr Saket Kumar, Mission Director of the National Health Mission and Secretary of the Health Department Sh Rippudaman Singh, Director, Medical Education and Research Sh Yashendra Singh, Managing Director, Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited Dr Manoj, Director General Health Services  Dr Manish Bansal and Dr Kuldeep Singh and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh:

n a stirring tribute to India’s spirit of unity and patriotism, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has launched a breathtaking laser show of the National Flag in motion at the Laser Fountain at Plaza, Sector 17, under the national campaign “Har Ghar Tiranga.”

City Mayor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla formally inaugurated the event, joined by Sh. Pardeep Kumar, IAS, Special Commissioner, and Sh. Sanjiv Chadha, President, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM), along with other CBM office bearers. The plaza came alive with vivid tricolor projections dancing to the rhythm of patriotic songs, drawing crowds of all ages.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said, “This laser show is more than a visual spectacle — it is a reminder of the dreams, sacrifices, and strength stitched into our tricolor. It is not just fabric; it carries the heartbeat of a billion citizens.” She further added, “Every day, millions of Indians pause with pride as the National Anthem plays and the Flag rises — this show celebrates that collective emotion.”

The laser show will continue every evening until August 15, creating a festive and reflective atmosphere in the city. Residents are encouraged to visit and immerse themselves in the patriotic ambiance as Chandigarh celebrates the glory of the Nation.

The Mayor said this initiative beautifully blends tradition with technology, igniting National pride in a spectacular, modern form.

handigarh, August 7 – Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij today heard the grievances of people from the Ambala Cantonment Assembly constituency at his residence in Ambala and issued necessary directions to the concerned officials.

A resident of Ambala Cantonment submitted a complaint to Minister Vij stating that he had contacted an agent based in Chandigarh to send his son to Jordan. The agent allegedly took around Rs. 3.5 lakh but neither sent the son abroad nor returned the money. On this, Minister Anil Vij directed the SP, Ambala to investigate the matter and register a case.

Similarly, a family from Ambala complained to Minister Vij that they had married their daughter to a youth from Kurukshetra. After marriage, the couple moved to Canada. However, just a month later, the son-in-law returned to India with their daughter and brought her to Delhi Airport — since then, their daughter has been missing. In this matter too, Minister Anil Vij instructed the SP, Ambala to carry out an investigation.

Sh. Anil Vij also directed that the concerned officers to take action in another greivance case in which a woman from Defence Colony had approached Anil Vij demanding sewer cleaning. He also heard several other complaints on the occasion.

Chandigarh, 7 August

Punjab Cabinet Minister Sh.Sanjeev Arora said It was brought to my attention through my WhatsApp number by four Punjabi youths from Hoshiarpur District, who have been stranded in Iraq for the past approximately six months. They were facing mistreatment and expressed a strong desire to return to India due to concerns for their safety and well-being.

In this connection, Cabinet Minister Sh. Sanjeev Arora took keen interest to help Punjabi youth and requested Union Cabinet Minister Sh. S.Jaishankar and Indian Embassy in Iraq for making arrangements to bring back four Indian citizens stranded in Iraq.

He further informed that four Indian citizens namely Gurpreet Singh, Avtar Singh, Surjeet Singh and Amarjit Singh are returning today back to India from Iraq.

Chandigarh, 7 August:

In a significant step towards strengthening the functioning of jails and ensuring the holistic development of prisoners, Punjab Jails and Transport, Minister Sh. Laljit Singh Bhullar on Thursday handed over appointment letters here to three newly recruited officials of Prisons Department.

The new appointments include 02 Warder rank and 01 Group D employee, recruited on compassionate grounds. This shall contribute towards better functioning of the department.

These recruitments are part of the ongoing initiative by the Prisons Department to address manpower requirements and improve administrative efficiency across various jails in the state.

The Minister of Jails, while interacting with the appointees, highlighted the Punjab Government’s commitment to modernizing jail infrastructure and improving services for prisoners, including educational, vocational and welfare programs.

On this ocassion, IG Prisons Roop Kumar Arora congratulated the new appointees. He emphasised the critical role that each official plays in maintaining discipline, reforming inmates and supporting the overall functioning of the department.

Chandigarh, August 7-

In a significant career milestone for educators, the Punjab School Education department has elevated 814 Master Cadre teachers to the position of Lecturers, recognising their dedication and years of experience in shaping young minds.

Sharing this information today, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said that these promotions encompass a wide range of subjects, including 360 Punjabi, 271 Political Science, 135 English, 40 Commerce, two Sanskrit, one Fine Arts, three Home Science and two Sociology lecturers.

Extending his heartiest congratulations to all the promoted faculty, S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed confidence that their expertise and passion will continue to inspire and educate the next generation of leaders and thinkers. It will also motivate the educators to deliver better services by demonstrating exceptional pedagogical skills and a deep commitment to nurturing the intellectual and personal growth of their students.

The Punjab School Education Department remains committed to fostering an educational environment that is conducive to both student success and professional growth for its educators. These promotions are part of the department’s ongoing efforts to build a robust and dynamic educational framework as mandated by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government.

Chandiharh/Khanna, August 7

Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Thursday organized a mega public interaction under the “Mera Halka Mera Parivar” initiative in village Bhattian (Khanna) where he listened to the grievances of the people.

Senior officials from various departments, including Rural Development and Panchayats, PSPCL, Mandi Board, Police, and other departments, were also present at the event.

Addressing the people, Cabinet Minister Sond stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to providing basic facilities to the people of Punjab. He assured that issues related to electricity, water, sewerage, roads, and streetlights would be addressed promptly. He further emphasized the government is dedicated to ensuring transparent administration in government offices. He noted that several complaints related to various departments were received during the public interaction, many of which were resolved on the spot.

The people lauded the initiative and stated that such programs must be continued regularly in the constituency.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Market Committee Khanna Chairman Jagtar Singh Gill Ratanheri, along with officials from various departments, sarpanches, panchayat members, and others were present.

Chandigarh, August 7:

Taking a compassionate initiative, the Punjab Government has granted early release to 108 prisoners serving life sentences who demonstrated exemplary conduct during their incarceration over the past year. This measure has been undertaken with the objective of providing rehabilitation opportunities to inmates with good conduct, informed S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, Minister of Jails, Punjab.

Divulging further, the Cabinet Minister said, “Over the past year, 108 these prisoners serving life sentences in various Punjab jails have been released.” He stressed that this decision shows the state government’s efforts to provide a second chance to individuals who have exhibited good behaviour and met the requisite criteria for early release.

S. Bhullar said that this initiative will provide these individuals with an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into mainstream society. He said that this step is part of the Punjab Government’s comprehensive strategy to ensure that the justice system not only punishes but also facilitates the reestablishment and reintegration of individuals into society.

The Cabinet Minister elaborated that by releasing prisoners who have shown a desire for reform, the government aims to promote a more humane and effective approach to justice.

“The release of these prisoners is evidence of our government’s commitment to rehabilitation and providing individuals with opportunities to reconnect with society,” he remarked, stating that “We believe in second chances and are dedicated to creating a more compassionate and just society.”

The Cabinet Minister further said that around 800 calling systems have been installed in jails to facilitate communication between prisoners and their families and lawyers, thereby preventing them from attempting to use illegal mobile phones. Indigent prisoners are also provided with free calling services, allowing them 10 minutes of calls every 15 days to communicate with their families and lawyers, he added.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, August 7:

          In a swift intelligence-led operation amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police apprehended four persons involved in cross-border arms smuggling and recovered seven sophisticated Pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Akash (20) of village Daoke in Amritsar, Ramanpreet Singh (23) of village Bagha Kalan in Amritsar, Pratap Singh (25) of village Sur Singh in Ferozepur and Sarbjit Singh alias Babbal (25) of Debi Wala Bazar in Amritsar. The recovered pistols include two 9MM PX5, two 9MM Glock and three .30 bore pistols.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and have been receiving illegal weapon consignments near the Indo-Pak border. The arrested accused persons were operating from border villages and further supplying arms to gangsters in the state, he said.

          The DGP said that further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to further uncover the entire network and its linkages.

          Sharing operation details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that in view of enhanced security measures ahead of Independence Day, police teams, acting on specific intelligence inputs, have arrested Akash and Raman from the area under Police Station Chheharta and recovered four pistols— two PX5 9mm and two .30 bore. Subsequently, their two accomplices Pratap Singh and Sarbjeet Singh alias Babbal were also arrested from the same area, and three additional pistols were recovered from their possession.

          He said that arrested accused Akash resides close to the International border and he along with Raman used to receive consignments of arms from across the border, while, their associates Sarbjeet and Pratap were coordinating and handling the weapon supply operations. With the arrest of these accused persons, a major criminal activity has been averted in the area, he said.

          The CP said that the probe is going on and more arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days.

          A case FIR no. 147 dated 02-08-2025 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.

Chandigarh, August 7: 

          In a landmark achievement, the State of Punjab has been recognised as an ‘Emerging State in Organ Donation and Transplantation,’ with the prestigious award during the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) held in New Delhi.

          The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), organised the prestigious award ceremony, which was graced by the Union Health & Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda.

          The award was proudly received by Director of Medical Education & Research (DRME) Punjab Dr Avnish Kumar, along with steering committee member Dr Akash Deep Aggarwal and Nodal Officer of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Punjab Dr Gagneen Kaur Sandhu.

          Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh extended his heartiest congratulations to the department and SOTTO team for this notable achievement. The recognition highlights Punjab’s outstanding work in promoting awareness, developing infrastructure and reaching significant milestones in deceased organ donations.

          Dr Balbir Singh reiterated the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to further advancing these efforts, with a continued focus on promoting awareness, enhancing infrastructure and fostering a culture of organ donation that would benefit countless lives across Punjab.