Chandigarh, July 29:

With the firm resolve that no child in Punjab should live on the streets, beg for survival, or suffer exploitation, the Punjab Government under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann has rescued a total of 208 children from begging under the ongoing campaign Project JEEVANJYOT-2.

In the latest statewide action involving 20 special checks and raids, 5 more children were rescued and provided relief.

Sharing this information, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development, stated that “JEEVANJYOT aims to lift children from the streets into the system of education and protection.”

Dr. Kaur informed that today, special operations were conducted in Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, and Jalandhar. Additional checks were carried out in Kapurthala, Mansa, Malerkotla, Moga, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Tarn Taran.

One child each was rescued from Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur, and Sri Muktsar Sahib.

The Minister further informed that in 3 cases, after counseling and documentation verification, the children were reunited with their parents under strict warning that such exploitation must not happen again. Two other children have been safely placed in child care institutions.

Dr. Kaur reiterated that any parent found repeating such behaviour would face strict legal action.

No case requiring DNA testing was reported in today’s rescue operations. She praised the prompt and sensitive action of the district Child Protection Teams and District Child Welfare Committees.

Dr. Baljit Kaur made an earnest appeal to the public to actively support the government’s efforts to build a child begging-free and ‘Rangla Punjab’.

“If you see a child begging anywhere, immediately inform Child Helpline 1098 or the local administration,” she urged.

Chandigarh, July 29:

Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is consistently working for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. Taking a step forward in this direction, Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat has directed officiers to accelerate the construction work of war memorials across the state.

Presiding over a review meeting with senior officers of Defence Services Welfare Department at Punjab Civil Secretariat, Mohinder Bhagat said that the Punjab Government is committed to improving the living standard of ex-servicemen and their dependents. He emphasized that all welfare schemes being run for the benefit of ex-servicemen and their families must be implemented effectively.

During the meeting, Director of the Department, Brig. Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd.), presented a comprehensive report on the department’s activities over the last three months. He briefed the Minister about various ongoing schemes related to financial assistance, educational benefits, medical aid and infrastructure development for ex-servicemen.

Bhagat instructed the officers to prioritize all matters related to ex-servicemen. He also directed to ensure wide publicity and awareness campaigns about government schemes so that all eligible beneficiaries can avail the full benefits.

The Minister further directed that renovation and maintenance work of Sainik Rest Houses across the state be completed on time. He assured that there would be no shortage of funds for development works and warned that any negligence on the part of officials would be strictly handled.

Chandigarh /New Delhi, July 29,

Punjab’s education minister S.Harjot Singh Bains, voiced strong dissent, stating that the centre government is overstepping its bounds and encroaching on states’ rights through new education policy.

Punjab Education Minister S. Bains was here to attend the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam organised by Union Ministry of Education at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest of this national level event. The Punjab Education Minister stated that as education being a concurrent subject between the Centre and the states, the Central Government is overpowering its authority through its new education policy.

The Minister highlighted that despite Punjabi being one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Constitution and being widely spoken and studied in several states other than Punjab, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had initially included it as an optional subject alongside languages like Thai, German and Mandarin. He said that it was only after Punjab government registered strong protests that Punjabi was included as a main subject. He said that the center had claimed that the NEP would promote the regional languages but contrary to these claims the center placed the regional languages under the category of optional subjects which is undermining the status of regional languages.

The Minister said that Punjab government has already announced to frame its own education policy and it will be formed soon. He further said that the state will not tolerate any steps of the centre  that undermine Punjab, Punjabbiyat and punjabi language under the guise of the NEP. He stated that Punjab has already announced its new education policy and is working sincerely towards the holistic development of education in the state.

The Minister highlighted that students from government schools in Punjab are excelling at the national level in various fields of education and competitive exams, bringing pride to the state.

S. Bains said that during this event, there was no discussion on the tragic accident that occurred due to the collapse of a school building in Rajasthan and even a two-minute silence was not observed on the death of innocent children, which is very unfortunate. He said that in this conference, important issues like issues related to mid-day meal and increasing the salaries of workers, no increase in the funds for school uniform for a very long time were not discussed, whereas in Punjab, different school uniforms are required for summer and winter. He said that in this conference, new methods of education, block chain, artificial intelligence (AI), digital learning and other issues were not even touched.

Mahima Singh Wala (Ludhiana), July 29:

While announcing the revival of traditional rural sports in Punjab that were fading due to legal restrictions, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated today that the state government will remove all legal hurdles to promote and preserve the state’s glorious sports heritage.

Addressing the gathering in a function organised by Sports lovers to felicitate  a massive gathering of traditional sports lovers, the Chief Minister said that bullock cart races are not just a source of entertainment but represent the glorious cultural heritage of rural Punjab. He said such races have been held in Punjab since ancient times and served as a living connection to our traditions and cultural identity. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru, also practiced farming with bullocks during his time in Kartarpur Sahib.

The Chief Minister said that the ban on bullock cart races not only disheartened lovers of traditional sports, but also dealt a blow to our heritage. He further added that there had been growing demand from Punjabis to bring a new law so that these traditional games can be revived. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on July 11, 2025, the historic ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025’ was passed unanimously in the Punjab Assembly.

The Chief Minister  envisioned that  this law will not only help in preserving indigenous animal breeds in Punjab but also pave the way for resuming bullock cart races. He said that the law now awaits the consent of the President of India, after which the races can be officially conducted again. Speaking about the new legislation, Bhagwant Singh Mann explained that its primary objective is to ensure safety measures for animals participating in sports, including veterinary supervision, safety standards, registration and documentation, and penalties for violations—so that no cruelty is inflicted upon voiceless animals.

The CM also announced that the government will explore possibilities of reviving pigeon flying competitions as well. Referring to the sports festival held at Kila Raipur village, he said that the games which began in 1933 are popularly known as “Mini Olympics” or “Rural Olympics”. Bhagwant Singh Mann said these games have received international recognition, having been covered by BBC, Discovery Channel, and others adding that even Presidents of India have attended these games in the past.

Thanking the public for their overwhelming support in the government’s war against drugs, the Chief Minister emphasized that drug abuse is not limited to one house or district, but affects the entire state. He said many young people in Punjab have fallen prey to drugs adding those who laid the pyres  of youth  are the real enemies of society and they will not be spared at any cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those affluent leaders who were behind the genocide of youth have already been put behind the bars adding that the campaign to demolish the houses of drug smugglers with bulldozers will continue in coming days too.

The Chief Minister questioned Captain Amarinder Singh for showing concern over the human rights of the kingpin of the entire drug trade currently lodged in Nabha jail, asking why such concern was never shown for the people of Punjab. He implied that this has exposed the real face of these leaders who have spread and patronised drug trade across the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Captain’s nephew started drug trade in Akali regime when he was Minister and it bloomed with the former Congress leader, now in BJP became the Chief Minister.

Talking about irrigation, the Chief Minister shared that when he assumed office, only 21% of agricultural land across state was irrigated using canal water, but today that figure has increased to 63%. He said that due to the government’s effective efforts, for the first time in history, canal and river water is reaching the tail-end villages of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government is duty bound to save the water of the state and no stone is being left unturned for it.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that uninterrupted electricity is being provided for paddy cultivation, and for the first time, due to surplus water availability, farmers are switching off their tube wells. He  stated that Punjab Government has made history by purchasing the privately-owned Govindwal Power Plant adding that this is the first time a government has bought a private power plant, reversing the past trend where governments sold public assets to their cronies at throwaway prices. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as per its duty, the state government has renamed the plant after the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji.

Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Hardeep Singh Mundian and other dignitaries.

Chandigarh, July 29:

The Punjab Government today announced a gazetted holiday on July 31, 2025 to observe the martyrdom day of great revolutionary Shaheed Udham Singh. A notification in this regard has already been issued.

The official spokesperson said that as per notification, in commemoration of Shaheed Udham Singh Ji’s martyrdom day, July 31st, 2025 (Thursday) has been declared a gazetted holiday instead of a restricted holiday for all government offices, boards/corporations and government educational institutions across the state.

Chandigarh, July 29:

          In a decisive move to strengthen Punjab’s healthcare infrastructure as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday issued strict directives to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply and power backup in all critical care units, including ICUs, Operation Theatres (OTs), and emergency wards across all government health facilities in the state.

          Presiding over a high-level meeting with Civil Surgeons from all districts, Dr Balbir Singh emphasised the need for 24×7 oxygen availability, functional UPS systems, and fully operational generator sets to prevent any disruption in life-saving medical services.

          The Health Minister also issued stringent directives regarding medicine supply, instructing Civil Surgeons to maintain at least one month’s buffer stock of all 368 types of essential medicines and warned against any shortage of essential medicines. “No patient should be prescribed any medicines from outside the hospital,” he declared, while reiterating that the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led government’s commitment to ensure free and accessible healthcare.

          He further said that Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) have been empowered to purchase any non-essential medicine as per their requirement, warning that strict disciplinary action would be taken against any non-complying medical officer. To bolster the medicine dispensing system and overall patient experience, Civil Surgeons and SMOs were also directed to daily visit OPDs and collect patient feedback.

          To further enhance patient satisfaction, Dr Balbir Singh directed Civil Surgeons to ensure that Outpatient Department (OPD) services must be delivered within an hour of the registration.

          In another move to enhance critical care capabilities, Dr Balbir Singh announced that every doctor and paramedic, including staff nurses, will undergo training in critical care and advanced life support. He also tasked each Civil Surgeon with submitting their district’s health status in comparison to the Millennium Development Goals, enabling the department to set targets for better progress.

          The Health Minister asked Civil Surgeons to leverage the Mass Education and Media wing of the department to create widespread awareness about the “Farishtey” scheme and the availability of Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs in Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state.

          The Health Minister also announced that approximately one thousand new doctors will be joining in the coming months as the recruitment process is near completion which will considerably improve the quality of health services being delivered.

          On the occasion, Chairman PHSC Raman Behl , Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Member Punjab Development Commission Anurag Kundu, Special Secretary Health-cum-MD NHM Ghanshyam Thori, MD PHSC Amit Talwar, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare Dr Jasminder, Director ESI Dr Jaspreet Kaur, Director PHSC Dr Anil Goyal, Director (Procurement) PHSC Dr Pawanpreet Kaur, Deputy Directors were also present.

Chandigarh, July 29:-

In a significant relief to the state arhtiyas, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government is all set to bring One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to reduce the burden of interest and penalties on shops and plots allotted to them in mandis (Grain Markets) across the state, announced Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who is also Head of Group of Minister constituted to further streamline paddy and other Kharif crops procurement to ensure a hassle-free experience for state farmers.

The OTS scheme of Punjab Mandi Board is expected to benefit a large number of arhtiyas, enhancing their financial stability and contributing to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in Punjab.

The Arhtiyas on the occasion said that the payment rate of loading the produce in the mandis has not been increased since many years. They demanded an increase in the same to which the Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Varinder Kumar Sharma replied that the approval with regard to the same has been given by the Government of India and the notification would soon be issued.

Notably, CM Mann led Punjab Government has constituted a Group of Ministers, comprising Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian as Chairman, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Sh. Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal as members to ensure smooth procurement of Kharif crops.

Chandigarh/New Delhi, July 29

Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha member from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Tuesday raised the issue of the failed foreign policy during the war on the international border. He was participating in the debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament,

Meet Hayer first paid homage to the soldiers and recalled the bravery they showed and said that no country came to the aid of the country during the war being fought with Pakistan. While China and Turkey were openly in support of Pakistan, the IMF immediately approved financial assistance to Pakistan. The delegation of Indian MPs who visited foreign countries did not meet any cabinet ministers of other countries except for a few countries.

Raising the issue of the lack of seriousness of the Union government, Meet Hayer said that once upon a time, the Railway Minister used to resign on moral grounds when there was a small train accident, but due to the negligence of the Indian intelligence agencies, 26 lives were lost in such a major terrorist attack, but no one in the government resigned, let alone accepted responsibility.

The Member Parliament said that in the long speeches of the Defence Minister and the Home Minister, they did not even answer any of the questions raised by the common people of the country. He said that the rest of the country saw the war situation on social media or TV, but the people of the border state of Punjab lived every day under the shadow of drone attacks, sirens and blackouts.

Chandigarh, July 28 – Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Sh. Vipul Goel has said that ensuring cleanliness in Gurugram as per the set targets is the top priority for the state government. He called upon officials to take up this task as a mission and fulfill their responsibilities to make Gurugram a clean and beautiful city.

He was speaking during a review meeting held at the PWD Rest House after inspecting the Bandhwari Plant in Gurugram on Monday. Gurugram DC Ajay Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, Faridabad Municipal Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata, along with senior officials from the Municipal Corporation and GMDA, were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the Cabinet Minister reviewed the work done so far by the Municipal Corporation regarding the city’s cleanliness. He emphasized that Gurugram is a global city and the efforts made here set an example at the international level. Therefore, it is important for concerned officers to ensure not only general cleanliness but also prompt improvement at identified C&D (construction and demolition) waste sites.

He also mentioned that both Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini are continuously monitoring the state of cleanliness in Gurugram. Hence, officers must work with greater dedication and speed to meet public expectations.

Ward-Level Campaign for Cleanliness, CM to Honour Best Ward

Vipul Goel instructed municipal officials to implement the cleanliness drive at the ward level. He said each ward should be treated as an independent unit and should be provided with sufficient resources. He gave clear directions that each ward should be equipped with one JCB machine, three tractors and a team of four to five staff members, attached to the respective ward councillor. Additionally, a junior engineer and SDO from the municipal team should also be part of the ward team. A month-long intensive cleanliness campaign should be conducted in each ward. The best-performing ward will receive a cash prize and be honoured by the Chief Minister. The Municipal Commissioner informed that tenders for C&D waste disposal will be allotted before August 10, and processing work is progressing simultaneously.

The Minister directed that a survey of 20-year-old sewer lines in Gurugram’s inner areas be conducted to address the issue of waterlogging. Based on the survey, it will be decided where renovation or replacement is needed. A one-month deadline has been set for this task. The meeting also included a detailed discussion on the disposal of fresh waste.

Secure Covering of Secondary Garbage Collection Points

The Cabinet Minister instructed that the secondary garbage collection points in the city should be covered up to a certain height so that only the movement of vehicles is visible from outside. This will not only reduce visual pollution but also improve overall cleanliness. 

Identify Potholes During Monsoon for Early Repair

He also directed that potholes formed during the monsoon should be identified in advance so that repair work can begin immediately after the rainy season ends, ensuring smooth traffic flow for the public.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Yadav, MCF Additional Commissioner Gaurav Antil, and other senior officials were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, July 28 – The Haryana Government has introduced an additional day under e-PMSMA (Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) to strengthen maternal health services in the state. The e-PMSMA is a national initiative aimed at providing assured, comprehensive antenatal care services to pregnant women. The programme focuses especially on the early detection and management of high-risk pregnancies (HRPs) through clinical examinations, diagnostics, medication, counselling and refreshments—all provided free of charge at public health facilities.

Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, while sharing information, said, “Recognising the need to intensify these efforts, Haryana launched the Extended PMSMA, which expands services to the 9th, 10th, and 23rd of every month. The e-PMSMA had been successfully implemented across Haryana. The proactive approach has led to significant improvements in the identification and management of HRPs, which are a major contributor to maternal mortality. As a result of such sustained efforts—including implementation of the HRP Guidance Note—the state’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped notably from 110 (SRS 2018–20) to 89 (SRS 2020–22).”

 “To further reduce maternal deaths and enhance the quality of antenatal care, the National Health Mission under the Health Department has introduced an additional e-PMSMA day—the last working day of each month. On this day, all PMSMA services will be provided with a continued focus on identifying and managing HRPs. The first observance of this new e-PMSMA day will be held across the state in the month of July 30, 2025, ensuring that more pregnant women receive timely, quality care,” the Health Minister added.  

The additional day will increase accessibility for expectant mothers who may miss regular PMSMA dates due to personal or logistical challenges. With more opportunities for check-ups, early detection of complications and timely referrals can be ensured, especially in rural areas.