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Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab State Women Commission takes suo moto cognizance; seeks report in Jansuha case

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Chandigarh, April 6:

          The Punjab State Women Commission today directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala to submit an action-taken report by April 7, 2025 regarding allegations of disrespect toward a woman by villagers in Jansuha village of Patiala District.

          Taking suo moto cognizance of media reports, the Commission instructed an SP rank officer to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. Exercising its powers under Section 12 of the Punjab State Women Commission Act, 2001, the Commission has sought an urgent response from the police authorities.

          Chairperson Raj Lali Gill said that stringent action will be taken against those found guilty of harassment or exerting undue pressure on the woman, based on the findings of the investigation.

          “The Commission will not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment or violation of women’s rights,” categorically said the Chairperson, while assuring that the Punjab State Women Commission is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice and preventing such incidents in the future.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab’s mandis ready to welcome Farmers: Lal Chand Kataruchak

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Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 6

Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister, Lal Chand Kataruchak, stated on Sunday that the state government is fully ready to welcome farmers in the 1,864 grain markets across Punjab, and all the preparations for wheat procurement without any trouble have been finished. The arrangements for cold drinking water, cleanliness, gunny bags, fans, transportation, and accommodation are being completely taken care of in the grain markets of the state, and they won’t face any kind of problem while selling their golden wheat grains.

No leave will be allowed for the staff working on procurement unless there’s a very strong reason, and they have to stay present in the grain markets to facilitate the farmers.

After reviewing the preparations with officials from Ludhiana, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, and Barnala districts here on Sunday, the Cabinet Minister explained that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, has made elaborate arrangements to help more than 8 lakh farmers during the current wheat procurement season. He mentioned that Punjab is expecting a bumper wheat harvest this year, and the goal is to purchase 124 lakh metric tonnes wheat. He also shared that the state has arranged a Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 28,894 crore and has also managed to get 99% of the needed gunny bags, along with plenty of storage space and containers.

Kataruchak also explained that to handle the harvest, the state has set up 600 temporary yards in addition to the regular ones and promised farmers that their payments would be sent to their accounts within 24 hours of selling their wheat, with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set at Rs. 2,425 per quintal.

The Minister made it clear that the state government is committed to buying every single grain that farmers bring, and he won’t allow any mistakes or carelessness in the process.

At the review meeting, Kataruchak took stock of the facilities for farmers, like cleanliness, drinking water, lighting, and shaded spots in the mandis. He gave instructions to officials to stay at the markets throughout the season to make sure farmers don’t face any difficulties. He also asked them to ensure availability of the first-aid medical kits in the mandis.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab To Launch ‘Sikhya Kranti’ to Mark Completion of Rs 2,000-Cr Infrastructure Projects in 12K schools

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Chandigarh, April 6:

In a landmark move to revolutionize the state’s education system, the Punjab Government is all set to launch ‘Sikhya Kranti’— a 54-day education festival beginning April 7, to inaugurate newly developed infrastructure projects worth ₹2,000 crore in 12,000 government schools across the state.

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced the initiative during a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Sunday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating an equitable and modern learning environment that empowers students to thrive in the modern times. The massive infrastructure development program includes the construction and renovation of schools, the introduction of modern learning facilities, he added.

“This initiative is a testament to the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to providing quality education for all children,” the Education Minister said, while adding that the government schools have been provided with all the required basic amenities, including clean drinking water, high-speed WiFi connections, separate toilets for girl and boy students, desks and chairs, and boundary walls, as mandated by the CM Mann.

He said that Punjab is the first state to appoint campus managers and security guards in schools, in addition to starting bus services for students. Over 10,000 students are currently availing this facility. The Education Minister also highlighted that over Rs 200 crore is spent annually on the upkeep of government schools.

On the first day of the education festival “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said, various infrastructure development projects would be inaugurated in over 350 government schools by the Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries. Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with the State Incharge Sh. Manish Sisodia, will inaugurate a School of Eminence at SBS Nagar. 

Inviting the people of Punjab to witness the “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said that all people should visit their nearby schools to be a part of this festival of education.

Highlighting the ambitious program, S. Harjot Singh Bains said that 6,812 schools now have new or repaired boundary walls, covering nearly 1,000 kilometres, ensuring a safer learning environment. 5,399 new classrooms have been constructed to augment classroom facilities. Additionally, 2,976 toilets have been built in 2,934 schools, while 7,166 toilets have been repaired across 4,889 schools. To support students’ learning needs, 1,16,901 dual desks, tables, and chairs have been provided, ensuring that every student has a designated place to study. Furthermore, 359 school playgrounds have been developed to promote physical activity. As many as 2,261 smart classrooms have been equipped with Smart Interactive Panels in 1,886 schools, integrating technology into education for a more engaging learning experience.

The Education Minister said that 118 existing Government Senior Secondary Schools are being converted into Schools of Eminence in the first phase, while, 14 SoE schools have already been dedicated to the public. These schools will be the centers of excellence, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to enable peer learning across institutions, and enhance the learning experiences of our children through contemporary schooling practices in the world of school education. Schools of Eminence will cater to students of classes 9th to 12th. All educational streams have been introduced in these schools. Free uniforms are being provided to students. Apart from this, Online/offline coaching for different competitive exams like Armed preparatory forces, NEET, JEE, CLAT, NIFT etc are also being provided to students, he added.

Chandigarh, Punjab

‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ CONTINUES ON DAY 37 AS PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 54 DRUG SMUGGLERS AFTER 337 RAIDS

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CHANDIGARH, April 6:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 37th day, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted raids at 337 locations leading to the arrest of 54 drug smugglers after registration of 37 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5169 in just 37 days.

          Police teams have also recovered 411 grams heroin, 1617 intoxicant tablets/pills and Rs 34400 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          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 150 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 66 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 364 suspicious persons during the day long operation

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

Haryana

Haryana achieves significant milestone in GST collection, surpassing the National growth rate

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Chandigarh April 4: Haryana has reached a significant milestone in SGST (State Goods and Services Tax) collection, outperforming the national growth rate and setting impressive records in the financial year 2024-25.

While sharing the details, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh stated that, against the budget target of Rs 37,498 crore for SGST in the financial year 2024-25, the Excise and Taxation Department has collected Rs 39,153 crore, exceeding the target by Rs 1,655 crore. This accomplishment marks a significant achievement, as the state has surpassed its SGST revenue target for the fiscal year.

Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh emphasized that Haryana has delievered exceptional performance in GST collections, surpassing national growth averages and setting significant records for financial year 2024-25. The state’s achievements are a testament to its strong economic growth and efficient tax administration.

Haryana’s total Gross GST Collection for FY 2024-25 hits Rs 1,19,362 Crore

He highlighted that Haryana’s total Gross GST collection for March 2025 stands at Rs 10,648 crore, reflecting a 12% increase compared to March 2024. The national average growth rate for March 2025 is 8.79%, placing Haryana 6th highest in growth percentage among major states. Additionally, for the entire financial year 2024-25, Haryana’s total Gross GST collection amounts to Rs 1,19,362 crore, marking a remarkable 16% growth over financial year 2023-24. This is the highest growth rate among all states, exceeding the national average of 10%.

 Haryana SGST Collection (Pre-IGST Settlement) sees 15% growth in FY 2024-25

Furthermore, Haryana’s SGST collection (pre-IGST settlement) for financial year 2024-25 stands at Rs 23,285 crore, reflecting a 15% increase over financial year 2023-24. This represents the second highest growth rate among major states, while the national average growth rate is 10%.

After the IGST settlement, Haryana’s SGST collection for financial year 2024-25 totals Rs 39,743 crore, which is 14% higher than the previous fiscal year. The national growth average in this category stands at 11%.

He said that this outstanding performance demonstrates Haryana’s continued commitment to effective tax administration and fiscal management, further solidifying its position as a key contributor to the national economy.

Haryana Excise and Taxation Department surpasses overall revenue target for FY 2024-25

Sh Vinay Pratap Singh said that the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department has exceeded its budget target for the financial year 2024-25, achieving remarkable results in various tax collections. For the financial year 2024-25, the State Government had allocated a budget target of Rs 61,950 crore for the Excise and Taxation Department. The Department has successfully made a net collection of Rs 63,371 crore, achieving 102.3% of the allocated target.

Haryana’s excise duty collection surpasses target with 12% growth

He said that the collection under SGST amounted to Rs 39,153 crore, surpassing the target of Rs 37,500 crore and exceeding last year’s collection (excluding cess) by 13.77%.

 The collection under Excise Duty amounted to Rs 12,701 crore, exceeding the budget target of Rs 12,650 crore, and showing a growth of 12% over last year’s collection.

The collection under VAT and CST reached Rs 11,517 crore, reflecting a 1.6% increase over last year’s collection.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana gives highest subsidy in the country to farmers adopting DSR technology- Shyam Singh Rana

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Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, said that the state government is providing a subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per acre to farmers adopting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technology, which is the highest in the country.

He said that Haryana is a leading state in promoting sustainable rice cultivation. Unlike traditional transplanting methods that require excessive water, DSR eliminates the need for transplanting seedlings, resulting in significantly lower water consumption and labor costs, said the Minister while speaking at a programme organized in Kurukshetra.

The programme was organised by the Agriculture Department in collaboration with Savannah Seeds to promote water-conservation-based farming. During this detailed discussions  were held regarding the benefits and challenges of adopting DSR. Officers of the Farmers and Agriculture Department from various districts participated in the event.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana also shared the  details about the state government’s schemes that assist farmers in transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. He emphasized that water conservation is a key concern for Haryana’s farmers. The government is committed to promoting DSR as a viable alternative by providing financial assistance, training, and access to advanced seed technologies, said the Minister.

He further said that paddy is a major Kharif crop in Haryana, and farmers face challenges such as declining groundwater levels and rising labour costs. Traditional paddy farming requires approximately 3,000–4,000 liters of water per kilogram of rice produced, making it a highly water-intensive process. Keeping this in mind, the state government is actively promoting DSR to conserve water and enhance agricultural efficiency.

CEO and MD of Savannah Seeds and Chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, Sh. Ajay Rana emphasized the role of technology in ensuring the success of DSR.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi Reviews Preparations for CDS and NDA Examinations

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Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi reviewed the preparations for the upcoming CDS Examination-I, 2025, and NDA and NA Examination-I, 2025, scheduled to be held on April 13 in Faridabad and Gurugram districts.

The Chief Secretary stated that 12 examination centres have been set up in Faridabad and 27 in Gurugram. He directed officials to ensure adequate security arrangements at all examination centres, especially at the entrance gate, rear gate and parking. No disturbances or protests should be allowed near the examination venues. Additionally, proper security should be in place for the transportation of sensitive examination materials. At least 10 police personnel, including women personnel, should be deployed at each examination centre.

Sh. Rastogi emphasized that candidates and examination officials should not face any inconvenience in commuting. Sufficient buses should be arranged for their transportation. Adequate power supply must also be ensured at all centres for a hassle-free examination process.

He further stated that the use of mobile phones, bluetooth devices, and other IT/communication equipment is strictly prohibited at the examination centres. To strengthen security measures, jammers are being installed at all venues. Examination officials should be adequately sensitized to ensure a fair and smooth examination process, he added.

DGP Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur, Managing Director, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd, Sh. A. Sreenivas, Special Secretary, Monitoring & Coordination, Dr. Priyanka Soni, Commissioner of Police, Faridabad, Sh. SK Gupta, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, Sh. Vikas Kumar Arora, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh

Committee to address fire department employees demands to be formed by April 15, 2025- Vipul Goel

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Chandigarh, April 4- Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Sh. Vipul Goel has directed the officers to form a committee by April 15 to address the demands of the fire department employees. He said that the committee should thoroughly examine each point and submit recommendations to the government. 

Sh. Goel was presiding over a review meeting with the officers of the Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh and the officers of the department held at Haryana Niwas on Friday. 

During the meeting, Sh. Goel assured that he aims to make the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Department one of the best in the country. He directed to recruit new employees as required and said that physically fit employees are essential for the department. Elder employees can be assigned to the establishment branch and other branches instead of emergency duty. It is mandatory for the employees to undergo departmental training as per the requirement, he added. 

The minister assured that a Fire employee Welfare Fund would soon be established to support employees in case of death or disability while on duty. Besides this, he said that employees previously working under Outsourcing Part One and Two have been accommodated in the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Director General, Fire Services, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi, besides President, Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh, Sh. Naresh Shastri also remained present during the meeting.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Strict action to be taken against the accused and SHO for negligence in case involving intimidation and threat to the only son of  deceased family

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Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Rajesh Nagar said that following the death of Keshav’s family in village Yara of Kurukshetra district, strict action has been ordered against the accused in the case involving intimidation, threats, snatching of cash and jewellery by relatives. In addition, action will be taken against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahbad police station for negligence, despite the complaint being filed. The matter will now be investigated by CIA-2, and the  SDM of Shahbad and the ASP will also conduct a special investigation.  Minister has also directed that police personnel be assigned temporarily for Keshav’s security.

Mr. Rajesh Nagar made these statements during the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee in Kurukshetra today. During the meeting, the Minister resolved 3 out of 5 old complaints and 11 out of 12 new complaints on the spot.

Addressing Keshav’s complaint, the Minister reassured him, stating that there was no need to fear anyone. He encouraged Keshav to directly contact him on his mobile if he faced any further threats or intimidation. The Minister also provided Keshav with his personal contact number for direct communication.

Speaking to journalists, the Minister said that strict action would be taken against any officer who fails to attend a meeting without prior notice.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Prime Minister to lay foundation stone of the Third Unit of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant

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Chandigarh, April 4 – On the occasion of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the third unit of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamunanagar.

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, the Commissioner and Secretary, Development & Panchayats and Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture departments, Dr. Amit Agrawal,  inspected the venue located near village Kail, located on the Panchkula–Saharanpur Highway in Yamunanagar district on Friday.

During this he issued necessary directions to the officers concerned for the programme. Following the inspection, he held a meeting with all district officers in the conference hall of the district secretariat.

Divulging further details, Dr. Amit Agrawal shared that on April 14, 2025, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a new 800 MW power generation unit to be established at the Yamunanagar Thermal Power Plant. He will also address a public gathering on the occasion.

Dr. Agrawal  further shared that a large number of people are expected to attend the event; therefore, designated routes for parking, helipads, and vehicles should be clearly marked to ensure smooth traffic management and facilitate easy access to the rally venue for attendees.

He directed the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department to complete the work related to the stage, pandal, and parking on time.  Besides this, the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering  Department should also ensure arrangements for clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, directed Dr. Agrawal.

Dr. Agrawal further shared that the establishment of the new unit will not only boost power generation in the state but also create employment opportunities for the youth. He further informed that an exhibition will be organized at the event to inform about the government’s public welfare policies. Separate parking arrangements will be made at different locations for vehicles, said Dr. Agrawal.

On this occasion, Commissioner Ambala Division , Sh. Anshaj Singh, Managing Director, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited Sh. Ashok Meena,  Deputy Commissioner Yamunanagar,  Sh. Parth Gupta, Additional Director (Admn.), Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Smt. Varsha Khangwal, and officers from other departments, were also present.