Chandigarh, October 18– Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, said that there is need to focus more on increasing sugarcane production and to create awareness among farmers about using new technologies for sugarcane sowing. He also directed that cooperative sugar mills should be equipped with modern machinery to enhance recovery and reduce losses.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana  gave these directions  while chairing the Sugarcane Control Board meeting held on Saturday.  Co-operation Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma, also joined the meeting through video conferencing.

The Minister said  that the sugarcane seed varieties released by the Central Variety Release Committee for the north-western region will also be recognized by the state government. Therefore, there will be no need to seek separate approval from HAU for these varieties. He added that farmers should be informed about the new sugarcane seed varieties so that productivity can increase and farmers can earn higher profits. This, in turn, will lead to higher sugarcane and sugar production compared to the existing varieties.

The Minister further informed that during the 2024–25 crushing season, various cooperative sugar mills in the state had purchased sugarcane worth Rs. 1,278.50 crore for crushing, and the full payment has been made to the farmers. In addition, the

Naraingarh Sugar Mill in the private sector still has pending dues from the previous crushing season, which will be cleared by December 2025.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana further said that sugarcane farmers should be encouraged to adopt modern machinery for sowing and harvesting to reduce their expenses and increase profits.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, Director, Agriculture, Sh. Rajnarayan Kaushik,  Managing Director, Haryana Cooperative Federation of Sugar Mills Ltd,  Sh. Shakti Singh and other senior officers of the department also attended the meeting. 

Chandigarh, October 18 – Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal said that a series of programmes will be organized across the country for two months to strengthen national unity in celebration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas will be observed on October 31, followed by various events related to national integration continuing until December 31. Sh. Manohar Lal shared this information during a press conference held at the Karnal on Saturday.

Union Minister Manohar Lal stated that Padayatras will be organized in villages and cities on October 25, 26, and 27. These Padayatra, spanning 8 to 10 kilometers, will see participation from a large number of people and youth, spreading the message of national unity. On October 31, to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, a Run for Unity event will be held. Thereafter, for the next two months, until December 31, various programmes such as seminars, exhibitions, and literature distribution will take place to spread the spirit of national unity among the youth. He further said  that youth registrations for these events are being conducted through the My Bharat Portal.

Sh. Manohar Lal shared that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has successfully launched many impactful national campaigns such as Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Now, this new campaign aims to further strengthen national unity across the country.

The Union Minister extended his heartfelt greetings to the people of the country and the state on the occasions of Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, and other festivals.

Sh. Manohar Lal also congratulated Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Ministers, and the people of Haryana on the successful completion of one year of the government’s third term. He expressed gratitude to the people of Haryana for forming a government with a clear majority. He said that the Haryana Government has announced a Rs. 200 increase in the old-age pension.

Sh. Manohar Lal highlighted that all benefits under government schemes are being provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and the state continues to progress steadily on the path of development.

Chandigarh, October 18- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini was called upon by Justice, Sh. Lalit Batra, Chairman of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, who presented him with a copy of the Commission’s Annual Report for 2024–25. Commission members, Sh. Kuldeep Jain and Sh.  Deep Bhatia were also present during the meeting. The delegation presented a bouquet and a shawl to the Chief Minister as a gesture of courtesy.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Haryana Human Rights Commission for ensuring speedy justice. He held an extensive discussion on the functioning of the Commission, its challenges, and its requirements, and assured that the state government would extend all possible support to the Commission for the protection and promotion of human rights so that Haryana continues to remain a leading state in this field.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also inquired about the Commission’s visits to other districts of the state. The Commission members informed him that efforts are being made to inspect one jail every month and visit social organizations working for children and senior citizens.

The Chief Minister also sought details about significant decisions taken by the Commission.  Detailed discussion on the achievements and activities of the Commission since its reconstitution in November 2024 was also done during the meeting. 

Justice Sh.  Lalit Batra informed that as of November 2024, 2,991 cases were pending, and by October 15, 2025, 2,551 new cases were received. Thus, the Commission heard a total of 5,542 cases and disposed of 4,638 of them. The Haryana Human Rights Commission delivered judgments in 32 cases in November 2024, 148 in December 2024, and subsequently 551 in January, 360 in February, 691 in March, 478 in April, 826 in May, 569 in July, 433 in August, 460 in September, and 90 cases till October 15, 2025. As a result, only 904 cases remain pending, which are currently under hearing. The members of the Commission also shared that the important reforms implemented on the recommendations of the Haryana Human Rights Commission were discussed during the 32nd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Earlier, on October 12, the Haryana Governor, Professor Asim Kumar Ghosh, had released the Annual Report of the Commission.

Registrar,  Sh. Ravi Kumar Sondhi and Protocol, Information, and Public Relations Officer,  Dr. Puneet Arora also remained present on this occasion. 

Chandigarh, October 18- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday paid a courtesy call on Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Sh. Amit Shah in Patna, Bihar. During this he discussed various important issues. The Chief Minister also extended his warm greetings to Sh. Amit Shah on the occasion of Dhanteras and Diwali.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also apprised the Union Home and Cooperation Minister of the achievements of the BJP government in Haryana, which has been formed for the third consecutive time.

Chandigarh, October 18 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday visited Bihar. Addressing election rallies during his Bihar tour, he said that the state is now rapidly advancing on the path of development, with public confidence in the NDA government growing stronger than ever. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nitish Kumar, Bihar is set to witness the formation of a strong, stable, and governance-focused NDA government, ensuring uninterrupted progress and prosperity for the state.

The Chief Minister also lauded Sh. Nitish Kumar’s leadership, stating that Bihar has charted a new course of development under his guidance. The state has seen significant improvements across roads, education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure, bringing visible change to the lives of citizens, he said.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini sharply criticized the RJD–Congress alliance, saying that previous governments neglected the interests of the poor and pushed Bihar toward backwardness. He added that the so-called “INDI” alliance leaders misled the public with false promises to gain power.

Highlighting NDA’s achievements, he said the government has steered Bihar out of the “jungle raj” and set it firmly on the path of development and good governance. Law and order has strengthened, women’s confidence has increased, and the benefits of development have reached even the remotest villages.

The Chief Minister further emphasized that the BJP–JDU alliance government has made concrete efforts to transform Bihar into a developed state. Bihar is entering a new era, and the enthusiasm of its people is a clear reflection of the progress achieved, he said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Bihar to unite in support of the BJP–JDU alliance, advocating for continued development, good governance, and stability. On arrival, he was warmly welcomed by enthusiastic citizens, reflecting their trust and support for the NDA government.

Chandigarh, October 18:

Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹84.26 lakh to facilitate the free and concessional travel of visually impaired and differently-abled persons in government buses. This amount forms part of the budget earmarked for providing transport facilities to persons with disabilities.

Providing further details, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that visually impaired persons are entitled to 100% concession in bus fares on all government buses, while other categories of differently-abled persons are eligible for a 50% fare concession. This facility is available to individuals with 40% or more disability, as per the prescribed norms.

The Minister added that for the year 2025–26, a total budget provision of ₹3.50 crore has been made under this scheme. Out of this, ₹2.61 crore has already been utilized, and now an additional ₹84.26 lakh has been released to ensure the continuous benefit of this facility to eligible beneficiaries.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is fully committed to making the lives of persons with disabilities more comfortable, secure, and self-reliant. The government’s aim is to provide equal opportunities to every citizen, ensuring that no one is left behind socially or economically.

She further mentioned that besides transport facilities, continuous efforts are being made by the department to promote education, employment, and social empowerment of persons with disabilities so that they can confidently integrate with the mainstream of society.

Chandigarh, October 18

In a major push to promote transparency and citizen participation in tax compliance, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday announced significant enhancements to the popular ‘Bill Liyao Inaam Pao’ scheme. The scheme will now include a quarterly bumper draw, offering substantial cash prizes to incentivize public engagement.

Revealing this in a press communique issued here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that, each quarter, participants will stand a chance to win a First Prize of Rs 1,00,000, a Second Prize of Rs. 50,000, and a Third Prize of Rs. 25,000. He said that the Taxation department will also introduce a dedicated upload option and prize distribution mechanism for bills related to the service sector, such as restaurants, salons, and boutiques, via the “Mera Bill” App to further streamline participation.

“In addition, a real-time Chatbot will be launched to assist users with queries, and the app will now support Punjabi alongside Hindi and English, ensuring broader accessibility for the general public”, said Cheema.

Highlighting the scheme’s success, Finance Minister Cheema shared that from April to August 2025, a total of 30,769 bills were uploaded, resulting in 1,263 winners who collectively received Rs 78,13,715 in prize money. He emphasized that all uploaded bills are rigorously verified by the Taxation Department, which has so far imposed penalties amounting to Rs 9.07 crore since the inception of the scheme, and recovered Rs 7.31 crore from discrepancies found in the submitted bills.

Launched in September 2023 by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the ‘Bill Liyao Inaam Pao’ scheme and the accompanying Mera Bill app aimed to foster a culture of responsible consumerism and tax compliance. The scheme excludes bills related to petroleum products including crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, and natural gas, liquor, out-of-state purchases, and B2B transactions. Only bills from purchases made in the preceding month are eligible for the draw, ensuring fairness and operational integrity.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the state government’s commitment to empowering citizens through innovative, transparent, and inclusive governance tools, and encouraged all residents to actively participate in the scheme to help build a more accountable Punjab.

Chandigarh 18 October 2025:

Aiming to provide pragmatic knowledge pertaining to the functioning of Legislative Assembly to the students of the state, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Kultar Singh Sandhwan had urged the students of Punjab to visit Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

Sandhwan said that  1237 students visited to observe the actual proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during the session and 1171 students visited during non session days from 1 Jan 2025 to till date. 

Speaker met the students personally and felt extreme happiness to interact with them in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

Sandhwan highlighted that interest in the field of politics have been developed among the students while observing the constitutional proceedings of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which is very important for strengthening the democracy of the country. Speaker  told the students that their visit will prove to be immensely beneficial for their future life.  Students felt amazed to see the design and architecture of Punjab Vidhan Sabha building.

 Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today met AAP party convenor Sh. Arvind Kejriwal and wished him Happy Diwali and best wishes for Bandi Chhor Diwas

Speaker Sandhwan has also discussed important issues for taking the country’s politics forward in a constructive and people-friendly manner.