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Chandigarh, Haryana

IN A FIRST, 265 GIRLS TRAINED FOR ARMY & POLICE VIA C-PYTE CAMPS IN PUNJAB

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Chandigarh, January 15

In a path-breaking move to empower the state’s young women, Punjab Government has trained as many as 265 girls for Army, CAPF and Punjab Police for the first time through Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-PYTE) camps across the state, informed Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora, who was chairing 5th Governing Council meeting of the C-PYTE, here at his office, on Wednesday.

Highlighting another major decision, he said that the state would soon open a C-PYTE camp exclusively for girls aspiring to join the armed forces at village Theh Kanjla in Kapurthala district and the camp will be run entirely by the women staff. An additional C-PYTE camp will also be established in Pathankot district to enable the state’s youth for employment into the Police, Armed Forces and CAPF. Currently, Punjab has 14 C-PYTE camps across the state.

Mr. Aman Arora directed the concerned officials to complete the work of under-construction three new camps situated at village Asal Uttar (Tarn Taran), village Kheri (Sangrur) and Borewal (Mansa) within stipulated time.  

Principal Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Ms. Jaspreet Talwar apprised the Cabinet Minister that as many as 2,58,760 youth have been trained totally free of cost through these C-PYTE camps, of which, 1,15,649 have been employed. Apart from training for uniformed forces, the youth are also being trained for alternative employment to enhance their employability. She informed that at least 150 youth will be trained as Drone Pilot, 300 youth as Security Guard and 150 as JCB/Crane Operators this year.

Director General of C-PYTE Major General Rambir Singh Mann informed that the staff of C-PYTE camps have been working assiduously to instil values including national integration, discipline, social concern in the youth to make them better citizens, besides training and guiding them to find job in the armed forces, police, para-military forces and other industries.

Secretary Industry Mr. DPS Kharbanda, IGP (HQs) Mr. Sukhchain Singh Gill, Special Secretary Personnel Ms. Gauri Prashar Joshi, Director Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Paramjit Singh, MD PESCO Major General Harmandeep Singh, Additional Director (Admin) Information and Public Relations Mr. Sundeep Garha, Deputy Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Yash Pal Sharma and senior officials of other departments were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, Haryana

PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS CROSS-BORDER DRUG CARTEL; KINGPIN HELD WITH 5KG HEROIN

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CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, January 15

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Tarn Taran Police has busted a Pak-backed drug trafficking cartel with the arrest of a kingpin and seized 5 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Rashpal Singh, a resident of Village Bhai Ladhu, Tarn Taran. Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded his motorcycle.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused person was in direct contact with multiple Pakistan-based smugglers and had been receiving consignments of drugs from across the border. Probe revealed that the Pak-based smugglers were exploiting drones to ferry drugs across the border, he added..

          The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.

          Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that acting on reliable information, a police team under the supervision of SP (D) Ajayraj Singh, DSP (D) Rajinder Minhas and DSP Sarbjit Singh Bajwa led by CIA Staff in-charge Inspector Amandeep Singh, conducted a targeted operation and apprehended Rashpal Singh in the area of Village Bhai Ladhu and recovered 5 kg heroin from his possession.

          The SSP said that efforts are being made to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers, as well as to ascertain the total quantity of drugs purchased by the arrested individual so far.

          A case under FIR No. 06 dated January 15, 2025, has been registered under sections 21(c) of the NDPS Act at Sadar Patti Police Station, Tarn Taran.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Vigilance Bureau arrests Patwari taking Rs 20,000 bribe

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Chandigarh, January 15, 2025

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Wednesday has apprehended Harsimratjit Singh, posted as Patwari in revenue Circle Chogawan, Amritsar district while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Sarmel Singh, a resident of village Kohala, in tehsil Lopoke, Amritsar.

He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged in his complaint that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for correction in the revenue records which were intentionally distorted in Jambandi of 2019-2020 with an intention to demand bribe from him.

The spokesperson added that after a preliminary enquiry into this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the said accused was caught red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of two official witnesses. 

He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB Police Station, Range Amritsar. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigations into this case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Punjab PR department organises third religious congregation and Guru Ka Langar to mark birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

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Chandigarh, January 15:

Punjab Information and Public Relations Department today organized third religious congregation and Guru Ka Langar dedicated to the birth anniversary of the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and for the universal welfare, on the advent of the new year.

During the event, which was held with profound devotion and religious fervour at Gurdwara Sahib, Punjab Civil Secretariat-1 here, Gurdwara Sahib Sector-11’s Granthi Bhai Kashmir Singh recitated path of Sri Sukhmani Sahib. Subsequently, the renowned preacher Bhai Gurmeet Singh Shant performed soul-stirring Gurbani Kirtan in the Basant ragas.

The event was attended by Cabinet Minister and AAP State President Mr. Aman Arora, Lok Sabha Member Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Chief Minister’s OSD (Media) Mr. Adil Azmi, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Mr. Anurag Verma, Secretary General Administration Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, PUNSUP MD Mrs. Sonali Giri, Director IPR Mr. Vimal Kumar Setia, ADGP (Traffic) Mr. Amardeep Singh Rai, IG (Hqrs) Mr. Sukhchain Singh Gill, Additional Director PR Mr. Sandeep Singh Garha, Chief Minister’s Deputy Principal Secretary Mr. Jagnoor Singh Grewal along with staff from the Information and Public Relations Department and Punjab Civil Secretariat.

Following the spiritual activities, the sangat partook langar. The event saw extensive participation from the journalist community, staff from various departments of Punjab Civil Secretariat-1, Punjab Civil Secretariat-2 and Punjab Legislative Assembly as well as retired DIPR officers. Gurdwara Sahib Shahpur Sector-38, Kamal Sound Dhuri and CISF also paid their contribution in the successful conduct of the event.

Chandigarh

Month-Long Exhibition Celebrating Le Corbusier & Architect SD Sharma Opens at Government Museum and Art Gallery

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Chandigarh, January 15, 2025

A unique exhibition showcasing models of buildings designed by Le Corbusier and the works of Architect SD Sharma opened today at the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10, Chandigarh. Architect SD Sharma, 94, a close collaborator of both Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, is the highlight of this exhibition, which will run until February 12.

This initiative is a collaboration between the Museum and the A3 Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting art, architecture, and aesthetics, founded by Architect Sangeet Sharma. The event also celebrates three key milestones: Architect SD Sharma’s 94th birthday, the A3 Foundation’s 75th event, and the Museum’s 50th anniversary, further enhancing the significance of this partnership.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Brigitte Bouvier, Director of the Foundation Le Corbusier in Paris, along with other dignitaries who travelled to Chandigarh specifically for this occasion. The display chronicles Architect SD Sharma’s illustrious six-decade career across nearly 70 panels. ⁠⁠Many dignitaries like chief architect of UT, ex chief architects of UT , Punjab and Haryana , chairman of IIA and IIID, Manmohan Khanna, along with architectural students from the region were present

Renowned Singaporean architect Rene Tan, along with other prominent architects, attended the event. Tan, the creator of the models, delivered a talk on the importance of documenting Le Corbusier’s work and the process of curating such an exhibit.

A one-day conference was also held, featuring discussions led by Architect Rene Tan, Malaysian Architect Lillian Tay, Architect SD Sharma, and several other Indian architects. The focus was on Chandigarh Modernism and its global influence. Sourabh Gupta, a Delhi based prominent architect, was one of the speakers.

Speaking about his work, Architect SD Sharma stated, “This exhibition is a tribute to architecture and reflects my deep respect and dedication to what I have learned from the masters, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. This is my second exhibition after Spain. I hope the current generation of architects and the architectural community can draw inspiration and knowledge from my contributions.”

Highlights of the Exhibition:

Models of Buildings Designed by Le Corbusier:
Over 150 wooden models of Le Corbusier’s buildings have been curated by Singaporean Architect Rene Tan and his firm RT+Q. This traveling exhibition has been displayed in 22 countries and includes nearly 192 meticulously crafted models. For the first time, this internationally acclaimed collection is being showcased at the Museum and Art Gallery of Chandigarh.

Projects and Works by Architect SD Sharma:
The exhibition also includes approximately 70 panels that document Architect SD Sharma’s six-decade career, including ongoing projects from his private practice. This section celebrates Chandigarh Modernism and highlights his enduring influence on the architectural landscape.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana’s youth is falling prey to drugs, drunk on power BJP is deep slumber: Hooda

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Chandigarh, January 11

Expressing concern over the continuous deaths of youth due to drugs, Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said BJP has turned Haryana into a hub of drugs, opium, chitta, heroin, brown sugar, smack, hashish, ganja, cocaine, bhang and sulpha. “Ever since BJP has come to power in the state, drug dealers are fearlessly expanding their empire. Their network has now reached every village, street and locality of the state. From youth to women and young children, everyone is losing their lives to this,” he stated.

Hooda said Haryana was known for its pure food, energetic youth, young men and sportsmen, but BJP has made it ‘Udta Haryana’ in the name of drugs. “A report was presented in the Rajya Sabha in December 2023 by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment itself. According to this, 16.51 percent of the drug addicts in Haryana use opium and its drugs, even heroin and chitta. 11% people use ganja, bhang and hashish for intoxication. 5 percent people also use narcotic drugs taken for sleep and people also use cocaine in large quantities,” he said.

He also said the Union Ministry has also admitted that now the teenagers of Haryana are also getting trapped in the clutches of drugs like cannabis, ganja, hashish, opium, heroine and cocaine. Not only this, a large number of teenagers are also being pushed into the business of drug smuggling.

“The extent to which drug addiction has increased under the protection of the government can be gauged from the fact that in the last 5 years, about 15 lakh people from different districts of the state have reached the OPDs and de-addiction centers of government hospitals. However, this figure can be many times bigger because lakhs of people trapped in the quagmire of drug addiction do not come forward for treatment and ruin their lives,” he added.

Hooda said the connivance of the government, poor law and order along with the increasing unemployment in the state is also a big reason for the increasing drug addiction. “The youth frustrated by unemployment are getting trapped in the clutches of drugs and crime and are ruining their future. The BJP, sitting in power, is constantly making policies which increase unemployment, crime and drug addiction in the state,” he added.

With the government remaining a mute spectator, Hooda has appealed to the parents and the aware people of the state to be vigilant against the increasing drug addiction. “Parents should take special care of their children and youth. They should talk to family members on sensitive issues like drug addiction and make everyone aware of its dangers. They must keep an eye on the activities around you and your children and do not hesitate to raise your voice against it. Congress is committed to fight this issue from the streets to the Vidhan Sabha,” he said.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh Leads the Fight Against Drugs with Innovative Strategies and Community Engagement

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Chandigarh, January 11

Gulab Chand Kataria, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh, participated virtually in the regional conference on “Drug Trafficking and National Security,” chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah. Organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the conference convened key stakeholders to discuss strategies for combating drug trafficking and its implications for national security.

In his address, the Governor highlighted Chandigarh’s determined efforts in tackling the drug menace. He shared that Chandigarh Police had registered 90 cases under the NDPS Act in 2024, leading to the seizure of 70 kg of narcotics and the arrest of 127 drug peddlers. The establishment of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has further strengthened enforcement, with 16 cases registered and 27 offenders apprehended since its inception. To address challenges such as the theft of seized drugs, a Central Maalkhana has been set up at Police Station 11, ensuring secure storage and timely destruction of confiscated narcotics. Last year, over 26 kg of narcotics and thousands of tablets, bottles, and injections were destroyed, with a new campaign initiated to clear all narcotics seized until December 2024.

The Governor underscored the critical role of special NDPS courts in ensuring swift justice. In 2024, 44 cases were resolved, with convictions achieved in 35 cases. Financial networks supporting the drug trade have also been targeted, resulting in the seizure of properties worth ₹10.5 crore and ₹10 lakh in cash.

Community participation has been a cornerstone of Chandigarh’s strategy. In 2024, over 87,000 individuals were reached through awareness campaigns. The Governor praised innovative initiatives such as Gully Cricket, organized in collaboration with the UT Cricket Association, which engaged youth in constructive activities to deter drug abuse. Awareness efforts have also been focused on educational institutions, slum areas, and other vulnerable communities.

Highlighting initiatives from Punjab Raj Bhavan, the Governor shared details of the “Nasha Mukt Rangla Punjab” campaign, which included a 15 km awareness walk and educational programs involving schools and universities. Looking ahead, he announced plans for an all-religion conference to address the drug menace and a meeting with university Vice Chancellors to develop targeted awareness strategies for educational institutions.

In his concluding remarks, the Governor reaffirmed Chandigarh’s unwavering commitment to achieving a drug-free society. He emphasized the importance of strict enforcement, community-driven initiatives, and collaboration with national efforts. He also commended the leadership of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in spearheading efforts to combat drug trafficking and secure a safer future for the nation.

During the conference, the Union Home Minister launched the “Drug Disposal Fortnight,” inaugurated the new office complex of the Bhopal Zonal Unit of the NCB, and extended the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories.

Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary, and Shri Surendra Singh Yadav, DGP Chandigarh, along with other officers from the Chandigarh Administration, Police, and CFSL, attended the conference virtually.

Chandigarh, Punjab

High-level meeting of Punjab State Advisory Board Chaired by Dr. Baljit Kaur: Directives issued to ensure accessibility of Government Schemes for Divyang Persons

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Chandigarh, January 11

A high-level meeting of the Punjab State Advisory Board, chaired by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, was held at Punjab Bhawan. The Minister emphasized ensuring that government schemes are accessible to Divyang persons and directed officials to implement these schemes effectively at the grassroots level.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reviewed the status of welfare initiatives and instructed various departments to expedite their implementation. She directed the completion of pending work on 144 government buildings in 10 districts under the SIPDA scheme within the specified time frame. Furthermore, she stressed that all government buildings be made barrier-free within three years and asked the department to prepare a detailed proposal. To monitor progress, the Social Security Department instructed to notify a five-member committee, led by the Deputy Commissioner at the district level.

The Minister also underscored the importance of strictly implementing the provisions of the RPWD Act, 2016, to safeguard reservation benefits for Divyang persons. She directed the submission of a detailed report on benefits provided under these provisions during the next board meeting.

Taking serious note of the pending UDID card applications, Dr. Baljit Kaur directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to clear these applications within a month. She also instructed the department to present a comprehensive proposal in the next board meeting to address challenges faced by Divyang Persons in obtaining UDID cards. Civil Surgeons were directed to organize special camps to address discrepancies in disability percentage and other issues related to UDID cards.

The Sports Department informed

the board about the benefits and incentives provided to disabled athletes under the Punjab Sports Policy 2023, highlighting that Punjab is the first state in the region to offer such special benefits. The Minister directed the department to prioritize resolving grading issues faced by disabled athletes.

To uplift the living standards of Divyang Persons, Dr. Baljit Kaur instructed board members to identify such individuals in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and support those willing to undergo vocational training. She also directed the Employment Generation and Skill Development Department to organize special camps for this purpose.

Cabinet Minister appealed to all Divyang persons to register at the Special Employment Exchange established at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana to avail government schemes for vocational training and employment.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also instructed the Urban Development and Rural Development Departments to prioritize providing agricultural land and housing to persons with disabilities under Section 37 of the RPWD Act and ensure effective dissemination of information regarding these schemes.

She urged officials from various departments to prioritize resolving Divyang Persons and to ensure the appointment of grievance redressal officers as per the notification issued by the Social Security Department. These details should be made available on the respective departmental websites.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also informed the board that last year, a special campaign was launched to identify backlog vacancies for Divyang Persons. So far, 21 departments have sent requisitions to the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board and the Punjab Public Service Commission for filling these positions.

Dr. Baljit Kaur affirmed that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of Divyang Persons and is working tirelessly to ensure their well-being.

Chandigarh, Punjab

CM seeks intervention of Amit Shah for setting up special NDPS courts to check drug menace

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Chandigarh, January 11:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday sought kind intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide financial assistance to the state government for setting up special NDPS court to check drug menace.

Participating through video conferencing in the regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’, the Chief Minister urged GOI to give one time financial assistance, for 10 years to State to create Special NDPS Courts and recruitment of public prosecutors along with other supporting staff, of Rs 600 crores (@ Rs.60 Cr. Per year). He said that at present there are 35,000 NDPS cases pending for Session trial as on January 01, 2025 adding that at present rate of disposal, on an average a Session Court takes seven years to complete the trial of pending case leaving aside all new added cases. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in coming five years, this average disposal time will increase from seven years (35,000 pending cases) to 11 years (55,000 pending cases).

The Chief Minister said that in order to clear the pendency in the next five years, state needs to create 79 new exclusive NDPS Special Courts in Punjab and to appoint 79 Public Prosecutors along with supporting staff for these NDPS Special Courts adding that for it this financial assistance is solicited. He also requested the Union Home Minister to ensure generous funding from National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse (Chapter 7-A of NDPS Act) for Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Live Monitoring Systems for six Bordering Districts, purchase of equipment for technical surveillance, infrastructure and logistic requirement for 5G Jamming solution for Prisons, de-addiction centers in Jails, AI surveillance systems in Jail, Special Prison for drug traffickers and assistance for anti- drug awareness campaigns in all 28 districts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state had sought Rs.2829 Crore through 16th Finance Commission which should be approved at the earliest for effective law enforcement and upgrading infrastructure and logistic support of ANTF and Prisons.

Flagging another issue, the Chief Minister said that with the aim to control, reclaim and rejuvenate drug hotspots in Punjab, hiring of counsellors and coordinators for conducting survey and studies regarding impact of CADA amounting to Rs.107 crores was submitted to Government since 2022, but nothing has been allotted till date adding that it should be released at the earliest. He said that the state faced a full scaled insurgency in the late seventies and eighties, and now is fighting a proxy war with Pakistan to thwart drug trafficking carried out by Pakistan supported stage actors. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 552 kms of International Border shared with Pakistan is porous which is marked by fencing gap of around 43 kms and riverine gap of 35 kms adding that this  makes state vulnerable to cross border drug trafficking.

The Chief Minister said that state’s location along the notorious ‘Golden Cresent’ drug route makes it a key transit point for narcotics and other contraband adding that now drug is consumed by the local population at an alarming level. He said that due to Increased vigil and border fencing, drug trafficking is now majorly done through drones and it poses less chances of getting caught due to which it has become a National problem which is being left to Punjab to fight on its own. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that with its meager resources, the State is fighting a herculean task to fight against the drug abuse.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab Police has raised Anti-Narcotics Task Force with 861 officers/officials who are trained to deal with the drug trafficking. He said that Further each District/Commissionerate of the state has established Narcotic Cell to deal with the drug problem and the state Government has also constituted a State Level ‘Punjab Narcotics Prevention Campaign Committee’ under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary, Punjab and District Mission Teams under the District Magistrates at district level to co- ordinate between all the stakeholders for curbing the drug abuse. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that A State level Nodal Officer for ‘Anti-Drug Program’ has also been nominated by the Government and state has also commissioned an Anti-Drug Helpline ‘Safe Punjab’, which gives a platform to the citizens to report any drug trafficking incident or any help required for the treatment of drug addict.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that out of the total 1905 complaints received on this helpline, action has been taken in 856 complaints and FIRs in 31 cases have been registered. He said that the state Government has adopted a policy of Enforcement-Deaddiction- Prevention (EDP) to fight this menace of drug abuse and Under this policy, drug laws are strictly implemented, deaddiction services are provided and drug awareness is spread to prevent the youth and citizens from falling into the drug trap. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the last two and half year the state government has registered around 31,500 cases under NDPS Act in which 43,000 accused have been arrested with 3,000 kg of heroin, 2,600 kg of opium and 4.3 Cr of pharmaceutical drugs.

The Chief Minister said illegally acquired property of drug traffickers worth Rs.449 Crore has been frozen  from the Competent Authority and With its training and capacity building a conviction rate of 82.5% has been achieved by the State, which is highest in the Country. He said that Habitual offenders of drug trafficking have been detained under PITNDPS Act and the State has developed a software ‘Punjab Artificial Intelligence System’ (PAIS 2.0) as an advance tool designed to help Punjab Police in tracking and analyzing crimes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it has a database of 3,32,976 criminals including more than 1 lakh drug offenders which include features like drug seizures data, voice analysis, and criminal link tracking to better handle cases related to narcotics.

The Chief Minister said that With over 18 million searches conducted and 30,804 active users, PAIS provides real-time insights, helping officers make quick decisions and allocate resources effectively adding that it is a powerful tool in the fight against drug related crimes. He said that Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal office at Chandigarh, Amritsar and Regional Office at Amritsar has been given access of PAIS 2.0. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for deaddiction of drug addicts, free of cost medicines are provided to the addicts in 529 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 17 OOAT clinic have also been established in the Jails and state government has set up 213 Private as well as Government Deaddiction Centers and 90 Rehabilitation Centers for treatment of drug addicts.

The Chief Minister said that 97,413 addicts were admitted in these  Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Centers whereas around 10 lakh patients have undergone treatment in these centers during 2022-2024. He said that in order to prevent the youth from falling into the trap of drug abuse, Government has launched Buddy Program in all the Private/Government Schools, Colleges & Universities and this program aims to prevent drug abuse among the younger generation, particularly students by providing knowledge, imparting behavioral skills and developing a system for self/group monitoring and support. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Around 29,000 students have been enrolled in this program and 19,523 Village Defense Committees have also been constituted across the State.

The Chief Minister said that drug problem in Punjab is impacting the socio-economic balance, leading to a significant increase in crime, domestic violence and health issues affecting not only the State but Country as a whole. He said that the Narco-Terror drug trade business in Punjab has links with the international cartels who smuggle drugs from Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Countries into the State. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that drug trade in Punjab is believed to be the source of funding of terrorist activities in the State leading to destabilizing National Security.

Batting for A national response to tackle problem of drug, the Chief Minister said that it is necessary to check this problem as it can imbalance the socio-economic structure of the society. He said that Increased and generous central funding is required to support anti-drug initiatives, rehabilitation services, awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Border Security Force (BSF) deployed on the Pakistan border in Punjab is required to be strengthened.

Raising another issue, the Chief Minister said that In the last five years, 1247 drone sightings have been reported and 417 drones have been recovered which is a minuscule of the total recovery as at present there are only 12 Jamming system operational on 552 kms of International Border. He said that these cater to only 1/5 of the entire border stretch and has 4/5 of the entire border is without Jamming system. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a huge cache of drugs and arms have been recovered so far adding that this recovery can be far more for which atleast, 50 more advanced technology Jamming Systems are required.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Speaker Sandhwan expresses grief over demise of MLA Gurpreet Gogi

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Chandigarh, January 11

Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has expressed deep grief over the demise of MLA Gurpreet Gogi.

In a press statement issued today, the Speaker said that 57-year-old Mr. Gurpreet Gogi was elected MLA from Ludhiana West in 2022. The Speaker remembered Gogi’s dedication to his work and said that Mr. Gogi and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal had a long discussion yesterday regarding re-converting Budha Nallah into Budha Darya.

The Speaker said that as a leader, he will always be remembered for his services to the society especially to the Ludhiana region.

The Speaker prayed before Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to family to bear loss.