CHANDIGARH, July 20:

          As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign completed six months, Punjab Police has arrested 50,930 individuals including gangsters and criminals associated with them after conducting 96,964 raids across the state since the launch of the campaign.

          Pertinently, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab have been conducting raids at the identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters.

          Special DGP Law and Order Praveen Sinha said that police teams have recovered 913 weapons along with 2,475 live cartridges and 293 magazines, 229 sharp-edged weapons and 15 hand grenades from the possession of arrested individuals.

          Apart from this, preventive action has been initiated against 23,527 persons, whereas, 18,367 persons were verified and released after questioning, he said, while adding that Police teams have also arrested 1,386 proclaimed offenders (POs) since the campaign was launched.

          On Day 181, Police teams arrested 414 individuals after conducting 590 raids, while, preventive action has been taken against 231 persons and arrested 10 proclaimed offenders (POs).

 The Special DGP said that the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign will continue with same vigor.

          People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 506th day with 87 drug smugglers arrested on Monday and recovered 673 grams heroin, 1200 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 9170 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 73,988 in just 506 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 18 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh/ Sunam, July 20:

Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora today said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is making continuous efforts to create a progressive and employment-friendly ecosystem across the state. He was addressing the gathering at the Mega Job Fair organised in Sunam.

The first Mega Job Fair for the Sangrur, Malerkotla and Barnala cluster was jointly organised by the Department of Industries and the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training. Candidates between 18 and 50 years of age participated in the event and secured employment opportunities offering monthly salaries ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 42,000, depending on their qualifications and experience.

A total of 61 leading companies from across the country and the state participated in the fair, while 2,129 job seekers attended. During the event, 562 candidates were selected for employment, while 618 candidates were shortlisted by various companies for further recruitment. Letters of Intent (LoIs) were also issued to selected candidates on the spot.

The Cabinet Minister said that over the past four and a half years, the Punjab Government has provided nearly 70,000 government jobs to deserving youth in a completely transparent manner, without any bribery or political recommendations.

He added that government jobs alone cannot provide employment to every young person. Therefore, it is essential to create an ecosystem in which private industries and companies can also generate large-scale employment opportunities for the youth.

The Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training and the Department of Industries are working together as a bridge between employers and job seekers by connecting companies with skilled youth. Some of the major companies participating in the fair included Sonalika, Mahindra Tractors, KRBL, Avani, A.P. Organics, Max, Nahar Spinning, and several other reputed industrial units.

The fair offered employment opportunities to candidates with a wide range of educational and technical qualifications, including 10th and 12th pass, ITI (Boiler, Electrical and Mechanical trades), B.Sc. (Non-Medical), B.Com., graduates, diploma holders (Mechanical and Electrical), and CNC-certified candidates.

Responding to a media query on developing an IT hub in Punjab on the lines of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Mr. Aman Arora said, “Mohali already has a well-established and thriving IT hub. Besides this, thousands of young people are employed in the IT and allied sectors in major cities such as Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Young people should have the freedom to pursue better employment opportunities wherever they are available.”

On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora visited the counters of all participating companies and interacted with company representatives as well as job seekers.

Among those present were Amrit Singh, IAS, Director, Department of Employment Generation and Training; Poonamdeep Kaur, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur; Ankur Mahindroo, Additional Deputy Commissioner;  Gagandeep Singh, SDM, Sunam; Mukesh Juneja, Chairman, Market Committee, Sunam; Yashpal Mangla, Media Advisor to the Cabinet Minister, along with officers from various departments, public representatives, dignitaries, and a large number of youth.

Chandigarh, 20 July 2026:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Assistant Sub Inspector(ASI) Jagjiwan Singh posted at Koomkalan Police Station, Ludhiana red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000/-.

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 a resident of Surjit Colony, Rahon Road, Ludhiana on Anti- Corruption Action Line portal.

He informed that a case had been registered against complainant’s relative at  Koomkalan, Police Station Ludhiana. ASI Jagjiwan Singh was the investigation officer of this case. When the complainant met the accused ASI regarding this case, accused ASI demanded and received bribe of Rs.10,000/- to help complainant’s relative to get bail in this case. In this connection, accused ASI further called the complainant and demanded additional bribe of Rs. 10,000/-. Complainant recorded the entire conversation regarding demanding bribe.

Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB range Ludhiana. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused ASI was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 10,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Ludhiana and further investigation into this case is under progress.

Chandigarh/Nurpur Bedi, July 20

Punjab Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today launched the phased implementation of an ambitious lift irrigation scheme aimed at providing irrigation facilities to villages in the Nurpur Bedi block. The project, inaugurated at Village Chhajja, has an estimated cost of Rs.650 crore.

Addressing the large gathering of residents from various villages of the Nurpur Bedi block, the Cabinet Minister said that the villages in the region had remained deprived of adequate irrigation facilities for agriculture since Independence. To address this longstanding issue, four possible options were examined, including sourcing water from the Nangal Reservoir and the Sutlej River, drawing water from the crossings of the ASHC and NHC canals and constructing dams across choes and rivers to conserve rainwater.

The Cabinet Minister said that under this plan, clusters comprising eight to 14 villages are being formed to develop small-scale lift irrigation schemes and ensure water supply according to the requirements of farmers. In addition, plans have been prepared to construct check dams across choes and rivers to conserve rainwater and supply it to agricultural fields through gravity flow.

He said that the project would also help channelise the Swan River, protect nearby villages from flooding and conserve substantial quantities of water. The stored water would subsequently be utilised for irrigation, providing a major boost to agriculture and reducing dependence on groundwater.

The Cabinet Minister said that the most suitable approach for providing irrigation facilities to 102 villages would be to implement lift irrigation schemes based on Sutlej water along with the construction of dams on the Swan River.

Sh. Goyal further said that the project has an estimated cost of Rs.650 crore. As part of the first phase, lift irrigation facilities have already been initiated for nine villages covering an area of 2,785 acres. In the subsequent phases, irrigation facilities would be extended to the remaining villages.

Addressing the gathering, MLA Advocate Dinesh Chadha said that for the first time, the flood-prone Nurpur Bedi region would receive canal water. He said that the Sutlej and seasonal streams had so far caused damage to farmers’ land during floods. However, the lift irrigation scheme would now provide significant relief to farmers and ensure the productive utilisation of water resources.

The MLA said that previous governments had neither conducted the required surveys nor prepared any concrete irrigation plan for the region despite the potential to utilise Sutlej water having existed for a long time.

He also apprised the local residents of the details of the scheme and said that it would prove to be a boon for farmers by ensuring irrigation water supply to all villages of the Nurpur Bedi block.

Chandigarh:

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Rao Narendra Singh strongly condemned the forcible removal of Ladakh-based social activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site, calling it a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution. He said that every citizen has the constitutional right to peacefully and democratically express their views. Any attempt to suppress a peaceful movement through the use of force is against the core values of democracy.

Rao Narendra Singh said that Sonam Wangchuk’s fast over the past 19 days is not merely the protest of an individual but has become a symbol of the pain and frustration of millions of students and young people across the country who are deeply concerned about their future due to repeated paper leaks, flaws in the examination system, and the lack of accountability.

He stated that the confidence of the youth is the greatest asset of any democratic nation. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible examination system. When paper leaks continue to occur, questions are repeatedly raised over the integrity of examinations, and effective action is not taken against those responsible, it is the hardworking students—who spend years preparing for these examinations—who suffer the most and are ultimately denied justice.

Rao Narendra Singh said that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has consistently raised the concerns and rights of students and youth. The Congress Party is demanding that the Union Education Minister be held accountable and resign so that public confidence in the examination system can be restored.

He further said that Rahul Gandhi launched the “Students’ Echo” (Chhatron Ki Goonj) campaign from Kota, Rajasthan, to amplify the voices of students and young people. As part of this campaign, he also interacted with students in Uttarakhand on Friday, discussing issues such as paper leaks and creating awareness about the challenges facing the country’s examination system.

Rao Narendra Singh said that the Congress Party has been standing firmly with students and youth for the past one and a half months. The party will continue its struggle until strict action is taken against those responsible for paper leaks and comprehensive, long-term reforms are implemented in the examination system.

Appealing to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike while keeping his health in mind, Rao Narendra Singh said that Wangchuk’s concern is not merely personal but reflects the aspirations and anxieties of millions of students and young people across the country. He reaffirmed that the Congress Party remains fully committed to protecting the future of the youth, ensuring a transparent examination system, and safeguarding the rights of students.

Chandigarh, July 18: Haryana is set to significantly expand vocational education in government schools, introduce emerging subjects such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Financial Technology (FinTech), and strengthen digital and skill-based learning as part of a comprehensive strategy to prepare students for future careers.

The roadmap was reviewed by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi during a review meeting of Samagra Shiksha Scheme on Saturday. All Deputy Commissioners from all the districts participated through video conferencing.

Reviewing the progress, Sh. Rastogi directed officials to accelerate the implementation of education reforms and ensure that every student benefits from quality education, modern infrastructure and industry-oriented skills. He also asked Deputy Commissioners to work towards achieving 100 per cent enrolment and improving learning outcomes in their respective districts.

Principal Secretary, School Education, Vijay Singh Dahiya, informed that Haryana has prepared an ambitious plan to expand vocational education to 306 additional government schools in the first phase. This will increase vocational education coverage from 31 per cent to 60 per cent of secondary students in 2026-27, with the long-term objective of extending the programme to every Government secondary and senior secondary school.

He said the department is also planning to introduce AI and FinTech courses alongside the existing 15 vocational sectors, giving students early exposure to emerging technologies and preparing them for future employment opportunities.

The vocational education programme is already making significant progress. During 2025-26, 1.58 lakh students in Classes VI to VIII received vocational exposure through workshops, internships, projects and Kaushal Melas in 1,382 Government schools. At the secondary level, 2.13 lakh students are enrolled in vocational education across 1,398 government schools, with nearly 45 per cent opting for skill-based courses.

State Project Director, Swapnil Ravindra Patil informed that Haryana is also expanding multilingual education. French language is currently taught in 26 Government schools, benefiting around 4,000 students, while German language is proposed for Government schools in the next phase.

Sh. Patil informed that, in line with the Haryana Government’s decision to strengthen district-level monitoring of schools, the Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) have been assigned the responsibility of overall supervision and monitoring of school education in their respective districts. The ADCs will monitor infrastructure development, implementation of Government schemes, maintenance of digital facilities, sanitation, teaching quality, attendance and discipline, besides ensuring timely execution of civil works and other educational initiatives. This move is expected to strengthen field-level supervision and improve the quality of school education across the state.

He said Haryana continues to outperform the national average in school enrolment. According to UDISE 2025-26, the State’s Gross Enrolment Ratio stands at 94 per cent at the secondary level against the national average of 81.5 per cent, while the higher secondary GER is 79 per cent, compared with the national average of 61.7 per cent. Free transport, bicycles and the Vidyarthi Parivahan Suraksha Yojana are helping in improving school attendance, particularly in rural areas.

To bring school dropouts back into the education system, nearly 2,000 out-of-school adolescents aged 15-19 have been identified for mainstreaming during 2026-27. The state has earmarked ₹40 lakh to provide financial assistance towards board examination fees and stationery for economically weaker students. The School Education Department is working with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), while teachers will counsel dropout students to resume their education. The department is also identifying one government school in every district as a model institution for vocational and flexible learning to support students pursuing alternative education pathways, he added.

Reviewing infrastructure, the Chief Secretary was informed that Haryana has achieved 100 per cent availability of electricity, safe drinking water and separate toilets for boys and girls in government schools. Nearly 99 per cent of schools are equipped with digital infrastructure, including smart classrooms, ICT laboratories, internet connectivity and STEM facilities.

Officials also highlighted the State’s focus on academic excellence through 218 Model Sanskriti Schools, 251 PM SHRI Schools, 250 Chief Minister Education Encouragement of Excellence Schools, the expanded Super-100 programme for 500 students and Mission Buniyaad for strengthening foundational learning.

The meeting further reviewed the rollout of Holistic Progress Cards, expansion of teacher training under a new Continuous Professional Development framework covering more than 1.1 lakh teachers, and the launch of the School Accreditation Haryana (SACH) Portal, which will strengthen the quality assessment and academic monitoring across government schools.

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi said Haryana’s education reforms are focused on creating a modern, technology-driven and skill-oriented education system that equips every student with the knowledge and competencies needed to succeed in higher education and in the evolving global economy.

Chandigarh, July 18 – Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the fight against drugs is not merely a law-and-order issue, but a campaign to protect society, values and humanity. He said that drugs are destroying numerous families and pushing the future of the youth towards darkness. Therefore, giving this fight the shape of a people’s movement through public participation is the need of the hour.

The Chief Minister was addressing the “Ek Police, Ek Sankalp – ‘Drug-Free Haryana’” programme organised at the Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban, Karnal, on Saturday as the chief guest. The dialogue programme, held with all Station House Officers (SHOs) of Haryana Police, aimed to further strengthen the resolve to make the state completely drug-free and to formulate an effective strategy in this direction.

*CM Congratulates 70 Super-100 Students

The Chief Minister congratulated the 70 students of the Super-100 programme who have successfully cleared the NEET examination and secured admission to medical colleges. He said that most of these students belong to economically weaker and ordinary families. Their success is the result of the government’s efforts to provide quality education and better opportunities to meritorious students.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the quarterly magazine of the Police Department. The magazine highlights the department’s major achievements and important operations, including the extradition of criminals from foreign countries and their return to India.

*Every Police Station Should Become a Centre of Social Transformation*

The Chief Minister said that every police station should not remain confined to maintaining law and order, but should also become a centre of social transformation. Station House Officers should establish regular dialogue with schools, colleges, panchayats, voluntary organisations, religious organisations and youth clubs in their respective areas and motivate young people to stay away from drugs and crime.

He said that today, the drug trade is reaching the youth through modern technology, social media and organised crime. Therefore, the police must also remain alert, proactive and capable in accordance with modern technology. Merely arresting drug traffickers is not enough; it is essential to dismantle the entire network. At the same time, strengthening trust between the police and the public is equally important.

The Chief Minister said that along with effective action against drugs, equal attention must be given to awareness, sensitivity and rehabilitation. Only when the police, families, teachers, doctors, social organisations, women and youth come together and work collectively will the goal of a drug-free Haryana be achieved.

He said that keeping Haryana’s youth away from drugs and connecting them with sports is a priority of the government. Haryana is to be made a hub of sports so that the youth, instead of falling prey to drugs, take to the field and win gold medals for the country. Healthy, disciplined and sports-oriented youth will be the greatest strength in building Viksit Bharat.

*Anti-Drug Task Forces to be Formed at Every Level*

The Chief Minister said that Anti-Drug Task Forces would be constituted at the state, district, subdivision, block, village and ward levels. These task forces would include public representatives, Station House Officers, officers from the Health, Education and Social Welfare Departments, voluntary organisations, social organisations, youth and women’s groups, chemists’ associations and eminent citizens, so that a comprehensive social campaign against drugs could be conducted.

He called upon the Station House Officers to work with honesty, transparency and sensitivity and said that if every SHO resolves not to allow the drug trade in his area, there will be no place for the drug mafia in Haryana. He said that the police uniform is a symbol of service, discipline and patriotism, and its dignity must be upheld under all circumstances.

The Chief Minister said that to realise Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat-2047, it is essential for the youth to be healthy, aware, drug-free and connected with sports. He called upon all police officers to make the ‘Drug-Free Haryana’ campaign a people’s campaign and play an active role in building the bright future of the state.

*Chief Minister Announces Several Measures on Demands of Police Officers*

During the interaction with police officers, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini made several important announcements on various suggestions and demands related to the department. He said that the amount available under the Investigation Head would be increased to Rs. 10 crore so that Investigation Officers (IOs) could be provided with the necessary resources for the effective implementation of the new criminal laws.

He said that a separate reward policy for Haryana would be formulated for police officers who perform outstanding work against drug traffickers. For this purpose, the reward policies of other states would be studied and a policy suited to Haryana would be prepared.

The Chief Minister said that a software-based end-to-end monitoring system would be developed to prevent the misuse of dual-purpose drugs. Until the system is developed, necessary directions would be issued to all concerned officers to effectively curb the misuse of such medicines.

He said that the government was also considering better management of the work of Group-D employees. For this purpose, software would be developed to ensure that duties are assigned to employees in accordance with their qualifications and skills.

The Chief Minister said that deputation of Medical Officers from the Health Department would be ensured to provide better healthcare facilities to police personnel and their families. At the same time, the Social Welfare and Health Departments would be directed to prepare a detailed proposal for establishing modern drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in every district of the state, with priority given to particularly sensitive districts.

He also said that a meeting would be held with representatives associated with print, electronic and social media, as well as content creators, to seek suggestions on effectively curbing the glorification of gangsters and criminals. A decision on issuing the necessary advisory would be taken thereafter.

Making another important announcement, the Chief Minister said that Station House Officers who successfully make their respective areas effectively drug-free would be honoured by the government after due verification. He said that this initiative would promote healthy competition among SHOs and give fresh momentum to the Drug-Free Haryana campaign.

On the occasion, Director General of Police Sh. Ajay Singhal said that the department was continuously conducting special campaigns across the state against drug traffickers and taking effective action to dismantle their networks. He said that the police was not only taking strict action against drug traffickers but was also creating awareness among the youth and the general public about the harmful effects of drugs through various awareness campaigns. He also provided information about various campaigns being conducted by the department and their achievements.

MLA Sh. Yogendra Rana, Mayor of Karnal Smt. Renu Bala Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Director of Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban, Smt. Kala Ramachandran, Director General of Police, Haryana State Enforcement Bureau, Sh. Navdeep Singh Virk, Sh. Pankaj Nain, along with senior officers and personnel of the Police Department, were present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, July 18

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday launched the Comprehensive Youth Recovery & Rehabilitation Campaign in Punjab, a state-wide initiative aimed at tackling substance abuse among youth.

The campaign was inaugurated in the presence of the Acting Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court and other High Court judges.

The spokesperson of Punjab State Legal Services Authority said the 3-month drive will be run in mission mode by all District Legal Services Authorities from July 18 to October 31, 2026.

He further said that the objective of the campaign is to support vulnerable youth through structured rehabilitation, prevent substance abuse, ensure access to treatment and facilitate long-term social reintegration so that affected individuals can lead healthy and drug-free lives.

He said that special focus will be given to incarcerated persons suffering from substance dependence to help them overcome addiction with dignity.

He said that for this initiative a three-phase plan has been designed. In Phase 1: July 18-31* – Institutional preparation, capacity building, district mapping and identification of vulnerable areas and individuals.  In Phase 2: Sept 1-30 – Voluntary counseling, family counseling and referrals to government de-addiction centres by DLSAs. Confidentiality of beneficiaries will be maintained and in Phase 3: Oct 1-31- Post-treatment rehabilitation and follow-up. Recovered youth will be linked with schools, colleges, vocational training, skill development, employment exchanges and sports/yoga to prevent relapse.

The spokesperson said a multi-sectoral network involving the Health Department, Prison Department, education and skill development agencies, police, civil society and community leaders will implement the campaign.

Spokesperson added that the drive will not end in October and will be repeated every quarter for long-term support.

The Punjab State Legal Services Authority appealed to parents, teachers, youth groups and healthcare professionals to join the effort to build a drug-free Punjab.

Chandigarh, July 18:

Punjab State Legal Services Authority has today successfully organized the Special Lok Adalat for cases relating to NI Act, 1881 across the State of Punjab.

This Special Lok Adalat was organized under the Patronage of Hon’ble Ashwani Kumar Mishra, the Acting Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority.

 To make justice accessible to every citizen, the Lok Adalat witnessed enthusiastic participation from litigants, judicial officers, advocates, and other stakeholders. This initiative not only provided immediate relief to litigants but also contributed significantly to the reduction of pendency of cases in courts.

 During this Special Lok Adalat, total 175 Lok Adalat Benches were constituted across all Districts and Sub-Divisions of the State, wherein total 17723 cases were taken up, out of which 4871 cases were amicably settled. The awards amounting to Rs. 130,89,99,050/- have been passed.

Through this Special Lok Adalat, thousands of litigants across the State of Punjab were able to resolve their disputes relating to Negotiable instruments Act, 1881 expeditiously. Several long-pending matters have been successfully settled.

On this occasion, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, the Acting Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, appreciated the dedicated efforts of Judicial Officers, District Legal Services Authorities, and volunteers across the State, whose collective commitment ensured the successful conduct of this mega event.

Punjab State Legal Services Authority also extends its deep gratitude to the Hon’ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana, all District Legal Services Authorities, the State Judiciary, Members of the Bar, Police Authorities, and the Civil Administration for their invaluable support and cooperation.

Chandigarh, July 18, 2026: Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon on Saturday participated in the grand Bhagwan Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON Temple, Sector 36, Chandigarh. The spiritually uplifting procession witnessed enthusiastic participation from devotees who joined the yatra with deep faith, devotion and religious fervour.
Speaking on the occasion, Tandon said, “The Jagannath Rath Yatra is not merely a religious procession; it is a celebration of our timeless cultural heritage and spiritual values. Such events strengthen the bonds of faith, unity and social harmony, inspiring people to walk together on the path of righteousness and service.”
Joining the sacred procession, Tandon offered prayers to Lord Jagannath for the happiness, prosperity, good health and well-being of all citizens, as well as for global peace and harmony.

He said, “Where the chariot of devotion moves, faith itself paves the way. I prayed to Lord Jagannath to bless every family in the country with happiness, prosperity, good health and a spirit of compassion. May His divine blessings guide us towards a peaceful, progressive and harmonious society.”
Tandon appreciated the efforts of ISKCON Chandigarh and the volunteers for organising the event in a disciplined and devotional manner, adding that such spiritual gatherings play a vital role in preserving India’s rich cultural traditions while fostering a sense of unity and collective responsibility among people.