IEP Derabassi (Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), January 04

Starting a novel initiative, Deputy Commissioner Mrs Aashika Jain along with SSP Dr Sandeep Garg inaugurated an infrastructure Upgradation done at Government Middle School Bhagwanpur (Bhagwas) under CSR activities in Derabassi today evening.

       Appreciating the Industry Associations of Derabassi for joining hands with the District Administration to meet the infra needs of educational institutions, she said that the industries can bring a remarkable change by adopting nearby government institutions under a corporate social responsibility program.

     Referring to the infra changes done by various industries under CSR activities at Government Middle School, Bhagwanpur, she said that the construction of three rooms, installation of five touch Penal LEDs to transform classrooms into smart Classrooms and tiling of assembly ground will inspire others too to come forward for contributing to other institutions too.

      She categorically mentioned that PCCPL  and Usha Yarns have spent Rs 15 lakh for building two rooms while Kansal Industries Rs 3.5 lakh for the third room. Similarly, Jai Parwati installed five touch panel LEDs for a smart classroom at Rs 5 lakh while Bhagwati Steels Rs 3.5 for tiling works in the assembly ground.

     The Deputy Commissioner said that now the number of rooms has risen to 13 in the school and we hope the school will soon get the status of ‘School of Happiness’ under which a grant of Rs 40 lakh would be provided by the Punjab Government to add more Class Rooms, Office Room, Lab, Open Gym etc in addition starting of meditation class. She said that the concept of the School of Happiness is to provide more than mere job-based education viz quality of life, values of life to make the personality of students by keeping free of stress etc.

     The Deputy Commissioner said that the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government of Punjab is committed to strengthening the education and health institutes in the public sector. Schools of Eminence have been introduced to make the government school children at par with private schools so that they can compete at all levels. 

    Assuring the Industry Associations’ representatives for providing a conducive environment for the smooth running of their plants, she added that the long pending demand for repair of two main roads; one from Derabasai to Barwala and another in front of Chatha Foods in Lalru have been approved by the Punjab Chief Minister as per the commitment made at Sarkar Sanyatkat Milni held way back in Mohali in mid of September last year. Work on Barwala Road has been started while the other road will be started soon as all formalities have been completed by MC Lalru.

      Apart from that the approach roads of the Railway Under Pass in Derabassi on Mubarakpur road would also be repaired soon as the rest of the amount has been demanded from the PWD Department after getting approved Rs 60 lakh under District Mineral Foundation funds. She also gave assurance to the villagers to resolve issues of sewer and phirni road.

      SSP Dr Sandeep Garg while interacting with the industry association said that the District Police would not let the industries face any difficulty. may it be related to the monopoly of transportation or gangsters or any other law and order problems. He sought cooperation from the industries and the general public to provide information to the police regarding drug trafficking and any other law order-related problems.

     The other officers presented on this occasion included SDM Derabasai Himanshu Gupta, ASP Derabassi Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, representatives of the industries, School Head Master Kuljinder Singh, Village Sarpanch Karamjit Kaur, School Management Committee members Ranjit Singh Rana, Sukhwinder Singh and Sewak Singh.

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

          In order to ensure adequate space for farmers to sell their produce near their homes, Punjab Government will construct two new grain markets (Mandis) at village Saneta of SAS Nagar (Mohali) and Arniwala Sheikh Subhan in Fazilka district, said Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.

          Chairing a meeting of Punjab Mandi Board officials here at Kisan Bhawan, Mr Khudian said that the grain market at Arniwala will be spread over 12 acres, while, Saneta Mandi will be established at over 5 acres land. He said that there are total of 1872 grain markets in the state.

          The Cabinet Minister asked the Joint Secretary Punjab Mandi Board to expedite the process to set up these grain markets at the earliest.

          Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has not been leaving any stone unturned to facilitate farmers, besides, ensuring welfare of the Annadata.

          MLA SAS Nagar Kulwant Singh, MLA Jalalabad Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy and MLA Shutrana Kulwant Singh Bazigar, Special Chief Secretary (Development) Mr KAP Sinha, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ms. Amrit Kaur Gill, Additional Secretary Agriculture Rahul Gupta, Joint Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ms. Geetika Singh and other senior officials of the mandi board were also present in the meeting.

IEP CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, January 4

          In a big blow to trans-border narcotic smuggling networks amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police have busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling racket being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers with the arrest of a key person after recovering 2 Kg Ice Drug (Methamphetamine), said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

          The arrested smuggler has been identified as Simranjit Singh alias Simar Maan, a resident of Village Gaggarmal in Amritsar. Apart from seizing a consignment of Ice Drugs, Police teams have also recovered a highly sophisticated .30-bore Chinese Pistol along with five live cartridges from his possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused was directly in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers Pathan and Amer, who were supplying him with Ice drugs and weapons from across the border using a drone.

          The arrested accused further used to supply the Ice drugs across the state, he said, while adding that investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages.

          Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar following reliable inputs about the attempt to influx of large quantity of Ice drug and weapon consignment by Pak-based smugglers in the state, Police teams from CIA Staff-1 under supervision of DCP Harpreet Mandher, ADCP CITY-3 Abhimanyu Rana and ACP West Kamaljeet Aulakh carried out an extensive operation at in Chheharta area here.

          He said that Police teams had managed to arrest the accused Simar Maan, when he was waiting for someone to deliver this consignment.

CP Bhullar said that further investigations are being conducted to unearth the whole network of drug suppliers, dealers and their buyers. Efforts are being made to ascertain the total amount of narcotics procured by the arrested accused so far, he added.

          A case FIR no. 2 dated 3.1.2024 has been registered under sections 21 and 22 of the NDPS Act and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar Commissionerate. It is pertinent to mention here that the commercial quantity of Heroin is 250 Grams, whereas, the commercial quantity of Ice Drugs is 50 Grams.

IEP Chandigarh

       The Ayushman Card Diwali Bumper Draw— a special initiative of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to enrol the maximum people under health insurance cover, is all set to be held on January 9, 2024. The draw will be held at the Camp Office of Punjab State Lotteries, Zila Parishad Complex, Ludhiana in front of the public.

          Pertinently, a special Diwali Bumper Draw was launched by the Punjab State Health Agency on the directions of Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on October 16, under which anyone registering themselves for the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana will have a chance to win a reward upto Rs 1 lakh.

          The scheme, which was earlier planned till November 30, 2023, was further extended till December 31, 2023, so that maximum people can take advantage of this scheme.

          Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Agency Mrs Babita said that the initiative has garnered an overwhelming response, with more than 3.21 lakh cards generated.

          She said that 10 lucky winners will be selected through a random draw and the first prize will be worth Rs 1 lakh, a second prize will be worth Rs 50000 and a third prize worth Rs 25000 will be given. Similarly, the fourth prize is worth Rs 10000 and the fifth prize is Rs 8000, while, the sixth to tenth prizes will be Rs 5000 each, she added.

          She said that beneficiaries who obtained their cards during this draw period can visit the departmental website www.sha.punjab.gov.in for additional details about the draw. The department will inform the winners, and the list will be available on the website and through various media sources, said the CEO, while adding that, the general public is cordially invited to witness the draw.