Chandigarh, September 17:

Urban Local Bodies across Punjab have stepped up action under the ongoing 10-day cleanliness campaign with focused work on road repair, clearance of silt from drains, restoration of damaged streetlights and water supply lines and removal of garbage from vulnerable points. Dedicated teams supported with JCBs, tractor trolleys, compactors and fogging machines are working round the clock to restore normalcy in flood-affected towns and cities.

Divulging further, Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said that ward-wise rosters have been prepared and circulated, ensuring daily focus areas are assigned to teams for systematic execution. Nodal officers including Zonal Commissioners in larger corporations like Ludhiana are directly monitoring the operations by supervising two to three wards daily, in addition to regular sanitation drives.

The Cabinet Minister informed that awareness activities are being carried out every day to educate citizens about cleanliness and encourage their participation. He highlighted that staff and local residents are being actively engaged through personal involvement of officers to motivate communities in maintaining hygiene.

Dr. Ravjot Singh further stated that compactors and waste processing plants are being monitored daily, while damaged infrastructure including roads, water supply networks and streetlights is being repaired proactively. Special teams have been mobilised to clear garbage vulnerable points and reduce waste accumulation.

He said that the entire campaign is being documented through before-and-after photographs. PESCO ex-servicemen have been deputed in all urban areas to support reporting, verification and monitoring of works to ensure accountability. A grievance redressal mechanism has also been activated to address the concerns of flood-affected residents.

Chandigarh, September 17

In a spirited beginning to the 9th edition of the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 campaign, Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, formally launched the citywide initiative under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The 15-day campaign titled ‘Swachhotsav’, ‘Whole of Government and Whole of Society’ commenced at the iconic Rose Garden, with a powerful display of a human chain by Safaimitras representing the principles of Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle (RRR). This was followed by a Swachhata Rally, and presentation of manpower and sanitation machinery mobilized by the Municipal Corporation for the duration of the campaign.

Running from 17th September to 2nd October, culminating on Gandhi Jayanti, Swachhotsav 2025 aims to ignite a collective call to action across the “City Beautiful,” inspiring mass public participation in high-impact swachhata drives. The campaign uniquely combines the cultural fervour of the Indian festive season with civic responsibility, promoting cleanliness as a way of life.

During his address, Chief Secretary Sh. Rajeev Verma emphasized the campaign’s core theme of blending celebration with responsibility. He highlighted that Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs)—spaces in the city that are dark, dirty, or neglected—will be rapidly identified, transformed, and beautified not only during the campaign but also in the long term. He reiterated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi Ji, SHS 2025 is anchored on the transformation of CTUs, the welfare and safety of Safaimitras, and building a plastic-free, sustainable urban environment. He appealed to citizens from all sections of society to come together for the celebration of Swachhta hi Seva.

Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Local Government, Chandigarh, elaborated on the five key focus areas of Swachhotsav. These include the fast-track transformation of CTUs, cleanliness activities across public spaces, the organization of SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivirs—single-window camps for health, safety, and dignity of sanitation workers, promotion of Clean Green Festivities that are eco-friendly and zero-waste, and Swachhata Advocacy to spread the message of responsible sanitation practices. He stressed that the “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” shramdaan on September 25 will see active participation from citizens, political representatives, SBM ambassadors, youth groups, NGOs, partner organizations, and influencers. He also informed that during these Shivirs, frontline sanitation workers will be recognized and felicitated for their tireless contributions.

Municipal Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, who welcomed all dignitaries, detailed the series of initiatives being undertaken during the 15-day pakhwara. These include Clean Park Drives, Swachh School – Swachh Kal campaigns, Waste to Art Exhibitions, targeted cleanliness drives in collaboration with Resident Welfare Associations and Market Welfare Associations, Swachh Kanjak events, plastic collection drives, and the grand felicitation ceremony for cleanliness champions at the conclusion of the campaign.

 He encouraged citizens to actively participate in the Swachhata Pratiyogita, a citywide competition launched during the event to involve all sections of society. Participants can register and submit their entries through the digital link https://shorturl.at/XkJqI.

The launch event itself was a zero-waste programme, strictly adhering to sustainability guidelines, setting an example of how public events can remain environmentally conscious. The occasion was graced by several senior officials from the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation, reflecting a united and determined approach toward making Chandigarh a model of cleanliness and civic pride.

Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 reaffirms Chandigarh’s commitment to cleanliness, sustainability, and inclusive urban development, encouraging all citizens to be agents of change.

Chandigarh:

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, successfully organised a Mega Health Camp under the Government of India’s flagship Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan. The camp witnessed an overwhelming response from the community, reaffirming the institute’s commitment to strengthening women’s health and family well-being through early detection, preventive care, and awareness generation.

Adding a global dimension, a group of final-year medical students from Lund University, Sweden, currently on an elective training programme at the Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC), also participated. The delegation engaged with Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, and faculty teams, commending the camp’s scale, efficiency, and people-centric approach.

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER,“The participation of international students underlines the global relevance of India’s health initiatives. At PGIMER, we are committed to strengthening women’s health, and it is gratifying to see our efforts being appreciated beyond borders. Such exchanges enrich both sides and strengthen our collective vision for healthier societies.”

Ms. Tilda Gunnarsson, a visiting student, observed, “The organisation and outreach of this camp are truly inspiring. Seeing long queues of women waiting patiently and the effort to address every concern was moving. PGIMER’s ability to combine compassion with efficiency is something we aspire to replicate in our healthcare system.”

Echoing her sentiments, Ms. Pavel Larsson added, “What impressed me most is how seamlessly awareness, screening, and treatment are integrated under one roof. The emphasis on women’s health empowers not only individuals but entire families. This is healthcare that is both accessible and deeply humane.”

In sync with their teammates, Ms. Maria Kökeritz and Ms. Mai Stensson shared, ““The energy, compassion, and commitment here are extraordinary. Few large-scale initiatives match such attention to detail. The focus on preventive care and early detection is particularly valuable. For us, this has been an eye-opening experience with lessons far beyond textbooks.”

The Lund University delegation, led by faculty from Skåne University Hospital, is in PGIMER from 15–19 September. Their elective focuses on paediatrics in low- and middle-income settings, offering exposure to diverse clinical presentations, healthcare priorities, and structured workflows in India. Their programme includes ward rounds, specialty clinics, academic sessions, and emergency care observation.

The collaboration, facilitated by Professors Arun Bansal and Sanjay Verma, seeks to foster cross-learning and strengthen global medical education. The visit not only highlighted PGIMER’s role in public health outreachbut also reinforced its position as ahub for international exchange and collaboration in healthcare.

The Mega Health Camp at PGIMER under Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan recorded an impressive turnout with a strong focus on women’s health. A total of 259 antenatal check-ups were conducted, along with 2,459 haemoglobin screenings and 690 breast cancer screenings. Preventive care remained central, with 901 diabetes, 1,079 hypertension, 77 cervical cancer, 238 oral cancer, and 378 sickle cell disease screenings. In addition, PGIMER also conducted , 94 major surgeries, and facilitated 450 blood donations through various camps today. In line with the objective of Govt. of India, Ayushman Bharat cards and ABHA ids were generated at the camp, reflecting PGIMER’s commitment to comprehensive healthcare and community outreach.

Chandigarh, September 17, 2025:

The Department of Sociology at Panjab University today hosted a seminar on “Clean and Safe Drinking Water: A Human Right” led by Mr. Paramjit Singh Rana, from Canada, an expert in environmental health and water management.

Mr. Rana began the seminar by explaining the differences between various types of drinking water, including tap water, reverse osmosis (RO) water, and underground water. He outlined the different values and uses of each type, stressing the importance of understanding the quality of water sources for effective public health strategies.

A significant part of his presentation focused on the degradation of water sources, particularly in areas like Cherapunzi, which receives the highest rainfall in the country. He highlighted how water quality in different regions across India has deteriorated over the last few decades due to rising levels of radiation and heavy metals, as well as inefficient sewage management systems.

The session, which was attended by over 40 students, was earlier inaugurated by Dr. Vinod Kumar, Chairperson of the Department of Sociology. The seminar focused on the crucial issue of water quality and its direct impact on public health and human rights.

Chandigarh, September 17, 2025

As part of Alumni Connect Series, the Department of Library and Information Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh, today organised a special lecture on “Education, Ethics & Professional Experiences in Library and Information Science”.

Mr. M. Lokendro Singh, an alumnus of the department and presently serving as Assistant Librarian at Manipur University, Imphal delivered the lecture. The lecture was attended by research scholars and students of the B.Lib.I.Sc. and M.Lib.I.Sc. programs.

Mr. M. Lokendro Singh emphasised that education in the modern era must move beyond textbooks to cultivate ethical reasoning and professional competence. He noted that while degrees provide technical expertise, ethics shape character and professional experiences build practical judgment, together forming the foundation of holistic growth. He highlighted how breaches of ethics affect both individual reputations and institutional credibility, urging students to imbibe values of honesty, accountability, and social responsibility.

Earlier, Prof. Rupak Chakravarty extended a warm welcome to the resource person.

Chandigarh, September 17, 2025

The Centre for Police Administration today organised the Induction cum Orientation Programme-Rookie 2025 for the new batch of First year students of Masters in Police Administration,at the Centre.

The programme commenced with an inspiring inaugural session with Professor BS Ghuman, former Vice Chancellor, Punjabi  University, Patiala as the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Mr. Manjeet Sheoran, SP Intelligence, Headquarters, SP EOW, Assistant Commandant General Home Guards, Communication in Chandigarh Police and Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Chairperson, Centre for Police Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh graced the occasion.

Chief Guest Prof. BS Ghuman emphasised the purpose of the Centre for Police Administration to link the theoretical perspectives of Police Administration with practical aspects of policing. He put forth that the purpose of induction has been to promote social cohesion and also to acquaint the students with their potential to seek life skills for greater sustainability in future. He mentioned the significance of upholding moral integrity and compassion towards human being, in course of pursuit of individual goals.

Mr. Manjeet Sheoran, SP, highlighted the significance of laws and rules i.e. BNS for creating an ideal society for coming generation. He stated the police, as a civil agency, consistently work towards creating more secure and livable social environment. This also calls for genuine compliance of rules by the citizens as well. He also spoke about the challenges faced by police administration in undertaking policing function.

Earlier, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Chairperson, welcomed the esteemed guests for sparing their valuable time to share their academic and professional insight. He also stated the Induction Programme aimed to introduce the newly admitted students to the course that is a blend of public service, governance, and academic inquiry.

In Session two, Dr. L.S. Rana, Former Deputy Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Punjab, Guest of Honour shared his insight regarding relationship of forensic science with police administration. Dr. Hemant Kumar, DIG (Rtd.), BSF, Keynote Speaker motivated students about career orientation in police and other armed services.

Session three was graced by Dr. R.K. Sharma, former Professor of Public Administration, PU encouraged the students to define their vision and mission while pursuing the course of police administration. Dr. Parvesh Kumari, Inspector, addressed the students to be rule oriented and law-abiding citizens. She encouraged the students to lead a life with a well-defined purpose.

The Programme was attended by an approximate sixty participants including, the students of MA Ist & IInd year, faculty members i.e. Dr. Shaveta Begra, Dr. Satnam Singh, Dr. Daljit Singh and Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, research scholars and office staff.

Chandigarh, September 17, 2025

As part of the Orientation Week for the new batch of PG in Human Rights and Duties at Panjab University (PU), Founder of Coventurers and a seasoned professional Mr. Anas Shah Khan today delivered a lecture on “Social Entrepreneurship, Start-ups and Business Acumen: Empowering Human Rights for Social Change” at the Centre for Human Rights and Duties (CHRD), Panjab University.  

Mr. Khan delivered the lecture and inspired students to view human rights through the lens of innovation and enterprise. He shared his personal journey of building initiatives and collaborating with diverse organisations, highlighting both the challenges and rewards of working at the intersection of rights and entrepreneurship. Drawing on real-life examples, he explained how social entrepreneurship can transform everyday problems—such as inequality, unemployment, and injustice—into opportunities for dignity, livelihood, and sustainable impact. He underlined the importance of business acumen for social good, noting that financial management, communication skills, and teamwork are essential to sustaining meaningful change.

In his closing message, Khan urged students not to wait for perfect conditions but to begin with what they have, where they are: “Small sparks become big flames when hands join.” The lecture left the audience motivated, energised, and better equipped to connect human rights advocacy with entrepreneurial spirit.

Dr. Upneet Kaur Mangat, Chairperson, Centre for Human Rights and Duties shared the lecture emphasised the start-up mindset: beginning small, experimenting, learning from failures, and scaling successful ideas.

Students were encouraged to think critically about problems in their own communities and to design small-scale pilot projects, even with minimal resources.

Chandigarh, September 17

Panjab University, Chandigarh today organised a lecture by Professor Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director of NABI, Mohali on “Innovate, Create, Transform: Empowering Youth through Biomanufacturing”. The lecture was organised by the Department of Biotechnology under the aegis of INSA Chandigarh Chapter.

Highlighting the BioE3 Policy (Education, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment), Professor Pareek underlined the pivotal role of biotechnology in the ongoing “era of Biorevolution”, urging youth to actively contribute as innovators and entrepreneurs. He explained its role in fostering sustainable solutions across healthcare, agriculture, and industry, while also serving as a roadmap towards India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 – a fully developed, self-reliant, and prosperous nation. He emphasised that public and private sector investments are driving the biotechnology ecosystem, opening immense opportunities for startups and young researchers.

The lecture was chaired by Professor Dulal Panda, Director, NIPER, SAS Nagar Mohali, who encouraged students to explore interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurship. He stressed that institutional collaborations and incubation centres provide young scientists with platforms to transform ideas into proofs of concept.

Concluding remarks were given by Co-Coordinator of Chandigarh Chapter of INSA Professor R.C. Sobti, former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, who reiterated the importance of the BioE3 framework in shaping careers in biotechnology. Professor Neena Capalash, Chairperson, Department of Biotechnology, delivered the vote of thanks.

Chandigarh, September 17

The camp, organised in association Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Yuvak Parishad under the guidance of Dr.Parveen Goyal, NSS, Programme Coordinator and Programme Officers Dr. Sonia Sharma and Dr.Neelam Goyal, began by celebrating National Engineers Day. The blood donation camp received encouraging response from the students and 41 Units of blood was donated.

Addressing the function, Director UIET Prof. Sukhwinder Singh appreciated for celebrating thus auspicious day. In his address Prof. Sukhwinder highlighted the importance of celebrating the Birthday of M. Visvesvaraya as National Engineers Day.

Prof. Prashant Jindal, Prof. Sarbajit, Prof.Mamta, Prof.Naveen Aggarwal and Dr. Gaurav Sapra addressed the students and told them the importance of Engineers in articulating the nation. They also motivated students for start ups.

Chandigarh: Panjab University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Renu Vig released the special edition of the Department of Economics’ six-monthly newsletter, Arthashastrika. 

Covering the period from January to June 2025, this special edition also documents the renaming of Arts block III as Dr. Manmohan Singh Hall. The edition also highlights a range of activities over the past six months, including academic and cultural events, memorial lectures, Ph.D. viva examinations, department trip, farewell week, notable achievements, and national-level selections and placements.

On this occasion, Department’s Chairperson Dr. Smita Sharma informed that the department oversees four research centres and is actively looking forward to pursuing international Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).  

Editorial team of Arthashastrika was also present on the occasion.