IEP Chandigarh

Union Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah chaired the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council convened in Amritsar, Punjab, today. During the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal apart from highlighting key issues for regional development, cooperation among the states also advocated for several critical issues including the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) and the Affiliation of Haryana Colleges from Panjab University.

Punjab Governor, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, Sh. Vinai Kumar Saxena, Punjab Chief Minister, Sh. Bhagwant Mann, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and representatives of Northern Indian states attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister also underscored the significance of establishing an environment of collaboration among the states to ensure the successful and prompt execution of development projects. He emphasized that by pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and adopting best practices, the states could achieve efficient and effective project execution, ultimately contributing to the growth of the region and the nation as a whole.

The Chief Minister stressed the urgent need to complete the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) canal in the Punjab region. He clarified that water availability and canal construction were distinct issues and should not be conflated. He pointed out that surplus water from rivers such as Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas currently flowed into Pakistan, and constructing SYL would enable the productive utilization of this valuable water resource. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of SYL as an alternative channel, especially in light of the aging Nangal Hydel Channel (NHC).

Sh. Manohar Lal advocated for Haryana colleges in Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar to have the option of affiliating with Panjab University. He highlighted that while Haryana’s share in Panjab University had been discontinued in 1973, reestablishing these affiliations would be in the best interest of students. He stressed the importance of expanding educational opportunities and enhancing the university’s reputation by affiliating more colleges from both Haryana and Punjab.

Reiterating Haryana’s commitment to equitable water sharing and peaceful dispute resolution, the Chief Minister discussed issues related to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He emphasized the need to address delays in repairing the Dhulkot BBMB sub-station and underscored the importance of raising the banks of the Bhakra Main Line for efficient water resource management.

Sh. Manohar Lal proposed considering Hathnikund as a national project for small hydropower projects. He believed that such a project could have far-reaching impacts on water management and power generation capabilities in the region, warranting detailed discussion.

The Chief Minister also shared Haryana’s innovative approach to demographic data collection through the Parivar Pehchan Patra scheme. This scheme provides real-time demographic data and has created a comprehensive database of every family in the state. This database plays a crucial role in government planning and policy implementation, bridging the gap between data collection and practical application.

Sh. Manohar Lal encouraged other participating states to explore innovative solutions like PPP to strengthen governance and ensure the welfare and prosperity of all citizens.

IEP Chandigarh

Haryana Minister of Cooperation Dr. Banwari Lal said that in order to facilitate farmers who bring sugarcane to the mills, a system has been established to send mobile notifications, ensuring that farmers do not encounter any difficulties or delays.

The Cooperation Minister engaged in discussions with farmers and organizational representatives here today.

        He said that the sugarcane crushing operations will commence in all state cooperative sugar mills during the first week of November. This year’s target is to process 424 lakh quintals of sugarcane with a recovery rate of 10 percent. He said that arrangements have also been made to provide nutritious and quality food to the farmers at an affordable rate of just Rs 10. Farmers are happy with timely payment of sugarcane and excellent arrangements.

He  also mentioned that the government is actively working to enhance the capacity and production of sugar mills. An ambitious plan is underway to establish ethanol plants by forming a cluster of all the state’s cooperative sugar mills, aiming to boost the economic viability of these mills. An ethanol plant has already commenced operations at the Shahabad sugar mill, and another one will soon be set up in Panipat also.

Dr. Banwari Lal added that sugar mills are diversifying their operations, including the production of refined sugar, buckets, and compact biogas. Additionally, efforts are being made to explore possibilities like manufacturing press mud and sugar. To make the state’s PACS more versatile, initiatives such as opening Jan Aushadhi centres and making HAFED, Sugarfed, and dairy products accessible at reasonable prices are in progress. This will increase the income of sugar mills and provide employment opportunities for the youth.

During the event, Dr. Banwari Lal attentively listened to the concerns of the people and pledged to address them promptly.

IEP Chandigarh

In a significant and proactive move to enhance the capabilities of Zila Parishads (ZPs), Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal said that the responsibility for the repair of link roads in six additional districts, namely Sonipat, Kaithal, Mahendergarh, Rohtak, Jhajjar, and Rewari, will be transferred to the Zila Parishads by the end of this year. Previously, this responsibility was overseen by the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB).

                                The Chief Minister disclosed this during a meeting with the Chairpersons of Zila Parishads and Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads to review various developmental initiatives. Development and Panchayats Minister Sh. Devender Babli also present in the meeting.

                Earlier, the link road repair responsibility had been transferred from HSAMB to Zila Parishads in five districts — Yamunangar, Karnal, Palwal, Bhiwani, and Fatehabad — with process of repair work already underway. With the addition of these six districts, ZPs will be responsible for road repair in a total of 11 districts. This move reflects the State Government’s commitment to empowering Zila Parishads to undertake rural development projects more efficiently.

                                During the review of development progress, Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal directed the CEOs of Zila Parishads to initiate the tendering process for the pavement of village phirnis in villages with a population of 5,000 or more by September 30, 2023.

                                The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of respecting and honoring the Chairpersons of ZPs, who play a crucial role as public representatives in the democratic setup. He clearly instructed the CEOs to relocate their offices from district Secretariats to ZP offices. In districts where ZP office buildings have already been erected, this directive should be promptly implemented. However, in cases where such infrastructure is yet to be established, CEOs are instructed to identify suitable land and submit proposals to the Head Office.

                                He also sought budget estimates for the current fiscal year from the CEOs of ZPs. The Chief Minister underscored that it falls within the purview of the Chairman of Zila Parishads to formulate their budgets and subsequently forward them to the government after gaining approval within the ZP House. This ensures that sufficient funds will be accessible to drive developmental initiatives in rural areas effectively.

                                He also encouraged them to construct Anganwari buildings wherever necessary and establish a dedicated unit in each district responsible for overseeing Anganwari Centers throughout the district.

                                He informed the installation of street lights in 750 villages with the highest population across the state. The budget has already been allocated to Zila Parishads for this initiative. Under this program, the five villages with the highest population in each block will soon receive street lights.

                                The Chief Minister pointed out that there are 144 blocks in the state and urged the CEO Zila Parishads to identify the block where even 10 e-libraries have not started. Requests for this purpose have been received through Jan Samvad, and we already have sanction to open 750 e-libraries.

                               During the review of Chaupals’ construction, Sh. Manohar Lal instructed the CEOs to conduct need-based surveys in their respective areas. He also directed them to initiate the process of beautifying or constructing walls for village ponds through the Zila Parishads. The Chairman and CEOs of Zila Parishads should collaborate to plan development activities in rural areas.

                                Speaking on this occasion, Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli, urged the CEOs to monitor the progress of development projects in their respective areas. He also expressed his intention to visit the entire state for this purpose.

                                Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh. V. Umashankar, Director Rural Development Jai Krishan Abhir, OSD to Chief Minister Sudhanshu Gautam, Chairpersons and CEOs of Zila Parisahad and other officers were also present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, September 21

          The Punjab Government has declared a local holiday in Gurdaspur district on September 22, 2023 on the occasion of “Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Viah Purab”

           Giving information in this regard, the official spokesperson of the state government said that all offices, boards/corporations and government educational institutions of the Punjab government in Gurdaspur district will remain closed on Friday (September 22, 2023).  In this regard, a notification has been issued by the personnel department.

IEP Chandigarh, September 21

          Under the dynamic leadership of the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, all functioning of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has been made paperless and now all business of the forthcoming Assembly session will be completely digital and paperless.

          Disclosing this here on Thursday, The Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that for the first time the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Project has been implemented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, to make all the proceedings digital and bring transparency in governance and reducing vast expense for paper.

          Addressing the occasion, during the second session of the two-day training session of NeVA, Mr. Sandhwan said that a digital wing has been set up to make the functioning of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha hi-tech and to connect it with modern technology, which is the utmost need of the hour. The Speaker said that the digital wings comprises of a IT cell, NIC cell, modern training room (NeVA Seva Kendra), hi-tech control room, network control room among others.

          The Speaker said that with the use of the NeVA App, the participation of the people through live webcasting of the proceedings of the House would increase and the functioning of the Secretariat of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha would also become more streamlined. He said that documents will also be presented in the House through electronic mode and members and staff of the Legislative Assembly will get paperless facilities.

          Mr. Sandhwan lauded the efforts of NIC (IT), Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India; Department of Administrative Reforms, Punjab; Punjab Vidhan Sabha staff and said that this project has been executed due to their tireless and diligence working.

          Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Under Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India; Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Director (IT), NIC,  Mr. Rajesh Rana, Consultant and Assistant Director Mrs. Preeti Yadav were also specially felicitated on the occasion by the speaker.

          Earlier, Mr. Sanjeev, Senior Director (IT), NIC the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India highlighted the details of the NeVA project. He shared the guidelines of the project and his experiences in implementing the project in different states. During his special presentation, he gave detailed information about the NeVA app.

          Meanwhile, the MLAs were also given training on the use of the mobile app. During this workshop, mock sessions and question-answer sessions were also organised. During this workshop, NIC officials and Punjab Vidhan Sabha and NIC IT staff handed over the IDs to the members of the Legislative Assembly and informed them about logging in and using their password.

IEP Chandigarh, September 21

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday launched his new Whatsapp channel with an aim to further get directly connected with the people and make them equal partners in the socio-economic growth of the state.

Launching the channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va42I695fM5iIFathJ0Q  the Chief Minister described it as a citizen centric decision aimed at ensuring better connect with the masses. He said that people can join the channel through the link and get the updates about the pro-people and development oriented policies of the state government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this noble initiative will go a long way in making the people of the state an integral part of the governance in the state.

The Chief Minister said that this out of the box idea will help in cementing the bond between state government and people by having direct interface with them. He said that in today’s era of technology this initiative will go a long way in making people an equal partner in governance of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will also help in facilitating the people with the latest information about the development in the state and the new initiatives of the Punjab government for their well being.

Meanwhile, the first post of the channel highlights the School of eminence, which was recently dedicated by the Chief Minister to the people of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that the school is a revolutionary step in the field of education as it will ensure the access of quality education to the students of the state. He urged the people of the state to join the whatsapp group for regular updates about the various pro-people initiatives being taken by the state government.

IEP Chandigarh

With a aim to provide unparalleled firsthand experiences to foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment among the youth, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has organized a transformative initiative that offered an exceptional opportunity for NSS volunteers and students of Government Girls College, Sector 11 to learn about source segregation firsthand in the field.

Under the guidance of the team Chandigarh Challengers, the students were immersed in an inspiring day dedicated to Swachhata. They had the privilege to witness and learn about the Swachhata ke Chaar rang and challaning drive, gaining insightful knowledge on building a cleaner and greener future.

The highlight of the activity was a visit to the MRF (Material Recovery Facility) located in Industrial Area, Phase 1. This field trip offered an immersive experience, allowing the students to delve into the intricacies of source segregation and witness its profound impact firsthand.

The hands-on involvement proved to be invaluable for the participating youth. Not only did they gain practical knowledge, but it also ignited a renewed dedication to actively contribute towards the vision of a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

While elaborating about the initiative, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh said that empowering the youth with experiential learning is essential in shaping a brighter future. The Swacchta Pakhwara serves as a platform for them to understand and engage in sustainable practices, instilling a sense of responsibility towards our environment, she said.

She said that through this initiative ‘Swachhata Diwas- Swachhata hi Seva’, MCC Chandigarh aims to empower the younger generation to actively contribute towards building a cleaner, greener future. MCC remains committed to championing sustainability and encouraging active participation from the youth. Together, they continue to shape a brighter future, one step at a time, added the Commissioner.

IEP Chandigarh

Inner Wheel Club of Chandigarh City Beautiful today distributed vegetables at the Institute for the Blind in Sector 26 under their project for support to the differently abled.

Virender Kaur, President of the Club, while giving the information said vegetables were distributed to over 172 student beneficiaries and the distribution ceremony was attended by staff members.

“During our visit to the Blind School, we donated 50 kg of potatoes and 25 kg of onions. Approximately 10 kilograms of spinach, peas, tomatoes, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage , bottle gourd and other vegetables, she added.

Members of the club who were present included Sukhpreet, Meenu Kaushal, and Nancy

IEP Chandigarh

According to the World Alzheimer’s Report 2022 released earlier this year, Alzheimer’s and dementia affect approximately 55 million people worldwide. It’s a staggering statistic that underscores the urgent need for awareness, support, and research to combat this debilitating condition

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder, widely recognized as one of the most prevalent forms of dementia, said Dr Pallav Jain, neurologist at Max Hospital. This ailment impairs brain cells, leading to memory alterations and erratic behaviours, and, in severe cases, the loss of various bodily functions, he informed.  

He further informed that scientists believe that a combination of genetic, behavioural, and environmental factors over time is responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s in most individuals. While specific genetic anomalies predispose less than 1% of cases, the majority are influenced by these multifaceted factors.

Hallmark signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in its early stages, is the forgetfulness of recently acquired information, opined Dr Jain.

Patients may also struggle to remember important dates or activities, often repeating the same questions. The disease can disrupt a person’s ability to plan and execute tasks, impairing their cognitive functions and sense of time, he maintained.

Keeping a detailed medication schedule and using pill organizers or medication management apps can prevent missed doses or accidental overdoses, he asserted.  Encouraging light exercises and activities fosters physical and mental health. Ensure exercise spaces are safe and obstacle-free. Providing balanced meals and monitoring fluid intake helps prevent dehydration and maintains overall health, he opined

IEP Chandigarh

Model Central Jail, Sector-51, Chandigarh has now become self-reliant and meets all its energy requirements through solar power with a total Capacity of 710 kWp (On- Site Solar Power Plant installation of 360kWp under the net metering arrangement and Off-Site Solar Power Plant installation of 350kWp at Outer parking area under Virtual Net-Metering). Earlier 150kWp SPV Power was installed under the Net Metering arrangement and 350kWp Solar Plant under the virtual Net Metering arrangement. 

The Inauguration of the 350kWp SPV Power Plant was done by Sh. Dharam Pal, Adviser to Administrator U.T. Chandigarh on 22.04.2022. During inauguration, the Adviser to Administrator and Chairman, CREST had directed CREST & Jail Authorities to make the Model Central Jail “Net Zero”. Thereafter, CREST installed an additional 210kWp Solar Power Plant under a Net Metering arrangement to make Model Central jail “Net Zero”. Now complete electricity requirement of Model Central Jail is being fulfilled through Solar Power Plants i.e. Clean and Green Energy. Now Model Jail Chandigarh is first Jail in the country which is “Net Zero Conventional Electricity Consumer”.