It was apprised in the meeting that state government has introduced a new set of initiatives to combat malnutrition in the state. These initiatives include establishment of a Tele Calling Hub to enhance communication with malnourished families and ensure improved service delivery within the Anganwadi service schemes under Mission Poshan 2.0. The Tele Calling Hub will serve as a valuable tool for collecting real-time feedback, identifying gaps in the current system, and implementing targeted interventions to enhance the quality and coverage of Anganwadi services.

        During discussions, the Chief Secretary inquired about the distribution of fortified rice, flour, iron, folic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin D to prevent anemia and malnutrition among children and women under the Nutrition Campaign. Additionally, community-based initiatives such as special health check-up camps for pregnant women and improved planning to enhance the diets of infants and young children were thoroughly explored. The Women and Child Department made a presentation outlining these plans.

        Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Mr. Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Women and Child Development, Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Mrs. G. Anupama, Director, Secondary Education, Mr. Ashanj Singh and other senior off

IEP CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, August 18

          Three days after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann vowed to make Punjab a drug-free state by the next Independence Day, Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Friday, chalked out a foolproof strategy with the Border Security Force (BSF) to completely break the supply chain of drugs and to counter the Drone operations at Punjab borders, which have emerged as the new modus operandi to smuggle drugs from across the border.

          The Special DGP accompanied by IG Frontier Headquarters, BSF Jalandhar Dr Atul Fulzele was holding a Joint coordination-cum-review meeting with senior officials of BSF, Punjab Police, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other Central Agencies at Frontier Headquarters of BSF Jalandhar to further strengthen the security at the state border to prevent the cross border smuggling. IGP Law and Order Pradeep Yadav, DIG Ferozepur Range Ranjit Singh Dhillon and six DIGs of BSF were among the other senior officials, who attended the meeting.

          Giving a call for total synergy and teamwork between BSF and Punjab Police, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that it was high time that both the elite forces should work as one team and activate good old human intelligence by gathering and sharing real-time information.

          He said that CM Bhagwant Mann had already sanctioned Rs 20 crores for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in the border areas to further strengthen the second line of defence and keep vigil against drug smugglers and anti-social elements.

          Additionally, Rs 10 crores are being spent to strengthen the police infrastructure including Police Stations, he said, while adding that additional police force and vehicles are also being provided to the Border Police.

          Notably, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav had already announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for providing information on drone movement leading to the recovery of weapons/narcotics.

          Special DGP Arpit Shukla ordered DIG Border range and DIG Ferozepur range to direct SSPs and other gazetted rank officers of border districts to ensure staying overnight in the border villages at least once or twice in a month as part of the confidence-building measure.

          He also directed CPs/SSPs to identify and forfeit properties of big narco smugglers caught with commercial quantity of drugs. This year as many as 30 properties worth Rs 12.99 crores were seized and forfeited by the Punjab Police, he informed.

          He also stressed on the need to implement Civic Action Programme to transform border villages into model villages by upgrading facilities including infrastructure, education, transportation, communication, etc. “We should establish parks and grounds in all the villages to promote sports culture among the youth and channelise their energy in the right direction,” he said.

          Meanwhile, Special DGP Arpit Shukla also directed Police officers to tighten the noose around the mining mafia and take strict action against anyone found carrying out illegal mining.

IEP Chandigarh, August 18

          The campaign to promote crop diversification in the state launched by the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government got a major push after the state has witnessed at least 16 per cent increase in the area under the Basmati cultivation this Kharif season, said Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian here on Friday, while adding that district Amritsar tops the chart with 1.35 lac hectares area sown under this long-grain rice.

          The Agriculture Minister, in a press communiqué issued here, informed that during this Kharif Season, the Basmati has been sown at 5.74 Lac hectares till August 14, out of the total paddy area of 31.88 Lac Hectares. “During the Kharif Season 2022-23, total area sown under Paddy was 31.68 Lac Hectares, out of which area under Basmati was 4.95 Lac Hectares,” he added.

          Listing district wise figures of Basmati cultivation, S. Khudian said that Amritsar, followed by Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka and Tarn Taran registered maximum cultivation of Basmati in 90,000 Hectares, 78,800 Hectares and 52,000 Hectares respectively. He further added that Amritsar district registered an increase of 24,000 Hectares in area under Basmati cultivation whereas 21,500 Hectares and 18000 Hectares increase has been witnessed in Sri Muktsar Sahib and Gurdaspur districts respectively.

          Reiterating the commitment of CM S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to make a agriculture profitable venture, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that this surge has been witnessed in Basmati cultivation as CM Mann had assured farmers that the state government will make every effort to ensure that they do not suffer any sort of loss in cultivation of Basmati.

IEP Chandigarh, August 18

          Punjab Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar today visited the flood-affected areas of Patti Constituency to assess the situation and relief efforts. He supervised the rescue operation carried out by the NDRF and district administration in areas where people are stranded due to waterlogging and ensured their safe evacuation.

          S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, along with Deputy Commissioner Tarn Taran Ms. Baldeep Kaur and other officials of the concerned departments, visited village Muthianwala, Sito Mahi Jhuggian, Bhangala, Toot, Jhuggian Peer Baksh, Jhuggian Natha Singh and Kot Buddha and listened to the issues faced by people in the flood-affected areas. He assured that no efforts will be spared to alleviate their hardships during this challenging time.

          He mentioned, the state government had already issued specific directives to conduct Special Girdawari to address losses suffered by people due to floods, adding that steps will be taken to assess and compensate for losses in crops, livestock, houses and other property due to fresh floods in order to provide proper relief to those affected.

          He informed that due to release of water from Bhakhra and Pong Dams, the water level in rivers Beas and Sutlej has been increased, but district administration is closely monitoring the situation and keeping a constant watch on water levels.

          The Cabinet Minister also urged the people residing along the embanks to immediately contact on District Flood Control Room No. 01852-224107, if water levels rise.

          He said that the embankment of Dhusi Bandh is being strengthened with the support of local residents to protect it from erosion at sensitive areas. Along with the safe evacuation of the people of the villages affected by the floods, ration, drinking water, medicines and other essential items are being provided in the relief centers.

IEP Chandigarh, August 18

          On Friday, Local Government Minister S. Balkar Singh, at Municipal Bhawan in Sector-35 Chandigarh, held meeting regarding the progress of development works in Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats including Guraya, Bilga, Shahkot, Bhogpur, Begowal,Dhillwan, Nadala, Bhulath, Mahilpur and Balachor, While assessing ongoing development projects under various schemes, he instructed officials to expedite these works.

          S. Balkar Singh provided further details, stating that Amrut, Swachh Bharat Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission-2, Urban Environment Improvement Program-3, and the expansion of development projects are underway in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. He emphasized careful consideration and urged officials to take personal interest in completing these tasks promptly. He also advised the Executive Officers and Executive Engineers of the Sewerage Board to collaborate with the district administration in identifying suitable sites for sewerage and water treatment plants.

          The Cabinet Minister informed Municipal Council/Nagar Panchayat officials that if they require machinery to maintain cleanliness in their areas, such equipment should be procured on a priority basis. This commitment stems from the Punjab Government’s dedication, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to ensure essential services and a clean, pollution-free environment for the state’s residents.

          S. Balkar Singh instructed the executive officers and executive engineers of the Sewerage Board to share all information about the design of new projects with the respective Constituency MLAs. This approach ensures that development projects consider the local people’s challenges and needs.

          He further conveyed that our government is unwavering in delivering a corruption-free administration to the people of the state. Those found engaging in corruption will not be exempt from consequences.

          During this event, Deputy Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Jai Krishan Singh Rodi, MLA Inderjit Kaur, Secretary of the Local Government Department Mr. Ajoy Sharma, CEO of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Director of the Local Government Department Mr. Uma Shankar Gupta, relevant Additional Deputy Commissioners, all Chief Engineers from the Head Office, and concerned EO’s and other officials were in attendance.