IEP Chandigarh, March 27     

     Punjab Government has issued UDID cards to 307219 divyang persons in the state till March 23, 2023.          Divulging the details, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr.  Baljit Kaur said that to give the benefits of all the schemes and services of the Central and Punjab Government to the divyang persons on the basis of one card, Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) is generated and its database is being prepared at national level.           Cabinet minister further said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to the welfare of divyang persons.  She said that 3,07,219 UDID cards have been issued to the eligible persons with disabilities’ till March 23, 2023 and according to the daily report shared by the Government of India, the state of Punjab has achieved 10th Rank.          Dr. Baljit Kaur added that apart from this, a disability cell has been created by the Punjab government for disabled persons.  She said that this dedicated cell will be a single window platform for divyang persons to avail benefits of disability schemes.          Minister appealed to the divyang persons of the state to apply for UDID card by contacting the service centers, district social security offices or civil hospitals so that they can take benefits of the government schemes.

IEP Chandigarh, March 27      

    Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is doing full-out efforts to provide basic facilities, clean and pollution free environment to the people of the state. In line of this, development works are being carried out across the State, with a focus on beautification and improvement of Infrastructure.          Local Government Minister Dr.Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that Punjab government has decided to spend approximately Rs 6.64 crore  on development works for the beautification of Nagar Panchayat Bilga and Lohian Khas in Jalandhar.          Disclosing this here to the press release, Local Government Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that Approximately Rs 92 lakh will be spent on providing and laying interlocking tiles from Talwan Road to Akal Academy School,  Shampur Road to Dera Amarjeet Singh Ji and Shampur to Indian Gas Agency godown. additionally, interlocking tiles works will also be done in various other places at Nagar Panchayat Bilga.          Apart from this, Cabinet Minister, Dr Nijjar said that approximately Rs 2.66 crore will also be spent for rejuvenation and beautification of various ponds of Nagar Panchayat Bilga.          He further said that approximately Rs 1.45 crore will be spent for beautification of various parks, installation of CCTV cameras and Street lights in different streets and roads of Nagar Panchayat Bilga. In addition various types of others development works will also be done in Bilga.          Cabinet Minister also added that rejuvenation and beautification of various ponds at Nagar Panchayat Lohian Khas will also be undertaken with an expenditure of Rs 1.61 crore.          Dr Nijjar further said that these development works are expected to enhance the overall look of the areas and provide better amenities to the residents. He said that the Punjab Government is committed to providing quality infrastructure to the people of the State and such initiatives will help in achieving this goal.          He said that Local Government Department has started the office process for these development works. He also urged to all official to carry out their duties with utmost diligence and full of efforts.          Minister has directed the officials to make ensure transparency and quality in development works.

IEP Chandigarh, March 27     

     In order to fulfill the commitment of the Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government to provide maximum jobs opportunities for the youth, Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora on Monday asked Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training department officials to work more vigorously to make youth skilful to cater the needs of the industry and changing trends of the modern time.          He was chairing a meeting here after assuming the charge as Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training.          While reviewing the functioning of the department, Mr Aman Arora emphasised that skilful youth should be readily available to bridge the gap between industry requirements and skilled manpower. He also asked the officials to come out with a comprehensive plan to impart training in the fields, which is in the demand and has a high rate of employability, so that the youth won’t have to face hardships in getting job.          Giving a presentation, Secretary Employment Generation Skill, Development & Training Mr kumar Rahul and Director Employment Generation Ms Deepti Uppal apprised the Cabinet Minister that as many as 1,21,335 candidates have been facilitated by organising 2003 placement camps for private sector jobs. As many as 32,383 candidates have been imparted skill training and 799 camps organised in which 80329 candidates have been trained for self employment.          Ms Uppal further informed that five multi-skill development centres— in Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana, are already imparting training in different courses to youth.          Director Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Major General J.S. Sandhu, Director Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Major General Ajay H Chauhan, Director General C-PYTE Major General Rambir Singh Mann also apprised the Mr. Aman Arora about the functioning of these institutes.          Joint Director Employment Generation Ms. Sanjeeda Beri, General Manager Punjab Skill Development Mission, Punjab/PGRKAM Mr. Surinder Mohan and other officials of the department were also present in the meeting. 

IEP Chandigarh, March 27    

       In a major pro-farmer initiative, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced to freeze repayment of loan taken by the farmers from Primary Agricultural cooperative Societies.           The Chief Minister has taken the decision in wake of the losses suffered by the farmers due to recent rain and hailstorm. He expressed hope that this will give much needed relief to the farmers in this hour of crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that the farmers can pay back this amount later after they recover from the losses.           The Chief Minister envisioned that this will prove boon to the farmers of state by giving them more time to repay their loans and avoid imposition of penal interest, which will have been levied on farmers who did not repay the loan. He said that the state cooperatives lends crores of rupees per crop to the farmers of Punjab as short term crop loan through the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. Bhagwant Mann said that this step by the State Government is an important concession to the farmers.  He said that as a result of this extension in time, a large number of farmers will be saved from becoming defaulters and will remain eligible to get loan for the next crop. 

IEP Chandigarh: March 27

The Bhagwant Mann government accords highest priority to the ex-servicemen who have spent years in service of the nation and are an asset. With a view to provide a respectable job prospect to them Directorate of Defence Service Welfare Punjab and Punjabi UniversityPatiala signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 27 March 2023, to give Graduation degree to Ex-servicemen. A formal ceremony was held at Punjab Bhawan in which Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister Defence Services Welfare Department attended as the chief guest. Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala Dr. Arvind, J.M. Balamurgan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Government of Punjab, Defence Services Welfare Department, Brig Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd), Director Defence Services Welfare Punjab and other officials were also present on the occasion.            In this regard, Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister, DefenceServices Welfare Department, informed that due to the consistent efforts of the Bhagwant Mann led government, with this MoU, the eligible Ex-servicemen of Punjab will be awarded Degree of Graduation Certificate in Bachelor of Arts (Defence and Strategic Studies) from Punjabi University Patiala and will be eligible to apply for Group A and B posts of the Government. Earlier with the Special Education Certificate awarded by the Army, Navy and Air Force at the time of retirement, they were only eligible to apply for Group C and D posts.            After this Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister Defence Services Welfare Department distributed financial assistance cheques to disabled Ex-servicemen and their dependents during a brief program held at District Defence Services Welfare Office, SAS Nagar. He said that the ex-gratia amount given to the families of the martyrs has been increased to Rs. 1.00 crore and recently the process of providing employment to 12 families of the martyrs has also been completed and appointment letters will be issued to them soon. 

IEP Chandigarh, March 27      

    Under the Asirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 68.38 crore to provide financial assistance to 9804 beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes, 3605 beneficiaries of Backward Classes Economically Weaker Sections, total 13409 beneficiaries in the state.          Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr.  Baljit Kaur said that under the Asirwad scheme in the state,  An amount of Rs.50.00 crore has been released during the current financial year 2022-23 for financial assistance of  scheduled castes 5127 remaining beneficiaries in March 2022, 3927 beneficiaries in April 2022 and 750 beneficiaries in May 2022.  an amount of Rs.18.38 crore has been released during the current financial year 2022-23 for financial assistance for backward classes and economically weaker sections for 06 beneficiaries of November 2021, 2192 remaining beneficiaries of March 2022 and 1407 beneficiaries of April 2022.          Cabinet Minister added that under the Ashirwad scheme, girls from Scheduled Castes/Christian communities, girls from widows of any caste, girls from backward classes and economically backward families at the time of marriage and widows/divorced women of Scheduled Castes at the time of their remarriage    Financial assistance of Rs.51,000 is given as an omen.          The Cabinet Minister instructed all Social Justice, Empowerment Officers of the State to transfer the amount of Ashirwad Scheme Rs.51,000 per beneficiary to be done before March 31, 2023 through mode DBT in the Bank Accounts of the beneficiaries through Treasury Offices. 

IEP Chandigarh March 27    

      The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign has arrested revenue Patwari Prem Kumar, posted at revenue halqua, Nawanshahar, SBS district for demanding a bribe of Rs 24,000.          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against the above said revenue official after investigation of an online complaint lodged at the Chief Minister’s anti-corruption action line.          Giving details he added that the complainant Amarjit Singh, resident of Karnana, tehsil Banga, has alleged that the above said Patwari has taken Rs 24,000 as a bribe in instalments in lieu of mutation of land belonging to his father and his uncle.          He further added that the complainant has recorded the conversation on his mobile while the accused Patwari was demanding this bribe.          The spokesperson added that the VB unit of Jalandhar range has investigated the allegations levelled in the complaint and registered a corruption case at VB police station Jalandhar against the above mentioned revenue official after finding him guilty for demanding and accepting a bribe money.  Further investigation in this case was under progress, he informed.