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OVER RS 5 CRORE RELEASED TO SCHOOLS FOR ORGANIZING SUMMER CAMPS: HARJOT SINGH BAINS

IEP Chandigarh, July 2

To help children explore their talent, Punjab is all set to organise summer camps for government school students from pre-primary to 8th standard across the state from July 3 to July 15, 2023, said the School Education Minister, Mr. Harjot Singh Bains.Bains said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the School Education Department is taking a unique initiative for the first time and summer camps are being organized in all the government schools. He said that more than Rs 5 crore has been released by the government for these summer camps. With this amount, the school heads will bring material for activities to the students.Education Minister Bains said that in the summer camps, children will be given work related to intellectual activities, health care, sports, art craft, basic values, mathematics, environmental education and language skills etc.Mr. Harjot Singh Bains said that he will be personally monitor the functioning of the summer camps and will also try to interact with the students. He said that children from class IX to XII will be taught as usual.

PUNJAB COMPLETES ONE YEAR OF FREE 300 UNITS OF ELECTRICITY, 90% HOUSEHOLD TOOK BENEFIT OF ZERO BILL

IEP Chandigarh, July 2 

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday congratulated people on completion of one year for the guarantee of free power in the state, which has immensely benefitted every section of society.          In a statement, the Chief Minister said that the state government had on July1, last year launched the guarantee to provide free power to the people. He said that since then 90% of the households in the state are getting free power and have got zero power bill since last July. Bhagwant Mann said that it is matter of immense pride and satisfaction that along with domestic consumers, the food growers of the country are also getting free and uninterrupted power in the state.          The Chief Minister said that the farmers are getting more than eight hours of power supply without any cut. He said that the elated farmers are sharing the videos regarding to it and expressing gratitude to the state government. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from it the state government has paid subsidy worth Rs 20,200 crore to the PSPCL.          The Chief Minister said that this has not been made possible by taking loans, as done by previous governments, but by checking pilferages and corruption. He said that due to concerted efforts of the state government supply of coal from Pachwara coal mine that was stopped has been resumed after 2015. Bhagwant Mann said that earlier governments had stalled supply from this coal mine to mint money illegally from the private thermal plants.          The Chief Minister said that for the first time in history of state, Punjab has coal stock of 43 days whereas earlier threat of blackout loomed large in state during earlier regimes. He said that though across the country governments were selling government properties to fetch money  but Punjab government has started reverse trend by purchasing a private thermal plant. Bhagwant Mann said that industry is being provided uninterrupted power even during the ongoing paddy season.          The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts for making Punjab a power surplus state adding that focus is now being laid to promote green, solar and hydro power in the state. He also announced that the state government is setting up a 206 MW hydro power project in Pathankot on Ravi river to check the pilferage of water. Bhagwant Mann said that this water will be used judiciously for irrigating the fields of the state besides generating power.          The Chief Minister said that due to the efforts of state government canal water has reached at the tail end in villages which has reduced burden on tube wells thereby considerably saving power and ground water. He said that the state government is committed for carving out a rangla Punjab for which every Punjabi should play a proactive role. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab had been a harbinger of green revolution and now the state will show a new way to entire country in every sector. 

OPS VIGIL-II: PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCT STATE-WIDE SPECIAL CHECKING AT BUS STANDS, RAILWAY STATIONS AND HOTELS/SARAIS AROUND THEM

IEP Chandigarh, July 2

          In order to make Punjab a crime-free state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) under the name of “OPS Vigil-II“ at vulnerable places including Railway Stations, Bus Stands and Hotels/Sarais situated around them in all the 28 Police districts of the state. The operation was conducted on the directions of the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

Apart from carrying out checking at Bus Stands and Railway Stations, over 550 well-coordinated Strong Inter-State and Inter-District Nakas, were also set up under the supervision of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the state for a thorough search of suspected vehicles/persons, while ensuring minimum inconvenience to the general public.

Over 7500 Police Personnel were involved to carry out this operation, which was conducted in a synchronised manner from 7am to 3pm across the state. All the CPs/SSPs were asked to mobilise a maximum number of officers and manpower for this operation to lay strong ‘nakas’ at district/city sealing points. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Range Inspector Generals of Police (IGsP).

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that SP-level officers were deputed to conduct a search of the Railway Stations and Bus Stands, while, DSP-level officers were deputed at all the Nakas. “We had strictly instructed all the Police Personnel to deal with every person in a friendly and polite manner while frisking them or checking their vehicle during the course of this operation,” he added.

He said that Police teams have carried out CASO at 141 Railway Stations and 219 Bus Stands, besides conducting checking at 926 hotels, 172 Sarais and 166 Dharamshalas during the operation. Police teams have also checked 9521 two-wheelers and 7122 four-wheelers, he added.

Sharing outcomes of the operation, the Special DGP said that the Police teams have registered 116 FIRs and arrested 141 persons after recovering 1.15 Kg heroin, 37Kg Poppy Husk, 243-litre Illicit Liquor, six pistols/revolvers, besides recovering Rs 7.02 lakhs of drug money from their possession. The Police have also arrested three Proclaimed Offenders (POs), he said, while adding that 1826 suspicious persons were also rounded up for questioning during the operation.

He said that such operations would continue till the menace of drugs and Gangsters wiped out from the state. These types of operations are part of the basic policing which includes keeping vigil at vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation, he added.

Meanwhile, such operations also help in showing the police presence in the field and boost confidence among common people.

Satbir false claims exposed; efforts made for cheap publicity without applying on PPP portal

IEP Chandigarh, July 1 

All the claims of Satbir Singh a resident of village Nayagaon, were found baseless, who recently reached the mini secretariat of district Rewari for creating PPP ID without any registration on the portal by tying ‘Sehra’ for garnering cheap publicity. Satbir Singh’s tall claims were exposed when DC Rewari personally reviewed the matter. It was found that Satbir Singh created ruckus without applying on the PPP portal, then falsely alleged administration for delay. Regarding the matter, Deputy Commissioner Imran Raza handed over the investigation to CRID’s Nodal Officer and ADC, Sh. Swapnil Ravindra Patil. CRID’s Nodal Officer and ADC informed that the CRID Team Rewari visited Satbir Singh alias Satbir Sharma resident of Nayagaon Dohki for single member verification. During investigation it came to the light that the said person Satbir Singh alias Satbir Sharma never approached the department to get the Parivar Pehchan Patra till date. Neither did he make any application through any CSC centre, on the basis of which CRID could take any action on his application. Sh. Patil informed that there are 2 sons of Satbir Singh, elder son Gurdayal is working in CRPF and currently living in Hyderabad and younger son Vinod is living in Jhurjhuri village in Najafgarh and running his ancestral business (wooden furniture work). During investigation, it was informed that the said person was living in Najafgarh with his younger son for the last 20 years and rarely come to the village for 10-15 days. The Additional Deputy Commissioner said that Satbir Singh is not making this effort to get his pension or any other benefit from the government, rather he probably wants to gain cheap publicity like his previous attempts. The said person Satbir Singh had earlier also contested the election from Rewari Vidhan Sabha. He also contested the election of Sarpanch in his village, during which his security deposit was also forfeited. Even after that, Satbir Singh kept doing such meagre things to stay in the limelight despite being self-sufficient. The team informed that the following 5 persons had applied for a single family from the village belonging to Satbir Singh, which has already been verified. Out of which 4 single family applications were revealed in the survey conducted by the department and one person Suresh Chaudhary applied in March 2023 which has also been verified. Single member’s PPP can be made by the following process ADC, Sh. Swapnil Ravindra Patil further said that the entry in the PPP of a single member is done according to the prescribed rules. He said that it is necessary for the applicant to apply on Mera Parivar Haryana portal through citizen login or CSC centre through his Aadhaar card, after which an e-family identity ID is generated by the department, which after some time can be used in the login of the employee working at the zonal level for verification. He verifies it by going to the field, if the applicant really lives alone, then the verification is done by the employee and the applicant’s PPP is issued by the department. 

Deputy Chief Minister addresses GST Day-2023 programme in Gurugram on the sixth anniversary of GST

IEP Chandigarh, July 1 

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the Mera Bill-Mera Adhikar Scheme has been started in five states of the country including Haryana to encourage taxpayers. Under this scheme, the consumer will have to upload the receipt of the purchase of the goods on the portal. He added that Consumers will also get rewards through the corpus fund of Rs. 30 crores, through a draw system. The Deputy Chief Minister gave this information while addressing the GST Day-2023 programme organized on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Goods and Service Tax (GST) implementation at Apparel House, Sector 44, Gurugram on Saturday. Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the Mera Bill-Mera Adhikar Scheme will develop the tendency among the consumers to demand the bill from the seller while purchasing goods. He said that GST has proved to be an excellent system in simplifying the country’s tax system and ending the Inspector Raj. Due to this, the tax burden on the citizens was reduced and the facilities of the industrial world also increased due to the smooth system. In the coming days, this system will be further improved with the help of officers, industry representatives and consumers. The Deputy Chief Minister said that with the help of GST, the revenue receipt increased from Rs. 64 thousand crores to Rs 1.50 lakh crores. He added that combined efforts are required to touch the target of Rs. 2.5 lakh crores by including new areas in the ambit of GST so that we can contribute to the progress of the country at large. He also talked about appointment of law officers to assist GST officers in litigation related matters and increase of new resources to increase roadside mobility. The Deputy Chief Minister said that despite having only 2% of the country’s population, Haryana contributes 6% to the central revenue in the tax structure. He said that due to the welfare policies of the Central and State Government, there is a harmonious environment for industries and investors in the state today. Today, no industry is going out of the state. He said that Maruti Company has invested Rs. 11 thousand crores in about 900 acres of area in Kharkhoda, Sonipat. ATL, a major manufacturer of mobile-laptop batteries, has also set up its plant in Rojka Meo on about 180 acres. Along with this, Asia’s largest seven-storey logistics hub of the Flipkart company is being set up at Patli Hajipur in Gurgaon. Aditya Birla Group is also going to set up a big paint company in Panipat. Principal Secretary, Excise and Taxation Department, Devinder Singh Kalyan said that GST, implemented with the objective of One Nation-One Tax, is paving the way to make the country self-sufficient in the field of tax. GST had a manifold impact on the economy, benefiting various sectors such as exporters, small traders and entrepreneurs, agriculture and industry, and common consumers. He said that GST has given a boost to Make in India in the first place and has improved the ease of doing business in India.  

Haryana Chief Minister interacts directly with the beneficiaries of Nirogi Haryana Yojana

IEP Chandigarh, July 1 

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that Nirogi Haryana Yojana, launched to fulfill the resolve to provide the best health services to the poor and needy citizens,  is proving to be highly effective. So far, a health check-up of 13.70 lakh citizens has been done under this scheme.  The scheme aims to detect diseases at the earliest to lessen the burden of treatment costs on the patient’s family, he added. The Chief Minister was interacting directly with the beneficiaries of Nirogi Haryana Yojana through audio conferencing under CM’s Jan Samvad programme on the occasion of International Doctors’ Day here today. During the audio conference, the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude towards the Chief Minister and said that by running such a scheme, the Haryana government has ensured benefits to the needy. Earlier, any kind of tests were only done when there was pain or any other type of problem in the body. There is no greater advantage to us than having tests done free of cost for people like us thanks to such visionary programme. Sh. Manohar Lal said that our government is committed to provide high quality health services to the citizens of the state with the aim of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niramaya”. Nirogi Haryana Yojana is also a part of Antyodaya Abhiyan. Apart from improving the economic, social and educational status of the poor, ensuring their good health is also one of our prime goals. With this visionary approach the Nirogi Haryana Yojana was launched in the state by President,  Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on the occasion of International Gita Mahotsav (November 29, 2022).  The Chief Minister said that the objective of Nirogi Haryana Yojana is to conduct a complete health check-up of the entire population of the state at least once in two years. In its first phase, the health of 30.60 lakh Antyodaya families with annual income up to Rs. 1. 80 lakh is being examined. There are a total of 1 crore 21 lakh 54 thousand members in these families. A campaign is being conducted to check their health status.  Sh. Manohar Lal said that so far 2.13 lakh people have been found suffering from one or the other disease during the health check-up being done under the scheme. Out of these, about 55 thousand people have been found suffering from Anaemia. Among them, the number of women is more. I request sisters and daughters to get their health checked from time to time and take iron pills or other medicines prescribed by the doctor on time, CM added. Similarly, many patients with blood pressure are also being found. It was found that more than 35 thousand people were found suffering from blood pressure abnormalities. Apart from this, 24,800 people are diagnosed with diabetes.  Symptoms of malnutrition were found in 3000 children. T.B. Patients up to 1,257 and cancer have been found in the investigation. 23,500 people were also referred to hospitals for treatment and most of them have been treated or are undergoing treatment.  The Chief Minister said that the facility of annual health check-up on more than 25 parameters is being made available free of cost under Nirogi Haryana Yojana. Presently these tests are being done at 458 places. But the target is very huge, so cooperation of the private sector will also have to be taken in this task. Planning is also being done for this.  Sh. Manohar Lal appealed to the citizens to include yoga or exercise in their daily routine. Also pay attention to healthy eating. He said that Ayurveda is a very old method of keeping the body healthy. He added that this is the reason why the government has opened Yogashalas/Vyayamshalas in the villages of the state. CM said, Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi launched the  Pradhan Mantri Janarogya Ayushman Bharat Yojana  for the treatment of families with low incomes after seeing the suffering of the deprived who are unable to get treatment because of a lack of resources. He said that the Chirayu scheme aimed at expanding the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme launched by the central government so that the maximum number of beneficiaries could be included in the scheme. In this, families with annual income up to Rs. 1. 80 lakhs are getting health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs annually. Now families with annual income up to Rs. 3 lakhs will also be included in this. About 29 lakh families of the state are being covered under this scheme. He said that about 1.11 crore people in the state are eligible for Ayushman Bharat-Chirayu Yojana. About 80 lakh people will be covered in this scheme. 

PUNJAB AGRICULTURE MINISTER VISITS NARANGWAL & KOTLI VILLAGES OF LUDHIANA, REVIEWS PADDY SOWING THROUGH PADDY TRANSPLANTER

IEP Chandigarh/Ludhiana, July 1

Under the guidelines of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and with the aim of ensuring increased production of paddy at much less cost to farmers, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Saturday visited Narangwal and Kotli villages of Ludhiana district where he reviewed the paddy sowing method through paddy transplanter.

On this occasion, senior AAP leader Dr. KNS Kang, Director Agriculture Gurvinder Singh, Joint Director Agriculture Engineering Jagdish Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer Narinder Singh Benipal, other senior officials were also present.

Appreciating the efforts put in by progressive farmer Tapinder Singh, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that the young and progressive farmer has been sowing paddy through paddy transplanter for the last 5 years. He said that by adopting this method, where the labor cost is being saved by the farmer, the benefit of yield of two and a half to three quintals per acre is also being taken. Apart from this, Paneeri is being given to other farmers by the progressive farmer and they are being supported in adopting this technique.

Later, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visited the farm of Gurbant Singh Bobby at village Kotli near Aliwal, where he inspected the automatic nursery seeder machine and also witnessed the sowing of paddy through a paddy transplanter machine.

Two automatic transplant machines have been provided by Kubota Company for district Ludhiana which makes paddy transplanting very easy as this machine transplants the paddy seed in a uniform manner in trays. He told the farmers that sowing with this machine saves water and increases the yield of paddy, and also solves the labor problem.

He further said that under the guidelines of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, farmer’s grievances are being redressed on priority basis by visiting several villages.

He said that inputs of scientists, experts, as well as the farmers are being taken for the upcoming agricultural policy of Punjab. He said that Punjab government is committed to provide all possible facilities to the farmers such as timely water, subsidy on agricultural machinery.

PUNJAB VIGILANCE BUREAU NABS ASI FOR ACCEPTING BRIBE OF RS.10,000

IEP Chandigarh, July 1

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has nabbed an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gurdeep Singh posted at City Police Station, Zira in Ferozepur district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000.The accused ASI has been arrested on the complaint of Sanjeev Kumar resident of zira, who is owner of Dabur Gun House.Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the complainant Sanjeev Kumar had lodged a complaint with VB Police Station, Ferozepur Range that the accused ASI had demanded a bribe of Rs.10,000 for helping him and his family members in a scuffle case registered against them under sections 353, 186, 294, 506 and 149 of IPC at City Police Station, Zira on August 26, 2021.The complainant said that the accused ASI has taken a bribe of Rs.5000 to help his brother Rajiv Kumar alias Monu in getting bail in the case on June 23, 2023 and now he was demanding Rs 10,000 more. He also alleged that the ASI had already took Rs 60,000 as a bribe from them in past.The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary investigation of this complaint, a VB team laid a trap and arrested the accused ASI on the spot while accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.In this regard, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused ASI at Police Station VB, Ferozepur Range. Further investigation in this case was under progress.

PUNJAB EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL ADOPT SOFTWARES AND TECHNOLOGIES LIKE ERP & POS TO ENHANCE ITS EFFICIENCY: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA

IEP Chandigarh, July 1

A Punjab Government delegation led by Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Financial Commissioner, Taxation,Mr Vikas Partap and Excise Commissioner Mr. Varun Roojam visited Kerala to study supply chain management ERP software and PoS (Point of Sale) system being used by the Kerala Excise department.

          Giving details of the visit, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema said that the purpose of the visit was to learn about the technological interventions which are important from the point of view of plugging revenue leakages and enhancing the excise revenue. He said that the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software would provide the Punjab Excise department an integrated and real-time view of its core processes which would be easily accessible through one centralized system.

          Divulging further, Mr. Cheema said that these softwares will help in enhancing transparency in the governance. He said that during this visit the officials of Kerala government also gave a detailed presentation regarding the technological solutions they have been using in their Excise department.

          Meanwhile, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema also held a meeting with the Kerala Excise Minister Mr. M B Rajesh. He apprised his counterpart in Kerala Government that the Punjab Government is very keen to adopt new software based technological solutions to streamline the process of Excise revenue collection and plug the leakages within the system to check any revenue loss.

          Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to increase the own revenue in a bid to put the state on higher trajectory of growth and prosperity, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Excise department would try to adapt itself to embrace these software solutions to further enhance its efficiency and strength.

ANURAG VERMA ASSUMES CHARGE AS 42ND CHIEF SECRETARY OF PUNJAB

IEP Chandigarh, July 1      

    A 1993 -batch IAS officer, Mr. Anurag Verma, on Saturday took charge as 42nd Chief Secretary of the state in the presence of outgoing Chief Secretary Mr Vijay Kumar Janjua and other senior civil officers.          Born in a family of academicians from Patiala, Mr. Verma will also be the Principal Secretary Personnel and Vigilance in addition to his present assignment as Chief Secretary.          On the occasion senior civil officers DK Tiwari, Kumar Rahul, Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Vipul Ujwal, Ramvir, Sonali Giri, Isha Kalia, Gauri Parasher Joshi, Puneet Goyal,  Bhupinder Singh,  Neeru Katyal Gupta, Sukhjeet Pal Singh were also present.          After assuring the charge as Chief Secretary, Mr. Verma said that under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann he will accord top priority to clean, efficient, responsive and transparent administration besides giving major thrust on Health and Education sectors along with all round development of the state. The Chief Secretary said that he will discharge his duty with due diligence and devotion to ensure well being of every section of society.          Mr. Verma said that Punjab, being a border state and food bowl of the country, assumes lot of significance for the entire country adding that with the support of all civil and police officers besides government employees, will make Punjab a front ranking state in the country.          The Chief Secretary said that major thrust will also be laid on implementing the state government’s citizen centric and development oriented policies with feedback from the ground level. He said that every effort will be made to percolate the benefits of the pro-people policies of the state government at the ground level.  He further said that a viable mechanism will be evolved for further resolving the grievances of general public on priority basis and in a prompt manner.          Notably, Mr Verma’s native village is Chalela in Patiala district and he is a Gold Medalist from the Thapar College, Patiala in Electronics and Communication Engineering. He bagged overall 7th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1993.          Earlier, Mr. Verma was holding the charge of Additional Chief Secretary Home, Industries & Commerce, Legal and Legislative Affairs, Information Technology and Investment Promotion. He had also served the state in various capacities including in Rural Development and Panchayats, Excise and Taxation, Revenue. He took extraordinary step of computerizing revenue land records and establishing Fard Kendras in the state while serving as Special Secretary of Revenue. While serving as Excise and Taxation Commissioner, he made it simple and transparent for people to pay their taxes, which was one of his greatest accomplishments. As a result of his effectiveness and work ethic, he also significantly increased the revenue.          In his capacity as the Finance Commissioner for Rural Development and Panchayat, he successfully carried out the MGNREGA scheme’s ground-level implementation. By obtaining the construction of playgrounds and sports parks in more than 1000 villages throughout the state, he continued to create a healthy sporting environment.          During his field posting as the Deputy Commissioner for the districts of Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar, he provided excellent and effective services. He then performed admirably in a variety of positions at the Head Office.