IEP Chandigarh, July 22  

        Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that the state is on the threshold of ushering a new revolution by imparting quality education to the students of the government schools.          Interacting with the media on the sidelines of flagging off third and fourth batch of 72 Principals to Singapore Principals Training academy, the Chief Minister said that as per the guarantee given by them to ensure quality education the batches of these Principals are being sent to Singapore. He said that out of these 72 Principals, 92-93% are visiting abroad for the first time adding that their visit will prove to be milestone in reforming the education sector. Bhagwant Mann said that the motive is to ensure that students of the state get world class education in Punjab thereby enabling them to compete with their convent educated peers.          The Chief Minister said that revolutionary changes are being witnessed in the education sector in the state where Principals and teachers are being sent for training abroad, students are witnessing spectacular events like Chandrayaan III at ISRO and schools of eminence have emerged as a hub of educational and extracurricular activities to ensure holistic development of children. He said that these endeavors are solely aimed at reversing the trend of brain drain in the state and channelize the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction. Bhagwant Mann said that the day is not far when the students from state will excel in every field and bring laurels for the state.          The Chief Minister said that best coaches are being provided to youth in sports field and teachers in education sector. He said that the motive is to ensure that the comprehensive development of the youth is ensured in every field so that they can scale new heights in these fields. Bhagwant Mann said that the youth of state has a huge potential and they can excel in any field if they are given right direction.          The Chief Minister envisioned that during the training these principals will be equipped with modren teaching practices prevalent abroad. He said that after their return these Principals will share the practices with students and their colleagues thereby ensuring that students get acquainted to the pattern of study on foreign shores. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that this will enable the students of the state to compete with their peers educated abroad.          The Chief Minister said that this is a path breaking initiative which will rejuvenate the entire education system of state for well being of students. He said that it is a proud moment for him as these Principals will act as agent of change in the education sector in the coming times. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that this will bring the much needed qualitative change in the education system of the state by benefitting the students.          The Chief Minister said that the first batch of teachers had gone to Singapore for training in February whereas the second batch had visited Singapore in March. He said that after their five days training at Singapore the third and fourth batch of Principals will return to country on July 29. Bhagwant Mann said that online applications were sought from these Principals for training and their selection has been made completely on merit.          The Chief Minister also said that the state government is opening eight hi-tech centres for imparting training to the students for competitive exams. Bhagwant Mann said that these centres will provide quality training to youth for clearing the UPSC exams and sit on coveted positions in state and country. He said that the target of the state government is to ensure that youth sit in high offices and serve the country.          The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Harjot Bains and others.

IEP Chandigarh, July 22

      Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Friday nabbed Senior Constable Kinder Singh, Home Guard Jujhar and a Private Person Rohit Hans from Hoshiarpur for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 Lakh. These accused have been arrested on the complaint of Conductor Gurmail Singh posted at Punjab Roadways Depot Hoshiarpur.          Disclosing the details here today, an official Spokesperson of the VB said that the Bus Conductor has approached the VB Flying Squad-1, Punjab Mohali and lodged a complaint that the accused Police Officials had recovered a minimal quantity of opium from his possession and they started blackmailing him to book him under large quantity of narcotics if he would not pay them Rs. 2.50 Lakh as a bribe.           After preliminary investigation of the complaint, a team of VB Flying Squad-1, Punjab laid a trap and arrested Rohit Hans while accepting a bribe of Rs.1 Lakh from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses. Later, the VB also arrested Senior Constable Kinder Singh and Home Guard Jujhar from Police Station Model Town, Hoshiarpur. The VB teams are on manhunt to nab absconding Constable Amit.          The spokesperson added that a FIR no. 25/2023 has been registered against these accused at Police Station VB Flying Squad-1, Punjab at Mohali and further investigations are under progress.

IEP Chandigarh, July 21    

      Taking inspiration from Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, the Plant Doctors’ Services Association Punjab (PDSA) to contribute one day’s salary, which amounts to Rs.10 lakh, to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.          The Agriculture Minister has contributed one month salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund this week.          Divulging this, the official spokesperson said that a delegation of the ‘Plant Doctors Service Association, a joint organization representing Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) and Horticulture Development Officers (HDOs) today called on the Agriculture Minister and expressed their admiration for the exceptional efforts of the Minister in advancing agricultural and horticultural initiatives across the state.          In recognition of exemplary works of the Chief Minister, commendable works of the Agriculture Minister and to extend their support towards the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in Punjab, the members of the PDSA, consisting of approximately 500 ADOs and HDOs, collectively decided that each member will donate one day’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.          With this benevolent gesture, the ‘Plant Doctors Service Association Punjab’ aims to extend a helping hand to those affected by the recent floods and aid in their recovery and restoration efforts. The total contribution from the association amounts to an admirable sum of Rs.10 lakhs, which will be utilized by the state government to support the flood-stricken communities and farmers in need.          Commending efforts of the members of PDSA, Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that through unity and compassionate action, we can collectively overcome challenges and contribute to the welfare of the society.          Association President Dr. Jaswinder Singh said that we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Agriculture Minister for his continuous dedication and guidance, which has inspired our organization to take this noble step.

IEP Chandigarh, July 21      

     As part of its commitment to provide succour to the beleaguered people in accordance with the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the State Government machinery has plunged headlong to mitigate the situation created by floods in the state.            To speed up the relief operations in the state and as per the directions of CM Bhagwant Mann, 26800 persons have been evacuated and taken to safe places. A spokesperson informed that 1441 villages have been affected by the flood till 8 am on July 21. A total of 155 relief camps are running in the state in which 4560 people are staying.           Currently, 19 districts are affected by floods including Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Kapurthala, Patiala, Moga, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Mansa, Bathinda and Pathankot.  According to the report received by the revenue department from different districts, a total of 40 people have lost their lives due to floods in the state.            As per the information received from the animal husbandry department, a total of 1746 animals treated in the state while the number of vaccinated animals is 4836.            Rescue teams of the department are working round the clock to provide treatment, supply feed, fodder and silage to the needy animals. Special flood relief camps are also being organised in affected districts.           On the other hand, the teams of the health department are working in the flood-affected areas with full attention. According to the spokesperson, 458 Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been working at flood affected areas. The health department has set up 246 medical camps in the affected areas.           He further informed that dry food packets are being continuously distributed in the flood affected areas. 22,881 dry food packets have been distributed in Rupnagar, 64000 in Patiala, 4800 in SAS Nagar, 5700 in SBS Nagar and 2200 in Fatehgarh Sahib.

IEP SAS Nagar, July 21

 To gear up for the paddy straw management in advance, the Deputy Commissioner, Aashika Jain held a meeting with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), all Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Chief Agricultural Officer and officials of various departments and progressive farmers for making the requisite machinery available during the harvest season.      She said that in view of the sowing of paddy in an area of 39000 hectares in the district this time, an action plan should be drawn up for the maintenance of stubble before the harvesting season. She said that out of this, 16000 hectares would be managed by In situ (disposal by plowing in the field itself) and 23000 hectares of ex-situ (disposal outside the field) measures.    She said that since most of the 962 stubble management machines in the district are for in-situ disposal, farmers and groups should be encouraged for ex-situ machines like baler, rake etc. as the area for ex situ disposal is more.  She said that the farmers and groups should also be informed about the extension in the date of submitting applications till August 15 on stubble management machinery and agriculture mechanized machinery subsidy by the government through mass awareness. She said that out of the 327 online applications received by July 20, the demand for 20 balers should be met as well as encouraged to get more baler machines. She said that the Punjab government has increased the amount for subsidy limit from 5 lakhs to 15 lakhs for custom hiring centers, now they can get a subsidy of Rs 12 lakh rupees at the rate of 80 percent subsidy, so instead of getting it individually, the groups should be encouraged to procure it.     She also asked the Punjab Pollution Control Board to encourage the industrialists to set up pellet units for straw management along with existing biomass plants in the district. She said that awareness should be raised about the subsidy amount of Rs 28 lakhs at the total cost of Rs 70 lakhs per tonne for setting up a pallet unit.    She fixed targets for Sub-Divisional Magistrate Derabassi, Mohali and Kharar for timely acquisition of stubble management machinery and other activities in the district to make stubble management machinery available at individual or custom hiring centers operational before the harvest season. They were also asked to create awareness about the extension of applying date to August 15 for stubble management machinery being provided on subsidy.      DSP Ashok Sharma, Executive Engineer Punjab Pollution Control Board Gursharan Das Garg, DDPO Amarinder Singh Chauhan, DR Co-operative Societies Gurbir Dhillon, DFSC Dr  Navreet,  Chief Agriculture Officer Gurmail Singh, Baler owners, representatives of Bio Mass Units, Agriculture Department officials/employees and progressive farmers participated in the meeting.