IEP Nihalgarh (Sangrur), April 12

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that instead of requesting the centre for compensating the farmers for crop loss due to rains, but the state government will bear the entire expense of the burden being faced by the farmers due to the cut being imposed by Government of India (GOI) on damaged wheat grain.  “We are not going to request the centre to not impose the cut but we will extract compensation for the interests of farmers when centre will seek supply of grains in terms of wheat and paddy for the national food pool”, said the Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after unveiling the statue of eminent freedom fighter Comrade Teja Singh Sutantar.The Chief Minister said that the farmers have suffered huge loss due to incessant rains but the indifferent centre government has not done anything to bail them out. Rather, he said that to rub salt into wounds of farmers the centre has imposed a cut on the damaged, slightly damaged, shriveled and broken grains along with those having high moisture content. Bhagwant Mann said that the limit of shriveled and broken grains has been relaxed up to 18% under uniform specifications.Giving more details, the Chief Minister said that the value cut is not applicable on wheat having shriveled and broken grains upto 6% whereas Value cut of Rs. 5.31 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 6% and upto 8%. Further, he said that the value cut of Rs. 10.62 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 8% and upto 10% whereas value cut of Rs. 15.93 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 10% and upto 12%. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that in an arbitrary decision the centre has further decided to impose value cut of Rs. 21.25 per quintal on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 12% and upto 14% adding that value cut of Rs. 26.56 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 14% and upto 16% whereas value cut of Rs. 31.87 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 16% and upto 18%.Likewise, the Chief Minister further said that as per decision of centre value cut is not applicable on wheat having luster loss grains upto 10%. He said that a value cut of Rs. 5.31 per quintal on a flat basis will be deducted on wheat having luster loss grains above 10% and upto 80%. Bhagwant Mann said that already the centre has not released the share of state under GST and RDF adding that much to the dismay of the state now this decision has been imposed on the farmers of the state, who were already in crisis due to inclement weather.Urging the farmers not to worry, the Chief Minister said that the state government is competent to secure the rights of the farmers and they will not beg the centre to help the food growers. However, he said that instead of bailing the farmers in this hour of crisis, the centre has decided to impose a cut on damaged, slightly damaged, shriveled and broken grains. But, Bhagwant Mann said that the state is solidly with the farmers in this grave situation and the Punjab government will bear the entire expenditure for the loss being suffered by the farmers due to cut by the centre. The Chief Minister asserted that in a major relief to the farmers of the state the state government has announced 25% upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss to the farmers. He said that in case the loss is more than 75% then the state government will compensate the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre. Bhagwant Mann said that the motive is to ensure the well being of the farmers at all costs adding that special Girdawari is going on in state and the compensation will be disbursed before Baisakhi.The Chief Minister said that the state government is fully with the beleaguered peasantry in this hour of deep crisis. He said that for the first time before Girdawari public announcements are being made about the entire process to ensure that all the people are made aware of it. Bhagwant Mann said that earlier instead of this the Girdawaris were usually conducted in office or residence of politically affluent people but now these are being done in free and fair manner to ensure that every tiller gets the compensation.The Chief Minister said that on the agriculture front, the state government has already paid all the pending arrears of the sugarcane arrears. Bhagwant Mann said that his government has also ensured that the farmers get uninterrupted power supply during the paddy season last year adding that the same will be ensured this year too. He said that the state government is committed for the well being of the farmers of the state and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause this time too.

IEP Chandigarh, April 12

Taking forward the campaign of providing employment opportunities to the youth by the Punjab government led by Chief MinisterBhagwant Singh Mann, the Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development and Social Justice, Empowerment and Minority Dr  Baljit Kaur handed over appointment letters to newly-recruited 35 clerks at her office in the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh.

The Cabinet Minister handed over appointment letters to 34 clerks of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department and one clerk of Social Justice, Empowered and Minorities Department.  Congratulating the newly recruited employes, the Cabinet Minister exhorted them to work with zero tolerance policy towards corruption, besides discharging their duties with utmost dedication, honesty.

Dr.  Baljit Kaur reiterated that the  Chief Minister  Bhagwant Mann for stopping the braindrain from punjab by creating new job opportunities so that the youth should not go to foreign shores in pursuit of their dreams.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Social Justice, Empowerment and Minority Mr. G. Ramesh Kumar, Director of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Ms. Madhvi Kataria, Director-cum-Joint Secretary of Social Justice Empowerment and Minority Department Raj Bahadur Singh,   Joint Director of Social Security Department Charanjit Singh and Amarjit Singh were especially present.

IEP Chandigarh, April 12       

   The Election Commission of India has issued the detailed programme for holding Jalandhar Bye-election Parliamentary Constituency. Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab (CEO) Sibin C informed that notification would be issued on 13th April, 2023 (Thursday), while the last date for making nominations is 20th April, 2023 (Thursday).          He said that Scrutiny of nominations would be on 21st April, 2023 (Friday) and last date for withdrawal of candidature is 24th April, 2023 (Monday). Polling would be held on 10th May, 2023 (Wednesday) from 8 am to 6.00 pm and counting of votes would be on 13th May, 2023 (Saturday). CEO said that election process shall be completed on 15th May, 2023 (Monday).          Divulging the details, he said that nomination papers are to be presented with the Returning Officer between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm on any day other than a public holiday from 13th April, 2023 to 20th April, 2023. The Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar is a Returning Officer for 04-Jalandhar (SC) Parliamentary Constituency.          He further said that the nomination papers are to be filled in form 2A for 04-Jalandhar (SC) Parliamentary Constituency Bye-Election. Blank forms are available with the Returning Officer. Typed nomination paper will also be accepted provided they are in the prescribed form.          In order to qualify for a Parliamentary Constituency (Lok Sabha) seat, a candidate should be registered as an elector for any Parliamentary Constituency. To satisfy the concerned Returning Officer on this point, candidates should produce a certified copy of the relevant entry of the electoral roll in force.          A certificate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person so authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath/affirmation should be taken/made by a candidate after his nomination paper has been filled and before the date fixed for the Scrutiny of nominations.          CEO informed that 14.04.2023 being Vaisakhi/Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Friday) is a holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, therefore, nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.          15.04.2023 being 3rd Saturday is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, therefore, nomination papers can be presented by the candidate on that day. 16.04.2023 being Sunday is a holiday, therefore, nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day. Similarly, 22.04.2023 being 4th Saturday is a holiday; therefore, Withdrawal of nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.          23.04.2023 being Sunday is a holiday and Withdrawal of nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.  CEO said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the district Jalandhar from the date of announcement of bye elections from 29th March, 2023 by the Election Commission of India and shall remain in force till the completion of the election process. 

IEP Chandigarh, April 12    

      Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, on Wednesday, reviewed the progress of ongoing development works in Nagar Council Kotakpura and the constituency, directing the officials of concerned departments to complete these works in a time-bound manner besides ensuring the availability of funds.          The Speaker, while presiding over an important meeting at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, said that development works should be completed in a stipulated time frame for ensuring that people can access to the necessary infrastructure and services at the earliest.          During the meeting, the issue of strengthening roads, which were damaged after the sewage work carried out around two years ago, was discussed threadbare.          Speaker S. Sandhwan emphasized that roads should be strengthened on priority and availability of funds should be ensured by the concerned departments to complete the task at the earliest.          S. Sandhwan also directed the departments concerned and the senior officials of the finance department to ensure availability of funds, emphasizing that there should be no dearth of funds for development works.          Similarly, S. Sandhwan asked Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board that the work should be completed on priority wherever sewage or water supply pipes are to be laid in the Nagar Council so that digging can be avoided after the construction of roads.          S. Sandhwan also directed the officials of the Mandi Board to strengthening link roads falling under jurisdiction of the department.          Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included; Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Mr. Mohammad Tayyab, Special Secretary Expenditure, Mr. Uma Shankar Gupta, Director, Local Government Department, Ms. Garima Singh, Secretary Finance Cum Director Institutional Finance and Banking and other officials of the concerned departments.

IEP Chandigarh, April 10       

   Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday released the ‘Punjab State at a Glance 2022’, a collection of important statistical data of various departments compiled by the Directorate of Statistics, department of Planning.  This single volume handy book carries authentic data on all important items relating to different sectors of Punjab economy besides reflecting the latest available data on important socio-economic indicators of Punjab economy.          Releasing the book here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed the officials of the Planning department to ensure the availability of this book in the libraries of universities and colleges of the state. He said that this book would be useful for research institutions, universities, colleges, government and non-government institutions, and policy makers and administrators for development, research policy decisions and other important decisions. He congratulated the department of Planning for putting their sincere efforts in compiling this book.          Sharing key data from the book, Advocate Cheema said that the agriculture and allied sectors are expected to grow by 3.70 percent, industry by 4.33 percent and services sector by 6.78 percent as per advance estimates of 2022-23. “As compared to agriculture in general, the allied sectors are showing faster growth over the recent years. Livestock sector with rapid growth is becoming major contributor to the growth of Agriculture and Allied sector. Livestock sector is likely to grow by 4.18 percent in 2022-23”, said Finance Minister while adding that Livestock sector’s share in total Gross State Value Added (GSVA) of Punjab was 11.1 percent during 2022-23.          Divulging further, Cheema said that the per capita income of Punjab is expected to Rs. 1,73,873 in 2022-23 as per advance estimates as compared to Rs.1,70,620 at national level. He said that the state inflation figures were also remained below than those at National level with few exceptions. The Inflation was at the peak in the month of April 2022 and showed a downward trend in next few months with the exception in June 2022. It remained benign till October when it touches the bottom with 4.5% but it started upward trend in November and December 2022, he added.          Cheema said that Punjab has large chunk of working population between the age of 15-64 which stood at 70.15 percent of total population in 2021. “26.11 percent of this belongs to the youth group in the age of 15-29 years. It is both an advantage as well as a challenge for the state”, said the Finance Minister while adding that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken many initiatives to provide good education and better job opportunities to channelise youth energy under the mission ‘Rangla Punjab’.          Thanking the Finance Minister for releasing this book, Vikas Pratap, Principal Secretary Planning, said that the source agencies of the sectoral data contained in this book has been indicated under each table. He gave assurance to the minister that the department would soon provide this book to the universities and colleges of the state besides making its e-book available for all on the website of the department.          Prominent amongst others, Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary Planning, Sumit Kumar, Director Planning and Jagdeep Singh, Director Statistics were also present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, April 10     

     The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched an online portal https://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in to make the process of availing the benefits of the Ashirwad scheme easier.          Divulging in this regard, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the state government provides financial assistance at the time of marriage to girls belonging to scheduled castes, backward castes and economically weaker sections. For which the paperwork used to take a lot of time. She said that an online portal has been launched for the purpose of facilitating this process. This will save valuable time of the people and at the same time the beneficiary will also get financial assistance in a very short time and along with this system There will be transparency.          The cabinet minister said that according to the instructions of the Punjab government, applicants can now apply on the portal https://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in. He also informed that now no Ashirwad Scheme file will be received at the office or at the Seva Kendra.          She said that the applicant should apply on the Ashirwad scheme portal one month before the marriage. If an applicant is not able to apply during this time, he can apply within one month after the marriage. After that, the application submitted on the portal will not be accepted. He said that the applicant should apply within the stipulated time so that he can get the benefits on time.          The Cabinet Minister urged the applicants to go to the office of the concerned District Social Justice,  Empowerment and Minorities Officer instead of paying money at a private cyber cafe to apply on the portal, where this facility will be provided to them free of cost.