IEP Chandigarh, March 9      

    Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has ordered a mega campaign for new admissions in all government schools in the state from March 10.          Presiding over a high-level meeting with all the education officers and district teams of the state here today, the Education Minister Mr. Harjot Singh Bains has set a target of enrolling one lakh new students in a single day on the first day of the admission drive. This campaign will run from 8 am to 8 pm.          Bains said that he would personally monitor the operation. During the meeting, Bains directed the officials of the department to set up admission booths at the main gate of every government school in Punjab from March 10, 2023 to March 31, 2023, to make the admission drive-2023 more effective.          The Education Minister unequivocally directed the officers that as per the vision of the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann, every officer should work with utmost diligence and honesty to improve the quality of education in government schools to the international level.          Mr Bains said that while the school staff who got the highest number of new admissions would be given a certificate of appreciation and special financial assistance to the school, a meeting would also be organised with the CM Bhagwant Mann.

IEP Chandigarh, March 9

          Raising a public welfare issue during the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session on Thursday, Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stressed on finding a reasonable solution to the costly treatment being provided by private hospitals and demanded to bring uniformity on the lines of Public Health Care System.

          Speaking on the resolution moved by MLA Chamkaur Sahib Dr. Charanjit Singh, Harbhajan Singh ETO said that when government employees and pensioners or their dependent family members getting treatment from private hospitals, then they have to pay exorbitant prices for the treatment. Besides they didn’t get full reimbursement of the amount. He said that in case of Government Hospitals, the entire amount of treatment is covered during reimbursement, Whereas this does not happened during the case of private hospitals.

          The cabinet minister said that the issue demanded adequate solution in greater public interest and the amount charged by private hospitals for the treatment should be fully reimbursed.

IEP Chanidgarh

The State level function on the occasion of 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated today at New Secretariat, Chandigarh today.

The function  was organized  as part of the initiative of the government to popularize generic medicines through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) in the states and UT’s .The State level function was chaired by Dr Dharampal , Adviser to the Administrator in the presence of Shri Anup Gupta , Mayor Municipal Corporation.

Shri Yashpal Garg, Secretary Health while welcoming the guests informed that as per the directions of worthy Adviser the Health Department has opened Jan Aushadhi stores at GMSH16 and GMCH 32 . He also informed that along with this all Chemist Shops have been opened at GMSH16 and Civil Hospital at Manimajra , Sector 22 and Sector 45 which would be operational round the clock for the convenience of the patients who visit them .

The Eight years journey video  of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) was shared with the audience to make them aware as to how the government has been taking initiatives to make available the low cost medicines at the doorstep of the common MSN .

Shri Anup Gupta , Mayor MC suggested that the Jan Aushadhi medicines need to be made available to the poorest of the poor and the Municipal Corporation would be ready to support the  administration in this initiative.

Dr Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator congratulated the Health Department for starting Jan Aushadhi stores and recommended the use of the generic medicines which are not only cheap but also of good quality as was experience shared by the end users in the function .

The Adviser also brought to the notice of the audience that the medicines available at these stores help in a big way to reduce the out of pocket expense of the patients.

Shri Amit Sharma who is running the Jan Aushadhi Store at PGIMER was given the Han Aushadhi Sarvashreshtha award for maximum sale .

Nitin Kumar Yadav, Home Secretary, Praveer Ranjan DGP VN Zade, Finance Secretary Yashpal Garg, Secretary Health, Dr Suman Singh , Director Health Services, Dr Jasbinder Kaur , Director Principal GMCH 32 with  representatives of Jan Aushadhi Stores, senior officials and doctors of the Health department were also present at the event. 

IEP Chandigarh

Dr. Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator inaugurated the Chandigarh Centre of Excellence in Road Safety (CCERS) under Chandigarh Road Safety Society (CRSS) in the building of Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Sector 12, Chandigarh.

This Centre will function as a Lead Agency in Road Safety as per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.  The objective behind setting up of this Centre is to have systematic and scientific analysis of causal factors behind accidents, to prepare and execute detailed road safety programs in UT Chandigarh, undertake public awareness and outreach programs on road safety issues and to promote and facilitate research in various aspects of road safety etc.

The Society has members from all the stakeholders departments of Transport, Police, Engineering, Department of Planning and MC as well as Road Safety experts on Non Motorised Transport and Road Safety Engineering along with public persons having experience of working in the field of road safety. It is expected that Centre of Excellence on Road Safety will provide a platform to the policy makers of UT Chandigarh to develop holistic understanding of the issues/challenges being faced in making safer roads for its commuters and to bring in innovative solutions for better planning and development of road infrastructure with the active participation of citizens. This centre will mainly assist in:-

•Identification of black spots & their removal

•Undertake traffic simulation studies for management of traffic & mitigating congestion.

•Accident investigation & analysis to relate scene i.e Road reengineering & re-design.

•Data analytics & review of policy and to develop communication strategy including emotion appeal.

Apart from the above, Annual Report on “Road Safety in Chandigarh-2021” was also released, which contains systematic compilation of information about road crashes occurred in U.T Chandigarh in the year 2021. It presents infographics and comparative analyses across years, police stations and traffic zones wise. This report also presents various traffic management initiatives and engineering measures taken by Chandigarh Traffic Police to mitigate traffic congestion in the city and for making safer roads. 

Further, as part of the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) project, new tablets were given to the Investigation Officers (IOs) to assist them in filling of details of accidents on the spot in iRAD app.  This data will be used for analysis of the cause of accidents, identify vulnerable locations, formulation of strategies to undertake rectification measures for the accident prone locations.

During this event, Sh. Nitin Kumar Yadav, IAS, Secretary Transport cum, President of Board of Governor (BoG) of this Society, Sh. Praveer Ranjan, IPS, DGP/Chandigarh, Dr. Vijay Namdeorao Zade, IAS, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh, Sh. Raj Kumar Singh, IPS, IGP/Chandigarh, Ms. Manisha Choudhary, IPS, SSP/Traffic-cum-CEO of the Society, Prof. Baldev Setia, Director/PEC, Dr. Umesh Sharma, Professor PEC, Sh. Navdeep Asija, member of CRSS, Sh. Harman Sidhu, NGO ArriveSafe, Sh. Manoj Kumar Meena, IPS, SSP/Hqrs, Ms. Shruti Arora, IPS, SP/City, Sh. C.B. Ojha, Chief Engineer/Chandigarh and other officials were present

IEP Chandigarh, March 7

Reiterating the firm commitment of his government to restore pristine glory of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that every drop of his blood is committed for progress, prosperity and peace of the state.

Winding up the debate on Governor Address here at the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said that for the first time in the last 75 years the power of the state has been bestowed to those who are committed for the well being of the state. He lamented that earlier this power was in the hands of those who had surpassed the Britishers in looting the state. Bhagwant Mann said that this is the government of the people and every Punjabi so no stone will be left unturned for the well being of the state.

The Chief Minister said that this year’s Governor address is just a curtain raiser of the massive development that will be witnessed in the state in the coming times. He said that Punjab is witnessing overall progress and prosperity in every sphere adding that this momentum will continue in coming times too. Bhagwant Mann said that his government is zealously working to ensure that Punjab becomes a frontrunner state in every sphere.

Listing the pro-people initiatives of his government, the Chief Minister said that the days of long cuts have ended in the state as Punjab is heading towards becoming power surplus. He said that due to the efforts of his government the power generation in the state has been enhanced by 83%. Bhagwant Mann said that owing to strenuous efforts made by his government the supply of coal for power generation from Pachwara coal mine has resumed after a long time.

The  Chief Minister further said that the state government has fulfilled the guarantee of giving 300 units of free electricity per month from July 1. He said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that 87% of the households in the state have got zero power bills in the months of November-December, 2022. Bhagwant Mann said that he hails from a common family and knows well what are the problems being faced by them.

The Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of his government, the Union government has agreed to waive off the mandatory RSR (Rail-Sea-Rail) condition for coal supply from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL). Bhagwant Mann said that he had raised this issue with the Power Minister during a meeting after which a decision had been taken in this regard. He said that the state government is firmly committed to secure the interests of the state.

The Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government, Punjab has emerged as a most preferred investment destination in the country. He said that the entrepreneurs are making a beeline to invest in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that this will put the state on orbit of high growth trajectory and create new jobs for the youth.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and exemplary action will be ensured against the leaders involved in sins against the state. He said that no one can stop him from acting against these culprits who have mercilessly robbed and ruined the state. Bhagwant Mann assured the house that nothing can deter him from taking stringent action against the corrupt leaders and tirade against them will continue by all means.

The Chief Minister also said that his government has already exempted 5000 villages of the state from getting NOC for registration of property and equal number of villages will be exempted soon. He said that the state government will not allow any illegal colony to mushroom up in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the process to regularize the illegal colonies has already been streamlined to facilitate people.

The Chief Minister also assailed the traditional parties of the state for working against the interests of the state. He said that these parties connived with the toll and sand mafia to extend largesse to them by backstabbing the people of state. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government has shut the toll plazas whose term has expired adding that around 50 public mines have been dedicated to people for ensuring cheap availability of sand to people. 

The Chief Minister also said that the state government will soon launch its flagship program of ‘Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar’ under which the residents will get the 40 citizen centric services at their doorsteps. He said that this scheme will be available online via app and the residents will get the benefits of this scheme just on a phone call. Bhagwant Mann said that it will enable the residents to get the citizen centric services at their doorsteps in a smooth and hassle free manner.

IEP Chandigarh, March 7

          Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has neither bad intentions nor flawed policies. In Punjab, there is absolute law and order and no one who tampers with law and order will be spared. It was stated by Punjab Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer while participating in the debate on the governor’s address during the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.

          Recounting the historic achievements of the state government in six months, Meet Hayer said that in the first six months, their government has achieved many milestones, which the previous governments could not achieve even in five years.

          The minister further said that in six months the government has provided 600 units of free electricity, more than 500 Aam Aadmi clinics, freed illegal encroachments, sand is being given at Rs 5.50 per feet, more than 26000 government jobs provided, implemented one MLA, one pension etc. Shortly, the target is to provide sand from 150 public sites and 100 commercial sites at Rs 5.50 per feet. Daily labourers in Punjab are getting employment at mining sites to fill sand. He said that the contracts of commercial sites given by previous governments in Punjab will expire soon.

          The state government will start providing sand from 100 commercial sites at the rate of Rs 5.50 per feet to the common people. Now people are getting sand from 32 public sites through tractor-trolley at Rs 5.50 per feet. It is also a target to increase the number of public sites to 150. The Chief Minister inaugurated the public site at Mao Sahib, and from there 200 trolleys are being filled daily. Due to this the labourers also earn well in a day. With this decision in Punjab, the labourer would get reasonable remuneration with the decision of manual excavation.

          Meet Hayer said that there is a rule of law in Punjab and the opposition parties are maligning the name of Punjab, while Punjab ranks 17th in terms of crime rate. Presenting the data of the national criminal record, he said that the crime rate is very high in the states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

          Meet Hayer said that the Congress MLAs sitting in the opposition do not leave a single opportunity to defame Punjab without any reason and facts, but their own party enforced President rule in Punjab for eight times,  Sikh massacre in Delhi and black days in Punjab. Gangster culture in Punjab is a gift given by the previous governments.

IEP Chandigarh March 7

          The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption, on Tuesday registered a bribery case against two railways officials and a private person for taking bribe in lieu of providing jobs in Indian Railways. In this case, the VB has nabbed a private person Daljit Singh, resident of village Dulchi Ke, Ferozepur district red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.

          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this corruption case has been registered against the above said accused Daljit Singh, Ravi Malhotra, head clerk and Joginder Singh clerk, both posted at Divisional Railways Manager, Ferozepur on the complaint of Mangal Singh, resident of village Ali Ke, Ferozepur district.

          Giving details he added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said railways officials in connivance with above mentioned Daljit Singh had already taken Rs nine lakhs as a bribe to get recruited his two sons in the railways and handed over forged appointment letters and identity cards to his sons. The complainant further informed that the said accused Daljit Singh now demanding Rs 20,000 more to execute remaining work in this regard and the complainant has recoded the entire conversation on his phone as an evidence.

          The spokesperson informed that the VB after preliminary investigation of this complaint, laid a trap in which the accused Daljit Singh has been arrested on Tuesday while taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 as a bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

          In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against all the above mentioned accused at VB police station Ferozepur. Further investigation in this case was under progress.