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Punjab Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Mann issued tourist guide license to 30 candidates

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

The state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is continuously striving to promote tourism in Punjab and provide maximum facilities to the tourists coming to Punjab. To fulfill the same purpose, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labor and Grievance Redressal Minister Ms Anmol Gagan Mann today issued tourist guide license to 30 candidates at the office in Chandigarh. Secretary of Tourism and Culture Affairs Department, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh was present on this occasion.

Giving more information in this regard, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said that tour guides play an important role in assisting tourists visiting any country or state. She explained that the duty and responsibility of a tour guide includes the tour activities from the arrival of the tourists to the departure from the state. She said that only good tour guides give real insight to the people about the history, heritage, culture, language and specialties of their country or state.

The Cabinet Minister said that these tour guides will share information about the rich heritage of the state to the tourists coming to Punjab, which will give a big boost to tourism in Punjab and will strengthen the state economically. She said that tourists coming to Punjab from all over the world can access the website of Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department: punjabtourism.punjab.gov.in to get the services of tour guides. The minister also wished the tour guides for their bright future.

On this occasion Superintendent, Tourism Rajesh Verma, Manager Marketing, Tourism Haras Mittal and other officials were present.

LOCAL BODIES MINISTER KICK STARTS CLEANING OF SIDHWAN CANAL, INSTALLATION OF CHAIN LINKED FENCING AROUND THE WATER BODY

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann committed to clean the water bodies across the state, Local government Minister Dr.Inderbir Singh Nijjar kick started the work to clean the Sidhwan canal from Bhai Randhir Singh (BRS) Nagar canal bridge today.Cabinet Minister Dr.Nijjar also kick started the project to install chain linked iron fencing (2 meter height) along the 13 kms long stretch of canal within the city limits. Aiming to stop the residents from dumping waste into the canal, the project is being taken up at a cost of Rs 6.64 crore. The work to install the fencing will be completed in next six months time.He was also accompanied by MLAs including Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Madan Lal Bagga, Ashok Prashar Pappi, Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Officiating MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, Chairman of Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) Tarsem Singh Bhinder, senior AAP leader Ahbaab Singh Grewal, amongst several others.The civic body officials stated that the canal falls under the jurisdiction of the irrigation department. Amid rising concern over garbage and filth dumped in the water body, which moves through the city, MC has stepped up to clean the canal in coordination with the irrigation department. Temporary ramps have been established at different points of the canal and the water body is being cleaned with the help of JCB machines and tippers.The officials stated that the irrigation department has prepared a schedule to stop the flow of water in the canal for 21 days. The process to clean the stretch of canal from Lohara bridge to Barewal canal bridge will be taken up during this period. If required, the irrigation department will also be asked to stop the flow of water in the canal for a few more days.Cabinet Minister Dr.Nijjar stated that the initiatives taken by the civic body to clean the canal and install iron linked around the same is appreciable, but the public should also support the authorities in keeping the canal clean and stop dumping waste in the water bodies. Further the Minister stated that the civic body will also be forced to take strict action against the violators if the concerned residents did not restrict themselves from dumping waste in the water bodies. Minister appeal residents to support authorities in keeping environment safePaying obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib at Sukhmani Sahib path organised by Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee to mark New year celebrations at MC Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar, Minister Dr Nijjar appealed the residents to step forward to save the environment and groundwater. Minister also assured to fulfill the genuine demand of the employees raised by Chairman of employees union Ashwani Sahota and President Jasdev Sekhon.The minister also honoured different NGOs/social activists which have been working in association with the civic body. These include Shahi Imaam Punjab Maulana Muhammad Usmaan Rehmani Ludhianvi, Gursahib Singh and Davinder Nagi from Team 1699, Maneet Dewan from City Needs and members of other NGOs including Lets Clean Ludhiana Foundation, Neki Di Rasoi, Ashke group etc.Women empowerment sculptures unveiledMinister Dr Nijjar also unveiled women empowerment sculptures installed at the road islands outside MC Zone D office. The sculptures have been installed by FICCI FLO group, which has been working in association with the MC. Appreciating the effort by the group members led by head of National Governing body Monika Choudhary and Ludhiana Chairperson Neha Gupta, the minister urged NGOs to work in association with the civic body to spread greenery across the city

PUNJAB POLICE ARREST AC MECHANIC, AIDE FOR MAKING EXTORTION CALLS BY POSING AS INFAMOUS GANGSTER

IEP CHANDIGARH, January 4

          As part of the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police has arrested a 20-years-old AC mechanic for making extortion calls to a Mohali-based Pharmaceutical Company owner by posing as foreign-based infamous gangster, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

          The accused identified as Suraj (20), a resident of Maloya colony in Chandigarh, was arrested from Verka Chowk here, when he along with his aide identified as Mandeep Singh (32) of village Mangewal in Sri Anandpur Sahib, was going to collect extortion money on a motorcycle. The Police have also recovered two mobile phones and a Black Colour CT 100 motorcycle (without registration number plate) from their possession.

          The complainant, who is an owner of a Pharmaceutical company located in SAS Nagar, lodged a complaint with police that he has received phone calls from a man claiming to be infamous gangster on December 30, 2022. The caller demanded ₹30 lakh as extortion money and threatened to kill him in case the complainant failed to give the protection money on time.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following the complaint, the State Special Operation Cell of SAS Nagar immediately started investigations into this case and arrested the accused caller Suraj, who was using the WhatsApp number of his aide Mandeep Singh to make extortion calls to the target. While accused Suraj works as an AC mechanic, his aide Mandeep is a taxi driver, he said.

          The DGP once again cautioned people to be wary of fake extortion calls and urged them to immediately inform the police whenever they receive a such call. Recent investigations in such extortion cases by Punjab Police have revealed that a very large number of such extortion calls in the name of known gangsters were made by unknown criminals, who don’t have any association with these gangs or gangsters.

          Divulging more details about the modus operandi, AIG SSOC SAS Nagar Ashwani Kapur said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused Suraj, when going to repair ACs at homes, shops or companies, would identify affluent people as possible targets and would note down their details to give them the impression that their activities are being watched, which enable him to make the victim a soft target to extort money. “We have sent both the mobile phones for forensic examination to find out if accused persons have made extortion calls to any other person,” he said.

          Meanwhile, a case FIR no 1 has been registered under sections 384 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station SSOC SAS Nagar.

Jimpa to participate in two-day national conference on “Water Vision@ 2047”

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

          Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa will participate in national conference on “Water Vision@ 2047” on January 5 and 6 at Bhopal. This is a first of its kind conference in which ministers of many states will participate and discuss the efficient use of water and various other aspects connected with it.      

          Divulging the details, a spokesperson said that the theme of two-day conference of 1st All India Annual State Ministers Conference is “Water Vision@ 2047”.  This important conference has been organized by the National Water Mission of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. During two days, various topics related to water mainly “Water Vision@ 2047”, water security in water deficit,  water surplus and hilly regions, water use efficiency including reuse of waste water/grey water, water governance and climate change resilient water infrastructure, would be discussed.

          A sub-portal called ‘JalItisha’ will also be inaugrated on this occasion. The spokesperson said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Government will showcase its achievement pertaining to the efficient use of water and supply of water to every rural household at the National level. Apart from this, the ideas presented by the experts in conference will play an important role in taking decisions regarding the use of water in future.

Neglected for years, Punjab government formulates policies for the revival of printing and stationery department: Hayer

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

Aiming to strengthen the government departments, the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken various initiatives to revamp the long-neglected printing and stationery department.Due to the ever-changing technology and neglect by the previous governments, the printing and stationery department lagged behind a lot, but now the state government has planned to bring it back on track and ensure that the printing work of all government departments and institutions is done from the government press.Printing and Stationery Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that with the advent of new technologies of printing in the era of modernity, new machinery is needed, for which the department is going to purchase new technology machines.The Cabinet Minister said that the government press at Patiala and SAS Nagar should be renovated. To raise the standard of printing, multi-color digital machines and offset machines are being purchased with an amount of Rs.1.40 Crore. More new modern machines will be purchased in the next budget session. Giving a green signal to the plan of restructuring the department, it was decided to recruit technology experts as per the need of the hour.Under the OUVGL scheme, Land of Government Press Patiala was transferred to PUDA. A proposal is being made to provide funds for the renovation of the S.A.S. Nagar Press building and for installing some new machines in both the presses.After studying the system in other states of the country in which the printing and stationery department is working better, the better model will be implemented in Punjab. All the work of the department is done as per the provisions of the Printing and Stationery Manual-1975 but in the present era the modernization of the press and the technology has advanced enough for which it has been decided to update the manual.Apart from this, the old traditional file covers have been replaced by new file covers which have the facility of writing the details of the file on the cover. This will save a lot of time. Along with this, logos were also placed on the file covers with messages against various social issues, including the anti-corruption campaign, environment conservation, boosting the literacy movement, water conservation and campaign against female feticide.

Punjab renamed 12 government schools after famous personalities: Harjot Singh Bains

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

In order to give due honour to freedom fighters, martyred soldiers and eminent writers and make next generations aware about these personalities, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government has renamed 12 government schools after famous personalities.

Disclosing this here today, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, as per the instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the department has decided to change the name of the government schools after the prominent personalities of the area so that these famous personalities remain a source of inspiration for our next generations, and names of 12 schools has been changed in first phase.

          He informed that name of Government Primary Smart School Dhaula has been changed to Ram Saroop Ankhi Government Primary Smart School Dhaula, district Barnala.

Similarly, the name of the Government Primary Harijan Basti Kot Fatta, district Bathinda has been changed to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Government Primary School, Government Primary School, district Jail, Udham Singh Nagar Bathinda renamed as Shaheed Udham Singh Government Primary School Udham Singh Nagar, Bathinda, Government Middle School Pohlomajra, district Fatehgarh Sahib renamed as Shaheed Malkeet Singh Government Middle School, Government High School Pabarali Kalan, district Gurdaspur renamed as Shaheed Lance Naik Rajinder Singh Government High School, Government Senior Secondary Smart School Hajipur, district Hoshiarpur renamed as Shaheed Bakhtabar Singh Government girls  Senior Secondary Smart School, Government Elementary School Kalichpur Kalotan, district Hoshiarpur renamed as Shaheed Subedar Rajesh Kumar Government Elementary School, Government Elementary Smart School Rurkee, district Patiala changed as Freedom fighter Bhai Naanu Singh Government Elementary Smart School, Government High Smart School Gangrola, district Patiala renamed as Shaheed Udham Singh Government High Smart School, Government Middle School Hardosharan, district Pathankot renamed as Shaheed Ram Singh Pathania Memorial Government Middle School, Government Primary School Badeshe, district Malerkotla renamed as Shaheed Gurpreet Singh Bajwa Government Primary School and Government Primary School Dera Bazigar, district Amritsar has been renamed as Shaheed Resham Singh Government Primary School Guru Nankapura, district Amritsar.

 Bains said, on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the caste-based names of various government schools have also been changed recently, adding that renaming of government schools after famous personalities belonged to different villages/cities/towns will continue in future. The people of the state desirous to rename the school of their area can coordinate with the department, he urged.

CM greets people on New Year 2023

IEP Chandigarh, January 1

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the first day of New year paid obeisance at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan Sohana and prayed for peace, harmony and progress in the state and prosperity of its people.

          Greeting the people on the New Year, the Chief Minister wished a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year-2023 to Punjabis living within the state and across the globe. He felicitated the people of the state on the dawn of New Year and called upon them to work zealously for ensuring overall development of the state and prosperity of its people. Expressing hope that coming year will bring joy, peace and success for all the Punjabis, Bhagwant Mann exhorted them to make a firm pledge for emerging Punjab as a frontrunner state in the country.

          The Chief Minister reiterated the firm commitment of his government to realise the dreams of our great freedom fighters so that the fruits of development must percolate at the grass root level especially to ameliorate the lot of poorest of poor. He said that the state was on threshold to further usher in an era of overall progress and growth besides cementing the bonds of communal harmony, peace, amity and brotherhood, for which all the Punjabis must work zealously in the coming year.  Bhagwant Mann said that the time has come for us to take a decisive leap further for providing consistency to an era of all round progress and growth of the state.

          The Chief Minister called upon the people to welcome the year 2023 with the commitment to work collectively and zealously to preserve the ethos of secularism, sovereignty, communal harmony and national integration. Bhagwant Mann wished one and all a happy and prosperous 2023 and expressed the confidence that the coming year would usher in a new era of overall development and growth for Punjab. He exhorted the people to follow the path shown by the great Gurus, saints and seers to further cement the bonds of national unity, peace, love and religious tolerance.

Health assessment initiative launched

IEP Chandigarh, January 1 

Health assessment initiative wellness@work was launched by Syenergy Environics today . Ajay Poddar, founder & MD said that health assessment is done with the help of a US FDA approved diagnostic software which measures over 30 parameters including lifestyle score, vascular score, autonomic nervous system score, body composition analysis, risk screening for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, digestion and gastric function.

PUNJAB GOVERNMENT MADE GREAT EFFORTS TO RAISE STANDARD OF LIVING OF SCHEDULED CASTES, BACKWARD CLASSES AND MINORITIES

IEP Chandigarh, January 1

Taking a unique initiative to realize the dream of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to provide online facilities to the people of the state, the Punjab Government has taken a big initiative by starting Ashirwad scheme portal to implement the Ashirwad scheme in a more smooth and transparent manner from January 01, 2023. All applications under this scheme will be received online. Beneficiary can apply at http://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in portal to avail Ashirwad scheme.          Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann implemented various educational, social and economic schemes for the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities.          Dr. Baljit Kaur said that Rs 184.04 crore was released for 1,95,139 students under the Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students Scheme. Under this scheme, Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship portal was opened from 08-06-2022 for students to apply during the academic session 2022-23, on which 2,42,463 students have applied till 22-12-2022. The full fee and stipend of these students will be given by the government.          The Cabinet Minister said that 1744 trainees were given training under the New Vocational Training in ITIs scheme for the purpose of making the youth of Punjab self-reliant. An amount of Rs.109.66 crore was given as scholarship through DBT Med to 556857 students belonging to the minority category under the pre-matric, post-matric and merit cum means based scholarship scheme.          Punjab Scheduled Castes Development and Finance Corporation disbursed 4.85 crore loan and Rs 0.06 crore subsidy amount to 242 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries under Self-Employment Schemes. The Corporation disbursed loan amount of Rs.2.86 crore to 135 beneficiaries under self-employment schemes.          She said that the during the year at the Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses Institute, SAS Nagar., 102 students aspirants belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities are being coached for the preliminary examination of PCS and Bank PO. A total of 67 students of Punjabi and  English languages are being trained under the Stenography Training Scheme. These students were provided free accommodation and food in the institution.These students were given 1500/-per month  as stipend.          The Minister said that a decision was taken to establish Dr. BR Ambedkar Bhawan in every district of Punjab so that facilities for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other poor sections of the people would be provided under one roof under single windows. So far Dr. BR Ambedkar Bhawan has been established in 17 districts. In the remaining 06 districts, at SAS Nagar, Barnala and Malerkotla efforts are being made to arrange land for setting up the bhawans. The land has been arranged at district Pathankot, Tarn Taran and Fazilka.

100 people examined in health camp

IEP Mohali, January 1

As many as 100 people were screened during a free health camp at Chatamli village. The camp was organized by Ivy Hospital, Mohali in association with Sukhmin Foundation Kurali in memory of Mata Gujri ji and  four Sahibzadas.

During camp a team of Ivy doctors including Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist Dr. Aswath Venkitaraman, ENT surgeon Dr. Manika Saluja and dentist Dr. Pooja Danda examined the patients for their health problems.