IEP Chandigarh, November 10

A high-level review meeting was held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through video conferencing with Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua and state government officials on Thursday. Adopting a strict attitude regarding increasing pollution, the NHRC took a detailed report on the stubble burning cases in Punjab. The NHRC expressed strong concern over stubble burning cases in North India, especially in Punjab as the air quality has turned ‘severe’ in many cities and has been affecting healthy of the people as well as putting seriously impact on those with existing illnesses.The commission said that incidents of stubble burning should be strictly curtailed. He said that if the situation was not improved, a heavy penalty would be imposed on the Punjab.          On this occasion, the Commission meticulously reviewed the cases related to stubble management in Punjab from the Chief Secretary and also sought some data in this regard. The Chief Secretary said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the entire machinery of the state is sincerely putting efforts to reduce the incidence of stubble burning this year and farmers are being encouraged and made aware not to burn stubble. The stubble management machines were provided to the farmers on time and all the Deputy Commissioners have also reduced the incidence of stubble burning by adopting effective methods.          The Chief Secretary said that every week a meeting is being held with all Deputy Commissioners and higher officials of Punjab for stubble management so that effective measures can be taken to prevent stubble burning.The Chief Secretary said that more focus has been given by the authorities on those hot-spots in the villages where the cases of farm fires were detected in the previous years. Apart from this, a senior IAS officer has been placed in-charge of each 23 districts of the state and they have been directed to work at grass root level to closely review the stubble management and prevent stubble burning cases, the Chief Secretary said.          The Chief Secretary said that to encourage farmers, Punjab government is honouring farmers those are not burning the stubble burning. He said that the farmers were also sensitized through various awarneness campaigns including enrolling children studying in schools about burning menace.Apart from this, awareness appears are being made through religious places. The Chief Secretary appealed to the farmers not to burn stubble under any circumstances for the healthy future of children and youth and to cooperate with the government for its management.

IEP Chandigarh, November 10

          Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development of Punjab, Dr. Baljit Kaur today said that “Udariyan-Bal Vikas Mela Week” will be celebrated in Anganwari Centers of villages across the state from 14 to 20 November 2022.

Different programs will organised in Anganwadi centers for overall development of children with special focus on kids living in remote and rural areas.

          Divulging more details the minister said that this program will be held on all days during this period of celebration. On November 14th and 15th local NGOs will make the public aware about child nutrition and on November 16th a special message from the government will be shared after which Vikas Mela activities will begin in all Anganwaris. Poshan Day will also be celebrated on November 17 and Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Day on November 18. She further informed that Child Sarpanch Day will be celebrated on November 19 and Positive Parenting Day on November 20.

          The Child Development Week will be celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Social Security Department with the help of the child’s parents, grandparents and general public. She said that activities related to child nutrition, play and story based development, safety and tools and positive parenting will be conducted in this program. Every child’s development will be encouraged by improving the child’s environment by meeting the basic needs of the children throughout the week.

IEP Chandigarh, 10 November    

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said that the state government will not allow any anti-social element to disturb the hard-earned peace and communal harmony of the state at any cost.

          The Chief Minister, while chairing a high-level meeting with the senior officers of state administration and Punjab police, directed the Senior Police Officers that none of the culprits responsible for the killing of Dera follower should be spared and the accused must be given stern punishment as per law. During the meeting, the Police Officers briefed the Chief Minister about the incident.

          The Chief Minister said that this sensitive matter should be thoroughly being investigated by the police from every aspect and the case will be taken to a legal conclusion without any bias. He asserted that no criminal incident can be viewed with the narrow aspect of caste or religion and the perpetrators of this crime will not be spared at any cost. Bhagwant Mann unequivocally said, “These unfortunate incidents are being carried out with nefarious designs to dent the strong bonds of our decade-old brotherhood, communal harmony, mutual love and unity”.

          The Chief Minister said that the state government is firmly committed to maintaining a law and order situation in Punjab and no one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace at any cost. He said that these forces will be given a befitting reply.  During the meeting, the Chief Minister also ordered the officers to conduct a review of licensed firearms across the state to find out the use of firearms in such criminal activities.

          To further strengthen the law and order situation, the Chief Minister directed the officers to train the police force on modern lines to make them more competent to deal with criminals. Expressing confidence in the efficiency of the Punjab police, Bhagwant Mann said that the police force of the state has a glorious tradition of combatting the fissiparous forces adding that it had bravely combatted the dark period of terrorism. He also said that Punjab Police had solved many sensitive cases in the past through their professional intelligence and competence.

          The Chief Minister asked the Police to enhance vigil across the state by organising special checking. He said that no one should be allowed to his disturb law and order in the state. Bhagwant Mann further said that the police force will deal sternly with those who are attempting to disturb the peaceful environment of the state.

IEP Chandigarh, November 10

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its campaign against corruption in the State registered a bribery case against Sarpanch Harjeet Singh Gullu, gram panchayat Mattran, SAS Nagar for taking bribe in the name of police officials.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered on a complainant filed by Sarbjeet Kaur of village Barouli, Tehsil Derabassi against the above said Sarpanch on the Chief Minister anti-corruption helpline.

He informed that during the investigation of this complaint and the evidence submitted in this regard, it was found that the above mentioned Sarpanch has received Rs 10,000 from the complainant to pay the money as a bribe to police officials to get her justice in a complaint case which under investigation in police station Sohana, SAS Nagar.

The spokesperson further informed that during the probe the allegations were found to be true and a corruption case under FIR no. 23 dated 09-11-2022 under section 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the said Sarpanch at the Vigilance Bureau flying squad-1, Police Station, SAS Nagar. Further investigation in this case was under progress.

IEP Chandigarh, November 10

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann is striving to provide basic facilities and a clean environment to the people of the state. Working in this direction, Rs.127.99 crore are being spent by the Punjab government to provide sewerage facility for Batala town.Local Government Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar reviewed the work of the project and directed the officials of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board to complete this work within the stipulated time.Giving more information in this regard, Dr. Nijjar said that almost 160 kms area of Batala town will be covered under sewerage network. Apart from this, sewerage treatment plant with a capacity of 30 MLD and the main pumping station will also be covered under this project. He said that under this project, the large population of Batala town will get the benefit of the sewerage system.The cabinet minister said that Main Dera Baba Nanak Road, Maan Nagar, Dumbiwal, Hassanpura, Punder, Murgi Mohalla, Shukarpura, Sunder Nagar, Main Aliwal Road, Katchakot Telianwal, Jujhar Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Khatib, Allowal Village, Amritsar Road, Dhir Road, Jalandhar Byepass Road will be covered.Apart from this, Adjoining areas of Armaan Resort, Malawey Di Kothi, Bodey Di Khuee, Main Jalandhar Road, Navroop Nagar, Narayan Nagar, Backside of Guru Nanak College, backside of Guru Nanak Academy, Sri Hargobindpur Road, Along Kahnuwan Road Areas, Jharianwal, Prem Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Basant Nagar, Preet Nagar, Model Town, Kala Nangle Road, Dashmesh Nagar, Kartar Nagar etc. areas will be covered under batala town sewerage project.The Minister said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann is committed to provide corruption free administration to the people of the state. Therefore, they have given instructions to the officials to ensure transparency in the work and to complete the work within the stipulated time.

IEP Chandigarh, November 10 

Punjab School Education Department is going to organise co-curricular activities and educational competitions on the account of Bal Diwas on November 14 in the Government Schools. While divulging details Punjab School Education Minister Mr. Harjot Singh Bains said that this initiative is being taken to nurture the skills of the students. He added that on this day, the students will reach schools without their bags and will only participate in the co-curricular activities and competitions as the schedule has already been released by the department.The minister informed that on this occasion, debate, calligraphy, poem recitation and Punjabi reading competitions will be organised for primary classes and upper primary classes. He added that apart from these, competitions regarding slogan writing in Punjabi, describing meanings of Punjabi language words, General knowledge about Punjabi, language literature and culture, idioms and proverbs, Punjabi essay writing and competitions from ‘today’s word’ will also be organised. He said that apart from all this, special competitions would also be organised for the students of pre-primary classes as per their ability.