Chandigarh, July 1 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government is consistently working to provide better resources to doctors and quality healthcare services to citizens. He said that medical colleges are being established in every district. While there were only 6 medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and 9 new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats have risen from 700 in 2014 to 2,185 currently. The state government aims to increase MBBS seats to over 3,400 by the year 2029, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering as the chief guest at an event organized on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day by the Derabassi Medical Association in Chandigarh. He appreciated the significant contribution of the Derabassi Medical Association in the field of human service, mentioning that a free dialysis center has been operational at Chaurasia Hospital for the past two years.

Extending greetings and best wishes to all doctors, healthcare workers, and those associated with the medical field on National Doctors’ Day, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that they are the true servants of humanity. Their spirit of service, dedication, and sensitivity plays a vital role in building a healthy, safe, and empowered society.

Multiple steps taken to strengthen the medical system

The Chief Minister emphasized that the government’s objective is to ensure that every doctor has access to adequate resources and every citizen receives proper treatment. He said that to strengthen the medical infrastructure, the number of PG (Postgraduate) seats has been increased from 289 to 1,043. In addition, there are 155 seats for PG diplomas. To address the shortage of doctors, the government has recruited 3,798 doctors since 2014. The retirement age for doctors has also been raised from 58 to 65 years, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

Free dialysis for kidney patients in Haryana

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Haryana government is providing free dialysis facilities for kidney patients in government hospitals, medical colleges, and medical universities. He added that to ensure health services for every poor individual, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme, under which free treatment of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year is available for poor families. In Haryana, over 1.33 crore individuals have benefitted from free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat and Chirayu schemes, said the Chief Minister.

Doctors’ safety is our priority

The Chief Minister said that this year’s theme for Doctors’ Day is “Caring for the caregivers behind the mask.” This theme inspires us to appreciate doctors not only for their professional services but also for their contribution to human welfare. It calls for understanding and fulfilling their needs. He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the entire country was indoors, doctors stood by patients wearing PPE kits while staying away from their families.

The Chief Minister said that the double-engine government accords top priority to doctors’ safety. Under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, strict provisions have been made for punishing those who attack doctors and medical staff with imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years and fines ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated various doctors for their contribution to public service. He also released the magazine of the Derabassi Medical Association.

Chandigarh Mayor, Smt.  Harpreet Kaur Babla, President, Derabassi Medical Association Dr. Rajeev Gupta, Secretary Dr. Akash Goswami, other officers, a large number of doctors, and several dignitaries attended the event.

Chandigarh, July 1 – Haryana Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, stated that the State Government is set to launch a new digital portal to simplify and enhance transparency in the land demarcation process. This initiative is a key part of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini’s ‘Digital Haryana’ vision and ongoing land governance reforms.

After presiding over the review meeting with officers of Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra informed that this citizen-centric portal aims to modernize and digitize land demarcation, addressing traditional delays and procedural hurdles. It will allow owners of agricultural, residential, or commercial land to submit their demarcation grievances online, eliminating the need for multiple visits to government revenue offices and reducing red tape.

Dr. Misra stated that the demarcation applications would be processed in a time bound manner, which will significantly streamline the process and strengthen the public confidence in the government procedure. The portal will integrate with the Revenue Department’s existing digital land records system and leverage Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for precise, real-time boundary demarcation. This integration will provide access to updated demarcation maps, revenue estate records, and historical data, minimizing ambiguities and boundary disputes. Digital rovers will replace traditional manual tools to ensure accuracy.

The portal will feature a grievance tracking mechanism, allowing users to monitor their complaint’s status from submission to resolution. This commitment to a defined resolution timeframe is expected to enhance accountability and public confidence in Haryana’s land administration system.

The meeting was attended by Director, Consolidation of Land Holdings & Land Records, Sh. Yash Pal, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sh. Ravi Prakash Gupta, Special Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sh. Rahul Hooda, Secretary, Special Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sh. Kamlesh Kumar Bhadoo.

Chandigarh, July 1- Haryana Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has a vision to make India a developed nation by the year 2047. The role of the National Education Policy will also be important in this. Haryana is the first state in the country to implement the National Education Policy. Under this policy, the level of education in the government colleges of the state will be further improved. Sports will be promoted in colleges and sports resources will be provided to the players.

The Education Minister was chairing a review meeting with the officials of the Higher Education Department in the Civil Secretariat today. Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said that cultural activities will be promoted in government colleges. More and more programmes will be organized, so that maximum number of students can participate. Along with making students proficient in education, startup poshan centers will also be opened in colleges to enhance their talent.

He said that new buildings are being constructed so that students do not face any inconvenience in studying in government colleges. Apart from this, seminar halls are also under construction in many colleges. During the meeting, it was informed that 36 math labs, 94 computer labs and 49 physiology labs are running in 184 government colleges of the state, which are benefiting the students.

Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education, Sh. Vineet Garg, Director of Higher Education Sh. S Narayan and other officers were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, July 1

Punjab has recorded a record breaking  44.44 percent growth in Net GST collections for June 2025 and a substantial 27.01 percent growth for the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26, marking the highest-ever GST revenue growth in a fiscal quarter and for the month of June in the state’s history.

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema revealed this while addressing a press conference after facilitating the top five taxpayers of the state for their exemplary contribution to the state’s economic growth and revenue generation, including Ashu Agnihotri from Ambuja Cement, Sanjay Malhotra from HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), Chaman Lal Sharma from Samsung India Pvt Ltd, Ankush Sharma from Tata Steel and Nitin Dada from Dada Motors. The Minister acknowledged their contributions and emphasized the importance of responsible tax practices in achieving inclusive development and fiscal sustainability.

Finance Minister Cheema accompanied by Secretary Taxation Ajit Balaji Joshi and Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal highlighted that Punjab has outpaced the national average in GST growth, firmly positioning itself among the top-performing states in tax mobilization despite facing national and geopolitical challenges, including border-related tensions. The Net GST collection for June 2025 stood at Rs 2379.90 crore, reflecting a remarkable revenue growth of Rs 732.21 crore over the Rs 1647.69 crore collected in June 2024. This follows monthly net growth trends of 15.35 percent in April and 24.59 percent in May. The net GST collection during the first quarter of FY 2025-26 reached Rs 6,830.40 crore, even amidst the conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, compared to Rs 5,377.75 crore in the first quarter of 2024-25. This represents a growth rate more than four times the 6.41 percent growth rate registered during the first quarter of FY 2024-25.

The Finance Minister also launched a scathing attack on the previous SAD-BJP and Congress-led governments, citing their failure to check tax evasion and improve the state’s fiscal health. He asserted that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government has ensured consistent month-on-month and year-on-year growth. He noted a GST collection growth rate of 16.25 percent in FY 2022-23, 15.51 percent in FY 2023-24, and 12.84 percent in FY 2024-25, registering a total collection of Rs 62,733 crore in three years. In contrast, during the Congress regime from FY 2018-19 to FY 2021-22, the state merely collected Rs 55,146 crore. Similarly, during the SAD-BJP regime, the state witnessed only 4.57 percent and 2.67 percent growth in VAT and CST collection during FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16, respectively. “The AAP Government has already collected more in three years than the Congress Government collected in its entire five years”, said Harpal Singh Cheema.

The Finance Minister further stated that the previous Congress-led state government heavily relied on compensation amounting to Rs 30,070 crore without any future plan for state revenues. “On the contrary, we enhanced field enforcement, targeted data-driven inspections, and improved taxpayer compliance to reduce tax evasion and safeguard the state’s financial stability,” he added.

Revealing details of recent enforcement activities, the Finance Minister highlighted that the State Intelligence & Preventive Unit (SIPU) uncovered a GST fraud syndicate run by an accountant who created and operated 20 fake firms for bogus billing and ITC fraud. Preliminary investigations have uncovered fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs 866.67 crore, leading to an estimated tax evasion of Rs 157.22 crore. Additionally, the department uncovered a massive GST evasion scam involving M/s Maa Durga Roadlines, a Chandigarh-based firm registered as a transporter, for its involvement in bogus e-way bill generation and transportation of unaccounted goods amounting to Rs 168 crores, involving a cumulative tax liability of Rs 30.66 crores.

Replying to a media query, the Finance Minister said that the state has to make interest payments of Rs 25,000 crore and principal payments of Rs 18,200 crore on legacy debt availed by the previous SAD-BJP and Congress led state governments in FY 2025-26, while planning to borrow Rs 49,900 crore, despite Rs. 13,000 crore in deductions by the Government of India. He stated that the state government plans to borrow Rs 8,500 crore to meet the redemption obligations of over Rs 3,500 crore for legacy debt in the second quarter of the current financial year alone.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema concluded by stating that Punjab’s fiscal management is on a strong footing, with the state government taking proactive steps to manage its debt obligations. He highlighted that the Punjab Government recently invested Rs 1,000 crore each in the Guarantee Redemption Fund (GRF) and Consolidated Sinking Fund (CSF), with the latter now exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, a significant increase from Rs 3,000 crore when the current government took office.

Chandigarh, July 1:

The Punjab State Food Commission (PSFC) today formally got a new Member when Mr. Jasvir Singh Sekhon took charge here at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) amid the presence of Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Lal Chand Kataruchak & Barinder Kumar Goyal.

The Cabinet Ministers expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convenor AAP Arvind Kejriwal for placing trust in the capabilities of Mr. Jasvir Singh Sekhon and exuded confidence that the new incumbent would further take forward the initiatives of ensuring nutritious food to all, promoting organic farming, and providing clean drinking water.

On the occasion, Mr. Sekhon said that would fully justify the faith reposed in his abilities and ensure that the schemes initiated by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department are percolated to all sections of the society especially those linked with the farming sector as it is the core part of the procurement operations.

Among others present on the occasion included MLA (Amargarh) Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Chairman Punjab State Food Commission Bal Mukand Sharma, and Additional Secretary PUNGRAIN Kamal Kumar Garg.

Chandigarh, July 1

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is working expeditiously for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. In line with this commitment, Defence Services Welfare Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat reviewed the progress of ongoing schemes and activities under the department in a meeting with senior officials held at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh.

During the meeting, Director of Defence Services Welfare Department Brig. Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd.) apprised the Minister in detail about the progress made under various schemes and activities aimed at the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families.

Mr. Bhagat directed officials to ensure effective implementation of all welfare schemes. He emphasized that all tasks related to ex-servicemen and their dependents must be given top priority by district administrations.

The Minister also directed the department to expedite the renovation work of Sainik Rest Houses across the state. He assured that there would be no shortage of funds for this purpose. He further directed that maximum awareness be generated among ex-servicemen and their families regarding the welfare schemes being run by the Punjab Government so that they can avail the full benefits.

Brig. Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd.) and other senior officers were present during the meeting.

Chandigarh July 1, 2025 :

 In line with zero tolerance policy adopted against corruption by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested George Masih, Block Officer, posted at Block Development and Panchayats Office (BDPO) Amritsar while he was receiving Rs 13000 as a bribe.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the aforementioned accused has been arrested following a complaint lodged by a resident of village Bikraur, in Amritsar district.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB alleging that he wanted to contest Panchayat elections from his village in the year 2024 but could not do so, as a notice declaring him defaulter was issued to him by Block Officer Ajnala stating that he had not cleared outstanding dues of Government land measuring 4 Kanals and an FIR would be registered against him in this regard. As per the complaint, the accused asked the complainant that if he wanted to get his name stuck off from defaulter list and also to get correction in the revenue record, he has to pay a bribe of Rs 13,000.

The spokesperson informed that after preliminary verification of this complaint, a team from VB Unit Amritsar laid a trap and apprehended the aforesaid accused while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 13000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh, July 1, 2025 –

Continuing its ongoing relentless drive against corruption in the state, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), on Monday arrested Head Constable (HC) Raj Kumar, posted as personal security officer (PSO) with DSP Bhucho, in Bathinda district red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs. one lakh.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused police official has been arrested following a complaint filed by a resident of village Kalyan Sukha, in tehsil Nathana, district Bathinda.

He further informed that the complainant lady approached the VB alleging that due to a dispute over agricultural land, the opposite party had got registered a false case against her husband and both her sons at police station Nathana, which was being investigated by DSP Bhucho. Subsequently, Raj Kumar, Reader, made two phone calls from her mobile number and informed that he had spoken to the DSP regarding this re-investigation and only the DSP’s signature on the report was pending. For getting the case cancelled, he demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. Accused Raj Kumar told the complainant that Rs one lakh should be paid immediately as the first installment so that he could get the work done. The complainant recorded this conversation on her mobile phone and submitted it to the VB.

The spokesperson informed that after verification of the complaint, a VB team from Bathinda range laid a trap and apprehended HC Raj Kumar while he was accepting Rs one lakh as a bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The tainted money has been recovered on the spot from his possession.

In this regard a case under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Bathinda range. The accused police personnel would be produced in the competent court tomorrow.  During further investigation of the case, if the involvement of any other officer/personnel comes to light, he would also be nominated in the case, he said.

CHANDIGARH, July 1:

          To mark National Doctors’ Day, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday, inaugurated the statewide expansion of the Punjab STEMI Project, empowering all the district and sub-divisional hospitals in 23 districts to quickly intervene and give thrombolysis treatment by administering a clot buster drug Tenecteplase to save patient life in case of heart-attack.

          This ambitious initiative, also known as “Mission Amrit” (Acute Myocardial Reperfusion In Time), aims to dramatically improve outcomes for patients experiencing ST-segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), the most severe type of heart attack.

          Dr Balbir Singh accompanied by Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul and Professor & Head of Cardiology at DMCH Ludhiana Dr Bishav Mohan, while launching the project here, said that the Tenecteplase injection, which costs around Rs 30,000, is being administered free of cost under this project. This injection helps to dissolve blood clots in the heart, he added.

          The project was launched across the state after the success of a pilot project, which was initially implemented in two districts— Ludhiana and Patiala— and extended to nine more districts later. In the pilot stage, approximately 14,000 chest pain patients have been enrolled, and out of 1305 STEMI patients identified, 583 have successfully received thrombolysis at district health facilities.

          Speaking about the need of the project Dr Balbir Singh said that historically, patients in Punjab suffering from chest pain faced critical delays, often reaching a first medical contact an average of 2-3 hours after symptom onset. Many local hospitals and nursing homes lack the immediate diagnostic and treatment capabilities for STEMI, resulting in further delays in transferring the patient. This frequently pushed patients beyond the crucial “therapeutic window period” or Golden Hour for thrombolysis, a clot-busting therapy vital for restoring blood flow to the heart.

          Sharing more details about the STEMI project, the Health Minister said that this project directly addresses these challenges through an innovative Hub and Spoke Model. District and Sub-Divisional Hospitals will serve as “Spoke” centres, equipped to handle initial diagnosis and management of STEMI patients. These Spoke centres are seamlessly integrated with expert “Hub” hospitals – including the existing DMCH Ludhiana and GMCH-32 Chandigarh, and four new hubs including Government Medical Colleges of Patiala, Faridkot, Amritsar and AIIMS Bathinda.

          “Upon arrival at a Spoke centre, STEMI patients will receive primary management, including thrombolysis, under the direct guidance of experts from the nearest Hub via tele-ECG based consultation. Crucially, the thrombolytic drug, Injection Tenecteplase 40 mg (TNK 40 mg), will be provided free of cost at all district health facilities, eliminating financial barriers to immediate, life-saving treatment. Following stabilization, patients will be transferred to the Hub centers for further expert opinion and comprehensive treatment,” he added.

          Terming it as a monumental day for healthcare in Punjab, Dr Balbir Singh said, “The Punjab STEMI Project, building on the success of our ICMR pilot in SAS Nagar Mohali and Ludhiana, is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their location, has access to timely and effective care during a heart attack. By bringing thrombolysis directly to the district level, we are closing critical time gaps and significantly increasing the chances of survival and recovery for our patients.”

          To ensure the project’s success the Health Minister said that over 700 staff members, including Medical Specialists, Emergency Medical Officers (EMOs), and Staff Nurses from all 23 districts, have undergone intensive capacity-building training programs at DMCH Ludhiana under the guidance of expert cardiologist Dr Bishav Mohan. All emergency rooms in hospitals have been equipped with ECG and defibrillators for management of STEMI cases.

          Dr Bishav Mohan, Professor & Head of Cardiology at DMCH Ludhiana said that people need to be sensitised about the symptoms of heart attack, which usually people confuse with gastrointestinal problems and ignore. “The ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in India. This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive the most advanced treatment within the golden hour, improving their chances of survival,” he added.

          On the occasion, 12 doctors from across the state, who have successfully thrombolysed the patients within the timeframe were felicitated by the Health Minister.

          Among others, State Information Commissioner Adv Harpreet Sandhu, Special Secretary Health-cum-MD NHM Ghanshyam Thori, MD PHSC Amit Talwar, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director ESI Dr Jaspreet Kaur, Director Principal AIMS Mohali Dr Bhavneet Bharti, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Professor & Head, Cardiology, AIIMS Bathinda; Dr Parminder Singh Manghera, Assistant Professor, Cardiology, GMC Amritsar; Dr Saurabh Sharma, Assistant Professor, Cardiology, GMC Patiala, Assistant Director cum State Program Officer NP-NCD Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover and Medical Officer Dr Ashu were also present on the occasion.

BOX: What is a STEMI?

An ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a type of heart attack that is more serious and has a greater risk of serious complications and death. An infarction is a blockage of blood flow to the myocardium, the heart muscle. That blockage causes the heart muscle to die. Therefore restoring blood flow quickly may keep the damage from being permanent or at least minimize the severity of the damage.

Utilising a Hub and Spoke Model, the project connects district health facilities with tertiary care hospitals to facilitate timely diagnosis, expert consultation via tele-ECG, and immediate administration of free thrombolytic therapy, followed by transfer for advanced care.

Chandigarh/Malout, July 1:

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government continues its dedicated efforts to uplift the weaker and underprivileged sections of society. As part of this initiative, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur today Hands Over loan waiver certificates amounting to ₹8.72 crore to 505 families belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community during a special event organized at K.G. Palace, Malout.

On this occasion, the Minister also distributed approval letters worth ₹71.40 lakh to 140 beneficiaries under the Ashirwad Scheme, with each beneficiary receiving ₹51,000.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated the Punjab Government’s firm commitment to the welfare of the needy and marginalized sections of society. She emphasized that the State Government is ensuring maximum welfare measures for people from every section of society. She noted that, for the first time in the history of Punjab, such significant relief has been extended to the economically weaker and backward classes, made possible because the State’s budget has been prioritized for the welfare of the common people. She added that the government is judiciously utilizing every rupee from the State exchequer for public welfare.

The Minister informed that this loan waiver covers all loans distributed by the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC) up to March 31, 2020. This waiver provides much-needed financial relief to borrowers from the SC community and differently-abled categories. She added that the State Government has already issued ‘No Dues’ certificates to these beneficiaries, ensuring that no recovery proceedings will be initiated against them under PSCFC rules after the waiver.

She further stated that the State Government will repay the entire outstanding principal, interest, and penal interest amount to PSCFC by April 30, 2025, ensuring complete financial settlement.

Among those present on the occasion were District Welfare Officer Jagmohan Singh, Personal Assistants to the Cabinet Minister Arshdeep Singh Sidhu and Shinderpal Singh, Ramesh Singh Arniwala, Sukhpal Singh (President, Truck Union), Yadvinder Singh (Sarpanch), Nirmal Singh (Sarpanch), Kulwinder Singh Bittu, Jyoti (Sarpanch), Dr. Sadhu Singh, and a large number of beneficiaries.