Chandigarh, July 17 – Haryana’s Minister of State for Sports Sh. Gaurav Gautam paid a surprise visit today to the Khelo India State-Level Centre at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula. He expressed displeasure over the lack of proper accommodation, prescribed food supplies, and sports equipment for players. As a result, he issued show-cause notices to all coaches, staff, and the District Sports Officer of Panchkula.

During the visit, the Sports Minister met athletes practicing boxing, badminton, and athletics and listened to their concerns. The players informed the minister that although the government’s sports policy is excellent, the officials are failing to implement it properly, resulting in hardships for the athletes.

The Minister called the officials on the spot and warned them to improve the arrangements within 15 days, failing which strict action would be taken. Sh. Gaurav Gautam stated that Haryana’s sports policy is among the best in the country. Athletes from the state are winning medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, bringing pride to the nation and state. To ensure even better performances, the government is committed to providing maximum sports facilities.

He emphasized that athletes must receive nutritious food and proper sports resources for improved performance. The Minister warned coaches to improve their working methods and ensure timely training for the players. He added that coaches who perform well will be encouraged, while negligent ones will face action.

The Sports Minister arrived at the stadium around 8 a.m. and directly interacted with the athletes. He inspected the hostel accommodations, visited the mess to check food arrangements, and reviewed the gym facilities.

Chandigarh, July 17- The Haryana Right to Service Commission has taken serious note of an unnecessary four-month delay in issuing a marriage certificate and has imposed a symbolic fine of Rs.1,000 on the Tehsildar-cum-Marriage Registrar of Hansi. The Commission has also directed that a compensation of Rs. 5,000 be paid to the complainant by the tehsildar. This action has been taken under Section 17(1)(h) of the Right to Service Act.

Sharing information in this regard a spokesperson of the commission said that the case began when a resident of Hisar applied for their marriage registration on March 10, 2025. The marriage had taken place on November 28, 2023, and the application was submitted with the consent of the couple’s parents in the delayed marriage registration category. Both bride and groom are domiciles of Haryana having valid Family IDs, which confirm their age and address.

The spokesperson further said that the Marriage Registrar raised an objection, citing the absence of a birth certificate, and did not issue the marriage registration certificate. According to the complainant, the Tehsil office demanded a hardcopy of documents and additional documents as well. However, as per Haryana government guidelines dated on July 19, 2024, age and address can also be verified by Family ID. Therefore no separate documents are required for verification.

In the hearing held before the Right to Service commission on July 15,2025 the Marriage Registrar admitted that he relied on the statements of the marriage clerk and did not review the instructions himself. He acknowledged the mistake, expressed regret, and assured the Commission that the certificate would be issued as early as possible.

The Commission viewed this as a case of serious negligence. It said that marriage registration, a service with a set timeline of 5 to 7 days, should not have been delayed for four months. It was also observed that had the officer followed the instructions on time, the certificate could have been issued much earlier.

The Commission has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Hisar to deduct Rs. 6,000 from the salary of the Hansi Tehsildar-cum-Marriage Registrar for the month of July, Rs.1,000 of which should be deposited in the state treasury and Rs.5,000 transferred to the complainant’s bank account.

In addition, the Commission has directed CRID to organise training-cum-sensitization sessions for Marriage Registrars and related officers so that the government’s guidelines issued in this regard can be followed by the field offices effectively.

Chandigarh, July 17 – Thanks to the relentless efforts of Haryana’s Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam, farmers from five villages in Palwal district whose land was acquired for National Highway 334D are now seeing a ray of hope for a resolution to their long-standing demand for fair compensation.

In this regard, the Minister held a detailed meeting today at his office in the Civil Secretariat with Dr. Sumita Misra, Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, along with farmer representatives.

Dr. Misra assured the farmers that if they submit a representation, she will ensure a thorough investigation based on revenue department records. She also said that a letter would be sent to the Central Government to secure fair compensation under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) land acquisition policy.

The farmers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Sh. Gaurav Gautam and Dr. Sumita Misra for listening to their concerns in detail and assuring a solution.

It is noteworthy that around 26 acres of land from the villages of Pelak, Sihol, Misa, Chant, and Rahimpur were acquired for NH-334D, which will directly connect Palwal to the Jewar Airport in Uttar Pradesh. The farmers from these villages have been demanding compensation based on market rates.

Chandigarh, July 17 – Haryana’s Health Minister Arti Singh Rao stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is continuously expanding and modernizing health services. The Maharishi Chyawan Medical College, located amidst the Aravalli hills in Koriawas, Mahendragarh district, is an ultra-modern medical institute. In terms of connectivity, location and environment, it is considered the best medical college in Haryana. The government is making efforts to commence MBBS classes here from this year itself. The hostel, hospital wing, and academic block are all fully ready.

The Health Minister was speaking to mediapersons after inspecting the medical college in Koriawas, Mahendragarh.

She said the number of MBBS seats in the state is being steadily increased to promote medical education. While there were only 700 seats in 2014, the number has now risen to 2,185 and is expected to increase further in the future.

The Health Minister added that the government is continuously increasing the health budget, which reflects its commitment to strengthening healthcare services.

Speaking about the ‘Ujjwal Drishti Yojana’, she mentioned that this scheme has been implemented for the first time in Haryana, under which free spectacles have been distributed across the state.

Before this, the Health Minister held a meeting with officials in the academic block of the medical college. She also inspected the medical wing and the hostel facilities.

On this occasion, Narnaul MLA Sh. Om Prakash Yadav, Director of Medical Education and Research Sh. Yashvendra Singh, and other officials were also present.

Meanwhile, before starting the tour today, the minister paid homage to martyrs by offering flowers at the Nasibpur Martyr’s Memorial along with Narnaul MLA Sh. Om Prakash Yadav and other workers.

Chandigarh July 17: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the State Government has  launched a new scheme ‘Haryana Contractor Saksham Yuva Scheme’ aimed at providing skill training to the unemployed educated youth holding  ITI, diploma or engineering degree qualification enabling them to work as works contractor. After completing the prescribed training, these youth will be empaneled on the Haryana Engineering Works Portal (HEWP).

Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini was presiding over a review meeting of Haryana Engineering Works Portal (HEWP) here today.

Youth to be empaneled on HEWP after 90-day training

The Chief Minister directed that the scheme be extensively publicized to ensure maximum youth get benefit. He stated that the ‘Haryana Contractor Saksham Yuva Scheme’ will enable engineering-qualified youth to unlock new career opportunities in their field, fostering professional growth and opening better entrepreneurial avenues. The Directorate of Skill Development and Industrial Training has launched the web portal https://stt.itiharyana.gov.in for the registration of eligible and interested engineering youth under the scheme. After completing the prescribed 90-day training at Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Palwal, the youth will be eligible for empanelment on the HEW portal.

Ensure hassle-free contractor registration on HEWP

 While reviewing the registration process of contractors, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed that a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) be defined for contractor registration on the Haryana Engineering Works Portal (HEWP) to ensure a hassle-free experience. He also instructed that once the requisite documents are submitted online, contractors should not be required to visit any government offices for further processing. He emphasized that all departments must ensure timely payments to contractors through online mode. It was informed that currently, there are 20,709 contractors on board, with 6,476 registered.

Departments must ensure budget availability while preparing proposals

 He directed that a provision be added to the HEWP portal to enable the review of work progress, ensuring that projects are completed within the prescribed time frame. Regarding various development projects, the Chief Minister directed that departments must consider the availability of an adequate budget while preparing proposals for any development work or project. This is essential to ensure timely completion and prevent delays. In cases where funds for development projects are to be released by the Central Government, the department should coordinate with the concerned Ministry to facilitate the earliest possible release of funds.

Payments by all departments must be integrated into the Haryana Engineering Works Portal

 While reviewing the progress of tender allotments through the Haryana Engineering Works Portal (HEWP), the Chief Minister emphasized that tenders must be allotted promptly after being floated. He directed that all engineering works across departments be allotted exclusively through HEWP, clarifying that no department is permitted to issue tenders offline. Additionally, he instructed that all departmental payments be fully integrated into the HEWP system.

 The Chief Minister was informed that from April 1, 2025, no offline allotment has been permitted on HEWP. He was also informed that a provision of sending SMS on each Monday to EICs of the onboard departments has been made to prevent delay in allotment of tenders and facilitate timely action. Apart from this, the Finance Department has authorized four banks for integration with Haryana Engineering Works Portal to facilitate the payment of contractor bills.

 Haryana Chief Secretary Sh Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Public Works (Building and Roads) Department Sh Anurag Agarwal, Commissioner and Secretary Public Health Engineering Department Mohammed Shayin, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Saket Kumar and other senior officers of various departments were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh:

In a progressive move towards further enhancing patient support services, PGIMER’s flagship volunteer initiative ‘Project Sarathi’ has now been expanded beyond the NSS framework to welcome all interested student volunteers, encouraging broader community participation in patient care.

In another key development, PGIMER has launched a dedicated mobile application for collecting patient feedback. The Sarathi Feedback App will now be made available with each Sarathi volunteer, who will gather real-time feedback from patients and attendants after offering their assistance. This data will help the administration make informed decisions and continuously improve the quality of services.

Sharing his thoughts, Prof.VivekLal, Director PGIMER, stated: “Project Sarathi has been a heartening example of how structured community involvement can transform hospital services. The expansion of volunteer participation and the launch of the feedback app is another step in our commitment to patient-centered care and continuous improvement.”

Echoing the same sentiment, Mr.PankajRai, Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER , added “The decision to expand beyond NSS was taken in light of the consistently positive response received through daily interactions between Sarathi volunteers, hospital staff, and patients. Recognizing the immense value that volunteers bring in simplifying the patient journey at PGIMER, the institute is now opening the doors for students from all academic backgrounds and institutions to be part of this compassionate initiative.”

Deputy Director (Administration) further detailed, “Project Sarathi, since its inception, has played a vital role in assisting patients and their families in navigating the large and often complex PGIMER system. Volunteers serve as a vital link, particularly for those from rural or underserved backgrounds, by offering clear guidance, emotional reassurance, and human connection during stressful times.

Interested student volunteers eager to contribute to this noble cause can send their requests and details via email to ddapgi@gmail.com. This new structure aims to cultivate a stronger, more inclusive team of young change makers dedicated to patient welfare.

“The updated feedback app will enhance communication, ensuring transparency and responsiveness. PGIMER reaffirms its commitment to participatory healthcare and responsive governance, driven by student initiative and innovative technology”, concluded Mr Pankaj Rai. 

Chandigarh:

Chandigarh has once again made the city proud by securing a position in the Super Swachh League Cities under the 3 to 10 lakh population category in the prestigious Swachh Survekshan 2024–25.

The award was conferred by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, to Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, during a grand felicitation ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. City Mayor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla, Secretary Local Government Sh. Mandeep Singh Brar, IAS, and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, were also present during the event.

This National recognition is a testament to the consistent and dedicated efforts of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, under the visionary leadership of the Administrator, the City Mayor, and the Commissioner, as well as the enthusiastic participation of the citizens in upholding cleanliness, enhancing beautification, and adopting sustainable waste management practices.

The Swachh Survekshan rankings were based on various parameters including overall cleanliness, Garbage-Free City Star Rating, Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status, beautification drives, and Water Plus certification.

Expressing his appreciation, the Administrator congratulated all stakeholders—officers, field staff, and citizens—for their contributions. 

He remarked,

“This national recognition reflects the collective spirit and resolve of Chandigarh towards Swachhata. Let us continue this journey with the same enthusiasm and strive to make Chandigarh the cleanest city in the nation.”

He further highlighted the role of Swachh Survekshan in:

• Empowering youth,

• Creating green jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities,

• Actively engaging Self Help Groups (SHGs),

• Promoting school-level interventions,

• Encouraging source segregation startups and zero-waste societies, and

• Organizing public awareness events aligned with the vision of Swachh Bharat.

He emphasized that sanitation and hygiene have become intrinsic to citizens’ daily lives and deeply rooted in their sanskar (values). 

Swachh Survekshan, he noted, has become a powerful competitive tool inspiring cities to innovate and perform better year after year.

The Mayor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all councillors, former Mayors, officers and officials of MCC, specifically sanitation workers and all citizens for their cooperation and reaffirmed their collective commitment to building a cleaner, greener, and healthier Chandigarh.

While expressing his heartfelt gratitude to all former Commissioners, Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, acknowledged their significant contributions in helping the city reach this remarkable milestone in the Swachh Survekshan journey. He emphasized that the collective efforts, vision, and dedication of past leadership laid a strong foundation for sustained cleanliness and innovation in urban sanitation. Their commitment has played a pivotal role in shaping Chandigarh’s success in the national cleanliness rankings, and their legacy continues to inspire ongoing efforts towards a cleaner, greener city.

Chandigarh, July 17:

The Government of Punjab intends to bring in a new industrial policy that will be the best in India and will pave the way for providing a progressive climate for industrial growth and employment generation in Punjab. The policy will be designed after extensive consultation with various industries, said Sanjeev Arora.

As a first step, the Government of Punjab is ready to notify  the sector-specific committees to allow for a structured and collaborative engagement between industry and the Government. These committees shall function for a period of 2 years from the date of notification, extendable upon the discretion of the Government.

List of Sectors:

1.       Textile-Spinning & Weaving, Apparel Manufacturing, Dyeing & Finishing

2.       IT Sector

3.       Sports/Leather Goods

4.       Machine Tools

5.       Bicycle Industry

6.       Auto & Auto Components

7.       Heavy Machinery

8.       Electric Vehcles

9.       Renewable Energy

10.     Food Processing & Dairy

11.     Steel & Rolling Mills

12.     Furniture & Ply Industry

13.     Plasting & Chemical Products

14.     Logistic & Warehousing

15.     Tourism & Hospitality

16.     Film Media

17.     Pharmaceuticals/Bio-Technology

18.     Hospitals & Health Care

19.     Universities/Coaching institutions

20.     Start Ups

21.     Retail

22.     ESDM-Electronic Systems Design & Manufacturing

He further informed that the first task for each of the committees will be to provide the Government with a structured set of inputs on Punjab’s current industrial climate in their specific sectors, and recommendations for the new industrial policy keeping in mind Punjab’s unique structural and fiscal context. The committees are expected to submit these recommendations in writing with in 45 days of notification of said committes.

Each committee shall have a Chairperson and approximately 8-10 members from the industry, however more members may be added at the discretion of the Government. Members will be diverse in size, scale and geography to ensure all views are tabled during discussions. Members will also represent different sub-segments of the overall sector, he added.

Furthermore, he highlighted that each committee shall conduct its own meetings/discussions; however Secretariat support shall be provided through an Additional District Commissioner who will act as Secretary to the Committee, a GM DIC from Department of I&C and the relevant sector officer from PBIP who may assist the Committee with relevant data and information, as necessary. The Government reserves the right to modify the membership and the Terms of Reference of the committees as deemed fit from time to time.

Chandigarh, July 17:

The Managing Committee of Sri Guru Ravidas Temple, Hastings, New Zealand, felicitated Jasvir Singh Garhi, Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission, during his personal visit to New Zealand.

Mr Garhi was honoured for his continuous efforts to raise awareness among Scheduled Castes about their rights and for his dedication to addressing issues affecting the community.

On this occasion, the Managing Committee was represented by President Shri Raman Kant, Vice-President Jaswinder Kumar, Secretary Joga Singh, Deputy Secretary Ravi Kumar Mehmi, Treasurer Manjit Sandhu, Deputy Treasurer Jaswinder Sahjal, along with members Ramjit Singh, Charandas, Tehal Ram, Mahinder Pal, Sohan Lal, Gurbaksh Kaur, Kashmir Kaur, Neelam Rani, Hema Chumbar, Gurpreet Mall, Manjit Sandhu, Surinder Mahi, and others were present.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, July 17:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module with links to Pakistan and arrested one of its operative after recovering 10 .30 bore sophisticated pistols along with magazines from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

          The arrested person has been identified as Harjinder Singh, a resident of village Dall in Tarn Taran. The latter is a notorious narcotics smuggler with two cases pertaining to NDPS act has been registered against him, and recently bailed-out from Jail.

          The development came a fortnight after CI Amritsar had busted a similar cross-border narcotics and illegal arms smuggling module with the arrest of its three operatives— Sarabjit Singh and Kulwinder Singh, both residents of Ferozepur, and Ashmandeep Singh of Tarn Taran— and recovered eight sophisticated weapons, 1 kg heroin and Rs 2.9 lakh drug money from their possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused has been working in collusion with Pak-based smuggler, who has been using drones to drop weapon consignments from across the border. The arrested accused was further distributing the arms to criminals and gangsters across Punjab with intention to fuel criminal activities in the state, he said.

          Sharing operation details, the DGP said that teams of CI Amritsar received specific intelligence about retrieval of weapons consignments from the Indo-Pak border area falling near the village Dall in Tarn Taran. Acting swiftly, police teams have intercepted the suspect Harjinder Singh from near Bohru Pul at Amritsar-Jhabal road, when he was going to deliver the consignment to some party, and recovered illegal weapons from his possession, he said.

          Further investigations are underway to establish backward and forward linkages in this case and identify the person, who was supposed to receive the consignment.

          A case FIR No. 39 dated 17-07-2025 has been registered under sections 25, 25(1)(A) and 25(1)(B) of the Arms Act and section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.