Chandigarh, January 3

Taking a leap forward in Livestock care with digital initiative, the Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on Friday, launched the department’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page under the name of “Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab”. This initiative aims to increase the flow of accurate and authentic information, guiding state livestock farmers on proper management and care of animals.

The Animal Husbandry Minister said that experts will also be holding a live session every Monday dedicated to livestock farming. During these sessions, all livestock farmers will be encouraged to participate and ask questions. The direct communication between experts and farmers will enhance the overall productivity and welfare of livestock in the region.

The primary objective of this digital initiative is to assist livestock owners and stakeholders in achieving more economical and ethical livestock farming practices in Punjab, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said while adding that it will facilitate easier access and improved communication for farmers regarding daily activities, vaccination, biosecurity measures, prevention of livestock diseases and better feeding practices for animals.

He further said that the platforms will also cover essential information on clinical signs of significant livestock diseases, prevention and control measures, and prevention of common zoonotic diseases in animals. Additionally, livestock farmers will be informed about common laboratory tests available for different species of animals at District Polyclinics and Animal Health Institute in Jalandhar.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the livestock farmers will be sensitised about the common laboratory tests available for different species of animals at the District Polyclinics and Animal Health Institute in Jalandhar. They will also receive timely suggestions from experts on pressing issues including summer stress, the calving season, regular deworming of animals, common parasitic diseases, mastitis, brucellosis, repeat breeding and other economically significant infectious and management problems affecting animals.

Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department, Mr. Rahul Bhandari, apprised the Cabinet Minister that 4 to 5 videos will be posted on these platforms every week to keep livestock owners updated and online sessions with experts will also be organised for the livestock farmers.

Director Animal Husbandry Dr. GS Bedi, Deputy Director Dr. Bikramjit Singh, Assistant Directors Dr. Parampal Singh and Dr. Lakhwinder Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, January 3

          The Punjab Government has launched first-of-its-kind initiative ‘Online NRI Meeting’ across the country to resolve complaints of NRIs. Under this service, the state government is resolving various complaints received by NRIs quickly and appropriately and efforts will be continuously continued for immediate resolution of complaints.

          Disclosing this, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that today he listened more than 100 complaints of NRIs and gave instructions to the concerned civil and police officers to resolve them on the spot. He said that the complaints received today were related to Punjabis living in America, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy and Africa, which were related to property, illegal possession and marriage matters.

          On the occasion of the second online NRI meeting held at 11:00 am today, S. Dhaliwal said that through this unique service, the Punjab government will continuously resolve the complaints of NRIs. He said that an online meeting will be held in the first week of every month to hear the complaints of NRIs.

          S. Dhaliwal said that the DCs and SSPs of all districts have been asked to resolve the complaints of NRIs on priority basis. He said that orders have been issued to all the Deputy Commissioners to coordinate with various departments at the district level to resolve the issues of migrants.

          On this occasion, ADGP NRI Wing Punjab Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha, AIG Mr. Ajinder Singh and senior officers of the NRI department were present.

Chandigarh, January 3

          Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced today a significant increase in the prize money for the Punjab State Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2025, now set at a whopping 10 Crore Rupees. He said that this strategic move has been designed to give tough competition to the lotteries from other states, besides offering a thrilling opportunity to win big Prize while contributing to the state’s development.

          Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader vision to boost state revenue and ensure that Punjab’s lottery market remains competitive and attractive. “Participating in the Punjab State Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2025 is truly a win-win opportunity for the people of the state. Not only do they stand a chance to win substantial prizes, but the revenue generated from these government lotteries is directly funneled into developmental projects that benefit the entire state,” said the Finance Minister.

          The Finance Minister said that the increased prize money is expected to catapult the Lohri Bumper to the forefront, posing a formidable challenge to lotteries from other states, thereby significantly boosting the revenue collected from the lottery. “These funds will be used for various developmental initiatives across Punjab, including infrastructure improvements, educational programs, and healthcare services”, he added.

          Giving details of prizes, the Finance Minister said that the Rs. 500 lottery ticket offers an enticing prize structure, with the first prize winner receiving a staggering Rs. 10 crore, followed by Rs. 1 crore for the second prize, Rs. 50 lakh for the third, and progressively lower amounts for subsequent ranks. The lottery offers a total of 68,819 prizes with a total prize amount of Rs. 23,47,90,000.

          The Finance Minister emphasized that the Punjab Government has been proactively implementing innovative strategies to bolster the state’s own revenue receipts. He said that this approach has been aimed to propel Punjab onto a higher growth trajectory, fostering an era of unprecedented prosperity.

Chandigarh/Shutrana, January 3

Punjab Water Resources and Water & Soil Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Goyal, on Friday, inaugurated various development projects costing over Rs.70 crore to ensure water supply for drinking and irrigation up to tail-ends in the Shilutrana constituency.

Sh. Goyal also laid the foundation stones at Shutrana, Sadharanpur and Kalwanu for concrete lining of Rasouli Minor, Karmgarh Link-2 Canal System, Choa Link-2 Canal System, Minor No. 3 and 5, Bishangrah and Atalan Minors. While congratulating local folks on receiving 1.5 times more canal water than before, the Cabinet Minister announced that all works would be completed within two months, benefiting over 75,000 acres during the paddy season. He said that this would help conserve electricity and groundwater by reducing tubewell usage.

Water Resources Minister said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has successfully preserved depleting groundwater by ensuring water supply to tail-end areas.

“Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s promise of providing canal water to every field in Punjab is being fulfilled”, said the Cabinet Minister, criticizing previous dispensations for neglecting the Ghaggar issue. He said that Mann government is making serious efforts in this direction to solve the problem.

The Water Resources Minister urged the public to fulfill their duty towards water conservation as the Punjab government is implementing numerous schemes in light of predictions that groundwater will be further depleted by 2037. He also appealed to all farmers to come forward to save groundwater by taking advantage of government schemes and subsidies for underground pipelines. He also urged people to vacate occupied government land.

Barinder Goyal stated that the union government is not providing any cooperation to Punjab, causing delays in initiating canal water projects, while the Punjab government has launched drinking water supply projects in 85 cities of the state.

While responding to a query about the union government’s lack of response to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike, the Cabinet Minister condemned the Center for betraying farmers and the state of Punjab. The union government is determined to destroy farming and Punjab, he categorically added.

Praising local MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal noted his effective representation of constituency issues in the assembly.

MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar thanked Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, saying that the Punjab government has removed the stigma of backwardness from the Shutrana constituency. He lamented that previous governments had ignored the constituency’s decades-old demands, but now all work is being done on a priority.

Prominent amongst others who were present during the function included ADC (G) Isha Singal, SDM Ashok Kumar, Malkeet Singh Parta, Mahinga Singh Brar, Suresh Sharma, Block President Buta Singh Virk, Ranjit Singh President Truck Union, Madan Lal Goyal, Canal Department (BML) Superintending Engineer Ankit Dheer, Executive Engineer Gundeep Singh Dhaliwal, SDO Swaran Singh, Tehsildar Harsimaranjit Singh along with other prominent figures of the the area.

To improve livestock productivity and promote agricultural sustainability, the Punjab Government will encourage collaborative initiatives to incorporate alfalfa into the state’s forage system, addressing the challenges related to fodder production, said S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Food Processing, Punjab.

He was addressing the Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Forage Solutions: Alfalfa– Mechanisation, Production & Marketing organised by Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited (PAIC) in collaboration with Namostute Innovators LLP (NSI) and Team Athena here at the CII Northern Region Headquarters.

While emphasising the importance of innovative solutions to tackle fodder scarcity and enhance livestock productivity, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian mentioned that Punjab Agro has cultivated alfalfa forage across 60 acres in Ladhowal (Ludhiana). By promoting its cultivation, the state aims to offer farmers a sustainable and cost-effective feed source, which can result in healthier animals and increased milk production.

Punjab Agro has partnered with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to help farmers get right nutrition information. Alfalfa forage cultivation offers numerous benefits, including high nutritional value and improved livestock health. Additionally, it enhances soil health by fixing nitrogen and features a deep root system that allows it to access moisture from deeper soil layers. This resilience makes alfalfa more adaptable to drought conditions, ensuring a reliable forage supply even during dry periods, he added.

While reiterating the state’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and feed solutions, Additional Managing Director of PAIC, Mr. Jagnoor Singh Grewal, emphasised alfalfa farming as a high-nutrition forage crop that complements silage to ensure year-round fodder availability for livestock. Alfalfa is recognised for its high nutritional value, making it an ideal forage crop for livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. As a three-year crop that can be cut six to eight times a year, alfalfa can improve the overall health of the farming system. It helps break pest and disease cycles and enhances the yields of subsequent crops.

Dr. Daniel H. Putnam, Alfalfa & Forage Extension Specialist from the University of California, Davis, delivered a keynote address on global best practices in alfalfa cultivation. The event also witnessed active participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from dairy farms, stud farms, goat farms, piggery units, and poultry farms. Leading players in the dairy and agri-food industries, such as Nestlé, Amul, Milkfed, ITC, Unilever, and Bani Milk, also attended the conference. Academicians, Scientist and Senior researchers from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University played a pivotal role in the discussions from crop agronomy and animal nutrition perspective.