IEP Chandigarh, August 29

Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the fake Scheduled Caste certificate of Jaswinder Singh, son of Mr. Gurmeet Singh, who posted an Agricultural Development Officer at Guru Har Sahai (Ferozepur), has been invalidated by the state-level scrutiny committee established by the Punjab Government.

Providing details,  Cabinet Minister stated that a complaint was lodged by Balbir Singh son of Nirmal Singh village Alampur Post Office Kauli, Tehsil and District Patiala with the Principal Secretary of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities. In this complaint it was revealed that Jaswinder Singh son of Gurmeet Singh had obtained the fake Scheduled Caste certificate.

Furthermore, the minister added that Jaswinder Singh actually belongs to the Kamboj caste, but he has obtained the fake Scheduled Caste to belonging to Balmik caste. He has secured the job of  Agricultural Development Officer in the Agriculture Department at Guru Har Sahai (Ferozpur).

Dr. Baljit Kaur shared that Jaswinder Singh, son of Gurmeet Singh, was born on 12.05.1969 and was legally adopted by Inder Singh on 22.8.1989. Regarding the contentious matter of Jaswinder Singh’s adoption, no documentation has been provided concerning an inquiry conducted by him by the District Magistrate. Jaswinder Singh had filed a lawsuit against his biological parents in the Court of Hon’ble Civil Judge Jalalabad. His certificates, issued by the Punjab School Education Board, include the Matriculation Examination (March 1985) and Senior Secondary Education Part-II (April 1989) certificates, on which certificate wrote the name Jaswinder Singh son of Gurmeet Singh.

According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, after reviewing the report from the Vigilance Cell, the State Level Scrutiny Committee confirmed that Mr. Jaswinder Singh’s Scheduled Caste Certificate is fraudulent and has revoke it.

The minister stated that  department has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur, requesting the cancellation and confiscation of Jaswinder Singh’s Scheduled Caste Certificate No. 466, dated 21st January 1995.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is dedicated to safeguarding the interests of the Scheduled Caste  in the state.

IEP Chandigarh, August 28:

Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Monday said that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has suspended an Additional SE and two SDOs for misappropriation of material, following Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government’s zero tolerance policy towards corruption.

Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that taking a serious note of cases of corruption by some officers of PSPCL in the recent past, swift action was taken against one Additional SE Sukhdarshan Pal Singh, and SDOs Gian Singh and Harmandeep Singh, who were accused of misappropriation of PSPCL material such as ACSR conductor and 66 kV Cable. He said that these officials were suspended after preliminary enquiry by PSPCL in two separate cases.

Power Minister further added that in these cases involvement of Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers along with other officials is also being investigated and anyone found guilty shall not be spared.  “Corrupt practices by any employee at any level of the Power Department will not be tolerated, and strict action shall be taken against delinquent officials and employees in future also”, he added.

Reiterating Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s  commitment to the state a corruption free state, Power Minister said that the state government has taken against more than 400 corrupt persons during last on and half year, and none including any politician or official was spared in any corruption case

IEP Chandigarh, August 28

Under the Guidance of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, every possible relief is being given to the flood affected villages.

Divulging the details,Punjab Water Resources Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that the department has remained on toes during the recent floods. All officials have been doing their duties day & night to provide all possible relief to those affected. The effeciency of the department was clearly seen during plugging the breach of bandh of river Sutlej in Village Ghuram, District Tarn Taran.

The minister said that a combined peak flow of 2,84,947 cusecs water, that was released from Bhakhra Dam and Pong Dam passed through Harike Headworks into River Sutlej from 12 noon on 18.08.2023 to 07:00 a.m. on 19.08.2023

This high flow persisted for 19 hours, putting immense pressure on the bandhs of the river, which were already saturated by the floods in July. On the night of 18th and 19th the continuous high discharge started tearing off large chunks of the right Bandh of the river in Tarn Taran District. 

Meet Hayer added that desperate preventive measures were taken by the local villagers, departmental staff and machinery along about 1000 feet length of the bandh, throughout the night of 19th. The department was able to save most of the bandh stretch, but when the river water started to recede at a rapid pace on 19th afternoon, this decline in river discharge and level lead to the sloughing of saturated earth of the bank and the already fragile river bandh breached.

Restoration work started immediately. Multiple teams of department supplied earth filled bags at the site from different districts of Punjab like Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Amritsar. A total of 2.66 lacs earth filled bags were provided by fellow Division Offices at the Breach Site and all the officers of the department worked with team spirit and rose to the occasion in this time of emergency. The Breach of 350 feet length and average depth of about 28 feet has been plugged on 28.08.2023 . Materials such as empty cement bags and steel wire were provided by the department, and the social organisations chipped in with a significant component of the labour.

IEP Chandigarh, August 28

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, who is also the Leader of the House, clarified that the work of Wardbandi in local bodies is being done as per the recommendations of the Haryana State Backward Commission. Two bases have been considered for Wardbandi. For determining the number of wards in local bodies, the population size obtained according to the Family Information Data Repository (FIDR) or 140 percent of the voters, whichever is higher, will be considered as the base. In addition, the population variation in wards has been increased from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. After Panchayats, now BC (A) will be given the benefit of reservation in civic elections also, said Sh. Manohar Lal while speaking during the discussion on the Haryana Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill on the second day of the Monsoon Session here today.

The Chief Minister said that the Haryana Municipal Corporation (Amendment), Ordinance has considered FIDR for the population, which is a repository prepared under the Parivar Pehchan Authority Act. As far as reservation is concerned, the government formed the Haryana State Backward Commission, which made some recommendations. According to the recommendations made regarding population, 50 percent of the percentage of BC (A) population will be given reservation in civic bodies. If there are 20 seats, then one seat will be reserved for BC (A) according to 5 percent of the population. Even if the BC (A) population is 2 per cent, the government has made sure to reserve at least one seat there also.

He said that earlier the election of the chairman were held by the councillors only, so we had reserved 2 seats so that the election could be done from among them. But now the election of the chairman are held directly, therefore even though the BC (A) population is 2 per cent, we have made sure to reserve at least one seat.

The Chief Minister said that in the recently held Panchayat elections, 6-7 seats were left where the ward belonged to BC (A), but there was not a single voter of BC (A), so we had to conduct by-elections on those seats. , in which people from other wards had to contest elections.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that the aim of giving reservation to BC (A) is to increase the political participation of this class in the political scenario. Government has given reservation to BC (A) in Panchayat elections and the general public has welcomed this initiative of ours, added the Chief Minister.

IEP Chandigarh, August 27

          The Punjab Government, which is constantly striving to create a sports and sportsmen-friendly atmosphere, will be awarding the players with cash prizes, who were earlier deprived of the cash prize money of the last five years on the occasion of the National Sports Day.

          On the instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the sports department has prepared a list of 1807 medal winners from Punjab who have been deprived of cash prize money since 2017. The Chief Minister will felicitate these 1807 players with a total prize money of Rs 5.94 Cr at the opening ceremony of the season-2 of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Day’ at Bathinda on August 29.

          In a press communiqué released here today, Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that it had cone to the notice of the Punjab Government that there were many sportsmen in the state, who despite winning medals, did not receive cash prize money for the last five years. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann directed that the sports department to prepare a list of these players and give them their due rights. The sports department has prepared a list of 1807 such players from the year 2017 till now, whose total prize money is Rs 5,94,45,400 (5.94 Cr). These players have brought glory to the state by winning medals in state, national and international competitions.

          The Sports Minister said that now the Chief Minister will award cash prizes to these players at the opening ceremony of the season-2 of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ at Bathinda on August 29 on the occasion of National Sports Day. He said that a new sports policy has been made by the sports department and in the coming years any sportsperson will be given their due respect immediately.

          Divulging the details of cash prize winning 1807 players, Meet Hayer said that 997 players of the year 2017-18 will get Rs 1.58 Cr, 135 players of 2018-19 will get Rs 47.96 lakh, 287 players of 2019-20 will receive Rs 1.75 Cr, 51 players of 2020-21 will honour with Rs.19.05 lakhs, 203 players of 2021-22 will get Rs.1.32 Cr and 10 players who won medals from services in the 36th National Games held last year will honour with Rs.41 lakh. Thus a total of 1807 players will be awarded with Rs. 5,94,45,400 (5.94 Cr)

IEP Chandigarh, August 27

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday handed over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom on August 19 in a road accident at Leh (Ladakh).

          After visiting the native houses of these martyrs, the Chief Minister said that nine valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country at leh. He said that unfortunately out of these martyrs, two sons from Punjab including Ramesh Lal of Village Sarsiri (Faridkot) and Taran Deep Singh from Bassi Pathana had also attained martyrdom. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular.

          During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul. Handing over cheques worth Rs 1 crore to the distressed families as a mark of respect for the unprecedented sacrifice made by these heroes for the country, he said that the entire country is indebted to these martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and its people.

          The Chief Minister said that this humble initiative of the state government is in recognition of the immense contribution of these sons of soil towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to help the families of the soldiers who sacrifice their life at the altar of the motherland, he said that it is the bounden duty of the Punjab government. Bhagwant Mann said that financial assistance to these families of martyrs is in consonance with the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of the soldiers and their families who attained martyrdom during the duty.

          The Chief Minister also announced suitable jobs for the kin of the Martyrs on compassionate grounds according to the policy. He said that the supreme sacrifice of these martyrs will ever inspire their fellow soldiers and youngsters to perform their duties with far more devotion and commitment. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that this healing touch of the state will go a long way in helping the aggrieved family on one hand and securing their future on the other. Likewise, he envisioned that it will also encourage the youth to join the Armed forces to serve their motherland in a selfless manner.

          Meanwhile, at Antim Ardass of Martyr Taran deep Singh at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Chief Minister while giving the cheque of the financial help, announced job for his sister after due verification of certificates and construct a stadium equipped with synthetic track and other ultra modern facilities after the name of the Martyr so that other youngsters could be motivated and qualified for the recruitment of Armed Forces.

          However, at village Sarsiri (Faridkot), the Chief Minister announced a job for wife of the Martyr Ramesh Lal and construct a stadium in the village apart from the monetary support, besides revamping the dispensary of the village and Panjgrain to Nangal road to be renamed after the martyr.

IEP Chandigarh, August 27:

In view of the increasing cases of religious intolerance in the country, School Education Minister Punjab Harjot Singh Bains has ordered to educate Students about mutual brotherhood in daily morning assembly in the schools of the state to strengthen the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood and peace in the young minds.

          Terming the incident in a private school in Uttar Pradesh as unfortunate, Mr. Bains said that this threatens the unity and integrity of the country. He said that Punjab is already following the path of communalism shown by the Gurus, but still due to the influence of social media and other means of communication, to prevent arise of religious intolerance in our Students, schools in the state of Punjab.To prevent arise of religious intolerance in our Students, schools in the state of Punjab. The students should have educate  about religious harmony in  uring the morning assembly  prayers .

          In its orders Mr. Bains said that teachers should educate the students about the good things of different religions and teach them to respect all religions. He said that this decision will prove helpful in increasing religious harmony and communal unity in the state.

          He has also ordered departmental officials to issue instructions in this regard.