IEP Chandigarh, June 26     

     In compliance with the instructions of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, a one-day training workshop was organized by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat for nodal officers from various departments. This workshop marks another significant stride towards making the entire proceedings of the house paperless.          During the workshop, the Nodal Officers, appointed by the Administrative Secretaries of different departments, given detailed information about the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) and the website, which will facilitate the sharing of all relevant information related to the house.          Addressing the nodal officers in the Regional Hall, Vidhan Sabha Secretary Mr. Ram Lok Khatana emphasized that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann and Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, the upcoming session of the assembly would be truly unique. It would be the first of its kind in history to be conducted entirely electronically.          Mr. Khatana urged the nodal officers to extend their full support in ensuring the success of this mission, while highlighting that by making the proceedings of the house paperless, not only will it save time for all departments, but it will also contribute to the government’s environmental conservation efforts.          Furthermore, he stated that besides the house proceedings, the functioning of the legislative committees will also be made paperless, and all records of the house will be digitized.          The workshop included training sessions conducted by Mr. Vivek Verma, SIO, NIC Punjab, and other officers. They provided instruction on various modules of NeVA to the nodal officers, who were also briefed about the procedure for replying to notices sent by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.          Senior officials of the Vidhan Sabha and NIC Punjab were also present during the workshop.

IEP CHANDIGARH, June 26

To mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday joined hundreds of people in taking pledge titled “Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs” for making drug-free world during an event organised by Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib (Himachal Pradesh). The event was organised at Sukhna Lake here to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse.The Health Minister, who was accompanied by International shooter Gauri Sheron, Director of Akal Drug De-Addiction Centres Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh and President of Kalgidhar Trust Dr Davinder Singh also took part in the massive ‘Hand Impression Campaign against Drug Abuse’, where approximately 300 participants, including children, staff, and the general public, left their colourful hand impressions on a 20-foot canvas. This symbolic gesture represented their united stand against drug abuse and their determination to eradicate this menace from society.Dr Balbir Singh, while terming the drug addiction as a vicious trap, said that with changing lifestyles, people— especially youth and school children— are falling into the trap of drugs as their families do not spend quality time with them leading them to depression and anxiety. “Nowadays, parents could buy their children all the luxuries including gadgets and fancy vehicles, but they don’t spend quality time with them, which is the wrong attitude,” he said, while asking parents to introspect.Human beings are social animals, who don’t need money and luxuries, but quality time with the family, he said, while urging parents to have at least one meal with their children.The Health Minister urged people to show sympathy and empathy towards drug addicts or patients of substance use disorders. “If we get to know anyone in our neighbourhood consuming drugs, we should ask them why they are doing this and should lend a helping hand by exhorting them to do meditation, exercise or yoga,” he said.Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh, who is also a renowned social activist and psychiatrist emphasised on the importance of saying no to drugs and embracing a drug-free life. Dr Davinder Singh expressed his gratitude to all the participants and attendees for their active involvement in raising awareness about drug abuse.Meanwhile, Students from Akal College of Nursing performed a mime act that vividly portrayed the detrimental effects of drug abuse.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26     

     Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said that as per the directions of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Government has decided to double the War Jagir from the existing Rs 10,000 per annum to Rs 20,000 per annum under the Punjab War Awards Act, 1948.          Revealing this, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema said that after June 2013, no increase was made in War Jagir during the last 10 years. He said that the amount of Rs 10,000 being awarded annually is insignificant under the current level of inflation. He said that it is the duty of the government to increase the War Jagir for the parents of the heroes of the country keeping in view the current level of inflation.          The Finance Minister further added that the proposal sent by the Defense Services Welfare Department in this regard has been approved by the Finance Department. He said that the Punjab government is indebted to those parents who had encouraged their sons to join Indian Army for safeguarding the country during national crises.          It may be mentioned here that the parents, who are residents of Punjab and whose only son or 2 to 3 sons served in the Indian Army during World War II, National Emergency 1962 and National Emergency 1971, are being awarded an annual War Jagir by the Punjab Government as an honour.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26

  In order to make the people at grass-root level an active partner in decision making of government, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that like ‘Kisan Sarkar Milni’, the state government will now organise ‘Village (Pind) Sarkar milni’ to give boost to development works in villages. Chairing a meeting here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that these Milnis will be organised at district headquarters in Majha, Malwa and Doaba region of the state. He said that in these milnis the panchayats will apprise the officers about the development works to be started in their villages. Bhagwant Mann asked the Rural Development and Panchayat department to make elaborate Arrangements for making this event a huge success. The Chief Minister said that these milnis will be organised twice a week in the Malwa region of the state and once in a week in Doaba and Majha regions. He said that this will help in resolution of pity issues of the villages that are pending at the  level of the officers and have been hitherto not resolved. Bhagwant Mann said that the government will also solicit views of the panchayats that had taken path breaking initiatives to develop their villages on scientific lines. The Chief Minister envisioned that like Kisan Sarkar milni this scheme will go a long way in transforming the villages of the state into development hubs. He said Kisan Sarkar milni had already proved useful for resolving the issues faced by farmers of the state. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that village sarkaar milni will go a long way in further ensuring holistic development of the villages. On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Harpal Cheem, Laljit Singh Bhullar and  Balkar Singh, ACS to CM A Venu Prasad and others were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26

An IAS officer of the 1993 batch, Mr. Anurag Verma has been appointed the new Chief Secretary of Punjab. He would be the 42nd incumbent to serve on the prestigious post. The orders to this effect were issued today by the Punjab Government. The orders would come into effect from July 1st, 2023 when Mr. Verma would assume charge as the new incumbent in place of Mr. Vijay Kumar Janjua who is retiring on June 30th, 2023.At present, Mr. Anurag Verma is posted as the Additional Chief Secretary Home, Industries & Commerce, Legal and Legislative Affairs, Information Technology and Investment Promotion. As per the new orders, Mr. Verma would also hold the additional charge of Principal Secretary Personnel as well as Vigilance along with the Chief Secretary.Born in a family of academicians at Patiala, Mr. Anurag Verma’s father served as the Professor of Chemistry and his mother as English teacher. His native village is Chalela in Patiala district. A Gold Medalist from the Thapar College, Patiala in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mr. Anurag Verma bagged overall 7th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1993.After rendering excellent and efficient services as Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts during the field posting, he also excelled while discharging his duty in various departments at the Head Office.As Special Secretary Revenue, he took the exceptional initiative of computerization of revenue land records and introduction of Fard Kendras in the state. He also played an important role in increasing the revenue due to his efficiency and hard working nature while serving as Excise and Taxation Commissioner, making tax payment easy and transparent for people being his crowning achievements.While serving as the Finance Commissioner for Rural Development and Panchayat, he implemented the MGNREGA scheme effectively at the ground level. Not stopping at this, he created a healthy sporting environment by getting constructed playgrounds and sports parks in more than 1000 villages of the state.Assuring to discharge the responsibility assigned by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with due diligence and devotion, Mr. Anurag Verma said that implementation of people friendly initiatives commenced by the State Government at the grassroots level will be his top priority. He said that along with the outstanding work being done by the State Government in the health, education sector, and the transparent and better citizen centric services being provided to the residents of the state will be continued in a more effective manner.  Besides, all round development of the state will be ensured and people’s grievances would be resolved on priority basis.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday dated President of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) to explain that except blaming him what else they had done in the specially convened session of body. In a statement issued here, the Chief Minister said that it is surprising that the specially called session was used only as a platform for criticising him. Bhagwant Mann said that he failed to understand that why the issue of free to air telecast/ broadcast of the sacred Gurbani took a backseat in the session. He said that rather the session was nothing more than an assembly of leaders to shield the family ruling the roost in SGPC. The Chief Minister said Harjinder Singh Dhami was just acting as a Chief Spokesperson of the Shiromani Akali Dal Badal by toeing the line of his masters. He said that this is unfortunate that instead of dwelling a serious issue related to spreading the message of sacred Gurbani, the SGPC session has been merely confined to his backbiting. Bhagwant Mann said that people are aware of everything and they know that how SGPC and it’s President is acting as a stooge of the family at helms of affairs in SAD (Badal). 

IEP Chandigarh, June 26

In a major step towards launching environment friendly public transport in state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday gave nod for launching pilot project for e-Vehicle from Ludhiana and Jalandhar along with that of e-autos from Amritsar.Chairing a meeting here to review various development projects in 47 cities of the state, the Chief Minister said that apart from providing best facilities of public transport to people these facilities will also play a pivotal role in the protection of the environment. He said that the e-Vehicle service will be launched in the cities of Ludhiana and Jalandhar as pilot projects adding that e-autos will be introduced as pilot projects in Amritsar. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that these modes of public transport will also go a long way in solving the problem of traffic congestion in these cities.The Chief Minister further said that in a step aimed at solving the problem of stray cattle, the state government will soon launch a pilot project in Bathinda and Patiala districts. He said that it will be a great reprieve to the people as it will help in saving their previous lives. Bhagwant Mann said that the stray cattle menace poses a grave threat to the life of people due to fatal road accidents.The Chief Minister further said that in order to ascertain the need of carrying on any development work for the first time the state government has implemented a project to assess the need for work through ‘Artificial Intelligence’.  He said that as a pilot project this has been introduced in Amritsar for development works. Bhagwant Mann said that this model will be replicated in other districts too for ensuring need based development works in the state. The Chief Minister also reviewed the proposed projects worth more than Rs 1000 crore to be implemented in various cities adding that it will give a major facelift to these cities. He said that 100% water supply through canals will be ensured in these 47 cities through a project of Rs 762.45 crore. Bhagwant Mann said that the work on this ambitious project is likely to commence by August this year.  On the occasion Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh, ACS to CM A. Venu Prasad and others were also present.

IEP Chandigarh“

The studies clearly prove that even in lethal diseases like cancer, generic  drugs are very effective. And again, in transplant, in preventing rejection of transplant, generic drugs are equally effective, and that too, at one fifth of the  price of their counterpart in branded category.. The yardstick is to procure right generic medicines from the right chemist, ”stated Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER* at a press conference organised to deliberate on the issue of efficacy and other misconceptions regarding generic drugs, here at PGIMER today.Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director(Administration) & Official Spokesperson, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER were also present on the occasion. Deliberating about the efficacy of the generic drugs, Prof. Lal cited  evidence from a published study, ‘Real world experience with “generic”pomalidomide in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma,’ as he  shared,” In India, only generic counterpart of the pomalidomide is available and not the original one as its very expensive. So FDI is using only generic counterparts. As per the study cited, there is a superior response to generic drugs as compared to the innovative drug available in the USA. The encouraging experience adds evidence to the efficacy of the generic drug even in such challenging patients such as  multiple myeloma. “Director PGIMER further quoted another published study ‘Cost and complications are limitations in resource-constrained settings for equine anti-thymocyte globulin’ when he said , “We are a leading public sector hospital in organ transplant and we celebrated 50 years of renal transplant on 21st June. The most important part of transplantation is preparing a patient for transplant, otherwise, the patient’s body rejects the kidney. In that preparation, the most important drug to prepare a patient for transplant is a drug called antithymocyte globulin, ATG. This study, again published from PGI, has proven that not only is generic effective, preparing a patient for transplant and preventing subsequent rejection, even half dose generic, is as effective as the innovative drugs available across the globe.”Dispelling the myth about quality control in Jan Aushdhi Centres, Director PGIMER stated, “Outside USA, India has the maximum number of FDA approved factories in the world. We at PGIMER take drugs from WHO approved plants and then every batch will be checked by NABL labs at regular intervals. So, quality is ensured at Jan Aushdhi Centres and its difficult to ensure the same quality when medicine is taken from any other pharmacy store as ethics of the owner of the pharmacy also impact the quality.”   Highlighting further, the Director PGIMER said, “The Institute prefers to procure generic drugs and a testimony to the same is the fact that during the year 2022-23, the total drugs purchased by PGIMER comprised 88% of generic drugs and only 12% of the branded drugs.” “The total sales from 7 Amrit Pharmacy Centres, the highest in the country in any public sector hospital, for the last three months (April1-June 23) amounted to Rs. 44 crores. The total sales from the two Jan Aushadhi Centres  of PGIMER, which stock only medicines and not surgical appliances as in Amrit Pharmacy, for the same period (April1-June 23) amounted to Rs. 72 lakhs,” the Director further elaborated. The media conference witnessed an engaging discussion and the queries pertaining to the road map for the expansion of Amrit Pharmacies and procurement of medicines were aptly responded by Mr. Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director (Administration) & Official Spokesperson, PGIMER.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26        

  The Minister’s Flying Squad, constituted by Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, caught three conductors for swindling government exchequer and passengers. Among them, one conductor had cheated the passengers of about Rs.1200, while another conductor has been reported in two embezzlement cases in two days.          Divulging further details, Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that during the checking at Khanna, the flying squad checked Bus No. PB-02-EG 4728 of Tarn Taran Depot, wherein conductor Jaskaran Singh was found guilty of not issuing tickets to passengers despite collecting Rs.1170 from them. This bus was bound to Tarn Taran from Delhi. Similarly, during the checking of Bus No. PB-10-HT 2834 of Ludhiana Depot at Haidon, conductor Sanjay Kumar was found to have misappropriated Rs.615, which he collected from the passengers but did not give them tickets in return. One day ago, conductor Sanjay Kumar had caused a financial loss of Rs.283 to the department by not collecting adda fee of three buses, due to which he was replaced and deputed on the bus.          As part of the series of checks in other states, the Cabinet Minister said that the Minister’s Flying Squad conducted checking at Banikhet in Himachal Pradesh, from where conductor Manjit Singh of Bus No. PB-02-EG 0964 of Amritsar-1 Depot has been reported for collecting Rs.490 from passengers and not issuing tickets for the same amount.          S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that apart from this, two buses have also been reported for plying on unscheduled routes during the checking on Phagwara bypass. He said, Bus No. PB-08-EX 0976 of Jalandhar-1 depot and Bus No. PB-07-BQ 5442 of SBS Nagar Depot were carrying only 9 and 6 passengers, respectively due to operating on unscheduled route. The Transport Minister directed the higher authorities for disciplinary action against the reported drivers and conductors.