Category Archives: Chandigarh

Hry CM addresses Jan Samvad at Khandora village, Rewari district

IEP Chandigarh, July 28

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that in the last 9 years, both the Centre and the State Government not only have brought radical governance reforms to make the lives of the common man easier but have also doubled the speed of development.“Because of these radical changes today people are availing the benefits of government schemes without running from pillar to post,” said Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing the Jan Samvad organized at village Khandora of Bawal assembly constituency in Rewari district on Friday evening.On reaching Khandora village, the Chief Minister received a warm welcome from the villagers as they presented him with a traditional turban and with a bouquet. Sh. Manohar Lal also visited the exhibition organized by self-help groups at the venue.Sh. Manohar Lal said that the state government has started a transparent digital system for every work. Referring to the Parivar Pehchan Patra, he said under this ambitious scheme the benefits of all the government welfare schemes and services are being given to the citizens seamlessly.The Chief Minister said that 50 percent of the target being set under the Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana to provide self-employment opportunities to the youth in the state has also been achieved. During the Samvad programme, the Chief Minister also took feedback about the policies of the government. He shared that during the tenure of the present government, 67 youths have got jobs in Khandora village.A Sarpanch of village Rajgarh raised the issue of filling the ponds made for animals in the village with canal water. Taking cognizance of this, Sh. Manohar Lal immediately directed the officers of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department to prepare a project to provide water through canals to all the villages situated on the border of the state.Referring to the development works in Khandora village, the Chief Minister said that the construction of a Jal Ghar, the pipeline for drainage of dirty water, construction of toilets in the school, the line to connect the canal drain to Johar, construction of bus queue shelter in the village; community hall etc will soon be constructed.Responding to the problem of cracks that have occurred in the houses due to rains in the past days, the Chief Minister said that those villagers who have such problems in their houses should register their objections on the Kshatipoorti portal, and appropriate compensation will be provided by the government.Earlier speaking on this occasion, Cooperation and Public Health Engineering Minister, Dr. Banwari Lal apprised the Chief Minister about the development works done in the area.  He said that the people here are getting the benefits of every necessary facility.  The development projects are being given a concrete shape in the village with public participation, he said.OSD to Chief Minister, Sh. Jawahar Yadav, ADGP CID, Sh. Alok Mittal, Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Imran Raza and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion. 

Punjab Health Minister flags off 7 iec vans to sensitize people about ayushman bharat mukh mantri sehat bima yojana

IEP Chandigarh, July 28    

      Aiming to take government’s flagship programme Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana at grassroot level, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday flagged off 7 Information Education and Communication (IEC) Vans to sensitise people about this insurance scheme, besides, enrolling uncovered eligible beneficiaries. The scheme provides insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year.          Dr Balbir Singh, while addressing the media before flagging off vans at Punjab Bhawan here, said that this awareness campaign is aimed at enhancing rural outreach so that every eligible person should get benefit of this flagship scheme. He said that 70 per cent of Punjab’s eligible population has already been enrolled in this scheme and with this awareness campaign Punjab aims to cover hundred percent of the eligible population.          Notably, Punjab covers 44 lakh families under the scheme and has empaneled more than 900 public and private hospitals in Punjab, offering 1579 treatment packages under its coverage. Additionally, beneficiaries can avail treatment pan India at the empanelled hospitals.          Dr Balbir Singh said under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Government is mulling to universalise this health insurance scheme in the near future. “Once the scheme is universalised, every individual could benefit from this insurance scheme by paying a minimal amount as premium,” he said.          Presently, people including Smart Ration Card holders, J-Form holder Farmers, Registered Laborers, Small Traders, Accredited Journalists, and families listed in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 are covered in this scheme.          The Minister also informed that out of the total 44 lakh beneficiary families registered, approximately 16.65 lakh families fall under SECC, with the budget being shared between the Central and State Governments in a 60:40 ratio, while the state solely bears the budget for the remaining 27.35 lakh families. “Over the past 15 months, from March 2022, approximately 5.80 lakh treatment packages worth Rs 730 crores were provided. ” he added.          Divulging more details about the awareness vans, the Health Minister said that this statewide mass contact cum awareness programme would cover all the districts across the state in a phased manner. These awareness vans will mobilise the people for enrolment and facility of e-card generation will also be provided on the spot, he added.          The Health Minister underlined Bhagwant Mann government’s focus on providing the best healthcare facilities to the people, reaching out more aggressively to those in rural areas and the remote areas of the state. He asked the Health department to launch more such mass contact programmes in order to sensitise people towards preventive care.          The Minister thanked the Bank of Baroda, who has supported the campaign by providing services for 2 vans to the department.          Among others, Special Secretary Health Dr Adapa Karthik, CEO State Health Agency Babita Kaler, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Adarshpal Kaur, Deputy Director Dr Sharanjeet Kaur, DGM Bank of Baroda Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Pardeep kumar Yadav, Regional Head Bank of Baroda were present on the occasion.

Punjab Local Bodies minister lays foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 2 crore in Kartarpur constituency

IEP Chandigarh, July 28 

Punjab Local Government Minister Balkar Singh on Friday laid foundation stones of development works worth over Rs 2 crore in villages of Kartarpur besides dedicating CCTV cameras project to people at Phillaur. The Minister also handed over approval letters to the beneficiaries of Awas Yojana in a function held at Bhogpur.The Minister, while laying foundation stone of panchayat Ghar at village Talwandi Bhilan, said that Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would provide all requisite ultra modern facilities in rural belts. He said this endeavour of State government would give a new facelift to panchayat ghars besides making the working of panchayats further efficient.  He said the panchayat ghars at Talwandi Bhilan and Ambgarh would be established at a cost of Rs 20 lakh each while Rs. 30 lakh would be incurred to get newly panchayat Ghar constructed in village Dugri. He said that sewerage treatment pond would be come up in village Ballan at a cost of Rs 84 lakh. Similarly, village Rahimpur is also getting new panchayat ghar and Health & Wellness Centre at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. The Minister said this Health & Wellness Centre would cater to the healthcare related needs of people of several adjoining villages.Earlier, the Minister also handed over approvals to 25 beneficiaries of Awas Yojana. He said that beneficiaries would get a sum of Rs 1.75 lakh for getting their houses constructed under this scheme. He said Punjab Government was making all out efforts to ensure quality health and education services across state by developing Aam Aadmi Clinics and School of Eminence.Meanwhile, in evening the Minister also inaugurated CCTV project in Phillaur. As many as 61 significant locations are being covered by these CCTV cameras, said the Minister adding this initiative would further strengthen the security system in the area. He also inaugurated newly constructed park in the premises of Nagar Council, Phillaur which would further provide environment to people for their routine health related activities besides coming for walk.The Minister said that such parks were being developed in the other areas too to facilitate people. Besides, Rs. 76.46 lakh works inaugurated today another works worth Rs 30 lakh are under progress, said the Minister adding that the Nagar Council has recently approved Rs.5.50 crore for development works in all wards. He said under housing for all Rs 3 crore had already been sanctioned to 166 beneficiaries. Prominent amongst those present during today’s events included Punjab State Container & Warehousih Corporation’s Chairperson Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Aam Aadmi Party leaders Principal Prem Kumar, Jeet Lal Bhatti and officials of concerned departments. 

Punjab agriculture minister directs chief agri officers to ensure maximum help to flood-affected farmers

IEP Chandigarh, July 28  

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Friday directed all the Chief Agriculture Officers of the state to extend maximum help to the flood-affected farmers and ensure that no farmer affected by floods should face any hassle in getting the benefit of free-paddy saplings being provided by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government.The Agriculture Minister was chairing a state-level meeting of all the Chief Agriculture Officers of the State at Kisan Bhawan here.He said that the state government has been striving hard to help out farmers from this natural calamity as per the commitment of Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann as part of which Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has already set up a control room to provide paddy saplings at free of cost to affected farmers. Any farmer, whose crop has been damaged by the floods in the state, can dial “77106-65725” from 8 am to 9.30 pm to avail free paddy saplings, he added.He said that the state government is committed to provide paddy saplings where replantation is required due to floods.The Agriculture Minister also directed the Chief Agriculture Officers to ensure the best quality of seeds and fertilisers to all the farmers. If anyone found compromising with the quality of seeds or fertilisers strict action will be taken against the violator, he warned.Underlining the steps being taken for the welfare of farmers, Special Chief Secretary Agriculture department Mr KAP Sinha apprised the Cabinet Minister that the department has formed teams for checking of spurious seeds and fertilisers and strict action will be initiated against the violators.Secretary Agriculture Mr Arshdeep Singh Thind, Director Agriculture Mr Gurvinder Singh and other senior officials of the Agriculture department were also present in the meeting.   

Punjab government fully committed to boost industry in state to accelerate pace of development: Lal Chand Kataruchak

IEP Chandigarh, July 28 

The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has laid emphasis on providing good governance in every sector and industry forms a very important part of it. Expressing these views here today while addressing a meeting of The Roller flour Millers Association of Punjab under the aegis of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the State Government is fully committed to boost the industry, trade and commerce in Punjab so as to accelerate the pace of development. The Minister also expressed happiness over the fact that after 30 years, such an event is held in Punjab.  In his address, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora emphasized that a robust industry not only runs the economy of the State but also leads to job generation. He assured full support to the roller flour mill industry by the State Government.The roller flour milling industry representatives also put forward their demands on the occasion which pertained to removal of bank guarantee condition if one has to get a single licence for all mandis, Constituting a committee of the Industry representatives and the Punjab Agricultural University to design and implement schemes for better participation of the industry with the farmers and promotion of special varieties of wheat. Both the Ministers assured active consideration to the demands. Amongst those present from Roller Flour Millers Association of Punjab included, Dharminder Singh Gill (President), Anil Popli (Vice President), Dinam Sood (General Secretary), Vipin Mittal (Finance Secretary) and Shubham Goel (Joint Secretary). Amongst those present from Roller Flour Millers Association of India included, Pramod Kumar S (President); Navneet Chitlangia (Senior Vice President), Rohit Khaitan (Honorary Secretary) and Dharmendra Jain.

PUNJAB VIGILANCE BUREAU NABS CLERK WHILE ACCEPTING BRIBE OF RS 6,000

IEP Chandigarh, July 28        

    Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday nabbed a clerk (RC), Prashant Joshi, posted at office of Tehsildar Nakodar in Jalandhar district while accepting a bribe of Rs 6,000.          Divulging the details here today,  an official spokesperson of the VB said that the accused clerk has been arrested on the complaint of Ranvir Singh resident of village Seham in Nakodar Tehsil.          The complaint lodged a complaint with Economic Wing of VB, Ludhiana that the accused clerk had demanded Rs7,000 as a bribe in lieu of Income Certificate and he already took Rs1000 from the complainant.          After preliminary investigation of the complaint, a team of VB laid a trap and arrested the Clerk Prashant Joshi while accepting bribe of Rs 6,000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses.          In this regard, an FIR no 8 dated 28-07-2023 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused clerk Prashant Joshi at Economic Wing of Police Station VB, Ludhiana.

DAWN OF A NEW ERA’ IN THE STATE AS PUNJAB CM WIPES OUT CONTRACTUAL WORD PREFIXED BEFORE 12,710 TEACHERS

IEP Chandigarh, July 28

In a ‘dawn of new era’ in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave a major relief to 12,710 contractual teachers in the Education department by handing over regularisation letters to them thereby fulfilling a major promise with the teaching fraternity.

In a function held at the local Tagore theater, the Chief Minister said that after assuming the charge of office he had laid thrust on regularising the services of these teachers by overcoming all the legal and administrative hiccups. Bhagwant Mann said that the motive was to ensure the secure future of teachers as he firmly believes that if the future of teachers is protected then only they can transform the destiny of the students. He said that the state government had made concerted efforts due to which this historic day is being witnessed today.

Striking an emotional chord with other employees too, the Chief Minister said that the problem of every employee will be solved for which the state government is already making all out efforts. Asserting that he is there to resolve all the issues faced by the teaching fraternity, Bhagwant Mann said that being son of a teacher he knew the problems of the teachers very well adding that he is duty bound to resolve all of them. He said that the state exchequer belongs to the people and every single penny will be judiciously utilised for the well being of every strata of society.

Citing an incident where life of a girl from border village was transformed by his strenuous efforts as an artist, the Chief Minister said that girl was facing severe hardships to pursue education but due to his humble effort she scripted new success story in life adding that if an artist can do this then the head of state can do much more. He said that it was unfortunate that these teachers had to work on meagre salaries and had to protest for their lawful rights due to apathy of successive governments. Bhagwant Mann said that even the workers under MGNREGA used to get more salaries then the teachers due to which he was peeved as it was an atrocity on the nation builders.

The Chief Minister said that this is not a favour on anyone but it is his bounden duty to serve the state and the masses. Bhagwant Mann said that he has been blessed that people of the state have reposed so much trust in him adding that he will make every effort to uphold this faith.  He said that his government is making every effort to ensure the holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.

The Chief Minister said that from now onwards the word contractual will be forever eliminated from before the name of these teachers. He said that every year a 5% increment will be given to these teachers along with other benefits including holidays. Bhagwant Mann said that in another historic initiative the state government has decided that the teachers will only render service related to teaching work and no other non-teaching duty will be assigned to them.

The Chief Minister said that the Union government had demanded 66,000 teachers for conducting the census in the state but he has clearly refused and asked the centre government to rather enrol unemployed youth for this purpose. He said that this will help the youth in getting firsthand knowledge of government work besides enhancing their resume. Bhagwant Mann said that such actions can be taken only by that person who is connected with the people at ground root level. 

The Chief Minister said that the leaders living in the palatial palaces can’t take such decisions as they are not aware of realities at ground level. However, Bhagwant Mann said that though he does not possess such huge houses, the unflinching love and faith of people is his entire property and treasure. He said that when people of the state are with him then nothing else in the form of money and wealth is required.

The Chief Minister said the successive state governments had befooled the people by giving incentives in the last year. He said that these people had looted the people during their regimes and never bothered about their well being. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government is working from day one to ensure the welfare of the people of state.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that these teachers will discharge their services efficiently for imparting education in the state. He said that the day is not far when due to joint efforts of the state government and teachers, Punjab will emerge as a front ranking state in the field of quality education. Bhagwant Mann said that a new revolution is being witnessed in the field of education and all of us are fortunate to be part of it.

World Hepatitis Day: One Life, One Liver

IEP Chandigarh

Under the theme, “One Life, One Liver,” this year’s World Hepatitis Day on 28th July 2023 highlighted the importance of the liver for a healthy life, and the need to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and scale up prevention, testing and treatment to optimize liver health, prevent liver disease and attain the WHO goal of reducing new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% by 2030.

Hepatitis literally means inflammation of the liver and may occur due to various causes among which viral hepatitis, alcohol related liver disease and fatty liver are the commonest. There are five types of hepatitis viruses ( Hepatitis A to E ) among which Hepatitis D is practically absent in India. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E viruses causes acute hepatitis and jaundice. They are spread through feco-oral route via contaminated water and food.

Therefore, filtration or adequate boiling of drinking water, keeping food covered and other hygiene practices like washing hands with soap after going to the toilet, trimming of nails etc. are utmost important measures to prevent Hepatitis A and E. Although a vaccine is available for the prevention of Hepatitis A, as of now it has not been incorporated into national immunization schedule.  

Currently, there are no approved vaccines for the prevention of Hepatitis E. Jaundice due to Hepatitis A and E viruses is usually self-limiting , resolves within a few weeks and requires only symptomatic treatment.

Only a small fraction of these patients develops acute liver failure, a devastating condition with high risk of death. However, these viruses do not cause chronic hepatitis and patients who recover do not suffer from lasting liver damage.

Unlike Hepatitis A and E, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are notorious for causing chronic hepatitis where the virus persists in the liver and surreptitiously causes chronic liver damage which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Worlwide, it is estimated that there are more than 35 crores (350 million) patients with Hepatitis B and C with a new infection occurring every 10 seconds (i.e. 3 million every year). Most patients remain asymptomatic till they develop end-stage liver disease. Thus, many patients remain unaware of their infection and finding these missing millions, treating currently infected patients and preventing new infections remain key for tackling the scourge of viral hepatitis. Like HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses are spread via blood and body fluids and therefore avoiding intravenous drug use, safe sexual practices, ensuring new needles/razors and sterilised medical instruments are crucial for prevention. Also, a very effective vaccine is available for prevention of hepatitis B, which requires only three doses at 0, 1 and 6 months. This vaccine has also been incorporated in the national immunization schedule. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines for Hepatitis C. Fortunately, there has been a revolution in the management of these viruses in the new millennium. Hepatitis B can be effectively suppressed and Hepatitis C can be completely “cured” in more than 95% patients using oral drugs said Dr Ajay Duseja, Professor and Head, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

In India, it is estimated there are around 5-6 crores (50-60 million) patients with chronic viral hepatitis and testing these subjects for viral hepatitis is the only way to detect them. Viral hepatitis diagnosis and management in India is now supported by National Viral Hepatitis Control Program under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. PGIMER Chandigarh serves as a Model Treatment Centre under the program for both the state of Punjab and Union territory of Chandigarh. In PGI itself, almost 150-200 new patients of Hepatitis B and C are seen per month in the liver clinic run twice a week by the Department of Hepatology of the Institute. Antiviral drugs are also distributed to around 80 to 100 new patients every month free of cost under the support of National Viral Hepatitis Control Program said Dr. Arka De, Assistant Professor, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER Chandigarh. As a Model Treatment Center, the Department of Hepatology also receives referrals of complicated cases including treatment failure, cirrhosis and liver cancer from all over India, particularly from the neighboring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. In fact, combined together both Hepatitis B and C are responsible for 60-65% of patients’ liver cancer seen in the liver clinic and are the second commonest cause for cirrhosis liver, informed Dr Duseja and Dr De. 

World Hepatitis Day was launched by the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008 in response to the concern that chronic viral hepatitis did not have the level of awareness, nor the political momentum, seen with other communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. This is despite the fact that the number of people chronically infected with, and the number of deaths caused by, hepatitis B and C is on the same scale as these conditions.

World Hepatitis Day has generated massive public and media interest, as well as support from governments, high-profile Non-Governmental Organizations and supranational bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year thousands of events take place around the world, from rock concerts and press briefings to ministerial meetings and fundraising events. In May 2010, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution on viral hepatitis which, together with vital commitments on prevention, treatment and patient care, made World Hepatitis Day an official WHO awareness day. In recognition of the birthday of Professor Baruch Blumberg, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering the hepatitis B virus, WHO decided that World Hepatitis Day will take place on 28 July every year.

CHC Kurali to be upgraded soon as a secondary health care, says Mohali DC Aashika Jain

IEP SAS Nagar, July 27

As per the commitment of Bhagwant Mann Government to strengthen the government health institutes, Community Health Centre, Kurali would soon get a face lift as a secondary health care institution, said the deputy commissioner, Aashika Jain while reviewing the prestigious projects with Chief Administrator, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, Rajiv Gupta, in a high level meeting, here, today. ADC (UD) Damanjit Singh Mann and State Traffic Advisor Dr Navdeep Aseeja were also present in the meeting.       She said that the project would be undertaken by the GMADA and an ultramodern health facility would be set up there as an upgrade to existing CHC. She discussed the various modules with the CA GMADA and SMO of CHC, Kurali, Dr Rajendra Bhushan, Present in the Meeting. She said that the state government has already approved the upgradation plan in principle.     

Similarly, setting up a state of the art Public Library in Mohali is also in offing and after the identification of a suitable site, the project will be started on the ground, she added. She requested the CA GMADA to earmark 0.6 acres of easily approachable land for the construction of the library.       Apart from that to ease out the traffic snarls in Mohali, setting up seven new round abouts (rotaries) have been decided but the landscaping would be kept Distrinct of the all, said the DC Aashika Jain while discussing with GMADA Chief Rajiv Gupta and state traffic advisor Dr Navdeep Aseeja. Similarly, keeping in mind the decongestion of traffic in Derabassi and Zirakpur, it was decided to go ahead with the suggestions of state Traffic Advisor Dr Navdeep Aseeja. GMADA Chief Mr Gupta apprised that about fifty traffic materials would be deployed with the district police for offering services to regulate the traffic in the Mohali City for a year. Besides, discussions were also held to speed up the action plan of construction of the shortest route to the airport from Chandigarh.     The deputy commissioner also apprised that there is a proposal for a hydrological survey of Mohali to keep it safe from floods. The deliberations with IIT Hyderabad are going on about it. Discussing Sanitation problems of the city, it was planned to club the aerocity and non-corporation areas with MC Mohali for sanitation purposes.        Reviewing the progress of setting up of  residential complex for Police and Judicial officers, it was told that the land for these purposes have been earmarked in Sector 90 where proposal of setting up of Police Line would also be explored. A total of 11.41 acres of land has been earmarked for Police line.     

  To set up a student hostel for the those who are preparing for Competitive examinations, it was decided that it will be constructed in a complex where State Skill Training Institute by Punjab Technical Education and Training Board and another Teachers Training Institute like the  MGSIPAP would also be setup.     The deputy commissioner insisted upon expediting the finalising of Gharuan Master Plan process to regulate the development and make it sustainable for the future expansion. Deliberations were also held to convert the existing civil services club to circuit house as per the dire need of transit accommodation.     Apart from that issues related to other development works and projects were also discussed in the meeting that was also attended by the ADC (UD) Damanjit Singh Mann and other officers to GMADA and other departments.

Infrastructure of district treasury offices will be strengthened to further improve their performance-Harpal Singh Cheema

IEP Chandigarh, July 27

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the infrastructure of the district treasury offices across the state will be strengthened to bring further improvements in their performance.During a meeting with representatives of Punjab State Khazana Karamchari Association (Punjab State Treasury Employees Association) here at Vit te Yojna Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that latest computers and other necessary equipments will be provided besides the renovation of these offices wherever required. He asked the representatives of the association to apprise the department about their suggestions and requirements in this regard.Meanwhile, the Finance Minister discussed in detail the demands mentioned in the memorandum submitted by the association with the officials of the treasury branch, and asked them to start the process to fulfill the legitimate demands. He said that timely promotion of every employee should be ensured. He asked the representatives of the association to play an active role in motivating their colleagues to further improve the delivery of the services.Secretary Expenditure cum Director Treasury Mohammad Tayyab and Additional Director Treasury Simarjit Kaur were also present in this meeting.