IEP Chandigarh, March 9       

    Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur said that increase in pension for senior citizens, widows and destitute women, dependent children and disabled persons will be done soon in future.  She said this in response to a question raised by Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia.          Dr.  Baljit Kaur said that first the Government is streamlining it by removing the previous irregularities.          Dr.  Baljit Kaur further said that the state Government led by Bhagwant Mann found out the real beneficiaries and found that 90248 deceased were getting benefits.  Of which 95 percent i.e. 23.94 crore rupees has been recovered.  She said that the previous Government had also conducted a survey and 70137 were found to be ineligible, for which a recovery of Rs 162.35 crore was made.  But only one crore rupees was recovered.          Cabinet Minister said that the Government will benefit the real beneficiaries by correcting the irregularities.  Our Government is committed to fulfilling every guarantee.

IEP Amritsar/Chandigarh, March 9

President Droupadi Murmu, during her day-long visit to the holy city of Amritsar on Thursday, paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwan Valmiki Ram Tirath Sthal, besides paying tributes to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh memorial.

Tight security arrangements were made in the city for the President’s day-long visit, while Amritsar was also declared a no-fly zone for over four hours.

On reaching Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ramdass ji International Airport in the afternoon, President Murmu received a warm welcome from the Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Union Minister Som Prakash, Congress MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla, among other dignitaries.

Welcoming the President during her visit to Punjab, Chief Minister Mann apprised her that this is the land of great Gurus, saints, seers and prophets; and “Punjab is the cradle of civilization and inherits a rich culture which can be observed only by visiting this pious land”.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that during her visit, the President will have a feel of the state’s glorious cultural heritage besides enjoying the warm hospitality of the Punjabis. “It is a momentous occasion for all of us and entire Punjab is giving a red carpet welcome to the country’s President during her visit to the state. The State Government is honored to welcome the country’s President on this blessed land,” he said.

The Chief Minister accompanied the President to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Mandir, and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath.

On her first visit to the city after becoming the President, Murmu was accompanied by Chief Minister Mann and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami at the Golden Temple — taking rounds of the ‘parikrama’ under the tight security cover before offering prayers at the sanctum sanctorum. She also offered ‘karah parshad’ and sat for a few minutes for the gurbani-kirtan.

After paying obeisance, she went to the “langar hall” (community kitchen), and partook langar while sitting on the floor. She also visited the area where utensils are washed.

Afterward, she went to the Information Centre of the Golden Temple where she was presented a robe of honour, a set of Sikh religious books, a replica of the Golden Temple, and a set of woolen shawls.

In the visitor’s book at the Golden Temple, the President wrote, “I am happy to visit Sri Harmandar Sahib and pay obeisance at the holy temple. This holy place with beautiful architecture and divine serenity around it evokes feelings of calmness and harmony. I prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the country. It was great to see the volunteers working tirelessly in the spirit of service and devotion specially during Langar. May the teachings of Sikh Gurus continue to inspire us to practice brotherhood and unity”.

IEP Amritsar, March 9

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday extended a heartiest welcome to the President of India Mrs Draupadi Murmu during her visit to the holy city.

The Chief Minister received the President here at Sri Guru Ramdass ji International Airport during her one day visit to the city and offered her a bouquet of flowers. Welcoming the President during her visit to Punjab, Bhagwant Mann apprised her that this is the land of great Gurus, saints, seers and prophets. He informed Mrs Murmu that Punjab is the cradle of civilization and inherits a rich culture which can be observed only by visiting this pious land.

 The Chief Minister expressed hope that during her visit, the President of India will have a feel of the glorious cultural heritage of the state besides enjoying the warm hospitality of the Punjabis. Bhagwant Mann said that it is a momentous occasion for all of us and the entire Punjab is giving a red carpet welcome to the country’s President during her visit to the state. He said that the state government is honored to welcome the country’s President on this blessed land.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister accompanied the President to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Mandir and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath.

IEP CHANDIGARH, March 9     

     The Punjab Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a non-official resolution to take up the matter of fleecing common man by fixing Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of medicines at exorbitant prices, with the central government. The non-official resolution was moved by MLA Dr Charanjit Singh during the ongoing budget session of 16th Vidhan Sabha here.          After the reply presented by the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, all the members present in the house passed the non-official resolution to recommend this matter to the Central Government.          During his reply, Dr Balbir Singh appreciated the resolution moved by MLA Dr Charanjit Singh and said that the issue was already in his mind. He said that, even, he had recently brought this matter into the notice of Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, who visited Patiala a few days back. He said that cancer drugs have already been regulated by the government, but non-scheduled drugs and e-pharmacy are yet to be regulated.            He said that till these drugs get regulated, the easiest way to provide affordable medicines to common people is by opening maximum ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ in the state. He said that there is 25 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the state and 16 more have been approved, which will be opened soon. He also urged all the MLAs to maximum exhort people to open these Kendras in their constituencies, which will not only provide affordable medicines to the common people, but will also help in generating employment.          “Health is fundamental right of every person and it is the duty of the state and the central government to provide world-class quality healthcare managed and funded by the government,” said Dr Balbir Singh, while adding that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is committed to provide the holistic healthcare facilities in the state.          He also pledged in the Assembly to present his ‘Annual Report’ on what he has done— whether its recruitment of doctors and staff or new medical projects— during every Budget Session. He informed the assembly that there are 504 Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) made functional in the state, of which, 353 clinics, which is over 70%, are established in villages.          Terming the drug menace as the most crucial issue of the state, the Health Minister called upon all the house members to show concern on this and join hands with the Government to root out this menace, which is not only the reason for many fatal diseases including Cancer, HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis, impotency, etc, but also a reason for crimes happening in the state.          Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that the Punjab Government has been working on bringing reforms in the healthcare, wherein, instead of prescribing medicines, patients would be asked to join Yogshalas and exercise in the Government Hospitals to treat them naturally.