IEP Chandigarh, September 29

Haryana Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the footage of CCTV cameras is an important link in reaching the criminals, so the work of installation of CCTV cameras at bus stands and other public places in all cities should be expedited. Cooperation of other organizations like CSR, RWA, Vyapar Mandal and Banks can also be taken. The Home Minister was holding a review meeting with the senior officials of the Police and Home Department here today.

Experts should be taken on the panel for Cyber Crime

The Home Minister said that till the regular recruitment of forensic experts is not done, private experts should be taken on the panel to solve the cases related to cybercrime. There has been an exponential surge in the cases of Cyber Crime everywhere, he added.

Focus on infrastructure

        The Home Minister said that the emphasis should be on police modernization. All police stations should have bullet-proof jackets, updated vehicles and modern equipment for investigation.

Special investigation team members will be honoured

In the meeting, Sh. Anil Vij commended the STF team for taking prompt action in nabbing the criminals in the case of threatening of MLAs and said that they will be honoured with cash prizes soon.

Focus on lane driving so that no one gets killed in road accidents in Haryana

        Sh. Anil Vij stated that he does not want anyone to die in a car accident in Haryana. To this end, he suggested that the police concentrate on lane driving on interstates and state roads and install lane driving sign boards in various locations. At least home guards should be deployed at every traffic intersection. He said that as soon as vehicles from other states, especially trucks, enter Haryana, the truck driver should know that lane driving has been made mandatory. He said that he himself will make a surprise check.

        Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad, Director General of Police, Sh. PK Agrawal, ADGP CID, Sh. Alok Mittal, Special Secretary, Home Department, Sh. Vinay Singh, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, September 29

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the state government will compensate the farmers for the damage caused by the rains in the last few days and orders have been given to the district administration to conduct special girdawari. Apart from this, farmers themselves can also report the loss of their crops on the ‘e-Fasal Kshatipurti Portal’. Apart from the fields, directions have been given to the district administration to take prompt action regarding the drainage of water logging in rural and urban areas as well. The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting at village Tazia Khera in district Sirsa on Thursday.

        During this, he also heard the grievances of the people and directed the concerned officers of the department to take appropriate action. The Deputy Chief Minister said that due to the incessant rains in the entire state in the last few days, there has been a situation of water logging in the fields as well as the residential areas. Therefore, orders have also been given to the officers of the Irrigation and Revenue Department to drain water from the fields. He added that sowing of Rabi season crops should not be delayed due to stagnant water.

        Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the farmers who have got their crop registered on Meri Fasal-Mera Byora portal can directly register their crop damage information on the ‘e-Fasal Kshatipurti Portal’. After this, Kanungo and Patwari will assess the damage recorded on the portal and submit their report in a week.

        The Deputy Chief Minister said that we are strenuously working to accelerate the pace of development of rural areas. He added that everyone’s cooperation is necessary in this work. Sports grounds are being developed in the villages of the state to enhance the upcoming talent.

        The Deputy Chief Minister said that today inclusive development is being ensured in Haryana without any discrimination. 50 percent reservation has been made for women in the elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions. He further added that Chandigarh Airport has been named after Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on the request and efforts of the State Government. He said that the improvement of the park in Tazia Khera village should be done with the aim that the villagers and youth get the complete benefit of it.

IEP Chandigarh

Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam is committed to provide uninterrupted power supply to the consumers. Several ambitious programs are being run by the Nigam for quick resolution of the problems of the consumers. The Chairman Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam along with the members of the Forum would take the proceedings of the forum in the office of SE/OP Circle, UHBVN, Panchkula, SCO-96, 1st Floor, Sector-5, Panchkula to redress the grievances / to hear the complaint of the consumers (belonging to Panchkula District only) and to entertain new complaints from 11:30 AM on dated September 30, 2022 (Friday).

The CGRF shall take all grievances/complaints of consumers like billing problems, voltage complaints, problems in metering, disconnection and reconnection of power supply, interruptions, failure of power supply, efficiency, safety, reliability, noncompliance of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission orders etc. However, the cases of theft and unauthorized use of electricity, offences and penalties as specified under section 126 and section 135 to 139 of Electricity Act, accidents and inquiries as under section 161 of the Act will not be considered by the Forum.

All the consumers are requested to avail the opportunity for the redressal of their grievances.

IEP Chandigarh, September 29

An MoU has been signed between the Haryana Government and the University of Birmingham for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Crop Post-Harvest Management and Sustainable Cold Chain in the state.

        In the presence of the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P. Dalal, Additional Chief Secretary, Dr. Sumita Misra, signed an MoU at Birmingham (UK) today.

        The present state government is implementing many schemes to make the farmers of the State happy and economically well. Under the able leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, the state government is continuously running several welfare schemes in the interest of farmers. Starting a new initiative, Haryana has also launched Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana for horticulture farmers. Besides this, the state government is also continuously encouraging farmers to adopt crop diversification to promote horticulture crops.

        The Agriculture Minister, Dr. Sumita Misra and Director General, Horticulture, Dr. Arjun Singh Saini are in Birmingham to attend the Cold Chain Summit at this University on September 29 and 30. They will also visit various institutes which are involved in the establishment of this Centre of Excellence.

        Sh. J.P. Dalal said that this Centre of Excellence will be a milestone for the reduction in post-harvest losses, updating the knowledge of stakeholders including farmers, use of eco-friendly and farmer-friendly technologies in supply chain and Research and Development as well, resultantly there will be a big boost for diversification towards horticulture in the State.

        Sh. J.P. Dalal addressed the participants in the Cold Chain Summit and stated that Horticulture in Haryana at present has around 7 percent of the total gross cropped area in the State.

        To encourage diversification into horticulture and increase the income of the farmers, several new programmes and initiatives have been taken up by the Haryana Government. He emphasized reducing the post-harvest losses which are around 7 to 18 percent, he said.

He informed that 393 horticulture clusters have been formed, 13 integrated pack houses have been established, 50 another are under establishment and in the next five years 500 more integrated pack houses shall be established.

        He said that Haryana will be the most advanced state in the organized supply chain of fresh fruits and vegetables and linking farmers directly with the market and so far 59 MoU with the agri-sector companies have been executed by the FPOs.

        Sh. J.P. Dalal said that the cold chain itself is an energy-intensive application, often relying on diesel for off-grid and on-vehicle cooling. Therefore, future development must harness the portfolio of renewable energy resources, new thermally focused energy systems, and innovative thermal management. It is needed to establish integrated pack houses, and create pre-shipment treatment facilities such as irradiation, Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT), and Hot Water Dip Treatment (HWDT) to strengthen the supply chain.

        Further, Sh. J.P. Dalal focused on capacity building and awareness of different stakeholders including policymakers, senior executives, consumers and staff involved in the cold chain.

        Dr. Sumita Misra stated that support to the small and marginal farmers is essential for reduced wastage at the farm gate level, Improving the Financial capacity of small and marginal farmers on access to finance for purchasing equipment and supporting post-harvest product storage though the creation of on-farm integrated pack houses.

        She focused on developing an ecosystem to promote clean green energy, and cold chain systems to prevent food loss between harvests to retail.

IEP Chandigarh, September 29

Haryana is all set to develop the world’s largest jungle safari park on an area of 10,000 acres in the Aravalli mountain range of Gurugram and Nuh districts. This project will be the largest such project in the world.

Currently, the largest curated safari park outside Africa is in Sharjah which was opened in February 2022 on an area of about 2000 acres. The proposed Aravalli Park would be 5 times more this size and it would include a large herpetarium, aviary/bird park, four zones for big cats, a large area for herbivores, an area for exotic animal birds, an underwater world, nature trails, visitors, tourism zones, botanical gardens, biomes, equatorial, tropical, coastal, desert, etc.

In this regard, Union Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Sh. Bhupender Yadav, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal along with the delegation has visited Sharjah Jungle Safari. 

On visiting there, the Chief Minister said that the NCR region of Haryana has immense potential to be developed into a jungle safari.  After the implementation of the Jungle Safari scheme, not only the tourism in the State will get a big boost but it will also provide ample employment opportunities to the local people.

“The Jungle Safari project of Haryana would be a joint project of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the Government of Haryana. Under a scheme, the central government will also provide funds to Haryana for this project,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

He further informed that an international EOI was floated for the project and two companies with international experience in designing and operating such facilities have been shortlisted. The said companies will now compete in an international design competition for the designing, overseeing and operating of the park. An Aravalli Foundation will be set up which will manage the project, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Chief Minister said that the Central Zoo Authority has done an evaluation study of the area for this and has agreed upon for the technical feasibility of setting up such a park.

He said that on one hand developing jungle safari would help in preserving this mountain range while on the other a large number of people from Delhi and adjoining areas would come here for tourism, which would create ample employment opportunities for the local people.  Furthermore, villagers in the surrounding villages will be benefited from the Home Stay Policy, said the Chief Minister.

Notably, the Aravalli mountain range is a cultural heritage where many species of birds, wild animals, butterflies, etc. are found. As per a survey conducted a few years ago, 180 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, 29 species of aquatic animals and reptiles and 57 species of butterflies exist in the Aravalli mountain range.

IEP Chandigarh, September 29

Banwarilal Purohit, Governor, Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh today launched accident & disabilities insurance cover for the Municipal Corporation employees. As per the scheme, Rs. 40 lacs will be given to families of account holders in case of accidental death or total disability.

This mega beneficiary scheme for MCC employees, conceived in collaboration with Punjab & Sind Bank, was launched during a programme held at Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Bhawan, Sector 38-C, here today evening in the presence of Smt. Kirron Kher, Hon’ble Member Parliament, Smt. Sarbjit Kaur, Mayor, Sh. Dharam Pal, IAS, Worthy Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Sh Nitin Yadav, Home Secretary UT ,Sh. Swarup Kumar Saha, MD & CEO, Punjab and Sind Bank, senior officers and councilors of MCC.

While addressing the  employees of MCC and others present during the event, the Governor said that aiming to provide such exhaustive insurance coverage  to about 10500 employees working in the Municipal Corporation and their families was an excellent step. It was commendable that the insurance cover for was for  all its employees, not just regular but contractual, outsourced, daily wagers, employees from group A to group D. He also congratulated the Punjab & Sind Bank for this noble initiative, which has offered such huge benefit to all MCC employees.

He said that it is our responsibility to protect and safeguard the interests of workers in general and especially those who constitute  poor, deprived and disadvantage sections of the society. He said that this initiative shall go a long way towards creating a healthy work environment and higher productivity.

Smt. Kirron Kher, Member Parliament, Chandigarh said that this will give a huge relief to employees and their families. Earlier, in case of any accidental death of outsource employees, the MCC, being the principal employer was bound to give relief to the family of deceased employee out of its own funds, which was a big burden on the exchequer of the Corporation. Now the bank has given this mega insurance cover to the employees of MCC, which is indeed a joyous  news to all.

Smt. Sarbjit Kaur, Mayor , in her address, said that, that the MCC has started this scheme for all its 10500 employees working in  different wings of MC  including 925 door to door waste collectors, 543 daily wagers, 76 contract basis and 5272 on the outsourced staff, 1100 employees of Lions firm which is looking after the sanitation work of sectors from 31 to 62.

She said that presently, only group D employees were insured under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeewan Jyoti Bima Yojna (PMJJBY). The premium for these insurances is being paid by the MC @ Rs. 12/- and Rs. 330/- per annum per employee. The insurance cover upto Rs. 2 lacs only is payble under each scheme in case of natural/accidental death. But now the Punjab & Sind Bank has provided mega accidental/disabilities insurance cover of Rs. 40 lacs.

Sh. Dharam Pal, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator said that this initiative of Municipal Corporation towards the welfare of its employees is probably the first of its kind in the entire country. He said it will not only cover the accidental or disabilities insurance but shall also provide various other services including education and care of  children of the deceased employees.

Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, MCC said that zero balance salary accounts of all category of employees i.e. regular, contractual, daily wagers, outsourced, such as door to door waste collectors, safaimitras, safaikarmacharis have been opened in the P&SB, which has offered insurance in death case Rs. 40 lacs accidental coverage, total disability Rs. 40 lacs accidental coverage; Rs. 40 lacs for death due to animal bite, insect bite, snake bite.

She further said that in case of partial disability, the insurance cover will be given as per the percentage of the disability as mentioned in the schedule; Air accidental Rs. 1.20 crores; child education benefit from 12 years to 22 years upto two girls child Rs. 24 lacs (Rs. 12 lacs each), one girl and one boy, Rs. 12 lacs plus Rs. 6 lacs, two boys Rs. 12 lacs (6 lacs each) and in case of natural death Rs. 2.50 lacs will be given.

IEP CHANDIGARH

In order to raise awareness about overall Cardiovascular health and wellbeing, World Heart Day is observed annually on 29th September all across the globe. Despite phenomenal developments in the field of medical sciences, cardio-vascular diseases still remain the single largest cause of death and illness throughout the globe. A comprehensive well-being approach should be applied so that the overall burden of disease could be significantly reduced, commented Prof Rajesh Vijayvergiya, from the Cardiology department, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

This year the theme of World Heart Day is USE HEART for EVERY HEART and this puts the onus on every individual not only to adapt to a heart-healthy lifestyle for oneself but also to motivate others so that every single person gets benefits from it, commented Prof Vijayvergiya.  

The good part is that, unlike many other chronic illnesses, Cardiac diseases can be well prevented to great extent by simply incorporating a couple of healthy lifestyle-related changes. Prof Vijayvergiya emphasized that by getting involved in regular physical activity, reducing salt intake, regularizing sleep, minimizing psychological stress and regular meditation, cardiac risk could be cut down significantly. Each one of us should come together to motivate one another by adopting a healthy lifestyle and also take proper medical consultation in case of any heart health-related issue is suspected rather than delay it.

There is a concern about cardiac death and heart attacks in young people also, although they were doing regular gym activity and having a strict low calories diet. Regarding this, Prof Vijayvergiya commented that certain cardiac risk factors such as smoking, strenuous physical exercise or excess of mental stress and a family history of heart disease can also lead to acute cardiac events such as death or heart attack in a seemingly healthy individual. To avoid such incidents, he stressed screening of all healthy populations after the age of 40 years. Those with risk factors like overweight, smoking, diabetes and hypertension may require a screening after the age of 30 years and this screening should be repeated every 2-5 yearly, or in between if any abnormal cardiac symptoms appear in an individual.

There is also a concern about COVID infection and increased incidence of heart attack, for which he replied that due to the pandemic there was a surge in cardiac risk factors such as smoking, increase body weight, physical and mental stress, and discontinuation of cardiac drugs, which leads to increase heart attacks. COVID infection itself can adversely affect the heart by decreasing its pump capacity and acute blockage of coronary arteries, which can lead to adverse events.

Regarding screening for early diagnosis of heart disease in the general population, he advised following points: – 

•      Begin risk factor assessment in adults at age 20.

•      Assess smoking status, diet, alcohol intake and physical activity at every routine evaluation.

•      Record blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI) and pulse at each visit (at least every two years).

•      Measure fasting serum cholesterol, and blood glucose according to the person’s risk for hyperlipidemia and diabetes, respectively (at least every 5 years; if risk factors are present, every 2 years).

•      After the age of 40 years, each individual should be evaluated for heart disease— ECG, Echo and TMT.  It should be repeated 2-5 yearly depending upon the underlying risk. Those with the risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, obesity or having symptoms of heart pain should be screened from the age of 30 years.

IEP Chandigarh, September 28

Haryana Police has issued an advisory urging citizens not to share any information or respond to phone calls from unknown numbers showing fear of deporting their relatives from abroad.

                    Sharing the information here today, a Haryana Police spokesperson informed that cyber offenders are using various tactics to dupe people. A new trend of cyber crime has come to the fore in which thugs have started targeting those whose relatives/children are either living or studying abroad.

                    In one such case, a complaint in Panchkula district told that his nephew is studying in Canada. According to the complaint, the victim’s wife received a call on from an unknown number in which the caller introduced himself as her nephew and said that he had been caught up in a fight with someone during the party. Other person has been injured in the fight and if he is not given medical treatment, police will take action. Coming to the words of thugs, the complainant has transferred a total amount of Rs 7.5 lakh to the thugs in three installments. Realizing the fraud, he lodged a complaint on 1930. The cyber team immediately freezed the transaction of Rs 2.5 lakh.

          Similarly, in another case, a person was duped of 6 lakh by cyber scammer by pretending himself to be a nephew living abroad under the same modus operandi, in which the cyber team saved Rs 2.5 lakh after a complaint filed on 1930.

                    Additional Director General of Police, Crime, Sh. OP Singh, said that every person who is connected through any digital medium (be it social media or internet banking) is the target of cyber thugs. With the changing scenario, cyber thugs have also changed their tactics to dupe people. Having children and relatives abroad has become a common thing nowadays and cyber criminals are succeeding in their plans by showing fear of deporting them. Cautioning people to be aware of such scammers, he said that the public has to take care that social media accounts are kept locked. Try to limit your Personal Information on Social Networks. Don’t be hasty on calls coming in the name of foreign relatives. Be completely satisfied first and only then take any action. If, however, you still become a victim, register your complaint immediately on 1930.

IEP Chandigarh, September 28

Goa Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant said that Goa will always be indebted to the martyr Sardar Karnail Singh Benipal a resident of Haryana, who laid down his life for the Goa’s struggle for freedom from Portuguese rule.Dr. Sawant first paid tributes to martyr Sardar Karnail Singh Benipal and later addressing the media persons at a press conference held here today, he announced that a road leading from Goa International Airport would be named after Shaheed Karnail Singh Benipal.Dr. Pramod Sawant said that on the call of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the entire country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. During this period, the unsung martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom are remembered.“Goa is also celebrating 60 years of its independence and as a part of these celebrations,  I have specially visited  Barola village in Ambala  to meet Smt.  Charanjit Kaur, wife of martyr Karnail Singh Benipal and has presented a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh and a citation to her as a gesture of honour,” said Dr. Sawant.The Chief Minister assured that all possible help would be provided to Smt. Charanjit Kaur in the future also.The government school of Barola will be named after Shaheed Karnail Singh or his wifeMLA, Ambala, Sh. Aseem Goel said that Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has announced that the middle school located in village Barola in Ambala district will be named after Shaheed Karnail Singh Benipal or his wife Charanjit Kaur. The school will be named once the Panchayat will pass the resolution.Sh. Aseem Goel also welcomed Dr. Pramod Sawant. He said that it is a very commendable step by the Chief Minister of Goa to honour the wife of Martyr Karnail Singh Benipal.Memorial for the martyrs being built in Patradevi, GoaDr. Pramod Sawant said that in the memory of the known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of Goa, a memorial is being built in the memory of the martyrs at Patradevi. A statue of Shaheed Karnail Singh Benipal has also been made in the government school of Patradevi. Apart from this, the Goa government is also honoring the families of the martyrs involved in the liberation of Goa.As demanded by the family, Sonali Phogat’s murder case has been handed over to CBIDr. Pramod Sawant said that the investigation of Sonali Phogat’s murder case has been handed over to CBI  as per the demand of her family. Goa Police is fully cooperating with CBI in this matter. At the same time, Goa’s Anti Narcotics Cell is tightening the noose around those involved in drug abuse. Many raids have been conducted within 3 years, in which the accused have been caught. Apart from this, drug peddlers are also being caught.Goa is continuously working in the field of tourismThe Chief Minister said that Goa is continuously working in the field of tourism. We have also received an award for tourism in the past. Infrastructure is constantly being developed,” added Dr. Sawant.  He assured that app-based taxis will be launched inside Goa in a few days.Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Amit Agrawal and other senior officers were also present on this occasion.

IEP Chandigarh September 28

Goa Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant reached Barola village in Ambala district of Haryana to meet Charanjit Kaur, wife of Sardar Karnail Singh Benipal, who was martyred in the Goa Liberation Movement. During this, he also presented a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to  Smt. Charanjit Kaur as a gesture of honour.

While celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and 60 years of Goa’s liberation, the Government had announced to give special honour to martyr Karnail Singh Benipal.  A special invitation was sent to his wife Smt. Charanjit Kaur by the Goa government to attend the ceremony but due to her ill health, she could not attend the same.

The Chief Minister of Goa had promised her brother and Sister-in-law who had attended the programme on behalf of Smt. Charanjit Kaur that he would especially reach  Ambala to meet Charanjit Kaur. Fulfilling the same, Dr. Sawant reached Barola village in Ambala today and met Smt. Charanjit Kaur and family members.

The Haryana Government extended its full cooperation to organize the visit of Dr. Pramod Sawant to Barola village in the Ambala district.

Notably, Sardar Karnail Singh Benipal wanted to see Goa free from Portuguese rule after India got independence. Meanwhile, the Goa Vimochan Sahayak Samiti, a Pune-based organization working for the liberation of Goa, decided to go on a mass satyagraha by crossing the border of Goa on  August 15, 1955.

They also sought help from political parties. Accordingly, the satyagrahis were divided into groups. One group tried to enter Goa through the Patradevi border, while the other planned to enter South Goa via Pollem border and Castlerock border.

A young widow from Madhya Pradesh Sahodradevi Rai was, holding the Indian tricolour and leading the group of Satyagrahis along with others at Patradevi. As their group tried to enter Goa, she was shot and hot injured.

At this juncture, 25-year-old Sardar Karnail Singh Benipal of Isru village in Punjab came forward and challenged the police to shoot him instead of attacking women. He too was shot on the Goa border at Patradevi and became a martyr.

This incidence in Goa’s history is hardly known at the National level wherein several unarmed Satyagrahis from various parts of India were shot by Portuguese authorities on  August 15, 1955. These unarmed satyagrahis believed that Goa is an integral part of India and that without the liberation of Goa,  India’s independence would be incomplete.