IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the reach of tele-consultation services in the state of Haryana has been appreciated by the Union Health Minister, Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya. This has resulted from his direct experience with the pioneering tele-consultation model during a visit to a Health and Wellness Center (HWC) in Haryana.Sh. Anil Vij said that Union Health Minister Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya while addressing in the Lok Sabha referred to his visit to HWCs in Haryana, where he saw the tele-consultation model during his visit to AIIMS, Jhajjar. Impressed by the seamless and efficient service, he appreciated the efforts of the state in ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every nook and corner of the region.Sh. Anil Vij said that Haryana has taken healthcare innovation to new heights with its tele-consultation services, which effectively bridged the gap between medical experts and patients, cutting across geographical barriers. The services have brought specialized care within reach of the most remote areas, bringing not only convenience but also a significant reduction in cost for both the government and the patients. Haryana’s unprecedented tele-consultation approach comprises 23 centres, strategically located to serve every district of the state. These centers include one specialist center at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh and one center in each district civil hospital in 22 districts of the state. The system enables direct tele-consultation connections between the centers and specialists at Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Sub Centers (SCs), thereby ensuring seamless healthcare delivery.The Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. G. Anupama, reported rapid growth in the tele-consultation model. Within just a year, the daily average call volume increased from 0.13 calls per day to an impressive 500 calls per day. The Hubs have collectively conducted about 2.5 lakh tele-consultations, of which about 50 percent have been received by the specialist Hub at PGIMER Chandigarh. The specialist tele-consultation calls received at the PGIMER Hub have covered a wide range of medical specialties including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, Eye, Ear Nose Throat (ENT), Pediatrics, and Dermatology. Each Consultant handle 50 daily consultations, with durations ranging from 7 to 12 minutes.Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Sh. Rajanarayan Kaushik, mentioned that the tele-consultation model has achieved a remarkable patient satisfaction rate of 96.3 percent. This underscores the effectiveness and convenience of the service. Additionally, nearly 10,000 cases have been referred to specialists and healthcare facilities in a timely manner, contributing to saving numerous lives.Haryana’s tele-consultation services stand as a symbol of progress in the realm of healthcare access. Leveraging technology to connect patients with specialists and provide quality care where it’s needed most has not only improved healthcare outcomes but also transformed lives by making quality medical care a reality for all, irrespective of distance.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Government has extended the temporary suspension of mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of District Nuh. The suspension shall be in force upto August 11, 2023 (23:59 hrs).The said suspension has been ordered under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to be read along with Rule (2) of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.Sharing more details in this regard an official spokesperson said that temporary suspension has been imposed to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, such as Whatsapp, Facebook Twitter, etc. on mobile phones and SMS.All telecom service providers of Haryana have been directed to ensure the compliance of this order and any person found guilty of the violation of the aforesaid order will be liable for legal action under relevant provisions.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that a proposal would soon be sent to the state government to honour home guard volunteers with medals in recognition of their outstanding services. Besides, he also directed to ensure that duty allowances are disbursed to all Home Guards by the 7th of each month.Sh Vij was presiding over a review meeting of senior officers of the Home Guards and Civil Defense Department here today.Sh. Vij directed that a proposal should be sent to the State Government to provide risk allowance to Home Guards for policing duties at par with police personnel. He also directed the officers to prepare a proposal for using postal ballots by volunteers and submit it to the Election Commission.The Home Minister highlighted that at present , Haryana has a strength of 14,000 Home Guards, of which 9,050 are actively involved in law enforcement, traffic management, and related duties. He directed officials to provide Employees Provident Fund (EPF) benefits to Home Guards. He said that the accidental death claim for Home Guards has been increased from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, with an additional provision of Rs. 3.25 lakh for natural deaths.During the meeting, officers informed the Home Minister about the ongoing training of Haryana Home Guard volunteers. Currently, these volunteers are being given training in various areas like traffic management, flood disaster response, and first aid at the Joint Training Institute in Panchkula. The Minister was also informed that the Home Guards will be given training at the training centre which is going to be set up in Karnal soon.The identity cards have already been issued to home guard volunteers from 14 districts, while work is in progress for the remaining districts. Apart from this, applications would be invited from volunteers interested in serving in Gurugram and Faridabad. Thereafter, these volunteers would be posted in these districts.Director General, Home Guards and Civil Defense Department Sh. Desh Raj Singh, and Additional Director General of Police, Sh. S.K. Jain, along with other officials remained present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is organizing a Punjab Tourism Summit soon for the first time in the history of Punjab to promote the tourism sector in the state and to make the world aware of its culture and rich heritage. Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labor and Hospitality Minister Anmol Gagan Mann held a meeting with officials of the concerned department at Punjab Bhavan Chandigarh on Tuesday regarding the preparations to be made for the summit. Giving information, she said that in the Punjab Tourism Summit, which is going to be held for the first time in the state, apart from others, NRIs sitting abroad will also be invited. The Minister said that the main objective of the Punjab Tourism Summit is to promote tourism and large-scale investment in Punjab. She said that exhibitions, seminars and various events depicting various aspects related to the history of the state will be organized in the summit. She said that the Punjab government is making continuous efforts to keep the priceless and unique history of the state alive and to give its information to the next generations. On this occasion, Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Rakhi Gupta Bhandari, CEO Investment Promotion KK Yadav, Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Amrit Singh and other officials were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Continue to crack the whip against wrongdoings in the department, the Minister’s Flying Squad constituted by Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, has caught a driver red-handed pilfering five litres of diesel and two conductors embezzling ticket money besides reporting five buses plying on unscheduled routes during past week-long checking and raids. Disclosing this here on Tuesday, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that Minister’s Flying Squad has apprehended driver Charanjit Singh of Bus No. PB-10-DM 8073 of Ludhiana Depot from Sri Jhar Sahib red-handed for pilfering diesel from his bus. Five litres of diesel was recovered from him during the raid. He said that similarly, the flying squad conducted checking at Kairana (Uttar Pradesh) and held Lakhwinder Singh, conductor of Bus No. PB-65-BB 8852 of Chandigarh depot for not issuing tickets to the passengers despite collecting Rs.845 from them. Likewise, driver Lakhwinder Singh and conductor Satnam Singh of Bus No. PB-02-EG 4398 of Punjab Roadways/Punbus Patti Depot have also been reported for not stopping bus at Khamanon bus stand leaving behind eight passengers at bus stand and causing financial loss of Rs.510 to the department. The Cabinet Minister said that apart from this, during checking, buses no. PB-06-BB 3756 and PB-06 BB 5356 at Khanna, bus no. PB-02-EG 1037 at Sirhind, bus no. PB-06 BC 0206 at Goraya and bus no. PB-46M 9304 at Uccha Pind found plying on unscheduled routes during checking. Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar instructed the officials of the department to take disciplinary action against the drivers and conductors causing loss to the state exchequer.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday nabbed an Attendant, Imran, posted at Government Hospital Malerkotla, for accepting a bribe of Rs 6000. The accused has been arrested on the complaint of Nazim resident Mohalla Khushal Basti, Maletkotla. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the complainant had approached the VB and lodged a complaint that the accused Imran, who is deployed with Dr. Chamanjot Singh as an Attendant, demanded a bribe of Rs 6000 to prepone the date of gall bladder operation of his wife. After preliminary investigation of the complaint, he said that a team of VB laid a trap and arrested the Attendant while accepting Rs 6000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses. In this regard, an FIR no 12 dated 08-08-2023 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Imran at the Police Station of Economic Offences Wing (EoW) VB, Ludhiana. Further investigation is under progress, he added.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) booked an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Malwinder Singh, posted at City Police Station-1 Malerkotla, for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Jagtar Singh resident of village Himtana in Malerkotla district. Divulging the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Jagtar Singh lodged a complaint that the accused ASI had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 to withdraw the name of his son, Pawanpreet Singh, from FIR no 123 dated 19-05-2022 registered under sections 420, 406, 120-B, 506 of IPC at City Police Station-1, Malerkotla. The complainant also alleged that the ASI already took Rs 10,000 from him. After preliminary investigation of the complaint, the spokesperson said that a team of VB laid a trap to nab the accused police official, who managed to flee from the spot in his swift car with bribe money of Rs 10,000 received from the complainant after seeing the VB team. The team of VB chased him and found the car abandoned near Balad Kanchian (Bhawanigarh). During the checking of the car, the VB recovered the trap money of Rs 10,000, besides, 460 grams Poppy Husk and 9 grams opium from the vehicle. In this regard, the spokesperson said that an FIR no 11 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against ASI Malwinder Singh at Economic Offences Wing (EoW) of VB, Ludhiana. The police have also registered a separate case FIR no 137 dated 08-08-2023 under sections 15 and 18 of the NDPS Act against him at Police Station, Bhawanigarh.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Mr. Harchand Singh Barsat on Tuesday contributed his one-month salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for flood relief and rehabilitation works. All the employees of Punjab Mandi Board and Market Committees also joined the Chairman and donated Rs 47.25 lakhs towards CM’s Relief Fund. Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Mr. Harchand Singh Barsat handed over a cheque of Rs 47.25 lakhs to Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann. He expressed gratitude to these employees for coming forward to lend helping hand to the state government in this natural calamity. He said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has been carrying out relief and rehabilitation works in flood affected areas. The whole state government machinery has been working round-the-clock for providing relief and facilitating rehabilitation of those affected by floods.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Following the directives given by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to provide sufficient sand to the people of the state at reasonable prices and to completely full stop illegal mining activities, Mining Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Tuesday has asked the department to find other new places for public mining sites and commercial sites by September 20. In a meeting with the officials of the department at Punjab Bhawan here today, the Mining Minister said that the State Government is committed to providing sufficient sand to the people at affordable prices. All necessary actions for approvals to start 40 clusters with 67 commercial sites should be completed by monsoon season so that they can be started from September 20. Out of the 40 clusters auctioned, technical bidding has been done so far for 32 clusters and financial bidding is still on. The government is giving sand to people from both public and commercial sites at Rs. 5.50 per cubic foot. Meet Hayer further said that so far 60 public sites have been dedicated by the Chief Minister to the residents of the state and 13 more public sites are being prepared to start operations soon. He directed the department to search for new places for the opening of more public sites so that the needs of the people can be met. The approvals in this regard should be expedited. Pending environmental clearances should be taken up immediately. Meet Hayer asked the officials of the department to intensify the campaign to completely stop the illegal mining activities. Negligence in this matter will not be tolerated. He said that drone services should be taken to make the checking work more efficient and should be started from the Rupnagar district as a pilot project. He said that 716 FIRs related to illegal mining have been registered from 15 April 2022 to 4 August 2023. The Minister further said that Hi-tech cameras are being installed by HDFC at check posts from the Bank’s CSR funds. The meeting was attended by Secretary Gurkirat Kripal Singh, Director DPS Kharbanda, Chief Engineer H.S. Mehndiratta, SEs and all XENs.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

After the success of the first edition of Kheda Watan Punjab Deya which was brainchild of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to create a sports culture in the state and make Punjab front ranking state in sports, this year the second Kheda Watan Punjab Deya will be organised for which the Sports department has already started preparations. Reviewing the preparations for the games at Punjab Bhawan, Meet Hayer said that by accepting the demands made by various players and Sports Associations, four new sports including Cycling, Equestrian, Rugby and Volleyball (Shooting) have been added this year. This time, a total of 34 sports will be held in which apart from the above four, Athletics, Hockey, Football, Volleyball (Smashing), Kabaddi (Circle And National Style), Handball, Boxing, Basketball, Wrestling, Judo, Archery, Shooting, Powerlifting, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, KickBoxing, Kayaking and Canoeing, Kho Kho, Gymnastics, Swimming, Netball, Gatka, Chess, Table Tennis, Roller Skating, Weightlifting, Softball, Rowing and Fencing. The Sports Minister said that competitions will be held in different age groups from under 14 to over 60 years of age to veterans. Athletics, Football, Kho Kho, Kabaddi (National and Circle Style) and Volleyball competitions will start from block level. Winners of block level and other games will be held at district level competitions and then district winners will be state level competitions. This time the state level competitions will be held in 20 districts instead of 10 districts last time by increasing the scope. The first, second and third place winners of the state level will be given a cash prize of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Meet Hayer said that the Games will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a grand opening ceremony for which the selection of the day and venue will be decided soon. The dates of the sports competitions will be announced soon after looking at the calendar of other national level sports competitions. There will be online and offline entries to participate in the games. During the grand closing ceremony, more than 10,000 winning players will be given cash prizes worth Rs 7 Cr. Special Chief Secretary Saravjit Singh, Director Harpreet Singh Sudan, Special Secretary Anand Kumar and Deputy Director Parminder Singh Sidhu were present in the meeting.