Category Archives: Chandigarh

Studio Blackline Hosts a Dynamic Meet-Up of Documentary Filmmakers in Delhi

IEP Delhi

 

Studio Blackline, a trailblazing name in the realm of documentary filmmaking, hosted a highly anticipated professional meet-up of documentary filmmakers in the heart of Delhi.

The event took place at the prestigious Press Club of India, situated on Raisina Hill, and brought together an array of industry stalwarts and rising talents. Studio Blackline, known for its unwavering commitment to documentary storytelling, comprises three distinctive components: Blackline Productions, Blackline Network, and the recently unveiled Blackline Expedition. Each component embodies Studio Blackline’s dedication to nurturing the documentary community and advancing the art of storytelling.

The event, organized under the banner of Blackline Network, marked the initiation of a series of monthly meet-ups scheduled for both Mumbai and Delhi. These gatherings are designed to foster a sense of community among documentary professionals, offering them an informal space to connect, share experiences, and brainstorm new ideas. A highlight of the evening was the official launch of “Documentary Expeditions” by Studio Blackline.

This innovative concept is tailored for travellers with a passion for documentary storytelling. It allows participants to embark on immersive journeys, learning the art of documentary filmmaking while exploring captivating destinations. The inaugural expedition is set in the enchanting landscapes of Goa and is scheduled for January 2024. : The event witnessed the presence of esteemed figures in the documentary industry, including Aditya Seth, President of the Indian Documentary Association, and www.studioblackline.co/productions Black Line Productions Pvt. Ltd. A-301 Antriksh Nature, Sector-52 Noida-201301, Uttar Pradesh Supriya Sobti Gupta, a luminary behind acclaimed documentaries like “A.P. Dhillon” (Amazon Prime), “Bad Boy Billionaires” (Netflix), “Caught Out” (Netflix), and “Mumbai Mafia” (Netflix). Their insights and experiences added significant value to the discussions.

‘AYUSH manufacturing industry grows 8 times in last 9 years from $3 billion to $24 billion’

IEP Chandigarh

The executive meet -2023 of National Integrated Medical Association was organised in Chandigarh. In his address, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, President of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine was the chief guest. Sharma said that “In the year 2014, the AYUSH manufacturing industry was only worth $3 billion. It has grown 8 times in the last 9 years from $3 billion to $24 billion. Dr. Geeta Joshi, organizer, NIMA Chandigarh said that about 300 Ayurveda experts from India and abroad participated. This special meeting was organised to brainstorm on ‘Ayurveda every day in every home’. The message of “Ayurveda in every home, every day” should be a part of the life of every Indian, she added.

Dr. BL Mehra, Vice Chancellor of Guru Ravidas University Rahul Gupta, Vice Chancellor of Shri Krishna Ayush University, Dr. KS Dhiman, Dr. Sanjeev Goyal, Registrar Board Ayurvedic Unani System of Medicine were the special guests. Dr. Sanjeev Goyal said, the message of “Ayurveda in every home, every day” should be a part of the life of every Indian. He stressed that we humans can survive only if nature survives. We have to take this seriously; This should be the biggest duty of human society towards nature.

Traditional medicine is science in itself. Let us understand the power, richness and possibilities inherent in nature and move forward.” Vaidya Rakesh Sharma said that “In the year 2014, the AYUSH manufacturing industry was only worth $3 billion. It has grown 8 times in the last 9 years from $3 billion to $24 billion.

Under the leadership of Honorable AYUSH Minister, we have resolved to increase the AYUSH sector by 50 times by 2047 and we are confident that this target can be achieved.” Dr. Shailendra Bhardwaj, Dr. Sukhjinder Yogi, Dr. Vinod Varwal, Dr. Meenu Gandhi, Dr. Vivek Ahuja were also present from the team of organizer NIMA Chandigarh.

Hry ACS asks officers to ensure smooth, hassle-free paddy procurement

IEP Chandigarh

Haryana additional Chief Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department) Dr Sumita Misra on Wednesday asked the concerned officers to ensure smooth hassle-free crop procurement during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season-2023-24.

She presided over a review meeting with senior officials of various institutions and departments including Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (Hafed), Food Corporation of India, Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, Panchkula, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, E Kharid and Meri Fasal Mera Board regarding the procurement operations for the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season-2023-24.

Dr Misra instructed the concerned officers to make adequate arrangements for the same and ensure that no farmers face any problem in selling their crops in the mandis. In the meeting, the issues related to the adoption of mechanized procurement operations, borrowing at low interest rates, reduction in the cost of procurement operations, adoption of new technologies and quality control systems, promotion of coarse grains, bagging requirements, online settlement of food subsidy claims among others were discussed and it was suggested that such innovations should be encouraged.

Haryana School Education Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal honour litterateurs from across the country on inaugural day of 3-day Nautanki Mahotsav

IEP Chandigarh, August 26

Haryana School Education Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal honoured litterateurs from across the country on the inaugural day of 3-day Nautanki Mahotsav at Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector-5, Panchkukla.

          The honoured artists include Sh. Praveen Kumar Gunjan from Begusarai, Bihar in the field of theatre, Dr. Jyotish Joshi, New Delhi, for literary writing, Dr. Madhav Kaushik, President of National Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, for folk arts, Sh. Atul Yaduvanshi, Prayagraj, for drama, Sh. Rohit Tripathi for Direction, Sh. Sudesh Sharma, Chairman Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chandigarh theatre for theatre, Sh. Diwan Manna, Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi Punjab, Sh. Sheeshpal Singh Rohtak for Folk Dance, Literature, Culture for Upliftment, Sh. Dharamveer Singh.

          Former Administrator, HSVP, was also honoured by the Chief Guest, Sh. Kanwar Pal. On this occasion, he said that litterateurs and storytellers are the saints of the society. Their ideas and thoughts give society a new direction, he added.  He said that Panchkula will become the best cultural city of North India. Sh. Kanwar Pal also presented Rs. 51,000 to the theatre artist for their exceptional performance on the first day of the Nautanki Mahotsav. Play ‘Dastaan-e-Laila Majnu’ will be staged on the concluding day of Nautanki Mahotsav.

          Sh. Kanwar Pal congratulated Director, Sh. Atul Yaduvanshi and his entire team for organising three-day Nautanki Mahotsav, and commended the creative cooperation of Art and Cultural Affairs Department, HSVP and Power Department, Haryana for the event.

“Give gift of sight”: Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh exhorts people to pledge eye donation

IEP Chandigarh, August 24

          To mark the 38th Eye Donation Fortnight, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday urged people to come forward to pledge their eyes for donation. “Eye donation is a noble cause as it can be a gift of vision to a blind person,” he said.

          The Eye Donation Fortnight will be observed from August 25 to September 8.

          Dr Balbir Singh, who himself is an eye surgeon, informed that the corneal damage leads to blindness, which is known as Corneal blindness. The cornea is a transparent layer in front of the iris.

          “It is the Cornea which is taken from the donor’s eyes and is transplanted on to a corneal blind person, which enables the person to see the world,” he said while adding that this surgical procedure is called a Keratoplasty.

          Underlining the importance of eye donation, the Health Minister said that our eyes are the most pivotal sensory organs, as up to 80% of all sensory impressions are registered through our sight. Without the gift of sight it is challenging to lead a normal life, he said.

          He said that around 11 lakh people are suffering from corneal blindness in India and 30,000 new cases are being added each year, whereas, only 25000 corneal transplants are conducted every year in India. “We can see a huge gap in eye donations and a number of corneal blind persons. Therefore we all need to come forward to fill this gap by pledging our eyes for donation and make our state and nation corneal blindness free,” he said.

          Meanwhile, Punjab has a total of 11 registered eye banks and 27 corneal transplantation centres. A total of 946 Keratoplasty have been conducted in Punjab in 2022-23, while, 282 such surgeries have been conducted successfully in 2023-24 till July.

          Director Health Services Dr Adarshpal Kaur said that during this fortnight, various IEC activities are to be carried out across the state and detailed guidelines have already been issued to all the Civil Surgeons in this regard. Various myths and misconceptions associated with eye donation will be busted during this intensified awareness drive, she added.

          State Program Officer of the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) Dr Neeti Singla said that registration forms for pledging the eyes for donation are available at all the district hospitals, sub-division hospitals and community health centres. The registration can also be done online on the website www.nhm.punjab.gov.in/Eye_Donation/form1.php and the print of the filled form as proof of registration can also be taken.

Eye Donation – Facts and Myths

Eyes can be donated only after death. Eyes must be removed within 4-6 hours after death.

Anyone irrespective of age and sex can donate eyes.

Spectacle wearers, those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, etc and those who have undergone cataract surgery can also donate eyes.

Only a trained person can remove eyes.

Eye removal takes less than 20 minutes and it does not delay the funeral formalities.

Eye removal does not lead to any disfigurement of the face.

— The identities of both the donor and recipient remain confidential and are not disclosed.

One donor can give vision to two corneal blind individuals.

Eye donation is a free-of-cost process.

Selling or buying of human eyes is illegal.

Donated eyes that are not suitable for transplant may be used for medical research and education.

Who cannot donate eyes?

Eyes are not collected from donors who are infected with or died due to the following conditions: AIDS (HIV)/ Hepatitis B or C, Sepsis, Leukaemia, Rabies, Meningitis, Encephalitis, Tetanus and other viral diseases.

What should be done by the relatives of the deceased?

Inform the nearest eye bank or eye collection centre immediately after death.

Switch off the fan and switch on the AC if available.

Gently close both eyes and keep a moist cloth over both eyes.

Raise the head with a pillow. This will reduce the bleeding during the removal of the eyes.

Punjab Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Maan leads tourism road show in Mumbai to showcase Punjab as most proffered tourist destination

IEP Mumbai/Chandigarh, August 24

Under the visionary guidance of Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan, the Department of Tourism Punjab has successfully organized a vibrant and captivating road show in the bustling city of Mumbai today. This event marks the second stop in a four-city road show series that commenced from Jaipur (Rajasthan) on August 23. The road show will continue its journey to Hyderabad on August 25 and will culminate in the capital city of Delhi on August 26.

          The Chief Guest Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan, while addressing the gathering with fervour and enthusiasm, unveiled the state’s groundbreaking initiative, the ‘Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart’, scheduled to take place in Mohali from September 11 to 13, 2023. This summit aims to spotlight Punjab’s rich heritage, diverse culture and captivating tourism offerings. To introduce this exciting event to the nation, the Punjab State Tourism Board has embarked on a nationwide road show campaign, she added.

          She informed that this grand event will witness participation from a myriad of stakeholders, including foreign and domestic tour operators, destination management companies, travel trade media, influential travel personalities, hotel operators, bed-and-breakfast hosts, farm stay proprietors and tourism boards among others.

          Ms. Maan emphasized that Punjab boasts enormous tourism potential, grounded in its opulent heritage, traditional art forms and unique customs. Notably, the cities of Amritsar, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib have emerged as top attractions for international tourists. She said that the Department of Tourism is steadfastly dedicated to propelling Punjab to the forefront of Indian tourism with the goal of becoming a premier international tourist destination by 2030.

          Ms. Maan extended a heartfelt invitation to the stalwarts of the tourism industry to invest in Punjab, a land brimming with tourism opportunities, besides extending a warm invitation to the film industry in Mumbai, highlighting Punjab’s picturesque locations often referred to as ‘Mini Goa’ and its potential as a sought-after film shooting destination. To facilitate this, Invest Punjab has streamlined the permission process ensuring approvals within a swift 15-day timeframe, she added.

          The Tourism Minister said that the Punjab Travel Mart aims to convene forward-thinking tourism professionals from across the nation, further cementing Punjab’s status as a top tourist destination. She commended the unwavering efforts of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann in promoting tourism within the state with a vision to boost international and domestic footfall.

          With two international border locations, Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan said that the state has a wealth of circuits of spiritual luminaries and freedom fighters, thus the state becomes the treasure trove of possibilities for tourists.

          Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan revealed Punjab Tourism’s forthcoming focus on adventure and water tourism, wellness tourism, agri and eco-tourism with a strong emphasis on the development of rural home and farm stays. She said that the government is dedicated to enhancing the role of women in tourism, championing their empowerment and thereby elevating their quality of life and livelihood.

          Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour, further underscoring the government’s commitment to the tourism sector.

Punjab VB nabs Sub Inspector while accepting bribe of Rs 7000

IEP Chandigarh, August 24

          Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday nabbed a Sub Inspector (SI), Dilbagh Singh, posted at Police Station Sarai Amanat Khan in Tarn Taran district while accepting a bribe of Rs 7000 from Nirmal Singh resident of village Kasel.

          Revealing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Nirmal Singh lodged a complaint that an FIR no. 46/2023 under section 21 (C) of NDPS Act was registered against his brother Daljit Singh at Police Station Sarai Amant Khan and the accused SI was investigating the case. The complainant alleged that SI Dilbagh Singh had demanded Rs 7000 as a bribe to get vetted the challan from Government Advocate and submit the same in the court.

          After preliminary investigation of the complaint, a team of VB laid a trap and arrested the accused SI while accepting the bribe of Rs 7000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses.

          In the regard, an FIR no 29 dated 24-08-2023 under  section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against SI Dilbagh Singh at Police Station VB, Amritsar Range.

Haryana Government takes significant steps towards environment protection and waste management: CS

IEP Chandigarh, June 27

The Haryana Government is taking significant strides towards ensuring the scientific handling and disposal of municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, biomedical waste, and enforcing a ban on single-use plastics in the state. This was stated by the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, during a one-day training programme focusing on the implementation of District Environment Plans held at the Haryana Institute of Public Administration in Gurugram today.The training programme was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel. Dr. M M Kutty, Chairperson of CAQM, Mrs. Urvashi Gulati, Former Chief Secretary of Haryana, Mr. Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Mr. P. Raghavendra Rao, Chairman of HSPCB, and Mrs. Chandralekha Mukherjee, Director General of HIPA were also present during the training programme.Mr. Kaushal said that as per the directives of the NGT, all Deputy Commissioners of the state have been sensitized to prepare District Environment Plans, which encompass various thematic areas such as solid waste management, air quality, industrial wastewater treatment, water quality, mining activity and noise pollution. The plans will be uploaded on the Environment Department’s website. These comprehensive plans will play a vital role in addressing environmental challenges and ensuring compliance with environmental norms, thus contributing to sustainable development and progress of the state, he added.To ensure the efficient utilization of environment compensation funds collected from violating units, a high-powered committee has been constituted which will undertake environment restoration activities as outlined in the District Environment Plans, he added.While expressing his confidence in the dedication and commitment of all the Deputy Commissioners and senior district-level officers present at the training programme, he encouraged the officers to approach the programme with utmost seriousness, as the lectures and sessions covering various environment-related topics will equip them with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively implement the identified activities in the District Environment Plan.Furthermore, Mr. Kaushal urged all Deputy Commissioners to share their best practices, seek clarification on any doubts, and provide valuable suggestions during the technical sessions. The experts present on the occasion interacted with the officers to address their queries and enhance their understanding.Mr. Kaushal further said that Haryana Government remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development. By implementing the District Environment Plans and working collaboratively, we can create a cleaner, greener, and healthier future for our state, he added. 

Colleges of Haryana’s three districts – Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar should be given option of affiliation with Panjab University: Punjab Governor

IEP Chandigarh, June 5

An important meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit with Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal and Punjab Chief Minister, Sh. Bhagwant Mann, on various issues related to Panjab University, Chandigarh. A detailed discussion was held on the issue of affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University, Chandigarh. The next round of meeting regarding the matter will be held on July 3.

Sh. Banwarilal Purohit said that India’s culture has been to disseminate education and people from all over the world used to come to get education in Takshashila and Nalanda University. “That is why giving opportunities for education to children is a positive thinking. In this regard, the colleges of Haryana should be given affiliation from Panjab University,” he added. He said that colleges in Haryana’s three districts – Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar, should be given the option of affiliation with Panjab University.

Along with districts of Haryana, colleges of Punjab’s Mohali and Rupnagar  should also be given affiliation: Manohar Lal

In the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that in the interest of the students, the colleges of the state should be given the option of affiliation with Panjab University. Both the states will proceed in a friendly manner, he added.

He said that along with the colleges in three districts – Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar, colleges in Punjab’s Mohali and Rupnagar  districts should also be given affiliation with Panjab University.

“Delhi University is building its campus in Haryana. Apart from this, the campus of IIT, Delhi is also coming up in the state. Expanding education and affiliation of the colleges will provide many new opportunities to students of Haryana,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Punjab adamant against Haryana’s proposal for college affiliation

In the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister, Sh. Bhagwant Mann remained adamant against the proposal of Haryana for affiliation of colleges. He said that Punjab is helpless on the issue of affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Varsity gets only 7 to 14 percent of budget against Punjab’ share of 40 percent

Giving information related to the budget in Panjab University, Chandigarh, it was apprised that the varsity has been facing financial crisis for years. Chandigarh has 60 percent share in the university and Punjab has 40 percent share. In the last 10 years, the university has received an average of Rs 200-300 crore per year from the Centre.

While in the last 10 years only Rs 20-21 crores have been received from Punjab on an average per year. In the year 2020-21, an amount of Rs 39 crore was released by Punjab. Overall, the university gets only 7 to 14 percent of the budget as against Punjab’s share of 40 percent.

Punjab Education Minister, Sh. Harjot Singh Bains, Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal, Advisor to UT Administrator, Sh. Dharam Pal, Punjab Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijay Kumar Janjua, Chandigarh Home Secretary, Sh. Nitin Yadav, Director, Higher Education, Haryana, Sh. Rajeev Rattan, Vice Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof Renu Vig along with senior officials of Punjab and Chandigarh were also present in the meeting.