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Chandigarh, Punjab

VB arrests two ex-army personnel among three for impersonating as vigilance officials, taking cheques worth Rs 25l from Ludhiana resident

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IEP Chandigarh, August 30

Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested three persons including two ex-army personnel, who impersonated as Vigilance officials and took cheques of Rs 25 lakhs from a resident of Bhaini Salu village in Ludhiana district.The arrested accused persons have been identified as Manjeet Singh resident of village Bhaini Salu, Paramjeet Singh of village Mehlon (Ludhiana) and Parminder Singh resident of Akash Colony, Hoshiarpur. Manjeet Singh and Parminder Singh are ex-army personnel. Parminder Singh is Incharge of World Human Rights Corporation of Punjab.Revealing the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Palwinder Singh resident of village Bhaini Salu lodged a complaint that he had sold 18 acres of his ancestral land a few months ago. Thereafter, he received a Government notice regarding selling a Panchayat land, following which, three unknown persons came to his house on August 12, 2023 and introduced themselves as officials from Vigilance Department at Sector-17, Chandigarh.The complainant alleged that they demanded Rs 50 Lakh from him to sort out the matter of selling panchayat land as they cited that the inquiry is pending at Chandigarh office and a case will be registered against him in this regard. In fear, the complainant agreed to pay Rs 25 Lakh and the accused persons convinced him to sign two cheques— Rs 15 Lakh and 10 Lakh— with a guarantee to return them back once receiving the amount of Rs 25 Lakh in cash. One of the accused persons also took Rs 27000 from his pocket and went away after getting his phone number.Thereafter, the complainant has been receiving threat calls on WhatsApp for registration of a criminal case against him in case the former fails to give promised Rs 25 Lakh cash.The spokesperson said that following the complaint, an FIR 20 dated 28.8.2023 under sections 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and 384,120-B of IPC has been registered against Manjeet Singh of village Bhaini Salu and three unknown persons at Police Station VB, Ludhiana Range. Accused Manjeet Singh and Paramjeet Singh of village Mehlon were arrested on Monday, and now they both are on police remand till August 31. Parminder Singh, a resident of Akash Colony Hoshiarpur was also arrested on Tuesday. The VB has also nominated four more persons in the case and a manhunt has been launched to arrest the remaining accused.Notably, accused Manjeet Singh and Paramjit Singh had made recce of the house of complainant and Parminder Singh is one of those three accused persons who went to the house of complainant on August 12.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab VB arrests govt school lecturer for taking bribe of Rs 1.16 lakh for transfer of fellow teacher

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IEP Chandigarh, August 29

Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested a Lecturer, Umesh Kumar Munjal, posted at Government Senior Secondary School, Lalru in SAS Nagar district, for taking a bribe of Rs 1.16 lakh from P. Ranjan resident of Nanak Nagri Abohar (Fazilka).

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of VB said that P. Ranjan lodged a complaint that his wife Priya Miglani, who is a government teacher, was posted at Government Senior Secondary School, Kussowal in Ferozepur district. This school is around 180KMs away from their residence. Umesh Kumar contacted him to get his wife transferred near home. He (the Complainant) met him at Sri Muktsar Sahib on 26-10-2021 and the Lecturer demanded Rs 2 lakh for the same. The accused Lecturer had taken Rs 1.16 lakh as a bribe from the complainant on different dates and then started demanding the remaining amount of the bribe but the transfer was not done as the complainant did not pay the remaining amount of the bribe to the accused.

The complainant said that Punjab Education Department had opened the portal for online transfers on 10-06-2022 and on the application, Priya Miglani was transferred to Government Senior Secondary School, Bhitiwala in tehsil Malout of Sri Muktsar Sahib district and she joined the duty on new posting on 16-06-2022. But the accused was harassing them by demanding the remaining amount of bribe.

The spokesperson said that a team of VB unit Fazilka has arrested the Lecturer Umesh Kumar Munjal today after registering an FIR no. 21 dated 29-08-2023 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act against him at Police Station VB, Ferozepur Range. 

Chandigarh, Punjab

Decks cleared for resumption of domestic flights of Adampur Airport: CM

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IEP Chandigarh, August 28

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that decks are all clear for resumption of domestic flights from Adampur airport in Jalandhar and soon flights will be started from the hub of Doaba region to the other states of the country.

Chairing a meeting of the Civil Aviation department here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat- I, the Chief Minister said that this will facilitate the NRI brethren to stay connected with their homes in the motherland. He said that besides saving time, money and energy of the NRIs and other sections of society, this airport will also act as a catalyst in giving further fillip to the economic activity in the region. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this airport will prove a milestone in the journey of restoring the pristine glory of the state.

 Dwelling on another agenda, the Chief Minister directed the officers to complete the ongoing work for construction of civil air terminal at Halwara at the earliest. He said that the state government has already released Rs 50 crore for early completion of the work at the state of the art civil air terminal. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the timely completion of the project is the need of hour to give impetus to the economic growth of the state.

 Reviewing the ongoing work at Adampur, Halwara, Bathinda and Pathankot airports, the Chief Minister said that the starting of flights from these airports will provide direct air connectivity to the people of the state with the rest of the globe. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that massive efforts are also afoot for starting domestic flights from Adampur, Halwara and Bhisiana airports to facilitate the industry and other sectors in the state. He asked the officers to ensure that the entire process is completed in a time bound manner for the progress of the state and prosperity of its people.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Harjot singh bains congratulates punjab teacher selected for national award

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IEP Chandigarh August 27

Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has congratulated the teacher of the state who has been selected for the National Teachers Award-2023.

          Applauding the teacher, Mr. Bains said that he has brought laurels for the state and his selection for the prestigious awards will uplift the morale and inspire the other teachers of the government schools to work harder.

          Notably, the list of National Teachers Awards, to be given on the Teachers’ Day-2023 by the Ministry of Education, has been released today, wherein Amritpal Singh of Government Senior Secondary School Chhapar Pakhowal (district Ludhiana) was selected to receive this coveted award.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab government tightens noose around illegal mining in state

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IEP Chandigarh, August 27

On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Mining department has tightened noose around the people involved in illegal mining by lodging FIRs against them.

          Divulging the details, Mining and Geology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that the department has adopted a  zero tolerance policy for illegal mining. He said that in a raid conducted in Village Dhanansu Ludhiana, illegal sand miming was detected. He said that the material extracted was being stacked  in Jamalpur area of Ludhiana.

          The Minister said that acting swiftly the department has requested the Police department to register an FiR in the matter. Similarly, he said that in Ropar District  FIRs have been lodged in last two days for three incidents of illegal mining. He said that these FIRs have been registered at kalwan chowki  and Nangal police stations and pertain to illegal mining by poclain machines and tippers at Swara/Ailgran village and Khera Village.

          He said that at kalwan chowki in FIR  119 of 26/08/23  has been registered against one poclain machine at Swara/Ailgran village. Likewise, he said that at Nangal police station FIR 129 of 27/08/23 has been lodged against two poclain machines and four tippers in village Khera. Likewise, he said that FIR 130 of 27/08/23 has been registered in Nangal police station against one poclain machine in village Khera.

          All the machines involved in incidents of illegal mining have been impounded and are in police custody

Chandigarh, Haryana

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

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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.

Chandigarh, Punjab

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

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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.

Chandigarh

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

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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.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab VB nabs Sub Inspector while accepting bribe of Rs 7000

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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.

Chandigarh, Punjab

EDUCATION PROVIDERS, IE, EGS, STR, AIE AND SPECIAL INCLUSIVE TEACHERS CAN ALSO APPLY FOR THE STATE AWARD: HARJOT SINGH BAINS

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IEP Chandigarh, August 12

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains today announced that Education Providers, IE, EGS, STR, AIE and Special Inclusive Teachers can also apply for the prestigious State Awards conferred by the state government on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.Giving further details, Harjot Singh Bains that the Education Department has recognized the significant contributions of Education Providers, IE, EGS, STR, AIE and Special Inclusive Teachers who have been working tirelessly within the Education Department for a long time.He mentioned that previous despansations had undermined the respect and honour of these teachers by referring to them as “temporary teachers” and causing financial distress by not providing them with regular salaries. But, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann had regularized the services of 12,710 teachers and provided them with higher salaries.He categorically said, “these teachers also deserve recognition similar to other teachers and have the right to apply for awards. Uptil now, the “State level Award” was not extended to them, which was incorrect. Therefore, apart from the awards given under the “State Level Award,” five special awards have been introduced for teachers in this category.”Starting from the coming year, these teachers will have the opportunity to apply for awards alongside other teachers, said the EducationWhile ordering to open the portal,Minister, said that during this session, these teachers will be given special opportunities to apply for the “State Level Award” and complete other official procedures through the portal, which will remain open until August 18, 2023.