IEP SAS Nagar (Mohali), March 28

  Underlining the need for modernization of the Police force on scientific lines, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that it is the need of the hour to facilitate the people by redressing their complaints at their doorsteps through online service. Addressing the gathering, after launching a Chat Bot number 9517795178 for reporting Missing, Found and Abused Children and inaugurating a stakeholder workshop on “Working together for rights of Women & Children here at Indian School of Business, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Police has a glorious legacy of serving the country by making countless sacrifices. He said that apart from discharging its core duty of maintaining law and order, the Punjab Police has always safeguarded the interests of the country and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that in the changing scenario the challenges for the force have increased manifold due to which comprehensive reforms in its functioning is the need of the hour.   The Chief Minister said that apart from keeping a strict eye over law and order, the Police force needs to focus on community Policing also. He said that while several out of the box initiatives have already been taken, more such efforts need to be made for facilitating the people. Bhagwant Mann said that as today is the era of science and technology so major thrust must be laid on redressal of grievances to the people at their doorsteps through online facilities.  The Chief Minister said that the entire justice delivery system needed to be reformed from its roots and the Police is one of the core concern areas of this system which required some radical changes immediately. He said that our Police reforms will aim to transform the values, culture, policies and practices of Police organizations so that police can perform their duties with respect for democratic values, human rights and the rule of law. Bhagwant Mann said that it also aims to improve how the Police deal with other parts of the security sector, such as the management or oversight responsibilities. Citing the example of Sangrur Parliament Constituency, the Chief Minister said that the state government has started installation of state-of-the-art CCTVs to keep a hawk eye on every nook and corner of the district. He announced that this will be replicated across the state so as to effectively monitor law and order situation thereby reducing this burden from Police. Bhagwant Mann described CCTVs as third eye of the Police in this prevailing world adding that this will ensure quick action to counter any untoward incident. The Chief Minister lauded the initiatives being taken by the Police force to introduce modernization in the department. He expressed concern that human trafficking is posing a serious threat not only for Police but for entire society. Bhagwant Mann said that this menace needs to be dealt with heavy hands for which the out of the box idea of Police to launch Chat Bot is a welcome step.  Highlighting the need for strengthening the system of reconciliation process at village or household level to reduce the burden of Police force, the Chief Minister said that it will strengthen the social fabric of the state on one hand and balance the social norms on the other by increasing bond amongst the people. Bhagwant Mann said that this will also help in wiping out various causes of social stigma and pave a way for creating an egalitarian society which will provide equal opportunities for all. Describing the Chat bot initiative as a new dawn for reforming the police system, he said that a developing country like India needs ultra modern tools such as Whatsapp Chatbot and other online modules to resolve public issues quickly. Giving a clarion call to women to be on forefront in every sphere, the Chief Minister said that in an unprecedented manner the state government has deputed seven women as Deputy Commissioners and five women as five as Senior Superintendents of Police. He expressed pride and satisfaction that these officers are rendering exemplary service to the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that these officers help in motivating women to come forward and become the partners of earning in their families, which will automatically resolve the social evils such as dowry, harassment and female foeticide thereby paving way for women empowerment. The Chief Minister said that in order to resolve the problems faced by women, the state government has already set up 10 all women Police stations in Punjab. He said that these Police stations are working efficiently to ensure justice to women. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is mulling to set up more such exclusive women Police stations across the state. Sharing his penned poem ‘Na tan mainu Jaman ton pehla hi mareya geya, Na hi mere jaman da dukh hi sahereya geya’, the Chief Minister batted for equal opportunities for girl child in every field. He said that girls are outnumbering the boys in every field and given a chance they can excel in any field. Bhagwant Mann further said that the youth are the foundation stones of the society and the state government is leaving no stone unturned to provide them world class education opportunities so that they will become integral part of socio-economic growth of the country.  Earlier, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the department is committed not only to safeguarding our children but their childhood too. She informed that various programs for the well being of women and children have been started and ‘Vidya Parkash, School Wapsi da Agaz’ is one of them, which is gradually becoming a symbol of success.   Prior to this DGP Gaurav Yadav made a brief glimpse about the functioning of Police with its pro-people initiatives and assured to create a better environment for police personnel. ADGP Gurpreet Deo extended the warm words of welcome towards dignitaries.

IEP Chandigarh, March 27     

     Punjab Government has issued UDID cards to 307219 divyang persons in the state till March 23, 2023.          Divulging the details, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr.  Baljit Kaur said that to give the benefits of all the schemes and services of the Central and Punjab Government to the divyang persons on the basis of one card, Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) is generated and its database is being prepared at national level.           Cabinet minister further said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to the welfare of divyang persons.  She said that 3,07,219 UDID cards have been issued to the eligible persons with disabilities’ till March 23, 2023 and according to the daily report shared by the Government of India, the state of Punjab has achieved 10th Rank.          Dr. Baljit Kaur added that apart from this, a disability cell has been created by the Punjab government for disabled persons.  She said that this dedicated cell will be a single window platform for divyang persons to avail benefits of disability schemes.          Minister appealed to the divyang persons of the state to apply for UDID card by contacting the service centers, district social security offices or civil hospitals so that they can take benefits of the government schemes.

IEP Chandigarh, March 27      

    Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is doing full-out efforts to provide basic facilities, clean and pollution free environment to the people of the state. In line of this, development works are being carried out across the State, with a focus on beautification and improvement of Infrastructure.          Local Government Minister Dr.Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that Punjab government has decided to spend approximately Rs 6.64 crore  on development works for the beautification of Nagar Panchayat Bilga and Lohian Khas in Jalandhar.          Disclosing this here to the press release, Local Government Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that Approximately Rs 92 lakh will be spent on providing and laying interlocking tiles from Talwan Road to Akal Academy School,  Shampur Road to Dera Amarjeet Singh Ji and Shampur to Indian Gas Agency godown. additionally, interlocking tiles works will also be done in various other places at Nagar Panchayat Bilga.          Apart from this, Cabinet Minister, Dr Nijjar said that approximately Rs 2.66 crore will also be spent for rejuvenation and beautification of various ponds of Nagar Panchayat Bilga.          He further said that approximately Rs 1.45 crore will be spent for beautification of various parks, installation of CCTV cameras and Street lights in different streets and roads of Nagar Panchayat Bilga. In addition various types of others development works will also be done in Bilga.          Cabinet Minister also added that rejuvenation and beautification of various ponds at Nagar Panchayat Lohian Khas will also be undertaken with an expenditure of Rs 1.61 crore.          Dr Nijjar further said that these development works are expected to enhance the overall look of the areas and provide better amenities to the residents. He said that the Punjab Government is committed to providing quality infrastructure to the people of the State and such initiatives will help in achieving this goal.          He said that Local Government Department has started the office process for these development works. He also urged to all official to carry out their duties with utmost diligence and full of efforts.          Minister has directed the officials to make ensure transparency and quality in development works.

IEP Chandigarh, March 27     

     In order to fulfill the commitment of the Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government to provide maximum jobs opportunities for the youth, Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora on Monday asked Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training department officials to work more vigorously to make youth skilful to cater the needs of the industry and changing trends of the modern time.          He was chairing a meeting here after assuming the charge as Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training.          While reviewing the functioning of the department, Mr Aman Arora emphasised that skilful youth should be readily available to bridge the gap between industry requirements and skilled manpower. He also asked the officials to come out with a comprehensive plan to impart training in the fields, which is in the demand and has a high rate of employability, so that the youth won’t have to face hardships in getting job.          Giving a presentation, Secretary Employment Generation Skill, Development & Training Mr kumar Rahul and Director Employment Generation Ms Deepti Uppal apprised the Cabinet Minister that as many as 1,21,335 candidates have been facilitated by organising 2003 placement camps for private sector jobs. As many as 32,383 candidates have been imparted skill training and 799 camps organised in which 80329 candidates have been trained for self employment.          Ms Uppal further informed that five multi-skill development centres— in Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana, are already imparting training in different courses to youth.          Director Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Major General J.S. Sandhu, Director Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Major General Ajay H Chauhan, Director General C-PYTE Major General Rambir Singh Mann also apprised the Mr. Aman Arora about the functioning of these institutes.          Joint Director Employment Generation Ms. Sanjeeda Beri, General Manager Punjab Skill Development Mission, Punjab/PGRKAM Mr. Surinder Mohan and other officials of the department were also present in the meeting. 

IEP Chandigarh, March 27    

       In a major pro-farmer initiative, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced to freeze repayment of loan taken by the farmers from Primary Agricultural cooperative Societies.           The Chief Minister has taken the decision in wake of the losses suffered by the farmers due to recent rain and hailstorm. He expressed hope that this will give much needed relief to the farmers in this hour of crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that the farmers can pay back this amount later after they recover from the losses.           The Chief Minister envisioned that this will prove boon to the farmers of state by giving them more time to repay their loans and avoid imposition of penal interest, which will have been levied on farmers who did not repay the loan. He said that the state cooperatives lends crores of rupees per crop to the farmers of Punjab as short term crop loan through the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. Bhagwant Mann said that this step by the State Government is an important concession to the farmers.  He said that as a result of this extension in time, a large number of farmers will be saved from becoming defaulters and will remain eligible to get loan for the next crop. 

IEP Chandigarh: March 27

The Bhagwant Mann government accords highest priority to the ex-servicemen who have spent years in service of the nation and are an asset. With a view to provide a respectable job prospect to them Directorate of Defence Service Welfare Punjab and Punjabi UniversityPatiala signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 27 March 2023, to give Graduation degree to Ex-servicemen. A formal ceremony was held at Punjab Bhawan in which Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister Defence Services Welfare Department attended as the chief guest. Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala Dr. Arvind, J.M. Balamurgan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Government of Punjab, Defence Services Welfare Department, Brig Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd), Director Defence Services Welfare Punjab and other officials were also present on the occasion.            In this regard, Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister, DefenceServices Welfare Department, informed that due to the consistent efforts of the Bhagwant Mann led government, with this MoU, the eligible Ex-servicemen of Punjab will be awarded Degree of Graduation Certificate in Bachelor of Arts (Defence and Strategic Studies) from Punjabi University Patiala and will be eligible to apply for Group A and B posts of the Government. Earlier with the Special Education Certificate awarded by the Army, Navy and Air Force at the time of retirement, they were only eligible to apply for Group C and D posts.            After this Chetan Singh Jaudamajra, Cabinet Minister Defence Services Welfare Department distributed financial assistance cheques to disabled Ex-servicemen and their dependents during a brief program held at District Defence Services Welfare Office, SAS Nagar. He said that the ex-gratia amount given to the families of the martyrs has been increased to Rs. 1.00 crore and recently the process of providing employment to 12 families of the martyrs has also been completed and appointment letters will be issued to them soon. 

IEP Chandigarh, March 27      

    Under the Asirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 68.38 crore to provide financial assistance to 9804 beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes, 3605 beneficiaries of Backward Classes Economically Weaker Sections, total 13409 beneficiaries in the state.          Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr.  Baljit Kaur said that under the Asirwad scheme in the state,  An amount of Rs.50.00 crore has been released during the current financial year 2022-23 for financial assistance of  scheduled castes 5127 remaining beneficiaries in March 2022, 3927 beneficiaries in April 2022 and 750 beneficiaries in May 2022.  an amount of Rs.18.38 crore has been released during the current financial year 2022-23 for financial assistance for backward classes and economically weaker sections for 06 beneficiaries of November 2021, 2192 remaining beneficiaries of March 2022 and 1407 beneficiaries of April 2022.          Cabinet Minister added that under the Ashirwad scheme, girls from Scheduled Castes/Christian communities, girls from widows of any caste, girls from backward classes and economically backward families at the time of marriage and widows/divorced women of Scheduled Castes at the time of their remarriage    Financial assistance of Rs.51,000 is given as an omen.          The Cabinet Minister instructed all Social Justice, Empowerment Officers of the State to transfer the amount of Ashirwad Scheme Rs.51,000 per beneficiary to be done before March 31, 2023 through mode DBT in the Bank Accounts of the beneficiaries through Treasury Offices. 

IEP Chandigarh March 27    

      The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign has arrested revenue Patwari Prem Kumar, posted at revenue halqua, Nawanshahar, SBS district for demanding a bribe of Rs 24,000.          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said this case has been registered against the above said revenue official after investigation of an online complaint lodged at the Chief Minister’s anti-corruption action line.          Giving details he added that the complainant Amarjit Singh, resident of Karnana, tehsil Banga, has alleged that the above said Patwari has taken Rs 24,000 as a bribe in instalments in lieu of mutation of land belonging to his father and his uncle.          He further added that the complainant has recorded the conversation on his mobile while the accused Patwari was demanding this bribe.          The spokesperson added that the VB unit of Jalandhar range has investigated the allegations levelled in the complaint and registered a corruption case at VB police station Jalandhar against the above mentioned revenue official after finding him guilty for demanding and accepting a bribe money.  Further investigation in this case was under progress, he informed.

IEP Chandigarh March 24

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday arrested an accused Charan Kaur of village Goure, district Kapurthala for misappropriating a grant of Rs. 45,000 in colluding with others out of total central grant of Rs. 13,50,000 received by Gram Panchayat Mehmedwal, district Kapurthala in the year 2012 which was sanctioned for the poor and homeless under Indira Awas Yojana. She was absconding for the last 4 years in this case.          It is worth mentioning that out of the total 132 accused involved in this case registered six years ago, 117 accused had already been arrested so far and the search for the remaining accused was under progress.          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said out the total central grant of Rs 13,50,000 received by Gram Panchayat Mehmedwal in the year 2012 under the Indira Awas Yojana for the poor and homeless, the then ADC Development-cum-Chief Executive Officer Zila Parishad, Kapurthala Satish Chander Vashist in connivance with Asa Singh Sarpanch of village Mehmedwal and Kulwant Singh, Panchayat Secretary, had embezzled the grant through cheques by issuing them in the name of ineligible beneficiaries.             He informed that later on the recommendation of Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala, a five-member committee comprising various officials conducted a physical verification regarding utilisation of this grant, during which it was found that illegal payments to the tune of Rs. 1,80,00,000 were made to 411 ineligible beneficiaries of 31 villages in Kapurthala district during the year 2011-12.          In this regard, the VB had registered a case no. 01 dated 03-02-17 against 132 accused persons under sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and section 13(1), 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at  Vigilance Bureau police station Jalandhar range.  In this case, the accused Charan Kaur, resident of village Goure, district Kapurthala was nominated on 04-02-2019 after investigation, who has been arrested today.          The spokesperson informed that the above said accused Charan Kaur, being an ineligible beneficiary had usurped the central grant of Rs. 45,000 in connivance  with Sukhwinder Singh, Sarpanch of village Goure and Kulwant Singh, Panchayats Secretary, through two checks on 14-03-2012.

IEP Chandigarh, March 24    

      Punjab Police on Friday released as many as 44 persons, who were taken into preventive arrest during the ongoing operation against those trying to disturb law and order in the state, from police custody. Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann has given clear instructions to not harass any innocent persons during the operation.                Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that  in the larger interest of the public and keeping in view that youngsters should not suffer, Punjab Police have decided to release those persons who have a minimum role or were just following Amritpal Singh on religious sentiments only. As many as 44 persons, who were under preventive arrest were handed over to their family members on Friday, with the promise of good conduct in future.          The development came a day after the announcement by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill that Punjab Police might release 177 arrested persons from preventive custody.          Notably, a total of 207 persons have been arrested for disturbing peace and harmony in the state, of which, 30 have been found in substantive criminal activities, while, remaining were under preventive arrest. He had also assured that people involved in baptism and de-addiction will also not be bothered at all.          IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Police teams are doing thorough screening of remaining persons, who are under preventive arrest, and soon, they will also be released from the police custody if they were not found involved in any substantive criminal activities.            Meanwhile, the operation is being carried out on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with an aim to save the innocent youth of Punjab from playing into the hands of Anti-National Forces