IEP Chandigarh, February 14

Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Tuesday said that the Orientation Program has been chalked out to impart in-depth overview to Legislators about the functioning of Assembly.Addressing the MLAs on the first day of a two-day special orientation program organized at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration here, the Speaker suggested MLAs to make the Vidhan Sabha manual a part of their daily life to have better understanding of the legislative functioning. He envisioned that this orientation program will boost the morale of all the members, especially those who have been elected for the first time.In his address during ‘Interaction on Good Governance and Legislative Oversight’, Rajya Sabha Member Mr. Sanjay Singh described the disruption practices during debates on important issues in Parliament or Vidhan Sabha Sessions as a part of the parliamentary system. Citing an example, he said that if our suggestions (disruptions) regarding not bringing the farm law had been taken into consideration in time; the ruling party would not have had to face the brunt of the farmers’ struggle for a year. Mr. Sanjay Singh said that late Mr. Arun Jaitley and late Mrs. Sushma Swaraj also believed that ‘disruptions’ by the opposition during the Session was also a part of healthy democracy.He said that MLAs should take advantage of Zero Hour and others to raise issues related to their assembly segments. He told the MLAs to equip themselves with deep knowledge about the legislative functioning to ensure better facilities to the people.In his address, former Secretary General of Lok Sabha and Advisor to Delhi Vidhan Sabha Mr. PDT Achary, while speaking on Good Governance, said that Good Governance never means that houses of people are razed through bulldozers. Rather, he said that good governance means efficiently running the government in consonance with the constitution and working of legislative and executive in coordination with each other to ensure the well being of people. He said that the government is duty bound to provide good governance to the people.Mr. Achary highlighted the importance of Legislative/Parliamentary Committees for fixing accountability. Informing about the formation of various committees and functioning of Parliament, he said that the Public Accounts Committee audits every single penny spent by the government so as to ensure the judicious use of public funds.Earlier, Director General MGSIPA Mr. Anirudh Tewari welcomed the MLAs participating in the Orientation Program.  He said that Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has taken this initiative which is highly commendable.Meanwhile, Mr. Ajay Kumar Sood from Lok Sabha Secretariat New Delhi and Former Advisor of Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Former Additional Secretary, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Ram Narayan Yadav also expressed their views on Parliamentary Devices-Practices and Procedure (Calling Attention Notices, Resolutions, Zero Hour and Question Hour etc.)

IEP Chandigarh, February 14

          Aiming to curb the menace of corruption in the state, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday nabbed a bill clerk, Rohit Sachdeva, posted in the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate, Abohar, Ferozepur district red handed for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of VB said the above said clerk was arrested on the complaint of Gaurav Nagpal, resident of Fazilka.

Giving more details he informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said clerk was demanding a bribe of Rs. 10,000 for clearance of bills pertaining to his firm. He further added that the accused bill clerk has already taken Rs 10,000 in two instalments for the same.

After verifying this complaint, a VB team from Ferozepur range laid a trap and the accused clerk was caught red handed accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000 as third instalment and tainted money recovered from him in the presence of two official witnesses.

He informed that a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police Ferozepur and further investigation was under progress.

IEP CHANDIGARH, February 14

          Taking yet another step to ensure world-class health systems as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Medical Education and Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (MER) is all set to implement the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and expanding access to tele-consultations in all districts of the state. This will include a dashboard of inventory and patients for the secretary, while, Minister can monitor instantly.

          To realise this flagship project, Secretary MER Alaknanda Dayal on Tuesday chaired a meeting with representatives of all government medical colleges and attached hospitals and representatives from NIC to discuss implementation of eHospital and Hospital Management Information Systems, besides, improvement of services in state hospitals including medicine and inventory management.

          Divulging details, the Secretary highlighted that HMIS will be proven as one of the major reforms in the health sector of the state, which will significantly improve the standards of health care service in the state and make it more accountable and transparent.

          She directed the implementing agencies to kick start the areas of OPD, Stores and Pharmacy inventory control and the patient feedback mechanism initially in the shortest possible time.

          Secretary Alaknanda Dayal impressed upon the officers that smooth coordination and synergy should be maintained between various stakeholders associated with the project, so that it can be implemented successfully within the stipulated time frame.

          Meanwhile, Additional Secretary MER cum Vice Chancellor GRAU Rahul Gupta,  Deputy Secretary MER Manreet Rana, Director MER cum Vice Chancellor BFUHS Dr Avnish Kumar, Registrar BFUHS Dr Nirmal Ousepachhan, along with principals and medical superintendent of all four Medical Colleges were among prominent who attended the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, February 13

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that in merely 11 months of assuming charge of office the state government has so far firmed up investment worth Rs 38175 crore which will generate 2.43 lakh jobs in the state. “This is just a pre-monsoon shower and a regular shower of monsoon will be witnessed soon in the state during the invest Punjab summit being held on February 23-24 at Mohali”, said the Chief Minister during an interaction with the media persons here at the Punjab Bhawan. The Chief Minister said that he had gone to Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Germany to invite the industrialists to the summit. He said that the industrial honchos in these metros were surprised to note the vast potential of industrial growth in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government these industrialists are now ready to invest in Punjab. The Chief Minister said that till now investment worth Rs 38175 crore has been firmed up in the state which will generate 2.43 lakh jobs in the state for the youth. Divulging more details, he said that in Real Estate, Housing and Infrastructure the proposed investment is Rs 11853 crore which will generate 1.22 lakh jobs. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that Manufacturing sector has attracted investment worth Rs 5981 crore and created 39952 jobs, Alloy Steel and Steel sector has attracted investment of Rs 3889 crore which will provide 9257 jobs, Textiles, Technical Textile, apparels and Made-Up sector has firmed up investment worth Rs 3305 crore and will create 13753 jobs, Agri, Food Processing and Beverages sector has attracted investment worth Rs 2854 core and will provide 16638 jobs and Healthcare has firmed up investment worth Rs 2157 crore and will provide  4510 jobs. The Chief Minister further said that Tata Steel (Fortune 500) is investing Rs 2600 crore in Secondary Steel sector at Ludhiana, Sanathan Polycot is investing Rs 1600 crore in Man-Made Fiber sector at Fatehgarh Sahib, Nabha Power (L&T) is investing Rs 641 crore in Power sector at Patiala, Toppan (Japan) is investing Rs 548 crore in Packaging sector at SBS Nagar, Nestle (Switzerland) is investing Rs 423 crore in Food Processing sector at Moga, Vardhman Special Steels (Aichi Steel, Japan) is investing Rs 342 crore in Hybrid Steel sector at Ludhiana, Freudenberg (Vibracoustics, Germany) is investing Rs 338 crore in Auto & Auto Components sector at Rupnagar, Bebo Technologies is investing Rs 300 crore in IT sector at SAS Nagar, HUL (UK) is investing Rs 281 crore at Patiala and Cargill India (USA) is investing Rs 160 crore in Animal Feed at Fatehgarh Sahib. Giving district wise details, Bhagwant Mann said that investment worth Rs 9794 crore has been firmed up in SAS Nagar which will offer job to 68061 youth, investment worth Rs 9319 crore has been firmed up in Ludhiana which will offer job to 33172 youth, investment worth Rs 4246 crore has been firmed up in Fatehgarh Sahib which will offer job to 13840 youth, investment worth Rs 4079 crore has been firmed up in Amritsar which will offer job to 85419 youth, investment worth Rs 2821 crore has been firmed up in Patiala which will offer job to 9927 youth and investment worth Rs 1200 crore has been firmed up in Rupnagar which will offer job to 3172 youth. The Chief Minister said that this is just a curtain raiser and more investment will be firmed up during the Invest Punjab Summit slated to be held on February 23-24. He said that the objective of the Summit is to attract potential investment and business opportunities, build relationships, and engage with startups on new ideas and solutions. Bhagwant Mann said that the summit will have participation from global and regional investors, corporate organizations, industrialists, thought leaders and others. The Chief Minister said that during the Summit, Punjab will showcase its overall vision for growth and opportunities for investment for industry. He said that the theme of the Summit is ‘Invest in the Best’ – to showcase Punjab as the most preferred investment destination in India. Bhagwant Mann said that there will be a total of nine sessions organized across key areas including Agri-Food Processing, Textiles, Healthcare, Education, Tourism, IT and Start-ups, Exports, Japan Country Session and UK Country Session. The Chief Minister further said that the state government is making concerted efforts to further strengthen the single window system for facilitating the investors.  Bhagwant Mann pointed out that earlier single window service was merely a sham, devoid of any meaningful purpose, which not only demoralized the potential investors but also hampered the industrial development of the state. However, he said that his government has ensured that the single window system works as a real facilitator to the entrepreneurs interested in investing in the state. Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said that no industrial unit from the state is migrating to Uttar Pradesh or other. He said that the industrial units are getting the best facilities here only due to which no one will ever migrate from the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the industrial units of state will remain here only and the canards regarding their migration are far away from truth. The Chief Minister said that knowing well that power is the catalyst of growth in the engine of the economy, the state has taken a leap forward towards being power surplus after the resuming of coal supply from Pachwara mine. He said that this will ensure that none of the Thermal Power plants will face any sort of coal shortage in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is duty bound to provide uninterrupted and regular supply of power to the industrialists. The Chief Minister urged the industrialists to make optimum use of this congenial atmosphere backed by excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources and best industrial and work culture to spread their business. He said that the state government was always open for new ideas and innovations to boost up the industrial growth in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann said that the day is not far away when Punjab will emerge as the industrial hub of the country with the active support of the entrepreneurs. The Chief Minister envisioned that the Invest Punjab Summit being organized on February 23-24 will prove to be a milestone in giving a major fillip to industrial growth of the state. He said that the state government has already finalized the arrangements for this mega event. Bhagwant Mann said that the main motive behind giving fillip to industrialization in the state is to reverse the trend of brain drain in the state by opening new vistas of employment for the youth. The Chief Minister further said that his government has broken the backbone of the sand mafia by bringing transparency in the sand mining. Bhagwant Mann said that 16 public mines have been dedicated to the masses thereby ensuring pit head price of sand to Rs 5.50 per cubic feet. He categorically said that the sand mafia that had flourished during the previous government regimes will no longer exploit the people. The Chief Minister said that Punjab has the most conducive environment for the growth of industry across the country. He said that a pool of skilled manpower coupled with best road, rail and air connectivity makes Punjab the most preferred investment destination across the country. Bhagwant Mann said that the summit will put the state on a high growth trajectory of economic growth. On the occasion Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, February 13    

       Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday categorically told the Governor that he is answerable only to the people of state and not any person appointed by the centre.           In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister apprised the Governor that he has came to know about his letter through the media. He said that all the issues raised by Governor are the issues related to jurisdiction of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that for these issues he is accountable to the 3 crore Punjabis who have elected him with a whopping mandate.           The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the state government is not at all responsible to any person appointed by the centre government. He categorically said that this was his answer to all the questions raised by the Governor. Bhagwant Mann said that rather than giving sermons to him the Governor must focus on smooth discharge of his duties as enshrined in the constitution.

IEP Chandigarh, February 13

          Emphasizing upon transparency factor which is the hallmark of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government, the Chairman, Punjab State Food Commission D.P. Reddy today directed the installation of CCTVs in the godowns storing foodgrains which would lead to curbing the malpractices.

          Chairing a meeting of the Commission in the presence of the Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Ghanshyam Thori, the Chairman also said that the storage of wheat in the godowns must be ensured in a scientific manner besides the carrying out the physical verification (P.V.) at regular intervals.

          Further, the Chairman also batted for the ePoS machines to be made available at every Fair Price Shop (FPS) in order to ensure more accountability in the distribution process of foodgrains. “A mechanism should be developed to enable the lodging of complaints or to forward suggestions in both Punjabi and Hindi languages regarding the working of the fair price shop owners besides updation of the notice boards to display helpline numbers and website address of the commission”, said Mr. Reddy.

          Exhorting the officers to be in sync with the changing technology in today’s era, Mr. Reddy said that the social media handles of the commission should be followed by the Fair Price Shop dealers so as to create more awareness with regard to the activities of the commission.

          The Chairman on the occasion was apprised that instructions have been issued to all the District Controllers in Punjab for issuing directions to the field functionaries as well as to Fair Price Shop owners to distribute foodgrains to the beneficiaries at the time of the biometric authentication and generation of slips.

          Among others present on the occasion included Preety Chawla, Smt. Indra Gupta, Vijay Dutt, Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal, Members, Member Secretary of the Commission T.K. Goyal and Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Ghanshyam Thori.

IEP Chandigarh, February 13

          Punjab Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar has said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government will give priority to horse rearing as agriculture subsidiary occupation.

          Addressing the gathering during prize distribution ceremony of the 2nd Empire Horse Cup-2023 at village Jandiali, Ludhiana, the Cabinet Minister said that there are immense employment opportunities in this sector and the government will consider to bring horse rearing within the ambit of common farmers.

          Accompanying Agriculture Minister S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Water Supply & Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa as the chief guests, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that efforts will also be made to promote Punjab horse breed “Nukra” in other states. On this occasion, S. Hardeep Singh Mundian MLA Sahnewal, S. Diljit Singh Grewal MLA Ludhiana East and Ashok Prashar Pappi were present.

          About 500 horses from Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra participated in this horse cup. Of which about 120 horses were awarded the prizes.

          The Cabinet Ministers awarded first prize in stallion category to horse “Dulla” from Punjab and Meera from Rajasthan in mares’ category. The first prize was Rs.71,000 and a trophy, while the second prize was Rs.51,000. Similarly, 10 horses were given prizes ranging from Rs.21000 to 5,000 each.

          Earlier in the day, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar along with Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer inspected the exhibition of the Dairy Development Department at fair ground, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The Cabinet Ministers also inspected mobile vans for consumer awareness. S. Bhullar instructed the officials to create more awareness among the dairy farmers in remote villages through milk producer awareness camps.

          Meanwhile, the exhibition and consultation stall set up with the objective to promote dairying as a subsidiary occupation remained the centre of attraction for the farmers, where they shared their problems and filled suggestion forms. Director Dairy Development Department Mr. Kuldeep Singh and other officials were present on this occasion.

IEP Chandigarh, February 13

          Punjab Sports Department has invited applications for awarding cash prizes to sportspersons and coaches of Punjab who won medals during the year 2020-21 and 2021-22.

          Disclosing this information in a press communiqué , Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab is taking myriad of steps to make Punjab a leading state in the country. Under this mission, new sports policy to be implemented and cash awards to players as well as to coaches will be given to honour their achievements and motivate them for further competitions.

          He said that earlier, players and coaches have been deprived of cash prizes, but under the Bhagwant Mann government, the sports department has now sought application to give them their due rights. The sports minister said that the remaining tournaments are also being included in the new sports policy so that no player will be deprived of the cash prize those have brought laurels to the state.

          The Sports Minister further informed that the applications have been invited from the Punjab players, those won medals at state, national and international levels and Coaches of medal winning players at the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games or World Championships, for the period from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 and from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022, for cash prizes. The last date to apply is 6th March 2023.

          Director Sports Amit Talwar said that the list of tournaments regarding cash prize policy, cash prize amount, eligibility and performa for application form is available on the department’s website www.pbsports.punjab.gov.in.

          He said that the eligible players and coaches should send their application in the prescribed perfroma to the concerned District Sports Officer along with their self-attested certificates by March 6, 2023. Applications received after this date will not be entertained.

IEP Patiala, February 13

Slamming the Union government for step motherly with the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today questioned that if special trains can be allotted for ferrying paddy from state to other parts then why can’t trains be allotted to transporting coal to the state.

Addressing the general body meeting of the PSEB Engineers Association here today, the Chief Minister said that it is a paradoxical situation that the coal fetched from the coal mines allotted to the state are first transported to ports and then via sea route it is ferried to other end of country. He said that from this port it is then transported to the state via trains. Bhagwant Mann said that it is irrational as the coal can be supplied directed to the state via train from the source.

The Chief Minister said that the entire faulty mechanism has been devised by the Union government just to extend largesse to its friends. He said that Punjab is being made to bear high expense of coal just to benefit Adanis. Bhagwant Mann said that it is unjustified, intolerable and unwarranted, adding that it enhances the expenditure being borne by the state to transport coal.

The Chief Minister said that it is strange that a government which is duty bound to work for the well being of people devise such policies just to benefit their friends. He said that this is against the concept of democracy as instead of welfare of people, the government is working to give profit to their friends. Bhagwant Mann said that such moves will be opposed vehemently to secure the interests of people.

The Chief Minister categorically said that interests of Punjab will be secured in the nomination of the member of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Bhagwant Mann said that he has already flagged up this issue with the government of India and no stone will be left unturned for that. He said that the state government is duty bound to ensure that no injustice is meted out with the state.

The Chief Minister said that the days of long cuts have ended in the state as Punjab is heading towards becoming power surplus. He said that due to the efforts of his government the power generation in the state has been enhanced by 83%. Bhagwant Mann said that owing to strenuous efforts made by his government the supply of coal for power generation from Pachwara coal mine has resumed after a long time.

The  Chief Minister said that the state government has fulfilled the guarantee of giving 300 units of free electricity per month from July 1. He said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that 87% of the households in the state have zero electricity bill in the months of November-December, 2022. Bhagwant Mann said that he hails from a common family and knows well what are the problems being faced by them.

The Chief Minister also reiterated the firm commitment of his government to make Punjab a ‘drug free state’. He said that the menace of drugs is being dealt with a heavy hand and a zero tolerance policy is being adopted against the drug peddlers. Bhagwant Mann said that sporting activity is being promoted in the state along with opening of new avenues of employment to channelize the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction.

The Chief Minister said that they had strongly opposed the central government’s arbitrary introduction of the Electricity Amendment Bill-2022 in Parliament without even consulting the states. He said that the move was an attack on the constitutional rights of the states adding that through such nefarious designs the Union government is weakening the foundations of the federal structure. Bhagwant Mann said that the states will not sit silently against this attempt of the Government of India to centralise democracy.

The Chief Minister quipped that earlier the industries used to sign MOUs with the families in power but ever since he has assumed charge of government, the agreements are signed for people of state. He said that earlier the affluent families used to get benefit of these agreements but now Punjabis will enjoy its fruits. Bhagwant Mann said that this is because his government is working untiringly for the well being of every strata of society.

The Chief Minister envisioned that the Invest Punjab Summit being organized on February 23-24 will prove to be a milestone in giving a major fillip to industrial growth of the state. He said that the state government has already finalized the arrangements for this mega event. Bhagwant Mann said that the main motive behind giving fillip to industrialization in the state is to reverse the trend of brain drain in the state by opening new vistas of employment for the youth.

On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO, Dr. Balbir Singh and Chetan Singh Jouramajra were also present

IEP Chandigarh, February 13     

     With the decisive war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann to root out the menace of drugs has entered the eighth month, Punjab Police have arrested as many as 10576 drug smugglers including 1540 big fish since July 5, 2022. The Police have registered a total of 7999 first information reports (FIRs) of which 915 are related to commercial quantity.          Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill, who was addressing his weekly Press Conference here on Monday, said that the Police teams have recovered 529.53-Kg Heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas besides laying nakas at vulnerable routes across the state. Additionally, 147.5-Kg heroin was recovered by the teams of Punjab Police from Seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 677.03-Kgs in just seven months, he said.          Apart from seizing big-haul of heroin, the IGP said that Police have also recovered 424-Kg opium, 480.24-Kg Ganja, 255 quintals of poppy husk, and 51.39 lakhs tablets/capsules/injections/vials of Pharma opioids from across the state. The Police have also recovered Rs 10.03 crores of drug money from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in these seven months.              Giving a weekly update, the IGP said that in the last one week, the police have arrested 294 drug smugglers/suppliers after registering 231 first information reports (FIRs), including 27 commercial, and recovered 33.60-Kg Heroin, 10.60-Kg opium, 12.75-Kg Ganja, 3 quintals of poppy husk, and 37105 tablets/capsules/injections/vials of Pharma opioids besides recovering Rs 33.53 lakh drug money from their possession.          He said that with 20 more Proclaimed Offenders (POs)/Absconders in NDPS cases arrested in the last one week, the total number of arrests reached 683 since the special drive to arrest POs/absconders was started on July 5, 2022.          Pertinently, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Gaurav Yadav had given strict instructions to all the CPs/SSPs to investigate backward and forward linkages minutely in each and every case, especially related to drug recoveries, even if they recover a meager amount of drugs.          Meanwhile, on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab a drug-free state, extensive anti-drug drives have been launched by the Punjab Police to combat the menace of drugs from the border State. The DGP has also strictly ordered all the CPs/SSPs to identify all hotspots where drugs are prevalent and all top drug smugglers in their jurisdictions. He also directed the Police chiefs to effectively forfeit the property of all the arrested drug smugglers so that their ill-gotten money could be recovered.