Chandigarh/Malerkotla, January 26:

On the occasion of Republic Day, Cabinet Minister of Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs, Punjab, Dr. Ravjot Singh, unfurls the national flag at Zakir Hussain Stadium, Malerkotla. After unfurls the National flag, he inspected the parade and saluted the march-past. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Pallavi and SSP Gagan Ajeet Singh were also present on the occasion.

During the event, the MLA of Malerkotla, Jameel Ur Rehman, MLA of Amargarh, Professor Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra, Chairman of the District Planning Committee, Saqib Ali Raja, Chairman of the Market Committee, Karamjit Singh Kuthala, President of the Minority Welfare Committee, Zafir Ali, SDM Gurmeet Kumar Bansal, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Mrs. Roopa Dhaliwal, and representatives from the civil, police, and judicial administration were present.

In his address, Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh paid tribute to the martyrs and freedom fighters who contributed to the nation’s struggle for independence, and on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, extended heartfelt congratulations to all Indians, especially Punjabis, residing both within India and abroad.

Addressing the people of Malerkotla, Dr. Ravjot Singh emphasized that the Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the establishment of the Republic of India, and that we take pride in being part of the world’s largest democracy. He noted that Punjabis made the greatest sacrifices during the freedom struggle and played a crucial role in India’s independence. He acknowledged that it is because of these sacrifices and the legacy of our great martyrs that we now live in an independent India.

The Cabinet Minister also reaffirmed the commitment of the Punjab government to the comprehensive development of urban areas. With available funds, the government has launched significant development projects across Punjab’s urban municipalities, including a grant of 450 crore rupees allocated for urban development works this fiscal year. Additionally, the government has increased sewerage treatment capacity by 2634 MLD to ensure clean water supply to urban residents.

Dr. Ravjot Singh stated that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to fulfilling the dreams of the great martyrs. He highlighted the renaming of Mohali International Airport after Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh and the installation of a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh at the airport as key milestones in honoring the sacrifices of freedom fighters. He also announced that the ex-gratia amount for the families of martyrs has been increased from 50 lakh rupees to 1 crore rupees, and this scheme has been extended to Agniveers as well.

The Minister mentioned that the key focus areas of the government include employment, health, education, free electricity, and administrative reforms. He pointed out that in the last 34 months, the government has provided nearly 50,000 government jobs, with this initiative continuing. In the health sector, the government has set up 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, providing free treatment to millions, along with 80 types of medicines and 38 diagnostic tests available for free.

Dr. Ravjot Singh further announced that the government has purchased 58 new high-tech ambulances at a cost of 14 crore rupees, increasing the total number of high-tech ambulances to 325 across the state.

Regarding Malerkotla’s development, the Cabinet Minister said that to promote medical education, a medical college will be established at a cost of 325 crore rupees in Malerkotla, providing students with the opportunity to study close to home. Additionally, a district administrative complex worth 111 crore rupees will be built to streamline administrative processes.

In his address, Dr. Ravjot Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to providing high-quality health services to Punjab’s residents. He announced the approval of a 150-bed ESI hospital in Malerkotla at a cost of 7 crore rupees, which will serve the local and surrounding areas. Similarly, the construction of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate office building in Amargarh at a cost of 6.7 crore rupees has been completed and will soon be open for public use.

The Cabinet Minister concluded by saying that to encourage reading among the youth in Malerkotla, libraries are being built at the district level and in villages at a cost of 7.2 crore rupees.

On this occasion, the Minister paid tribute to all the great martyrs of India and wished for the prosperity and progress of Punjab and the nation. He also honored freedom fighters, Kargil martyrs, families of martyred soldiers, and distinguished personalities who have made significant contributions in various fields. Furthermore, the district Red Cross Society distributed sewing machines to the needy.

Additionally, educational institutions were granted a holiday on January 27 for their participation in the Republic Day celebrations.

Chandigarh/ Faridkot 26 January, 2025:

          Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan unfurled the National Flag as chief guest during the district-level celebrations of the 76th Republic day at Nehru Stadium in Faridkot.  On this occasion, he inspected the parade and also took salute from the march past.  MLA Faridkot Gurdit Singh Sekhon, MLA Jaito Amolak Singh were also present on this function.

          In his address, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that India has got the freedom only due to the sacrifices of its great warriors, heroes and the struggle of freedom fighters. He added that the Indian Constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950 and India has the pride of being the largest democracy in the world.

          He further said that I salute our great heroes and patriots and wish for the progress and prosperity of our state.  He said that Punjab Government is committed to the all-round development of the state and in the last three years, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann has taken historic decisions for the pro-people initiatives and development of the state.

          S. Sandhwan said that Punjab is the land of Gurus and Punjab government wanted to start air travel for five Takht Sahibans in coordination with the Central Government.  This would provide great convenience to the people of the country.  He also said that the state government would also commence air ambulance service for the treatment of the people.

          S. Sandhwan appealed to the Center to give up its stubborn attitude and immediately resolve the issues of the farmers of the state so that they do not have to be forced into any kind of struggle.  He said that Punjab is the backbone of the country and contributing immensely to make the country self-reliant in the food grain sector.

          Students from various schools presented PT shows, cultural programs, patriotic items, Giddha and Bhangra, etc on this event.  Besides this, tableaux depicting welfare and development works by various departments were also displayed and patriotism vis-a-vis cultural programs was the center of attraction.  S. Sandhwan honored the families of martyrs and freedom fighters, along with renowned personalities who achieved laurels in various fields as well as officers/employees of various departments for their excellent services.

          On this occasion, Divisional Commissioner Manjit Singh Brar, District and Sessions Judge Navjot Kaur, ADGP Shiv Kumar Verma, VC Dr. Rajiv Sood, Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar, SSP Dr. Pragya Jain, Information Commissioner Sandeep Dhaliwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Ojasvi Alankar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) Narbhinder Singh Grewal, SDM Faridkot Major Varun Kumar, Assistant Commissioner (G) Tushita Gulati, Advocate Birinder Singh Sandhwan, District Youth President AAP Sukhwant Singh Pakka, Amandeep Singh Baba Chairman Market Committee Faridkot, Gurtej Singh Khosa Chairman Improvement Trust, Ramandeep Mumara Chairman Market Committee, Chairman Planning Board Sukhjit Singh Dhilwa, Lachhman Singh Bhagtuana Chairman Market Committee Jaito, Amandeep Singh PA, Jasbir Jassi, and officers of various departments and school students were also present.

Chandigarh/SAS Nagar, January 26

          Punjab Minister for Mines & Geology, Soil & Water Conservation, and Water Resources, Advocate Barinder Kumar Goyal, unfurled  the National Flag at Shaheed Major Harminderpal Singh (Shaurya Chakra) Government College in SAS Nagar, Mohali. He also took the salute from the march past and enjoyed the cultural performances presented by the students.

          Saluting the Freedom Fighters of Nation and Architects of the Constitution, Goyal emphasized that the Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab is committed to transforming the state in accordance with the true spirit of the Constitution. He noted that the dreams of freedom fighters and the architects of the Constitution are being realized in Punjab through good governance.

          He said that Punjab is the first state to have portraits of Shaheed-e-Azam S. Bhagat Singh and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Government Offices instead of political leaders. He said that the Bhagwant Mann Government was also instrumental in resolving the issue of naming of International Airport Mohali in the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh besides installing a 30 feet tall statue of Sardar Bhagat outside Airport.

          He said that the Punjab Government is focusing on quality education and health services in the state by setting up Schools of Eminence and Aam Aadmi Clinics. Bhagwant Mann Government has given 50,000 jobs in Government sector since it came to existence in Punjab and the only criteria for the jobs is merit.

          He said that Bhagwant Mann Government has been digging a 150 KM Canal at Rs 2300 Crores for irrigation of two lakh acres of land in Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts besides work on three canals in Pathankot underway to supply first time water for irrigation in this area. Besides, projects worth Rs 2100 Crores have already been in the offing of repairs, re-lining of water sources.

          Minister Goyal said that the state has successfully introduced Punjab Miner Minerals Policy 2023 by auctioning 74 public sites. Another 100 sites will soon be put on auction to get more revenue.

          Interacting with the media, the Minister said that the southern parts of Punjab have the potential of having potash stock that will further add to the revenue of the state when extracted from the soil.

          He said that Mohali soon has a sports infrastructure upgrade with the installation of 8 lane 400 mtr synthetic track at Multipurpose Stadium of Sector 78 at a cost of Rs 9.19 Crore,  replacement of global standard astroturf at Senior Balbir Singh International Hockey Stadium, Sector 63 at Rs 3.13 Crore besides laying of PU flooring of Sector 63 and 78 stadiums’ sports indoor halls. He also announced to upgrade the ESI dispensary of Kharar and Derabassi to 30 and 100 beds’ hospitals respectively in the coming days by the state.

          Earlier, he inspected the R-day Parade with DC Aashika Jain and SSP Deepak Pareek,  led by Parade Commander Preet Kanwar Singh DSP of the 2022 batch.

          Five veer Naris (widows of army martyrs) were also felicitated to commemorate the services rendered by the soldiers to protect the borders of the country.

          About 1500 students were the part of the Republic Celebrations scheduled at Govt College Mohali and they regaled the audience with their patriotic presentations.

           He also gave 12 sewing machines on behalf of District Red Cross Society to the needy women.

     About 48 persons having distinction in various fields and exceptional service records were also felicitated by the Chief Guest.

          To make people aware of the importance of Yoga in daily life, the trainers working in the district under CM di Yogshala presented a Yoga Show in an impressive way.

           MLA Kulwant Singh, Chairperson DPC, Prabhjot Kaur, Chairman, Milkfed Narinder Singh Shergill, Member, Punjab State Traders Commission, Vineet Verma, Vice Chairman, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Subhash Sharma and AAP Spokesperson, Harsukhinder Singh Babbi Badal were among the prominent persons present during the function.

          Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla also joined the Republic Day Celebrations.

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, January 26

Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, and Governance Reforms Minister Mr. Aman Arora unfurled the National Flag at the district-level Republic Day celebrations held at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar, on Sunday.

Addressing the district level function, the Cabinet Minister Mr. Aman Arora called upon Punjabis to join hands with the state government to transform Punjab into a progressive and leading state, embodying the vision of “Rangla Punjab.”

Emphasizing the state government’s commitment to holistic development of the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann,  Mr. Arora highlighted several landmark initiatives, including the renaming of SAS Nagar Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the display of portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in government offices. He mentioned that the Mann Government began its work after taking the oath at the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Khatkarkalan.

Saluting the sacrifices of the armed forces, Mr. Arora said that the ex-gratia amount for martyred army personnel had been doubled to ₹1 crore, and similar financial aid was extended to the families of police personnel who laid down their lives in service to the nation.

Mr. Arora also underlined efforts to tackle unemployment, stating that the government had provided 50,000 government jobs and facilitated placements for over 2.70 lakh youth in the private sector through placement drives.

The Minister highlighted major strides in healthcare and education. He announced the establishment of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics offering free medical care, benefiting over 19 lakh patients, including 66 clinics in Jalandhar. Additionally, 118 Schools of Eminence were set up to provide world-class education, along with free transport facilities benefiting over 10,000 students.

In the power sector, Arora highlighted the acquisition of a private thermal plant for ₹1,080 crore and the revival of the Pachwara coal mine, yielding ₹1,000 crore in savings. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to free electricity for farmers, amounting to ₹9,330 crore annually.

The Minister lauded the government’s irrigation initiatives, including a ₹275-crore project in Jalandhar, and road safety measures such as the Sadak Surakhya Force, which has reduced response times and saved thousands of lives in road accidents.

Arora concluded by celebrating the success of “Khedan Watan Punjab Dian,” which saw participation from over five lakh individuals, aiming to revive sports culture in the state. Earlier, he took the salute at the parade led by IPS officer Siri Vinnela. He also honored ten families of martyrs from various conflicts, including the India-China war, India-Pakistan War, and encounters in J&K.

Prominent attendees included MLA Raman Arora, Mayor Vineet Dhir, Divisional Commissioner Arum Sekhri, DIG Naveen Singla, District and Session Judge Nirbhow Singh Gill, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, Senior AAP Leader Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Pawan Tinu, and senior officials of the Civil and Police Administration.

Chandigarh/SBS NAGAR, JANUARY 26

          Punjab Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat unfurled the national flag at the district-level Celebration at ITI Ground in SBS Nagar on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day. The Cabinet Minister, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, SSP Dr. Mehtab Singh, and Parade Commander DSP Shahbaz Singh, inspected the parade and took the salute during the grand march past. On this occasion, the Minister honored freedom fighters, the families of martyred soldiers, and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society.

          Additionally, he distributed tricycles and sewing machines to those in need. A remarkable cultural program, celebrating patriotism, was presented by school children, featuring vibrant performances of Giddha and Bhangra. The tableaux, showcasing the achievements of various departments, were a key highlight of the event. The event was also attended by MLA Banga and Chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehouse Corporation, Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, and MLA Nawanshahr Nachhatar Pal.

          Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, while extending his Republic Day greetings to the residents of the district, paid solemn tribute to the thousands of patriotic heroes who laid down their lives in the protracted struggle for the nation’s independence. He also honored the invaluable contributions of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Minister Bhagat emphasized that the Punjab government remains steadfast in its commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of these great martyrs. He further highlighted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had taken the oath at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh. In addition, the Punjab government, in a momentous decision, has installed portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in government offices. Following its pivotal role in naming the Mohali International Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the Punjab government has now erected a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam at the Airport.

          Minister Bhagat said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has announced that the state government will construct an 850-meter-long heritage street in the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam, Khatkar Kalan, which will showcase the glorious contribution of Punjab and Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. He also emphasized that the state government is firmly committed to the welfare of military personnel, martyrs’ families, and ex-servicemen. The government has increased the ex-gratia amount for the families of martyrs from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore, and this financial assistance scheme now also includes Agniveers. Additionally, arrangements have been made to provide Rs. 1 crore in financial assistance to the families of police personnel who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s security. Minister Bhagat further stated that the state government has increased the financial assistance provided to religious soldiers from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000 per month. He added that freedom fighters are our pride, and the government has increased the pension provided to the freedom fighters or their heirs from Rs. 9,400 to Rs. 11,000 per month. He also mentioned that the Punjab government has made provisions for the direct recruitment of descendants of freedom fighters. The government is also paying special attention to agricultural diversification, and the area under horticulture has increased from 4,39,210 hectares to 4,81,743 hectares.

          He stated that employment, health, education, free electricity, and other administrative reforms are key priorities of the Punjab government, and revolutionary work has been done in these areas. He mentioned that the Punjab government has also taken significant steps to promote sports and tourism, conserve groundwater, encourage allied agricultural industries, manage stubble burning, support sugarcane farmers, establish libraries in villages, ensure comprehensive development of villages and cities, strengthen road infrastructure, advance the industrial sector, and create a conducive environment for investment. He added that in addition to initiatives like the Road Safety Force, Farishte Scheme, and Anti-Corruption Action Line, the Punjab government has made important strides in addressing NRI Punjabian’s issues online and establishing a facilitation center at the New Delhi Airport. He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is committed to transforming the state into a vibrant, prosperous, and joyful Punjab, and continuous efforts are being made in this direction.

          During the event, the district administration honored the chief guest with a magnificent memento. The chief guest announced a donation of Rs. 5 lakh from his discretionary fund for the ITI Ground. Additionally, he declared a holiday for all schools in the district on January 27.

          On this occasion, the following dignitaries were present: ADGP (Provisioning) Nageshwar Rao, District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood, Vice Chairman of the Punjab State Technical Education Board Lalit Mohan Pathak (Ballu), Vice Chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation Kuljeet Singh Sarhal, Chairman of the District Planning Committee Satnam Singh Jalalpur, Chairman of the Improvement Trust Nawanshahr Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Chairman of the Market Committee Nawanshahr Gagan Agnihotri, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rajeev Verma, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Avneet Kaur, SDM Nawanshahr Dr. Akshita Gupta, along with judicial, civil, and police officers, and a large number of other distinguished guests were present.

Chandigarh, January 25:

Punjab Mining Minister Mr. Barinder Goyal participated in the 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference held at Konark, Odisha. The conference was attended by the Union Mining Minister, representatives from 11 states, and senior officials.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Goyal highlighted Punjab’s unique approach to mining, stating that unlike other states where mining occurs deep underground, Punjab’s mining activities are conducted above the surface.

The Minister emphasized that Punjab is optimally utilising its natural resources and just like the state has, over the years, responsibly expanded its agricultural activities  to feed the entire nation, the state is responsibly mining its natural resources to add to the economy.

The Minister underscored Punjab’s efforts to bring transparency to mining by establishing public mining sites, enabling access to affordable sand for common citizens while generating employment for local labor and youth.

During the conference, Mr. Goyal raised concerns about recent directives from the Ministry of Defence requiring prior clearance for mining activities within 20 km of the border. He termed the decision discriminatory. He said that the State of Punjab has three rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, where mining can happen, and out of these two of the rivers are impacted by this decision, which should be immediately reviewed.

Mr. Goyal also addressed delays in obtaining environmental clearances for mining sites.

He strongly advocated the need for empowering the government with overriding powers of taking over the Environmental Clearance issued to any contractor in case he defaults or declines to carry on with any mining activity. This, he said, will eliminate unnecessary delays in obtaining fresh environmental clearances

Additionally, the minister urged the union mining minister to assist the state in expanding its mining activities into major minerals by exploiting the huge reserves of Potash detected in parts of Punjab bordering Rajasthan. This, he said, will save the nation a large amount of foreign exchange which it otherwise pays for importing potash every year in huge quantities.

Mr. Goyal reiterated Punjab’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices and called for greater collaboration with the Union Government to enhance the state’s mining sector.

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, January 25:

Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh inspected the temporary pumping station established under ‘Kar Sewa’ led by Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal near Gaushala point of ‘Buddha Dariya’ on Saturday.

Applauding the efforts put in by MP Seechewal to stop the flow of sewer waste into the ‘Buddha Dariya’, Cabinet minister Dr Ravjot Singh reiterated the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann to rejuvenate ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Mayor Principal Inderjit Kaur, MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, SDM  (East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, EO GLADA Aman Gupta, PPCB Chief Engineer RK Ratra, Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg among other officials accompanied the cabinet minister.

MP Seechewal appreciated Cabinet minister Dr Ravjot Singh for his concern over the project to clean ‘Buddha Dariya’ stating that the cabinet minister has visited the temporary pumping station site for the fourth time in a period of around a month.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said that the state government is not against the industry or any other sector, but no one can be allowed to pollute ‘Buddha Dariya’.

After inspecting the temporary pumping station, Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh also conducted a meeting with the officials and directed them to take strict action against those dumping untreated waste in the Buddha Dariya.

Dr Ravjot Singh said that they would also be holding meetings with the dairy owners of Tajpur road dairy complex and Haibowal dairy complex on January 27. The dairy owners would again be appealed to stop dumping cow dung in the Dariya to avoid action.

Meanwhile, Dr Ravjot Singh directed the officials to expedite the projects to establish bio-gas plants in Hiabowal and Tajpur road dairy complexes. Till that time arrangements should be made to lift the cow dung from dairy units and dump the same at designated sites. Civic body officials stated that temporary arrangements have already been made to lift the cow dung and tenders have also been floated to rope in a contractor for lifting cow dung from dairy units.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said that the state government is regularly monitoring the situation and all efforts are being made to rejuvenate ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Chandigarh, January 25 

          Today lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab state road safety council and National Highway Authority of India organized a one-day workshop on the topic “Improvement of Black Spots and Their Impact on Road Accidents and Fatalities” to reduce road accidents and fatalities. 

          The workshop was held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh, in connection with the National Road Safety Month 2025. The focus was on improving accident-prone black spots and assessing their impact on road accidents and fatalities. The workshop was conducted under the leadership of the Lead Agency, Punjab State Road Safety Council, in collaboration with the Transport Department, Punjab, and other stakeholders, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD (B&R), Local Government Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and Punjab Traffic Police. 

          Additional Chief Secretary of Transport, Mr. D.K. Tiwari, stated that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the guidance of Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, special efforts will be made regarding road safety. He emphasized that the primary objective of the workshop is to discuss and address critical issues related to road safety. These deliberations will play a crucial role in shaping future strategies to enhance road safety standards and reduce road hazards. He also commended the role of the Road Safety Force and encouraged officials from various departments to adopt well-coordinated measures to minimize road accidents, especially during foggy weather conditions, and to discourage underage driving. 

          Director General of the Lead Agency for Road Safety, Mr. R. Venkata Ratnam, pointed out that the number of fatalities due to road accidents in the state is alarmingly high, with 14 deaths occurring daily. He urged road-related agencies, including NHAI, PWD, Punjab Mandi Board, and the Local Government Department, to put in more efforts to rectify black spots on roads and properly evaluate their impact to reduce fatalities. He also directed police and transport department officials to strictly enforce traffic rules to prevent accidents and save lives. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of accurately documenting road accident data to facilitate better planning and ensure optimal utilization of government funds allocated for accident prevention. 

          Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Mr. A.S. Rai, highlighted the performance of the Road Safety Force and stated that due to the effective operations of the force over the past 11 months, there has been a significant decline in road accidents and fatalities in Punjab, which is a testament to the efforts of the current Punjab government. 

          State Transport Commissioner Mr. Jaspreet Singh provided insights into various initiatives for road safety, such as special awareness campaigns for school and college students, the importance of wearing seat belts, scrapping of old vehicles, electronic surveillance-based challans in major cities, third-party insurance and pollution certificate checks, educating students on traffic rules through traffic parks, and simplifying the online learning license process. 

          Mr. Vipnesh Sharma, Regional Officer of NHAI, provided insights into road safety initiatives and shared details about efforts undertaken by the department to rectify black spots to reduce road accidents and save lives. 

          The workshop witnessed participation from senior officials of the Punjab Government and various associated agencies, along with key stakeholders. Experts elaborated on various safety measures and future action plans to reduce road accidents, improve road infrastructure, and raise public awareness.

Chandigarh, January 25 :

          The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously striving to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the state. In line with this effort, Barinder Kumar Goyal, the Minister for Land and Water Conservation, today handed over appointment letters to 21 newly appointed candidates. Among these candidates, 19 were appointed as Agricultural Sub-Inspectors, 1 as Junior Draftsman, and 1 as Peon.

          While handing over the appointment letters to the newly appointed candidates at Punjab Bhawan today, Barinder Kumar Goyal congratulated them and encouraged them to work with full dedication and sincerity. He also mentioned that the appointments made by the state Government were done with full transparency, ensuring that all jobs were awarded to deserving candidates based on merit. The Cabinet Minister further stated that the vision of the Government is to provide employment opportunities to the youth in Punjab so that their skills contribute to the state’s development.

          The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the government has transformed the mindset of the people. He mentioned that the previous governments had eroded people’s trust, as Government jobs were only available through recommendations. However, under the leadership of S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the present Government has changed this narrative. People now know that only qualified and deserving candidates are appointed based on merit, which has enabled young people from ordinary families in the state to get jobs. He further pointed out that previously, due to lack of employment opportunities in Punjab, the youth had to go abroad, but now, with the jobs provided by the Punjab Government, they are returning to the state.

          He also mentioned that among the newly appointed candidates, two individuals had worked in Canada and had returned to Punjab to receive their appointment letters for the Agricultural Sub-Inspector position.

          Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal further stated that the present Government is the first in the country to provide employment to over 50,000 youth from ordinary families in Punjab during its tenure.

          He urged the newly appointed candidates to understand that positions like Agricultural Sub-Inspector and Draftsman are the backbone of this department. He encouraged them to work diligently to implement Government schemes related to land and water conservation and to create awareness among farmers about these schemes. He also directed officials to organize awareness camps across the state to educate farmers about these schemes.

          Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), Shri Anurag Verma, also congratulated the newly appointed employees and stressed the importance of water resource management. He urged the newly recruited employees to contribute their full potential in the mission of water conservation throughout the state.

          The Chief Land Officer, Mahinder Pal Saini, welcomed the new recruits to the department and urged them to carry out their duties with full responsibility and dedication.