IEP Chandigarh, December 14

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 28 Section Officers in the Finance Department during a brief but impressive function held here at Vit Te Yojna Bhawan.

On this occasion, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has been taking sound financial management and employee-friendly welfare initiatives to bring transparency and efficiency in the system. He said that newly appointed Section Officers would be deployed in various departments for effective financial management and proper monitoring of expenditure being incurred on various schemes.

Finance Minister further added that recruitment for other vacant posts of Section Officers has been under process. He said that notification of S.A.S examination and advertisement regarding direct recruitment has been issued and other vacant posts of Section Officers would also be filled as soon as possible through the transparent selection process.

Stressing on the Punjab Government’s mission of providing maximum employment opportunities to the youth of the state, Finance Minister said that the vacant posts which are directly related to the services being delivered to the common people and bringing transparency in the work were being filled on priority. On this occasion, the finance minister also instructed all the newly appointed section officers to perform their services with honesty and dedication while putting in their every effort for the welfare of the people and the development of the state.

Special Secretary (Expenditure) Mohammad Tayab and Additional Director (Treasury and Accounts) Simarjit Kaur were also present on this occasion.

IEP SAS Nagar December 14, 2022

Acting swiftly the SAS Nagar Police nabbed both the accused involved in attempt to rape case, the crime which was attempted on intervening night of 13,14-12-2022.

 Disclosing this Mr. Sandeep Garg, SSP SAS Nagar said that an incident was reported regarding attempt to rape by a victim while traveling in auto that she boarded from phase-6 traffic lights on intervening night of 13,14-12-2022. In auto, apart from driver, another man was sitting on rear seat who started molesting, assaulting her and also attempted to rape her. She struggled back and jumped from auto near Rayat Bahara Hospital on kharar-kurali road. After receipt of information regarding this incident, case FIR no. 251 dated 14.12.2022 U/s 376,354A,3548,342,324,323,511,506,34 IPC was registered at PS Sadar Kharar, S.A.S Nagar. Under the Supervision of Sh. Sandeep Garg, IPS, SSP SAS nagar, Sh. Amandeep Singh Brar, SP (D), S. Navreet Singh Virk SP (R), Rupinderdeep kaur sohi DSP Kharar-1, Gursher Singh DSP(D), insp Shiv kumar incharge CIA and S.I Bhagatveer Singh SHO Sadar kharar, separate teams were constituted to nab the accused at the earliest. In a significant breakthrough, with in a span of 12 hours, the crime was traced and both the accused persons were arrested and the vehicle (Auto) used for crime has also been recovered. Details of accused persons are as follows:-

1) Malkeet singh @ Bunty S/o Seva Singh R/o village radiala now at near stadium kurali age-24 years

2) Manmohan Singh @ mani s/o Baljit Singh r/o village singhpura near nanaksar gurudwara kurali age-29 years

Further investigation is being carried out to reveal more details.

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has shot a letter to the state Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh Banwari Lal Purohit to express resentment over the removal of Punjab cadre IPS officer from post of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Chandigarh. In the letter written, the Chief Minister has apprised the Governor that post of Senior Superintendent of Police, Union Territory, Chandigarh has traditionally been occupied by a Punjab Cadre IPS Officer. Likewise, he said that an IAS officer of Haryana Cadre had been appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the UT. However, Bhagwant Mann said that he was surprised to learn that 2009 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre Kuldeep Singh Chahal has been repatriated to Punjab prematurely. The Chief Minister further said that much to the dismay of the state, the charge of SSP, Chandigarh has been given to a Haryana Cadre IPS Officer. He said that this move was unwanted and undesirable as this is going to disturb the balance among the states in running the affairs of UT, Chandigarh. Bhagwant Mann further said that if due to some reason SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal was to be repatriated, then a panel of suitable IPS officers should have been sought from Punjab well in advance. Seeking the kind intervention of the Governor in the matter, the Chief Minister said that the state government will shortly be sending a panel of three IPS Officers of Punjab cadre for the post of SSP, Chandigarh. He expressed hope that soon an IPS Officer of Punjab Cadre will be appointed as SSP, Chandigarh.

IEP Nabha (Patiala), December 13    

       Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the officers and the staff will be held personally accountable for any sort of security lapse in the jails across the state.          The Chief Minister, who inspected the New District Jail here today, categorically said that intact security system is being provided on scientific lines in jails across the state. He said that the state government has already installed high powered Jammers, door metal detectors and other equipments besides providing vehicles for the department to update the security system in the jails. However, Bhagwant Mann said that it is surprising to note that reports of mobiles and drugs making inroads in the jails are still coming in.          The Chief Minister unequivocally said that such sort of laxity on part of the jail staff is unwarranted and undesirable.  He warned the officers that strict action will be taken against the officers who are responsible for this lapse. Bhagwant Mann said that the officers at the helms of affairs in jails across the state will be made accountable for such callousness and exemplary action will be taken against them.          Underlining the need to strictly check the supply of drugs and mobiles in the jails, the Chief Minister also directed the officers to take every step to curb this illegal practice. He said that security of the Jails was the prime concern of the state government and no compromise can be made in this regard. Expressing deep concern over the rising incidents of indiscipline amongst the jail inmates, Bhagwant Mann further asked the officers to discourage this trend by taking the appropriate remedial measures.    

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

Trials for the selection of Punjab State teams for Basketball and Kho-Kho events of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held on December 16, 2022.

Disclosing this, an official spokesperson of the department said, Khelo India youth games are scheduled from January 31 to February 11, 2023 in Madhya Pradesh.

          The spokesperson further said that the trials for the selection of the Basketball boys and girls team will be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana on December 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

          Similarly, the trials for the Kho-Kho girl’s team will be held at the Polo Ground, Patiala on December 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

          Aspiring players born on or after 1st January 2004, can participate in selection trials by reaching the designated time and place.

IEP Chandigarh, December 13    

      Taking another important decision to root out the private bus mafia from the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has ended the monopoly of private buses owned by Badal family and other private bus mafia on the inter-state routes.          Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, while confirming the development, informed that the ‘Punjab Transport Scheme-2018’, which was formulated by the Congress Government to give benefits to Badal family and other private bus mafia, has been amended. Under this scheme, the entry of private Volvo buses into Chandigarh was made intact, which led to the sheer loot of the state exchequer at a large scale.          “The Badal family during its government’s two tenures from 2007 to 2017, created various schemes to fulfill their personal interests, in which the Congress government also helped the Badals in running their transport  businesses smoothly, including one of inter-state movement of their AC buses to Chandigarh”, said Laljit Singh Bhullar.          The Transport Minister said, “Punjab Transport Scheme-2018” has been amended to “Punjab Transport (Amendment) Scheme-2022”. With the amendment of Serial No: B in Clause No-3 of the scheme, now only state transport undertaking buses can enter in Chandigarh with their 100% share. The insertion titled with “Inter-State Route” in the Gazette notification reads, “With the seating capacity of 39 or more, with the further condition that air-conditioned stage carriages shall be run only by the State Transport Undertakings only out of their overall share in each category.”          Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, while training guns at Badal family for plundering the state exchequer for their personal gain and providing benefits illegitimately to their associates by forming Schemes arbitrarily,  asserted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government will not allow to fulfill the vested interests of Badals and their powerful associates at the sake of state exchequer. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

The Punjab government has decided to establish educational parks in government schools of the state in consonance with the it’s commitment to recuperate the school education system from roots.

          Dwelling the details here on Tuesday, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that under this initiative of the government, educational parks are being built in school campuses to bolster the creativity of students studying in government schools, in which discussion forums and Idea Sharing Points will be set up to hone the skills of the students.

          Mr. Bains informed that a grant of Rs. 11.79 crore has already been issued to government primary, middle, high and senior secondary schools to start the project with missionary zeal. He divulged in detail that a grant of Rs 7.39 crore has been issued to 7392 government primary & middle schools and a grant of Rs 4.49 crore to 3783 high and senior secondary schools to realise the project on ground in letter and spirit.

          Talking about the project in comprehensive manner, the Cabinet Minister said that geographical, scientific and mathematical perspective of the students will increase through these educational parks. The models developed in these educational parks will be purely based on the curriculum and students will be able to easily learn the principles of various educational methods through their first hand activities. An idea box also be kept at one place in these educational parks in which students will collect and note down their ideas after discussing on the idea forum.

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

          Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, there has been a massive transformation in the functioning of the revenue department to ensure timely services to the common people. During the previous governments, the general public was very dissatisfied with the working methods of the revenue department, but since Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took over the reins of the state, people’s work is being done without recommendation and without bribes.

          Jimpa said that there was a shortage of patwaris in the revenue department for a long time due to which work got affected and people faced nuisance. But recently, the Punjab Cabinet has given approval to fill 710 new posts of Patwaris. Even before this, the recruitment of 1090 Patwaris has been completed. He said that with this, maintenance of old records will be done in a more smooth and transparent manners. Apart from this, various services related to the revenue department will be provided to the common people on time.

          Jimpa said that many more initiatives have been taken by the Punjab government to revamp the revenue department, which has benefited the common people. He said that the facility of e-stamp paper has been started to simplify the purchase of stamp papers. Under this, stamp papers of all prices are being issued. Likewise, a website www.eservices.punjab.gov.in has been launched to make the process of Khangi Taksim effective.

          The revenue minister said that 7520 village Cadastral maps and 46861 Mussavi Sheets of Punjab have been digitized. He said that efforts are on to make the services of the revenue department more people-friendly and simple so that more people can avail government services without any hassle.

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has distributed Rs. 16161.31 crore of amount to 19646 beneficiaries of scheduled castes and 12090 beneficiaries of backward classes and economically weaker sections under the Ashirwad scheme during current financial year.Social justice, Empowerment & Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the Ashirwad scheme, financial assistance of up to Rs. 51,000 is given by the State Government for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families in the state.           Dr. Baljit Kaur pointed out that in order to avail the Ashirwad scheme, the applicant should be a permanent resident of Punjab state, family should fall in BPL category, the applicant should belong to Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes and other economically weaker families and all the family members’ annual income from all sources is less than Rs. 32,790. Two daughters of such a family are eligible to avail the benefit of this scheme.Punjab Government is committed to the welfare of people of scheduled castes, backward classes and economically weaker sections.The Minister added that the financial assistance is credited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, which are being linked with Aadhaar. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 13

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has expressed profound grief over the sad demise of veteran political leader and former cabinet minister  Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.

S. Sandhwan said that Brahmpura played an important role in politics of Punjab for a long time and served the people . He extend his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family, relatives and friends of the deceased, S. Sandhwan prayed to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this irreparable loss and grant eternal peace to the departed soul.