IEP Chandigarh, November 4

Ambassador of the Czech Republic in India Dr. Eliska Zigova today called on Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker. Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, during which both emphasized on strengthening the mutual cooperation  between Punjab and the Czech Republic.

During the meeting in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Sandhawan recalled the contribution made by Czechoslovakia in Punjab’s green revolution. He emphasized for solid collaboration in agriculture sector between Punjab and Czech Republic. Winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, potatoes, maize and fruit are grown in the Czech Republic. This cultivation is similar to Punjab, so both can benefited from mutual exchange of knowledge and technology. S. Sandhwan also emphasized on cooperation between Punjab and the Czech Republic in the field of industry. The Czech Republic has a special place in the car industry, aviation, engineering, environmental technology, medical equipment, electronics and electrical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industry. S. Sandhwan has asked to Dr. Zigova to motivate the Czech Republic companies to invest in Punjab.

During the meeting S. Sandhwan also suggested that legislatures of Punjab and Czech Republic should visit each other countries in addition to increasing exchanges in the field of arts, culture and sports. Dr. Zigova agreed the same.

During the discussion Dr. Zigova spoke about the historical ties between the Czech Republic and India and recalled the historic relations between the two countries. She said that increasing mutual cooperation between the Czech Republic and Punjab will benefit both of them because they have many similarities. She also praised the fighting spirit of Punjabis. S. Sandhwan also presented a shawl and a commemorative plaque to Dr. Zigova.

IEP Chandigarh, November 4

Fifty free eye check-up camps covering more than 400 villages in Punjab will be organised in the next five months by United Sikh Mission (US) in its 18th year of service.

Announcing the eye check-up camps here on Thursday, United Sikh Mission Chairman Rashpal Singh Dhindsa said this “mission for vision” is a selfless act of serving the community and this year, already seven camps have been organised in Ferozepur, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Mohali districts beginning October 15.

A total of 2,627 OPDs, 265 surgeries, 1,684 spectacles and 2,533 medicines were provided in the camps.

Rashpal Singh said they generate their own funds from donations from various sponsors who are mainly NRIs who want their native village to be benefited by the camps.

He expressed that it is all Guru’s will and as humans, they are trying to help other humans irrespective of their religion, gender and caste.

He said their mission is to empower communities worldwide by addressing disparities in healthcare needs by eliminating preventable medical illnesses while promoting peace and community to spread prosperity and kindness towards humanity.

Avtar Singh, board of director and camps management, said this is an inspiring journey of a philanthropic American Sikh Rashpal Singh and his team towards establishing a mission to improve eye healthcare to serve his community in Punjab.

He said from 2005, they started with one camp and have since held 463 eye camps.

The organisation plans to initiate work on a charitable hospital to take care of all eye-related surgeries, along with dialysis treatment, all absolutely free of cost, in Punjab.

IEP Chandigarh, November 1

On Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Chetan Singh Jauramajra’s instructions, a Medical Officer Surgery posted at Civil Hospital Dasuya, District Hoshiarpur has been suspended with immediate effect on charges of dereliction of duty.

The spokesperson of Punjab Health Department said that Dr. Ranjit Singh, Medical Officer Surgery has been suspended on administrative grounds under Rule 4(1) of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970 with immediate effect.

According to the spokesperson, the station of the concerned officer during suspension will be Head Office, Director Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh.

IEP Chandigarh, November 1

Under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Government has initiated a drive to wipe out tobacco usage to save children and youth across the State. Punjab is the first State in the country who celebrated a state specific “Punjab State No Tobacco Day” on 1st November. The theme of Punjab State No Tobacco Day 2022 campaign is “Tobacco Free Health Institutions”. The motive of this campaign is to make all the institutions Tobacco free and to protect non-users from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.

Divulging about the strenuous efforts of Punjab Government to eradicate tobacco usage in adolescent groups and youth, Punjab Health Minister Mr. Chetan Singh Jauramajra stated that a special week long campaign has been launched w.e.f 1st November to 7th November 2022 for declaring all the Government health institutions as Tobacco Free and for the strict implementation of Anti-Tobacco laws. At district level, all the Govt. health institutions will be declared as Tobacco Free.

According to the National Family Health Survey 2020-21 (NFHS-5) conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the tobacco use among men in Punjab state declined from 19.2% (NFHS-4) to 12.9% (NFHS-5) during last 5 years, which is lowest among all the states of the country.

Speaking more about this ongoing initiative, Mr. Jauramajra said that the Health department of Punjab has taken up tobacco control as a flagship program. Total 14065 (2021–22) & 10,708 (April–Sept 22) Challans have been issued against the violators under Cigarette and other Tobacco products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003). Tobacco Cessation centers (TCCs) have been established in all the districts. Free counseling services and cessation medicines like Tab Bupropion, Nicotine gums and patches are being provided in these centers. Total 19932 (2021- 22) & 5142 (April–Sept 2022) tobacco users have availed services at TCCs. More than 700 Villages in the state have been declared as Tobacco Free.

Mr. Jauramajra urged that everyone of us should pledge to make Punjab a tobacco free state as tobacco use is associated with a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders, wreaking a high social cost. He said that Punjab is a pioneer state to focus on youth by timely ban on E cigarettes, hookah bars and by declaring schools as Tobacco Free. State will continue making efforts to curb this menace of Tobacco usage as this will go a long way in deterring young children & youth from initiation & also motivate current users to quit.

IEP Chandigarh, November 01

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its campaign against corruption today nabbed a revenue Patwari Mandeep Singh, posted at Dhandari Kalan, district Ludhiana and a private person Soni, red handed accepting a bribe of Rs. 5,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau (VB) said Patwari Mandeep Singh was arrested on the complaint of Daljit Singh resident of Kabir Nagar, Ludhiana city. He informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said Patwari and his middleman were demanding Rs. 5,000 to provide the record of a plot registered in the name his mother. He further said that he had already paid a bribe of Rs. 1000 as a first installment to the accused middleman.

After verifying his information, a VB team laid a trap and the accused Patwari and his middleman were arrested on the spot while accepting a bribe of Rs. 5,000 as second installment from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

The spokesperson informed that a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at VB, Economic Offences Wing, police station Ludhiana and further investigation was under progress.

IEP Phagwara, November 1

 Reiterating the firm commitment of the Aam Aadmi government to ensure well being of people, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the state government is according top priority to impart quality healthcare services to the people.

 The Chief Minister, who dedicated the Mother and Child care hospital here at the local Sub Divisional hospital, envisioned that this newly constructed hospital will act as a catalyst to impart quality health care to the pregnant women and newly born child. He said that the move is aimed to ensure that people get quality health services in these hospitals. Bhagwant Mann said that more such hospitals will be constructed across the state in coming days.

 The Chief Minister further said that strenuous efforts are being made to equip the government hospitals with the ultramodern facilities. Likewise, he said that a massive recruitment drive has been embarked to fill all the vacant lying government posts in the health department. Bhagwant Mann said that the sole purpose is to ensure that people get the best healthcare facilities in the state.

 The Chief Minister asked the medical and para-medical staff present on the occasion to discharge their duty with utmost dedication and sincerity. He said that it is the need of hour to ensure that people get quality healthcare services in the government hospitals. Bhagwant Mann also said that the state government will leave no stone unturned to spruce up government healthcare infrastructure across the state for providing state of the art medical treatment and diagnostic services to people.

 The Chief Minister also inspected the operation theatre, immunisation ward, OPD and others to take stock of the health facilities. He also inspected various wards of the hospital and interacted with the patients to take their feedback about the state of affairs in the hospital. Bhagwant Mann also had detailed interaction with the Doctors and para medical staff about the facilities at the hospital.