Dhuri (Sangrur), May 21 –

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday dedicated the Chief Minister’s Facilitation Centre at Dhuri to ensure effective, transparent, and accessible governance for the residents of the Dhuri constituency.

Dedicating the center, the Chief Minister said it will act as a Single Window system for residents of the Dhuri constituency to access all government services under one roof. He added that the initiative aims to bridge the gap between the public and government offices, increase transparency, improve access to data and its analysis for the residents of Dhuri Assembly constituency and ensure quicker redressal of citizen grievances. Bhagwant Singh Mann said this will promote more citizen-centric governance, build public trust, and enhance service delivery.

The Chief Minister stated that the center has been established at a cost of Rs. 1.21 crore, and features six counters and a reception desk. He added that it also includes a meeting-cum-conference hall, and the primary objective is to improve coordination between the public and government offices. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that it will help in the timely resolution of public issues, and a Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer will be in charge of the center.

The Chief Minister noted that the officer will oversee the delivery of services and monitor development projects in the area. He added that representatives from various departments—including Health, Revenue, Social Security, Police, and Administration—will be present at the center. Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government currently provides 443 services through service centers, and this new facility will help people access those services more easily.

He further mentioned that forms for pension schemes, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Ashirwad scheme, labor cards, Aadhaar card updates, and more will be filled and processed here. One of the key features of the center, the Chief Minister, said, is that citizens will no longer need to visit multiple offices repeatedly. Instead, the center will follow up with the respective departments until the task is completed

Additionally, the Chief Minister said that through Saanjh Kendras, assistance will be provided for preparing documents related to services such as passport issuance, character certificates, FIRs, DDR copies, and NOCs for loudspeakers and events. He emphasized that the Chief Minister’s Facilitation Centre aims to eliminate the harassment commonly faced by citizens in government offices. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that the center will become a beacon of hope for the common people.

Chandigarh, May 21:

          In a pioneering move to celebrate academic excellence and instil leadership aspirations among students of the state government schools, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative “Ek Din, DC/SSP de Sang” to offer these bright young minds meaningful exposure to real-world governance, discipline and public service, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

          Elaborating on the initiative, S. Harjot Singh Bains revealed that “Ek Din, DC/SSP de Sang” will unite six topper students (three each from class-10th & 12th) from each district, with Deputy Commissioner and SSP of their respective district. This immersive experience will give students a firsthand experience of the dedication, hard work, and responsibility that come with leadership roles in administration and law enforcement, providing them with invaluable insights into public service and governance.

          The Education Minister highlighted that the core objective of this move is to inspire and empower meritorious students, igniting within them a spark of ambition and purpose. By immersing themselves in the world of governance and leadership, these young minds will understand the importance of governance, community service and leadership’s role in shaping society.

          “We want to provide a platform for our students to learn from experienced leaders for inspiring them to explore careers in public service, besides fostering a sense of responsibility and civic engagement and encourage them to dream bigger and strive for excellence”, S. Harjot Singh Bains said while adding that as these students embark on this journey, they will be treated to a day filled with learning, growth, and mentorship.

          The carefully curated day will include a range of activities, including observe real-time administrative and policing activities such as grievance redressal sessions, cyber cell operations, planning meetings, field visits to development projects, and other relevant engagements. A joint lunch with the officers will also be organised, offering the students an open platform to share their aspirations and receive career guidance. At the conclusion of the program, students will be presented with a Certificate of Participation, a motivational book or diary, and a group photograph with the officer. A detailed feedback and mentoring session will be held to reflect on their experience.

          To document the impact of the initiative, each district will create a short write-up with student reflections, which will be compiled into a “District Merit Booklet”. Schools will also invite participating students to share their experiences with peers, thereby fostering a culture of aspiration and ambition across the student body. Through this visionary program, the Punjab Government reaffirms its commitment to inclusive governance and equitable opportunity, sending a clear message that every child — regardless of background — has the right to dream, lead, and succeed, he added.

          Wishing the students a day of profound learning and inspiration, S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed that the students would have a day filled with discovery, growth, and inspiration and it would leave an indelible mark on their lives and shape their future as leaders.

Chandigarh, May 21:

          Punjab Government has declared a holiday in Sub-Division Kapurthala on May 23, 2025.

          The officials spokesperson of the state government said that as per the notification issued today, this local holiday has been announced on Friday, May 23, 2025 in observance of the historic fair of Mata Bhadrakali Ji (Shekhupur) for all government institutions, corporations, boards, educational establishments (excluding those institutions where examinations are being conducted) and other government organizations falling within Sub-Division Kapurthala.

Dhuri (Sangrur), May 21 :

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said that the state government is committed to ensuring the holistic development of villages and is leaving no stone unturned in this noble cause.

Addressing a gathering after reviewing ongoing development works in the villages of Ghanouri Kalan, Ghanour Khurd, Kataron, and Changali, the Chief Minister said that various government departments are working in coordination with each other for the welfare of the rural population. He reiterated that Punjab lives in its villages and that the ultimate goal of a progressive and vibrant Punjab can only be achieved through clean and green villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann added that the state government has already placed major emphasis on achieving this goal.

The Chief Minister said that Dhuri will be developed as a model city through holistic development, backed by adequate funding. He said that the city will soon be equipped with world-class healthcare and educational facilities, improved roads, clean ponds, water recharging systems, and canal water irrigation. Bhagwant Singh Mann noted that significant resources have already been allocated to ensure the comprehensive development of villages in the segment.

He further stated that there is no shortage of funds for development and the state government is making all possible efforts to ensure the holistic progress of villages. The Chief Minister emphasized that a detailed roadmap has been drafted to boost ongoing development efforts in both urban and rural areas. Bhagwant Singh Mann also said that, in addition to development, efforts are being made to place the state on a path of high economic growth for the benefit of its people.

The Chief Minister revealed that a total of Rs. 13.98 crore has been issued for 129 development projects in these Panchayats, out of which 93 projects worth Rs. 8.67 crore have been completed. He added that 36 projects worth Rs. 5.31 crore are currently in progress and will be completed soon. Furthermore, based on the needs of the five village Panchayats, an additional grant of Rs. 12.19 crore has been issued for 32 more development projects, said Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Chandigarh, May 21:

The Punjab Government’s commitment to providing job opportunities to the youth took a significant step forward with 516 candidates receiving offer letters during a Job Fair organised by the Technical Education and Industrial Training department at ITI Nangal on Wednesday.

Sharing the information, Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that a total of 1013 candidates enrolled for the Job Fair, which witnessed participation from 26 public and private sector companies, and 516 candidates received offer letters. Prominent companies including Swaraj Division M&N, RS Manpower, BSNL, SML Isuzu and ITL Sonalika were among the top recruiters, selecting 224 candidates, which accounts for approximately 43.4% of the total placements.

The Cabinet Minister visited ITI Nangal’s Job Fair, encouraging youth to keep upgrading their skills as the Punjab government is offering thousands of job opportunities in government and private sectors.

S. Harjot Singh Bains said that the state government’s relentless efforts to provide employment opportunities to the youth are yielding positive results. The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government is committed to empowering the youth by bridging the gap between industry requirements and skilled workforce, he said, while adding that the Job Fair’s success is a reflection of the state’s strong industry-academia interface and the employability of its students.

He said that candidates who didn’t receive job offers would be contacted by the Technical Education department and provided suitable employment opportunities matching their qualifications to empowering them to become self-reliant.

Chandigarh, May 20:

From a youth who got sixth job during last three years of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government to another youth who got the second job, with another one in kitty, all the newly recruited youth on Wednesday hailed the Chief Minister for transforming their destiny by providing jobs to them in a transparent and fair manner. 

Sandeep Kaur from Patiala said that this is the sixth government job during the regime of Bhagwant Mann government. She said that the robust sports policy of the state government has offered new vistas of employment for them which is really laudable. She said that they will discharge their duty with full dedication and commitment.

Meanwhile Gurjeet Singh, the newly appointed Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) from Moga, shared his journey of perseverance. Despite appearing in multiple exams, he faced setbacks until his mother motivated him to keep working hard. He credited his success to his mother for unwavering support and the transparent mechanism evolved by the state government to give jobs.

Likewise Para-olympian Mohammed Yasser acknowledged the state government’s decision to provide ₹13 lakh for his preparation to compete at the international level, ensuring parity in award money with other athletes.  He said that it is a great opportunity for him and other athletes during the present dispensation.

Geetika from Sangrur thanked the Chief Minister for providing jobs to the youth especially to the girls. She said that the jobs given by the Chief Minister in a transparent manner will go a long way in empowering women.

Apart from them, ADO Vipanjot Arora from Jalalabad highlighted his journey, marking this as his third government job after completing training as a Patwari and Sub Inspector. He said that this is his third job as the state government has provided a lot of opportunities to the youth to excel. He said that all the jobs have been provided in a free and fair manner purely on the basis of merit.

CHANDIGARH/GURDASPUR, May 19:

          In a major counter-espionage operation amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Gurdaspur Police has arrested two individuals for leaking critical information concerning the Indian Armed Forces to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Sukhpreet Singh, a resident of village Adiyan in Gurdaspur and Karanbir Singh, a resident of Chandu Wadala in Gurdaspur. Police teams have also recovered three mobile phones and eight live cartridges of .30 bore from their possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Gurdaspur Police has thwarted an attempt to compromise national security by apprehending these two persons involved in leaking sensitive military information, related to ‘Operation Sindoor,’ including troop movements and key strategic locations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, with their ISI handlers.

          He said that preliminary investigation has confirmed both the accused were in direct contact with ISI operatives and had transmitted critical information concerning the Indian Armed Forces.

          Reiterating that the Punjab Police stands strong with the Indian Army, the DGP said that any attempt to undermine the security of our armed forces will be met with firm and immediate action. Further investigation in this case in ongoing and more disclosures are expected as the probe deepens, he said.

          Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Aditya said that on May 15, 2025, credible intelligence inputs indicated that suspects Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh were engaged in sharing defence-related classified details with ISI handlers. Acting swiftly, the police has put both the suspects under surveillance and apprehended them, he said.

          He said that forensic examination of their mobile phones has confirmed the intelligence inputs. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused persons were passing on military secrets in exchange for monetary benefits, he said.

          “During the investigation, it was also discovered that they were previously involved in drug smuggling activities, through which they came into contact with ISI handlers. Their financial transactions, including online and cash dealings, also came under scrutiny,“ said the SSP, while adding that further investigations are on.

          A case FIR No 45 dated 15-5-25 has been registered under section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Dorangala.

Chandigarh, May 19

The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has completed all arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers during the paddy season. 

Announcing this while addressing a press conference here today, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has issued directives to promote DSR (Direct Sowing of paddy) in the state. In view of this, the schedule for direct sowing of paddy has been released earlier than in previous years. 

The Cabinet Minister further stated that it takes approximately 3,800 liters of water to produce one kilogram of rice using traditional methods, whereas the DSR method can save 400-500 liters of water per kilogram of rice. In addition, the state government provides a subsidy of ₹1,500 per acre to farmers who adopt the DSR method. 

The Power Minister added that uninterrupted electricity supply for 8 hours daily will be ensured during the paddy season, and this duration may be extended if necessary. Out of the 15 existing power units in the state, 14 are currently operating at full capacity, and the remaining unit will be functional within the next three days. He noted that last year, the peak electricity demand in the state was 16,058 MW, and this year, arrangements have been made for 17,000 MW. Furthermore, the power plants have a 30-day coal reserve, and transmission infrastructure in the state has also been upgraded. 

The Power Minister stated that paddy sowing, including direct sowing (DSR), will be conducted in a phased manner according to the prescribed schedule. Direct sowing is permitted from May 15 to May 31, 2025. From June 1, sowing will be allowed in areas near the international border and those with canal irrigation facilities, including Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka. From June 5, sowing can begin in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur. Sowing in the remaining districts — Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar — will commence from June 9. 

An 8-hour daily power supply for DSR areas has already started from May 15. For other areas, the 8-hour supply will be implemented in accordance with the sowing schedule issued by the state government. 

Harbhajan Singh ETO assured that the government is fully committed to supporting farmers during the sowing season and has taken all necessary measures to ensure the availability of adequate power. He also confirmed that uninterrupted power supply will be ensured for domestic consumers and industries during this paddy season.

CHANDIGARH, May 19:

          In a heartening gesture, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Traffic Amardeep Singh Rai honoured four traffic police personnel from Batala for adopting a polite and educative approach towards traffic violators instead of penalising them immediately.

          The honoured cops include Incharge Traffic Staff Batala Inspector Surinder Singh, along with his team members ASI Ranjit Singh, ASI Sukhwinder Singh, and Home Guard Shamsher Singh. ADGP Amardeep Singh Rai presented them with Commendation Certificates (Class-1) and cash rewards for their exemplary conduct.

          The initiative came into the limelight after a viral video showed the traffic cops interacting with a violator who had parked his car in the middle of the road. Instead of issuing a challan right away, the officers calmly explained the dangers of such violations, emphasising how reckless parking could lead to fatal accidents. They let the driver off with a warning this time but made it clear that repeat offences would not be tolerated.

          ADGP Amardeep Singh Rai praised the team’s behaviour, stating, “I was impressed by the way these cops handled the situation with patience and empathy. We plan to sensitise all traffic personnel across Punjab to adopt such an approach, ensuring that people follow traffic rules out of awareness rather than just fear of fines.”

          Inspector Surinder Singh, speaking on behalf of the team, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reiterated their commitment to promoting road safety through courteous enforcement. “Our aim is to make drivers understand the consequences of violations, not just punish them,” he said.

Chandigarh, May 19:

The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of all sections of society, with the well-being of senior citizens being one of its foremost priorities. This was stated by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur during a high-level meeting held today at Punjab Bhawan.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Departments of Health and Family Welfare, Home and Justice, Information and Public Relations, Director General of Police, and Legal and Legislative Affairs. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that senior citizens are a valuable asset to society, and it is our collective moral duty to ensure their care, respect, and security.

During the meeting, representatives of various Senior Citizens’ Associations presented their key demands, which included the establishment of a separate directorate for senior citizens’ welfare, provision of free medical treatment for citizens above 70 years of age, regular mobile van services for health checkups and medicines, dedicated safety measures by the police, and setting up special cells at police stations to address the grievances of the elderly.

The Minister patiently heard the concerns and demands of the representatives and issued firm directions to the officials to ensure prompt and effective resolution of all issues raised by the elderly.

Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that, in 2023, the Punjab Government had launched the ‘Sada Buzurg Sada Maan’ campaign, under which 18,900 senior citizens were registered, and 9,589 were provided with free spectacles.

She further informed that for the financial year 2025-26, the government has allocated a budget provision of ₹4,100 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme to benefit 23 lakh elderly citizens. Additionally, Maintenance and Appellate Tribunals have been established at the district level to provide legal assistance to senior citizens.

The Minister also stated that District Social Security Officers have been appointed as Maintenance Officers for the welfare of senior citizens, and any elderly citizen can submit their application to the respective Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

Currently, old age homes are being operated in Hoshiarpur and Barnala under the state government, while 19 other such homes are being run with the support of non-governmental organizations. For additional support, a free helpline number 14567 has already been introduced, and Senior Citizen Cards are being issued to citizens above 60 years of age.

Concluding the meeting, Dr. Baljit Kaur appealed to all officers and council members present to ensure that every senior citizen in Punjab is treated with dignity, provided necessary facilities, and guaranteed a safe environment. She reiterated the Punjab Government’s firm commitment to fulfilling its responsibility towards the elderly with utmost sincerity and dedication.

Prominent among those present at the meeting were Special Chief Secretary of the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Raji P. Shrivastava, Director Shena Aggarwal, Joint Secretary Anand Sagar Sharma, Additional Director Charanjit Singh Mann, along with representatives of the Senior Citizen Council and various Elderly Associations.