IEP Chandigarh, April 12

Taking forward the campaign of providing employment opportunities to the youth by the Punjab government led by Chief MinisterBhagwant Singh Mann, the Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development and Social Justice, Empowerment and Minority Dr  Baljit Kaur handed over appointment letters to newly-recruited 35 clerks at her office in the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh.

The Cabinet Minister handed over appointment letters to 34 clerks of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department and one clerk of Social Justice, Empowered and Minorities Department.  Congratulating the newly recruited employes, the Cabinet Minister exhorted them to work with zero tolerance policy towards corruption, besides discharging their duties with utmost dedication, honesty.

Dr.  Baljit Kaur reiterated that the  Chief Minister  Bhagwant Mann for stopping the braindrain from punjab by creating new job opportunities so that the youth should not go to foreign shores in pursuit of their dreams.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Social Justice, Empowerment and Minority Mr. G. Ramesh Kumar, Director of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Ms. Madhvi Kataria, Director-cum-Joint Secretary of Social Justice Empowerment and Minority Department Raj Bahadur Singh,   Joint Director of Social Security Department Charanjit Singh and Amarjit Singh were especially present.

IEP Chandigarh, April 12       

   The Election Commission of India has issued the detailed programme for holding Jalandhar Bye-election Parliamentary Constituency. Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab (CEO) Sibin C informed that notification would be issued on 13th April, 2023 (Thursday), while the last date for making nominations is 20th April, 2023 (Thursday).          He said that Scrutiny of nominations would be on 21st April, 2023 (Friday) and last date for withdrawal of candidature is 24th April, 2023 (Monday). Polling would be held on 10th May, 2023 (Wednesday) from 8 am to 6.00 pm and counting of votes would be on 13th May, 2023 (Saturday). CEO said that election process shall be completed on 15th May, 2023 (Monday).          Divulging the details, he said that nomination papers are to be presented with the Returning Officer between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm on any day other than a public holiday from 13th April, 2023 to 20th April, 2023. The Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar is a Returning Officer for 04-Jalandhar (SC) Parliamentary Constituency.          He further said that the nomination papers are to be filled in form 2A for 04-Jalandhar (SC) Parliamentary Constituency Bye-Election. Blank forms are available with the Returning Officer. Typed nomination paper will also be accepted provided they are in the prescribed form.          In order to qualify for a Parliamentary Constituency (Lok Sabha) seat, a candidate should be registered as an elector for any Parliamentary Constituency. To satisfy the concerned Returning Officer on this point, candidates should produce a certified copy of the relevant entry of the electoral roll in force.          A certificate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person so authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath/affirmation should be taken/made by a candidate after his nomination paper has been filled and before the date fixed for the Scrutiny of nominations.          CEO informed that 14.04.2023 being Vaisakhi/Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Friday) is a holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, therefore, nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.          15.04.2023 being 3rd Saturday is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, therefore, nomination papers can be presented by the candidate on that day. 16.04.2023 being Sunday is a holiday, therefore, nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day. Similarly, 22.04.2023 being 4th Saturday is a holiday; therefore, Withdrawal of nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.          23.04.2023 being Sunday is a holiday and Withdrawal of nomination papers can’t be presented by the candidate on that day.  CEO said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the district Jalandhar from the date of announcement of bye elections from 29th March, 2023 by the Election Commission of India and shall remain in force till the completion of the election process. 

IEP Chandigarh, April 12    

      Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, on Wednesday, reviewed the progress of ongoing development works in Nagar Council Kotakpura and the constituency, directing the officials of concerned departments to complete these works in a time-bound manner besides ensuring the availability of funds.          The Speaker, while presiding over an important meeting at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, said that development works should be completed in a stipulated time frame for ensuring that people can access to the necessary infrastructure and services at the earliest.          During the meeting, the issue of strengthening roads, which were damaged after the sewage work carried out around two years ago, was discussed threadbare.          Speaker S. Sandhwan emphasized that roads should be strengthened on priority and availability of funds should be ensured by the concerned departments to complete the task at the earliest.          S. Sandhwan also directed the departments concerned and the senior officials of the finance department to ensure availability of funds, emphasizing that there should be no dearth of funds for development works.          Similarly, S. Sandhwan asked Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board that the work should be completed on priority wherever sewage or water supply pipes are to be laid in the Nagar Council so that digging can be avoided after the construction of roads.          S. Sandhwan also directed the officials of the Mandi Board to strengthening link roads falling under jurisdiction of the department.          Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included; Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, CEO, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Mr. Mohammad Tayyab, Special Secretary Expenditure, Mr. Uma Shankar Gupta, Director, Local Government Department, Ms. Garima Singh, Secretary Finance Cum Director Institutional Finance and Banking and other officials of the concerned departments.

IEP Chandigarh, April 10       

   Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday released the ‘Punjab State at a Glance 2022’, a collection of important statistical data of various departments compiled by the Directorate of Statistics, department of Planning.  This single volume handy book carries authentic data on all important items relating to different sectors of Punjab economy besides reflecting the latest available data on important socio-economic indicators of Punjab economy.          Releasing the book here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed the officials of the Planning department to ensure the availability of this book in the libraries of universities and colleges of the state. He said that this book would be useful for research institutions, universities, colleges, government and non-government institutions, and policy makers and administrators for development, research policy decisions and other important decisions. He congratulated the department of Planning for putting their sincere efforts in compiling this book.          Sharing key data from the book, Advocate Cheema said that the agriculture and allied sectors are expected to grow by 3.70 percent, industry by 4.33 percent and services sector by 6.78 percent as per advance estimates of 2022-23. “As compared to agriculture in general, the allied sectors are showing faster growth over the recent years. Livestock sector with rapid growth is becoming major contributor to the growth of Agriculture and Allied sector. Livestock sector is likely to grow by 4.18 percent in 2022-23”, said Finance Minister while adding that Livestock sector’s share in total Gross State Value Added (GSVA) of Punjab was 11.1 percent during 2022-23.          Divulging further, Cheema said that the per capita income of Punjab is expected to Rs. 1,73,873 in 2022-23 as per advance estimates as compared to Rs.1,70,620 at national level. He said that the state inflation figures were also remained below than those at National level with few exceptions. The Inflation was at the peak in the month of April 2022 and showed a downward trend in next few months with the exception in June 2022. It remained benign till October when it touches the bottom with 4.5% but it started upward trend in November and December 2022, he added.          Cheema said that Punjab has large chunk of working population between the age of 15-64 which stood at 70.15 percent of total population in 2021. “26.11 percent of this belongs to the youth group in the age of 15-29 years. It is both an advantage as well as a challenge for the state”, said the Finance Minister while adding that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken many initiatives to provide good education and better job opportunities to channelise youth energy under the mission ‘Rangla Punjab’.          Thanking the Finance Minister for releasing this book, Vikas Pratap, Principal Secretary Planning, said that the source agencies of the sectoral data contained in this book has been indicated under each table. He gave assurance to the minister that the department would soon provide this book to the universities and colleges of the state besides making its e-book available for all on the website of the department.          Prominent amongst others, Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary Planning, Sumit Kumar, Director Planning and Jagdeep Singh, Director Statistics were also present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, April 10     

     The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched an online portal https://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in to make the process of availing the benefits of the Ashirwad scheme easier.          Divulging in this regard, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the state government provides financial assistance at the time of marriage to girls belonging to scheduled castes, backward castes and economically weaker sections. For which the paperwork used to take a lot of time. She said that an online portal has been launched for the purpose of facilitating this process. This will save valuable time of the people and at the same time the beneficiary will also get financial assistance in a very short time and along with this system There will be transparency.          The cabinet minister said that according to the instructions of the Punjab government, applicants can now apply on the portal https://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in. He also informed that now no Ashirwad Scheme file will be received at the office or at the Seva Kendra.          She said that the applicant should apply on the Ashirwad scheme portal one month before the marriage. If an applicant is not able to apply during this time, he can apply within one month after the marriage. After that, the application submitted on the portal will not be accepted. He said that the applicant should apply within the stipulated time so that he can get the benefits on time.          The Cabinet Minister urged the applicants to go to the office of the concerned District Social Justice,  Empowerment and Minorities Officer instead of paying money at a private cyber cafe to apply on the portal, where this facility will be provided to them free of cost.

IEP Chandigarh, April 10

 The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Bhagwant Mann on Monday urged the Government of India (GOI) to relax the specifications for wheat for procurement in the current season, in view of the crop losses suffered by farmers due to unseasonal rains. A decision to this effect was taken by the council of Ministers in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister here at his office in the Punjab Civil Secretariat-I on Monday. During the meeting, the Cabinet requested the centre to order appropriate relaxation in specifications without any value cut, which will compound the problems of the farmers who had already suffered significant crop losses due to the rains and winds that lashed in the state. Such rains at the time of maturation of wheat crop had caused considerable damage to the standing crop and also affected the quality of the wheat grains because of water logging, leading to loss of luster/blackened grains. Therefore, the Cabinet unanimously urged that prescribed uniform specifications of wheat with regard to damaged, slightly damaged, shriveled and broken grains, luster and moisture content should be relaxed by the Government of India. The Cabinet further observed that the share of centre in compensation given per acre to the farmers for compensating their loss due to the natural disaster was on lower side, in wake of the exorbitant hike in the prices of agriculture inputs borne by the farmers to raise the crop. The Punjab government has recently enhanced its own share to Rs 8200 from existing Rs 6600 to ensure that the farmers having crop loss more than 75% are given Rs 15,000 per acre. The Cabinet urged the Government of India for upward revision of the compensation to the affected farmers. The Cabinet was of the view that agony and pain of a large number of farmers who have suffered heavy losses due to sudden and erratic changes in weather, can’t be expressed in words. Unfortunately intensity and frequency of rains coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorms have caused substantial damage to the crops and impaired livelihood of a large number of farmers. The Cabinet urged the centre to duly compensate the farmers whose standing crops have been affected due to recent heavy rains coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorms adding that the existing norms to provide for a minimum compensation  per acre to the affected farmers needs to be revised. The Cabinet recalled that Punjab has always been in the forefront for ensuring food security of the nation and has been contributing about 40-50% of wheat and 30-35% of rice to the Central Pool from the last three decades. Such was the level of involvement and commitment of the farmers to their profession that with just over two percent of the country’s geographical area and even less as a percentage of the country’s population, Punjab contributes the heaviest share among all states to the national food kitty, earning them it the sobriquet of the country “food bowl and granary. Though this has been achieved at a huge cost to the state and its farmers as the Punjab farmer’s have bartered away their only two natural resources: soil fertility and water. Meanwhile, it was also decided that Incharge Cabinet Ministers will undertake tours in their respective districts as Chairperson of District Grievances committee to oversee ongoing Girdawari operations.

IEP Chandigarh, April 8      

    In a historic decision, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced to change the timings of government offices from existing 9 am- 5 pm to 7:30 am- 2 pm in larger public interest.          Announcing the decision, the Chief Minister said that the revised timings will come into effect from May 2 and will remain implemented till July 15. He said that the decision has been taken to benefit the common people for easily getting their work done in government offices during the scorching heat in ensuing summer season.  Bhagwant Mann said that the decision has been taken after due consultation with all the stakeholders so that the welfare of all can be ensured.          Dwelling more details, the Chief Minister said that it will enable a common man to do his work early morning without  taking leave from his work. Likewise, he said that this will also facilitate the employees as they will be able to attend the social functions after the office hours. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that the employees will also be able to spend more time with there children who will also come home at the same time.          The Chief Minister said that this decision will be applicable to all the offices of Punjab government. He envisioned that this will also help in saving around 300-350 MW power also as a considerable chunk of power was being consumed in government offices. Bhagwant Mann said that as per the data of PSPCL the leak load of board starts after 1 pm in the day.          The Chief Minister said that the new time table will also ensure that maximum sun light is utilised by the masses. He cited that in several foreign countries people adjust their watches as per seasons so that they can use maximum sunlight. Bhagwant Mann assured the people that the state government will take more such citizen centric decisions in the coming days too.

IEP Chandigarh, April 8      

    In a bid to ensure equality in service delivery and end ‘Khaas Aadmi’ culture from the system, Punjab Governance Reforms and Grievances Redressal Minister Mr Aman Arora on Saturday directed all the Deputy Commissioners to make sure that no one should avail any service without token at Sewa Kendras in the state.          Mr Aman Arora has taken strict cognizance of news reports claiming few government officials trying to overpower the staff of Sewa Kendras to get services without even getting token. “We have also received complaints from some districts in this regard,” he said.          Mr. Aman Arora made it clear that this kind behaviour of government officials is totally unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken if any official found indulged in this practice.           He said that all citizens are equally important and entitled for all services being provided at Sewa Kendras. The main objective to open Sewa Kendras was to provide seamless services to public in transparent manner.          Minister Governance Reforms further instructed Sewa Kendra staff that in case of any complaint recieved in this regards shall not be tolerated and strict action shall be taken.          Asking the Director DGR to issue directions to all DCs in this regard, Mr Aman Arora said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has come to power to root out the ‘Khaas Aadmi’ culture so this practice must be curbed, he added.          The Cabinet Minister also asked the Department Governance Reforms (DGR) to start online token service at the earliest so that people can get their appointment token by sitting at home.

IEP Chandigarh, April 8     

     Punjab Power and P.W.D. Minister Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. on Saturday visited Shanan Power House at Joginder Nagar to inspect the power house.           While taking round of power house, the Minister stated that Punjab Government was fully concerned with the power house and shortly the requisite maintenance works would be initiated.          Lauding the engineers, employees and staff of the power house, Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. assured that all their genuine issues and needs would also be fulfilled as early as possible.          The Minister said that the Shanan Hydropower project constructed in 1932 by British Engineer Colonel B.C. Batty and his team, which started generating 48 MW power at that time. Presently, the power house is running with a capacity of generating 110 MW.          The Minister also expressed satisfaction that the project was playing a significant role in development of the country by providing power to the  consumers.

IEP Chandigarh, April 7     

     Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that due to strenuous efforts of the Aam Aadmi government the state has been transformed from ‘fiscal deficit’ to ‘fiscal profit’ state by massive generation of revenue.          Interacting with the media persons here at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that though the previous governments had always thought of their own vested interests his Government has pulled all plugs to enhance the revenue in state. He said that these efforts have produced desired results as the state has been able to generate maximum revenue. Bhagwant Mann said that the honest government in state has changed the direction of fund flow from private houses of leaders to government exchequer.          The Chief Minister said that though the state government had launched the Excise policy by delay of three months but it has fetched revenue worth Rs 8841 crore in the state. He said that this is Rs 2587 crore more than last year which was roughly an increase of 41.41%. Bhagwant Mann said that the target for next financial year is Rs 9754 crore adding that this will also be achieved.          The Chief Minister said that the state government has for the first time presented a zero tax budget in the state. He said that this is first of its kind pro-people initiative which will go a long way is ensuring the welfare of people. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that no stone will be left unturned for the holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.          Dwelling on another agenda, the Chief Minister said that the state has witnessed massive increase in the GST collection. He said that earlier the state was worst performing in GST collection but now with a hike of 16.6% Punjab is one of the top most performing state in GST collection. Bhagwant Mann said that the collection of last fiscal was Rs 18126 crore as compared to Rs 15542 crore of its previous year.          The Chief Minister said that in a landmark initiative the state government has taken a new experiment on giving an exemption of 2.25 % on stamp duty for land registration. He said that due to this in month of March revenue collection has enhanced from Rs 339 crore in February to Rs 658.68 crore. Bhagwant Mann said that as per the feedback of people the exemption has now been extended to April 30.          The Chief Minister said that though earlier PSPCL symbolised loss due to wrong policies of the successive state governments. However, he said that his government has taken unprecedented initiatives to strengthen the this public sector undertaking. Bhagwant Mann said that for the first time in history of state the government has released all the pending subsidy worth Rs 20,200 crore.          The Chief Minister said that out of this subsidy Rs 9063.79 crore has been given to Agriculture sector, Rs 8285.90 crore has been paid on domestic subsidies and Rs 2911 crore has been provided to industrial sector. He said that the state government has inherited a debt of Rs 9020 crore from previous governments and the state government has is also repaying the inherited loan through instalments worth Rs 1894 crore. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government has so far provided 3538 jobs to the youth in the power sector.          The Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government the power generation in state has enhanced manifolds. He said that already smooth and hassle free supply of coal has started from Jharkhand coal mine. Bhagwant Mann said that the state is heading towards becoming a power surplus state in the country.          The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is exploring the possibility of moving to the court for seeking pending funds under the Rural Development Fund from the centre. He said that the Union government is unnecessarily harassing the state by stalling funds worth Rs 30000 crore under the RDF. Bhagwant Mann said that while the state government has completed all the formalities but then also the centre government has deliberately stalled the legitimate funds of the state which is sheer injustice with the state.          Listing the pro-people initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that Punjab Government has so far given more than 28,000 jobs to youth across the state adding that the sole criteria for selection in this entire recruitment process is merit and the entire procedure is being followed in a transparent manner. He said that now these youth have become integral part of the socio-economic growth of state. Bhagwant Mann said that such a whopping number of jobs in merely one year reflect the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of youth and opening new avenues of employment for them.