IEP Chandigarh

Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Wednesday, informed that the Minister’s Flying Squad, formed to combat corrupt practices within the department, has nailed a driver pilfering 20 liters of diesel from government bus, a conductor for embezzling ticket money and not issuing tickets to passengers, while five buses were reported for operating on unscheduled routes and one bus plying sans passengers.

          Further elaborating, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar revealed that the Flying Squad conducted a raid in Jiwan Nagar (Haryana) and caught the driver, Ranjit Singh, red-handed in the act of pilfering 20 liters of diesel from his alloted Bus No. PB-10FF 4952 of PUNBUS Depot Ludhiana.

          During the checking in Dhar Kalan (Pathankot), the Flying Squad caught a conductor Amandeep of Bus No. PB-06AS 8772 of Pathankot Depot for not issuing tickets to passengers despite collecting Rs.545 from them.

          The Flying Squad also reported five buses operating on unscheduled routes. In a check in Goraya, Bus No. PB-02-EG 4673 of Tarn Taran Depot and Bus No. PB-02-EG 3064 of Amritsar-2 Depot were found operating on unscheduled routes. Similarly, during an inspection in Phagwara, Bus No.PB-02-EH 2749 of Amritsar-1 Depot and Bus No. PB-32P 3598 of Nawanshahar Depot were found plying on unscheduled routes, while Bus No. PB-02-EG 9427 of Patti Depot was also found operating on different route than the scheduled one during the checking at Kartarpur. Apart from this, Bus No. PB-06BC 0216 from Batala Depot was found operating without passengers.

          The Transport Minister has instructed the department officials to take appropriate disciplinary action against the employees involved.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

          Cricket legend and Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar today began a new innings – as the ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education for the Election Commission of India. An MoU was signed with the legend for a period of 3 years at an event organized at Akashvani Rang Bhavan, New Delhi in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and  Arun Goel. This collaboration marks a significant step towards leveraging Tendulkar’s unparalleled impact with the youth demographic for increasing voters’ participation in the forthcoming elections, especially in General Elections 2024.

          ECI through this partnership aims to bridge the gap between citizens, especially youth and urban populations and the electoral process thereby, trying to address the challenges of urban and youth apathy.

          Sachin Tendulkar, in his role as the National Icon for the Election Commission of India, expressed his enthusiasm and commitment to the cause, and said that for a vibrant democracy like India, the youth play a key role in nation building. The hearts that beat for Team India during sports matches, with the unified cheer – ‘India, India!’, shall also beat the same way to take our precious democracy forward. One simple yet most powerful way to do that is to cast our votes regularly.

          Speaking on the occasion he said that from thronging stadiums to thronging polling booths, from taking time out to stand by the National team to taking time out to cast our votes, we shall keep up the spirit and enthusiasm. When youth from the nooks and corners of the country participate in large numbers in electoral democracy, we shall see a prosperous future for our country.

          Speaking on the occasion, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that Sachin Tendulkar, an icon revered not only in India but globally, has a legacy that extends far beyond his cricketing prowess.

          Rajiv Kumar said his illustrious career is a testament to his commitment to excellence, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of success. His influence transcends sports, making him an ideal choice to bat for ECI and drive up voter turn-outs, the CEC added.

          The collaboration will encompass a range of activities, including Tendulkar’s promoting voter awareness in various TV talk shows/ programs and digital campaigns etc, all aimed at raising awareness about the importance of voting and the role it plays in shaping the nation’s destiny.

          During the event, students from National School of Drama also presented an impactful skit on the importance of voting in strengthening of democracy.

          ECI associates itself with renowned Indians from various fields and designates them as ECI’s national icons to motivate voters for participation in the festival of democracy.

           Last year, the Commission recognised famous actor Pankaj Tripathi as the National Icon. Earlier, during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, stalwarts like M.S.Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom had been the ECI National Icons.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains today announced holidays in all government/affiliated/private/recognized schools in the state due to heavy downpour up till August 26.

          He said that complying to the directives of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, holidays have been declared in all the government/private/recognized schools due to heavy rainfall in various parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

          Punjab government is actively implementing various schemes to promote the economic empowerment of women. Social Security, Women and Child Development  Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur shared that the government is earnestly working to enhance the economic status of women in the state.

          Cabinet Minister stated that as part of this endeavor, a training workshop was organized for nodal officers assigned in different departments to facilitate the implementation of the Gender Budget at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MAGSIPA).

          During the workshop, the processes and systems related to the seamless execution of ongoing schemes aimed at empowering women were thoroughly discussed.

          Minister said the various departments to collaborate in order to efficiently implement women’s welfare programs at the grassroots level, ensuring transparency and maximum benefit to eligible recipients. Representatives from diverse departments actively participated in the workshop.

          Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that a comprehensive process has been initiated through a training workshop focused on Gender Budget. The aim is to sensitize departmental staff to effectively implement Gender Budget across the state of Punjab.

          She emphasized the need to properly structure schemes and programs operated by different departments to enable women’s empowerment. Minister stressed that gender budget is a potent tool that will contribute to reducing gender-based inequality and ensuring equitable distribution of resources.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

          Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has congratulated Amanpreet Singh who became the World Champion.

          Amanpreet Singh, the emerging shooter from Patiala, has won the Gold Medal in the men’s standard pistol event at the ISSF World Championships with a score of 577. This is the fifth gold medal won by India at the World Championships in Baku.

          While congratulating Amanpreet Singh, Meet Hayer said that he made the state and the country prous by achieving great success at a young age. He said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led State Government is giving special attention to taking the players to the international level so that more and more players can brought glory to the name of the state. Amanpreet Singh recently won the Gold Medal in the Junior World Cup in Germany. The Sports Minister congratulated Amanpreet Singh’s coach Ankush Bhardwaj and his parents for this achievement.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

          Amidst its ongoing campaign against corruption in the State, Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Naib Tehsildar and Patwari for preparing fake documents and vasiyat khangi of 14 kanal 11 marla land situated at khanouri.

          Arrested accused Naib Tehsildar has been identified as Darshan Singh, currently posted at Bareta, District Mansa, and accused Patwari has been identified as Balkar Singh.

          These arrests have been made and an FIR no. 29 dated 23.8.23 under sections 409, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of IPC and 13(1)(A), 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at Police Station VB, Patiala  Range.

          An official spokesperson of the VB said that the then Kanoongo Darshan Singh, now Naib Tehsildar Bareta and Patwari Balkar Singh along with Tehsildar Vipan Bhandari in collusion with Deepak Raj of Khanauri Kalan prepared fake documents and vasiyat khangi of 14 kanal 11 Marla land situated at Khanouri.

          The VB teams from Patiala have arrested Patwari Balkar Singh and Naib Tehsildar Darshan Singh, while raids are being conducted to nab the third accused, the spokesperson said while adding that further Investigation is going on.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

          Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Wednesday issued directions to the Deputy Commissioners of Sangrur and Kapurthala districts to take an immediate action to ensure that the private sugar mills falling in their districts make payment of all the pending dues to the cane farmers at the earliest.

          Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian along with Special Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr. KAP Sinha lent a sympathetic ear to the grievances of cane farmers from Malwa and Doaba regions during the marathon meetings here at his office.

          Responding to the concerns raised by the cane farmers from Doaba region, Mr. Khudian directed the Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Captain Karnail Singh to identify all the properties related to the defaulter owner of Golden Sandhar Mills Ltd, Phagwara so that the same could be attached and if default continues, to be sold to make payments of pending dues to the cane farmers.

          Earlier, during a meeting with cane farmers from Malwa region, the Agriculture Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner Sangrur Mr. Jitender Jorwal to take all possible steps to ensure that Bhagwanpura Sugar Mill Ltd., Dhuri makes payment to the tune of at least Rs 1 crore out of total pending dues to the farmers immediately. He also asked the Deputy Commissioner to make it sure that all the pending dues of these farmers should also be cleared in a time bound manner. 

          Reiterating that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government would not let the farmers of the state to be exploited by anyone, Mr Khudian asked the Deputy Commissioners of both districts to set an example for others by taking stringent actions in both these cases.

IEP Chandigarh/ Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar,August 23

          As the much-awaited moment of Chandrayaan 3’s moonlanding accomplished, the Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains along with exuberant students of Punjab government schools congratulated scientists of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the nation of this historic moment.

          Awaiting the proud moment to become a reality during the day, overwhelmed students have been enrolled in posters making, writing slogans, paintings and human chains since morning at the government schools across the state to send their cordial wishes for this ambitious mission. A wave of anticipation has swept through the schools, igniting fervent discussions and heartfelt messages for the ISRO. The mission mark a historic milestone as it aims to be first to land in this unexplored region, known for its shadowed craters that are believed to contain water.

          Sharing the excitement among the students, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “the whole state of Punjab is overwhelmed with successfull landing of Chandrayaan-3 on moon and we are extending our best wishes. Chandrayaan-3 was launched from ISRO Sri Harikota on July 14 thanks to the day and night work of astronauts. After a long journey of 40 days, it is now reached the moon.”

          Speaking about the excitement among students, the Cabinet Minister said that poster, painting and quiz competitions depicting this historical phenomenon has been organsied in all government schools of Punjab and student took part in these events fervently to congratulate Chandrayaan-3 on the moon landing and give good wishes. Heartfelt wishes from these young minds add to the excitement of the evening.

          In the day long events in the schools, while expressing their excitement students said that this historic event of Chandrayaan 3’s moon landing has filled them with immense pride and fervor. “We were eagerly looking forward to witnessing this historic achievement and we all are immensely proud of our scientists,” Students said.

IEP Chandigarh, August 23

Terming Chandrayan-3’s successful landing as a Red Letter Day of the History, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday congratulated the Nation and ISRO’s Scientists for this marvelous accomplishment, which showed the power of India to the world.

Witnessing this proud moment to become a reality through Television, the overwhelmed Chief Minister said that now this is the proven fact that India is going to become world power in near future and our scientists made the nation proud. He said that it is a blissful moment for all fellow Indians, which opened new window to explore life on the Moon. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that with this remarkable feat, India became the first country to softly land a spacecraft on the Moon’s South Pole.

IEP Chandigarh/Jaipur, August 23, 2023

The Punjab Government today announced a host of strategic initiatives to launch the first ever Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart which will be held in Mohali from September 11-13 to position the state as the most preferred destination for tourism encompassing its rich heritage, traditions, art forms, and customs.

          The Punjab Travel Mart aims to bring the country’s forward looking tourism professionals to Punjab and catapult the state as a top tourist destination. The event will also see participation of foreign and domestic tour operators, DMCS, DMOS, travel trade media, travel influencers, hotel operators, B&B and farm stays owners, tourism boards, etc.

          Five cities – Amritsar, Roopnagar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib have emerged as top draws for foreign tourists and the Department of Tourism is now on a fast track to bring the state to the forefront of Indian tourism and be a leading international tourist destination by 2030.

          The Department of Tourism inaugurated its four-city roadshow here at the Marriott Hotel to showcase the initiatives taken by the state government to promote tourism. The next roadshows will be held in Mumbai (August 24), Hyderabad (August 25), and Delhi (August 26). The inaugural roadshow here was attended by Chief Guest Ms. Anmol Gagan Mann, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Punjab, and Guest of Honour Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, IAS Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

          Commenting on the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Government, Ms. Anmol Gagan Mann said, “The Punjab Government, led by  Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working relentlessly to promote tourism in the state that would increase footfall from both international and domestic sectors. This in turn will provide maximum employment opportunities for women and youth. To achieve this, the government has launched a host of initiatives like Invest Punjab, fiscal incentives on tourism in Industrial Policy 2022, Introduction of Wellness Policy, Revision of Eco Tourism and Culture Policy, and Implementation of Adventure Tourism & Water Tourism Policy, etc. We strongly believe all the initiatives in cohesion will enhance the image of the state in terms of ease of doing business and bring in more tourists both national and international.”

          The primary objective of Invest Punjab is to become a one-stop office for investment promotion, regulatory clearances, investment facilities, and after care. This has played a key role in Punjab being featured among the top states in the Ease of Doing Business in India in 2022.

          In terms of the state as a film shooting venue, Invest Punjab has given permission to 90 films so far. Aimed at bringing in transparency and efficiency to the process, the portal has ensured that the entire process from application to payment of fees is online and seamless, all within 15 days.

          The fiscal incentives on tourism in Industrial Policy 2022 offers benefits to hotels that have twenty or more rooms, subject to fulfilment of Punjab Urban Planning and Development Building Rules, 2021, units for Meetings, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), which are basically hotels with facilities for a large group to hold meetings and includes at least one Convention Hall or Exhibition Hall, and media and entertainment that are specially created for tourists like amusement parks, adventure parks, tourism parks, any special theme parks, or infrastructure related to the promotion of cinematic tourism.

          The new fiscal incentives on tourism in Industrial Policy 2022 are focused on encouraging entities to invest in eco-tourism units /farm stays/home stays and tented accommodation; camping units/caravan tourism, adventure /water tourism projects, heritage hotels, and film Production/ cinematography. The Government of Punjab has also rolled out lucrative fiscal incentives on tourism in the Industrial Policy 2022 that aims to boost the service sector.

          Punjab Tourism’s focus in the coming years will be on adventure and water tourism, wellness tourism and agri / eco-tourism with heightened emphasis on the development of home and farm stays in rural areas. The government is also keen to enhance the role of women in tourism as this leads to their empowerment, thereby improving quality of life and livelihood.