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Punjab
July 03, 2008

 

DRUGS WORTH 30 LAKHS SEIZED FROM LUDHIANA

Chandigarh July 3, 2008
shikha

In one of the biggest seizure of intoxicating drugs in the state, the Punjab health department today seized habit forming scheduled drugs worth Rs.3O Lakhs from the shop and godowns of Pawan Medicos of Pindi street Ludhiana. During a raid conducted by a team headed by Mr. Bhag Singh State Drug Controller Punjab along with 9 drug inspectors of different districts other than Ludhiana, the state was able to nab one of the biggest supplier of drugs in the state. It may be added that with this major haul, habit forming drugs worth Rs. 2 crore 50 lakhs have been seized during various raids conducted by the Health Department Punjab all over the state during last 6 months.

Disclosing this here today Prof.Lakshmi Kanta Chawla Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab said that during a recent raid on the premises of Pawan Medicos two unlicensed godowns and one shop had already been sealed and two different cases under section 18C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act have been registered against the shop owner besides a departmental action has also be initiated against him amounting to even the cancellation of his license. She further said that the drugs seized were being sold at the prescription of the RMP and were used as intoxicants.

The minister said that a special team has been constituted to explore the inter-state network of this firm and determine the source of these drugs so that this evil could be nipped in the bud. She said that the department has established a network in the state to gather information about such nefarious activities of the chemists and the system of exchanging information with police department has also been established.

Seeking the cooperation of the public to tackle this menace, the Minister sought information from the general public .She said that the persons supplying information to the government would be suitably rewarded. Praising the officers' instrumental in nabbing the culprits, she said that the department would acknowledge their contribution and same would be recorded in their service record books. She has urged them to be more courageous and work with full dedication


PUNJAB CM CALLS VCs AND PRINCIPALS TO JOINTLY CHALK OUT AN ACTION PROGRAMME TO IMPART QUALITY EDUCATION

CHANDIGARH JULY 3, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the Vice Chancellors and College Principals from the state to come forward to jointly chalk out a strategy to impart quality education to the economically poor and bright students especially with rural background who had hardly any access to the modern educational avenues despite their enormous capacities and capabilities.

Presiding over a conference of the Vice Chancellors of the Universities and Principals of the colleges from all over the state here at Law auditorium, Panjab University, Mr. Badal said; "It is my endeavor that none should be left illiterate and uneducated in the state because the growth and development in terms of physical infrastructure is meaning less until we improve our human resource development through imparting quality education to our youth at all levels of schools, colleges and universities".

Mr. Badal pointed out that for the first time in the history, Punjab had introduced career counseling for all 10+2 students in the state in order to facilitate aptitude-oriented professional placement for the state's youth. The Chief Minister also mentioned that a state wide counseling exercise for students securing first division or above had been organized from June 20 to July 3 in the Government colleges affiliated to the concerned Universities under the direct supervision of Secretary, School Education, Punjab and the Vice Chancellors in the first phase. Besides the other students had also been given the career counseling by the principals of their respective colleges in the special sessions organized at district head quarters during the second phase.

Mr. Badal asked the vice chancellors to allow starting 'add on courses' in the colleges affiliated to their respective universities to enable the students to get vocational training so that they could be gainfully employed later on. The Chief Minister underlined the need to motivate the students to bring a paradigm shift in their mind set to opt for professional courses rather than traditional bachelor degrees courses like BA.

The Chief Minister also impressed upon the Principals to keep liaison with the authorities of concerned universities, Director Public Instructions (Colleges) and Universities Grants Commission to derive maximum benefit from the schemes relating to scholarships for the students under different categories, grant for expansion for infrastructure in the colleges and recruitment of qualified and trained staff.

Speaking on the occasion Vice Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Mool Chand Sharma asked the Principals to send comprehensive proposals under various schemes offered by the UGC including career advancement programme, autonomous colleges, rural hilly remote areas scheme and colleges with potential for excellence. He also mentioned about the 374 new colleges to be jointly set up by the Ministry of Human Resources and UGC which would be almost 100% funded by the Commission. He urged the Principals to mobilize teachers of their colleges to play a pro active role in shaping the destiny of the students saying, "Reputation of any institution rests on the quality of the students which it produces".

In his welcome address Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr. R.C. Sobti briefly outlined the special courses started by the University especially for the benefit of the rural students.

Meanwhile, Joint Secretary UGC Mr. A.K. Dogra explained the nitty-gritty of the various schemes offered by the commission.

Earlier the Chief Minister released a calendar on the various scholarship schemes for the students prepared by the Punjab DPI Colleges. Dr. Sobti presented a memorabilia to the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. Jaspal Singh, Secretary Higher Education Ms. Anjali Bhawra, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister K.J.S Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary Parveen Kumar, DPI Colleges Dr. Kanwarjit Singh, Director SC/BC Welfare Hussan Lal.



PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS TO BE REVISED IN PUNJAB


Chandigarh July 3, 2008

Sh Vijay Kain, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab here today informed that the Photo Electoral Rolls for all the Vidhan Sabha constituencies as per the newly delimited assembly constituencies are being revised. This is being done in accordance with the guidelines and the programme issued by the Election Commission of India. Those citizens who have attained the age of 18 years as on 1st Jan 2008 and are eligible to be voters, may approach the Electoral Registration Officer or Officers authorized by him and fill the Form No 6 to get their name registered as Voters. In case of correction in the existing roll, the voter may fill and submit the Form No 8 and in lieu of any objection, Form No 7 may be submitted with the Electoral Registration Officer.

Sh Vijay Kain further stated that as per the programme issued by Election Commission of India the draft publication of Electoral Roll has already been made on 2nd July 2008 and any claims/ objections can be lodged from 2nd July onwards till 15th July 2008.

He further informed that in case of new voters, along with main Form No 6, an additional Form No 001- A, which would carry a Passport size photograph of the applicant, needs to be deposited so that a Photo Voter Card could be issued to the eligible voter.

Sh Vijay Kain appealed to the general public and all the political parties to cooperate, whole heartedly and coordinate with the Electoral Registration Officers in accordance with the programme issued by Election Commission of India, so as to ensure that the name of any eligible voter is not left out of the electoral rolls. He informed that for any further clarification the Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer/ Electoral Registration Officer/ Election Tehsildar and the Booth Level Officer of the concerned district can be approached.


PUNJAB ANNOUNCES MAJOR RELIEF IN COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT CASES

Chandigarh, July 3, 2008

The Punjab Government today amended the Compassionate Appointment Policy, giving major relief to the families of deceased government employees.

According to an official spokesman it has been decided that in the case where the deceased government employee leaves behind his/her minor children, who are studying at the time of death of the employee and are not qualified for a employment in the government and spouse is not in a position to join the government job, in such cases a dependent child would be allowed to apply for compassionate appointment by the Competent Authority with in a period of one year from the date of attaining the age and qualification by the child of deceased for Group 'C' and 'D' appointment.

The spokesman said that it had come to the notice of Chief Minister that many families fail to get compassionate appointment as their children were minor at the time of death of government employee and Chief Minister ordered review of the policy.

The spokesman added that on humanitarian consideration, it has also been decided as a special one time measure to extend this benefit to all old deserving cases. In such cases, an application for employment should be made within six month from the date of issue of these instructions, if not already made. The spokesman said that all Administrative departments had been instructed to complete the process of giving employment within period of nine months, from the date of issuance of these instructions. The spokesman clarified that no further relaxation would be provided under any circumstances.

The spokesman added that copy of these instruction were today issued to all Heads of Departments, Commissioners of Divisions, Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrate in the state of Punjab for compliance.




SUD WARNS OF DE-RECOGNITION TO MEDICAL INSTITUTES OPERATING FROM NON-SANCTIONED PLACES

Chandigarh 3 July: Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education & Research Minister today issued a strict warning of de-recognition to all those Private Medical/Ayurvedic/Homeopathic/Nursing and Para-Medical colleges that are operating from a place for which they had not been given sanction by the State Government.

In a statement issued here today the Minister said that recent inspection conducted by a special team of the Department has a revealed glaring irregularities including shifting the site of Medical institutes from the sanctioned location. He said that State Government was contemplating strict action including de-recognition against all such erring colleges, if they failed to shift the College to the sanctioned location.

Mr. Sud said that SAD-BJP government was committed to provide world-class medical education infrastructure to the students and any lapse by any institution would not be tolerated. He said that Baba Farid Medical University had already conducted PMET test successfully and counseling was underway.

Mr. Sud informed that all steps are be taken to provide sufficient faculty to the Medical and Dental Colleges and Departmental Promotion Committee meetings are being held successively to promote eligible faculty members of Medical Colleges.


 

PUNJAB'S DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION 3 GOs & 9 NGOs NABBED-
2 CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASE

Chandigarh July 3, 2008

State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested 3 Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and 9 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in 11 different cases last month and was able to secure the conviction of 2 corrupt officials in a graft case. Those convicted by special courts included a Block Primary Education Officer and her senior clerk for one year imprisonment and Rs. 2000/- fine each on graft charges.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, Joint Dierctor (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State. During this period VB has registered a vigilance enquiry and 4 criminal cases against the suspect officials to probe into the allegations.

Giving details he added that in the last month Mrs. Raj Updesh Block Primary Education Officer Mansa and her senior clerk Ratan Lal have been sentenced by the special court of Mansa after finding them guilty in a red handed trap case for one year imprisonment with fine of Rs. 2000/- each.

 

 

 

 

 

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