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Punjab Govt
May 08, 2008

 

 

Sukhbir emerges as 'New Hockey Hope'
Secures Punjab Government support for training national teams
BACKS IOA EFFORTS AT REJUVINATION OF THE SPORT

Chandigarh May 8, 2008

Indian Hockey found a new hope today with the mercurial SAD president and MP, Sukhbir Singh Badal declaring " his own, his party's and the Punjab government's unstinted support to the new administrative dispensation for the rejuvenation of the sport.

Mr. Badal declared that hockey was 'my personal agenda' and said that he had already successfully persuaded the Punjab government to "

sponsor the preparation of the Indian hockey teams for all international outings for the next four years."
The last time the Punjab government had sponsored the preparation of the Indian hockey team was in 1974 when India went on to win the third World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, beating Australia, Holland, West Germany and Pakistan on the way. That team, led by the legendary centre-half Ajit Pal Singh, had been trained at National Institute of Sports, Patiala, under the aegis of the Punjab government.

Meanwhile, Mr Harcharna Bains, Media Advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal confirmed that the Punjab government was willing to sponsor the preparation of Indian hockey teams for International events. Mr. Bains said that the Chief Minister had been 'deeply pained' at the manner in which the sport had suffered a decline in recent years and was willing to "contribute in every possible manner to help the revival of the country's premier sporting discipline."

In a statement here, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal extended his "full support to the IOA-backed organizational restructuring of the 'affaire de la hockey' and said that he had already secured a commitment from the SAD-BJP government in Punjab to the sponsor not only the preparation of the Indian hockey teams for the international events but also all efforts towards the rejuvenation of the sport at the grass-root level throughout the country. Mr. Badal said that he was in touch with the India Olympic Association on "charting the way forward for the Indian Hockey".

The youthful MP from Faridkot said that the people at large and the hockey lovers in particular had been shocked by the "shameful manner in which the country had suffered hockey humiliation at the international level, failing for the first time event ot qualify for the Olympics. He said that the painful decision to dissolve the Indian Hockey Federation led by former Punjab Director General of Police, Mr. K.P.S. Gill was perhaps the last option left with the country and despite his political differences with the present government at the centre, he would lend all support to the IOA-backed committee for running the affairs of the hockey.

Mr. Badal said that hockey could not be managed by keeping the hockey stars at the bay. "We intend to involve hockey players, including present and past stars, in finding the way forward for reviving hockey as the national sport. I really do not believe that politicians, bureaucrats or businessmen understand hockey better than the hockey players themselves. Players have to be the centerpiece in any planning for running the sport. Politicians or bureaucrats can at best be facilitators. In that capacity, I wholeheartedly offer my services to the players and lovers of the game," said the SAD president.

It may be recalled that Mr. Badal already secured the consent of the Punjab government for setting up hockey astro-turfs at key hockey centers including one at the Mecca of Hockey, Sansarpur (Jalandhar).
He is also pushing for an international level football academy at the country's soccer nursery, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district.


BADAL DIRECTS ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES TO SECURE TIMELY RELEASE OF FUNDS FROM GoI UNDER CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES

CHANDIGARH MAY 8, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed all the Administrative Secretaries to personally initiate immediate steps for getting requisite funds released from Centre for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for the current financial year on the top priority.

Taking cognizance of the media reports in a section of press that some departments of the state government could not take optimum advantage of Centrally Sponsored Schemes during last financial year 2007-08, the Chief Minister had directed the administrative secretaries to send comprehensive proposals to the GoI within a fortnight for the current financial year for the release of funds and pursue vigoursly with the respective departments of GoI for an early release of funds. Mr. Badal asked his Principal Secretary Mr. DS Guru to monitor the entire case and to follow up with the concerned administrative secretaries to ensure that the requisite proposals were sent in time.

Meanwhile, the State Finance Department had assured the Chief Minister that there would be no hurdle in the release of its share towards the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.


CATHRINA CLAAS CALLS ON PUNJAB CM

CHANDIGARH MAY 8, 2008

Deputy Chairperson of the Shareholders Committee of Claas India, a Germany based group in combine harvesters Ms.Cathrina Claas today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal here at his residence.

Ms. Claas along with Group Executive Vice President Mr.Jan Hendrik Mohr during a breakfast meeting with the chief minister apprised him about the assembly line operations which had started from Morinda based plant on Wednesday. They invited the Chief Minister to inaugurate the manufacturing operations which was slated on 15th October, 2008.

Taking part in deliberations, Ms. Cathrina hoped that the wide product range of combine harvesters offered by the group would cater to the needs of all segments of farming community. She said the Crop Tiger 30, Crop Tiger 60 and Crop Tiger Tera Trac would put the conventional agriculture in the country's largest agrarian state in the most mechanized and scientific mode thereby making agriculture economy far less labour intensive and highly productive besides depleting residual standing crops. She expressed keen desire to visit rural Punjab to assess first hand information on farming community, their needs and its applications which could be translated into effective instruments of macro applications through research and development of Claas Germany.

The Chief Minister appreciated the group's concern in setting up a full-fledged plant at Morinda with both assembly line and manufacturing operations with in the record time of just 8 months; probably it was the shortest ever period to launch a mega project of its kind in the state. He also urged the visiting delegation to introduce agricultural equipment/machines for paddy transplantation and cotton picking as both these operations was labour intensive. He also asked the M/s Claas India to introduce a new range of tractors with features of combine harvesters having different types of blades for the use of small and marginal farmers at competitive price.

Mr. Badal also asked Mr.Cathrina to send a deputation of specialized drivers and mechanics to train our youth as drivers and mechanics which would provide them assured employment based on the certification/accreditation to be issued by Claas Germany. He said that since Punjab was pre-dominantly an agrarian state could provide an assured market to the group besides generating tremendous direct and indirect employment potential through setting up of ancillary units in the state.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Secretary Industries SS Channy, Director Industries VK Janjua, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister AK Mahajan and Head Claas India Operations Pardeep Malik.


INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB PUNJAB PROCURES 30% MORE WHEAT THIS YEAR

Chandigarh, May 8:, 2008

Six government agencies and private millers in Punjab have procured more than 98.63 lac tonnes of wheat against 71.82 Lac tonnes procured till date last year recording a growth of over 30% than last year.

According to an official spokesman, out of 9863780 tonnes procured till date which 9334391 tonnes (94.6%) has been procured for the central pool and 2,61,529 tonnes (2.7%) for the State pool whereas traders lifted 267860 tonnes of Wheat.

The spokesman said that till May 7, PUNGRAIN had procured 17, 47,797 tonnes (18.7%) whereas MARKFED procured 21, 20,007 tonnes (23.8%). PUNSUP procured 21, 47, 810 tonnes (23%), PSWC procured 11, 54,811 tonnes (12.4%) whereas PAIC was able to procure10, 57,019 tonnes (11.3 %) of wheat for the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 10, 06,947tonnes (10.8%) for the central pool.

He added that Ferozepur District with 11,27,320 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 9,36,565 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana district with 8,30,096 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The Punjab Government allocated more than Rs. 9385.77 crores to the agencies for making payment to the farmers for wheat procured upto May 6, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat.

The State Government has set up over 1615 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat, the spokesman added.


GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB WILL PRESENT AWARD OF HONOUR TO LANGAH

Chandigarh, May 8: His Excellency the Governor of Punjab General (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, would present an award of honour to Sh. Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister Punjab during the world Red Cross Day Celebrations on 9th May at Law Auditorium of Punjab University Chandigarh.

Mr. Langah was getting this prestigious award for his generous contributions to the 30 bedded Drug De-Addiction, Treatment cum- Rehabilitation Centre in Border district of Gurdaspur, which was being run by the Punjab State Red Cross Branch Chandigarh. The Centre at present was providing facilities like fully Air-Conditioned ward, free medicines, multipurpose Gym, a well equipped laboratory, pure water supply through Aqua Guard. Vocational Training like hardware networking , software and mobile repair, etc.

Mr. Ramesh Mahajan Project Director of De-addiction Centre Gurdaspur said that Mr. Such Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister, visits regularly to the centre and educate the addicts regarding the ill effects of addiction which besides the loss of health , spoils the entire family life and dark clouds of sorrow and sufferings glooms on addicts and on their families.

 


 

 

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