PUNJAB FORUM FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,
CHANDIGARH
Convener Secretary
Dr. Manmohan Singh Prof. J.S. Sidhu
I.A.S. (Retd.) Former Secretary,
Former Secretary, Higher Education Pb. Punjab School Edu. Board.
Former D.P.1. (Colleges) Pb.& Tel. No. 0172 - 2212339
Former Director Technical Educational Pb.
We are extremely happy to learn that Punjab Govt. have withdrawn
its letter of consent for changing the status of Panjab University
to that of a Central University . We thank Punjab Govt. for hearing
the voice of educationists and other Punjabis and taking timely
corrective action.
We express our deep gratitude to all educationists intellectuals,
writers, politicians, bureaucrats and all other Punjabis spread
all over the globe who have responded positively to the voice of
veteran educationists and prevailed upon Punjab Govt. to review
its decision. We are grately thankful to the media, particularly
the Punjabi media, which has played a stellar role in this matter.
We appeal to the Central Govt. to accept the latest recommendation
of the Punjab Govt. in this matter. We also appeal to the Central
and State Govts. to find ways and means to remove the financial
difficulties of universities, colleges, schools and other educational
institutions of the State. We also urge the Central and State Govts
to raise the retirement age of all teachers – from Primary
School to University level – to 65 years in view of enhanced
life expectancy and nationwide shortage of competent teachers.
Dr. J.S. Puar, Former Vice Chancellor
Punjabi University , Patiala .
Dr. Manmohan Singh
I.A.S. (Retd.)
Former Secretary, Higher Education Pb.
Former D.P.1. (Colleges) Pb. & Former Director Technical Education
Pb.
Dr. Bhagat Singh,Former Vice Chancellor
Punjabi University , Patiala . & Former D.P.1. (Colleges) Pb.
Prof. Harbux Singh, Former D.P.1. (Colleges)
Pb. & Former Chairman Punjab School Education Board.
Dr. K.S. Aulakh , Former vice Chancellor Punjab
Agricultural University Ludhaina.
Prof. Sarwan Singh, Former Chairman Punjab School
Edu. Board.
Principal Har Narinder Singh, Former Chairman
Punjab School Edu. Board.
Dr. S. P. Singh, Former Vice-Chancellor
Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar
Prof. Pirthi Pal Singh Kapoor
Former Pro-Vice Chancellor
Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar
Shri Mukhtiar Singh, Former Chairman Punjab School
Edu. Board.
Shri K.S. Gil, Former D.P.I. (Colleges) Pb.
VEDANTA GROUP CHAIRMAN MEETS PUNJAB CM
Evinces interest in investment in Punjab
Chandigarh, September 1, 2008
The Chairman of the Vedanta Group Mr. Anil Aggarwal today called
on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal on the eve
of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the State's biggest 1980
MW Talwandi Sabo Super Critical Thermal Plant. The Plant is being
set up by Sterlite Energy limited, a company of the multi-billion
dollar Vedanta Group.
According to Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains,
the Group Chairman evinced keen interest in making greater investment
in Punjab given its potential and investor-friendly climate. He
assured the Chief Minister that the Group would take all necessary
steps to ensure the early completion of the Talwandi Sabo Plant.
Earlier, Mr. Aggarwal also met Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member
Parliament and President, Shiromani Akali Dal and congratulated
him on the strong steps being taken by the State Government on the
power generation front to make Punjab energy-wise self-reliant.
Others who attended the meeting, which was followed by dinner,
were Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Cooperation
Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh
Badal, Food & Civil Supplies & IT Minister Mr. Adesh Partap
Singh Kairon, Chairman PSEB Mr. Y.S Ratra, PSCM Mr. D.S Guru, Principal
Secretary Power Mr. Suresh Kumar and PSEB Member (Finance) Mr. Anurag
Aggarwal.
PUNJAB ALL SET TO PRODUCE 300 MW FROM BIOMASS
-MAJITHIA
Chandigarh, September 1, 2008
Punjab is all set to produce 300 MW Power from Biomass power generation
with five projects with installed capacity of 68 MW getting commissioned
by year end.
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Science & Technology Minister today
after reviewing the progress of ongoing projects said that the 5
projects with total 68 MW capacity are at advanced stage of completion
and would be commissioned by December 2008. He said that 140 MW
capacity Biomass projects of a multinational company M/s Green Planet
Energy Pvt. Ltd., would be completed by February 2010. He said that
the projects would be set up in the districts of Moga, Jalandhar,
Faridkot, Hoshiarpur and Kaputhala and the company has already signed
land lease agreement for these projects.
Emphasising on the need of accelerated completion of these projects,
Majithia said that another multinational company M/s. Turbo Atom
TPS Projects Pvt. Ltd. is setting up three projects with combined
installed capacity 40 MW at Patti, Malerkotla and Ferozepur and
the company has already started work on these projects.
Mr. Majithia reiterated that PEDA was committed to provide 10%
power to Punjab from renewable sources and progress of all these
projects was already ahead of scheduled.
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY STATUS- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT
WITHDRAWS RECOMMENDATION
Badal writes to PM, HRD Minister
Chandigarh, September 1, 2008
The Punjab Govt. today asked the Union Government not to a go ahead
with the proposal to grant the Central University Status to the
Punjab University, Chandigarh. .
Disclosing this Mr.Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister,
Mr.Parkash Singh Badal said that the Punjab Government's decision
was communicated through separate letters to the Prime Minister,
Dr.Manmohan Singh and the Union Minister for Human Resource Development
Minister, Mr. Arjan Singh.
In these letters, Mr. Badal said that the Punjab Government's communication
to the concerned Union Ministry in this regard be treated as withdrawn
and "the Punjab University should not be given the status of
the Central University",.
Mr.Bains said that the decision was taken after consultations with
Legislators, people's representatives, and cabinet colleagues in
the light of the misgivings in the minds of a section of the Punjabi
intelligentsia. Mr. Bains further said that the Chief Minister was
fully committed to the improvement of educational standards at all
levels in the State and would continue his efforts in this direction.
"The Punjab Government's proposal for two Central Universities
in the State, including a World Class University at Amritsar, would
also continue to be pursued with the Government of India,"
said Mr. Bains.
CHIEF MINISTER OFFICE PUNJAB BADAL DEDICATES
MINAR-E-INONKAR TO THE NATION & LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF SRI
GURU GRANTH SAHIB WORLD UNIVERSITY
FATEHGARH SAHIB SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today declared that
the upcoming Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University would be a unique
institution of higher learning across the globe to disseminate the
philosophy and ideology of great holy-scripture to bring awareness
amongst the mankind about the universal message of love, peace and
oneness.
After dedicating the Minar-E-Ikonkar to the nation and laying the
foundation stone of the campus of university, Mr. Badal said that
this university would not only undertake the research on different
aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib but also carry out comparative
study of other religions to enable the students, researchers and
theologians to have better understanding of all the religions. He
said: "It is imperative for our preachers and missionaries
to have thorough knowledge of all the religions in the world so
that they could spread the message of universal brotherhood, peace
and amity without any ambiguity because all the religions preach
the same moral values based on the welfare of the humanity".
The Chief Minister lauded the role of Shriomani Gurdwara Parbanbhak
Committee for the conceptualization of this great project which
would certainly prove to be a light house to propagate the ethics
and values based on the divinity by discarding materialism that
ultimately resulted in pangs of sufferings and agony in the society.
He said that this project was conceived way back on September 1,
2004 on the 400th year of the Installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
in Sri Harimandir Sahib Amritsar. He pointed out that today it was
a historic moment coincided with 404th year of the occasion to lay
the foundation stone of this prestigious Sri Guru Granth Sahib World
University. He said: "To me today is the red letter day in
the history of Punjab's when the dream to establish this World class
University by the SGPC had come true thereby cherishing the aspirations
of Panth Rattan Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra".
The Chief Minister also mentioned that our SAD-BJP government
enacted a special legislation to pave a way for the creation of
this university. The SGPC had already transferred 84 acres of land
to the trust for the execution of this project and a renowned architect
from Bangalore had prepared and submitted a site plan and the first
phase of the project was likely to be completed by September 1 next
to begin the classes from the next academic session.
Speaking on the occasion President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir
Singh Badal said that education was the core sector which ultimately
led to the overall development and progress in any society, state
or a nation. In view of this crucial factor of human resource development,
the SAD-BJP government had laid special emphasis on the quality
education in terms of setting up of Adarsh Schools, to provide free
education to the economically poor and bright students with rural
background besides 10% seats had been reserved in the private technical
institutions to enable the poor students to compete globally with
their convent/public schools educated students in urban areas. He
said that major thrust was being given to the Information technology,
Bio-technology, Nano-technology and Business management studies.
He said that first Indian Institution of Technology (IIT) in Ropar
had been set up besides another hi-tech Dhirubhai Ambani Institute
of Information Technology was in pipeline near Roapr. He said that
Indian School of Business was also being set up in the knowledge
park at Mohali.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal hoped that this world university would
also provide education in other fields of study /research/teaching
in the areas of world religions, cultures and civilizations, and
other courses under the general heads of the Arts & Humanities,
Social Sciences, Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences, equal stress,
on the other hand, would be laid on the emerging technologies such
as biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, as well
as emerging disciplines like ecology, human rights, feminism, empowerment
of the down-trodden, etc.
President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh proposed a vote of thanks and
said that this university would prove to be a mile stone for creating
new benchmark in the standards of higher learning apart from other
educational institution of repute set up by SGPC. He said that Rs.450
crore World University would be one of the state-of-the-art premier
institutions of the country.
On the sidelines of the function, Mr. Badal talking to the media
persons on the issue of the status of Central University to the
Panjab University Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said that he had
already written a letter both to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh and Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjan Singh
not to accord Central status to the Panjab University. He pointed
out that the Centre had already agreed in principle to set up two
Central Universities in the State, one a world class university
at Amritsar and another at Bathinda. Besides, the state government
had already planned to set up a Police University at Phillaur.
To another question regarding the revisions of norms for flood
relief in wake of leader of Opposition Mrs.Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's
letter to him, Mr. Badal said that he had already taken up this
issue with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Shivraj V
Patil to immediately revise these norms to enable the state government
to disburse the relief under Calamity Relief Fund of Rs.1647 crore
laying with the state. He said that it was the congress regime headed
by Capt. Amarinder Singh that recommended these norms which were
now become a hurdle in the way of SAD-BJP government to disburse
the relief in order to compensate them fully.
To another question about deleting the word Sikh from the said
University, Mr. Badal said that since this university had been now
named as Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University instead of earlier
proposed World Sikh University makes now better sense because the
entire philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib preached the message
of oneness of mankind. In this context naming this university as
Sikh University was totally redundant and meaningless.
Meanwhile Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal and Advisor to Chief Minister
Punjab Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings to the
stage.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Deputy
Speaker Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal, President BJP Punjab Unit
Prof. Rajinder Bhandari, Local Govt. Minister Manoranjan Kalia,
Jathedar Akal Takhat Sri Amritsar Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar
Sri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh, Secretary General SAD
& MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr.Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Prof.Prem
Singh Chandumajra and Mr.Rameshinder Singh Grewal (all General Secretaries
of SAD) , MLA Sirhind Didar Singh Bhatti and District President
Fatehgarh Sahib Jagdeep Singh Cheema besides the senior leadership
of SAD, SGPC and the party workers of SAD-BJP. Those who also attended
the function included Information & Public Relations Minister
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Tourism Minister Punjab Mr. Hira Singh
Gabaria, Education Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, former SGPC President
Kirpal Singh Badhungar, Youth Akali Dal President Kiranbir Singh
Kang, S. Harmail Singh Tohra, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpuri, Sarbjit
Singh Makkar, Jagjivan Singh Khirnia, Darshan Singh Shivalik all
MLAs.
BADAL DEDICATES MINAR-E-INONKAR TO THE NATION
& LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB WORLD UNIVERSITY
FATEHGARH SAHIB SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today declared that
the upcoming Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University would be a unique
institution of higher learning across the globe to disseminate the
philosophy and ideology of great holy-scripture to bring awareness
amongst the mankind about the universal message of love, peace and
oneness.
After dedicating the Minar-E-Ikonkar to the nation and laying the
foundation stone of the campus of university, Mr. Badal said that
this university would not only undertake the research on different
aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib but also carry out comparative
study of other religions to enable the students, researchers and
theologians to have better understanding of all the religions. He
said: "It is imperative for our preachers and missionaries
to have thorough knowledge of all the religions in the world so
that they could spread the message of universal brotherhood, peace
and amity without any ambiguity because all the religions preach
the same moral values based on the welfare of the humanity".
The Chief Minister lauded the role of Shriomani Gurdwara Parbanbhak
Committee for the conceptualization of this great project which
would certainly prove to be a light house to propagate the ethics
and values based on the divinity by discarding materialism that
ultimately resulted in pangs of sufferings and agony in the society.
He said that this project was conceived way back on September 1,
2004 on the 400th year of the Installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
in Sri Harimandir Sahib Amritsar. He pointed out that today it was
a historic moment coincided with 404th year of the occasion to lay
the foundation stone of this prestigious Sri Guru Granth Sahib World
University. He said: "To me today is the red letter day in
the history of Punjab's when the dream to establish this World class
University by the SGPC had come true thereby cherishing the aspirations
of Panth Rattan Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra".
The Chief Minister also mentioned that our SAD-BJP government
enacted a special legislation to pave a way for the creation of
this university. The SGPC had already transferred 84 acres of land
to the trust for the execution of this project and a renowned architect
from Bangalore had prepared and submitted a site plan and the first
phase of the project was likely to be completed by September 1 next
to begin the classes from the next academic session.
Speaking on the occasion President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir
Singh Badal said that education was the core sector which ultimately
led to the overall development and progress in any society, state
or a nation. In view of this crucial factor of human resource development,
the SAD-BJP government had laid special emphasis on the quality
education in terms of setting up of Adarsh Schools, to provide free
education to the economically poor and bright students with rural
background besides 10% seats had been reserved in the private technical
institutions to enable the poor students to compete globally with
their convent/public schools educated students in urban areas. He
said that major thrust was being given to the Information technology,
Bio-technology, Nano-technology and Business management studies.
He said that first Indian Institution of Technology (IIT) in Ropar
had been set up besides another hi-tech Dhirubhai Ambani Institute
of Information Technology was in pipeline near Roapr. He said that
Indian School of Business was also being set up in the knowledge
park at Mohali.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal hoped that this world university would
also provide education in other fields of study /research/teaching
in the areas of world religions, cultures and civilizations, and
other courses under the general heads of the Arts & Humanities,
Social Sciences, Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences, equal stress,
on the other hand, would be laid on the emerging technologies such
as biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, as well
as emerging disciplines like ecology, human rights, feminism, empowerment
of the down-trodden, etc.
President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh proposed a vote of thanks and
said that this university would prove to be a mile stone for creating
new benchmark in the standards of higher learning apart from other
educational institution of repute set up by SGPC. He said that Rs.450
crore World University would be one of the state-of-the-art premier
institutions of the country.
On the sidelines of the function, Mr. Badal talking to the media
persons on the issue of the status of Central University to the
Panjab University Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said that he had
already written a letter both to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh and Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjan Singh
not to accord Central status to the Panjab University. He pointed
out that the Centre had already agreed in principle to set up two
Central Universities in the State, one a world class university
at Amritsar and another at Bathinda. Besides, the state government
had already planned to set up a Police University at Phillaur.
To another question regarding the revisions of norms for flood
relief in wake of leader of Opposition Mrs.Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's
letter to him, Mr. Badal said that he had already taken up this
issue with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Shivraj V
Patil to immediately revise these norms to enable the state government
to disburse the relief under Calamity Relief Fund of Rs.1647 crore
laying with the state. He said that it was the congress regime headed
by Capt. Amarinder Singh that recommended these norms which were
now become a hurdle in the way of SAD-BJP government to disburse
the relief in order to compensate them fully.
To another question about deleting the word Sikh from the said
University, Mr. Badal said that since this university had been now
named as Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University instead of earlier
proposed World Sikh University makes now better sense because the
entire philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib preached the message
of oneness of mankind. In this context naming this university as
Sikh University was totally redundant and meaningless.
Meanwhile Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal and Advisor to Chief Minister
Punjab Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings to the
stage.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Deputy
Speaker Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal, President BJP Punjab Unit
Prof. Rajinder Bhandari, Local Govt. Minister Manoranjan Kalia,
Jathedar Akal Takhat Sri Amritsar Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar
Sri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh, Secretary General SAD
& MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr.Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Prof.Prem
Singh Chandumajra and Mr.Rameshinder Singh Grewal (all General Secretaries
of SAD) , MLA Sirhind Didar Singh Bhatti and District President
Fatehgarh Sahib Jagdeep Singh Cheema besides the senior leadership
of SAD, SGPC and the party workers of SAD-BJP. Those who also attended
the function included Information & Public Relations Minister
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Tourism Minister Punjab Mr. Hira Singh
Gabaria, Education Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, former SGPC President
Kirpal Singh Badhungar, Youth Akali Dal President Kiranbir Singh
Kang, S. Harmail Singh Tohra, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpuri, Sarbjit
Singh Makkar, Jagjivan Singh Khirnia, Darshan Singh Shivalik all
MLAs.
CM EXHORTS MEDIA TO DISCHARGE DUTIES WITH
PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT ASSURES TO CONCEDE DEMANDS OF CPUJ
LUDHIANA AUGUST 31, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal today called upon
the Journalists to discharge their duties with a sense of utmost
responsibility, professional commitment and sincerity because the
major segment of the society reposed full faith and confidence in
their news reports.
Presiding over the 6th Annual Meet of Chandigarh-Punjab Union of
Journalists (CPUJ) here at Punjab Agricultural University after
releasing the Insurance policy for its members amounting to Rs.28.10
crore, Mr. Badal said that it was the bounden duty on the part of
journalists to carry out balanced and fair reporting with an element
of objectivity. He however, cautioned the journalist fraternity
that the unfair and biased reporting was not only detrimental to
the society but also eroded the very confidence of the trustworthy
readers.
Reiterating his firm resolves to preserve the freedom of the Press,
Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP government sincerely respected its
right to act as the Fourth Estate of the country's democratic polity.
He also mentioned the role of Shiromani Akali Dal for the protection
of people's rights and the freedom of press during the dark days
of emergency. He sought whole-hearted cooperation from the media
to usher in an era of over all development and prosperity to fulfill
the aspirations of people of the State.
Responding to the demands put forth by the CPUJ, Mr. Badal assured
the members of the union of fulsome support and cooperation on behalf
of the State Government. He asked the Information & Public Relations
Minister to examine all the demands raised by the CPUJ with regard
to allotment of land for Housing Societies, setting up of Institute
of Mass Communication at Mohali, pension scheme and welfare fund
for journalists besides enhancing the limit of free bus facility
from existing Rs.1200 per annum to Rs.2500 per annum to cover all
accredited/desk and veteran journalists. He also announced a grant
of Rs.11 lac for CPUJ to undertake various welfare activities for
the media persons. He also invited the executive members of CPUJ
at Chandigarh to hold detailed discussions on the issues raised
by them with the officers of the concerned departments.
Speaking on the occasion, Information & Public Relations Minister
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia asked the media to abide by the code of
ethics to ensure the spirit of professionalism in true spirit because
they were expected of to play a pivotal role in the society as opinion
makers. He stressed on the need to have a holistic view on all the
subject matters involved in the reporting in general but the sensitive
one in particular. "People still hold journalists in high esteem
due to their unflinching trust and confidence reposed in them and
ensure that they were not betraying their trust by undermining the
role of press. Media should strive hard to live up to their expectations",
said Mr. Majithia. He stated that the Punjab government would soon
announce a comprehensive media policy to resolve all the issues
and demands relating to the welfare of the media persons.
On the occasion, Mr.Majithia released a souvenir of CPUJ and presented
mementos to the members of the Union. Earlier, the Chief Minister
also lighted a lamp to mark the inaugural of the function.
In his keynote address President Indian Journalist Union (IJU)
Suresh Akhori briefly highlighted the activities of IJU that was
associated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
The IJU had a special significance amongst the journalists at the
international level as one of its senior functionary Ms Sabina Inderjit,
represented the whole of Asia in the IFJ.
In his welcome address, President of CPUJ, Mr. Vinod Kohli said
that the CPUJ had emerged as the biggest representative body of
newspersons in the region. With its presence even in smaller towns
of Punjab over a strengthen of 1000, it takes care of the interest
of journalists of both print and electronic media. He appreciated
the role of Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains for making
this function a grand success and hoped of this support and cooperation
in future also.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included
Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabharia, Media Advisor to Chief Minister
Mr. Harcharan Bains, Member, Press Council of India SN Sinha, Secretary
IJU Madan Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda.
The members of the media both electronic and print from all over
the state attended the meeting.
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