A SHOCKED COOPERATIVE WORLD

CHANDIGARH APRIL 1, 2009

The leaders of the cooperative movement all over the country has expressed a deep sense of shock and anguish over the untimely demise of Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, describing it a set back for the cooperative movement of the country.

It may be recalled that Capt. Kanwaljit Singh had organized a conference of State Cooperative Ministers at Chandigarh in February 2009 which was presided over by the President of the International Cooperative Alliance Mr. Ivano Barberini. The conference took a historic decision to constitute a forum of state Cooperation Ministers to take up the issues relating to cooperatives of the states with the Centre. Ever since the news of Capt. Singh’s death was flashed, condolence messages have been poured in from different dignitaries across the country indicating virtually a sense of bereavement for the Cooperative Movement. Executive Director for International Cooperative Alliance from New Delhi said that “Cooperative World is shocked having learnt sad, untimely demise of a great leader”.

Besides several other condolence messages have been received so far as a glowing tribute to the departed leader from across the country. The Chairman, NAFED & President of National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Dr. Bijender Singh in his message described, ‘Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a great visionary, a financial analyst, leader of masses, able administrator and over and above well wisher of cooperatives’.

President National Cooperative Union of India Mr. GH Amin said “Capt. Kanwaljit Singh was a well known politician, senior cooperative leader, social worker and a great human being. His contribution to the society and particularly to the cooperatives will always be remembered”.

Chairman National Federation of Cooperative Agricultural Development Banks Mr. K Sivadasan Nair said Capt. Singh viewed cooperatives as an effective instrument to improve the living condition of people with limited means. He said “Capt. Singh had a clear idea about how cooperatives should channelise their resources to meet this end. Taking forward this task will be the real tribute, the cooperative movement can give to him”.

Managing Director National Federation of Cooperative Agricultural Development Banks Mr. KK Ravindran termed the sad demise of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a huge personal loss to him and said “It will take a long time for the cooperative movement to come to terms with his loss”.

Chairman, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO) Mr. Surinder Kumar Jakhar conveyed condolences on behalf of all the members of the Board of Director of IFFCO to the bereaved family.

In a condolence resolution passed in a meeting of the officers of State Cooperative Department under the chairmanship of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Cooperation deeply mourned the sudden and untimely demise of Capt. Singh. The resolution said “The sudden departure of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh has been a great loss for the cooperatives. He has been leading the department with the vision of statesmen foreseeing the role of cooperative institutions and cooperative movement for the betterment of farming community and agrarian economy of Punjab including others especially the women and weaker sections. He made earnest and sincere efforts for revitalizing the cooperative movement with an aim to give international exposure to the cooperatives of the state and envisioned the cooperatives to be growth engine for the overall development of state of Punjab. His demise has created a void in the politico-administrative scenario of Punjab which cannot be filled”.

CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICE, PUNJAB

Chandigarh, April 1, 2009

The Election Commission of India has again asked the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar to submit fresh report in case of Hans Raj Hans addressing a political conference with in the premises of a religious place in reference with do’s and don’ts of Model Code of Conduct.

Disclosing this here today, a Spokesman of the Chief Electoral Office, Punjab said that the complaint of Mr. Raninder Singh, a Congress candidate from Bathinda has been sent to the department of Coordination, Punjab because it involved large number of departments. The request of Mr. Jaspal Bhatti, a Comedian seeking Election Commission’s permission to convess for his Recession Party in a satirical style, has been forwarded to the Election Commission of India.

As per the reports the Chief Electoral Office has received as many as 681 complaints out of which 240 have been completed where as 441 were still pending.

THE SOCIETY FOR EMPOWERMENT OF DISADVANTAGED TALENTED YOUTH GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS TO 55 MERITORIOUS POOR SCHOOL STUDENTS: GENERALRODRIGUES
DESCRIBES IT AS A SOUND INVESTMENT

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 1: THE SOCIETY FOR EMPOWERMENT OF DISADVANTAGED
TALENTED YOUTH, an autonomous body set up under the Chairmanship of the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, General Dr. S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM (Retd.), has granted scholarships to 55
brilliant poor students from different Schools of Punjab at the rate of Rs. 26,500 per student per annum for the year 2008-09. The total amount involved in this innovative societal endeavour is over Rs. 14,57,500. The Society has also granted scholarships to 10 meritorious students of 10th class worth Rs. 1,50,000 during the year 2006-07 and to 23 students of
10th and 10+2 class worth Rs. 3,45,000 with scholarship amount of Rs. .15,000 per student. These scholarships have been given to the meritorious poor students who passed 10th class and 10+2 class with 75% marks and whose family income is Rs. One lakh only. These Scholarships are given purely on merit on the basis of the list of students supplied by the Education Department, Government of Punjab. This scholarship scheme has a provision for granting scholarship to the merit position holders in the entrance exam for medical and engineering students.

The Society, which was founded by the Governor, Punjab, General Dr. S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM (Retd.), in the year 2006, to ensure the utilization of the discretionary grant at his disposal in an efficient and purposeful manner with the aim of helping the talented poor children, irrespective of any caste or creed. The aims and objectives in the Constitution of the
Society envisages the need to promote a spirit of excellence, among the youth of the region; feelings of National integration and Universal brotherhood among youth; to arrange and organize lectures, debates, discussions, and seminars for the promotion of education; to provide, support and or promote any such facility engaged in the furtherance of education; and to provide means for the promotion and advancement of the above objectives, and to do all such other things as are incidental and conducive to their attainment. The Administrative Secretaries of Higher Education and School Education, Punjab, Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration and two eminent personalities including Shri Yashovardhan
Saboo and Shri Chander Mohan professionally attached with the field of Education and philanthropy are the members of this society with the Secretary to Governor as its member Secretary.

This year, the Principal Secretary Education, Government of Punjab supplied the list of 10 eligible brilliant poor students of 10th Class and 45 outstanding students of 10+2 class belonging to different districts of Punjab including Jalandhar, Nawanshaher, Patiala, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Mansa and Muktsar and
the scholarship money has been sent to all the eligible students. The Governing Body of the Society has given its consent for grating scholarships to these eligible students.

Meanwhile, General Rodrigues emphasized that the Scholarship for poor deserving students to carry out their higher studies is a sound investment for reshaping a bright future for the nation. He appealed to privately managed Educational Institutions to come forward with programmes of ensuring free quality education to the poor strata of society as a measure of social commitment and responsibility for creating an egalitarian society.

PB. RAJ BHAVAN/01/2009