CHIEF MINISTER OFFICE PUNJAB
DY CM'S ROLE: 'MEDIA REPORT UNFOUNDED'- GOVT.
Chandigarh February 06, 2009
The Punjab government today described as " incorrect, without
substance and professionally unsound" a speculative report
carried by an English daily that there had been a proposal to
route through the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir
Singh Badal, all official files requiring the Chief Minister's
attention.
" There is and never was any proposal to this effect. We
simply do not know where such speculation originated from,"
said a spokespersons of the Punjab Government. He said that the
Deputy Chief Minister had repeatedly said that he is more than
happy performing his duties in the portfolios allotted to him.
"Beyond this, the only role Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has
been performing is in his non-official capacity as the president
of a party in the ruling coalition, and that is to keep reminding
the government of its commitments made to the people in the manifesto.
"Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal is himself on record saying that
his role as SAD president is " advisory". That itself
should have removed any confusion on the subject", said the
spokesperson. He further said that in a parliamentary democracy,
the Council of Ministers "works on the principle of collective
responsibility. To this extent, the Deputy Chief Minister is fully
aware of and sensitive to the fact that, like other members of
the Cabinet, he has a contributory role." the spokesperson
added that the Rules of Business clearly stipulated that the final
authority for taking any decision relating to a particular department
was with the Minister-in-Charge.
The spokesperson categorically said that the state government
had not even contemplated a proposal to route all the files through
Dy. Chief Minister, and more importantly, nor has the Deputy Chief
Minster ever said anything that should have inspired the report
in question".
Punjab to host first ever National Conference on Cooperative
Credit Structure from February 9 in Chandigarh
Cooperation Ministers of various states and ICA chief to attend
Chandigarh, February 6, 2009
Cooperative Institutions in the State in collaboration with
the National Federation of Cooperative Agricultural Rural Development
Banks are organizing National Conference on "Revival of Rural
Cooperative Credit Structure" from 9the to 11the February
at Chandigarh. This National level conference is being organized
first time in the history of state. This was disclosed by Punjab
Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh.
Addressing a press conference here today. Capt. Singh disclosed
that this three day conference while focusing on various issues
of the cooperatives would also provide a major stimulus to the
cooperative movement in Punjab which is passing through a dramatic
improvement in its economic and social activities. The conference
will bring to focus the fact that in the present scenario of the
rural economy it is the cooperatives who will play a crucial role
in its upliftment.
He informed that the conference would be inaugurated by International
Cooperative Alliance (ICA) President Mr. Ivano Barberini and Punjab
Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal would be Chief guest at
the inaugural function to be held at CII, Sector 31, Chandigarh.Cooperation
Ministers, Secretaries of cooperation of various states, Chairman
and Managing Directors of Agricultural Rural Development Banks
and Apex Cooperative Banks, Chairman NABARD, Chairman National
Federation of Agricultural and Rural Development, Chairman National
Cooperative Union of India and officers from the Ministry of Finance,
Govt. of India, Managing Director NCDC, Chairman NOCI and Ex-Chairman
NABARD are also invited to the conference.
He informed that thrust of the conference would be to deliberate
on the issues relating to the problems and challenges being faced
by the Rural Cooperative Credit Structure in providing timely
and adequate credit especially to the weaker sections of the society
as well as the farm sector. He said that the conference will also
deliberate upon ways and means by which they can play a larger
role in providing easy and adequate credit to these sections so
as to minimise/eliminate the role of the unorganized credit system
who charge usury rates of interest which is the one of the major
causes of farmer's indebt ness in Punjab.
He said that cooperative Institutions were playing important
and significant role in short term and long term credit structure
in increasing the agricultural production to help the country
towards self sufficiency in meeting its food grain requirement.
He said that credit cooperatives have been facing serious problems
which need to be addressed in the larger interest of the farming
community in particular and other strata of the society in general.
The conference would deliberate on measures as well as policy
adjustments required to make cooperative credit Institutions the
core sector for providing rural credit at affordable rate of interest.
He said that collective wisdom gathered during the conference
will help solve these problems and help us in converting our dreams
into reality.
Capt. Singh informed that inaugural session would be held at 3.00
PM on 9th February at CII, sector 31 Chandigarh where as the technical
session would he held on 10th of February at Hotel Mountview Chandigarh.
He told that Mr. Barberini and the other delegates would visit
the Cooperative Sugar Mill at Nawanshehr on 11th February for
an on the sopt study of the cooperative sugar industry and interact
with the cane farmers. After that they shall proceed to Sri Amritsar
Sahib to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib and later visit
the Wagha Border.
Cooperation Minister said that this conference has a special
importance for the state as it was first time after independence
that state was hosting a National Cooperative Conference in which
International figure will also participate. He said that recommendations
emerging out of the discussions in the conference will help in
providing solution to the various problems relating to the farmers,
weaker section of the societies and the cooperative credit structure
in the states.
Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included S.
Sukhdarshan Singh Marar Chairman SADB, Dr. BC Gupta Financial
Commissioner Cooperation, Dr. G Vajralingam Registrar Cooperative
Societies Punjab, VK Singh MD Milkfed, GS Grewal MD Markfed, GS
Mangat MD Punjab State Cooperative Bank, VK Bansal Addl Registrar,
Mukhtiar Singh MD Housefed, Swaranjit Singh MD SADB, Ms. Deepak
Mand MD Puncofed and Ms. Suman Bansal MD Weavco.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT EXEMPTS 3% ADDITIONAL
STAMP DUTY IN THE BORDER VILLAGES
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 6:
The Punjab Government has decided to exempt the 3% additional
stamp duty being charged as Social Security Cess on the registration
of land in the villages within the radius of 5 kilometers from
'A' class Municipal Committee towns in the border areas of the
state.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Punjab Government said
that a decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal in response to the memorandum submitted
to him by the residents of boarder area during a public rally
at Fazilka. This decision would benefit a major section of people
belong to the scheduled castes and backward classes, who had made
this land cultivable with their hard work.
PUNJAB TO ALLOT OWNERSHIP RIGHTS OF EVACUEE
LAND TO 150 TILLERS OF RAI SIKH COMMUNITY
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 6, 2009
The Punjab Government had decided to allot the ownership rights
of evacuee land to nearly 150 tillers of Rai Sikh community.
A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief
Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to address long pending issue
of Rai Sikh community.
It may be recalled here that Punjab government
had allotted this evacuee land first in 1979 and then 1989 to
the beneficiaries who fulfilled the requisite condition as per
the policy of the State Government. The remaining cases of 150
beneficiaries are being scrutinized by Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur.
The state government had also decided to invite
fresh application within next 3 months from the beneficiaries
of Rai Sikh Community who could not applied earlier.
CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN NOMINATED
IN MARKET COMMITTEE OF MAJITHA
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 6:
The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Harbhajan Singh of village
Supariwind as the Chairmen and Mr. Harkirat Singh of village Naag
Kalan as Vice Chairmen in Market Committees of Majitha in Amritsar
district.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government
said that these nominations had been made under Sub Section (1)
of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.
He further informed that 15 members of Market Committees of Majitha
(Amritsar) had also been nominated.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE REFORMS
COMMISSION GETS FOUR MEMBERS-TERMS OF REFERENCE NOTIEFIED
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 5, 2009
The Punjab Government has appointed Prof. Dipankar Gupta, Professor
Sociology, JNU New Delhi, Prof. Atul Sood, Associate Professor,
JNU New Delhi, Mr. Ram Naesh Gupta, IAS (Retd.) and Mrs. Satwant
Reddy, IAS (Retd.) as part time members of Social Develo0ment
and Governance Reforms Commission. It may be added that Dr. Parmod,
Director IDC has already been appointed Chairman of the Commission.
According to an official spokesman the Punjab Government today
also notified the terms of reference of the Commission .The Spokesman
said that this Commission has been set up to improve the welfare
of the disadvantaged, marginalized and deprived sections in Punjab
and achieve good Governance based on high ethical standards. He
said that the motivation for the Commission comes from the fact
that the present system of governance is not optimally suited
to the challenges of unequal access of social programs and skewed
distribution of benefits of the various economic programs based
on gender, caste and class. The Commission has been given mandate
to suggest changes in the processes, procedures, rules regulations
and design of the public services and in respect of the social
development programs to improve the delivery of services, ensure
dignified access of these services to the disadvantaged, marginalized;
and deprived sections of society including women.
The Spokesman further said that the Commission would identify
the vital schemes, programs and services of the Government of
Punjab that affect the welfare of people and document in detail
the existing procedures, rules regulations and the design of public
service and social development programs. Based on 'best practices'
in other States and other welfare-oriented countries, the Commission
would also identify the changes that ought to be introduced.
The Spokesman said that the Commission would work out the details
of a sustainable model of governance with inbuilt provisions for
consultations with the target group flexibility to the implementing
agencies; customizing programs according to local needs; citizen-
centric decision-making,; and ensuring accessible and hassle-free
delivery of programs and services to the disadvantaged, marginalized
and deprived sections.
He said that Social and economic development of the economically
and socially marginalized sections of the society and issues of
dignity, livelihood and income generation has been the stated
thrust of various government programmes. There is sufficient evidence
to suggest that the benefits of these programmes are not fully
availed by the target groups due to various constraints including
faulty programmes design, caste, gender and class-based exclusion,
adverse selection, corruption etc. The Commission would look into
the ways and means to ensure and improve the impact of these programmes
on the target groups.
The Commission would also focus on improving the access of deprived
and marginalized in various social and economic programs; in provisioning
of basic civic services; in provisioning of social security schemes.The
Commission would also consider modalities of making access of
citizens's to programs, services and schemes harassment and corruption-free
by suggesting changes in processes, procedures, rules regulations
and design of the public services and social development and welfare
programs.The Commission would not only focus on delivery of civic
and social services but also on procedures, norms and rules of
civic utilities. The spokesman said that improving the access
to programs, services and schemes for the socially deprived groups
would require addressing challenges of drug addiction, female
sex de-selection, caste based social assertions and other social
ills that have afflicted Punjab society. To ensure corruption
and harassment-free delivery of services, the Commission will
suggest changes in the institutional arrangements, especially
institutions that relate with the participation of grass root
actors, and improvements in the grievance redressal mechanisms
to ensure accountability of service providers. Use of e-governance
will be suggested where required. Rights, needs and concerns of
the poor and marginalized populations will be kept upfront in
making these recommendations .Improvement in social access is
not possible without strengthening rights and access to law and
order services; the Commission will therefore make suggestions
for strengthening citizenship rights in provisioning and use of
police services.
The Commission would be assisted by Task Groups. The sectors,
schemes, programs and services for which task groups will be formed
will be decided by the Chairperson and members of the Commission.
Task Group would make detailed recommendations indicating changes
required in procedures, rules regulations specifically indicating
the modalities of bringing about the suggested change and the
resources and other inputs required for implementation. The recommendations
of the task groups will be approved by the Commission. The task
group will also oversee and follow up on implementation of the
accepted recommendations.
To begin with Five Task Groups named Basic Civic Services and
Civic Regulatory Services group, Social Security and Welfare Programmes
group, Access to Social Development group, Police Reforms and
Access to Police Services group and Institutional Framework for
Delivery of Services group had been constituted..
The tenure of the Commission shall be for two years.
ANTI-PIRACY ACT SOON-SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 5, 2009
The Punjab Government will soon form Anti-Piracy Act to safe
guard the Entertainment Industry in the state.
An assurance to this effect was given by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to a delegation of Indian Entertainment
Industry led by the renowned singer Mr. Hans Raj Hans who called
on the Deputy Chief Minister here late last evening.
The delegation apprised the Deputy Chief Minister about the
enormity of the issue and also conveyed the apprehension of Northern
India Film Producer/Distributor's Association (NIMPPA), Cinema
Owner's Association (COA), Northern India Film and TV Association
(NIFTA) and Punjabi Lok Gayak Manch. The piracy of entertainment
products was causing heavy losses to the State in the form of
VAT, Income Tax and Entertainment Tax to the tune of Rs.485 crore
annually besides, ruining Punjabi Language and Culture, deputation
informed the Deputy Chief Minister.
Showing concern over the issue Mr. Badal directed Director General
of Police to chalk out the modalities in this regard and assured
the delegation that necessary immediate action would be taken
to stop the piracy for protecting the Entertainment Industry in
the state.
The prominent members of the delegation included Mr. Gaurav
Trehan and Mr. Iqbal Dhillon, the President and Producer of Indian
Entertainment Industry.
JUDICIAL PROBE INTO INCUBATOR FIRE INCIDENT GETS UNDERWAY
Chandigarh, Feb. 5, 2009
Judicial probe into the tragic incubator accident in Rajindra
Hospital Patiala got under way today as Justice (Retd.) K.C. Gupta,
who is conducting the inquiry, visited the site of fire in the
nursery. Justice Gupta would record the evidence and statements
of employees of the Pediatric Department.
The Punjab Government has widened the scope of inquiry to cover
dereliction of duty on the part of agencies responsible for administration,
maintenance and upkeep of electrical as well as other medical
infrastructure in the Rajindra Hospital. The Chief Minister Mr.
Parkash Singh Badal has said that strictest possible action would
be taken against those found guilty in the probe. In a statement
here, he said that the Government would not hesitate to initiate
criminal prosecution against those found guilty by the Judicial
Inquiry.
Employees of the Rajindra Hospital & Medical College, Patiala,
and of agencies responsible for the administration, maintenance
and upkeep of the College have been directed to fully cooperate
with the probe proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Government today decided to reinstate Dr. Jaswinderpal
Kaur Shergill, Principal, Government Medical College, Patiala,
Dr. Neha Sharma, Junior Resident, Miss Reeta Singh, Staff Nurse
and Mrs. Satya, Safai Sewak, all employees of Rajindra Hospital
& Medical College, without prejudice to the proceedings of
the Inquiry. However, Dr. Jaswinderpal Kaur Shergill after being
reinstated would join as Head of Surgery Department and not as
Principal. This was being done to ensure free and fair probe,
a spokesperson of the Punjab government said here today.
BADAL'S CLARION CALL FOR SHOWING DOOR TO UPA GOVERNMENT IN FORTHCOMING
LOK SABHA POLLS
BANGA/SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR/GARHSHANKAR FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave a clarion
call to oust the Congress led UPA government at Centre because
it was responsible for absolute decay of industry and the slow
down of agricultural growth in Punjab due to its economic policies
inimical to the interests of the state.
Addressing a series of public rallies at Banga, Shaheed Bhagat
Singh Nagar and Garhshankar, Mr. Badal categorically said that
Congress had always followed a discriminatory approach against
Punjab aimed at destabilizing its economy. He said that Congress
through out its longest tenure of 45 years since Independence
adopted an indifferent attitude while formulating its policies
and devolution of funds under centrally sponsored schemes. He
cautioned the people of Punjab to be wise enough to distinguish
between the development based performance and the pranks of the
Congress party which was bent upon to befool the people by making
tall claims and fall promises.
Lashing at the previous government led by Amarinder Singh, Mr.
Badal said that the Congress through its autocratic style of functioning
was far away from the hearts of the people because it never bothered
for the welfare of the people at the grass root levels whereas
SAD-BJP government was sensitized to their basic problems and
could feel their pulse. He said that these rallies were not merely
organized for the political purposes but had also a prime objective
to disburse the grants directly in the presence of the people
to instill a sense of belongingness and confidence in line with
the approach of 'inclusive growth' to solicit their participation
in the development process.
Mr. Badal said that now it was the high time to alert Centre
to shun its indifferent attitude towards Punjab 's farming community
and industry which had been badly hit due to its step motherly
treatment. He called upon the Centre to ensure 'level playing
field' to the industry regardless of special incentives and concessions
as already given to the states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and
Uttrakhand. He said that agriculture was no more a profitable
occupation due to the negligible returns on it due to non- remunerative
and stagnant minimum support price for which Centre had always
adopted an approach of 'negativism'. Our Government had been demanding
the linking of MSP with consumer price index since long but Centre
always turned down our plea without any rhyme or reason.
Blaming the Congress for instigating people for disturbing peace
in the state and its indulgence in divisive politics, Mr.Badal
said that the people had already realized that Congress's policy
of 'divide and rule' which it has adopted not only in Centre but
in the states too pursue its political agenda. He said that poor
and lower strata of the society had been completely ignored by
the Congress because it was least concerned about their welfare,
while the SAD-BJP alliance was committed for the overall development
of the state and welfare of its people.
Mr. Badal appealed to the people to vote and support SAD-BJP alliance
candidate Dr.Daljit Singh Cheema from the Sri Anandpur Sahib Lok
Sabha constituency during the forthcoming general elections. He
said that to ensure the formation of NDA government at Centre
all of us must make concerted efforts for the victory of SAD-BJP
candidates so that the legitimate demands of the state could be
conceded and the aspirations of the people fulfilled.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released the first issue
of a souvenir of Fan Club (Regd.) Jalandhar for the year 2008-09
on his life and achievements titled 'Ek Saal Badal Sahib De Naal'
published and edited by Mr.Mandeep Singh Shampi.
At Banga, the Chief Minister handed over a cheque of Rs.2 crore
for the local Municipal Council for the execution of various development
works. He also disbursed cheques of Rs.1.81 crore for undertaking
development in 101 village panchayats of Banga assembly constituency.
Likewise, Mr. Badal also handed over the cheques of Rs.2 crore
for Municipal Council Nawanshahar and Rs.1 crore for Municipal
Council Rahon. He also disbursed cheques to the tune of Rs.1.57
crore for the execution of development works and schemes in 111
village panchayats of Nawanshehar assembly constituency. Later
in the afternoon at Garhshankar, Mr. Badal presented a cheque
of Rs.2 crore to the local Municipal Council for different development
works. He also handed over cheques worth Rs.2.37 crore to 302
village panchayats in Garhshankar assembly constituency for the
execution of different development schemes and projects. He also
announced that the Punjab government would soon formulate a comprehensive
policy for the development of Kandi area and the road from Garhshankar
to Anandpur Sahib would be strengthened and widened from 23' to
33'.
In his address, SAD-BJP alliance candidate from Sri Anandpur
Sahib constituency Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that he was indebted
to Mr. Badal for reposing full confidence and faith in him by
giving a parliamentary ticket. He assured the people of the area
if he was voted to power he would usher an era of overall development
in the Doaba region – the heart land of NRIs .
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included
included MLA Banga Ch.Mohan Lal, Ch.Nawanshehar MLA Nawanshehar
Jatinder Singh Kariha, MLA Mahalpur Sohan Singh Thandal, President
District SAD Nawanshehar Jathedar Mohinder Singh Husainpur, President
BJP Unit Nawanshehar Sudesh Rani, General Secretary SGPC Jathedar
Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, President District SAD Hoshiarpur Surinderpal
Singh Bhulewal Rathan, Area Incharge Garhshankar Mohinder Pal
Mann. These rallies were also attended by the prominent personalities
amongst others Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ch.Nand Lal, Media
Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, MD Markfed Jarnail
Singh Wahid, Chairman Zila Prishad Nawanshehar Darshan Lal Mamupur,
besides the senior leaders and workers of SAD-BJP and members
of the SGPC.
SPECIAL SURPRISE CHECKING OF JAILS IN PUNJAB YIELDED 16 MOBILES
AND NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 4
A state wide special surprise checking drive carried out simultaneously
in all the central/district/sub-jails of Punjab yesterday yielded
16 mobiles phones and narcotic substances in the form of50 gms
opium, 210 Lemotil tablets, 18 Hyphodex capsules and 25/30 other
capsules. The special checking was carried out by joint teams
of district administration and the police with a view to effectively
combat criminal and illegal activities in the prisons of the state..
This operation was planned and executed in the wake of reports
from different agencies about jails becoming hubs of criminals
and the objectives were to break the linkages of under trials/prisoners
lodged inside jails with their outside contacts, put an end to
their criminal and illegal activities and to strictly and vigorously
enforce the rule of law.
According to a press release issued here today 12 FIRs have
been lodged in this regard. Apart from the recovery itself, the
objective of the drive has been to send a message that illegal
and nefarious activities shall not be tolerated and the nexus
of criminals inside and outside jails would be broken with a firm
hand. Such drives would be carried on from time to time while
keeping the surprise element intact.
It may be mentioned here that the state government was looking
for holistic and integrated solutions for improvement of jail
management and a sum of Rs. 2 crores had recently been sanctioned
for installation of CCTVs, modern prison management systems including
biometric access control system for visitors etc.
Rs. One crore releases to curb drugs-
Swarna Ram
Chandigarh, February 4, 2009
Social Security Department Punjab has launched a special campaign
to curb the menace of drugs in the State for which Rs. One crore
has also been released to implement this campaign effectively.
Disclosing this here today after releasing calander-cum-poster
for the year,2009, Ch. Swarna Ram, Social Security Minister Punjab
said that , to bring awareness regarding ill effects of drugs
and to educate the people Workshops, Seminars, Documentary films,
Stickers and meetings were being organised at a State, Block and
Village Level. He said the energy of youth would be channelized
for Social Reforms and Constructive Works.
State Level Mission has also been constituted under this campaign
and Social Security Department was the Nodal Department to make
this campaign successful, he added.
Prominent among others, who were present on this occasion included
Mr. Harjit Singh, Secretary Social Security, Mrs. Rakhi Gupta
Bhandari, Director, Social Security and other senior officers.
