BJP unit president Prof. Rajinder Bhandari offering a ladoo to Mr. Sukhbir Singh Bada

State BJP unit president Prof. Rajinder Bhandari offering a ladoo to Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal in his office after taking over

as Deputy Chief Minister in CMO at Chandigarh on 23-1-09. Forest and Medical education Minister Tikshan sood is also seen in the picture.

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur wife of Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal offering a ladoo to his husband on his taking over as Deputy Chief Minister in CMO at Chandigarh on 23-1-2009.State State BJP unit president Prof. Rajinder Bhandari & Forest and Medical education Minister Tikshan sood is also seen in the picture.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal addressing the media persons immediately after assuming the office in CMO at Chandigarh on 23-1-2009. Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains and State Chief Secretary Mr. R.I.Singh is also seen in the picture.

INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB- January 26th

Chandigarh, January 23, 2009

The State level Republic Day Celebration would be held at Ludhiana where the Governor of Punjab Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues would unfurl the national flag and take the solute on January 26th. S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab would unfurl the flag at Amritsar. S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab would unfurl the flag at Patiala where as Mr. Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha would unfurl the flag at Jalandhar.

Stating this her today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that all the Cabinet Minister namely Mr. Manoranjan Kalia at Ferozepaur, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at Tarn Taran, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, SAS Nagar Mohali, Mr. Manpreet Badal at Gurdaspur, Mr. Tikshan Sud-Sangrur, Smt. Upinderjit Kaur, Ropar, Laxmi Kanta Chawla –Kapurthala, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar-Hoshiarpur, Master Mohan Lal-Moga, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike- Muktsar, Mr.Parminder Singh Dhindsa-Barnala, Mr. Swarna Ram-Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar,, Mr. Sucha Singh Langah-Faridkot, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon-Bathinda and Mr. Hira Singh Gabrria- Fatehgarh Sahib.

The Deputy Speaker Mr. Satpal Gosain would unfurl the national flag at Mansa the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr. Jagdish Sahni-Batala, Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda-Jagraon, Mr. Jagdeep Singh Nakai-Rampuraphul, Mr. Sheetal Singh –Jira, Mrs.Mohinder Kaur Josh-Dasuya, Mr. Arunesh Shakar-Nangal, Mr. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa-Khanna, Mr. Sher Singh Ghubiaya- Fazilka, Sh. Avinash Chander-Phagwara, Mr. Sukhpal Singh-Jalalabad, Mr. Raj Kumar Khurana-Rajpura, Mr.Desh Raj Dhugga-Mukerian and Mr. Nand Lal at Garhshankar.

IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED

CHANDIGARH, January 23, 2009

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational irrigation Programme for the Rabi Season through Canal water from 24th January to 31st January, 2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on priority basis from Patiala Feeder, Abohar Branch, Bathinda Branch Bist Doab Canal, and Sidhwan Branch respectively.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department said that direct distributaries Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being in the 1st preference will run to thir indent. Balance water supplies available will be utilized in direct distributaries of B.M.L. of Group 'A'.

The spokesman further said that the Abohar branch off taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries in Group 'B' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance water supplies would be utilised in direct distributaries of Group 'A'.
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. in Sabraon Branch with its distributaries being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus water available would be utilised Kasur Branch Lower, Main Branch Lower, Lahore Branch with its distributaries respectively.

SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL ASSUMES OFFICE OF DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER

Outlines his Vision to Make Punjab as a Front Runner State

CHANDIGARH JANUARY 23, 2009

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today formally assumed the office of Deputy Chief Minister Punjab amidst lot of fanfare and enthusiasm shown by the senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP alliance.

Immediately after taking over the office as Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal had an interaction with media persons and outlined his vision to make Punjab as the front-runner state in the country. Mr. Badal profusely thanked the Almighty for giving him an opportunity to serve the people of Punjab and state. He said that people of Punjab had lot of expectations from him and he would try to satiate every section of the society and sought people's whole-hearted cooperation to translate their aspirations and dreams into a reality.

Referring to some key areas of development and the welfare of the people, Mr. Badal said that the state government had constituted an Administrative Reforms Commission to streamline and simplify the 70 public utility services both in police and civil in order to save people from the undue harassment and corruption. He hoped that the entire recommendations of the commission would be implemented in toto by December 2009 to make the system of administration more accountable and transparent.

On power sector, Deputy Chief Minister said that our government from day one initiated concerted efforts under the stewardship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to make Punjab a power surplus state. He said that with in 22 months the SAD-BJP government had been able to put two mega thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo and Goindwal Sahib with an installed capacity of 1980 MW and 540 MW respectively on the ground and the remaining two one at Gidderbaha with generation capacity of 2640 MW and Rajpura 1320 MW were in the active stages of implementation. He reiterated that it was the endeavour of our government to make Punjab as a power surplus by the end of the forth year of the regime of the present government.

Mr. Badal especially emphasized on the development and the welfare of the youth, he said that he had kept the department of Sports & Youth Services to formulate a concrete policy to ensure their participation in the development process in the state as 70% of the population was below the age of 35. He also announced that the Youth Development Board would be constituted soon to give due representation to the youth in the overall development and growth of the state.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the model of inclusive growth and balanced development of rural and urban sectors would be implemented in right earnest. Likewise, the upliftment of the poor, the down-trodden and the dalits would remain on the top of the agenda of the government. He said that our youth had a tremendous potential and unbounded energy which should be channelized for constructive purposes and also underlined the need to save them from the menace of drug addiction for which he announced to launch a crusade against this malady.

Earlier, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal accompanied by his wife Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur and his brother-in-law former Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia reached his office who offered him sweets on assuming the charge of the office of Deputy Chief Minister.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included State Unit BJP President Prof.Rajinder Bhandari, Forest & Medical Education Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, Advisor to Chief Minister DS Cheema, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary Mr. RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director Information & Public Relations Mr. Gagandeep Singh Brar and Additional Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister AK Mahajan. Besides several MLAs and senior leaders of SAD-BJP presented bouquets to their beloved youthful Deputy Chief Minister on the occasion.

A Brief Note of Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh's Meet the Press programme organized at Chandigarh Press Club on 23th October, 2008

The core issue faced by the state is its economic condition which affects the entire societies well being. Keeping that in mind I have taken the initiative to meet the Press today to share and discuss what we in our Cooperative Department have endeavored to improve, revamp and boost the economic condition of the rural Punjab, primarily an agrarian society.
Admittedly the pertinent issue faced by us today is the slow economic growth which directly affects and determines the economy of the state leading to unemployment and putting the state finance under stress. "It is in this context that we have planned and tried to evolve policies in our Cooperative Department which will endeavor to put the state's economic growth on a fast track". It would be interesting fact to share that the agriculture sector contributes 2000 crore to the state revenue as compared to Industry and trade which generates a revenue of 700 crore.Thus Agriculture is the larger contributor to the State exchequer but alas "Punjab's farmers are facing a crisis in form of ever increasing indebt ness, increasing inputs and shrinking farm sizes".

While majority of the state's farmers have holdings less than 5 acres, therefore the role of the Cooperatives is to reduce costs so that the marginal farmers can make agriculture a remunerative occupation. However the Government of India's policy of restricting Punjab to the role of "Food Bowl and following the wheat-paddy rotation where inputs costs are not regulated and produce costs are strictly controlled and influenced by the Government with no prior thought to profit margins for the farmers.' Punjab's agriculture needs to break out of this pattern and make a paradigm shift to a profit motivated occupation. "This strategy has to be essentially a switch over which is demand driven. Shouldering this responsibility we have designed the Cooperative department to play a key role, in fact my vision is to bring about a socio economic transformation in Punjab. Cooperatives have inherent strength to fight lobbies and domination of monopolists. I have asked my officers especially the FCC and Registrar Cooperative Societies to usher in a strong Cooperative movement of the people."

The biggest dilemma facing the farmers is indebt ness and to rescue the agriculture community from the clutches of private money lenders, The Punjab State Cooperative Bank has been advancing Short Term Credit in form of crop loans to the farmers through the network of its branches in villages and Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies.
The department has also come out with Revolving Cash Credit scheme for debt swapping and bringing farmers out of the clutches of private money lenders. This credit facility is available at much lower rate of interest for repaying the private money lenders. Approximately 14165 farmers have availed the benefit under this scheme to the amount of Rs.1980 crore till now. "With a vision to evolve the Cooperative Societies into major service providers as well as reduce production costs we have endeavored that these societies should become consumer hubs giving a major thrust and a boost to rural economy.
Playing a pivotal role to encourage and provide facility for education the Cooperative Department has come forward with a scheme in which the banks provide Education Loans up to Rs 10.00 lacs for studies in India or Abroad at a nominal rate of 9 percent without any margin money. This loan is to be repaid after the completion of the course. Also loan to the children of Dalits, poor families and Backward Classes is available at 7.2 under Cooperative Education Loan scheme unto Rs 10.00 lacs to be repaid in 5 years.

The Cooperative movement stands committed for the dignity of labour, social and economic justice to every human being. It is towards this objective that we have flouted Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme ,the only scheme in the country initiated to economically empower rural women and encourage them to find there latent potential and play a larger role in a mainly patriarchal society .This scheme is essentially to give self respect ,dignity and economic empowerment to the rural women. Hassle free credit is available at preferential rate of interest of 10 percent. Nearly 2500members have availed a loan of 640 lacs and the recoveries near 100 percent.7063 women have got training in Cutting, Tailoring, Beauty Parlour, Jam-Chutni making in the state. In another Bhai Ghanaya Sehat Seva Scheme launched on 1.10.2008, 1.83 main members have registered with 5.68 dependent members also being covered under this scheme. Till 22.10.2008 1451 members have taken a benefit of 2.31 crores. At the launch there were 171 hospitals on the panel but today we have 240 hospitals providing medical services to the people covered under this scheme in the state. We are pioneering to provide medical health cover to the rural segment.

The emphasis of industrialization in the state is of course paramount, with agro based industry to be promoted. It is in this role that Milkfed and Markfed have been directed to play a larger and an extended role to create demand for agri produce and create and consequently generate employment .Milkfed has successfully provided an alternative to wheat-paddy rotation by ensuring high returns to farmers in dairy business. The procurement of the Milkfed has increased by 30 percent in the last one year. The department facing stiff competition from MNC and private players has given higher price for milk. Lately the department has initiated to increase production and modernize its production techniques.

While Markfed has set into motion a plan to set up a 55 crore Food processing complex in Ludhiana to meet the demand of the modern society for proceed food. For the plant backward Linkages and an innovative scheme of promoting vegetable producing cooperatives in the villages has been initiated. Punjab also produces high quality of rice which is well accepted in international market keeping that in mind the foundation of a state of the art 6TPH rice mill to process basmati, non basmati paddy and pulses will be laid in November 2008.
The Cooperative department in its social commitment has launched an ambitious endeavor to provide cheaper housing to the vulnerable sections of the society.
The Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies are also providing all types of agriculture inputs and services needed by the farmers and other members of society. High cost agriculture implements like tractors, laser levelers, seed grader, and seed driller. Farmers need not borrow for purchasing these implements. Rather they can go for custom hiring. If a society has two tractors for the village; it results in saving at least 20 farmers from debt of purchasing tractors. "we want to turn our cooperatives into optimum service providers". .
The Cooperative Department in its commitment to revive the Cooperative Sugar Industry has planned to set up Co-generation plants in running sugar mills along with modernization on BOOT basis on which approximately Rs 675 crores will be invested by the Public/Private Entrepreneur. For revival of six closed sugar mills and three distilleries a consultant is being appointment who will evaluate the assets and recommend what is the best option for revival of these sugar mills/distilleries. The tender has been already been called and will be opened on 24.10/ 2008.

we can confidently claim credit that Cooperative Department stands committed to ensure efficiency, quick administrative disposal, economic progress, women empowerment and stands committed to a "Prosperous and a Progressive Punjab."
Interestingly, all this is being done with the resources of the Cooperative department without causing any burden on the State exchequer.

CM AND DY.CM WISHES GOOD HEALTH TO DR.MANMOHAN SINGH

CHANDIGARH JANUARY 23, 2009

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today wished the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh good health and expressed the confidence that the proposed treatment for which the Prime Minister is to undergo would result in an even healthier condition.

The Chief Minister telephoned the Prime Minister to enquire his well being and conveyed his best wishes for his health.

REPUBLIC DAY PROGARAMME OF TWO MINISTERS CHANGED

CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 23, 2009

: The Punjab Government has issued revised programme of unfurling flags of two Ministers.

According to official spokesman Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD (B&R) Minister would now unfurl the National Flag at Hoshiarpur instead of Barnala. Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar Revenue Minister would now unfurl the National Flag at Barnala instead of Hoshiarpur.

SAROYA TO BE NEW DEIRECTOR, NZCC

Chandigarh, January 23, 2009

The Punjab Government has placed the services of Mr. Devinder Singh Saroya, PCS, Additional Secretary, Housing & Urban Development and NRIs Affairs at the disposal of Union Ministry of Culture for appointment as Director, North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala for a period of three years.

Bye-election in Nagar Panchayat Begowal to be held before 15th February
Chandigarh, January 23, 2009

The bye-election to elect members from ward No. 9,10,11 of Nagar Panchayat, Begowal, District Kapurthala would be held before 15th February, 2009.

According an official spokesman this order has been issued by Principal Secretary, Local Government in exercise of his powers vested by sub section 1 of section 13A of Punjab Municipal Act 1911.

POLICE STATIONS OF TWO VILLAGES TRANSFERRED

Chandigarh, January 23, 2009

The Punjab Government transferred the villages named Gholia Khurd and Manu Ke from the jurisdiction of Police Station Bagha Purana to Police Station Nihal Singh Wala with immediate effect.
No. PR-09/64