CM ASKS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY FINANCE TO EXAMINE NEW PAY SCALES OF PSEB

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 2, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the state finance department to immediately resolve the issue relating to the release of new pay scales to the employees of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).
An assurance to this effect was given to the deputation of Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers’ Association by Mr. Badal during a meeting chaired by him here at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon.

The deputation led by its President Er. H.S.Bedi and General Secretary Er. Bhupinder Singh apprise the Chief Minister about their demands.

During delebrations, Mr. Badal assured the deputation that their all genuine demands would be got examined and directed the Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Karan avtar Singh to address the issue with in a week.

Mr. Badal also mentioned that at present Punjab had been facing acute power shortage and in matching the generation and demand of power the employees of the PSEB could play a pro-active role by organizing the power distribution sector in such a transparent manner that could reduce power theft in an effective manner to save more power for the state.
Expressing satisfaction over the deliberations, the deputation assured the Chief Minister to extend all-out support and cooperation to the state government to over come the Power crisis to ensure all-round development and progress of the state.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr.D.S.Guru, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Karan Avtar Singh and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.

BADAL CALLS UPON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO CARRY OUT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH FOR CURE AND TREATMENT OF LIFE STYLE DISEASES

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 2, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the medical experts, scientists and doctors to carry out an extensive research for the curative treatment of the chronic diseases besides bringing awareness amongst the patients about the life style diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes and Angina.

Addressing a galaxy of doctors, medical scientists and researchers from all over the world during the inaugural function of 43rd Annual conference of the Indian College of Allergy, Asthma & Applied Immunology (ICAAICON) here at Government Medical college and Hospital sector 32, Mr. Badal said that the deliberations on problem areas, newer concepts and knowledge in asthma and other allergy diseases would not only sharpen their diagnostic skills but also help our people ultimately to cure them.

Mr. Badal said , “As far as my understanding goes asthma does not have any permanent cure so far, but now, doctors claim that asthma patients can be managed so effectively so that they can lead a normal life as good as a non asthmatic ?healthy person.”

The Chief Minister revealed that in our country about 5-6% population have asthma and it is persistently increasing. “May be it is due to modern life style, over all change in global whether, our food habits, or rampant pollution etc. We need to look at this also and to do something so as to prevent asthma and other allergic diseases,” said Mr. Badal.
He impressed upon the Press and Mass Media to play their powerful role in bringing the crux of the deliberations during the conference to the notice of general public for their benefit.

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Prof. Raj Bahadur Director Principal GMCH, Prof. D. Behera, Director, LRS Institute, Delhi, Prof. MK Aggarwal, Chairman, ICAAI, Dr. A.B. Singh, Secretary, ICAAI and Prof. AK Janmeja, Head of Pulmonary Medicine & Organizing Secretary of the conference besides delegates and faculty from all over India and abroad.

AMARINDER’S REVELATION ABOUT PIMS HIGHLY MISLEADING AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED – BAINS

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 2, 2009

Taking serious view of the irresponsible utterances of former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the media blaming the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for flouting all rules and regulations for the allotment of the running of Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) at Jalandhar to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Rakhra on 99 years lease for a song, Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains termed these accusations as ‘ totally baseless, politically motivated, factually incorrect and highly misleading’.

Ridiculing Amarinder Singh, the Media Advisor accused him for his dubious role to scuttle the efforts of the SAD-BJP Government to run the PIMS which did not see light of the day due to lack of funds since more than 10 years. Mr. Bains revealed that even the previous Congress government led by Amarinder Singh made die hard efforts to get the PIMS project funded from the Central government and even decided to develop this project on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis through its letter dated August 30, 2006.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Amarinder’s Government wrote twice to the Prime Minister for completion and operation of PIMS Project on January 10, 2006 and June 5, 2006, respectively. However, Government of India refused to support the then Congress Government on this issue.

The Media Advisor categorically said that a deliberate attempt was also made earlier to challenge the selection process in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. However, the High Court after detailed deliberations and number of hearings rejected the petition and given a green signal to the selection process. As per the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines for establishment of a Medical College, applicant should be either the owner of the land or possesses the land by way of 99 years lease. Therefore it was mandatory to give land for 99 years lease as per MCI’s guidelines.

The project was awarded on merit after carrying out a competitive transparent biding process through advertisements in major national newspapers repeatedly, inviting expression of interest for development of PIMS from the applicants, said Mr. Bains.

The Media Advisor pointed out that the value of institutional land could not be determined on the basis of value of commercial properties. The price of land mentioned for PIMS land could have fetched if government had declared to sell it for only commercial use like shopping Malls etc. But here the purpose was to complete and run the PIMS Medical College and Hospital which did not see light of the day due to lack of funds since more than 10 years.

Moreover, the PIMS project has not been awarded for just Rs 131 Crore to the selected bidder. The selected bidder had to pay 5 % of this Rs. 131 Crore every year and thus amount would be increased at the rate of 5% annually during the concession period. So the total amount to be paid by the selected bidder during the concession period to the government was Rs 11,660 crore and the selected bidder would transfer back the fully developed institution (Medical College and Hospital and other related infrastructure/facilities) to the Government at the end of concession period, the government would remain the owner of the land. At the same time it was important to note that the patients will pay PGI rates/charges for the treatment at PIMS and the poor patients would be treated free of cost. Also the fee for the medical college courses would be charged as per the notified fee structure of the Government of Punjab by the selected bidder added the Media Advisor.

Lambasting Amarinder, the Media Advisor said that Congress leadership was getting ruffled due to sustained development drive by SAD-BJP government as the previous Congress regime did nothing except making tall claims and false promises and failed miserably on every front be it agriculture, industry, infrastructure, social security and education.

TEACHERS TO MAINTAIN SCHOOL DIARIES ON WEEKLY BASIS-UPINDERJIT KAUR

Chandigarh October 2: The Punjab school education department has directed to all the teachers in the state schools to maintain school diaries at every weekend with advance planning of study to the students to bring out more improvement in imparting quality education.

Stating this Dr. Upinderjit Kaur Education Minister Punjab said that the current academic year 2009-10 was being observed as qualitative year to bring out revolutionary educational reforms in the government schools in the state. Among various steps for improvement in imparting quality education, teachers have been instructed to maintain diaries on weekly basis containing syllabus covered, students monthly tests record, home work reports and planning for the next week, she said.

The Minister further said that such dairies had already been distributed in all the schools. Now teachers had been advised to write weekly diaries instead of daily diaries in order to devote more time to the students during the school hours, she added.

Dr Upinderjit Kaur said that all DEO, BEOs and schools heads have been categorically directed to check the techer's diaries at every weekend regularly and counter check these diaries with monitor's diaries being maintained daily by the class monitors. The field education officers would duly ensure in implementation of these directions in the greater interest of students, she added.

VIGILANCE NABBED SEVEN EMPLOYEES THIRTY SEVEN CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASES

Chandigarh October 2: State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested seven Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in six different cases in last month and was able to secure the conviction of thirty seven accused in seventeen different vigilance cases.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Rajinder Singh, SP-cum-Joint Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.

He added that during the last month of September, the Vigilance had nabbed seven corrupt public servants red handedly accepting bribes in six different cases which include 4 Revenue officials. The vigilance bureau had also registered a vigilance enquiry against a suspect official to probe into the allegations.

Giving further details he added that the special courts have sentenced thirty seven accused including twenty one NGOs and sixteen private persons after finding them guilty for one year to three years imprisonment with fines in seventeen different vigilance cases which included seven revenue officials.

PUNJAB TO ENSURE MARKETING NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
SUPPORT TO PROMOTE RURAL ARTIFACTS IN A BIG WAY –BADAL

DENIES ANY WRONG DOING IN PIMS DEAL

Rupnagar October 2: The Punjab Government would soon tie up with Centre to ensure marketing network and infrastructure support through the self help groups for the promotion of rural artifacts and handicrafts in the state.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the National SARAS (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Societies) Fair here at local Nehru Stadium, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that the main objective of State Government was to give boost to the rural crafts, which symbolized our cultural heritage and added that 7100 Self Help Groups (SHG) have been constituted under different schemes by providing loan facilities to them, so that they could earn their livelihood.
He further said that the fair would provide golden opportunity to the SHG members to share their knowledge with their counterparts from other States and enhance their marketing skills. "People should extend patronage to the products of SHGs. Their support would motivate the SHGs and help in improving the rural economy, he said."

Mr. Badal called upon the SHGs to come forward and participate in the exhibitions to sell their products. He asserted that as many as 200 artisans from 25 states across the country are taking part in the fair. He called upon all the officers to work zealously and dedication for the benefit of the State particularly for these people. He said that SARAS offered a platform to the rural people to make them economically sound which was the only way to make Punjab a prosperous state.
Later interacting with the media persons the Chief Minister categorically denied that the state government had any committed any wrong doing in leasing out the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences at Jalandhar to the NRI’s Society as per the guidelines of Medical Council of India (MCI) He said even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already rejected the petition filed to challenge the selection process after detailed deliberations and number of hearings and given a green signal to the selection process. He alleged that Captain Amarinder Singh had been habitual of maligning the SAD-BJP government to cover his misdeeds and justify his hibernation. He reiterated that PIMS has been leased out in a transparent manner with a sole objective to run the PIMS Medical College and Hospital, which had not seen the light of the day for the last over ten years.

Mr. Badal alleged that the Centre government has been blatantly ignoring the Punjab farmers and till date the common minimum price of the cotton has not been declared as the harvesting was on the peak in the state. Adding further he said that the congress led UPA government has not announced draught relief to the debt ridden farmers of the state.
He announced a grant of Rs. 50 crore for drinking water supply and sewerage facilities in Rupnagar city and assured that all the demands put forward by Sri Anand Pur Sahib MLA Sant Baba Ajit Singh MLA would be implemented in letter and spirit. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti he also paid rich tributes to the father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi by offering floral petals on his picture.

On the occasion Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpua Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Punjab said that SARAS exhibitions have opened a new dimension in promotion of rural products and encouraged the participants and other stakeholders in the development of rural products/artisans. The Punjab Government would provide a platform not only for direct sales of rural markets, offer exposure to rural artisans/ entrepreneurs to various aspects of marketing, and developing linkages with various other markets, he added.

Welcoming the Chief Minister Mr. Jagpal Singh Sandhu, Financial Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Department Punjab said the main slogans of the fair is 'No Trader, No Middleman', 'Artisan and Customer Face to Face' which would add to its sale and publicity and it would open new horizons of better marketing to them.
On the occasion Mr. Amar Singh, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development promised to the Chief Minister that Rural Development department would provide every support to the Punjab Government in setting up of Rural Marketing Hubs in the state to promote rural handicraft and small Scale Industry Products.

The National SARAS Fair, an exhibition of products made by the self-help groups (SHG), has begun at the Nehru Stadium here today where an array of products, including handcrafts, gift articles, dolls, woodcarvings, night lamps, handloom garments, footwear, screens with rich embroidery works, herbal products and pickles were displayed in the fair. The fair is slated to go on till October 12.

Besides attractive products include metalwork, Madhubani paintings, terracotta, shawls, carpets, food products, leather and paper bags, tooth powder, medicinal oils, knives, various products from coconut shell, artificial diamonds, kitchen wares, bakery products, honey, coconut oil, ayurveda products, soap, coir products, cane products, agricultural implements and seeds of vegetables were also being showcased.

On the occasion Jathedar Ujjagar Singh Badali and Mr Cahrnjit Singh Channy (Both MLAs), Master Tara Singh Ladal and Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu (Both ex-Ministers), Mr. Amarjit Singh Satyal President Nagar Council, Dr. R.S Parmar Chairman Improvement Trust, Mr. Gurinder Singh Gogi Member SGPC, Mr. Bhupinder Nath Diwan District BJP President, Mr. Parminderpal Singh Binta and Mr. Harpreet Singh Basant (Both Youth Akali leaders), Mr. Bhupinder Singh Bajrood Secretary AISSF including Municipal Commissioners, Sarpanchs, Panchs, Zila Parishad and Block Samity members were also present.