PUNJAB GOVT. EXTENDS BHAI GHANHYA SEHAT SEWA SCHEME FOR A YEAR

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 22, 2009

The Punjab Government has given nod to extend the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme for a year in view of its growing popularity and people-friendly approach.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal in a meeting of Bhai Ghanhya Trust held here at Chief Minister’s Residence late last evening.

The Chief Minister was apprised in the meeting that 29369 beneficiaries have received cashless treatment upto 30.9.2009 worth Rs.39.37 crores besides the beneficiaries who got treatment in the Government Hospitals who will be reimbursed by the Insurer. The Insurer has already settled claims of Hospitals worth Rs.30 crore and has been directed to settle the remaining claims immediately. As many as 1.83 lac families covering 6.45 lac beneficiaries were enrolled under the scheme. The scheme was constantly monitored by the Department of Cooperation and when the National Insurance Company tried to terminate the policy midway immediate intervention of High Court was sought and implementation of the scheme up to the schedule the date of expiry i.e.30.9.2009 was ensured.

Process for continuing the scheme was initiated by inviting open tenders by the Trust. Reliance GIC and ICICI Lombard GIC submitted their financial bids for the scheme. After thorough negotiations with the lowest tenderer Trust has been able to prevail upon ICICI Lombard GIC to reduce its rate quoted in the financial bid from Rs.2600/- to Rs.1999/- per main member(exclusive of service tax). The enrollment under the scheme will start after signing of agreement with the Insurance company.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal, Financial Commissioner Cooperation Dr. B.C Gupta, Registrar Cooperative Societies Dr.G.Vajralingam, and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gagandip Singh Brar. Besides, Trustee Jagjit Singh Cheema and Chief Executive Officer of the Scheme KS Palne also attended the meeting.

Chandigarh, October 22

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today took strong notice of incident of Punjab Police not allowing the martyrs families to meet him and narrate their grievances yesterday at a state level Police Commemoration Day function held at Jalandhar.

Mr. Badal regretted that he was not told about the intention of families of police martyrs seeking to present their memorandum to him. He asked Director General Police, Mr. P.S. Gill to fix the responsibility of erring officials for mishandling the situation. He also asked DGP to organize his meeting with the families of Police martyrs so that they could present their grievances.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that he was extremely pained to read about mishandling of the situation by the Police. He said that we are all indebted to the sacrifices made by these police officers and Jawans and it becomes our bounden duty to look after the welfare of their families.

PUNJAB TO ORGANIZE NORTH ZONE LIVESTOCK SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME

ANIMALS TO VIE FOR RS. 1 CRORE PRIZE MONEY

PUNJAB TO REGISTER ITS PRODUCTIVE LIVESTOCK

Chandigarh, October 22: Punjab is all set to host North Zone Livestock Show at Muktsar during Maghi Mela from January 8 to January 12, 2010’ in which quality livestock from northern states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan would vie for Rs. 1 crore collective prize money.
A decision to effect was taken in a high level meeting presided over by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal in which Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike was also present. Mr. Badal said that Punjab must upgrade its State Leval competition to North Zone level to encourage people to promote livestock breeding, Horse breeding and equestrian sports. This competition would also motivate livestock farmers to opt for high milk yielding buffaloes, cows, cross bred cows, goat, sheep, pig and poultry. Mr. Badal said that Punjab must introduce registration of its productive livestock so that it could monitor the growth of livestock sector in a planned way and come out with schemes to help livestock farmers.

It was approved in the meeting to constitute a Livestock Registration Authority with the mandate of registering productive livestock in the State. The Authority after registering the animal would issue a certificate to its owner, stating the age, breed, estimated value, vaccination details of the concerned animal. This certificate would be acceptable by loaning authorities while doing the valuation of animals.

The Deputy Chief Minister issued instructions that all mela grounds in the state must be attached to a poly clinic so that animals visiting the fair may be checked up compulsorily.

Finalizing the scheduled of regional fairs , it was decided that first Zonal Livestock Show and milking competition would be held at Tarn Taran from 15th to 17th November, 2009 for the district of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarntaran, Kapurthala and Jalandhar . The second Zonal Livestock Show and milking competition would be held at Fatehgarh Sahib from 26th to 28th November, 2009 for the district of Patiala, Roopnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Mohali. The third Zonal Livestock Show and milking competition would be held at Bathinda from 6th to 8th December, 2009 for the district of Bathinda, Mukatsar, Mansa, Barnala and Sangrur. The fourth Zonal Livestock Show and milking competition would be held at Moga from 17th to 19th December, 2009 for the district of Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Ludhiana and Moga. The final north zone Livestock Show and milking competition would be held at Mukatsar during the Maghi Mela from January 8th to January 12th, 2010.

In the fair various events including best Stallion, best Mare, best Adult Bull, best Cow (in milk) best Buck, best Duck, best Turkey, best Domestic Fowl would be organized. On this occasion milking competition of Buffalos, Cows of different categories, goats would also be organized. Hoarse dance would be another attraction of this show.

RBI TO TRAIN PUNJAB POLICE OFFICIALS TO DETECT FAKE CURRENCY

Chandigarh, October 22, 2009

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would impart training to police officers to detect fake currency.
This decision was taken in a meeting of the State Level Committee on Forged Notes held here today under the chairmanship of Punjab DGP Mr. P.S. Gill. The modalities of organizing lectures by officials of RBI at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur for both basic and in-service courses would be worked out by IGP/Training.

The DGP said that circulation of fake currency was posing a threat to the economy of the country. Emphasizing the need to spread awareness among the public regarding forged notes, he focused on need to strengthening enforcement mechanisms, striking hardly on nexus of smuggling of fake currency with terrorism.

Mr. Sadakkadulla, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India informed about the move to install note-sorting machines in all the 4,000 bank branches with currency chests in the country, as a prelude to their installation in all other 70,000 bank branches in India for detection of forged notes. He also revealed the publicity campaign launched by the RBI in this regard. The DGP directed to circulate the posters/pamphlets/other material provided by RBI to all the police stations in the state for increasing public awareness on the emerging challenge of circulation of fake currency.

It was also decided to institutionalize the mechanism of information sharing between the state police, RBI and other central agencies by information sheets sent to police headquarters by the concerned district SSPs on seizures of fake currency. The information sheets would be compiled in the state headquarters and shared with the concerned central agencies.
The meeting was attended by representative of Intelligence Bureau, Additional DGP/Crime, Additional DGP/Intelligence, all the six range DIGs of Punjab, besides other officers at headquarters.

Out of total procurement of 6002510 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 5850097 tonnes of paddy (97.5%) till date whereas private traders procured 152413 tonnes (2.5%) of paddy. Till October 21, PUNGRAIN had procured 1616240 tonnes (27.6%) whereas MARKFED procured 1196011 tonnes (20.4%). PUNSUP procured 1397109 tonnes (23.9%), PSWC procured 761651 tonnes (13.0%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 573532 tonnes (9.8 %) of paddy.

The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 305554 tonnes (5.2%).
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 760290 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Patiala 598775 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and District Jalandhar with 495484 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The State Government has set up 1600 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, October 22:

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the current Rabi Season through Canal water from 23-10-2009 to 30-10-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Abohar Branch, Patiala feeder, Bist Doab Canal Sidhwan Branch and Bathinda Branch respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being in the first preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available will be utilized in direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' respectively.

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

HERITAGE VILLAGE IN GNDU AMRITSAR SOON - GABRIA

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 22:
Punjab Government has decided to set up Heritage village " SADI VIRASAT-SADA PIND'' at Guru Nanak Dev University Campus, Amritsar at an estimated cost of Rs. 2200 Lac. Disclosing this here today Mr. Hira Singh Gabria Tourism and Culture Minister Punjab said that land would be provided by the University for this purpose.
He further said that the main objectives of this heritage village are to conserve and preserve typical Architectural, urban design and urban planning buildings, street Bazaars and village having social significance, Archaeological and Anthropological relevance, focus on uniqueness of planning concepts and to highlight majestic and elegant buildings, specific and unique natural phenomenon processes and natural landscapes.

Besides this the project would also commemorate an important historical and cultural event, determining destiny of a community inhabiting in a spatial entity.

TWO NEW MODERN DAIRY CENTRES IN PUNJAB SOON - RANIKE

Chandigarh, October 22:
The Punjab Government has decided to start two new modern dairy centres in November 2009, to impart training to the farmers of the state

Stating this here today Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Punjab said that these centers would be started at village Abul Khurana in district Mukatsar and village Gill in Moga district with effect from November 3, 2009. He further said that these centers will have ultra-modern infrastructure and latest technical know how to impart the diary farming education to the farmers
No.PR-09/838
Parminder Kaur