REGIONAL PARTIES HOLD THE KEY TO FUTURE OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY-SUKHBIR
Give space to dissenting voice of opposition

Chandigarh, October 31
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal today said that ruling parties must give space to the dissenting voices of opposition for the success of Indian democracy.

Participating in a panel discussion on 'Role and relevance of opposition in India democracy’ at HT Leadership Summit, with Mr. Sitaram Yechury (CPM) and Mrs. Sushma Swaraj (BJP) as other panelists, the SAD President said that the experience of rulling party treating opposition as enemies and trying to finish it has always boomeranged.
Tracing the evolution of India democracy since independence Mr. Badal said that we in India have gone through three phases. He said that for the first thirty years there existed only one strong national party and a very week opposition. The 2nd phase, Mr. Badal said that, saw emergence of strong opposition with strong to party system and in the 3rd phase since last 25 years we are witnessing an era of coalition politics with national parties getting weaker and regional parties emerging stronger.

Underlining the importance opposition Mr. Badal said that since last 67 years, rulling party has not received more than 45% votes except 48% in 1984. Mr. Badal said that party that ruled the government was technically a minority party with majority of people expressing faith in opposition. Drawing applause from the well attended audience, Mr. Badal was supported by Sita Ram Yetchuri who advocated proportionate representation in Indian democracy.
The SAD President said that with electorate getting task oriented, the day of monopoly of National Parties was over and regional parties representing the aspirations and desires of various regions, hold the key to the future of Indian Democracy.
He said that Political landscape of India has undergone defining shift since mid 90’s, with increasingly regional parties holding the sway and National Parties like Congress getting gradually more marginalized. Mr. Badal said that especially after the implementation of Mandal Commission Report fractured verdicts and coalition governments have become recurring feature in Indian democracy. He said that the intolerance of Congress to the dissenting voice of opposition has further marginalized it on the National scene.

Building up the case for giving more share of Central Taxes to the states Mr. Badal said that all states were looking for more powers and resources and acting as a collective opposition to the centralizing tendencies irrespective of which party was ruling the state. The young president of 90 year old party, Mr. Badal said that the very fact that all the finance ministers of the states have sought form the 13th Finance Commission, a substantial raise in share of the states, in the Central taxes from 30 percent of 45 percent, reflected the fact that tax distribution formula was lopsided and did not fulfill the aspirations of the state.

Dwelling upon discriminatory policies of Union Government towards low population states like Punjab Mr. Badal regretted that Union Government with shortsighted policies was out to kill the goose that was laying golden eggs for the country. He said that Punjab was being recklessly used as food producing machine, without caring for upgrading and nourishing its fast depleting soil nutrients, ground water table and improving its 60 year old irrigation network. this one way traffic would not last long with Punjab all set to be on the brink of becoming another desert in years to come as warned by US agency NASA. Mr. Badal said that Punjab was bleeding it self of natural resources like precious ground water and soil nutrients to fulfill the food needs of country. While contributing more than 50% grains in National Kitty, it has robbed its soil beyond redemption.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that insensitive policies of Union Government get exposed from the fact that out of Rs. 70, 000 Crores of debt waived, Punjabi farmers, contributing more than 50% to National Pool got meager amount of Rs. 1021 crores (1.46%). He said that state contributing maximum wheat to national pool gets a token assistance in wheat enhancement programme. He said that irrigation network of Punjab that made India self sufficient on food security front, has totally collapsed with Union Government not coming to the aid of Punjab to strengthening it.
Attacking the number game in politics Mr. Badal said that Punjab as well as other small state were getting neglected by the Union Government as number of MPs representing these states were too less too raise their voice for their respective states.

Commenting on the latest Lok Sabha Elections, Mr. Badal said that though the Congress is at the Centre of the ruling dispensation yet the space of national parties has shrunk considerably. "Over the years, the regional parities- both aligned or opposed to the Congress- have expanded their electoral base and are now in power in most of the states", Mr. Badal commented.

Stressing the need for change in mindset of national parties towards regional parties, Mr. Badal said that there was an urgent need for ruling dispensation at the centre to accommodate the aspirations of the opposition in the national policies. He said that earlier during the Congress domination, the party treated states with disdain and contempt and the Congress government at the Centre decided what was best for the states but now the situation has undergone a sea change. The regional or national parties other than Congress not only play the role of opposition at Centre but also articulate the interests and aspirations of the states where these are in power, he added.

In the panel discussion, Mr. Sitaram Yechury building upon giving more recognition to the opposition in the Indian democratic system supported the issues raised by Mr. Badal.

PUNJAB TO TRAIN PUNJABI YOUTH FOR EMPLOYMENT AS ARMED GUARD IN WESTERN COUNTRIES – SUKHBIR

• One Lakh Youth to be employed every year

Chandigarh, October 31
The Punjab Police has chalked out an ambitious programme to train English speaking youth in security training to make them employable in western countries as security guards.

Presiding over the meeting of National Security Agencies under the umbrella association Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) at New Delhi, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Punjab police has created state of art training facilities in the Punjab Security Training Institute located at Jahankhelan in Hoshiarpur to train youth and organize their employment as security guards in western countries. He said that Punjabi’s basically were marshal race and they love to opt for security related jobs weather in army, police, armed forces or private security agencies. He said that the scope for well trained guards was immense all over the world and Punjab wanted to capitalize on this by training youth professionally in the institute.

Aiming to train and organize employment of One Lac youth every year, Mr. Badal said that Rs. 9.2 crores would be spent to expand and modernize training facilities in the institute.

Mr. Badal said that presently 5.5 million people were working as security guards in the country with 25% growth per annum witnessed by this sector. Keeping this in view, the Punjab Government was starting short term courses for the youth and would offer a pool of talented and well trained youth to the security agencies.

The representatives of CAPSI requested Deputy Chief Minister to expand the training network Institute located to meet the increasing demand of security agencies for trained Punjabi youths.

The CAPSI delegation also demanded certain changes in training programme, increasing new courses for middle management level security supervisor, implementation of the Private Security Agencies Rules, 2007. Mr. Badal informed them that in view of their suggestions, PSTI was introducing new 6 months Diploma Course for employment as Security Supervisors from December this year.
Mr. Badal said that quality youth was not getting attracted towards the job of security guards in the agencies as their wages were too low being treated equivalent to unskilled labour. Mr. Badal said that he has requested the labour department to consider them as a special category while fixing their minimum wages as physical hazards of this job should also be taken into account.
Stressing on increasing employability of youth trained by PSTI, Mr. Badal said that the state PSUs were being asked to give preference in hiring private security guards trained by Institute.

To meet the increasing requirement of women guards especially by malls, Multiplexes, Health Institutes, Airports, Mr. Badal informed that PSTI would start a special course for women candidates and institute has already completed the construction of 120 bedded women hostel at Jahankhelan

Speaking about good placement record of Jahankhelan Institute, Mr. Badal said that the institute successfully arranged placement of all the trained youths in good reputed companies i.e. Group-4 Security Services(India) Pvt.Ltd.New Delhi, Terra Force Security Services Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, Checkmate Industrial Services Pvt.Ltd. Pune, Pyrex Integrated Security Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Mohali, Sledge Hammer Security Agency, Mohali, Walsons Building Faith Securities, Gurgaon, Lion Detective & Security (P) Ltd., Checkmate Security Services (Broda), 24 Secure Security Services, Group 7 Securities, D Security & Detective Pvt. Ltd., Rajindra Security Services (Regd.), A.P. Security Services (P) Ltd., and Group One Five Security Services.

Mr. Badal said that training schedule of PSTI was prepared in consultation with CAPSI and it consisted of Access control/frisking, Anti sabotage checking, Cordoning and sealing, Evacuation, Surveillance, Chasing, overpowering and immobilization of mobster/suspect, Identification of I.E.Ds. and explosive/narcotic material, Body search, premises search and area search, Defensive driving, Working of anti sabotage checking gadgetry, Role of sniffer dogs in security operations, First aid, Type and techniques of patrolling, Handling a mob-attack, Handling and operation of Wireless, Musketry handling and firing of personal weapon.

Earlier Mr. Kuwar Vikram Singh, Chairman CAPSI spoke about the activities of the organization. 33 Security Agencies from Punjab , Haryana, Himachal, NCR, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerla, Uttrakhand, UP , Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan came to attend this meeting.

Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme to start from 1.1.2010.

Chandigarh October 30:
Bhai Ghanhya Trust in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Punjab on 21.10.2009 has appointed ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company as Insurer for the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme. 29,369 beneficiaries from out of a total 6.45 lac beneficiaries availed benefit of treatment worth Rs.39.37 crores during the 1.10.2008 to 30.9.2009. The scheme will cover members and employees of all types of Cooperative Societies/Coopeative Institutions and their dependents. The scheme will also cover the employees/retired employees of the department of Cooperation and their dependents.Treatment upto a limit of Rs.1.5 lacs per main member on family floater basis will be available cashless in approved hospitals which will include super-speciallity hospitals and medical institutes. The treatment will also be available in Govt. hospitals where the expenditure according to the terms and conditions of the scheme will be reimbursable to the beneficiaries. M.D. India Limited, Pune will be the Third Party Administrator for coordinating amongst the hospitals, insurer and the beneficiaries. It will establish its offices at Patiala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Chandigarh. District Coordinators will be appointed for ensuring hassle free services to the beneficiaries.

The enrolment of members under the scheme will start from 6.11.2009 and will continue upto 12.12.2009. Those who are not members of the cooperative societies can be enrolled under the scheme after becoming member of their nearby cooperative society. Forms for enrolment will be available in the Cooperative Societies in the State or can be collected from the office of Dy. Registrar, Cooperative Societies of the districts from 6.11.2009 onwards. Each main member will be required to pay a premium of Rs. 1999/- with 15% loading upto 45 years, 30% loading from 45 years to 65 years and 40% loading from 65 years to 75 years for their dependent members. Service Tax will be payable on this premium.
The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab Dr. G.Vajralingam,IAS signed a Tripartite agreement with ICICI Lombard GIC and M.D.India, Pune in this regard today at Chandigarh.

Accelerating Delivery of Public Services through CSCs

Chandigarh October 30:

Mr. Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Information Technology Minister, Government of Punjab met Mr. A. Raja, Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology at the Conference of Information Technology Ministers and Secretaries of IT of States to address various issues regarding the task of speeding up the pace of implementation of e-Governance across the States, held at Vigyan Bhavan,New Delhi on 27th Oct 2009. In this conference issues relating to accelerating Delivery of Public Services through CSCs including those under different MMPs, Bharat Nirman/flagship programmes,Institutional framework – Programme Management at State Level, Capacity Building and e-Infrastructure were discussed.

Mr.Kairon empasised the need for governance through mobile network as Punjab has highest telecom density widely spread all over the state. He mentioned that through mGovernance the mobile phone interface with the web could be extensively used for two-way exchange of information as well as for the delivery of services.

Mr. Kairon also suggested to the Union Minister that the Government of India should provide funds as grant for various schemes of the State Government for e-Governance and computerization of offices for proper delivery of services and welfare of citizens. He pointed out that for such e-Governance projects and IT initiatives of the State Government, the system of release of funds need to be changed. The Government of India can define the output and fix certain parameters regarding performance and monitoring, however, the State Government should be left with the option of implementing of the projects with or without going through the procedure of appointment of consultants and preparation of detailed project reports before taking up the proposal for release of funds. In certain IT projects, fast implementation is needed as technology is changing very rapidly whereas the delivery of services has to be on fast track. He stated that about 40% of such e-Governance projects should be implemented by the State Government whereas remaining 60% projects can be implemented as per the present system of National e-Governance Plan.

Mr. Raja, Union Minister after listening to the suggestions of Mr.Kairon, stated that the GOI would consider such proposals.

PUNJAB TO RECRUIT 42 URDU TEACHERS
URDU ACADEMY TO BE REVIVED – UPINDERJIT KAUR

Chandigarh 30 October : The Punjab Government would soon recruit 42 Urdu teachers to promote Urdu Language in the State. Besides this, the Punjab Urdu Academy (PUA) at Malerkotla would be revived at the earliest.

This was disclosed by Dr. Upinderjit Kaur Education and Languages Minister Punjab, presiding over a meeting of executive council of PUA here today. She informed that the conceptual idea to setup PUA in the state, was the brainchild of previous SAD Government headed by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal but the former congress led government delayed to accomplish the task. Now the SAD-BJP Government was committed to revive and institute the PUA by allocating more funds and infrastructure for completion of this Urdu institution.

The Language Minister further added that the state Government would fill the vacancies of Urdu teachers in the schools by recruiting 42 Urdu teachers. These teachers would be deployed in Urdu speaking areas of district Sangrur, she added.
Describing Urdu, a rich literary language, Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that the language has contributed a lot during the independence movement of our Nation. The State Government was committed for the promotion of Urdu language and up-liftment of the Madarssas by providing infrastructure and funds to educate and familiarize the children in Urdu, she said.
The Minister informed that about Rs. 89 Lac had already been spent to construct the building of PUA Malerkotla and more Rs. 28 Lac would be allotted for its completion. To deploy the required staff at PUA, a case would be forwarded to the council of Ministers very soon, she added.

Among other Mr. Abdul Gaffar Ex-Minister, Punjab ; Mr. KBS Sidhu, Principal Secretary Higher Education ; Mrs. Balbir Kaur Director Languages Department ; Mr. Mahmood Alam Executive Secretary PUA, Prof. Hayat Khan former Secretary, Dr. Nasher Naquvi Head, Department of Urdu/ Persian and Arabian, Punjabi University Patiala, Dr Mohamad Iqbal Head, Department of Urdu, Govt. College Malerkota ; Mr. Mansoor Ali Advocate and Mr. Mohamad Salim Bakshi Ex. President Municipal Council Malerkota were also present in the meeting.

98.92 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB
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Chandigarh, October 30
Government agencies and private millers procured more than 98.92 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening
Out of total procurement of 9892546 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 9694415 tonnes of paddy (98.0%) till date whereas private traders procured 198131 tonnes (2.0%) of paddy. Till October 29, PUNGRAIN had procured 2812146 tonnes (29.0%) whereas MARKFED procured 1979560 tonnes (20.4%). PUNSUP procured 2268497 tonnes (23.4%), PSWC procured 1211439 tonnes (12.5%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 943866 tonnes (9.7 %) of paddy.

The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 478907 tonnes (4.9%).
The spokesman added that District Patiala with 1091073 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Ludhiana with 943906 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and District Ferozepur 893978 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.