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Punjab News: 2010

TruMilkLaunched by MDVL

Jassi Khangura
Halqa Qila Raipur

 

I must firstly thank everyone who rallied round and offered support for the campaign for my Mamaji, Mr Gurcharan Singh, in the UK General elections. Unfortunately, his bid was unsuccessful but I sincerely thank everyone who worked hard towards his effort.

On returning to India immediately after voting day in the UK, I was absolutely delighted to find that over 350 rural youngsters had signed up for the free IELTS preparation course I am offering in the villages, from Latala. Steve, our volunteer English teacher from the UK is also thrilled and there's more about this story below.

But perhaps the biggest personal milestone for me this month has been the commencement of commercial production of TruMilk.  It's the first milk produced under our own Dairy Pride brand name for the Punjab market. Not only am I confident in offering the cleanest, freshest, only full cold chain milk to consumers here, but am proud that MDVL is doing so through the business model of Women Entrepreneurs - providing rural employment and upliftment where it is needed most. At times on the MDVL journey this milestone had felt very far away - so the moment was a big one for all the MDVL team as well as the Khangura family.

As summer really steams ahead, with record temperatures in places, I hope everyone manages to stay cool and well. I'll be back next month with more news. As ever, do please feel free to write to me (as so many of you already do). Your thoughts and comments and inputs are always appreciated.

TruMilk Launched by MDVL

The Khanguras' community dairies venture reached another milestone with commercial processing of milk starting on the evening of 1 June, which coincidentally was World Milk Day 2010. The next day pasteurised "Tru Milk" was distributed in Jalandhar, the chosen city for the test launch.

The milk produced by Women Entrepreneurs in rural Ludhiana, working in Self Help Groups, has been proven by independent tests to be the freshest, cleanest and safest milk in Punjab. As production increases at the various community dairy units the distribution of “Tru Milk” will extend to other cities. By year end it is likely that all major cities in Punjab will be covered.

Jassi stated “I am delighted that this joint effort of local farmers, poor women and formerly unemployed youth is benefitting the local economy and providing income to financially distressed families. The milk consumers of Jalandhar now have a real alternative to the poor quality milk that they have had to accept to date. My family and I are committed to the financial and educational upliftment of poor families.”

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CAMPA APPROVES PLAN OF FOR PRESERVATION OF NATURAL FORESTS & MANAGEMENT OF WILD LIFE

 

CHANDIGARH JUNE 8:-

The Punjab Government has chalked out Rs. 60 crore plan of for preservation of natural forests, management of wild life and Infrastructure development along with other related activities in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of Governing Body of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here today. It was decided in the meeting that the Punjab would adopt Biodiversity conservation to protect local fauna and flora through management of Human Animal conflict, the fencing of vulnerable points of wild life straying into habitations in a time frame manner throughout the state. Mr. Badal asked the forest department to expedite the demarcation work. He also asked the department to involve various self help groups for this purpose. It was informed in the meeting that the fencing work would be completed within next five years in the state. The governing body also approved the setting up of Rs. 1 crore corpus fund for compensations to the people on account of damage by wild life.

In the meeting the Governing body earmark Rs. 5.72 crore for the promotion of ecotourism, adoption of special measures in respect of wetland conservation of the state especially Harike & Kanjli and the fencing work for the year 2010-11. About Rs. 17 crore would be spent for the enhancement of productivity of forests which includes afforestation measures in degraded forest lands by planting 4 crore plants in next five year along with promotion of local species such as Nim, Shisham, Amb, Jaman, Arjan Sirhin etc. plants and by setting up of nurseries of tall plants in each district to produce about 20 lac such plants every year. In an other decision Rs. 9 crore has been proposed for the soil conservation and augmentation of water availability in Kandi area and Rs. 2 crore for setting up of awareness park, nature trails, theme parks etc. to educate and bring awareness amongst the general public towards the importance and protection of forests and wildlife.

The Governing body has also earmarked Rs. 12.50 crore for the purpose of the research, capacity building and infrastructure development, whereas for the promotion of agroforestry and similar activities including afforestation on non-forest wastelands would also be implemented.

Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included  Forest Minister Punjab Mr. Tikshan Sud, Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. S.C. Agrawal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. D.S.Guru, Financial Commissioner Forests Mr. R.C. Nayer, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. KBS Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Secretary Planning Mr. Satish Chandra  and Principal Chief conservator of Forests Mr. B.C. Bala.

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PUNJAB ALL SET TO IMPROVE VETERINARY SERVICES

CHANDIGARH JUNE 08:-

The Punjab government has all set to improve the veterinary services through out the state by establishing poly clinics in all the districts and upgrading the existing infrastructure of various veterinary hospitals and dispensaries at a cost of Rs.80.11 crore. 

The decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during a high level meeting of Animal Husbandry, Diary Development and Fisheries departments here today.  Mr. Badal directed all the officers of these departments to regularly monitor and ensure the quality and the timely completion of all the ongoing development programmes under various schemes.

It was informed in the meeting that the construction work of four new poly-clinics at Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Fatehgarh Sahib & Balongi under RIDF-13 programme of NABARD and three others at Ludhiana, Tarn Taran & Amritsar under RIDF-14 were nearly at the completion stage.  Similarly the programme to establish 18 new hospitals, out of which 15 had already been completed and the rest three would be completed within next two months.  Whereas 10 old existing poly-clinics and 782 veterinary hospitals were being upgraded and modernized. 

It was also informed in the meeting that the state would construct the new buildings for 51 Tehsil/Block level hospitals and upgrade 1000 veterinary dispensaries at a cost of Rs. 29.51 crore however, Rs. 21.11 crore to be spend to improve the dilapidated condition of the buildings of existing 449 veterinary hospitals and 568 veterinary dispensaries in the state.

The Chief Minister also approved a plan of Rs.15 crore to strengthen the Punjab Veterinary Vaccine Institute, Ludhiana as per the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guide lines of the GoI.  It was informed in the meeting that presently 6 major vaccines were being produced in this institute namely Haemorrhagic (80 lac doses), Ranikhet (1 crore doses), Fowlpox (50 lac doses), Black Quarter, Entero Toxamia and Swin Fever.  The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to start the manufacturing of Anti-Rabies’s vaccine at this centre. In addition, Mr. Badal also approved to launch 22 new veterinary mobile vans for district headquarters at a cost of Rs.4.51 crore. 

Mr. Badal also approved to establish Rs.3.5 crore new laboratory of Diary Development department at Verka to cater the need of diary farmers in Majha area.  He also assured that government would recruit 15 diary development experts for the 8 different diary centers soon. 

            Later, the Chief Minister released the first edition of ‘Pashu Dhan Gyan Vigyan’ a booklet published by Punjab Livestock Development Board.

Animal Husbandry & Fisheries and Diary Development Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike assured the Chief Minister that all the on going projects would be completed in a time bound manner and no stone would be remained unturned in the process of strengthening and upgrading the infrastructure of these departments.

Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. D.S.Guru, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. KBS Sidhu, Secretary Animal Husbandry Mrs. Usha R. Sharma and Director Animal Husbandry Dr. HS Sandha, Director Diary Development Mr. Inderjit Singh and Director Fisheries Mr. Bipen Kumar Sood.

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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ISSUES TRANSFERS POLICY

Chandigarh, June 08:-           

The Punjab Government today issued guidelines for the general postings and transfers of officers and officials of the government in the state during 2010-11.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that the transfers would be done from 04th  June, 2010 to 30th June, 2010.

Giving details of the broad guidelines to be adopted for the transfers the spokesman said that as per the policy of the state government transfers would be kept to the barest minimum and would be made against vacant post except where the transfers were justified on administrative or compassionate grounds. He also said the employees whether gazetted or non-gazetted due to retire within next two years, would be allowed to continue in the same district or at the same station of postings till retirement as far as possible.

Referring to the transfer policy for couple cases, he said that when husband and wife both were serving the Government it was desirable to keep them at one station for a period of not more than five years, thereafter they would be transferred as per the policy. Even in the cases where the wife was in government service and the husband was working in private under taking, the same attitude would be adopted. However, efforts would be made to post unmarried girls and widows at stations suitable to them as far as possible. The spokesman explained that unmarried girls and widows would be given preference over couple cases in the matter of posting and transfers at stations convenient to them

The spokesman further said that to mitigate the suffering of the handicapped and the blind employees, the state government would be considerate in posting and transferring them. Sympathetic attitude would be adopted while posting or transferring a government employee or officers whose child was mentally challenged and efforts would be made to post them at the place of their choice.

Adding further, he said that a stay of three years and five years would be treated respectively as the minimum and maximum period at a particular place. Similarly for employees transferable within the state particularly Group 'A' and Group 'B' officers, no employee would be allowed to serve in one district beyond a period of 7 years in his center service, within particular office, seats having sensitive nature of work such as extensive public dealings, establishment, monetary sanctions etc. would be clearly defined and maximum stay would be kept at 2 years. Premature transfers i.e. transfer of any employee before he has completed minimum three years would not be ordered except under rare circumstances of punishment or clearly spelt out administrative reasons, the spokesman clarified. The employees or officers who were posted in the border areas, bet areas and Kandi areas would remain there for a minimum period of 2 years, he added.

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MANPREET INUGURATES TWO-DAY CONFERENCE OF
CHAIRPERSONS OF DISTRICT PLANNING COMMITTEES

Chandigarh June 8:- 

Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal Finance and Planning Minister Punjab inaugurated a two-day conference, first of its kind, of Chairpersons and Member Secretaries (Dy. Commissioners) of all the District Planning Committees of Punjab organized by Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab (MGSIPAP) here today. While addressing the august gathering, the Minister laid emphasis on eradicating poverty, corruption, illiteracy, communalism and other social aberrations from out of the society through systematic planning which was essential in order to evolve good governance, advantageous atmosphere and above all a healthy socio-political scenario in a democratically sound country like India. He also said that the existing age old policies of the governments could also be changed, if required, in the larger public interest. Seeking the cooperation of the people  and encouraging them in executing the welfare schemes/ plans at the district levels, the Minister announced that matching grants would be given for the schemes/ plans where Peoples’ participation was there. He also suggested that this conference should be institutionalized and be a biannual conference which should be held first in the month of June and then in December with an objective to closely monitor the ongoing schemes on regular basis and also to do progressive planning for the schemes to be launched for the next year. Speaking on the occasion, Mr.B.K.Srivastva Director General MGSIPAP said that the Conference aimed at evolving a concept of  decentralized planning where the state agencies  and local bodies are  pooling their thoughts  and  programmes in  order  to develop the plan which integrates with the state  and national priorities  without losing the sight of the  local priorities. Mr. Rajinder Bhandari, Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, while presenting his views said that district planning committees would prepare district Plan keeping in view the felt and prioritized needs, identified through the process of participatory planning from the grassroots levels and also ensure convergence of resources between departments and schemes. He also said that the two day conference would give the delegates an opportunity to discuss the vital fiscal and administrative powers of the District Planning Committees to make them effective tool of economic development and social change through active participation of the people.

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