KALIA LAUDS REVIVAL OF PUNJAB ECONOMY 

Chandigarh March 17 -

     Punjab's economy is on the path of resurgence as the fiscal health of state has shown a major upswing during the past three years, registering both recovery and resilience on all financial and growth parameters.  The prudent policies of the state government had successfully defied nationwide recessionary trends and growth slide down to emerge as one of the fastest growing economies among states.

     In a statement Industries and Local Government minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia said that Punjab surpassed national average of growth in key areas of development and fiscal recovery for the first time in decades, putting at rest all speculation that the state's fiancés were a cause for worry.

           "Concrete data on growth, fiscal and revenue deficit management as well as revenue receipts and debt to GSDP ration percentages are a testimony towards remarkable turn around in Punjab's economy", said Mr. Kalia. Contrary to popular belief, the states' industry and agriculture also registered impressive growth rate, paving the way for major economic resurgence and growth in the near future.

          Mr. Kalia further said that Punjab jumped from the 24th position to be among the top three in the country in rate of growth in VAT receipts, as against just 4.37 per cent in 2006-07, the rate of growth jumped to 20.46% for 2008-09. The budgetary projections showed that the figure was all set to go up to 28% during the next fiscal, a jump of nearly 700% since the SAD-BJP government took over.

     Highlighting the plan implementation by the state as a success story, Mr. Kalia said that the five year figure for plan implementation during the Congress regime was Rs. 14, 823 crore, which had already been exceeded in just three years by touching a target of Rs.15, 379 crore. These figures significantly relate to plan implementation and not just plan size.

           He further said that despite drought, recession, low MSP and unexpected hike in agricultural inputs, the state registered a growth rate of 3.42% which is more than double the national growth rate (1.8%)  for the same period,. This figure was projected to reach 3.74% in the year 2009-10 as against the national growth rate of  just 1.00 percent during the same period.  Likewise, notwithstanding the severe handicap of package of concessions to neighboring states, industry in Punjab grew at 8.00 percent , which was exactly double of the national growth rate of just 4.00 per cent. Clearly, Punjab has defied the global and national recessionary trends. Mr. Kalia hoped that the state's Industry is set to grow at 8.11% during the coming fiscal. The state's industrial growth during the Congress regime, despite tall claims of mega projects, was below the national average by 1.65%.  This time around, the same ratio is 4% in favour of Punajb as against the national average.

        Drawing a comparison with the previous Congress regime Mr. Kalia mentioned that Punjab also reduced the gap between the national rate of growth of economy and that of the state from minus 2.7% during the previous Congress regime ending 2007, to just minus 0.5 percent at present.  The economy grew at just 5.1% during the Amarinder's regime where in the first three years of the SAD BJP government, the economy of the state achieved a soiled growth rate of 6.7 percent. Here also, the state closed down the gap between the national average from minus 2.7% to just minus 0.3 %.

            Mr. Kalia further said that the state government fared exceedingly well in the matter in generating revenue receipts including state taxes, jumping form a meager 0.31% during the Amarinder's regime to an incredible 12.4% in the first three years alone and this figure was like to touch whopping 24% at the end of 2009-10 fiscal, increase thereby registering an increase by nearly 72 times. Appreciating the Government's commitment to emerge Punjab as front-runner state Mr. Kalia said that Punjab had substantially reduced its fiscal deficit from 4.22% in 2007 to 4.03 % percent and the revised estimates showed the figure would go further down to just 3.41% in the 2009-10 fiscal. Similarly, revenue deficit as percentage of GSDP, which stood at 4.1% during the fiscal 2007-8 had been brought down to 2.1 %, and was likely go down even further during the next fiscal year.

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World Cup Kabaddi Punjab-2010

14 DAY LONG KABADDI EXTRAVAGANZA TO KICK START ON APRIL 3

10 nations to vie for Record Rs. 1.76 crore prize money

Chandigarh March 17:

 Punjab is all set to witness 14 day long sports extravaganza with 10 nations World Cup Kabaddi -2010 making a spectacle start in Patiala on April 3.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister today in the meeting of organizing committee of the World Cup , gave final touches to the preparation of this unique and highest prized Kabaddi meet , attracting the attention of sports fans from all over the world.

Mr Badal said that opening and closing ceremonies would be spectacular with cultural troupes from 10 states supported by famous Punjabi singers and choreographers of international acclaim treating the audience in Laser supported show. He said that basic purpose of organizing World Cup Kabaddi in Punjab was to attract Punjabi youth towards this traditional ancient game of Punjab.

It was informed in the meeting that nine national teams of UK, USA, Canada, Pakistan, Iran, Australia, Italy, Spain and host country India have already sent their consent to participate in this tournament. The opening match would be in Patiala whereas closing ceremony would be in Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana on April 15. Remaining matches would be in Patiala ( April 3 & 4 ),Sangrur ( April 5 ), Muktsar ( April 7 ), Bathinda ( April 8 ), Amritsar ( April 10), Hoshiarpur ( April 11 ), Jalandhar ( April 12 ) and final match and closing ceremony at Ludhiana on April 15. The teams would vie for record prize money of Rs. 1 crore for the World Champion and Rs.51 lac and Rs. 25 lac for first and second runners up respectively. Mr Badal also approved an attractive trophy and logo for this World Championship

Mr. D.S. Guru, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister gave an overview of arrangements for the worldwide live coverage of all the matches. He said that besides live coverage Punjab would launch multi-media campaign in international TV channels, FM Radio stations besides print media to build up the tempo of this world class event. He said that arrangements for facilitating media men on all eight venues besides organizing interviews with the prominent players of all participating teams have been made.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal also reviewed the arrangements for security, boarding and lodging of the participating teams. He asked the Punjab DGP Mr P.S.Gill to ensure foolproof security of the players besides arrangements for smooth traffic as well as parking management

Prominent amongst those who participated in the meeting included Mr Bikram Singh Majithia, MLA, Mr S.S. Maluka, Chairman , District Planning Committee, Bathinda, Mr S.S. Brar, Financial Commissioner, Excise & Taxation, Mr S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Mr Viswajeet Khanna, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, MD, PIDB, Mr. P.S. Aujla,Secretary, Sports and Youth Services, Mr. P.S. Gill, DGP, Punjab, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Additional Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister and Mr Pargat Singh, Director, Sports. 

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SCHEDULE FOR QUARTERLY LOK ADALTS ANNOUNCED

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 17:

                Punjab Legal Services Authority has issued schedule of Quarterly Lok Adalats to be held in all over Punjab for the period from April 2010 to June 2010.

                Stating this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Legal Services Authority said that Lok Adalats would be held at Amritsar, Patti, Ajnala, Baba Bakala, Tarantarn on 3-04-2010 (Saturday); Labour Court Amritsar and Gurdaspur on 9.4.2010 (Friday); Gurdaspur, Batala, Pathankot on 10-4-2010 (Saturday); Labour Court Ludhiana on 16.4.2010; Ludhiana, Jagraorn, Khanna, Samrala on 17-4-2010 (Saturday); Labour Court Jalandhar on 23.4.2010 (Friday); Jalandhar, Nawanshahar, Nakodar, Phillaur, Balachaur on 24-4-2010 (Saturday); Labour Court Bathinda on   30-4-2010 (Friday);  Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo, Rampura Phul, Fathegarh Sahib, Amloh on 1.5.2010 (Saturday); Labour Court, Patiala on 7.5.2010 (Friday); Patiala, Rajpura, Nabha, Samana on 08.5.2010 (Saturday); Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Phagwara on 15.5.2010 (Saturday); Sangrur, Moonak, Barnala, Malerkotla, Dhuri, Sunam on 22-5-2010 (Saturday); Hoshiarpur, Garhshankar, Dasuya, Ropar, Mohali, Anandpur Sahib, Kharar, Derabassi on 29-5-2010 (Saturday); Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha on 5-6-2010 (Saturday) and Ferozpur, Abohar, Fazilka, Zeera, Jalalabad  West, Mansa, Sardulgarh, Budhlada on 12-6-2010 (Saturday).

                The Spokesman further said that the main objective of the Lok Adalats was to dispose of litigation on the spot and make it hassle free. It also saved the precious time and money spent on the litigation by public.

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