Punjab News, NRI News

Chandigarh February 18 – The Punjab Chief Minster Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Government of India to widen the scope of its initiative on Kashmiri youth to cover Sikh youth similarly placed.

We must have one national policy on one issue and not make it selectively applicable. We welcome the consider the Kashmir initiative healthy and positive and want that the same be widened to include other similar cases, including the Sikh youth, “said Mr. Badal in a statement here.

The Chief Minister was reacting to a statement by the Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram in which the latter had ruled out the possibility of allowing the affected Sikh youth to return to the country in the same manner as the Kashmiri youth would be allowed.

Mr. Badal said that the state government had repeatedly asked the Union Government to review the lists of the wanted Sikh youth settled abroad and to facilitate the return of those who wanted to rejoin the national mainstream. The Chief Minister said that his party welcomed the center's initiative on Kashmir as a "positive step" towards normalization of the situation in that state. "All we want is that the Sikh youth who have had to leave the country under some kind of duress, repression or implication in false cases should also be considered for a similar opportunity."

Mr. Badal said that not extending the Kashmir policy to Punjab would appear a clear case of discrimination against the Sikhs, and "this must be avoided at all costs. Allowing such an impression to gain ground would not be in the overall national interest. The center must act with fairness to remove the impression that it is working on a discriminatory basis."

Meanwhile the SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked the union government to apply uniform standards and policy on misguided youth from anywhere in the country and not leave the Sikh youth out of the parameters of its Kashmir initiative.

Describing as "unfortunate" the statement of the Union Home Minister Mr. P Chidambaram that the option of returning to the national mainstream which the centre is providing to the Kashmiri youth who had crossed the border, Mr. Sukhbir Singh said that there was no reason why this policy should not be nationally and uniformly applicable. The Akali president sought the intervention of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to ensure that the center's declared policy on misguided youth is extended to Punjab also.

In a statement here, Mr. Sukhbir Singh, who also holds the Home Portfolio in the Punjab government, said that his party and the Punjab government would take up the issue with the Union government. He said that we would particularly request the Prime Minster to have the policy extended to cover the Sikh youth who wanted to return to the national mainstream. "There is a large number of Sikh youth who had nothing to do with militancy but who had to flee the state because of police repression prevalent in the state at that time. Such persons should be allowed to lead normal lives. "This would only strengthen the forces of peace and communal harmony in the country"' he said.

The Deputy CM further said that the country could not have two yardsticks to deal with the same issue. "What is good for Kashmiri youth is good for Sikh youth too. There is no reason why the center's initiative on Kashmiri youth should not be allowed to cover Sikh youth as well, “Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said.

3 CHAIRMEN AND 34 MEMBERS NOMINATED IN MARKET
COMMITTEES OF MANSA, BUDHLADA AND SARDULGARH

CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 18:

The Punjab Government today nominated 3 Chairmen, one Vice Chairman and 34 members in the Market Committees of Mansa, Budhlada and Sardulgarh in Mansa district.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Punjab government had nominated Mr. Surjit Singh as Chairman of the Market Committee Mansa, Mr. Sher Singh as Chairman of the Market Committee Budhlada and Mr. Sukhdev Singh as Chairman & Mr. Nirmal Singh as Vice Chairman of the Market Committee Sardulgarh in Mansa district under Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.

Likewise, the Punjab government under Section 12 of Punjab Agriculture
Produce Markets Act, 1961 (Punjab Act No.23 of 1961) had also nominated 13 members of Mansa, 12 of Budhlada and 9 of Sardulgarh Market Committees.

ANOTHER MILESTONE TOWARDS TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION IN PUNJAB
CHIEF MINISTER PUNJAB LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF RS.12.50 CRORE GOVT. POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE PROJECT.

Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal while laying foundation stone of Rs12.50 crore Government Polytechnic College here today said that Punjab is fastly heading towards knowledge based society with focused attention on technical education with the opening of 7 new polytechnic colleges, 13 academic colleges and 3 universities including world class university at Amritsar and Central university at Bathinda.

He made it clear that the commissioning of these institutions have been made time bound with the completion of all necessary formalities and provision of requisite funds.

Blaming the successive Congress Governments for making the state educationally backward, S. Badal said that they had given little attention towards this vital field of human resource development. He further said that the SAD-BJP Government have given top priority to this sector and a crusade has been launched to strengthen academic and technical education network. He said that 21 new model schools are being opened in rural areas of the state to impart quality education to the poor talented students, at par with the public schools in the urban areas. He said that 29, 000 teachers of different categories have been selected and over 1,000 vacant posts of principals have been filled up to meet the long pending needs of the education institutions.

Asserting to make Punjab as a surplus state on Power front in the next 3-4 years, S. Badal said that four new thermal plants are being setup and all necessary formalities for launching the construction work on these projects have been completed. He said that Shahpur Kandi Project have also been taken up and various bio-mass power projects are also being launched. With the completion of these power projects, Punjab will be able to supply 24 hours power to the Agriculture, industry, and other sectors of economy.

S. Badal further said that Punjab Government has given top priority for cleaning of rivers and to ensure supply of clean drinking water to the population in the state. He said that an ambitious project has been planned and is being executed under time bound programme so that the rivers & canals in the state are pollution free.

S. Badal also announced for meeting various demands put forth by the people of the area which included 23 K.M. Subanpur-Nidala modern road link network and completion of Nadala Mandi. He further said that balanced development of all the Assembly constituencies will be ensured.

Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Ch. Swarna Ram said that the state is witnessing technical revolution with the strengthening of Technical Infrastructure Network under Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme. He said that all the engineering colleges, ITIs.

Government Polytechnics are being given all assistance for strengthening their infrastructure besides opening various skill development centers to enable the youth to get vocational training for the gainful employment.

Chairperson of District Planning Board Kapurthala Bibi Jagir Kaur said that a sum of Rs. 32 crores have been approved for various development of the district besides over Rs. 31 crore for strengthening roads network.

>The World Bank has approved Rs. 2100 crore 2nd phase of ‘Punjab State Road Sector Project’ (PSRSP) for the upgradation of about 950 km roads in the state under a new concept of Output & Performance Based Road Contracting (OPRC) being introduced by the Punjab Government for the first tine in the country.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting between a high level World Bank team and Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this morning at his resident. WB team comprised Lead Transport Specialist & Country Sector Coordinator Mr. Ben L.J. Eijbergen, Senior Consultant/Advisor, Transportation Planning & Management Dr. Yitzhak Kamhi, Senior Public Private Partnerships Specialist Mr. Sri Kumar Tadimalla and Senior Program Assistant South Asia Sustainable Development Mr. N.S. Srinivas also expressed satisfaction over pace of the phase I work of PSRSP.

Taking part in the deliberations Mr. Badal informed the members of the WB team that the state Government was also going to organize an International level Road Show on 26th and 27th March 2010 at Chandigard to appraise the visiting International players about the Road Infrastructure Projects and futuristic programmes of the state in this regard, which would certainly help the state to get maximum bidding.

Mr. Badal said that the Punjab would be the first state in the country to initiate this new concept of Output & Performance Based Road Contracting (OPRC). Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to provide World Class Road Infrastructure in the State, Mr. Badal said that covering all the three regions of Malwa, Majha and Doaba of the state in 2nd phase work under PSRSP, 595km roads of Bathinda, Mansa & Sangrur; 208km of Amritsar & Gurdaspur and 155km roads of Anandpur Sahib & Gurdaspur would be upgraded.

Giving the details of physical status of 1st phase of WB funded project, PWD(B&R) Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that under Rs. 380 crore Upgradation work of 152 km roads the Attari-Chabal-Tarn Taran road had been completed whereas 58% work over Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur and 65% over Kharar-Banur-Tepla roads had been completed by the end of January 2010. Similarly under Rs. 250 crore Rehabilitation of 205 km roads project, all the 5 works over Ferozepur-Zira-Dharamkot, Patiala-Sirhind, Chandigarh-Landran-Chunni-Sirhind, Kapurthala-Tarn Taran and Phillaur-Nagar-Rahon roads had been completed. In addition to this 354 km of Periodic maintenance works of Rs. 60 crore had also been completed successfully, added the Minister.

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Secretary PWD(B&R) Mr. Kulbir Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Chief Engineer WB Project (PSRSP) Mr. R.P. Singh and Project Director WB Project for Road Sector Mr. M.S. Nijjar.

ISSUE ALERT TO ALL AIRPORTS TO FOIL DESIGN OF SAJJAN KUMAR TO FLEE FROM COUNTRY –SEKHWAN REQUESTS PM

Chandigarh, February 17: Punjab Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan today requested the Prime Minister to immediately issue alert to all airports in the country against Sajjan Kumar, the prime accused in the 84’ Sikh carnage, as he may flee from the Country, with legal noose getting tightened.

In a statement issued here taday, Mr. Sekhwan pointed out that Sajjan Kumar today deliberately didn’t appear in Karkardooma Court, fearing his arrest, despite three opportunities given by the Hon’ble Court. He said that Sajjan Kumar was deliberately misleading the process of law by taking the plea of pending appeal in the High Court and by distracting the attention of investigating authorities towards legal process, he was making determined attempts to flee from the country using some airport. He said that people of the country have already befooled for last 25 years and his fleeing from the country would diminish the last flicker of hope for justice for the victims of 84 riot victims.

He said that Prime Minister himself being a Sikh ,understands the hurt feelings of Sikh community and should take proactive step in issuing the alert to the all airports in the country, so that nobody should dare to make mockery of law.

Appealing to CBI to immediately affect the arrest of Sajjan Kumar, Mr. Sekhwan said that any delay in arrest would further complicate the case jeopardizing the much delayed process of justice to the victims of 84’ riots.

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 17:
Punjab Government has appointed Mr. Rajinder Singh Dalam as a Member of Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board. As per the orders of the Government, the appointment of Mr. Dalam would consider from the date of joining and rules & regulations regarding his appointment would be fixed later on.
The Spokesman said that with the appointment of Mr. Dalam the number of members including chairman would be seven.

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 17:
The Preparations with regard to 15th decennial Census of India due in year 2011 have started. The Government of India has established an Organization for Census Operations in Punjab State at Janganana Bhawan, Plot No.2-B, Sector 19-A, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh under the charge of Ms. Seema Jain, IAS, Director, Census Operation, Punjab.
According to an official Spokesman during the Census Operations, apart from routine enumeration of population, the officials of Census organization would collect wide range of information also.

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO CHIEF MINISTER, MR D S GURU REVIEWS WHEAT PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENTS AS PART OF HIS FIVE DAY TOUR TO THE STATE FOR SMOOTH PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS.

On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Darbara Singh Guru today started his five-day tour to the state for reviewing and monitoring the arrangements of wheat procurement for Rabbi season. During his visit he will discuss all the necessary arrangements required for smooth procurement of wheat with all the Deputy Commissioners and district heads of procurement agencies, so that the farmers of the state face no hardship or inconvenience in the mandis, during procurement season.

As part of the program, Mr. Guru today held a meeting at Ludhiana with the Deputy Commissioners of districts of Ludhiana, Ropar and Mohali, District Transport Officers and District Heads of procurement agencies of these districts here this afternoon and reviewed the arrangements for wheat procurement.

He inquired about the status of the wheat production in their districts, area under wheat cultivation, expected production, availability of space and vardana, transportation and storage arrangements, electricity and water and mechanical process for cleaning of wheat and so on. He made it clear that no laxity will be tolerated at any level and Deputy Commissioners will be held personally responsible for any lapse in their area of jurisdiction.

The Deputy Commissioners and Heads of the agencies informed that all arrangements are being made on war footing for wheat procurement and there is no problem on any front in speedy procurement of wheat in their respective districts.

Mr. Guru informed that 35 lakh hectares has been brought under wheat cultivation in the state and likely production of this crop is 155 lakh Metric Tonnes.

He said that 110 lakh MT is likely to be procured and the state government is making arrangements for procurement of 115 lakh MT. He said that the state government is very much concerned and in view of this, the arrangements are being monitored two months in advance.

He said that the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has issued directions to all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure hassle- free procurement and there should be no inconvenience to the farmers in the mandis. All the mandis are being equipped with efficient marketing support infrastructure and it will be ensured that the farmers are given payment on the sale of their wheat produce within 48 hours.

All the agencies have geared up their operations and all the arrangements will be in place before the start of procurement operation.

Mr. Guru further asked the Deputy Commissioners to optimally utilize all the resources and to bring efficiency in the system. He told them that special attention should be given to ensure availability of labour and transport, so that there is no problem in timely lifting of wheat from mandis. Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Mr. Vikas Garg, Deputy Commissioner Ropar Mr. Priyank Bharati, Addl. Commissioner Mohali Mr. Iqbal Singh Brar and heads of all Procurement agencies, including PUNGRAIN, MARKFED, PUNSUP, Punjab Warehouse, Punjab Agro and FCI were present in the meeting.

Mr. Guru will visit Jalandhar tomorrow followed by Patiala on 15th February, Bathinda on 16th February, Ferozepure on 17th February and Amritsar on 18th February 2010. He will interact with the Deputy Commissioners and heads of all the procurement agencies during his five days visit to the state.

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 17:
With the concreted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister S. Prakash Singh Badal, a unique 14.5 MW Biomass power project at village Channu Tehsil Malout, District Muktsar has been completed. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India will inaugurate the project on February 19, 2010 at 11.30 AM.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah would also lay the foundation stone of Integrated Biomass Power Project of capacity 10 MW of M/s Green Planet Energy Limited at Village Binjon, Tehsil Garhshankar, District Hoshiarpur on the same day. Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab S. Sukhbir Singh Badal would be Special Guest on the functions.

Information & Public Relations Dept. Punjab
PUNJAB SET TO TAKE LEAD IN THE COUNTRY
IN IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Chandigarh February 15: To bring out revolutionary educational reforms in the schools, the Punjab Government has taken significant steps to promote teaching and learning through record recruitments of teaching faculty and provided required infrastructure in the state schools.

Disclosing this, a spokesman of the Education Department Punjab said that never in the history of post-Independence, the department has seen such path-breaking and ambitious recruitment and development activities as during the last three years but the congress leaders, only to defame the SAD-BJP Government, are misguiding the people about the record progress made in the field of education in the state.

Giving details he said that the previous Congress led government had spent Rs. 475.26 crore only out of total funds of Rs. 618.44 crore during the years 2002-2007 in the Sarv Sikhisha Abhiyan whereas the present government has utilised Rs. 699.25 crore out of Rs. 626.12 crore during the years 2008-2010 which was more than the budgetary outlay.

The state government was able to get Rs. 369 crore from the GOI, more than the other states due to the timely submission of User Certificates (UCs) pertaining to previous funds. This shows that Congress leaders were allegedly making false statements about the non utilization of central funds on education whereas the previous Congress regime was solely responsible for deterioration of education system in the state.

He said that the department has been making earnest and relentless efforts to fill all the vacancies in the schools and has been able to recruit around 26668 teachers during the last two years whereas recruitment process of 7654 teachers was in progress.

Besides this, more 5000 teachers would also be recruited to fill the remaining vacancies. All the recruitments were made purely on merit, openness and in a transparent manner whereas the Congress regime did not pay heed to such a process, he added.

He further added that despite the writs and litigations pending into the various courts filed by teachers unions, the department has been able to promote more than 4000 teachers. More promotions would be made in the coming days as the process had already been initiated. Adding further he alleged that in the previous Congress regime, the schools were suffering from paucity of teachers and most institutions were headless.

He said that Rs.634 crore had also been spent on the upgradation of infrastructure in elementary schools, to provide safe drinking water and toilet facilities in 18969 schools. Punjab is the only state in India having kitchen sheds for preparation of Mid-Day meals in all the Primary and Upper Primary schools, he added.

He further added that the government successfully achieved another milestone in the field of education with the upgradation of 351 schools under NABARD scheme (three in each constituency) at a cost of 141 crore where Science, Commerce, Arts and Vocational Groups would be made functional.

About 197 new Primary schools have been opened and 725 schools have been upgraded from Primary to Upper Primary (middle) schools so as to achieve the ratio of 1:2 in Upper Primary to Primary schools. Besides this, more 70 middle schools would also be upgraded in the state and more in the offing, he said. In addition, 21 new model schools and 21 girls hostels would be set up in 21 educationally backward blocks at a cost of Rs. 3.02 crore and 42.50 crore respectively in the state.

He categorically said that for the first time since Independence a concrete initiative has been taken for education reforms to make Punjab a leading state in the country in terms of providing infrastructure and facilities to primary and upper primary schools. Punjab beats Delhi in this regard, which has shifted to second position as infrastructure index for Punjab is 0.917, higher than 0.909 for Delhi, he said.

He further added that this study is based on Educational Development Index (EDI) which is prepared by National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), a premier organization, established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, GOI, dealing with capacity building and research in planning and management of education not only in India but in South Asia also.

He added that according to an analysis conducted by the NUEPA, on the basis of 2007-08 data, there were 18508 government schools in Punjab in total. Out of which 65.23% schools have play grounds, 88.38% schools have the facility of common toilets and 86.09% schools have got separate girls' toilets. Besides, drinking water was available to 96.68% schools and electricity was available in 83.65% schools. About 40.92% schools even have the facility of ramps.

As per this study 96.32% state schools were running in government buildings whereas 96.45 % schools have pucca buildings, he said.

He further added that the Punjab Government has decided to automate all functions of Government Schools in the State with an aim to develop Management Information System (MIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) for effective planning and decision-making.

The main objective of building MIS and GIS systems was to monitor the delivery of education to school children and to administer and manage the internal functions of schools in an effective and efficient manner, he said.

He further said that that automation of school functions would be implemented in approximately 18500 schools out of which 5250 would be upper primary schools. All upper primary schools have already been provided with computer labs having Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, he added.

Central Committee of Examination, Punjab is organizing the next departmental examination of certain categories of Officers/Officials from March 15 to March 19, 2010 at local Lajpat Rai Bhawan in two shifts i.e. from 9.00 A.M. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that these categories includes Assistant Commissioners/ Extra Assistant Commissioners, I.P.S officers, Civil Judges (Junior Division), Tehsildars/ Revenue Officials, Officers of Forest Department I.F.S., Officers of the Agriculture/ Soil Conservation Services/Horticulture Services, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries department, Wardens/Inspectors of Wild Life Preservation department, Officers/Officials of the department of Jails, Excise and Taxation department, Cooperation, Dairy Development, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, Lady Circle Supervisors of Rural Development and Panchayat Department and Officers of Labour & Employment Departments.

PUNJAB GOVERNMENT EXTENDS THE TERM OF NOMINATED CHAIRPERSONS/MEMBERS OF DISTRICT PLANNING COMMITTEES

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 16:
Punjab Government extended the term of nominated Chairpersons/Members of District Planning Committees upto March 31,2011. The term had been expired/expiring on January/February, 2010. A notification regarding this has been issued here today. This was disclosed here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government.

INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPTT. PB.
Punjab government constitutes Anomaly Committee for
Removing Shortcomings of 5th Pay Commission

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 16:
Punjab Government in a notification issued here today, has constituted 8 –Members Anomaly Committee to remove the shortcomings of 5th Pay Commission Recommendations.

Revealing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Sh. R.C.Nayyar, Financial Commissioner, Forest Department, Punjab would be its Chairman whereas Secretary Expenditure Finance Department, Administrative Secretary Home Department, Administrative Secretary School Education Department, Administrative Secretary Health & Family Welfare Department, Administrative Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Department , Administrative Secretary Personnel Department would be its members. Special Secretary, Finance Department would be its Member Secretary.

Spokesman further said that while consideration the anomaly of the employee, the concerned Administrative Secretary and Head of the Department would be co-opt as members. The committee would set rules and regulation itself regarding the process of the anomaly application of the employees to make work properly and committee would submit its report within six months and further action would be taken by Finance Department.

The Punjab Government has released Rs.344.04 Crore for old age pension and financial assistance to widows, orphans and handicapped persons in the state.

Giving this information, Ch. Swarna Ram Social Security Welfare of Women and Child Development Minister Punjab said that an amount of Rs.525.22 crore has been provided for pensions during the year 2009-10 under old age pension and other financial assistance programmed scheme. Minister further said that 13,09,096 beneficiaries were getting old age pension, 2,25,988 beneficiaries getting financial assistance to widows and destitute women, 95,191 dependent children, 1,16,383 beneficiaries under financial assistance to disabled persons. Total 17,46,658 beneficiaries were being covered, said the minister.

He further said that pensions were disbursed cash through the Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural areas and through banks in urban areas.

The minister said that the state Government was releasing financial assistance to beneficiaries regularly and was fully committed for the welfare of the widows, orphans and handicapped persons in the state.

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