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2nd Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference at Nairobi
HARSIMRAT FOR LAUNCHING GLOBAL WAR
AGAINST HUNGER
Chandigarh, September 17, 2010 :
Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member Parliament today gave a call to launch a global war against hunger by enhancing food productivity by investing heavily in technological innovations in the agricultural sector and sharing these with all international and national research organizations.
Representing India in the 2nd Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference at Nairobi and speaking on “The Global Water and Food Crisis” today, Mrs. Badal said that it was matter of great concern that despite unprecedented global economic growth, more than a billion people world over continued to live in extreme poverty, suffering from hunger and malnutrition. She said that the global water and food crisis was one of the most pressing challenges being faced by the humanity at present.
Emphasizing on increasing investment in the agriculture sector to minimum 10% of the GDP, Mrs. Badal said that it was imperative to accord to agriculture the priority it deserved through increased investments. She said that the Maputo Declaration by the African Governments for raising the share of agriculture in their national budgets to at least 10 per cent was a welcome step and needed to be followed by other regions as well. Mrs. Badal said that such a move would lead to increasing the production and reducing the gap between the Science of agriculture and the Art of cultivation.
Speaking about steps taken in India, the Member Parliament said that India was committed to remove hunger and malnutrition through various initiatives including an improvement in our agricultural productivity to ensure adequate availability of food grains to all. She said that India was focusing on sustainable growth of rural sector agriculture to help people find a way out of poverty.
Describing the global water and food crisis as one of the most pressing challenges being faced by the humanity at present, Mrs. Badal said that we should all endavour to achieve the goal of the United Nations to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger from the Earth by 2015.
Speaking about the water crisis, Mrs. Badal said that the crisis in water was essentially caused by the way water was mismanaged. Wasteful and imprudent use of water in the cities; declining water level due to over-exploitation of ground water for agricultural, industrial and urban uses in excess of annual recharge and the pollution of rivers are all causes and symptoms of water crisis, she added.
It may be added Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal is the lead speaker representing India in 2nd Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference at Nairobi and earlier on 14th and 15th September she has already delivered keynote address on Enhancing Participation of Women in Decision making Process and Strategies to increase women representation in Parliament
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PUNJAB TO FLOAT RS. 200 CRORE LOAN
Chandigarh, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010:
The Punjab government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India(RBI) today floated Rs. 200 crore (nominal) loan to finance part of Capital Expenditure of Plan Schemes and other development schemes under execution.
According to an official spokesman the State government today notified the sale of Punjab Government Stock (Securities) of 10 year tenure for a aggregate amount of Rs. 200 crore (Nominal). The spokesman said that consent of Central government has already been obtained to the floatation of this loan.
The spokesman said that the government stock would be sold through RBI Mumbai by auction which would be conducted by them in its Mumbai office on September 21,2010. The application form duly filled in with the Competitive bids should be submitted in electronic format, on the Negotiated Dealing System (NDS)to the RBI, Mumbai on September 21,2010 between 10.30 A.M to 12.30 PM while the non-competitive bids should be submitted electronically on NDS between 10.30 AM to 11.30 PM on the same day. Result of auction would be displayed on the same day and successful bidders would make payment on September 22, 2010
The spokesman added that this 10 year tenure loan would be repaid at par on on September 22, 2020. He said that interest will be paid every half yearly on March 22 and September 22 and cut off yield determined at the auction would be the coupon rate percent per annum of the stock sold at the auction.
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Dr Sandha President Veterinary Council
Chandigarh, Sept 16, 2010:
Dr Harjinderjit Singh Sandha, Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab has been elected as president of Punjab state veterinary council, here today.
Dr Ashok Sharma, Dr T P Saini ,Dr Sukhdev Singh and Dr Sanjay Kumar were unanimously elected as members , whereas Dr Jarnail Singh, Dr Shiwinder Singh, former director, Animal Husbandry and Dr Amarjeet Singh Nanda , Animal Husbandry Commissioner , Govt. of India have been nominated by the Punjab Government as members. The Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Ludhiana, Dr Simrat Sagar Singh is an ex-officio member of the council. Veterinary Council is a regulatory body with mandate to ensure minimum standard of veterinary education in the state, keeping check on the quackery and to monitor veterinary services.
BADAL APPEALS THE JOINT DELEGATION OF CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND COMMUNAL HARMONY IN THE STATE
AGREES TO THEIR DEMAND OF CEMETERIES
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CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 16, 2010:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today appealed the joint delegation of Christian and Muslim community to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state as none of any nation or state could ever make progress and development in the wake of communal frenzy.
Addressing a joint delegation of nearly 250 members from the Christian and Muslim communities here at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Badal said that no one would be allowed to disturb the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony and hurt the sentiments of any community. He cautioned both the communities to beware of such anti-social elements which were bent upon to disturb the peace and harmony in the state.
Mr. Badal said that he had already directed the police authorities not to be complacent with the law breakers and they should be given exemplary punishment as per the law of the land as deterrent. He appreciated the efforts of the members of both the communities in exercising restraint over the recent unfortunate incident at Malerkotla for displaying the indomitable spirit of brotherhood and amity.
Responding to the demands put forth by the Chairman of Punjab Minorities Commission Mr. Munawar Masih, the Chief Minister announced that the state government would provide land for cemeteries (burial
places) to both the communities either from the Panchayat land of villages or in case of non availability of such land it would even purchase land for this social cause. He also asked the Chairman to provide the list of towns and villages to the state government where there were no cemeteries. He also announced to construct community halls for both the communities at suitable places as per their unanimous choice and said all the members to participate the sacred occasions like Eid, Christmas, Gurpurab and Hindu festivals etc.
collectively rising above the petty considerations of caste, colour and creed. He also agreed to preside over the function of the Christmas to be jointly organized by the both communities either at Chandigarh or Mohali this year.
The Chief Minister also revealed that the state government had already enacted a legislation to punish the guilty for spreading communal hatred or showing disrespect to any religion or community, which was not only non-bailable offence but also had the provision of ten years imprisonment with fine. He also assured the Muslim Community that he would soon direct the DGP Punjab to look into the cases of innocent persons against whom FIRs had been registered in the Malerkotla case, for none of their fault. He also announced to appoint Registrar, Marriages as per the Church Law to facilitate the marriages solemnized under Christianity, besides framing the constitution with appropriate rules and regulations of the newly constituted State Minorities Commission.
Earlier, the Chairman of State Minorities Commission Mr. Munawar Masih apprised the Chief Minister about the sad incident at Malerkotla and commended the efforts of Muslim Community for their whole hearted support and cooperation in carrying out on the spot enquiry by him along with other members of the Commission. He said the innocent persons preventing the incident should be protected at all costs and guilty must be punished severely as an eye opener for the divisive forces. He said the Commission under his Chairmanship had been able to conduct meetings in 14 districts of the state to redress the grievances of minorities.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Father John Grewal, Haji Saleem Ahmed, Benny Thomas, Manju Quereshi, Mohammad Ifan Malik, Father Premanand, and Anwar Masih.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Advisor Mr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Principal Secretary Mr. D.S. Guru and Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.
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Chief Electrol Office Punjab Sep. 16, 2010:
Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
This is for the information of political parties and for the general public that as per the Election Commission of India’s scheduled programme and instructions the final publication of the photo electoral roll as on 1.1.2010 has been done on 15th September, 2010, in all the assembly constituencies as per the latest delimitation order. There were 8785347 male and 8112384 female totaling 16897731 voters in the draft photo electoral roll. However, after house to house survey there are 8589556 male and 7767025 female totaling 16356581 voters in the final roll.
As per the Election Commission of India’s instructions this time the photo electoral roll was checked through a house to house survey by the Booth Level Officers. However, as per the projected 2001 census figures there are still 18% citizens above the age of 18 years who have not registered themselves as voters.
During this revision approximately 1035031 voters have been deleted from the rolls. During the house to house survey these voters were not found present at their given addresses and no replies to the notices issued to them were received, with the result there has been a net decrease of 3.20%.
1. Dead - 305661
2. Shifted - 700928
3. Double vote - 28442
The state of Punjab now has 16356581 voters of which 15960581 have their photos in the rolls which comes to 97.58%.
The general public and political parties are earnestly requested to come forward and cooperate with the election staff to make the electoral rolls error free.
For more information please contact the District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, Election Tehsildars and Booth Level Officers.
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CM APPROVES TO HOLD AUCTION TWICE A WEEK
FOR THE SALE OF 5354 PLOTS IN MANDIS
Allows 5% rebate on lumpsum payment
CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to the Colonization department to hold auction of 5354 unsold plots twice a week instead of once as done earlier in different Mandis across the state, for the quick allotment of these plots to the interested persons.
A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal in a meeting held here at Chief Minister Residence this morning.
The Chief Minister also approved the proposal of the colonization department to allow them to hold the auction of the plots reserved for the Petrol Pumps under its site plan.
The Chief Minister was apprised by the Director, Colonization that as many as 22,774 plots of different categories in 93 Mandis under the jurisdiction of department had been sold off through auction and the remaining 5354 would be soon sold to the interested parties through the mode of auction by the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) on the pattern of the Punjab Mandi Board.
It was informed in the meeting that the auction of these unsold plots would fetch income of nearly Rs. 470 crore to the State Government. The Chief Minister also asked the Director Colonization to immediately initiate action against the defaulter allottes to recover the outstanding payment of Rs. 218 crore from them on account of non-payment of the installments due on these plots, already allotted to them.
Mr. Badal also allowed a rebate of 5 percent to the allottes who would made a lumpsum payment on the allotment of the plot as per the stipulated terms and conditions and also asked the department to look into the possibility for permitting the allottes to get their plot mortgaged with the bank for getting the loan sanctioned from it for the purpose of making full payment.
Prominent amongst other who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. S.C Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. D.S.Guru, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. K.B.S. Sidhu, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Ashok Kumar and Director Colonization Mr. G. K. Singh.
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METRO CASH & CARRY TO OPEN WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
AT ZIRAKPUR AND LUDHIANA BY MID 2011
CHANDIGARH SEPTMBER 15, 2010:
Metro Cash & Carry - an international self-service wholesale retailer company would initially make its two wholesale distribution centers at Zirakpur and Ludhiana operational by mid 2011.
This was disclosed by the Metro Cash & Carry CEO Asia Mr. Frans Muller, who called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal at latter's residence this afternoon. He also assured the Chief Minister that the group would also launch the other two distribution centers at Patiala and Jalandhar by the end of year 2011.
A 6-member delegation led by Mr. Muller apprised the Chief Minister that these centers would give a push for the modern practices in the development of the state with the focus on agriculture development and employment generation in allied farming. Mr. Muller said that the company was also contemplating to establish two more such centers at Bathinda and Amritsar. He also revealed that the group had already set up two such distribution centers each at Hyderabad, Bangalore besides one each at Kolkata and Mumbai, adding he said perhaps this was the ever biggest investment in the country by the internationally acclaimed wholesale corporate house.
Mr. Muller further appreciated the commitment of Chief Minister for giving all the requisite clearances to them for setting up the wholesale chains in the state. He pointed out that these ventures across the state would result in creation of over 1000 jobs for local youth and impart training in modern management practices and logistics besides sourcing vegetables, fruits and other fresh items directly from local farmers thereby eliminating the middleman, according to the company's committed philosophy to supplement the income of the farmers.
The Chief Minister asked Mr. Muller to set up different sourcing centers of vegetables and fruits especially kinnow in Punjab and assured the delegation to extend fulsome support and cooperation in this regard. He suggested the company to explore the possibility for setting up of these sourcing centers well-equipped with the facilities like cold chain, packaging and grading etc. near Malerkotla which was known for vegetables in that area, Hoshiarpur and Abohar for kinnow.
The delegation comprised MD Metro Cash & Carry India Mr. Rajiv Bakshi, Director India Mr. Raj Narayan, Head Corporate Mr. Vishal Sehgal, Head Real Estate Mr. Mahesh and Incharge Corporate Relations (North) Mr. Naveen Sharma.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary and Secretary Housing Mr. SS Sandhu, Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and OSD Mr. NS Sangha.
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BADAL CALLS UPON ENGINEERS FOR THEIR VIGOROUS EFFORTS TO BRING PUNJAB BACK AT NUMBER ONE POSITION
CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 15, 2010:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave clarion call to the fraternity of engineers for their vigorous efforts in bringing Punjab back to its number one position in the country.
Mr. Badal was addressing a galaxy of Engineers from the rank of Junior Engineer to Chief Engineer from various wings in different departments of Punjab government throughout the state here at Bhargav auditorium (PGI) during the ever first state level celebrations on the 43rd. ‘Engineers Day’ to mark the 150th Birth Anniversary of India’s great Engineer Bharat Rattan Dr. Mokshagundam Vivesvaraya.
Paying rich tributes to Dr. M. Vivesvaraya, the Chief Minister said that the real tributes to this great son of our country would be that if we all put forth our best to accomplish our duties with dedication and devotion. Mr. Badal said that the state government as well as every engineer was accountable to the public so it was their bounden duty to ensure the quality of the material used as per the specifications of the work.
The Chief Minister categorically said that it was the first time when the state government was celebrating this day at such a high level to give due recognition to the enormous efforts of our engineers in strengthening the state’s infrastructure. Mr. Badal also felicitated the engineers for their hard work as Punjab had always been rated as number one state in the category of infrastructure development by India Today.
Responding to the demands of engineers Mr. Badal announced that ‘Engineers Bhawan’ would be built in Mohali for which Punjab government would allot a suitable plot. He further said that the issues of time scale for JEs and new recruitment would also be sorted out. He also agreed in principle for the creation of the post of Engineer-in-Chief as per the demand of engineers. He also assured that the association of sympathetic acceptance of their other genuine demands.
Speaking on the occasion Information and Public Relations Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan congratulated the Engineers for the state level celebrations of Engineers Day for the first time in the history of Punjab. Recommending their demands to the Chief Minister, he said that the engineers of the state had performed tremendously to fulfill the aspirations of the people by implementing the policies and programmes of SAD as it had committed in its manifesto.
On the occasion, the Chief Engineer (South) Department of Water Supply and Sanitation & Chairman of Function Organizing Committee Er. S.R. Aggarwal welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and Superintending Engineer, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation & Organizing Secretary Er. N.K. Dhir, presented a charter of demands.
Earlier, Mr. Badal inaugurated the function by lighting a ceremonial lamp and released a souvenir to commemorate this historic day. Principal Secretary Public Health Mr. P.S. Aujla presented a memento to the Chief Minister. On this occasion Mr. Badal also visited the exhibition and evinced keen interest in different engineering equipment displayed by different companies from all over the company.
Prominent amongst those who were present on occasion included Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary S. Des Raj Dhugga Er. D.K. Jijhawan, Er. H.R. Goyal, Er. Subhash Mahajn, Er. Parkash Singh, Er. Samrjeet Goel (all Superintending Engineer), Executive Engineer Er. Sunil Kansal, Chairman Council of Diploma Engineer, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Er. Satnam Singh Dhanao. Besides, Engineers and JEs from various Punjab engineering departments like PWD (B&R), Irrigation, Water Supply & Sanitation, Rural Development & Panchayats, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Punjab Mandi Board, PUDA and allied authorities participated in large number.
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BADAL ASSURES DELEGATION OF REQUISITE RELEASE OF RIVER
WATER TO RAJASTHAN
CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 15, 2010:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today assured 3-member delegation from Rajasthan that they would get their due share of river water from Punjab as per the indented supply.
An assurance to this effect was given by Mr. Badal to the delegation comprising MLA and former State Minister Mr. Radheysham Gangnagar, Ex-Agriculture Minister Mr. Surinder Singh TT and Ex-Irrigation Mr. Gurjant Singh Brar, which met the Chief Minister here at this afternoon.
Mr. Badal informed the delegation that he had already directed the Chief Engineer Canals to ensure the requisite supply of water as per the indent placed by the government of Rajasthan.
The delegation also thanked the Chief Minister for enhancing the release of water from Rajasthan feeder.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by the Secretary Irrigation & Power Mr. Arun Goel and Chief Engineer Canal Mr. AS Dullet.
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BADAL APPROVES Rs. 41 CRORE FOR THE CLEANING
OF CANALS AND DRAINS
Chandigarh, September 15, 2010:
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave a nod for the release of Rs. 41 crore for the cleaning of canals and drains in the state.
A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal in a meeting with the senior officers of the Irrigation Department to review the progress of various ongoing projects of Irrigation and Drainage at Chief Minister’s residence this morning.
The Chief Minister directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to personally monitor the progress of these projects especially the cleaning of canals and drains, which should be accorded the top priority. He was apprised that out of 7238 kms, 4031 kms of drain had already been de-silted and the remaining drains would also be cleaned before the on set of the next monsoon season in a phased manner. Out of Rs. 41 crore sanctioned for cleaning of canals and drains, Rs. 23.51 would be spent on canals and Rs. 17.49 crores on drains. Mr. Badal also asked the Finance Department to release the state’s share for the execution of Shahpur Kandi Dam from time to time to ensure its speedy completion.
The Chief Minister also asked the Irrigation Department to put up a detailed proposal to the state planning department for the plan enhancement of various schemes and projects of Irrigation and Drainage so that the enhanced allocation of funds could be made in the next financial budget for which he asked the Chief Secretary to coordinate among the Irrigation, Planning and Finance Department.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary Irrigation & Power Mr. Arun Goel, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, M.D. PIDB Mr. Sukhbir Singh sandhu, besides the Chief Engineers of the irrigation Department.
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CM RELEASES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF RS.1 CRORE
FOR LEH VICTIMS OF CLOUD BURST
CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 15, 2010:
Expressing solidarity with the victims of the flash-floods caused by
cloud burst in the Leh Sub-Division of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today released Rs.1 crore out of the Chief Minister Punjab's Relief Fund.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the financial assistance of Rs.1 crore had been released in pursuance to the announcement made by the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal during his recent visit to Leh.
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PUNJAB CM GREETS PEOPLE ON THE PARKASH UTSAV OF
BABA SIRI CHAND JI
CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 15, 2010:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today extended his warm greetings to the people of Punjab on the auspicious occasion of the Birthday of Baba Siri Chand ji – the elder son of Guru Nanak Dev ji.
In his message on the eve of the Parkash utsav, Mr. Badal said that Baba Siri Chand ji, the great mystic saint redeemed the mankind from the pangs of sufferings in the materialistic society by showing the path of spirituality to achieve the ultimate goal of divinity salvation.
The Chief Minister impressed upon the people to always remember the underlying spirit and the teachings preached by Baba Siri Chand ji.
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2nd Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference at Nairobi
HARSIMRAT SUGGESTS STRATEGY TO ENHANCE PARTICIPATION
OF WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Chandigarh, September 15,2010:
Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member Parliament today gave a call to launch multi-pronged strategy to enhance the participation of women in decision making process.
Delivering keynote address at 2nd Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference at Nairobi, Kenya today on the subject “Enhancing Participation of Women in Decision making Process” Mrs. Badal said that the strategy must include framing women oriented monetary and fiscal policies supporting their Inclusive Growth, reforming gender discriminatory laws, providing women access to education, developing awareness amongst the public regarding gender in education systems thereby fostering new societal attitudes to support gender equality.
Mrs. Badal said that besides this the state should keep the issue of women’s equality and empowerment high on the list of priorities and ensure that adequate allocation of funds was available in the national budgets and that the funds were properly utilized.
Mrs. Badal regretted that though women constitute nearly half of the world’s population and half of each and every national population but their role has been confined as domestic free labour. She said that it was unfortunate that the women's intellectual potential, electoral weightage and capacity to act for change was not being understood properly by the society. She said that resultantly women remained sidelined at various levels of decision-making, especially in politics.
Discussing the gender divide Mrs. Badal said that women’s place remained confined to private domain that was associated with household, reproductive work and femininity whereas she was kept away from the public domain that was associated with political authority, public decision-making, productive work and masculinity. She regretted that such assumptions based on attitudinal bias had always hindered the participation of women in the public domain.
Mrs. Badal said that even in the private domain, women’s bargaining power at the household level was restricted primarily due to lack of access and control over resources, no autonomy in decision making, low self esteem, low skills and education, restricted physical mobility and eventually less power as compared to men.
Mrs. Badal emphasized that women empowerment was the key component to achieve gender equality in any country. Listing out steps taken by India in the directions of gender equality Mrs. Badal said that besides giving equal rights to the women in the Constitution, the establishment of National Commission for Women, constitution of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Empowerment of Women and adoption of National Policy for the Empowerment of Women were major initiatives of the India in this directions.
Describing the enactment of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts reserving 33 per cent seats for women as landmark Acts, Mrs. Badal said that these laws have increased the participation of women at the grass root level. She said that now the Government has decided to enhance the Reservation for Women in Local Elective Bodies to 50 per cent. Mrs. Badal informed that a Constitution Amendment Bill reserving One-Third of the seats for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies have been passed by the Upper House of our Parliament.
Mrs. Badal also listed out the steps taken by India for economic and legal empowerment of women.
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SECURITY OF THE WORKERS TO BE ENSURED----SUD
Chandigarh September 15, 2010:
Mr.Tikshan Sud, Labor Minister, Punjab has directed all the Government, Semi Government of Private factory owners to remain extra vigilant towards the security of the labor class working in these factories or industrial houses.
This was stated here today by the minister while addressing an emergent meeting of the officers of the Department of Labor especially convened to ensure effective measures taken to check fatal accidents occurred in the factories.
Taking strong note of the incidents frequency occurred at the work premises of the factories over the past few months due to the negligence, Mr. Sud said that the Government was fully aware of such incidents and taking adequate measures to tackle with such situations.
Assuring the labor community, he said that the Govt. was fully committed towards the welfare and wellbeing of the workers and no such incident would go unnoticed. Severe punishment would be initiated against anybody whosoever found guilty of negligence in discharging duties. He also suggested that mechanical disorders in the machinery be rectified immediately and faulty machines be replaced on priority basis otherwise strict action would be taken even the closure of the unit or cancellation of the license would be ordered. Mock drills would also be planned in the premises of the factories in order to make the security persons ready to tackle with such happenings. Common helpline would also be started so that the rescue operations could be started within a few seconds in case of such type of disaster. Private mobile companies would be contacted for this purpose to flash urgent messages .Mr.Sud directed the officers of the department to immediately provide financial aid to the family of the workers who died while working in the factories and similar help be extended to the injured, said the minister.
Mr. R.C.Nayyar, Principal Secretary, Labour, Mr. Prabhjot Singh Mand,
Labour Commissioner, Punjab and officers of the labour department were also in the meeting.
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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO REVISE GIDELINES
FOR ELIGIBILITY OF PCMS DOCTORS
Chandigarh Sept,15, 2010:
The Punjab Government would revise the guidelines for the eligibility of PCMS doctors for 60 percent quota in post-graduation seats in government medical colleges in the state. This step has been taken to encourage the PCMS doctors to opt to work in health institutions located in far off districts and border areas. The revised policy would be implemented with effect from November 1, 2010.
Stating this here today, a spokesman of the government said that according to the existing policy PCMS doctors who have completed 3 years of rural service are eligible for 60% quota in PG seats. Rural service for this purpose means service at health institutions situated beyond 15 km of the notified municipal areas. Every year's additional service beyond 3 years would fetch 1 extra mark. Referring to the need for fresh categorization, he said that the main purpose of earmarking 60% quota in PG seats is to encourage / incentives PCMS doctors for serving in comparatively far off, remote and unattractive locations. The existing categorization of all stations into urban and rural is too rigid and does not fully account for the comparative backwardness of the locations. All rural areas in the State have been treated at equal footing irrespective of the fact whether these areas are located in the border districts or in the districts adjoining Haryana or in any other district. Rural area has been defined as area situated beyond 15 km of the notified municipal limits. This 15 km limit has been fixed for all the municipal towns irrespective of their size and the category of Municipal Committee i.e. areas situated next to a small Municipal Committee like Bhikhi in Mansa district and rural area situated next to the Corporation town Ludhiana have been given equal weightage. There is, therefore, a need to classify all the health institutions on the basis of new criteria which would take into account the difficulty posed by the remoteness of the location and connectivity issues.
Adding further he said that all the health institutions would be classified into the following 3 new categories namely normal, difficult and more difficult. Normal Service at these places would not count for eligibility for 60% quota in PG seats. All the health institutions situated within 20 km of municipal limits of Corporation towns i.e. Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala and the capital city of Chandigarh / SAS Nagar would be treated as 'Normal’. Similarly, health institutions situated within 10 km of municipal limits of District Head Quarter of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn-Taran, SBS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar, Sangrur and Moga would be treated as 'Normal'. While defining the difficult services, he said that Health institutions not covered above would be treated as 'difficult' i.e. health institutions beyond the municipal limit of Barnala, Faridkot, Mansa, Mukatsar and Ferozepur and health institutions beyond 10 km of municipal limit of 9 districts above and beyond 20 km of 7 towns above would be treated as 'difficult'. PCMS doctors who have rendered at least 3 years of service in 'difficult' areas would be eligible for 60% PG quota. Every year's additional service beyond 3 years would fetch 1 extra mark subject to a maximum of 5 marks.
He also said that Certain health institutions were found to be unattractive by the employees of the department on account of they being located at far off and remote places or being located in the border districts at Gurdaspur, Tarn-Taran and Ferozepur or being located in the districts adjoining Haryana like Southern Patiala, Southern Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Mukatsar etc. would come under more difficult categories. 1 year of service at these 'more difficult' places would be equal to 1½ year of service in 'difficult' area i.e. a candidate who has rendered 2 years of service in the institutions categorized as 'more difficult' would be eligible for 60% PG quota seats. Every year of additional service beyond 2 years at such places would fetch 1½ extra mark subject to maximum of 5 marks.
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Kahlon greets people on Parkash Utsav of Baba Sri Chand ji
Chandigarh, September 15, 2010:
Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Nirmal Singh Kahlon today greeted the people of Punjab on the Parkash Utsav of Baba Sri Chand Ji , the eldest son of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the founder of an ascetic sect of udasis.
In his message Mr. Kahlon said hat on this sacred occasion we should take a vow to foster goodwill, communal harmony and love amongst the various sections of the society professing different faiths and religions.
Mr. Kahlon called upon the people of the state to celebrate the occasion in unison by rising above the materialistic values and parochial considerations.
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Khangura for Amritsar Airport retaining direct Air India international connectivity
CHANDIGARH, September 14, 2010:
Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura has urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to ensure that the Air India retained its international connectivity from Amritsar International Airport. Referring to the reported proposal of the Air India to route Canada flights from Delhi instead of Amritsar, he said, it ran contrary to the interests of the people of Punjab, particularly the Non Resident Indians.
In a statement issued here today, Khangura said, “the proposal to route UK and Canada flights from Amritsar via Delhi is a regressive move that must be rejected forthwith”. He observed, if numerous other international airlines can maintain direct connectivity with Amritsar, why not Air India?
He said, consistent efforts of the then Punjab government led by Capt Amarinder Singh had resulted in the resumption of flights after twenty years when Air India reconnected Amritsar with the outside world in May 2005 with its flight to Toronto via Birmingham.
However, Khangura regretted, “the sad reality is that the current Akali-led Punjab government has been intent from the beginning on undermining Amritsar International airport”. He disclosed, “our Deputy Chief Minister has a fleet of private jets and may not need commercial airlines but, all the same, he has made it abundantly clear that the priorities for his government are to promote Chandigarh Airport, for the substantial real estate opportunities surrounding that the ruling family and party cronies have amassed considerable interests in”.
The Qila Raipur MLA observed, if in the medium term Punjab can only have two viable international airports then Sukhbir Badal would prefer these to be Chandigarh and the new Bathinda Airport that he is so keen to promote.
Khangura suggested, instead of the current proposal Air India should be promoting Amritsar as a regional hub to take passenger traffic to London and beyond to the Eastern Seaboard of USA and Canada.
He said, with the existing Boeing 777 fleet Air India could readily offer daily flights Amritsar to London or Birmingham, ultimately terminating in Toronto, New York and Chicago on different days of the week.
He observed, if similar services are added from Delhi and good connectivity to these key North American cities via the UK, whilst providing passengers an opportunity to travel direct to Delhi or Amritsar on both days can be achieved.
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