CABINET OKAYS FOR REVIVAL OF 2000 CONSTABLE
POSTS
CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 2, 2008
The Council of Ministers today approved to revive 2000 posts
of constables which had been abolished earlier and the recruitment
process to fill these vacant posts would be initiated soon.
A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the
Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal
this evening.
Giving the details Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan
Bains said that of these existing 2000 posts of constables, 1000
posts would be utilized by absorption of an equal number of SPO's
in the armed battalions. Apart from this, 500 male constables
and 500 female constables would be directly recruited in armed
battalions and general cadre respectively.
The Cabinet strongly condemned the recent inhuman terrorist strikes
in Mumbai and described these as an attempt to outrage the unity
and integrity of the country.
The Cabinet conveyed its heart felt sympathies and condolences
to the members of the bereaved family. A resolution passed at
the meeting saluted the exceptional gallantry displayed by members
of the various wings of security forces. The resolution called
upon all sections of society to close ranks to put up a united
fight against those out to destabilize the country.
The meeting also condoled the death of former Prime Minister
Mr. VP Singh and described him as a great statesman, seasoned
politician, nationalist and a great human being. The Cabinet termed
Mr.VP Singh's demise as a great loss to the nation in general
and Punjab in particular and recalled his great concern for Punjab
when the State was going through a tragic phase as he took the
Punjab problem with utmost gravity and sincerity.
The Cabinet also mourned the sad demise of Mr. Jagdish Ram Sud
father of Forest and Medical & Research Minister Tikshan Sud
who passed away on November 27 and expressed heart felt sympathies
with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty
to grant peace to the departed soul.
The Cabinet also gave approval for revival and filling up of
69 posts of PCS (EB), of which 38 through direct recruitment and
31 by nominations which would be 12 from register A-I, 8 each
from register A-II and A-III, 38 from register B and 3 from register
C.
Keeping in view the exceptional contribution of Shaheed Sewa
Singh Thikriwala to the cause of Punjab state, the Cabinet also
approved to increase the Swatantrata Sainik Sanman pension of
her daughter Smt. Gurcharan Kaur from Rs.3000 to Rs.5000 per month.
The Cabinet also gave nod to provide the indoor medical treatment
facility to the widows and unemployed/unmarried daughters of freedom
fighters as per freedom fighters after their death.
The Cabinet also gave approval to execute agreement as 'service
providers' with the agencies viz. National Securities and Depository
Ltd. (NSDL), SBI, Pension Funds Private Ltd., UTI Retirement Solutions
Ltd., LIC Pension Fund Ltd, Bank of India and New Pension System
Trust as approved or to be approved in future by Pension Fund
Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA) of Central government
and to declare Principal Secretary Finance as 'Authorized Signatory'
to sign agreements on behalf of the state of Punjab and also Director
Treasuries & Accounts in the department of finance as 'Designated
Authority' under the 'New-Restructured Defined Pension Contribution
Scheme (NPS) which had been made and introduced to all the employees
of central government inducted into service on or after 1st January
2004 except armed force to interface into CRA system and for control
and implementation of the scheme.
The Cabinet also gave approval for amending Punjab Land Revenue
Rules, 1909 for paving a way to the appointment of honorary Nambardars
(headmen) amongst the NRIs. He would be required to perform duty
to authenticate the pedigree table of NRIs along with their addresses
abroad, assist the Patwari in preparation, maintenance and up-dation
of record of rights including the harvest inspection in respect
of NRI right holders besides any other duty assigned by the state
government by a specific order.
The Cabinet also gave approval for the restoration of non practicing
allowance to 39 senior PCMS officers of Deputy Director and above
ranks which included Civil Surgeons, Medical Superintendents,
Joint & Additional Directors and Director Health Services.
The Cabinet also approved to amend section 19 (1) and 20 (1)
of the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act 2002 to enhance the Vakaltnama
fee from Rs.6 to Rs.8.
AMRINDER'S SANITY HANGING IN MID-AIR PLANE
BELONGS TO COMPANY OWNED BY MAJITHIAS
Chandigarh December 1, 2008
The Punjab Information and Public Relations Mr. Bikram Singh
Majithia said here today that the former Chief Minister Captain
Amarinder Singh was clearly 'talking with his sanity hanging in
mid-air' while indulging in a fresh bout of allegations about
the Badals buying a Rs. 24 crore plane.
"We have not one but four planes, three of these since 1970.
But these all belong to companies of which my father Mr. Satyajit
Singh Majithia and my brother Mr. Gurmehar Singh are the directors.
We have been in aviation business for nearly 40 years now and
Amarinder knows it because he has several times flown in our planes
as a passenger," said Mr. Majithia in a strongly worded response
to what he described as "a resumption of Amarinder's desperate
resort to shooting arrows in the dark."
"He wants the people to believe that a full fledged passenger
aircraft is a toy plane that can be bought in a fun market with
black money. And he thinks that one can inscribe one's name on
an aircraft like one does on a tractor trolley. This only speaks
of the level of self-deception to which his political desperation
and complete isolation had driven him," said the minister.
It may be recalled that Captain Amarinder Singh had given the
inscription of the letters PSB on the plane as proof that it belonged
to Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. The initials in fact refer to an aviation
code given by the DGCA.
Mr. Majithia said that the plane in question had been bought
by the Orbit Aviation Private limited which is promoted by my
father and brother and which is an off-shoot of the Saraya Aviation
Company. The plane was purchased by taking a valid term loan amounting
to Rs. 19 crore 25 lakhs from the Punjab National Bank, New ²Delhi.The
Orbit Resorts has also subscribed share application in it. These
are companies duly recognized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,
Government of India, and have valid certification for engaging
in non-scheduled air transport service. The Ministry of Home Affairs,
government of India have also approved these. In fact, the Saraya
Aviation also has been approved by the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA) as a maintenance company which provides
maintenance service to various aviation companies.
Mr. Majithia said that unlike Amarinder, the Majithias and the
Badals were dutiful, tax-paying citizens of this country and all
their assets, liabilities a²nd sources of income are listed
in their valid income tax returns. "Maharaja Amarinder Singh
had declared his total annual income for the year ending 31.3.2006
as just Rs. Five lakhs 29,000, which comes to less than Rs. 50,000
per month. The source of this income was declared to be selling
milk. Moving in a fleet of Mercedes and other expensive cars,
he wants the Punjabis to believe this to be true. But this poor
dairyman stays in hotels costing more than Rs. 1 lakh 50,000 per
night, not to count the other activities of leisure and pleasure
that Amarinder is famous for and proud of. Can this money cover
the expenses of the maintenance of his palaces and the salaries
of hundreds of servants. This is the man to level allegations
against a family against whom he could not prove a single²²
penny's worth of ill-gotten money, " said Mr. Majithia
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh to
represent India at ICA conference in Vietnam
Chandigarh, December 1, 2008
Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh would represent
India at International Cooperative Allaince conference scheduled
to be held at Hanoi, Vietnam this week. He will be leave for a
four day tour of the Vietnam on Wednesday.
The conference is being held on ''Role of cooperation in development
of economy particularly in the context of current economic meltdown".
It would be attended by representative of more than 25 countries.
International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific has more than
25 nations as its member which include India, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Burma,
Fiji, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and Vietnam.
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh has been specially invited for this international
event. He will represent India at the conference.
World leaders would deliberate the present economic crisis and
role of cooperative sector in providing fundamental base for socio-economic
development.
REGULAR RECRUITMENT OF THE SAFAI SEWAKS
Chandigarh, December 1, 2008
Punjab Government has decided to make fresh recruitments and
regularize the Safai Sewaks working in " Mohlla Sanitation
Committees' as on 1-4-2008. While intimating this fact Mr. Manoranjan
Kalia, Local Government Minister, Punjab, revealed that those
Safai Sewaks who were working in the '' Mohalla Sanitation Committees
as on 1-4-2008 should be recruited and their services should be
regularized. For this purpose a Selection Committee has been constituted
at the respective Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council level,
which would interview the candidates who were working in Mohalla
Sanitation Committees.
Mr. Kalia further said the Committee would regularize the services
of those Safai Sewaks who qualify the recruitment criteria. This
Committee shall prepare the merit list on the basis of seniority.
Age limit for candidates of general category would be between
18 to 35 years and for scheduled castes candidates upper age limit
would be 40 years. The work of the recruitment/regularization
process shall be completed within a period of three months.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, 1 December, 2008
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Rabi Season through Canal water from
1 December to 6 December 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System
would run on priority basis from Bist Doab Canal, Sidhwan Branch,
Bhatinda Branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch respectively.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line, in Group
'A' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harike and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. all the
direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in-group "A"
being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Abohar Branch off taking from
Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors in-group "B".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries
being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch
, Main Branch Lower and with its distributaries.
Transformation from within
is required says Harsimrat Badal
Chandigarh November 30, 2008
St. Soldier's Public School, Mohali with Punjab IAS Officers'
Wives Association presented "The Pied Piper" of Hamelin,
a Musical Extravaganza here today. The presentation aimed at generating
funds which would be donated to Vatika High School, an institution
set up exclusively for hearing & speech impaired being run
by the Punjab IAS Officers' Wives Association headed by Mrs. R.I.
Singh.
Presiding over the theatrical presentation, Mrs. Harsimrat Badal,
a social activist called upon the society for a transformation
from within rather than seek it from ouside. Expressing concern
over the rise in the atrocities on woman, Mrs. Badal emphasized
the need for changing the mindset of all particularly the women.
Refering to the evils in the society she pinpointed the attention
of all to the female foeticide which was and abuse of nature's
dispensation. This in turn, she said led to the widespread evil
of atrocities against women. She urged the society to take necessary
initiatives to do away with the outdated system of dowry and other
accompanying evils.
Appreciating the laudable objective before the Punjab IAS Officers'
Wives Association in setting up a school for the disabled children.
She donated Rs.2 lacs for this noble cause.
Mrs. R.I. Singh, President of Punjab IAS Officers' Wives Association
expressed her gratitude to the Chief Guest for extending financial
support to the school. She said that Vatika had been providing
equal opportunities to the disable to make them an integral part
of the main stream society.