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Punjab
June, 2008

 

PRIVATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS TO RESERVE 10% FREE SEATS FOR RURAL STUDENTS FROM CURRENT ACADEMIC SESSION

Chandigarh June 24, 2008

On the persuasion of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Association of Punjab State Technical Private Institutions today agreed in principle to reserve 10% of seats in their respective institutions free of cost exclusively for the rural students with first division or above from the academic session 2008-09. These institutions would impart absolute free education including the facilities of free boarding, lodging and transportation to the eligible beneficiaries.
An assurance to this effect was given by the members of the association which called on Punjab Chief Minister here at his official residence late evening.
Expressing grave concern to provide free education to the students with rural background who were deprived of the facility of basic education from the day one due to extreme poverty, Mr. Badal called upon management of the private engineering colleges to come forward for this noble cause.

The Chief Minister assured the association for the sympathetic consideration of their genuine demands including an enactment of Punjab State Technical Education Act and streamlining counseling procedure for the admissions in the various technical institutions adopted by Punjab Technical University (PTU). Mr. Badal also asked the Principal Secretary Technical Education Mrs. Tejinder Kaur to devise ways and means to implement the six year engineering courses in Punjab after class 10th on the Haryana pattern. He also asked her to work out modalities for few Government Senior Secondary schools in the vicinity of these private engineering and technical colleges to run
10+2 classes by the management of these institutions as these were
well equipped with qualified staff and infrastructure as a 'pilot project'. He said this step would certainly improve the quality of students to be admitted in these engineering colleges and the schools would act as a nursery for these institutions. Mr. Badal also emphasized the need to start evening classes in the institutions for short term courses in skill development free of cost for the benefit of rural students. He also asked the management of these institutions to start more engineering colleges especially at the block level within a radius of 25 to 30 K.M to cater to the need of technical education.
Prominent among others who attended the meeting including Principal
Secretary Technical Education-cum- Vice Chancellor Mrs. Tejinder
Kaur, Financial Commissioner Mrs. Romila Dubey, Principal Secretary Transport Mr. D.S. Jaspal, Chairmen PSEB Y.S Ratra, Secretry Housing & Urban Development Arun Goel, Secretary Local Government D.S. Bains, Chief Administrator GAMADA Vivek Partap Singh besides Chairman Satnam Singh Sandhu and President Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal of Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Mr. Manjit Singh of Doaba Group of Colleges, Dr. Zora Singh of Desh Bhagat Group of Colleges and Mr. Sukhdev Singla Chairman Indo-Global Group of Colleges.


BADAL TAKES UPA GOVERNMENT TO TASK FOR OUT OF BOUND INFLATION
INAUGURATES PICASSO ANIMATION COLLEGE AT MOHALI

CHANDIGARH JUNE 24, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today blamed the UPA government for the unprecedented rate of inflation that had even crossed the so far highest level of 11.05%. He attributed Centre's least concern for the common man in its parlance 'Aam Admi' for aggravating their woes, who had been crushed under the unbearable burden of price rise.

Talking to the newsmen on the side lines of the inaugural function of Picasso Animation College here at SAS Nagar Mohali – first of its kind in the North India, Mr.. Badal said: 'Centre is solely accountable for the exorbitant price hike and can not shun its responsibility to control the demon of ever increasing price rise because it was at the helm of affairs in chalking out of the economic policies.

On the education front, Mr. Badal reiterated the government's firm commitment to impart quality education to the students in the rural areas. He said that the state government had chalked out a week long district wise programme starting from June 24 to provide career counseling to the students especially who have passed matriculation in first division to enable them to opt subject of their choice according to their aptitude and caliber.

Asked to comment on the recent shoot out incident in which one innocent Sikh was killed and many others injured in Mumbai, Mr. Badal termed these happenings as tragic and most unfortunate. In an emotional appeal, the Chief Minister urged all the sections of society to maintain peace, communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs. He made firm resolve to maintain peace in the state under all circumstances and no body would be allowed to disturb the hard earned atmosphere of peace, unity and amity in the state.

To another question about the issue of seat sharing in the forthcoming municipal elections in the state, Mr. Badal categorically stated that SAD-BJP alliance had already sorted out this issue amicably. He however said that this vexed issue was obvious in such elections and would be solved soon by taking our allies in confidence.

Earlier, Mr. Badal along with Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia lighted a lamp to mark the inauguration of the college and released an animated film CD 'Chota Bhim' developed by the student of the college. Mr. Badal hoped that this prestigious institution in hi-end animation training would cater to the ever growing demand for highly skilled animation professionals. He pointed out the skills of young students from Punjab and their creative skills, combined with their entrepreneurial drive would enable the management of the Picasso animation to tap their potential optimally in the diverse field of animation.

Taking part in the deliberations Director to the College Suren Uppal said that the aim of this institution was to develop the professional pool of skilled animators from the multifaceted land of Punjab which was blessed with the unique culture and tradition. He mentioned that this prestigious institute would ensure gainful employment to the students as it had unmatched track record of 133% on campus job placements.


BADAL SHARE CONDOLENCES WITH THE VICTIMS OF HEMKUND TRAGEDY, ANNOUNCES EX-GRATIA OF Rs. ONE LAKH FOR EACH KILLED IN MISHAP

CHANDIGARH JUNE 24, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal today deeply mourned the sad and tragic demise of 8 pilgrims who were killed on way to Hemkund Sahib Shrine in Garhwal Himalayas and 7 others injured in an incident of glacier sliding near Hemkund Sahib on Monday late evening.

Mr. Badal rang up the Uttrakhand Chief Minister Mr. Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and urged him to intensify the rescue operations to extricate the bodies buried under the glacier. He also asked the Mr. Khanduri to make necessary arrangements for the transportation of the bodies after identification to respective places in Punjab besides to provide proper medical cure and treatment to the injured. The entire expenditure on their treatment would be borne by the Punjab Government. Mr. Badal also directed the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to be in touch with their counterparts in Uttrakhand to keep a close tab on the situation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Badal announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs. One lac each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000 each for mishap victim with serious and minor injuries respectively.

Mr. Badal shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to Almighty to give courage to them to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul.


 

PUNJAB RECORDS 103% ANNUAL PLAN PERFORMANCE
State to take special steps to access Central Funds

Chandigarh, June 24, 2008

The Punjab Government is reported to have registered an impressive annual Plan performance of 103% in 2007-08. According to the data collected by the Punjab State Planning Board, the State incurred a Plan expenditure of Rs. 5184 crores against an original Plan allocation of Rs. 5111 crores which was subsequently revised to Rs. 5050 crores by the Vidhan Sabha.

Giving details, a spokesperson for the Punjab Government stated that against the revised budgetary Plan allocation of Rs. 3050 crores, the State incurred an expenditure of Rs. 2722 crores, which reflects an achievement of 89%. Under the non-budgetary portion of the Plan, reflecting capital expenditure incurred by Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and Rural Development Fund (RDF), Plan expenditure was Rs. 2462 crores against a revised allocation of Rs. 2000 crores, an achievement of 123%.

Recently, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had conveyed his concern about different Administrative Departments in the State not being able to fully access and utilize their due share of Central funds. The State Government gets funds under Centrally Sponsored Schemes under different sharing formulae as well as under Central Sector Schemes which are 100% Central grants. The Chief Minister had asked the Chief Secretary to closely monitor the performance of different Departments in accessing and utilizing Central funds.

Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has initiated intensive review meetings with Administrative Secretaries of the performance of various Departments in 2007-08 as well as their likely targets for the ensuing year. First of these meetings was held yesterday evening in which the working of dozen-odd Departments was reviewed. Besides the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Principal Secretary Finance DS Kalha, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Secretary Planning Satish Chandra and Special Secretary Planning Tejveer Singh were the officers who attended the meeting. 3 similar meetings to cover the remaining Departments are reportedly planned during the week ahead.

The spokesperson stated that it had been decided during the meeting that topmost priority would be accorded towards releasing all Central grants as well as State share for Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Similarly, the Finance Department has been directed to expeditiously release all grants received for NABARD and Externally Aided Projects (such as World Bank and JBIC) along with their matching State Share. The Chief Secretary has further directed all Departments to ensure that their respective proposals for seeking Central grants in the current year must reach the line Ministries in Government of India within 15 days, he added.

The Planning Department has also examined the current year's Union Budget proposals and circulated a Department-wise list of relevant schemes for the benefit of the concerned Administrative Departments to access Central funds, wherever possible, said the spokesperson.


 

DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION FROM JULY 21

Chandigarh, June 24:

Central Committee of Examination, Punjab is organizing the next departmental examination of certain categories of Officers/Officials from July 21 to July 25, 2008 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.


SHIROMANI AKALI DAL MUMBAI KILLING
SUKHBIR CALLS ON MAHARASHTRA'S GUV, CM

Chandigarh June 24, 2008

The Shiromani Akali Dal president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today urged the Maharashtra Government to take exemplary action against those guilty of firing at innocent and unarmed Sikhs, killing one and seriously injuring several others in Mulund area in Mumbai last week.

Mr. Badal, who is leading a delegation of senior Akali leaders from Punjab, also demanded liberal compensation to those affected by the tragic incident, including a job to a member of the bereaved family.

Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal represented the Punjab government in the delegation.

The delegation called on the Governor and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and also visited the family of Balkar Singh who had died in that incident . The SAD president announced a grant of Rs. Five Lakh to the family of the late Mr. Balkar Singh and Rs. One lakh each to those injured.

Talking to media persons later, Mr. Badal called upon the Maharastra government to take all necessary steps to ensure safety of life and property of the minority Sikh community in the state. He said that Sikhs are a peace-loving community and strongly disapprove of violence of any kind. "here was a natural spontaneous emotional reaction in the community leading to protests. Following this, the Maharashtra police registered cases against 27 Sikhs protesters. But considering the emotional nature of these protests, these cases should be withdrawn and the concerned persons should be released immediately, demanded Mr. Badal during his meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister.

The SAD president said that the Sikhs are a peace-loving community. "We strongly disapprove of violence of any kind and firmly believe in civilized approach to problems. The Sikhs have lived here for centuries and have made Maharashtra their second home. The Punjabis and the Marathas share a common heritage of bravery and patriotism," said Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The other members of the delegation include the SGPC president Jathedar Avtar Singh, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal,the SGPC Vice President Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, former ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra and Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, the SAD Secretary, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema Mr. Avtar Singh Hit, Mr. Onkar Singh Thapar.

 

 

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