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SEPTEMBER, 2008

 

ALLOTMENT SCHEDULE OF RICE MILLS FOR PADDY SEASON NOTIFIED

Chandigarh, September 22, 2008

The Punjab Food & Supplies Department today notified be schedule of allotment of Rice Mills for Kharif Marketing Season 2008-09.

In a communication sent to all the District Controllers in the State of Punjab, Deputy Director(Field) of Patiala, Ferozepur and Jalandhar, It has been stated that the rice mills for custom milling of paddy to be procured by the state agencies in Kharif Marketing Season 2008-09 would be allotted under the supervision of Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab in his office as per schedule.

The spokesman said that allotment of rice mills for custom milling of paddy for Nawan Shahar, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Taran Taran, Gurdaspur, Kaputhala, Jalandhar would be made on September 25, 2008 whereas allotment of rice mills for Patiala, Sangrur, Ferozepur would be done on September 26, 2008. For district Ropar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Barnala, allotment would be made on September29, 2008. Allotment of Rice Mills in the remaining districts of Moga, Bathinda, Faridkot and Muktsar would be made on September 30, 2008.

All district Controllers and District Managers of all the procuring agencies of all the districts have been directed to reach the office of Director, Food & Supply according to the notified schedule


 

CONFERENCE ON TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY

Chandigarh, September 22, 2008

Mahatama Gandhi Institute of Public Administration Chandigarh would hold a Conference on Total Quality Management(TQM) at its campus on September 24, 2008 with a view implement TQM practices in the Government set-up.

According to an official spokesman Mr. V.K.Agnihotri , IAS (Retd.), Secretary General, Rajya Sabha who had Championed the cause of TQM in Indian Public Administration would inaugurate the Conference.

Chief Secretary Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh would preside over the Conference. The spokesman added that Mr. Padamvir Singh, IAS, Joint Director LBSNAA, Mussorie, Mr. Sachit Jain, Executive Director, Vardhman Group, Ludhiana and Mr. Mudit Saxena, Senior Vice President, GENPACT, Gurgaon would also attend this Conference.


RAJKUMAR GUPTA ASSUMING CHARGE AS CHAIRMAN PSIEC

Chandigarh September 22, 2008

Mr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Ex-MLA Jalandhar, today took over as Chairman of Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation (PSIEC) at Udyog Bhawan Chandigarh.

Installation ceremony of assuming charge was done in the presence of Local Government and Industries & Commerce Minister Punjab Mr. Manoranjan Kalia and Revenue Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar.

Prominent among other who attended his installation ceremony included Sh. S.K. Bhandari, MLA, Sh. Rakesh Rathore Mayor Jalandhar, Sh. Kanwaljeet Bhatia Senior Deputy Mayor Jalandhar, Sh. Parvesh Tangri, Deputy mayor Jalandhar, Sh. Ravi Mohindroo district President, Mandal Pradhan, Councillors from BJP & Akali Dal and members of the district BJP Committee.


BADAL DECLARES BABA FARID AAGMAN PURB AS HERITAGE FESTIVAL

FARIDKOT SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Sing Badal today announced that Baba Farid Aagman Purb would be declared as 'Heritage Festival' from the next annual plan on the pattern of Heritage festivals of Patiala, Amritsar and Kapurthala to promote the cultural and ethnic significance of Baba Sheikh Farid's legacy in far more emphatic manner.

Presiding over the 23rd Baba Baba Sheikh Farid Rural Sports and Cultural Festival here at Nehru Stadium organised by the Faridkot District Cultural Society on the commemoration of the Aagman Purb of Baba Sheikh Farid - one of the great spiritual ambassadors, poet prophet and founder of 'Sufi' tradition in India, Mr. Badal said that the Punjab government would make provision of funds for the commemoration of Aagman Purb of Baba Sheikh Farid in the next annual plan so that it could be well organised on a large scale keeping in view its importance being declared as the National Festival by Government of India way back in 1998.

Paying glowing tributes to Baba Sheikh Farid, the Chief Minister said that Baba Farid was a father of Punjabi poetry and his message was of universal relevance and visualised consciously to create a healthy social order where virtues like human love, compassion, equality, humility, humanism and freedom reigned supreme.

Mr. Badal said that Baba Sheikh Farid's Bani including 112 shaloks and 4 Shabads had been incorporated in Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji. He said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is a cosmopolitan holy scripture of all faiths, when we bow our head in reverence before Sri Guru Granth Sahib, we pay respects to Baba Farid along with great Gurus with same devotion.
Showing his intense passion for overall development of Faridkot district, Mr. Badal said that he would soon hold a series of Sangat Darshan in Faridkot, Panjgraian and Kotkapura to listen to the grievances of the people and their redressal on the spot. He said that the age old cultural heritage of erstwhile princely state of Faridkot would be preserved at all costs and government would prepare a comprehensive plan for the same.

Dwelling on the importance of sports, Mr. Badal said that sports not only developed one's overall personality but also inculcate the sense of sportsmanship, dedication and self-discipline. Such sports and cultural activities provide an opportunity to the players and artistes to exhibit their acumen, talent and performance to enable them to compete at the national as well as international level. He said that our younger generations must be acquainted with our rich cultural heritage which was also the need of the hour.

On the occasion, Mr. Badal honoured 5 eminent personalities viz. President INTACH Chapter Faridkot Prof.Baltej Singh Brar, Noted Poet Fuja Singh Brar, renowned playwright Dr.Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Research Scholar Subhash Parihar and District Public Relations Officer Manohar Singh for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields with a cash award of Rs.5100, citation and a shawl. He also honoured 5 top wrestlers of the state including Randhir Singh Dhira, Hari Krishan, Balwant Rai, Harpreet Singh and Mandeep Kaur. He also released a souvenir 'Faridkot Chronicle' prepared by the Faridkot District cultural society on the occasion.

Later the Chief Minister inaugurated Rs.2.21 crore fully air-conditioned Farid Auditorium in the local Baba Farid Public School. He announced a grant of Rs.10 lakh for a library and a shooting range in the school.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Shekhon, Mr. Mantar Singh Brar, Mr.Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr. Manmohan Singh Brar and Mr.Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon ( all Akali leaders) and Chairman Baba Farid Educational Institutions Inderjit Singh Sekhon.


Bill on "Medicare Services & Medical Professionals Protection of Violence Act-2008

The recently passed bill on "Medicare Services & Medical Professionals Protection of Violence Act-2008" in the Punjab Assembly by the state government has been declared as a welcome step by the medical professionals of Punjab which has given a big relief to them. This will ultimately benefit the patients as sometimes the doctors used to refuse serious patients due to fear of untoward incidences of assault on them and their hospitals by the unsatisfied relatives of such patients. But after this bill is passed, the age old sacred bonds & relationship between the doctors & their patients will get strengthened once again. These views were expressed by Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab to the members of the Patiala branch of Indian Medical Association during a "specially organised function to honour him" as he was the person instrumental in getting this bill passed in the Punjab assembly. He said now the responsibility of the doctors for their patients has increased but they will be able to attend to their patients without any mental pressure or fear of assault on them or ransacking of their hospitals by irresponsible people. He appealed to the doctors to serve the poor & needy patients by holding regular medical camps in the remote rural areas. He said we all should be thankful to the Chiuef Minister Punjab Sr. Parkash Singh Badal who fulfilled this long pending demand of the doctors. Dr Cheema was honoured by IMA Patiala with shawal & a moment on the occasion.

Before this while talking to media persons in local circuit house, Dr Cheema said the doctors earlier had put up this demand to the chief minister in the previous government, but with no response & now our chief minister has fulfilled this demand after his commitment to the doctors. He assured the media persons that no doctor will misuse the bill rather they will be serving the patients with more responsibility. He said no medical college under the state government will be derecognised by Medical Council of India as the state government is taking the necessary steps to fulfil the vacant posts of medical teachers. He accused the previous government for totally ignoring the health services & not filling the posts of medical teachers i the state medical colleges.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of SAD,said the state government has fulfilled his commitment made to the doctors for passing the said bill.
In his welcome address, president of IMA Patiala Dr DS Bhullar, appreciated the efforts of Dr Cheema for getting this bill passed by the govt. and assured that now the doctors will be able to serve their patients with more dedication.
Dr OPS Kande, Chief Advisor IMA Patiala, Dr Jagbir Singh Vice President IMA Punjab, Dr Yash Sharma, President Elect IMA Punjab,Surjit Singh Rakhra President NRI Wing,, Surjit Singh Kohli & Ajaib Singh Makhmailpur, both Ex-Ministers, MLA Ghanaur Madan Lal Jalalpur, Indermohan Singh Bajaj, President SAD ( Urban) Patiala, Dr JPS Sodhi. Dr Vishal Chopra, Dr JK Kansal Advocate Harwinder Shukla Legal advisor IMA Patiala & some veteran doctors of the city were present in the programme.


BADAL ASKS VCS & PRINCIPALS TO RESERVE 10% SEATS FOR POOR AND BRIGHT STUDENTS

CM Lauds Badungar for his Sikh Literary Works and Asks Him to Compile a Book on History of Akali Dal

PATIALA SEPTEMBER 21, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon all the Vice Chancellors of the Universities and Principals of the colleges in the state to reserve at least 10% of seats exclusively for the economically poor and bright students with rural background to enable them to compete globally.

Addressing at a seminar on the book 'Gurmat Sabhayachar' authored by a renowned Sikh scholar and former President SGPC Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar here at Science Auditorium in Punjabi University, Mr. Badal said that the basic concept of Sikhism was to ensure equality in the society by removing the existing disparity between the rich and poor.
He pointed out that the proposed 10% reservation of seats in the educational institutions would be a humble effort to achieve this objective in line with the great ideals of 'Gurmat'. He appreciated the efforts of the management of private Engineering & Technical colleges for having already taken this decision from the current
academic session. He said that he had already impressed upon the
Management of the private Medical colleges to devise ways and means to implement the similar decision in their colleges too.

The Chief Minister also lauded the decision of Centre to allow the state government to run short-term courses in skill development programmes in the schools and colleges after the working hours of these institutions. He said a blue print for this programme to be implemented in true spirit was being prepared. He hoped that it would facilitate aptitude-oriented professional placement for the state's youth in general and rural students in particular. This landmark decision would certainly improve both quality education and human resource development.

The Chief Minister asked the Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr..
Jaspal Singh who was also present in the seminar to immediately finalize the modalities to implement this scheme so that the wide gulf between the standard of rural and urban education, could be narrowed down through initiating certain measures aimed at imparting quality education to these students at university level.

Commending the outstanding contribution of Prof. Badungar for bringing out his second book on different aspects of Sikhism related to 'Gurmat Sabhayachar' the Chief Minister said that Prof. Badungar had aptly made an endeavour to disseminate the message and philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji across the globe to foster the sense of harmony, oneness, peace and compassion amongst the mankind within the contours
of socio-cultural values. Mr. Badal urged Prof. Badungar to compile
a book on the glorious past of Akali Dal after a thorough research.
He said that this would be a very useful publication amongst the future generations and research scholars to acquaint them with the different facets of Akali movement and subsequently sacrifices made by the veteran Akali leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar said that he was deeply moved by the fragile value system now-a-days due to mad race for materialism as people had shun the path of righteousness and truth that had resulted frustration and discontentment in the society. He said that in this background he made a modest attempt to bring out this publication 'Gurmat Sabhayachar' so that it could apply balm on the sick psyche to save them from the mental agony thereby motivating them to follow the path of divinity to achieve a path of eternal peace and solace..

In his keynote address an eminent Sikh scholar and Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala Dr..Jaspal Singh said that Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was the pioneer for bringing cultural awakening in the society through his lives and works. He said that Guru Nanak Dev ji practically demonstrated his ideals and teachings to the people to dispel their misgivings about the society. He propagated the value based and high moral teachings in the common man's idiom to dispel their misgivings about the society in order to get rid them of rituals and superstitions.

Presiding over the seminar eminent legal luminary and Advocate General Punjab Hardev Singh Mattewal felicitated Prof. Badungar for his unique contribution by penning this book on the cultural aspects of Gurmat and said that the real purpose of this seminar would only be served that if we all take a solemn pledge to translate the ideals preached by the great Gurus into actions.

In his address Chairman Sikh Studies and Dean GNDU Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon said that Prof. Badungar in his book has highlighted the social evils prevalent in the society in context with 'Gurbani'.
Prof. Badungar had rightly blended the present social issues be it drug addiction, female foeticide and degradation of social values in the backdrop of Gurbani in the language of the common man which could be easily comprehend by one and all.

Among the prominent persons who were present on the occasion were Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana, General Secretary SAD Prem Singh Chandumajra, Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surjit Singh Kohli and Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpura, Commissioner SK Ahluwalia, Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli. Besides leaders and party workers of SAD and member SGPC.


 

BADAL INAUGURATES "BARADARI PALACE"
Heritage Hotel developed in Public-Private Partnership

PATIALA SEPTEMBER 21, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal inaugurated "The Baradari Palace", a heritage hotel of the Neemrana Group of Hotels located in the pristine surroundings of the Baradari Gardens, at a simple ceremony here today. The project is a collaborative effort of the Department of Tourism, Punjab and the internationally acclaimed Neemrana Group of Hotels to restore the over-a-century old Rajindra Kothi through Public-Private Partnership.

While interacting with the proprietors of the Neemrana Group and officers of the tourism department about this prestigious heritage hotel first of its kind in the state, the Chief Minister congratulated the Neemrana Group for converting the old Government property into a top-class heritage hotel. He stated that the Government would consider restoring other heritage properties using the same Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, wherever feasible. In order to promote the growth of tourism in Punjab, it was far more important to create an excellent infrastructure and that too in terms of high quality heritage and budget hotels in the State. "Punjab has a rich cultural heritage and the State Government is committed to preserve and promote the Punjabi culture in every way", said Mr. Badal.

Mr. Badal said that Punjab had a tremendous tourism potential which needed to be harnessed for the development of its economy as well as promotion of its cultural heritage. He said that the State Government was working with UN World Tourism Organization to come up with an attractive tourism policy in order to attract greater private investment in the sector.

On the occasion, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Hira Singh Gabria informed the Chief Minister that the Rajindra Kothi was a property dating back to late 19th century and had been used to house the States Archives and over time parts of it had been rendered unsafe. Therefore, in order to revitalize it and to provide a good-quality heritage hotel facility to tourists visiting Patiala, the premises has been re-developed into a Heritage Hotel. For this purpose, a 30 years lease agreement had been signed with the Neemrana Groups of Hotels on a profit-sharing basis for the 4.65 acres property. Apart from the lease rental, the lessee will pay 5% of the gross revenue generated in this hotel to the Government. To ensure transparency in this, the entire revenue generated will be credited into an Escrow account and 5% of the gross revenue will be apportioned to the Punjab Govt. The scope of work of the lessee included the restoration, conservation and maintenance of the Heritage Building as per the guidelines/specifications prescribed by INTACH.

Chairman Francis Wacziarg and Co-Chaiman Aman Nath of Neemrana Group of Heritage Hotels mentioned that at present the Baradari Palace has
17 suites and rooms along with a Restaurant and Conference facilities.
These have been created at an investment of about Rs 4 crores. More facilities like a Cafeteria, Bar, Swimming pool and various other facilities, which any top-class hotel provided were slated to be added shortly. "We are proud of having been associated with Punjab's first heritage hotel involving major restoration work and this would go a long way in promoting Punjab as a tourist destination. We would specially like to acknowledge the positive role played by the Punjab Government and the local administration in making this possible", said Mr. Francis Wacziarg.

Among the prominent persons who were present on the occasion were Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana, General Secretary SAD Prem Singh Chandumajra, Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surjit Singh Kohli and Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpura, Principal Secretary Tourism Geetika Kalha, Secretary Tourism DP Reddy, Commissioner SK Ahluwalia, DC Vikas Garg and Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli.

 

Daily Punjab press release