Punjab becomes first state in country to enact STATE (DEVELOPMENT & PROMOTION OF SPORTS) ACT, 2024- CM
Move aimed at giving impetus to sports and ensure fair selection of players
Act to go a long way in creating a legal framework for transparency in working of Sports Associations
Chandigarh, December 9:In a major move aimed at giving fillip to sports in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday gave nod to enact THE PUNJAB STATE (DEVELOPMENT & PROMOTION OF SPORTS) ACT, 2024, thereby becoming first state in country to do so.
Presiding over a meeting of Sports department, the Chief Minister said that the main aim of the act is to adopt National and International good
practices for development of Sports in the State and to ensure fair selection of players. He said that it will also go a long way to create a legal framework for transparency in working of Sports Associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will also ensure fair selection of players who represent
their Districts at state level or State at National Level and above.
The Chief Minister said that it will also help in proper utilisation of the Government funds by Sports Associations. He said that as per the Act, One District Association in every district for a particular game, will be registered. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that act also stipulates that Maintenance of Accounts by a Chartered Accountant will be mandatory and Annual statement of all expenditure and sources of income shall be published before May 31.
The Chief Minister said that Documents and accounts in electronic format shall be made available to Director Sports, Government of Punjab. He said that a five members committee consisting of General
Secretary, two Senior Coaches and two Eminent players shall select the team/ players to represent District or State as the case may be. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a Dispute Resolution Committee under the
Deputy Commissioner/ Administrative Secretary shall dispose off the appeal of the players within seven days.
The Chief Minister said that a five Member Sexual Harassment Committee at District Level will be notified by District Magistrate, out of members of Executive Committees of all Sports Associations with three female and two male members. He said that at State Level, five member committee will be notified by Administrative Secretary of the Sports
Department out of the members of the Executive Committees of State Sports Associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that committees may take, suo-moto notice, of any such incidents.
The Chief Minister said that as per Act
all the associations shall draw up calendar of sports activities such as camps, leagues and competitions and same shall uploaded on their
website by March 31 every year. He said that Department of Sports will finalise the calendar within 30 days. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this policy will give a major push to sports and sporting activity in the state thereby channelling the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction.
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Speaker Sandhwan administers oath to Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon as MLA
Chandigarh, December 9:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan today administered the oath of office to the newly-elected Congress Party MLA from the Barnala constituency Mr. Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon.
An official spokesperson of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha said that the Speaker warmly welcomed the newly elected legislator and extended his heartfelt congratulations.
The newly elected MLA was accompanied by his family members and prominent dignitaries.
The ceremony was graced by several distinguished political figures including Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab Congress President and Member of Parliament Mr. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu and Smt. Aruna Chaudhery, along with senior officials from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
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Union Government Should Resolve Farmers’ Issues Without Delay: Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan
Calls on Prime Minister to Break the Ice with Agitating Farmers and Resolve their Issues Swiftly
Chandigarh, December 9:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday accused the Union Government of turning a blind eye to the genuine demands of farmers, leaving them to languish on the roads instead of addressing their grievances.
Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open channels of communication with the farmers, Speaker Sandhwan stressed that the Centre must take decisive action and resolve the farmers’ issues without dragging its feet.
S. Sandhwan lamented that it was a bitter pill for Punjab’s farmers to swallow, being left high and dry on the roads, while the Union Government remained indifferent. Drawing a comparison, he pointed out that in Europe and other nations, farmers are able to take their issues straight to their parliaments, whereas Indian farmers are given the cold shoulder when they raise valid concerns.
The Speaker reminded the Centre that the country’s farmers not only put food on the table for millions but also serve as the backbone of India’s trade, industry, and economy by producing a variety of crops. He called upon the Union Government to lend an ear to the farmers’ demands and address them with sincerity, seriousness, and sympathy.
“It’s high time the farmers are given their due. The Union Government must step up to the plate and take timely action to resolve these pressing issues,” he added.
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Speaker Sandhwan Pushes for Swift Preservation of Diwan Todar Mal Haveli as a Heritage Landmark
Chairs Meeting with Diwan Todar Mal Heritage Foundation, SGPC, and Punjab Tourism & Archaeology Department Officials
Chandigarh, December 9:Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has called for pulling out all the stops to restore and conserve the historic Diwan Todar Mal Haveli in Sri Fatehgarh Sahib. Presiding over a high-level meeting at the Punjab Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Speaker Sandhwan emphasized the need for a united front to breathe new life into this treasured historical landmark.
Reflecting on its profound historical significance, S. Sandhwan paid tribute to Diwan Todar Mal’s unparalleled bravery, recalling his defiance of Mughal imperial decrees to ensure the dignified final rites of the two younger Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji—Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. He underscored that preserving this monument is not just about bricks and mortar but about handing down a legacy to future generations, instilling in them pride in their rich cultural heritage.
The Speaker applauded the Diwan Todar Mal Heritage Foundation for leaving no stone unturned in its mission. He noted that the restoration would be a joint effort, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Punjab Tourism and Archaeology Department lending a hand. He stressed that many hands make light work, and safeguarding this landmark would require collective determination.
S. Lakhvinder Singh Kahne Ke, President of the Heritage Foundation, expressed confidence that with strategic collaboration and the green light from the SGPC and Punjab Government, the haveli would soon regain its former glory. He assured that the restoration would honor its original architectural brilliance, preserving a vital chapter of Sikh and Punjabi cultural heritage.
The meeting also featured expert engineers who laid all their cards on the table, presenting a meticulous restoration plan. They engaged in in-depth technical discussions with representatives from the SGPC and Tourism and Archaeology Department, addressing the monument’s historical and architectural nuances from every angle.
Notable attendees included Tourism and Archaeology Minister S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Tourism and Archaeology Department Director Mrs. Amrit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sri Fatehgarh Sahib Dr. Sona Thind, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Ravjot Kaur Grewal, Maharani Priti Singh of Nabha State, SGPC representatives, and Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib Manager S. Gurdeep Singh Kang, along with members of the SGPC, Punjab Tourism and Archaeology Department, and the Diwan Todar Mal Heritage Foundation Punjab.
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Punjab Finance Minister and Education Minister Hold Meeting with Employee Unions of Education Department
Direct to form Officers Committee to look into their demand regarding regularization of s
Asks Education department to consider sympathetically Computer Teachers Union’s legitimate demands
Chandigarh, December 9-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday held meetings with four employee organizations of the Education Department. The meeting was convened to discuss the various demands of the employee unions, including regularization of services.
During the meetings, held here at the office of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the Finance Minister directed the formation of a committee comprising officials from the Education Department, Personnel Department, and Finance Department. This committee will examine the demand for regularization of services raised by three employee organizations, namely AIE Kachhe Adhiypak Union, IERT Vishesh Adhiyapak Union, and Sarva (Samagra) Shiksha Abhiyan/Mid Day Meal Daftri Karmchari Union.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the union leaders that the committee will sympathetically consider their demands and submit its report soon. He also directed the officials of the Education Department and Finance Department to study the financial demands raised by the unions and hold a meeting with him soon.
Regarding the demands of the Computer Teachers Union, the Finance Minister asked the Education Department officials to consider the legitimate demands of these teachers recruited under the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Education Society (PICTES) with sympathy and take appropriate action. The Finance Minister and the Education Department assured the leaders of the unions that the state government is committed to resolving their legitimate demands at the earliest. The representatives of the unions also expressed confidence that these meetings will pave the way for finding amicable solutions to their issues.
The unions representatives who attended the meetings include President Tejinder Kaur and Secretary Kulwinder Kaur from AIE Kachhe Adhiyapak Union, President Ramesh Kumar and Vice President Gurmeet Singh from IERT Vishesh Adhiyapak Union, State President Kuldeep Singh and Secretary Rajinder Singh from Sarva (Samagra) Shiksha Abhiyan/Mid Day Meal Daftri Karmchari Union, and Senior Vice President Harjit Singh, Vice President Anil Airi, General Secretary Harpreet Singh, and General Secretary Parminder Singh from Computer Teachers Union.
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Silk Mark Expo 2024 Concludes with Grand Success
Chandigarh, December 9-The Silk Mark Expo 2024 which was being held at Kisan Bhawan, Sector 35,Chandigarh, concluded today with a grand closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was graced by Mrs. Navdeep Verma as Chief Guest. She also visited the stalls and appreciated the artisans for their craftsmanship.
The Silk Mark Expo, inaugurated on December 4 by Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat, attracted record-breaking crowds throughout its duration. It featured stalls from across states, including Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, offering exquisite silk products such as sarees, stoles, and home décor items.
Presiding over the closing function,Mrs. Shailender Kaur stated, “The strong consumer response to premium silk products highlights the increasing awareness and demand for sericulture. Eri, tasar, and mulberry farming are now being practiced in Punjab. This achievement inspires us to further expand silk farming initiatives across the state.”
On this occasion, Mrs. Shailender Kaur, Director of Horticulture, distributed certificates of appreciation and mementoes to the exhibitors, acknowledging their remarkable contributions to the success of the expo.
Prominent among those present were DDH-cum-Nodal Officer Punjab Sericulture Dr. Dalbir Singh,Vikas Misri
Senior Field Assistant
RO, New Delhi, Assistant Nodal Officer Miss Meenu, Consultant for the AIF Scheme Yuvraj Aulakh of the Department of Horticulture, and others.
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PUNJAB POLICE RECOVERS 5.1 KG HEROIN FROM AMRITSAR; ONE HELD
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE
— ARRESTED ACCUSED WAS USING AMRITSAR SECTOR AND KEEPING VARIOUS CUT-OUTS, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— PROBE REVEALED THAT THE ACCUSED HAD DELIVERED AT LEAST THREE CONSIGNMENTS IN LAST FIVE MONTHS: CP GURPREET SINGH BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 9:Striking a major blow to the trans border narcotics network, Commissionerate Police (CP) Amritsar has arrested a drug smuggler and recovered 5.1 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Gurveer Singh alias Gora (32), a resident of Basti Muhammad Shah Wali in Ferozepur. Apart from seizing heroin, Police teams have also impounded his Toyota Fortuner car, in which the accused was travelling.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused was using the Amritsar sector to smuggle the narcotics and keeping various cut-outs to deliver the consignments. An accomplice of the arrested accused has been identified and police teams are on manhunt to nab him, he added.
He said that a first information report (FIR) has been registered at Police Station Cantonment Amritsar this case. Further investigations are ongoing to identify more persons involved to dismantle the network, he added.
Sharing details of the operation, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting on reliable inputs, a police team led by Incharge CIA Staff-1 Amolakdeep Singh under the supervision of DCP Alam Vijay Singh, ADCP Investigation Navjot Singh, and ACP Detective Kuldeep Singh, launched a special operation and successfully intercepted the Fortuner car at Loharka Road in Amritsar, in which of the accused person was travelling.
He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused person was coming from Attari after retrieving the heroin from another smuggler, who picked up the consignment sent from across the border. Probe has also revealed that the accused was into the smuggling from last five-six months and had delivered at least three consignments, he added.
The CP said that investigations are underway to uncover the forward and backward links of the accused and to expose the entire network of drug suppliers, dealers and buyers. Efforts are also being made to ascertain the total quantity of narcotics purchased and distributed by the accused so far, he added.
A case FIR No. 194 dated 08-12-2024 has been registered under sections 21(C), 23 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Cantonment Amritsar.