Punjab State targets 90 percent pre-SIR mapping before Special Intensive Revision (SIR) begins: Anindita Mitra

CEO appeals to voters of Punjab to offer maximum cooperation with BLOs.

Chandigarh: May 25,Punjab State targets 90 percent pre-mapping before Special Intensive Revision (SIR) begins. Disclosing the same today, Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Mrs. Anindita Mitra said that during pre-SIR mapping in Punjab State, more than 84 percent voters have been successfully mapped. During this mapping, the SIR conducted in Punjab State in the year 2003 is being used as a basis for matching with the current voter lists.

She said that even if a voter is not pre-mapped, the voter will still have to fill the enumeration form(EF) given by BLO and submit it to the BLO, after which the name of the concerned voter will be added to the draft roll.

Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Mrs. Anindita Mitra appealed to the voters of Punjab to participate in the SIR in large numbers and offer maximum cooperation to the BLOs.

=========================

*Punjab Boosts High-Risk Delivery and Neonatal Care Through Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana*

*Over 5,300 high-risk caesarean deliveries and 2000 neonatal care cases treated cashlessly under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana till May 25*

CHANDIGARH, May 25:Punjab is significantly strengthening high-risk maternal and neonatal healthcare through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, ensuring that complicated deliveries and critical newborn care are accessible to families without financial burden.

A major study based on India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) survey found that nearly one in every two pregnancies in the country is high-risk. Factors such as poor education, poverty, short gaps between pregnancies, previous birth complications and caesarean deliveries increase dangers for both mother and baby. Researchers say women from vulnerable backgrounds face the highest risks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger maternal healthcare and awareness programmes.

The Sehat Card has emerged as a critical support mechanism for women requiring surgical intervention during childbirth due to complications such as prolonged labour, maternal health conditions, fetal distress and previous cesarean deliveries. According to official data received from the State Health Agency (SHA), as on May 25, a total of 7,300 maternity and neonatal care cases were treated under the scheme with expenditure amounting to ₹7.04 crore. Of these, 5,300 were high-risk caesarean deliveries accounting for ₹6.37 crore, reflecting the growing role of the scheme in supporting high-risk pregnancies and emergency obstetric care across Punjab.

Speaking about personal experience, beneficiary Deepika, a 28-year-old woman from Patiala who faced pregnancy complications including anaemia, shares that she underwent a successful caesarean delivery fully covered under the Sehat Card. Her husband Manoj shared that they were very happy that the procedures went smoothly and stress free with the cashless card.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Diksha Sonkar, aged 31, received timely maternal and neonatal care during the birth of her third child at PIMS Medical College Hospital, with all treatment expenses covered cashlessly. Her husband Vikas Sonkar said, “We have two daughters and we were worried if there would be any complications in the third delivery.”

Vikas further says that life becomes deeply stressful the moment someone in the family has to be taken to a hospital. “Even the mention of hospital instills fear in us,” he says. Working as a daily wage labourer, he explains that medical emergencies often push families like his into debt. “Anytime there is a medical emergency, we have to borrow money on interest,” he says, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many low-income workers struggling to afford healthcare. “But with the Sehat Card, everything has been taken care of,” he adds.

Alongside maternal care, the scheme is also providing extensive neonatal treatment support for critically ill and premature newborns requiring specialised medical intervention.

Official data from SHA, Punjab shows that 2094 infants received neonatal treatment under different care packages covered by the scheme. Basic Neonatal Care, which supports newborns managed alongside their mothers, covered 881 infants with treatment expenditure of ₹5.82lakh.

Similarly, 777 infants requiring short-term ICU admission benefitted under the Special Neonatal Care Package with expenditure reaching ₹28.27 lakh. The Intensive Neonatal Care Package supported 207 newborns requiring CPAP support, ventilation for less than 24 hours, or treatment for conditions such as neonatal sepsis, with treatment costs amounting to ₹15.65 lakh.

Official data further revealed that 116 highly vulnerable infants weighing between 1,200 and 1,499 grams or requiring prolonged ventilator support received Advanced Neonatal Care under the scheme at a cost of ₹9.30 lakh.

Critical Neonatal Care for babies suffering from extreme prematurity, multi-system complications or severe medical instability benefitted 64 infants with expenditure of ₹7.88lakh. In addition, prolonged chronic neonatal care support was provided to 18 infants. Also, chronic neonatal care included 17 infants, who required prolonged treatment for conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotising enterocoloitis, worth ₹56 thousand.

The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is emerging as a major healthcare safeguard for families across the state. So far, approximately 44.8 lakh registrations have been made under the scheme.

==========================================

*Punjab Government Declares 28th May as Gazetted Holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) instead of 27th May*

Chandigarh, May 25:The Punjab Government has declared a gazetted holiday on May 28, 2026 (Thursday) on account of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) in all Government Offices, Boards/Corporations and Government Educational Institutions across the State under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that earlier the gazetted holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) had been declared for May 27, 2026. However, with a revision in the earlier notification, the holiday will now be observed on May 28, 2026 (Thursday).

The spokesperson further informed that the Punjab Government’s Personnel Department has issued a notification in this regard today.

===========================================

*The Punjab Government exempted all eligible workers working in establishments(factories) on 26 May to cast their vote in Municipal General Elections*

Chandigarh 25 May 2026:The Punjab Government has announced an exemption for all adult workers and employees working in the Punjab establishments, including factories, to allow them to cast their vote in the Municipal General Elections 2026. This exemption applies to all eligible voters working within the revenue jurisdiction of the concerned Municipal Bodies where polling is scheduled for 26 May, 2026. Copy of the notification issued by Labour Department Government of Punjab is attached.

=======================================

*PUNJAB GOVERNMENT DECLARES EXEMPTION FOR SHOP WORKERS TO CAST THIER VOTE FOR MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTIONS ON MAY 26*

CHANDIGARH, MAY 25, 2026:The Punjab Government has granted an exemption to workers in registered shops and commercial establishments to allow them to exercise their right to vote.In this regard, workers employed in registered shops and establishments within Punjab who are enrolled as voters in municipal corporations, municipal councils, and Nagar Panchayats will be exempted from the provisions of sub-section 1 of Section 10 of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act on the polling day, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

It is clarified that Tuesday, May 26, 2026, will not be treated as a mandatory "Closed Day" in lieu of the regular weekly off day falling between May 24, 2026, and May 30, 2026. Copy of the notification issued by Labour Department Government of Punjab is attached.

==============================================

*General Elections to elect the members of MC Dinanagar, MC Gurdaspur, MC Qadian, and MC Sham Chaurasi to be held on 10 June 2026: State Election Commission*

Chandigarh 25 May 2026:In pursuance to the Notification no. 03/01/Elections(S-2)/MEB/2026/78 dated 21.05.2026, issued u/s 13-A of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, by the Department of Local Government, Punjab, the State Election Commission announces the dates for the conduct of general elections to elect the members of MC Dinanagar, MC Gurdaspur, MC Qadian, and MC Sham Chaurasi.

As per the election schedule, the period for filing nomination papers will start from 28.5.2026 (Thursday) between 11:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M. in the O/o of the concerned Returning Officer designated for the purpose. The last date for filing nominations will be 01.06.2026 (Monday) upto 03:00 P.M. Scrutiny of the nominations will take place on 02.06.2026 (Tuesday). The last date for withdrawal of nominations will be 03.06.2026 (Wednesday) by 03:00 P.M. Elections to these Municipal Councils shall be held on 10.06.2026 from 08:00 A.M. to 04:00 P.M. The Counting of the votes will take place on the same day immediately after the completion of poll.

The Commission has made all the logistical arrangements to conduct these elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Councils where the elections are going to be held. It will remain in force till the completion of the election process.

========================================

*11 districts & 7 MCs show commendable performance in Census 2027 Phase-I operations: Manjit Singh Brar*

*•Directs all Principal Census Officers to ensure 100% progress & strict monitoring of Houselisting and Housing Operations*

*•Conduct surprise field inspections to ensure ground-level accuracy, Brar directs field officials*

CHANDIGARH, May 25:Punjab has put its administrative machinery on war footing for the smooth execution of Census 2027: Phase-I – Houselisting and Housing Operations, with 11 districts and seven Municipal Corporations have demonstrated outstanding field mobilisation, reflecting the Punjab Government's commitment to ensuring the completeness, accuracy and high quality of data collection within the stipulated timelines.

Administrative Secretary Local Government Mr. Manjit Singh Brar, along with Director Census Operations Dr. Navjot Khosa and Director Local Government Mr. Kulwant Singh, held a virtual review meeting with all Principal Census Officers to assess the final stretch of the Phase-I operations.

Highlighting the progress, Mr. Manjit Singh Brar said that a total of eleven districts including Barnala, Moga, Malerkotla, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, Mansa and Hoshiarpur—along with seven Municipal Corporations (MCs)—Barnala, Abohar, Moga, Batala, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and Kapurthala—have shown commendable performance through excellent field mobilisation and monitoring.

Mr. Brar said, "Census operations are of vital national importance and the commendable performance shown by these districts is a result of robust local leadership. However, certain districts lagging behind have been strictly advised to accelerate operations to achieve 100% commencement immediately."

He stated that the monitoring timeline for completion of 40% to 70% of the census work is fixed for May 30, 2026, and the timeline for 100% completion is set before the second week of June 2026, as the phase wraps up on June 13.

He further shared that since the official period of Census 2027: Phase-I in Punjab runs from May 15, 2026, to June 13, 2026, all Principal Census Officers (Deputy Commissioners and MC Commissioners) must ensure 100% progress of Houselisting Block (HLB) work in their respective jurisdictions.

Mr. Brar directed the field officials that the state government expects absolute precision. All Principal Census Officers have been directed to closely monitor these operations so that Phase-I is completed well within the stipulated timeframe without any compromise on data quality.

Expressing concern for the welfare of the ground staff, Mr. Manjit Singh Brar said that structural targets must go hand-in-hand with field safety. He instructed all Principal Census Officers to aggressively implement heatwave advisories for Enumerators and Supervisors engaged in outdoor fieldwork across their respective districts.

Highlighting the enforcement of data standards, Mr. Manjit Singh Brar said that senior administrative officers have been instructed to conduct regular and surprise field inspections to monitor the fieldwork directly at the grassroots level.

He said, "Surprise inspections are critical to verify the completeness, accuracy and overall quality of data collection. Our field teams are working under challenging weather conditions and proper administrative supervision will ensure both their safety and the reliability of the census data."

The Administrative Secretary Local Government stated that the local government department is working in absolute tandem with census operations authorities to deliver a flawless, legally compliant and highly accurate housing layout mapping for the state of Punjab.