*BOOST TO ORGANIC FARMING: GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN INAUGURATES 3RD BIO-FERTILISER TESTING LAB AT MOHALI TO CHECK SPURIOUS PRODUCTS, CUT CHEMICAL USE*

*•Mann Govt established three Labs with ₹4.50 crore to ensure quality bio-inputs, protect farmers & promote sustainable agriculture: Khudian*

*•Labs to ensure farmers get certified, effective bio-inputs, protect them from spurious products and cut dependence on chemical fertilisers: Gurmeet Khudian*

Chandigarh/SAS Nagar, October 13:In a major push for sustainable farming and to ensure availability of high-quality inputs, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian today inaugurated a state-of-the-art bio-fertiliser testing laboratory at Kalkat Bhawan, SAS Nagar, completing Punjab's three-lab quality assurance network set up at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore to ensure supply of certified, spurious-free bio-inputs to farmers. The other two laboratories have already been established at Gurdaspur and Bathinda.

Speaking after the inauguration, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said, “These laboratories will ensure that farmers get certified and effective products, protect them from spurious inputs and help reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.” He added that the labs will also help enforce the Fertiliser Control Order, monitor manufacturers and dealers and generate data for improving bio-fertiliser strains suited to Punjab's agro-climatic conditions.

Punjab is a major agrarian state, contributing over 30% to the nation's wheat and rice production, S. Khudian said, adding that organic farming is an alternative system aimed at sustainable production while conserving precious natural resources. It is a holistic approach focused on achieving quality agricultural production and improving soil health.

The Agriculture Minister said that India has a rich tradition of organic agriculture, but it was overshadowed by the rapid growth of input-intensive modern farming. With rising awareness about food safety, environmental health and evidence of comparable productivity, organic farming has re-emerged as a viable system. As of 2025-26, Punjab has approximately 30,000 acres under certified organic cultivation.

S. Khudian informed that the annual consumption of bio-fertilisers in Punjab is around 15,000-16,000 MT/KL and is steadily increasing. With the rapid growth of organic farming, ensuring quality became critical. The three new labs at Bathinda, Gurdaspur and SAS Nagar (Mohali) will ensure only certified products reach farmers, safeguard them from spurious inputs, enforce regulatory compliance, promote organic farming, reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and support long-term soil health and environmental sustainability, he added.

MLA Dera Bassi Kuljit Singh Randhawa, Additional Secretary Agriculture Latif Ahmed and Director Agriculture Gurjit Singh Brar were also present on the occasion.

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*Every Genuine Demand of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Will Be Resolved on Priority: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*Constructive dialogue with Anganwadi unions reinforces Punjab Government's worker-centric approach*

*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government committed to safeguarding the dignity, welfare and interests of Anganwadi workforce*

Chandigarh, 13 October:Reiterating the Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to the welfare of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr Baljit Kaur, today assured representatives of various Anganwadi unions that every genuine demand concerning their welfare and service-related issues would be addressed on priority through a transparent and time-bound process.

While chairing a meeting with representatives of Anganwadi Workers' and Helpers' unions at her office in the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Dr Baljit Kaur said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working with dedication to ensure the well-being of every section of society, with special emphasis on empowering women and strengthening child welfare services across the State.

The Cabinet Minister listened patiently to the issues and suggestions put forward by the union representatives. The meeting was held in a cordial, positive and highly constructive atmosphere, reflecting the Government's commitment to maintaining continuous dialogue and building consensus with its frontline workforce.

Dr Baljit Kaur assured the representatives that all issues falling within the Department's jurisdiction would be resolved expeditiously, while matters requiring consideration at the Government level would also be pursued on priority for an early and appropriate resolution.

Highlighting the invaluable role of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, the Cabinet Minister said, "Our Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are the backbone of grassroots women and child welfare services. Their dedication touches the lives of countless mothers and children every day. The Punjab Government values their contribution and remains fully committed to protecting their dignity, addressing their genuine concerns and creating a supportive working environment."

She further directed the officers concerned to ensure prompt examination of all genuine issues and maintain regular engagement with the unions so that deserving matters are resolved without unnecessary delay.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, reaffirming the Punjab Government's commitment to transparent governance, constructive dialogue and the welfare of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, who continue to play a vital role in strengthening the social security framework and nurturing a healthier, brighter future for Punjab's women and children.

The meeting was attended by MLAs Mr. Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy and Mr. Narinder Pal Singh Sawna, alongside Principal Secretary of Social Security, Women and Child Development Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director Dr. Shena Aggarwal, and senior departmental officers."

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*PUNJAB EYES DEFENCE, AEROSPACE AS NEXT GROWTH DRIVER; ₹1.92 LAKH CR INVESTMENT PROPOSALS RECEIVED SINCE 2022: AMAN ARORA*

*•Industries Minister Aman Arora inaugurates 9th CII Manufacturing Excellence Exposition*

*• No state can survive without industry; Punjab's new policy framed by industry itself through 24 sector committees: Aman Arora*

Chandigarh, October 13:Punjab has attracted investment proposals worth ₹1.92 lakh crore promising 6.5 lakh jobs since 2022 and now offers up to 125% capital incentive with time-bound approvals — “No other state has such an industry-friendly policy”, Industries and Commerce Minister Mr. Aman Arora said while assuring “Punjab is with industry”.

Mr. Aman Arora, along with former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa (Retd.), inaugurated the 9th CII Manufacturing Excellence Exposition in Chandigarh. Mr. Arora said that Punjab received 1,626 proposals worth ₹32,110 crore with 91,236 jobs in the first six months of the current financial year alone (April 1 to September 30).

“Every proposal means a new or bigger factory, more jobs and more business for local suppliers,” Mr. Arora said, noting that manufacturing is the backbone of Punjab’s economy with units making auto parts, tractors, bicycles, hand tools, sports goods, hosiery and steel products for markets across India and abroad.

After touring the exhibition, the Industries Minister said it was encouraging to see products, machines and solutions made by Punjab’s own units, adding that manufacturing excellence today means better quality, less waste, timely delivery, competitive pricing and adoption of new technology on the shop floor.

The Industries Minister said the government is enabling industry to meet global demands through the revamped FastTrack Punjab single-window system — an online portal with all permissions and 45-working-day time-bound approvals — while the new Industrial and Business Development Policy-2026 offers incentives up to 125% of capital investment in priority sectors including auto components, EVs, defence and aerospace, electronics, textiles, food processing and sports goods.

“No state or society can survive without industry. That’s why we framed the policy through 24 sector committees — the person facing the problem has the best solution. Industry itself decided what the policy should be,” Mr Aman Arora stated, while lauding Punjab’s entrepreneurs for out-of-the-box ideas and urging them to use the expo for vendor matchmaking.

He added that the FastTrack portal now ensures officer-specific, time-bound disposal, with auto-escalation and show-cause notices for delays.

Mr. Aman Arora said defence and aerospace is the next big opportunity for Punjab’s engineering units already making precision parts and vendor development talks facilitated by Invest Punjab at the expo are a key step towards making them suppliers to the sector. He also urged large companies and PSUs to increase sourcing from the state’s MSMEs.

“When local suppliers grow, the whole industry grows,” he said, urging industry to work closely with Punjab’s ITIs, polytechnics and engineering colleges so that skilled youth get good jobs within the state.

“I assure you, the Government of Punjab is with industry. If you face any problem, the Department of Industries and Invest Punjab are there to resolve it quickly,” he stressed.

The event was attended by CII Punjab chairman Harpreet Singh Nibber, and Ashish Garg, among others. Mr. Aman Arora congratulated CII Punjab and all exhibitors, wishing them good business and new partnerships over the next two days.

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*Bhagwant Mann Govt Holds Marathon Meeting with BKU (Ekta Ugrahan); Assures Time-Bound Resolution of Farmers' Issues*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt Earmarked ₹750 Crore for Crop Damage Compensation, Disbursal to Farmers Underway: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Govt to Push for Withdrawal of Few Pending FIRs Against Farmers Through Legal Process: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*AAP Govt Will Strongly Raise Pending Farmers’ Issues in Assembly: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*From Crop Compensation to Tenant Farmers’ Rights, Bhagwant Mann Govt Committed to Protecting Farmers’ Livelihoods: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH; 13th October, 2026:To address the grievances of the farming community, a high-level meeting was held between the Punjab Government’s Group of Ministers and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan.

Deputed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Cabinet Ministers Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, and Gurmeet Singh Khudian held extensive discussions with the farmer representatives. The ministerial delegation was joined by the Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Anurag Verma, along with senior officers from various concerned departments.

Addressing the media after marathon discussions based on a memorandum submitted by the union, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “The dialogue had taken place in a highly cordial atmosphere and resulted in a strong consensus on several crucial matters.”

Acknowledging farmers as the backbone of Punjab’s agriculture and overall economy, the Finance Minister emphasised the Bhagwant Mann government’s unwavering commitment to their welfare.

He said, “During the exhaustive discussions on the union’s demands, mutually agreeable timeframes of one to two months were established to ensure the systematic and timely resolution of the accepted local issues.”

Addressing the specific demand concerning pending First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against farmers during past agitations, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “A significant number of these cases have already been cancelled by the state. For the approximately 13 to 16 cases currently pending in various courts, the government has devised a strategic, stage-wise legal framework to facilitate their prompt withdrawal.”

Responding to the union’s demand for a dedicated budget allocation to cover crop damage, the Finance Minister informed the representatives that the state government had already earmarked ₹750 crore for compensation and that the disbursal process for affected farmers was underway.

The discussions also focused extensively on compensation for tenant farmers. Furthermore, a highly sympathetic view was taken regarding the longstanding issue of cultivators who have been tilling land for several decades without formal ownership rights.

Reaffirming the state government’s firm stance against anti-farmer policies at the national level, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the union that all major agrarian issues pending with the Central Government would be debated robustly in the upcoming session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

He asserted, “The Bhagwant Mann Government had consistently defended the state’s agricultural sector against corporate monopolisation.”

Sharing copies of the resolutions with the union, the Finance Minister stated, “In previous Assembly sessions, the state government had already passed and forwarded strong resolutions to the Union Government opposing detrimental international agricultural trade agreements and the contentious Electricity Bill.”

The Group of Ministers reiterated the state government’s firm resolve to continue protecting the rights and livelihoods of farmers on all legislative and administrative fronts.

Prominent amongst others Jhanda singh jethuke, Shingara Singh Mann, Jagtar Singh Kalajhar, Janak Singh Bhutal, Roop Singh Sanna, Harwinder Kaur Bindu, Kamaljit Kaur and Kuldeep Kaur from Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) were present in the meeting.

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*Bhagwant Mann Govt Committed to Employees’ Welfare, Clearing Roadblocks to Resolve Pending Demands: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Major Demands of Education Unions Already at Final Stage: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*AAP Govt Focused on Employees’ Rights & Strengthening Punjab’s Education Sector: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt Working to Fulfil Education Unions’ Demands on Regularisation, Recruitment & Salaries: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH; 13th October, 2026:Reaffirming the Bhagwant Mann government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of state employees, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who also serves as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee formed to resolve employees' issues, held crucial meetings with various employee unions from the Education Department on Tuesday.

During the meetings, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema gave a patient hearing to the visiting delegations and discussed their memorandums in detail. He assured the union representatives, “The Bhagwant Mann government is highly sympathetic to your legitimate demands and is actively working on them.”

The Finance Minister emphasised, “Most of the major demands raised by the unions are already at the final stage of fulfilment and will see a positive resolution shortly.”

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated, “The Bhagwant Mann government is deeply invested in the welfare of its employees and the continuous improvement of the education sector.” He assured the delegations, “All administrative roadblocks are being cleared to expedite the final orders on your pending demands.”

Extensive deliberations were held with several prominent unions representing different cadres and concerns within the education sector. The participating unions included the 180 ETT Teachers Union (Jai Singh Wala), Murh Bahal Kachhe Adhiyapak Union, 10 Saal Service Puri Kar Chuke Kachhe Adhyapak Union, Sarva (Samagra) Shiksha Abhiyan Daftri Karamchari Union, ETT TET Pass Berozgar Adhyapak Union and Unaided Staff of Aided School Front.

The representatives presented detailed memorandums regarding issues such as regularisation of services, recruitment for vacant posts, salary structures and protective policies for unaided staff.

During the meetings,Vikas Sahni, Lakhwinder Kaur, Amandeep Dhaliwal, Varun Khera and Gurpreet Singh from Murh Bahal Kachhe Adhyapak Union; Kamal Thakur, Sohan Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Gaurav Kant, Gurprit Sidhu and Parshotam Kumar from 180 ETT Teachers Union (Jai Singh Wala); Jaspal Singh, Mamta and Manju Devi from 10 Saal Service Puri Kar Chuke Kachhe Adhyapak Union; Kuldeep Singh, Aman Thapar Javeel from Sarva (Samagra) Shiksha Abhiyan Daftri Karamchari Union; Sunil Fazilka, Ranjeet Singh and Kiranpal Kaur from ETT TET Pass Berozgar Adhyapak Union; and Nirbhai SinghYadwindee Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Karandeep Singh from Unaided Staff of Aided School Front presented their issues and demands.

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No laxity in Mid Day Meal scheme to be tolerated: Punjab State Food Commission Acting Chairman Vijay Dutt

PSFC orders clean kitchens, hygiene for cooks & transparent ration distribution

Chandigarh, October 13:Emphasizing upon the efficient running of the Mid Day Meal scheme in order to ensure nutritious and healthy meals for the students of government schools of State, the Punjab State Food Commission also placed prime focus on the neat and tidy kitchens, proper sanitation amenities and spotlessly cleaned toilets.

In a meeting here today, the Acting Chairman of the Commission Vijay Dutt said that any laxity hampering the streamlined running of the mid day Meal scheme would not be tolerated. On the occasion, the Chairman was apprised by the General Manager Mid Day Meal scheme Varinder Singh Brar that amount worth Rs. 40 Crore has been cleared in respect of meeting the previous pending liabilities of the scheme till August 31st, 2026.

The cooks engaged in the preparation of the Mid day Meal must follow the proper hygiene, said the Chairman also underscoring the importance of setting up Kitchen Gardens in the schools wherever space is available.

Describing Anganwadi Centres as key to the robust social security infrastructure of the State, the Chairman explicitly said that there should be no let up in ensuring the regular supply of ration items to these centres.

The Chairman also directed that the distribution of ration through the Fair Price Shops (FPS) must be carried out in a transparent & hassle free manner so as to ensure that no eligible and genuine beneficiary is devoid of receiving its share of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

During the course of meeting, the Chairman also exhorted the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to speed up the sending of relevant data of beneficiaries to the Commission with a view to accelerate the setting up of a Central war room which has been envisaged to ascertain the feedback from the beneficiaries about the various entitlements received by them.

Among others present on the occasion included the Members of the Commission viz. Jasvir Singh Sekhon and Chetan Parkash Dhaliwal.