CM ASSURES FULSOME SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO VSSL GROUP FOR SETTING MEGA VENTURE WORTH RS 1750 CRORE
GREENFIELD UNIT FOR MANUFACTURING OF SPECIAL ALLOY STEEL TO GIVE JOBS TO 1500 YOUTH IN THE STATE
BHAGWANT MANN REITERATES COMMITMENT OF HIS GOVERNMENT TO GIVE MAJOR PUSH TO INDUSTRY IN STATE
Chandigarh, November 22:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday assured fulsome support and cooperation to Vardhman Special Steels Limited (VSSL) for Setting up a Greenfield Unit for manufacturing of Special Alloy Steel through Electric Arc Furnace Route at a cost of Rs 1750 crore.
The Chief Minister, during a meeting with Vice Chairman and Managing Director VSSL Sachit Jain here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat, said that the state government is committed for giving major fillip to the investment in the state. He said that it is heartening that VSSL is setting up a Greenfield Unit for manufacturing of Special Alloy Steel through Electric Arc Furnace Route at a cost of Rs 1750 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this project having installed capacity of about 5 lac TPA will be set up with an investment of Rs 1750 Crores in collaboration with Aichi Steel Corporation Japan.
The Chief Minister said that the project is expected to give employment to over 1500 youth in the state adding that the Company will produce “Green Steel” from this plant. He said that the project will generate major revenue for the state and the country as exports will be more than 20% of the total volume to various Japanese/ European companies. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that VSSL is a renowned company across the globe and the huge investment made by this prestigious company in the state will inspire other companies to follow suit.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is leaving no stone unturned to give impetus to the industry and commerce in Punjab. He said that due to strenuous efforts of Punjab government so far investments worth around Rs 86,000 crore have been firmed up in the state with leading companies like Tata Steel, Sanatan Textiles and others making a beeline to invest in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has complete communal harmony, peace and amity, which are mainly responsible for overall development and prosperity in the state.
The Chief Minister said that companies are making optimum use of the congenial atmosphere backed by excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources and best industrial and work culture in the state to spread their business. He said that entrepreneurs are being immensely benefited by investing in the state, which is rapidly emerging as the industrial hub of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government was always open for new ideas and innovations to boost up the industrial growth in Punjab.
The Industry and Commerce Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond also present in the meeting.
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RESIDENTS OF GHUNGRALI VILLAGE THANKS CM FOR AMICABLE RESOLUTION OF BIOGAS PLANT ISSUE
BHAGWANT MANN REITERATES COMMITMENT FOR COMPLETELY POLLUTION FREE PLANT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND PPCB TO MONITOR THE PROJECT REGULARLY
HAILS VILLAGERS FOR THEIR POSITIVE APPROACH AND FULL PUBLIC COOPERATION
Chandigarh, November 22:Residents of village Ghungrali in Ludhiana district today called on the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and profusely thanked him for amicably resolving the issue of Biogas plant by taking into confidence all the stakeholders.
A delegation of the village led by Hardeep Singh and newly elected Sarpanch Amritpal Singh met the Chief Minister here at his office in the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
During deliberations, the Chief Minister reiterated that the upcoming Biogas plant will be totally pollution free. He said that the state government is committed to check the pollution in Punjab and it has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards it. Bhagwant Singh Mann categorically said that the plant will be completely pollution free and no one will be allowed to flout the norms.
The Chief Minister said that an oversight committee comprising all the stakeholders will be constituted to monitor the project regularly. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against pollution caused by anyone in Punjab. He said that no one will be allowed to violate the norms and exemplary action will be taken against anyone indulging in this crime.
The Chief Minister said that the plant owners have done a written agreement with the state government that their plant will adhere to all the environmental norms. He said that the Punjab Pollution Control Board will keep a strict vigil over the plant so that no violation takes place during its operation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that any sort of violation of environmental norms is totally unwarranted and undesirable adding that it will not be tolerated at any cost.
The Chief Minister said that through their positive approach the villagers have set a new example of full public cooperation in the functioning of government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will explore the feasibility of setting up a state of the art sports nursery in the village to channelize the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction. Likewise, he announced to set up a hi-tech library in the village adding that every other genuine demand of villagers will also be accepted.
Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and others.
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Ahead of Shaheedi Sabha CM releases Rs 95.54 lakh to make roads leading to Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib ‘patch free’
Says state government duty bound to facilitate millions of pilgrims coming to pay obeisance during shaheedi sabha
Directs officers to ensure that pilgrims don’t face any sort of inconvenience
Chandigarh, November 22:In order to facilitate lakhs of pilgrims coming to Gurudwara Sri Fatehgarh sahib during Shaheedi Sabha to commemorate martyrdom of younger sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has released Rs 95.54 lakh for making roads leading to Gurdwara sahib patch free.
The Chief Minister has released these funds to make Bassi Sanghol Road, Jodhpur to Mahaddian road, Sirhind Chunni road To Ghumandgarh, Sirhind Chunni road To Duffera, Nogawan To Lohari road, Bassi to Dadheri Via jerkhela kheri, Ferozpur, Bag Sikander,
Kharar Bassi road To Ghumandgarh, Bassi sanghol Road to Kotla Maksood via Abdulapur Mehdoodan, Kheri naudh Singh to Bassi Pathana to Mc limit Via Bour and others patch free. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he has released the funds required for this purpose to the district administration adding that the work should be executed promptly and zealously to facilitate the pilgrims.He said that the state government is duty bound to provide all necessary facilities to the lakhs of devotees visiting the holy shrine during the Shaheedi Sabha.
The Chief Minister said that this initiative would serve as a humble tribute from the state government to the supreme sacrifice made by the family of the tenth Sikh Guru. He emphasized that the holy land of Fatehgarh Sahib not only inspires Sikhs but the entire humanity, with lakhs of devotees visiting each year to pay respects on the martyrdom day of the younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji. Highlighting the unparalleled sacrifice of the Sahibzadas at a young age, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that that such an example is not found anywhere else in world history.
The Chief Minister unequivocally directed the district administration to ensure ample arrangements for the devotees, ensuring that they face no inconvenience while paying obeisance at the holy shrine. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he will personally monitor the entire arrangement to leave no stone unturned in serving the devotees adding that he will personally monitor the entire arrangement to leave no stone unturned in serving the devotees. He directed the officers that adequate arrangements should be made to ensure a hassle-free experience for every devotee visiting the holy shrine.
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PUNJAB POLICE NABS TWO GANGSTERS OF LANDA GANG AFTER INTENSE SHOOTOUT IN JALANDHAR; 7 WEAPONS RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO KNOCK DOWN ORGANISED CRIME NEXUS FROM STATE
— BOTH ARRESTED PERSONS AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS SUFFERED BULLET INJURIES DURING EXCHANGE OF FIRE, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— BOTH GANGSTERS WERE HATCHING CONSPIRACY TO ELIMINATE TWO PEOPLE FROM RIVAL GANG ON DIRECTIONS OF LANDA: CP SWAPAN SHARMA
CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, November 22:In a major breakthrough in the fight against organised crime, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has arrested two dreaded gangsters of infamous Landa gang after an intense shootout took place on the outskirts of Pholriwal village in Jalandhar and recovered seven weapons along with six magazines and six cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Those arrested have been identified as Jaskaran alias Karan, a resident of Bheekha Nangal in Kartarpur and Fatehdeep Singh alias Pardeep Saini, a resident of Mohalla Thanedaara at Mehli Gate in Phagwara. Both the accused persons were apprehended in connection with a case registered at Police Station Sadar, Jalandhar.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following an intel-input about the presence of criminals associated with Landa gang in the area of Jalandhar Commissionerate area, Police teams under the supervision of Commissioner of Police (CP) Jalandhar Swapan Sharma launched an extensive operation and traced their location near Pholriwal village.
During the high-stakes chase, the gangsters opened fire on the pursuing police teams, prompting police parties to retaliate, he said, while adding that during the exchange of fire both the accused persons as well as two police officers suffered bullet injuries. “Over 50 shots were fired both the sides during the operation,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Sharing more details, CP Jalandhar Swapan Sharma said that arrested individuals were involved in numerous heinous crimes including extortion, murder and attempt to murder. The accused persons were also instrumental in providing logistical support to other gang members and supplying weapons to criminal outfits, he added.
The CP said that preliminary investigations have revealed both the gangsters were directly in touch with Landa and were hatching a conspiracy to eliminate two people belonging to their rival gang.
He said that injured gangsters and police officers have been undergoing medical treatment at local hospital. Further investigations are underway to uncover their network and possible linkages to other criminal groups, he added.
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Counting for by-election for 4 seats of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on November 23, preparations done: Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C
- Three tier security around the counting centres
- Fate of 45 candidates in the election field to decided
Chandigarh, November 22:Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has informed that the counting for by-elections for 4 seats of Punjab Vidhan Sabha will start on November 23, 2024 at 8 am. All preparations have been done. All counting centers will be monitored by CCTV cameras. He said that three tier security system has been implemented around counting centres for which Punjab Police jawans and officers and Central Armed Forces have been deployed.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that the by-elections of 4 seats of the Vidhan Sabha, a total of 45 candidates are in the fray this time. One center has been set up in each assembly constituency for the counting of votes.
Sibin C said that 11 candidates participated in Vidhan Sabha Constituency 10-Dera Baba Nanak and 64.01 percent voting was recorded here. The counting of votes for this constituency will be held in 18 rounds at Sukhjindra Group of Institutes, Engineering Wing, Hardochhanni Road, Gurdaspur.
He further informed that in Vidhan Sabha Constituency 44-Chabbewal (SC), a total of 6 candidates contested and the votes will be counted in 15 rounds at Gym Hall, Education Block, Rayat and Bahra Group of Institutes, Chandigarh Road Hoshiarpur. A total of 53.43 percent voting has taken place on the Chabbewal seat.
Similarly, 14 candidates are in the fray in the 84-Giddarbaha constituency. A total of 81.90 percent voting has taken place here. Giddarbaha constituency votes will be counted in 13 rounds at Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) Bharu Road, Giddarbaha.
Sibin C said that there was competition among 14 candidates in 103-Barnala constituency. 56.34 percent voting has been recorded in this constituency. The votes for Barnala Constituency will be counted in 16 rounds at S.D. College of Education, Barnala.
Sibin C further informed that SDM Dera Baba Nanak is the returning officer of Dera Baba Nanak Vidhan Sabha constituency, while ADC (G) of Hoshiarpur is the returning officer of Chabbewal (SC) Vidhan Sabha constituency. Futher, SDM Giddarbaha is the returning officer of Vidhan Sabha constituency Giddarbaha and SDM Barnala is the returning officer of Vidhan Sabha constituency Barnala.
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PUNJAB GIVES NOD TO ESTABLISH C-PYTE CAMP IN BORDER DISTRICT PATHANKOT
•5.5 acres identified to construct camp in Pathankot, says Aman Arora
•Executive Board meeting also approves to begin NSDC certified Security Guard Training and Personality Development and Soft Skills coaching in C-PYTE
Chandigarh, November 22:In a bid to enable the state’s youth for employment into the Police, Armed Forces and CAPF, Punjab Government has given a go ahead to establish a new Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-PYTE) camp in border district Pathankot.
This decision was taken in an Executive Board meeting of Centre of Employment Generation & Training, chaired by Minister Mr. Aman Arora, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Punjab.
Currently, Punjab has 14 C-PYTE camps across the state and a new camp will be established at Tango Shah in Pathankot district and 5.5 acres of land has also been identified for the same. As many as 2,57,595 youth have been trained totally free of cost in these C-PYTE camps and 1,14,861 have been employed so far, he added.
The Executive Board has also approved the introduction of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) certified Security Guard Training into the syllabus of C-PYTE. This training will be imparted through a training partner and a tie up will be done with PESCO for placement of C-PYTE qualified youth.
Highlighting another important decision taken in the meeting, Mr. Aman Arora said that a formal coaching for personality development and soft skills will also be initiated in C-PYTE camps to enable fruitful employment of youth. This move will help in further developing integrity, confidence, discipline and focus in youth, besides motivating them to be better citizens and fight drug menace.
Principal Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Ms. Jaspreet Talwar apprised the cabinet minister that C-PYTE camps have been working tirelessly to instil values including discipline, social concern and nation building in the youth, besides training them to find employment in the armed forces, police, para military forces and other industries.
Director General of C-PYTE Major General Rambir Singh Mann said that these decisions will have a very positive impact on the training and subsequent employment of Punjab Youth. Senior officials from the other departments were also present in the meeting.
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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS ARMS SMUGGLING MODULE BACKED BY FOREIGN BASED SMUGGLERS; SIX HELD
— POLICE TEAMS RECOVER 10 PISTOLS INCLUDING THREE SOPHISTICATED GLOCK PISTOLS FROM THEIR POSSESSION: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— MORE ARRESTS AND RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED IN COMING DAYS: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, November 22:In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state , Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted trans-border Arms smuggling module backed by foreign based smugglers with the arrest of six persons and recovered 10 Pistols including three sophisticated 9MM Glock pistols along with ten cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Those arrested have been identified as Vinod Kumar alias Rangeela of Putlighar, Yuvraj Singh of village Roriwala in Amritsar, Surkhap Singh of village Roriwala in Amritsar, Jugraj Singh alias Jaggu of Plah Sahib road in Amristar, Amritpal Singh of village Sherpur in Batala and Prabhdeep Singh alias Harman of village Mumrai in Batal
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused have been in contact with foreign-based smuggler, who has been pushing huge consignments of weapons into Indian territory via drones and other means.
He said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case.
Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that following reliable inputs about the involvement of accused Amritpal in smuggling of weapons, Police teams from CIA Amritsar laid a trap and arrested him along with Prabhdeep from Batala road in Amritsar. On their disclosure, Police teams have recovered two 9MM Glock pistols and five .32 bore pistols along with six cartridges from the location pinpointed by them near Verka Bye Pass.
In another operation based on intel-inputs about the illegal weapon smuggling, CP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that police teams nabbed accused Jugraj Singh along with his three accomplices from the backside Khalsa College and and upon their disclosure recovered one Glock pistol and two .32 bore pistols along with four cartridges concealed at an isolated location at the back side of Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. Further investigations are on and more arrests and recoveries are expected in coming days, he said.
In this regard, two separate cases including Fir No.184 dated 21-11-2024 u/s 25 Arms Act and section 111(1)(2)(3)(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Police Station Cantonment Amritsar and FIR No 101 dated 21-11-2024 under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Verka has been registered.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests Bank Manager for Embezzling Rs 34,92,299 from Gramin Bank
Chandigarh, November 22, 2024:-The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Pramod Kumar, a former manager of Punjab Gramin Bank’s Bhano Langa branch in Kapurthala district, for embezzlement of Rs. 34,92,299. A resident of Kundal village in Bikaner district, Rajasthan, said Pramod Kumar had been absconding since 2022 in this case.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said the aforementioned accused was wanted in a case registered under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code at Sadar Police Station, Kapurthala under FIR No. 58, dated 30/05/2022.
He further informed that during his tenure as branch manager, Pramod Kumar misused his authority and fraudulently accessed the user IDs and passwords of branch clerks Jagdish Singh and Rajni Bala. Using these credentials, he carried out 26 transactions to embezzle Rs 34,92,299 from the accounts of 12 different bank account holders. The accused bank manager, out of the embezzled amount, had later deposited Rs 8,16,023 back into the accounts of five account holders in an attempt to cover up the fraud. Following an investigation the charges were proved against him, and case was transferred to the VB.
The spokesperson added that Pramod Kumar was apprehended by the VB unit Kapurthala, after intelligence inputs led to his location at his ancestral village in Kundal, in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. Further investigation into the case is underway, he said.
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Another initiative towards prevent illegal mining activities
Punjab Mining Minister Goyal launches 'Punjab Mines Inspection' Mobile App
New android application to strengthen mining regulation and curb illegal activities
Chandigarh, November 22:In a significant move towards technological integration in mining governance, Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal launched 'Punjab Mines Inspection' mobile application designed to enhance monitoring and inspection of mining activities across the state.
The Android-based application, developed by the Department of Mines and Geology Punjab, will serve as a powerful tool for departmental officers to conduct and document mining site inspections efficiently. The app introduces several innovative features to strengthen mining regulation and transparency in the state.
"This application marks a significant step forward in our fight against illegal mining while ensuring transparent and efficient inspection processes," said Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, adding that the technology-driven approach would help augment state revenue by ensuring better compliance with mining regulations.
He said that the application will enable District Mining Officers, Sub-Divisional Officers and Junior Engineers to submit detailed inspection reports within a 200-meter radius of designated mining sites.
The system will automatically delineate a 500-meter monitoring zone around identified hotspots, capture geographical coordinates during inspections and allow officers to upload images and videos. A notable feature includes documentation of accompanying officers and an auto-escalation mechanism for unaddressed illegal mining activities.
The application's comprehensive approach includes action taken report submission functionality and real-time monitoring of both Public Mining Sites (PMS) and Commercial Mining Sites (CMS). This technological intervention to enforce regulations effectively while promoting sustainable mining practices and improved governance across Punjab, he added.
During the launch ceremony, MLA Rampura Phul Sh. Balkar Sidhu, Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary, Mines & Geology, Punjab, Mr. Abhijit Kaplish, Director Mining and Dr. Harinder Pal Singh Bedi, Chief Engineer, Mining were also present.
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PMIDC Signs MoU with HUDCO
MoU Will Foster Close Cooperation in Training and Capacity Building: Deepti Uppal
Chandigarh, November 22 -To further streamline the functioning of the Local Government Department and ensure holistic development of Punjab's cities and towns, the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO), under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
PMIDC CEO Deepti Uppal and HUDCO Director of Corporate Planning M. Nagraj signed the MoU at Punjab Municipal Bhawan, Sector 35. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Deepti Uppal stated that, as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and under the leadership of Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh, the department has been working closely with city residents. This MoU is part of a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing the department's efficiency and delivering better quality services to the public.
Chief Executive Officer, PMIDC Smt. Deepti Uppal and Corporate Planning, HUDCO Director, Sh. M. Nagraj signed this Memorandum of Understanding for developing close cooperation in the field of training and capacity building. HUDCO's Human Settlements Management Institute (HSMI) will conduct such programmes in close collaboration with the Department of Local Government, Punjab for the Urban Local Bodies.
During this ceremony, Mr. Sanjay Bhargav, Regional Head, Mrs. Shobha Kumar, Joint General Manager (Projects), Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Joint General Manager (Law) and Mr. Ashish Goyal, Senior Manager (Secretary) from HUDCO and Mr. Harsatinderpal Singh Dhillon, General Manager (Projects), Dr. Manpreet Dhaliwal, Manager (Capacity Building) and Dr. Sumit Arora, Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening Specialist from PMIDC were present.
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Sandhwan congratulates Aman Arora and Shery Kalsi on getting the responsibility of party president and acting president
Chandigarh, November 22:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has congratulated Cabinet Minister Mr. Aman Arora and MLA Mr. Shery Kalsi on getting the responsibility of party president and acting president respectively.
In a press statement issued here today, S. Sandhwan congratulated Mr. Aman Arora and Shery Kalsi for getting new responsibility and said, “I am confident that Mr. Arora and Mr. Kalsi will handle the work of the organization in a smooth manner as per the guidelines of party supremo Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Mr. Sandeep Pathak.
S. Sandhwan described both the leaders as capable and said that both of them have been continuously serving the people as minister and MLA. He said that the party will be further strengthened under the leadership of these two.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests Panchayat Officer for accepting Rs 24,000 bribe
Chandigarh November 22, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Friday has apprehended Gurinder Singh Grover, posted as Panchayat Officer-cum Administrator Block Verka, district Amritsar for accepting a bribe of Rs 24,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Joginder Singh, a resident of village Mahaniya Kohara, in Kathunangal, Amritsar.
He further added that the said complainant has approached the VB and informed that he was sarpanch of village Mahaniya Kohara from the year 2019-2024 and that development grants were received from Central and State Governments. The accused had transferred a total of Rs 1,27,800 in his account and latter collected it in cash. The complainant alleged that now the Panchayat Officer has been demanding a bribe of 2 percent amounting to Rs 24,000 for issuing user certificate (UC) of said development funds amounting to Rs 12,50000.
The spokesperson added that after verification of this complaint the VB unit Amritsar laid a trap during which the said accused was caught red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 24,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
He further added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB Police Station, Range Amritsar. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case is under progress, he said.
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Dr. Baljit Kaur Directs to Intensify Efforts to Protect Children from Begging
Says, any case of child begging must be reported to the District Child Protection Unit or the Child Welfare Committee
Chandigarh, November 22-The Punjab government is implementing the Jeevanjot Project through the Department of Social Security, Women, and Child Development to eradicate the social evil of child begging. The objective of this initiative is to rescue children engaged in begging, rehabilitate them, and ensure they are guided towards a life free from exploitation. These words were expressed by Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur
Providing more details in this regard, the Cabinet Minister stated that a campaign is being conducted under the Jeevanjot Project to safeguard the childhood of children involved in begging. Under this initiative, efforts are being made to rescue and rehabilitate such children. She mentioned that this campaign is carried out every second week of the month.
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Vigilance Bureau arrests JE PSPCL for accepting Rs 30,000 bribe
Chandigarh November 22, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Friday has apprehended Ravinder Kumar, posted at Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) Sub Division Kahnuwan, District Gurdaspur for accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested on a complaint lodged by Saroop Singh, a resident of village Sathiali, in Gurdaspur.
He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that he had built a pipe factory near his house but the accused demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 for installing commercial electricity meter.
The spokesperson informed that after verification of this complaint the VB unit laid a trap during which the accused was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the said accused at VB Police Station, Range Amritsar. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigations is under progress, he said.
She disclosed that as parts of this campaign, a total of 187 children have been rescued in various districts since July-2024. Of these, 18 children, who lacked shelter, have been placed in state-run children's homes where they are being provided with education, nutrition, healthcare, and other essential services. The remaining children have been reunited with their parents through the Child Welfare Committee. Additionally, 15 children are set to benefit from the sponsorship scheme, steps are being taken to enroll 80 children in schools, and 3 children have been admitted to Anganwadi centers.
The Minister stated that under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Punjab Government has registered 07 government-run children’s homes and 39 non-governmental homes in the state, where orphaned, destitute, and abandoned children are provided shelter.
The Cabinet Minister appealed to the citizens that if any case of children begging comes to their attention, they can report the matter to their district's District Child Protection Unit or Child Welfare Committee, or by calling the Child Helpline No. 1098, which is operated by the department.
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Pending Matters of Improvement Trusts Should Be Resolved Immediately: Dr. Ravjot Singh
Local Government Minister Emphasizes Coordination in Meeting with All Chairmen and EOs of Improvement Trusts
Chandigarh, November 22-Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh has called for the immediate resolution of the pending matters of the Improvement Trusts in the state. He also emphasized the need for strong coordination between the trusts and the concerned institutions to ensure the planned development of cities and provide better facilities to urban residents.
Dr. Ravjot Singh discussed key issues related to the trusts with the chairmen and EOs of all the Improvement Trusts of the state during a meeting held at the Municipal Bhawan in Chandigarh today. He stated that the Improvement Trust is a crucial component of the Local Government Department, in line with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's instructions to provide efficient administration at the grassroots level.
During the meeting, Dr. Ravjot Singh listened to the concerns raised by the chairmen of the Improvement Trusts and provided on-the-spot guidelines to address various issues faced by the trusts.
Dr. Ravjot Singh urged the officials to provide necessary support to the chairmen to strengthen the Improvement Trusts. He emphasized that these trusts should be financially empowered to facilitate the development of cities.
Present at the meeting were Gurpreet Singh Khaira, Director of the Local Government Department, Joint Director Jagdeep Sehgal, and other officers from the department.