NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK ON AGRICULTURAL MARKETING: PUNJAB GOVT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT FARMERS' RIGHTS

•Agriculture Minister Khudian holds crucial meeting with Farmer Unions of Punjab

Chandigarh, December 19:Reaffirming the commitment of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to firmly stand with farmers of the state, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has assured farmer union leaders that the state government will not allow farmers' interests to be affected by the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

The Agriculture Minister was holding in-depth discussions with farmer unions’ leaders on the draft policy on “National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing here at Punjab Bhawan, on Thursday.

“The state government is concerned as this policy could have serious implications for the State and its farmers, so we want to analyse and consult on the each and every aspect of the draft policy shared by the GoI,” said the Agriculture Minister, while adding that agriculture experts and other stakeholders will also be consulted soon to analyse it thoroughly so that not a single point is left unconsidered.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Anurag Verma, Chairman of Punjab State Farmers' & Farm Workers' Commission Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, appealed the farmers to send their suggestions and comments in this regard to the Agriculture department.

Farmer Unions’ leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr. Darshan Pal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Dr. Satnam Singh Ajnala and other leaders expressed deep concerns over potential privatisation, monopolistic practices in the disguise of the Policy. It could be an attempt to reintroduce the contentious provisions of the three farm laws, which were repealed by the Union Government following the farmers’ protests, they added. They also urged the state government for further examination before sending a response to the Centre so that Punjab and its farmers interests could be fully secured.

The high-level meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Harbir Singh, Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh, Director of Research at PAU, Ludhiana Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt and senior officials of Punjab Mandi Board and Agriculture department.

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21ST DECEMBER, 2024 DECLARED AS A 'CLOSE DAY' WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL BODIES TO ENABLE WORKERS OF SHOPS, FACTORIES, AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS TO CAST THEIR VOTE

Chandigarh, 19 December 2024:General and Bye-elections to 5 Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils apart from some other ward-wise bye-elections will be conducted on 21st December, 2024. In order to ensure due opportunity to voters to exercise their franchise in these local body elections, the following information is being shared with the general public.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission said that 21 December (Saturday) would be declared as a public holiday in all Punjab Government offices situated in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies where elections are going to be held under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

He further informed that Special leave to government employees and other workers who are voters of these municipal bodies which are going to the polls but employed elsewhere would be allowed as per rules. In addition, he added that holiday would be declared in all the schools whose buildings are being used for election purposes.

It is for the information of the general public that 21st December, 2024 has been declared as a 'Close Day' within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls under the provisions of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, and the Factories Act, 1948 to enable workers of such shops, factories, and commercial establishments located in the revenue jurisdiction of the concerned Municipal Body to cast their vote.

It is also informed that 21st December, 2024 (Saturday) has been declared as a "Dry Day" in the revenue jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls.

Furthermore, he added that Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjabi University Patiala, and Panjab University, Chandigarh have informed that they have postponed all those annual and semester exams which were scheduled to be held on 21st December, 2024 to some other date. Students who were to appear in various exams on these dates may refer to the concerned University Website for details of the fresh dates.

The Commission has made all suitable measures for the conduct of the polls in a free and fair manner and encourages all voters whose names are entered in the electoral rolls to exercise their franchise.

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Bist Doab Canal to remain closed for 33 days

Chandigarh, December 19: Punjab Water Resources Department has decided to close Bist Doab Canal for 33 days to complete the ongoing works.

Disclosing this here, an official spokesperson of the deparment said that keeping in view the weather conditions and status of crops, the Punjab Government has decided to close the Bist Doab Canal from 20 December, 2024 to 21 January, 2025 (both days inclusive) for 33 days. He further said that the state government has already issued notification in this regard under Rule 63 of Rules framed under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (Act No.VIII of 1873).