Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Department in year 2024
Punjab Government committed to uplift living standards of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities: Dr. Baljit Kaur
Rs. 92.00 crore released from budget provision of year 2024-25 for payment of 40% of pending fees for years 2017-18 to 2019-20 for Scheduled Caste students
₹229.93 crores distributed to 45,083 beneficiaries under Ashirwad Scheme
Poor families can apply online for benefits under Ashirwad Scheme on portal
₹6.62 crores provided as loans under self-employment schemes to 382 beneficiaries by Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation
Chandigarh, December 31:The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has made significant efforts to uplift the living standards of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and Minority Communities in the year 2024.
Providing more details, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, stated that the Punjab Government has implemented various schemes to enhance the educational, social and economic status of these communities.
Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students scheme, a provision of ₹245.00 crore has been earmarked for scholarships for the year 2024-25. She further informed that an amount of ₹92.00 crore has been released from the 2024-25 budget provisions for the payment of 40% of the pending fees for Scheduled Caste students for the years 2017-18 to 2019-20. This amount has been allocated for government institutions and for students from Punjab studying in institutions in other states. She also mentioned that the scholarship scheme for 2024-25 aims to benefit 2.60 lakh students, with nearly 2.38 lakh students newly registered under the scheme on the portal.
She added that under the Ashirwad Scheme, ₹229.93 crore has been distributed to 45,083 beneficiaries, including 29,411 from Scheduled Castes and 15,672 from Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections. To make the Ashirwad Scheme more efficient and transparent, applications are now accepted online. Poor families can apply for benefits under this scheme on the portal http://ashirwad.punjab.gov.in.
The Minister highlighted that ₹593.69 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhawan in Tarn Taran and ₹200 crore for the renovation of Ambedkar Bhawans in six districts during 2024–25.
She added that Scheduled Caste students in classes 1 to 10, the government has allocated ₹39.69 crore under the Free Textbook Supply Scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government is striving to bring transformational changes in the lives of Scheduled Caste communities through village development initiatives. Under the Model Village Component of the Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana, ₹39.98 crore received as a central share from the budget provision for 2024–25 has been released.
Cabinet Minister highlighted that to empower youth, loans and subsidies amounting to ₹6.62 crore have been disbursed to 382 beneficiaries under self-employment schemes through the Punjab Scheduled Castes Development and Finance Corporation. Additionally, ₹2.36 crore in loans has been distributed to 87 beneficiaries under self-employment schemes through the Punjab Backward Classes and Development Corporation.
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Punjab Government extends holidays in Anganwadi centres of state till January 7: Dr. Baljit Kaur
Chandigarh, December 31- The Punjab government has extended the winter vacation for children aged 3 to 6 years until January 7, 2025, due to the winter weather across all Anganwadi centres in the state.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that it is very difficult for small children to come to Anganwadi centres due to the extreme cold season. She directed that children aged 3-6 years should be given ration that could be taken to their homes from Anganwadi workers during holidays.
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PWD Achieves Milestones in 2024 with 46% Hike in Budget: Harbhajan Singh ETO
Transforming Punjab's Landscape; Department Completes 643 km out of 740 km of Plan Roads, Says PWD Minister
4-Laning of Patiala-Sirhind Road Gets Underway, Set to Boost Regional Connectivity
Invests ₹532.50 Crore in 33 Bridges, Plans ₹1967 Crore for Future Projects
Punjab PWD Bolsters State's Healthcare and Education Infrastructure with 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics, Medical Colleges, and Schools of Eminence
Commuters Saved ₹225 Crore as Toll Collection Stops at 18 Plazas
Chandigarh, December 31-Punjab Public Works and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Monday said that the Public Works Department (PWD) has successfully executed numerous projects in the year 2024 due to 46 percent increase in the budgetary provisions, from ₹1425.76 Crore in the previous year to ₹2072 Crore for the fiscal year 2024-25.
The PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that this significant boost in funding has enabled the department to plan to spend ₹560 Crore on 740 kilometers of Plan Roads during the year 2024-25. He said the department has already completed 643 kilometers of Plan Roads, which provide crucial inter-state and inter-district connectivity, at a cost of ₹367.53 Crore, and work on others is in progress.
The Minister said that these roads were selected through a transparent process involving extensive surveys on all Plan roads of the state. He said that the major completed roads include the Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur (State Highway-11), Ludhiana Southern Bypass, Sardulgarh-Mansa Road to Talwandi Sabo via Jatana Kalan-Kusla, and Patiala-Gulha Cheeka Road.
"Additionally, several road works such as Bhawanigarh-Nabha-Gobindgarh, Rupnagar-Sri Chamkaur Sahib-Neelon-Doraha, and Bathinda-Talwandi-Rori-Sardulgarh are nearing completion", he added.
Highlighting the commencement of the 4-laning of the Patiala-Sirhind road, following all statutory clearances, PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that this project was announced by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during the Vyapar Milni at Patiala. He said that the project would expected significantly improve the traffic flow and connectivity in the region.
Revealing the efforts taken to ensure the unhindered flow of traffic, the PWD minister said that the department has been constructing 33 Road Over Bridges (RoBs), Road Under Bridges (RuBs), and major bridges on Plan Roads at a cost of ₹532.50 Crore. "Looking ahead, the department proposes to spend ₹1967 Crore on 2056 kilometers of Plan Roads in the next financial year 2025-26", he added.
Highlighting the department s contribution in enhancing the healthcare infrastructure of the state, Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the PWD has completed the construction of 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics at a cost of ₹80 Crore, which are now operational and serving the public. He said that tenders were being invited for the construction of medical colleges in Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. "Furthermore, 18 Critical-care Blocks and 18 Integrated Public Health Laboratories are being constructed in Civil Hospitals at a cost of ₹370 Crore", said ETO.
Stating strengthening of educational infrastructure as a priority for the PWD, the PWD Minister said that the department has been upgrading infrastructure of 19 Schools of Eminence, out of these 10 schools have been completed, and work was in progress for the remaining schools. He said that this initiative of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has been aimed to provide high-quality education facilities to students across the state.
Public Works Minister also informed that, for ensuring hindrance free travel on State roads, toll collection has been stopped on 18 Toll plazas, due to which travelers have been benefitted to the tune of Rs.225 crore during the year.
PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO reiterated the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to continue its efforts in improving infrastructure and public services in the next years also. He emphasized that the achievements of the PWD in 2024 are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the department’s officials and staff. The Minister assured the people of the state that the PWD will persist in its mission to build a better and more prosperous Punjab.
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Punjab Government extends winter break in schools till January 7
Chandigarh, December 31-In view of the cold weather, the Punjab Government has extended winter vacation till January 7, 2025, in government-aided, recognized and private schools across the state.
Announcing this on his official X Account, the School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that this decision was made under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, considering the prevailing cold weather conditions. All schools will reopen on January 8, 2025.
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Punjab Election Quiz-2025: A State-Level Initiative to Celebrate National Voters’ Day: CEO Sibin C
- Participants stand a chance to win attractive prizes, including a laptop, tablet, and smart phones
Chandigarh, December 31:On the occasion of National Voters’ Day (NVD), to be celebrated on 25th January, 2025, the Chief Electoral Office, Punjab has announced a state-level quiz competition, titled “Punjab Election Quiz-2025.” This initiative aims to engage, educate, and raise awareness among the voters and future voters of Punjab.
Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab Sh. Sibin C, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “This quiz is a step toward fostering greater electoral awareness and participation among the people of Punjab. By involving diverse stakeholders, including media and educational institutions, we aim to create a vibrant culture of informed and responsible voting.”
The Punjab Election Quiz-2025 will be conducted in two phases: an online preliminary round to identify district-level winners and an offline final round in Ludhiana on 24th January, 2025, where 23 district-level winners will compete for the top honours. The event aligns with the state-level NVD celebrations in Ludhiana, serving as a precursor to the main event on 25th January, 2025. Interested participants may log in to https://punjab.indiastatquiz.com/ for registration and further details.
To add to the excitement, attractive prizes such as a laptop, tablet, and smart watch for the state level winners and smartphones for the district level winners are up for grabs. These prizes are aimed at encouraging maximum participation and rewarding the knowledge and enthusiasm of the contestants.
A spokesperson informed that commencement of online registration has already started from 28th December, 2024 and would be end on 17th January, 2025. Online quiz contest would be on 19th January, 2025 and Date of the offline state-level final quiz contest would be on 24th January, 2025 at Ludhiana. This initiative is being supported by Datanet India Pvt. Ltd.
As Punjab prepares to celebrate National Voters’ Day 2025, the quiz is set to become a platform to inspire and empower Citizens and Students reinforcing the values of democracy and participation.
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PUNJAB POLICE ACHIEVES MILESTONE UNDER LEADERSHIP OF DGP GAURAV YADAV: 100% HIGH-PROFILE CASES SOLVED IN 2024
— MAJOR CRIMES SOLVED INCLUDES ATTACKS ON POLICE ESTABLISHMENTS, HIGH-PROFILE KILLINGS, AND TERROR MODULES BUSTED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO FREEING PUNJAB FROM DRUGS AND CRIME AS PER VISION OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— WAR ON DRUGS CONTINUES AS PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 8935 DRUG SMUGGLERS INCLUDING 210 BIG FISH; 1099-KG HEROIN, 991-KG OPIUM, ₹14.73 CRORES DRUG MONEY RECOVERED THIS YEAR
— THIS YEAR, AGTF ALONG WITH FIELD UNITS ARRESTS 559 GANGSTERS/CRIMINALS BESIDES NEUTRALISING THREE; RECOVERS 482 WEAPONS
— PUNJAB POLICE'S INTERNAL SECURITY ARRESTS 66 TERRORISTS IN A YEAR; 257 DRONES RECOVERED
— PUNJAB CYBER CRIME DIVISION ACHIEVES 82.7% INCREASE IN REPORTING, SAVES RS 73.34 CRORES VIA LIEN MARKING
— PUNJAB PRISONS DEPARTMENT CRACKS DOWN ON ORGANIZED CRIME, SEGREGATES HIGH-RISK PRISONERS
— OVER 4600 POLICE PERSONNEL RECRUITED THIS YEAR, MODERNISATION OF POLICE FORCE UNDERWAY
CHANDIGARH, December 31:As the year 2024 draws to a close, Punjab Police under the leadership of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav has made significant strides in maintaining law and order and successfully solving all the major and high-profile crimes that took place in the state throughout the year, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill here on Tuesday.
“From the series of attacks on police establishments, to the high-profile killings of Hindu leader Vikas Bagga at Nangal and ex-terrorist Rattandeep Singh, the Punjab police have left no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
Other notable cases solved include the hand grenade blast at a residence in Sector 10, Chandigarh, the hand grenade attack at a petrol station in Mansa, and the triple murder case in Ferozepur.
Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, who was addressing a ‘Year Ender’ Press Conference, said that the decisive war waged by the Punjab Police on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh is continued with Police arresting 8935 drug smugglers/suppliers, including 210 big fish after registering 12255 first information reports (FIRs), including 1213 commercials in year 2024.
He said that police teams have recovered 1099 Kg heroin, 991-Kg opium, 414 quintals of poppy husk, and 2.94 lakh tablets/capsules/injections/vials of Pharma opioids from across the state, he said, while adding that drug money worth Rs 14.73 crores was recovered from drug smugglers arrested this year.
“Registering yet another major success in curbing drug smuggling in the state of Punjab, Punjab Police has successfully executed the orders of preventive detention of two notorious drug smugglers, including Gurdeep Singh alias Raano Sarpanch of Ludhiana and Avtar Singh alias Tari of Gurdaspur, using special provisions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) act,” he said. The section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act empowers the government to take such drug smugglers into preventive custody to prevent them from engaging in illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The IGP said that police have also forfeited 531 properties worth Rs 335 crores of big smugglers this year. He said that 71 drug consumers, caught with little quantity of drugs, availed provision of section 64-A of the NDPS by pledging to undergo the rehabilitation treatment, he added.He said that as part of the ongoing special drive to arrest Proclaimed Offenders (POs)/Absconders in NDPS cases, Punjab Police have arrested 843 POs/Absconders since January 1, 2024, he added.
Recounting the achievements of Punjab Police against the gangsters front in 2024, the IGP said that the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) along with field units has succeeded in busting 198 gangsters/criminals modules after arresting 559 gangsters/criminals and recovered 482 weapons, 102 vehicles used in criminal activities, 7 Kg heroin and Rs 2.14 crore drug money from their possession.
He said that at least 64 exchange of fire took place between police party and criminals this year, during which three gangsters/criminals were neutralised and 63 gangsters/criminals were arrested, of which, 56 had sustained injuries. “Unfortunately, one of our colleague attained martyrdom, while, nine police personnel had sustained injuries during the exchange of fires,” said IGP Sukhchain Singh GiDivulging details on action against terrorists, the IGP that in 2024, the Internal Security Wing has busted 12 terror modules with the arrest of 66 terrorists after recovering two Rifles, 76 Revolvers/Pistols, two Tiffin Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 758 gras RDX and other explosives, four Hand Grenades and 257 Drones. Police teams have recovered 185 kg heroin, 24 pistols, one AK-47 rifle, one IED and Rs 4.18 lakh drug money dropped via drones, he said, while adding that there were 513 drone sightings this year.
He said that in action against use of mobile phones inside jails, the Punjab Police has also blacklisted as many as 2348 IMEI numbers and blocked 731 mobile numbers. Apart from this, at least 483 social media accounts glorifying gangsters and promoting violence have been blocked.
IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that to provide employment opportunities to the youth and channelise their energy in right manner, the Punjab Government has been conducting recruitment in Punjab every year. Of over 10,000 total recruitments since April 2022, as many as 4657 appointment letters were given this year only. In 2024, 288 Sub-Inspectors, 450 Head Constables and 3919 Constables have been given appointment letters while, the recruitment of 1746 constables are under process, he added.
Punjab Government has been focusing on strengthening and modernisation of the Punjab Police to make it number one in the state.
He said that the ambitious project of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann aimed at making Punjab roads safer and reducing road accident fatalities, Sadak Surkhya Force (SSF) has achieved a 15.74 percent reduction in road accident fatalities during the first four months, saving 147 lives, and addressed 9836 accidents with an average response time of under 6 minutes and 45 seconds. The SSF has provided on-spot first aid to 5661 individuals and transported 5686 injured persons to the hospitals for medical care, he added.
He said that Punjab Government had already sanctioned Rs 45.19 crores for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras for several districts and border areas to further intensify the surveillance and keep vigil against drug smugglers and anti-social elements. Apart from this, 426 high-end vehicles have been added to the fleet of the Punjab Police, he said.
The IGP said that the Punjab Police's Cyber Crime Division has also achieved a significant milestone in 2024, with cyber reporting increasing by a whopping 82.7 percent compared to the previous year. This surge in reporting demonstrates the growing trust and awareness among citizens about cybercrime and the importance of reporting such incidents, he added.
He said that another notable achievement of Cyber Crime Division is the establishment of 28 new cyber crime police stations across the state, resulting in registration of 374 FIRs registered which led to arresting 64 individuals.
Additionally, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting helpline (1930) received 35,201 complaints, with Rs 467.1 crores reported in fraud and Rs 73.34 crores saved via lien marking, he said, while adding that Punjab even ranked #1 nationally for lien marking in July. The division also blocked over 7,500 URLs containing harmful content and trained 966 personnel in cybercrime handling.
IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the Punjab Prisons Department has also been making significant strides in countering organised crime within the state's prisons. A key strategy has been the identification and categorisation of High-Risk Prisoners (HRPs), with 456 individuals, including gangsters, drug smugglers, and terrorists, being segregated into 40 High-Security Zones (HSZs) across 13 prisons. This move has prevented illegal mobile access and disrupted communication networks among these high-risk individuals, he said.
Apart from this, the department has also enhanced intelligence collection and collaboration, conducted mandatory daily searches, and deployed advanced surveillance systems, including AI-based CCTV systems in 8 central jails, he said, while adding that more infrastructure upgrades are underway, including the construction of a new high-security jail near Ludhiana and the expansion of advanced security features, such as V-Kavach jammers, AI-based CCTV systems, and X-ray scanners, to all sensitive prisons.
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Punjab transport department records 10.91% revenue growth in 2024: Laljit Singh Bhullar
STC office, PRTC and Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS received whopping Rs.3546.29 crore income between January to December 2024
Over 14.88-CR women journeys availed free travel in Punjab buses during 2024 alone
Around 35K devotees benefit from "Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme"
Chandigarh, December 31:Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Tuesday, said that the transport department achieved a substantial increase of Rs.349.01 crore in revenue during 2024 compared to the previous year.
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PUNJAB IMPLEMENTS A CITIZEN-CENTRIC APPROACH TO DELIVER GOVT SERVICES
•Patwaris, Sarpanches, Nambardars & MCs empowered to verify applications online, says Aman Arora
•Applications for high demand services including Caste certificate being processed online
•“Bhagwant Mann Sarkar- Tuhade Dwar” & other slew of ground-breaking initiatives launched to make the Govt services more easily accessible for every
Chandigarh, December 31:To ensure efficient, honest, accountable and citizen-centric governance to the people of the state, Punjab Government has taken slew of ground-breaking initiatives to make the government services more accessible for every citizen and transform Punjab into a truly digitally empowered society.
Highlighting the details about the initiatives launched by the state government, Punjab Governance Reforms and Public Grievances Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that Punjab has recently launched a pioneering project that has enabled Sarpanchs, Nambardars and Municipal Councillors (MCs) to verify applications online for various certificates– Residence certificate, Caste (SC, BC/OBC) certificate, Income certificate, EWS certificate, Old Age Pension and Dogra certificate. Punjab takes the lead by launching this innovative initiative aims to save citizens from the hassle of making multiple visits to obtain signatures from Sarpanchs, Nambardars and MCs. These local representatives will receive information via WhatsApp and can provide their recommendation through WhatsApp.
The Governance Reforms department has also onboarded all the Patwaris to verify documents online, and as of now, over 9.20 lakh applications have been processed online by the Patwaris in the last seven months across the state, he added.
Allowing people to access services from the comfort of their homes, Mr. Aman Arora said that Punjab Government launched “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar- Tuhade Dwar” scheme to provide 43 citizen-centric services to the people at their doorstep. Citizens can book an appointment by just calling the helpline number 1076 to avail these 43 services, he said while adding that citizens can conveniently schedule Doorstep Service Delivery appointments at their preferred time. Seva Sahayaks are adhered to the scheduled appointments, visiting citizens’ locations to facilitate service applications through tablets and collect necessary documents (if required). Certificates are being sent directly to their phones via SMS or WhatsApp. Over 1,11,915 appointments have been served.
The Governance Reforms Minister further said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann also launched the “AAP Di Sarkar, AAP De Dwar” scheme on February 6, 2024, wherein camps are being organised across the state. As many as 11,090 camps have been organised so far, wherein, as many as 50,046 grievances were resolved on the spot in these camps. The primary purpose of the scheme is to facilitate people by providing services and resolution of grievances on the spot at the camps.
He further informed that the services pendency touched 0.3% in month of this December, which is the lowest ever recorded pendency. Regular monitoring of pendency of Citizen Services is being ensured to accomplish the goal of zero pendency of citizen services.
Now, People of Punjab do not need to visit any office/Sewa Kendra for collection of hard copies of certificates as Punjab Government has started delivery of digitally signed and QR coded certificates to citizens via SMS and email. These certificates are verifiable online and all the offices will accept the certificate. As on date, over 55,83,656 lakh documents have been delivered digitally.
He said that department's three wings- the State Transport Commissioner's (STC) office, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS - collectively generated revenue of Rs.3546.29 crore as compared to previous year revenue of Rs.3197.28, marking a 10.91 percent growth.
Breaking down the performance of the three wings, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar informed that the STC office's revenue surged from Rs.1,855.79 crore to Rs. 2,126.53 crore, representing a significant increase of Rs.270.74 crore, which becomes 14.59 percent increase.
The PRTC also demonstrated growth, with revenue rising from Rs.892.45 crore in 2023 to Rs.900.98 crore in 2024, an increase of Rs.8.53 crore, he added.
While sharing the details of Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS revenue, Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said, the Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS had received Rs.449.04 crore in the year 2023, and the revenue has further increased to Rs.518.78 crore during the year 2024. He said that Rs.69.74 crore increase amounts to 15.53 percent.
Under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership, the Cabinet Minister said, the department has implemented transparent and efficient policies that have accelerated its growth trajectory.
He said that a notable achievement has been the provision of free travel facilities to 14.88 crore women passengers throughout Punjab from January to December 2024, amounting to Rs.726.19 crore in concessions. From April 1, 2022, the state government has invested Rs.1916.92 crore, facilitating 40.45 crore free journeys for the women of the state. The department also extends free/concessional travel benefits to various categories including police personnel, students, differently-abled individuals and patients with thalassemia and cancer.
S. Bhullar said that the department is actively expanding its infrastructure, with PRTC's first sub-depot under construction at Daula, District Bathinda, at an estimated cost of Rs.3.36 crore. The project, spread across 1.6 acres, is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of the coming year.
Besides this, the department has revitalized the old bus stand at Patiala,implementing a phased approach to enhance connectivity with neighbouring towns. Under first phase, 75 buses connecting Patiala city to nearby towns of Nabha, Samana, Bhawanigarh, Bhadson and Ghanour are being operated. Also under Phase-2 routes Cheeka, Devigarh, Pehwa, Sanour on connectivity gaps within 30 km of Patiala City has been started.
In a significant fleet expansion initiative, Punjab Roadways/Punbus is procuring 20 Super Integral BS-VI Compliant Buses and 19 H.V.A.C Buses under the kilometer scheme. PRTC has also secured arrangements for 83 new BS VI compliant ordinary standard buses on a lease basis for six years.
He said that the government launched the 'Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme' on November 27, 2023, coinciding with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Prakash Purb. This initiative is providing state residents free pilgrimages to various religious sites including Sri Hazur Sahib (Nanded), Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar), Varanasi Mandir, Mathura and Vrindavan Dham (Uttar Pradesh), Khwaja Ajmer Sharif Dargah (Rajasthan), Sri Anandpur Sahib, Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Salasar Dham, Sri Khatu Shyam Ji, Mata Chintpurni Ji, Mata Jawala Ji, Mata Naina Devi Ji and Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrines. So far, about 35,000 devotees have visited the religious places.He informed that Mann government has introduced 55 smart services pertaining to driving licenses and vehicle registrations, with 38 of these services being entirely accessible online, while 17 services require minimal office visits. The facility of Home delivery of Smart Cards of DLs & RCs have been provided to the citizens of state through speed post after printing these cards at one and only printing station established at Chandigarh. The state has introduced modern technology based vehicle fitness through mobile tab by Motor Vehicle Inspector. Apart from this, registration process at the dealer level has been commenced.
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2024: Year of achievements for forest department
‘Tree Preservation policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands-2024’ okayed by State Cabinet for saving trees & environment from pollution
· Country’s biggest & longest Walk In-Aviary of the country unveiled at Chhatbir Zoo
· 2.84 Lakh saplings planted under various schemes to expand forest cover
Chandigarh, December 31:With a view to increase green cover in the State and protect the wildlife, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department has undertaken remarkable initiatives during the year 2024. This involved plantation of 2.84 Lakh saplings under various schemes such as the State Authority CAMPA and Greening Punjab Mission and furthermore, 3153.33 Hectare area has been brought under forests.
Stating this, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that ‘Tree Preservation policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands-2024’ was okayed by the State Cabinet in order to save the trees in Non-Forest and Government lands from illegal felling besides saving the environment from pollution and promote afforestation.
Also, 28.99 lakh saplings stand planted at the tubewells as per the policy of planting at least 4 saplings per tubewell, said the Minister adding that 46 Pavittar Van and 268 Nanak Bagichis were also set up during the year. As many as 78 toilets are being constructed in the nurseries of the department for the women staff members.
A project worth Rs. 792.88 Crore has got approval from the Union Government to meet the target to increase forest cover to 7.5% by 2030. The project would be implemented over a time period of 5 years and would involve active collaboration of the State Government with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In terms of employment generation, over a period of two years, as many as 276 direct recruitments have been made by the department in the cadres of Deputy Ranger, Forester, Forest Guard, Clerk etc.
As regards the Wildlife Preservation Department, the biggest & longest Walk In-Aviary of the country has been unveiled at the Chhatbir Zoo. An ultra modern dinosaur park has also been set up at the Zoo. The 5 wetlands of Punjab namely- Harike, Ropar, Kanjhli, Keshopur and Nangal have been identified by the Union Government for being developed on priority. An amount of Rs. 25.29 Crore has been kept for the overall development of the various zoos and the wildlife throughout the State.
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NOW, PEOPLE CAN CHECK ELIGIBILITY & INFO ABOUT EMPANELED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS UNDER AYUSHMAN BHARAT MUKH MANTRI SEHAT BIMA YOJANA
— Dr. Balbir Singh launches 'State Health Agency Punjab' mobile-app
— 1.68 Cr beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana in Punjab
Chandigarh, December 31:Taking another significant step to ensure easy access to healthcare services for the people of Punjab, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday launched an Android-based mobile application 'State Health Agency Punjab'.
Using this digital platform, individuals can now be able to easily check their eligibility for the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana directly from their mobile devices. It also provides information about empaneled public and private hospitals where they can receive treatment under this government health insurance plan, said the Health Minister.
Dr. Balbir Singh mentioned that there are 1.68 crore beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana in Punjab. Among them, approximately 88 lakh individuals have already created their e-cards.
He stated that this is an important facility provided by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government, which is a unique scheme because it covers lakhs of additional individuals who are not beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana includes J-form farmers, Small traders, Smart Ration card holders, Construction Workers registered with the Labor Board, and Accredited journalists, totaling around 45 lakh families.
Earlier, common people had to visit government hospitals or common service centers to check their eligibility for the health insurance scheme cards. However, with this important facility provided by the Punjab government, the people of Punjab can now check their eligibility for the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana from the comfort of their homes using the mobile app.
Dr. Balbir Singh encouraged the people of Punjab to create their cards by checking their eligibility on the 'State Health Agency Punjab' app.
On this occasion, Administrative Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department Sh. Kumar Rahul, CEO State Health Agency Ms. Babita, Director Medical Education & Research Dr. Avnish Kumar, Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences Dr. Varinder Singh were also present.