Dr. Baljit Kaur directs officers to expedite survey under "Sade Bazurg Sada Maan"

Says, Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to safeguarding interests of senior citizens

Chandigarh, January 7: Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, directed departmental officers to expedite the survey being conducted under the "Sade Bazurg Sada Maan" campaign.

The Cabinet Minister emphasized that while the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann remains dedicated to the welfare of various sections of society, it is particularly focused on improving the lives of senior citizens. She urged the officers to ensure that all government schemes designed for senior citizens are implemented effectively and without delay at the grassroots level.

Dr. Baljit Kaur mentioned that the survey under the compaign is being conducted by departmental supervisors through the Msewa app. She praised the survey progress in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, SAS Nagar and Pathankot but urged other districts to expedite their efforts.

The Minister emphasized that any negligence in the survey process, which is crucial for safeguarding the interests of the elderly, would not be tolerated. She said that strict action would be taken against any officer or employee found derelict in their duties.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated the state government's vision of transforming Punjab into a vibrant and progressive state. To achieve this, she called on officers to work with mutual cooperation and a strong sense of dedication.

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Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Engages with Various Unions to Address Their Demands

Chandigarh, January 7- Punjab Finance Minister Advoacte Harpal Singh Cheema held a series of meetings today with representatives from the ‘Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazm Union’, ‘Computer Adhiyapak Bhukh Hartal Sangharsh Committee’, ‘Computer Adhiyapak Union’, ‘Berujgar Sanjha Morcha’, and ‘Bharat Netraheen Sewak Samaj’. The discussions focused on the demands and issues raised by these unions, with the Minister taking proactive steps towards their resolution.

During the meeting with Bharat Netraheen Sewak Samaj, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department to explore the possibility of opening a new school for the visually impaired in the state. Additionally, he asked the department to study staff and other requirements of the existing school in Jamalpur, Ludhiana. He instructed that a detailed report be prepared and submitted to the Finance Department to ensure necessary budgetary provisions for the financial year 2025-26.

In the meeting with the Powercom and Transco Contract Employees Union, the union representatives highlighted the challenges faced by employees working on an outsourced basis in PSPCL and PSTCL. The Finance Minister instructed the Power Department to convene a meeting with the union to address their legitimate demands. He assured that the outcomes of this meeting would be discussed in the next Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting to expedite the resolution of the union's primary concerns.

The Computer Teachers Hunger Strike Sangharsh Committee and the Computer Teachers Union also met with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The Minister assured the union leaders that the Finance Department is seriously considering their demand for dearness allowance. He also confirmed that other legitimate demands of the computer teachers are under active consideration.

The Berujgar Sanjha Morcha, Punjab, raised concerns regarding the filling of vacant posts in the Education and Health Departments and requested relaxation of the age limit in recruitment. The Finance Minister directed the Education Department to hold a meeting with legal experts and representatives of the front to assess the legal validity of these demands and to find a proper and lawful solution.

Today's meetings were attended by State President Balihar Singh, State Assistant Secretary Tek Chand, and State Office Secretary Sher Singh from the Powercom and Transco Contract Employees Union; Paramveer Singh and Pradeep Kumar from the Computer Adhiyapak Bhukh Hartal Sangharsh Committee; State President Gurvinder Singh, Vice President Anil Airy, General Secretary Harpreet Singh, and Rabi Manan from the Computer Adhiyapak Union; Jaswant Singh Ghubaya, Raman Kumar Malout, and Sukhwinder Singh Dhilwan from the Beruzgar Sanjha Morcha; and Balwinder Singh, General Secretary of the National Federation, and Gurpreet Singh, General Secretary of Bharat Netraheen Sewak Samaj, who raised issues concerning the visually impaired.

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PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS TWO ACCUSED INVOLVED IN FIRING INCIDENTS AFTER BRIEF ENCOUNTER; ONE PISTOL RECOVERED

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A CRIME-FREE STATE

— ARRESTED ACCUSED PERSONS WERE RUNNING AN EXTORTION RACKET ON DIRECTIONS OF GANGSTER PRABH DASUWAL, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— BOTH ARRESTED ACCUSED SUSTAINED BULLET INJURIES DURING RETALIATORY FIRE: SSP TARN TARAN ABHIMANYU RANA

Chandigarh/Tarn Taran, January 7:Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free state launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police have solved at least two firing incidents in the district Tarn Taran with the arrest of two associates of foreign-based gangster Prabhdeep Singh alias Prabh Dasuwal after a brief encounter took place at Valtoha in Tarn Taran, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Karanpreet Singh alias Karan, a resident of village Toot in Tarn Taran and Gurlaljit Singh alias Laali, a resident of Village Bhangala in Tarn Taran. Police teams have also recovered one .32 bore pistol along with live cartridges and empty bullet shells from their possession, besides impounding their Honda Activa scooter, which they were riding.

As per the information, both the accused persons were running an extortion racket on the directions of their handler Prabh Dasuwal, who is associated with Ghanshyampuria gang and were involved in two firing incidents. The recent firing incident took place at a Medical Store in village Gharyala on January 1 this year and another firing incident took place at Valtoha wherein they targeted Arhtiya to demand extortion of Rs 20 lakh on December 2, 2024.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following the incident, Tarn Taran Police has launched a special operation and acting on technical aspects and human intel identified both the accused persons involved in both the cases.

Acting on the tip-off about the accused persons who were roaming in the area of Valtoha, a police team led by SP Investigation Ajayraj Singh, DSP Investigation Rajinder Minhas and DSP Bhikhiwind Preet Inder Singh followed the trail and managed to locate them at a Naaka in Valtoha, where both accused started firing at the police party, he said, while adding that the Police fired back in self-defence.

Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that accused Karanpreet and Gurlaljit sustained bullet injuries in retaliatory fire. Both accused Karan and Gurlaljit have been arrested and have been admitted to the hospital for medical treatment, he added.

He said that the accused Karanpreet has a criminal history and was wanted by the Punjab Police in different criminal cases.

The SSP said that further investigations are on and raids are being conducted to nab absconding accused persons in both cases.

A case FIR no. 3 dated 07/01/2025 has been registered under sections 109, 132, 221 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section 25 (6) (7) of the Arms Act at Police Station Valtoha.

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663 MORE AGRI-SOLAR PUMPS TO BE INSTALLED WITHIN 120 DAYS: AMAN ARORA

* Directs PEDA officials to make all-out efforts to achieve the target of installing 20K solar pumps

* New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister hands over work order to a firm for installation of solar pumps

Chandigarh, January 7:In order to give further impetus to natural energy for decarbonising the state’s agricultural sector, the Punjab Government will install additional 663 solar water pumps for agricultural use within the next 120 days. This was announced by Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources Punjab.

Mr. Aman Arora, on Tuesday, handed over work order to M/s. AVI Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd. for the installation of 663 solar pumps for agricultural use in the state. He also mentioned that a work order for the installation of 2,356 solar pumps had already been issued last month.He directed the PEDA officials to make all-out efforts to achieve the target of installing 20,000 agricultural solar pumps in the state for the welfare of the farmers.

This company was selected through a transparent and competitive bidding process. A subsidy of 60% is available for general category farmers, while Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers can receive an 80% subsidy for solar pumps with capacities of 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 HP. In dark zones (over-exploited groundwater blocks), these pumps will be installed to farmers who already have micro irrigation systems, such as drip or sprinkler systems, set up on their bore-wells, he added.

With the installation of these solar pumps, Mr. Aman Arora said that this will not only reduce fuel costs but also lead to zero carbon emissions, promoting more sustainable farming practices. The farmers will no longer need to visit their farms at night for irrigation, as these pumps operate during the daytime.

Director PEDA Mr. M.P. Singh, Joint Director Rajesh Bansal and representatives of the respective firm were also present on the occasion.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests deed writer red-handed accepting Rs. 11,000 bribe for Tehsildar

Chandigarh January 7 2025 -

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has arrested deed writer Raj Kumar alias Ginni red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs. 11,000 in the name of Tehsildar.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said the above mentioned accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Gurdeep Singh, a resident of Sarabha Nagar, Malout city, in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

Giving further details, he added that the complainant has approached the VB and informed that he had purchased a land in village Husnar in the name of his wife and in connection with registration of this land he has met the above said deed writer for writing of documents required for registration process. After submitting the documents in the office of Joint Sub Registrar Gidderbaha the said accused has told him that the Tehsildar has been demanding a bribe of Rs. 11,000 for getting done the registration work. The complainant has recorded the conversation with the said deed writer on his phone regarding giving bribe, which was submitted to the VB as an evidence.

The spokesperson said that after a preliminary enquiry of this complaint, the team of VB Unit Sri Muktsar Sahib laid a trap during which accused Raj Kumar has been apprehended red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs. 11,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The registry documents of land was recovered from the drawer of deed writer’s office. In this regard, a case has been registered against the said accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station Range Bathinda. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation of this case was under progress.