TRAINING IN FINLAND: PUNJAB GOVT INITIATES SELECTION PROCESS FOR PRIMARY & ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

•Interested teachers can apply online at e-Punjab School portal till February 2, says Harjot Singh Bains

•School Education Minister exhorts eligible teachers to seize the opportunity

•Candidates must provide 20 recommendations from parents of current & former students

Chandigarh, January 30:As a part of its relentless efforts to elevate the state’s school education system at par to the world-class standards, Punjab School Education department has initiated the selection process for the primary and elementary teachers, who wish to undergo training at University of Turku in Finland.

Divulging the details about the selection process, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that the 2nd batch of 72 primary and elementary teachers (BPEOs, CHTs, HTs) will be sent to University of Turku, Finland for training. The three week training program will consist of one week in Punjab, followed by two weeks in Finland. Interested teachers can apply online at e-Punjab School portal epunjabschool.gov.in till February 2, 2025 by 5PM.

He further informed that candidates must be 43 years old or younger, while the age limit for HT, CHT and BPEOs should not exceed 48 years as of January 31, 2025. Additionally, applicants must hold a valid Indian passport that remains valid until at least September 2025. It is also important that there are no pending charge-sheets, inquiries or criminal cases against the candidates.

In addition, candidates must provide 20 recommendations or references that highlight their good work, including 10 from parents of current students and 10 from former students. The District Education Officers (Elementary Education) will begin the verification process on February 3. All candidates who meet the preliminary conditions will advance to the second round, where selections will be based on educational qualifications, experience, ACRs, performance in the interview-cum-presentation and contributions in quality education, S. Bains added.

Appealing to the eligible teachers to seize this opportunity, S. Harjot Singh Bains emphasised that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is dedicated to upskilling school teachers to position the state as a leader in school education across the country.

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Sirhind Feeder to close for 28 days

Chandigarh, January 30: A spokesperson of Punjab Government informed that under rule 63 of Rules framed under the Northern India Canal & Drainage Act, 1873 (Act No. VIII of 1873) and subject to weather conditions and the status of crops, Sirhind Feeder will remain closed for works of relining for 28 days from 01-02-2025 to 28-02-2025 (both days inclusive).

A notification regarding this has been issued by Water Resources Department.

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National Forum Appreciates 100% Computerization of Punjab’s Labour Department and Kirti Sahayak App

• Labour Minister Sond suggests providing medical insurance, pensions, and other benefits to workers registered under e-Shram

Chandigarh, January 30: Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has proposed that workers registered under e-Shram be provided with medical insurance, stipends for their children, and pension benefits after retirement. He made this suggestion while addressing a two-day conference of Labour Ministers and Labour Secretaries, which concluded in New Delhi last evening.

During the session, Sond co-chaired a discussion alongside the Union Labour Minister. He emphasized the importance of skill identification and training through ITIs and polytechnics and highlighted the need for upskilling and continuous support for workers.

The two-day conference, chaired by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, aimed to discuss best practices in labour welfare and address key challenges faced by workers.

Punjab’s Labour Secretary Manvesh Singh Sidhu informed the forum about the 100% computerization of the state’s Labour Department, which has transformed it into a paperless, transparent, and efficient system. He explained how this initiative has enhanced accountability, ease of doing business, and service delivery.

The forum also appreciated the Punjab Kirti Sahayak App, which enables anytime, anywhere registration of construction workers, uses Aadhaar e-KYC for biometric authentication, and ensures time-bound service delivery.

Discussions at the conference covered best practices in construction worker welfare, the convergence of ESIC with the ABJAY scheme, and improvements in primary healthcare services. Special attention was given to enhancing the registration of unorganized workers through e-Shram, defining a roadmap for the National Career Service, and exploring initiatives like PM Education to Employment Lounges.

The conference was attended by Anurag Kundu, Member PDC; Karun Arora, Advisor to the Labour Minister; and Jashandeep Singh Kang, Deputy Secretary, B.O.C.W. Welfare Board.

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PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS FOUR OPERATIVES OF LANDA MODULE AFTER BRIEF ENCOUNTER; TWO GRENADES, TWO PISTOLS RECOVERED

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— MODULE WAS BEING OPERATED BY USA-BASED GURDEV JAISAL AND CANADA-BASED SATTA NAUSHEHRA, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— ARRESTED ACCUSED WERE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FOREIGN-BASED HANDLERS, HATCHING CONSPIRACY TO TARGET SOMEONE: SSP ABHIMANYU RANA

CHANDIGARH/TARN TARAN, January 30:Amidst the ongoing drive against organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Taran Taran Police has busted a module linked foreign-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa being operated by USA-based Gurdev Singh alias Jaisal Chambhal and Canada-based Satbir alias Satta Naushehra with the arrest of four operatives after a brief exchange of fire in Tarn Taran, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

Those arrested have been identified as Robinjeet Singh alias Robin of Muradpura in Tarn Taran, Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Usman in Tarn Taran, Navjot Singh alias Nav of Kalanaur in Gurdaspur and Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga of Ghuman Kalan in Gurdaspur.

Police teams have also recovered two Hand Grenades and two sophisticated .30 bore Pistols along with ammunition and three magazines from their possession, besides, impounding their Honda Civic (without registration number plate) used in commission of crime.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during questioning arrested accused, confessed that the seized hand grenades and weapons were supplied by Jaisal Chambhal through his unknown associate and further, they were planning to target someone on the instance of Jaisal Chambhal and Satta Naushehra. The arrested individuals are linked to multiple criminal cases, including extortion and gang-related violence, he added.

The DGP said that further investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case.

Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that following inputs about two suspects travelling in a Honda Civic Car, Police team led by Incharge CIA staff Tarn Taran Amandeep Singh under the supervision of DSP Investigation Rajinder Manhas laid a naka near Thathian Mahantan village on Sirhali road.

Police teams had successfully traced the car of accused persons and when police party tried to stop their vehicle, the accused persons opened fire at the police teams, prompting police parties to retaliate, he said, while adding that during the exchange of fire accused Robin has sustained bullet injury in his leg. The latter has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, where he is reported to be in stable condition.

Police teams have recovered two Hand Grenades and a Pistol along with ammunition from their possession.

The SSP said that further, in pursuance of this operation and after interrogation of arrested accused, two more gang members identified as Navjot alias Nav and Jagdeep alias Jagga were also arrested leading to the recovery of another sophisticated Pistol along ammunition from their possession. Probe has found that both the arrested accused were involved in a firing incident that took place in village Heer in Gurdaspur in December 2024, wherein they demanded extortion from the owner of a house on the instance of Jaisal Chambhal, he added.

Further probe is on and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, said the SSP.

A case FIR no. 11 dated 30/01/2025 has been registered under sections 113 (3) and 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sections 25 (6) and 25 (7) of the Arms Act and sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act at Police Station Sirhali in Tarn Taran.

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