Punjab Government Provides Financial Assistance of ₹437.15 Crore to Persons with Disabilities: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Government Allocates ₹461.50 Crore Budget for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities in the Current Financial Year

Strict Action Against Officers and Employees Neglecting Social Security Schemes

Minister Directs Officials to Ensure Transparency in Social Security Schemes

Chandigarh, March 12:Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur has stated that financial assistance amounting to ₹437.15 crore has been provided for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the state.

Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur mentioned that approximately 2.71 lakh beneficiaries have been covered under this scheme, receiving financial assistance from the department totaling ₹437.15 crore.

She further highlighted that the Punjab government has allocated a budget of ₹461.50 crore for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the current financial year.

Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to assisting the poor and needy. She urged officials to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive financial assistance on time. Additionally, she warned that any officer or employee found negligent in implementing government schemes would not be spared.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also appealed to officials to implement social security schemes with complete transparency, ensuring that maximum people benefit from them.

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ONLINE PORTAL TO COMBAT SALE & PURCHASE OF UNCERTIFIED PADDY SEEDS IN PUNJAB SOON

•Khudian directs Agriculture Dept to develop online portal within a month

•Decisive move against Uncertified Paddy Seeds to Protect Farmers & Rice Industry: Gurmeet Singh Khudian

• Orders Agriculture Officials to ensure availability of PAU recommended quality paddy seeds

•No one will be allowed to sell substandard & uncertified paddy seeds, says Agriculture Minister

Chandigarh, March 12:In a decisive move to put a full stop on the sale and purchase of the uncertified seeds in the state, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has directed the Agriculture Department to develop an online portal for tracking and tracing of paddy seeds within a month.

The portal will mandate registered seed producers to log detailed information about every transaction involving paddy seeds including seed purchases, sales, and quantities to maintain digital record, ensuring transparency and accountability within the seed supply chain.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr. Anurag Verma and VC Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, held a high-level meeting with the sheller owners and officials of Agriculture and Food & Civil Supplies departments at his office here, on Wednesday.

“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding the interests of our farmers and ensuring the quality of Punjab's agricultural produce,” said the Agriculture Minister, while directing the Agriculture department officials to ensure the availability of the PAU recommended quality paddy seeds to the farmers of the state and strict monitoring should be ensured the seed supply chain.

The Agriculture Minister categorically said that no one will be allowed to exploit our farmers by selling substandard and uncertified paddy seeds, which lead to lower crop yields and financial losses for them. These uncertified seeds often lack the genetic vigour and disease resistance of certified varieties, resulting in stunted growth, reduced grain production, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, besides creating a problem for the state sheller industry while milling the paddy into rice. This impacts the overall rice production and market value of the state's agricultural output.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the new online portal will create a more transparent and accountable seed supply chain, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural future for Punjab. By eliminating the sale of uncertified seeds, the state aims to improve crop yields, enhance agricultural productivity, and boost consumer confidence in the quality of our rice.

The Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary Agriculture Ms. Baldeep Kaur, Director Agriculture Jaswant Singh and other officials of the department were also present in the meeting.

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Yudh Nashian Virudh

Bulldozer Action against Illegal Construction by Drug Trafficker

Sri Muktsar Sahib/Chandigarh March 12:As part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign launched by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the government is continuing its action against drug smugglers. Under this series, a building constructed illegally by a person in Madrasa village of Sri Muktsar Sahib district was demolished today. Giving information in this regard, SSP Dr. Akhil Chaudhary said that the building was constructed illegally by Sarabjit Singh, a person from Madrasa village under Lakhewali police station. In this regard, instructions were received from the competent authority to make security arrangements during its demolition. After which action was taken and this building was demolished.

He said that this building was constructed by Sarabjit Singh and 5 cases of drug smuggling have already been registered against him and his family. SSP Dr. Akhil Chaudhary said that as per the instructions of the Punjab government, extensive operations are being carried out in the district under the Mission War on Drugs. He said that whoever builds property by selling drugs will be attached and if anyone builds any building on government property, it will be destroyed. He also appealed to the people on this occasion that if anyone sells drugs, then they should fearlessly inform the police about it. Strict action will be taken against the culprits while keeping the identity of the informer confidential. On this occasion, Mr. Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal SP (H), SDM Baljit Kaur, Iqbal Singh DSP Malout, SI Darshan Singh SHO Lakhewali, Ins. Davinder Singh SHO Kabarwala were also present.

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MOGA MURDER CASE: PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS GANGSTER MALKIT MANU AFTER BRIEF ENCOUNTER IN MOGA

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

— ARRESTED ACCUSED WAS OPERATIVE OF GANGSTER LUCKY PATYAL AND GOPI LAHORIA OF DAVINDER BAMBIHA GANG, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— TO EVADE ARREST ACCUSED MANU OPENED FIRE AT POLICE TEAM PROMPTING POLICE TEAMS TO RETALIATE: ADGP AGTF PROMOD BAN

CHANDIGARH/MOGA, March 12:In a major breakthrough against organised crime amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab in a joint operation with Moga arrested an operative of foreign-based Gangster Gaurav alias Lucky Patyal and Davinderpal Singh alias Gopi Lahoria of Davinder Bambiha Gang after a brief exchange of fire in Moga city, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Malkit Singh alias Manu, a resident of Dosanjh Talwandi in Moga. Police teams have also recovered one .32 caliber pistol along with four cartridges from his possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that arrested accused Manu, who was an active associate of Davinder Bambiha Gang, has a criminal background with at least seven cases related to murder, attempt to murder, the NDPS Act, and the Arms Act, etc registered against him.

He said that acting on the instructions of jailed gangster Dharminder Baji, accused Malkit Manu along with his accomplice Manpreet Singh alias Mani executed an attack on his rival in village Kapura in Moga resulting in a murder of one individual and a woman sustaining a bullet injury on her leg on February 19, 2025. Arrested accused Manu also involved in a firing incident took place at Raja Dhaba in Jagraon on February 26, 2025, which was orchestrated by foreign based gangster Lucky Patial, he added.

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

Sharing operation details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that following an information based on Human and Technical Intelligence about accused Malkit alias Manu hiding in the Moga area, special teams of AGTF, under the supervision of AIG Gurmeet Chauhan and DSP Bikramjit Brar, led by Inspector Pushvinder Singh successfully tracked him at a rented accommodation located near Dosanjh Road in Moga.

When police teams raided the suspected accommodation, the accused Manu opened fire at the police team in an attempt to evade arrest, prompting the police teams to retaliate, he said, while adding that during the exchange of fire accused sustained bullet injuries. The latter was admitted to the local Hospital, from where he was referred to Baba Farid Medical College in Faridkot for the treatment.

The ADGP said that police teams have recovered a .32 calibre pistol along with four cartridges from his possession.

AIG Gurmeet Chauhan said that preliminary investigations have also revealed that accused Malkit alias Manu was tasked to carry out a sensational crime in the Tricity area by his foreign based handlers Lucky Patyal and Gopi Lahoria.

SSP Moga Ajay Gandhi said that a fresh case FIR No. 52 dated 12/3/2025 has been registered under sections 109, 132, 221 and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25(6) and 25 (7) of the Arms Act at Police Station City Moga. Further investigations are on, he added.

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PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO Directs Department to Ensure Transparency and Quality in Development Projects

Assesses progress of ongoing projects during comprehensive Review Meeting

Chandigarh, March 12-Punjab Public Works and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO directed the officials on Wednesday to ensure transparency, efficiency, and quality in development projects during a comprehensive review meeting of the Public Works Department (PWD) held here. The agenda of the meeting revolved around assessing the progress of ongoing projects, addressing operational challenges, and streamlining procedures to accelerate work completion without compromising on quality.

Highlighting the importance of transparency in project execution, PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that every infrastructure project represents the aspirations of the people of Punjab. “It is our duty to ensure that these projects are completed with utmost honesty, diligence, and quality, reflecting the trust the public has placed in us”, he added.

The Minister issued directives to the officials to implement robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all projects meet the required benchmarks of quality and timeliness. He also stressed the need to adopt innovative solutions and technological advancements to enhance operational efficiency within the department.

Meanwhile, Engineer-in-Chief Gagandeep Singh assured the Minister of the department’s commitment to the timely and transparent execution of all ongoing projects. Chief Engineer R.S. Bains and Chief Architect Tarun Garg echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the collaborative efforts being made to achieve sustainable and durable infrastructure for the state. Superintendent Engineers Manjeet Singh and Pawan Kumar presented detailed reports on their respective projects, showcasing the strides made so far while outlining the challenges encountered. During the meeting, the PWD officials share updates on the status of critical projects, ranging from road repairs and construction to public building works.

PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO concluded the meeting by reaffirming the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government’s steadfast dedication to strengthening public infrastructure and fostering development that benefits all citizens. He called upon the department officials to work with a shared vision of progress and to maintain unwavering transparency in their processes.

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‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ CONTINUES ON DAY 12 AS PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 118 DRUG SMUGGLERS AFTER 543 RAIDS

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— DAY LONG OPERATION LEADS TO REGISTRATION OF 71 FIRs, RECOVERY OF 994 GRAMS HEROIN, ₹1.47L DRUG MONEY

— POLICE TEAMS IN FIVE DISTRICTS ALSO CHECK 281 PHARMACEUTICAL SHOPS

— OVER 250 POLICE TEAMS LED BY 102 SP/DSP RANK OFFICERS CHECKED 659 SUSPICIOUS PERSONS: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

CHANDIGARH, March 12:Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 12th day, Punjab Police on Wednesday conducted raids at 543 locations leading to the arrest of 118 drug smugglers after registration of 71 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 1658 in just 12 days.

Police teams have also recovered 994 grams heroin, 4633 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections and Rs 1.47 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state in coming three months. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 250 Police teams, comprising over 1600 police personnel, under the supervision of 102 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 659 suspicious persons during the day long operation

He said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 19 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment, while, organised 154 awareness events across the state as part of Preventi

Meanwhile, Police teams have also conducted checking at as many as 281 pharmaceutical shops in five districts including Fatehgarh Sahib, Commissionerate Police Ludhiana, Ludhiana Rural, Khanna and Malerkotla to ensure that they are not selling intoxicant tablets or any other habit-forming drugs, and are adhering to the prescribed norms and regulations regarding the sale of medicines.

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Laljit Singh Bhullar directs officials to ensure government bus service on every route in the state

Presides over meeting to review progress of procuring new buses

Chandigarh, March 12:Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar today directed officials of the transport department to ensure government bus services on every route throughout the state.

While chairing a meeting to review the functioning of Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS, PRTC and the State Transport Commissioner's office, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar instructed officials to expedite the process of purchasing new buses. He said that the department must achieve its targets in a timely manner and take steps to increase government revenue.

S. Bhullar also ordered necessary measures to purchase new BS-6 stage buses in accordance with guidelines that only BS-6 stage buses are permitted to operate at Delhi Airport to reduce pollution in Delhi. He further directed that the tender process for purchasing buses should be completed promptly.

The Cabinet Minister stressed to ensure maintenance and cleanliness of bus stands across the state, stating that public services operated by the department should be made more effective and service delivery must be ensured in a time-bound manner.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included PRTC Vice Chairman S. Balwinder Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Transport Mr. D.K. Tiwari, STC Mr. Jaspreet Singh, MD PUNBUS Mr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta.

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Immediate action needed to protect Indian farmers from unfair US Apple imports, Says Kultar Singh Sandhwan

Chandigarh, 12 March:In light of the looming United States reciprocal tariffs, farmers across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand face a severe threat from cheap American apple imports flooding Indian markets. In this connection, The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Union (KVFGU) has sounded the alarm, warning that this influx of low-cost apples will shrink market space, crash prices, and endanger the livelihoods of over 7 lakh families dependent on apple farming.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has urged the Government of India to act immediately to protect Indian farmer's interests. He outlined key demands such as Protective Counter-Tariffs under which matching duties should be imposed on US apples to ensure a level playing field for Indian growers. In addition, he added that Immediate Economic Relief is needed under which financial support should be provided to farmers to prevent income loss and ensure continued production.

He further informed that Pro-Farmer Trade Negotiations are needed to ensure Indian farmers' livelihoods remain non-negotiable in all trade talks with the US. Besides this, he stressed for Strengthening Agricultural Infrastructure resulting in modernization of storage facilities, transportation, and market access to boost the competitiveness of Indian produce.

Kultar Singh Sandhwan stated that our farmers are the backbone of India’s economy. Their sweat and toil nourish the nation. It is unacceptable for them to suffer at the hands of international trade wars. If the Government does not step in, we are at risk of losing not only livelihoods but also generations of agricultural heritage.

He further added that cheap foreign imports may benefit a few traders, but they will devastate countless small and marginal farmers. We cannot let profit-driven policies crush the hands that feed us.

He further highlighted that this is not just about apples, it’s about standing up for every Indian farmer. He added that the Government must ensure our farmers get fair prices, fair markets, and a fair future. I stand with our farmers, and I urge the government to do the same, without delay", said Sandhwan.

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SEC issues the programme for General Elections to elect the members of 16 Gram Panchayats

Chandigarh 12 March 2025:The Punjab State Election Commission informed that the General Election to elect the members of 16 Gram Panchayats namely Bhathalan, Bir Bahadurgarh, Deelwal, Farm Bahadurgarh, Majri, Peer Colony, Vidya Nagar, Hira Colony, Guru Nanak Nagar, Har Gobind Colony, Karheri, Kasba Rurki, Mehmadpur Jattan, Nawan Mehmadpur Jattan, Shamaspur, and Sheikhpur Kamboan of Block Sanour, District Patiala, will be held on 30.03.2025(Sunday).

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the State Election Commission said that 17.03.2025 (Monday) as the first date for filing nominations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. He added that 20.03.2025 (Thursday) as the last date for filing nominations upto 3 p.m. and 21.03.2025 (Friday) as the date for the scrutiny of nominations. In this regard, 22.03.2025 (Saturday) as the last date for withdrawal of nominations upto 3 p.m. and 30.03.2025 (Sunday) as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken.

Furthermore, he added that counting of votes will take place at the polling stations immediately after the close of poll itself and 01.04.2025 (Tuesday) as the date by which the election shall be completed.

He further informed that the formal notification of the Commission regarding the schedule of election will be issued on 17.03.2025. In this regard, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Patiala has been directed to make all necessary arrangements for a free and fair poll. The Model Code of Conduct will come into force from the date of notification, in the revenue jurisdiction of said 16 Gram Panchayats of Block Sanour, District Patiala.

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Mann Government Committed to Honour Freedom Fighters and Their Families: Mohinder Bhagat

Cabinet Minister Reviews Welfare Schemes, Directs Officials to Expedite Initiatives

Chandigarh, March 12:Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment to honouring freedom fighters and their families, Cabinet Minister for Freedom Fighters Mohinder Bhagat chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials to review welfare initiatives and future plans aimed at their well-being.

The Minister emphasized that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is dedicated to safeguarding the dignity and interests of freedom fighters and their dependents. He directed officials to ensure their concerns receive top priority in government offices.

During the meeting, Special Chief Secretary, Department of Freedom Fighters, Raji P. Srivastava, briefed the Minister on various welfare schemes. Discussions also focused on honouring freedom fighters at public functions and establishing a formal protocol for paying tributes on their death anniversaries.

The Minister instructed officials to expedite these initiatives, ensuring that eligible families receive government benefits without delay.

Among those present were Secretary, Department of Freedom Fighters, Gagandeep Singh Brar, Joint Secretary Lovejeet Kalsi, Superintendent Suman Lata and other senior officials.