GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN PRESSES FOR MEGA FOOD PARK TO BOOST AGRO-ECONOMY

* Proposes to Union Food Processing Minister to set up Mega Food Park at Bathinda

* Also seeks Food Testing Laboratory for Amritsar

Chandigarh, July 19:In a bid to enhance agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities and increase the farmers’ income, Punjab Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Food Processing Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian proposed Union Food Processing Industries Minister Sh. Chirag Paswan to set up a Mega Food Park at Bathinda.

During a courtesy meeting with the Union Minister at Panchsheel Bhawan, New Delhi, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who was accompanied by Principal Secretary Food Processing Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, apprised him that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann has envisioned to increase farmers’ income by value addition to their produce, besides creating robust employment opportunities for the youth.

Highlighting the need of Mega Food Park in Malwa region, Punjab Food Processing Minister said that this mega food park will go a long way to leverage perishable agricultural produce by manufacturing processed food products for domestic as well as export markets.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian further informed that with the remarkable success of the Mega Food Park, Ladhowal (Ludhiana), the state has huge potential for another Mega Food Park in Malwa region. He offered that adequate land will be provided by the state government for setting up the Mega Food Park.

The Punjab Cabinet Minister also impressed upon the Union Food Processing Minister to intervene for the release of 4th installment of grant-in-aid for Ladhowal Mega Food Park, besides awarding a Food Testing Laboratory for Amritsar with requisite accreditation as food processing enterprises, traders, Punjab Rice Millers Association and Aachar-Murabba Association have to get their food products tested from Mohali or Delhi.

Special Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr. KAP Sinha and other senior officials of the Food Processing department and ministry were also present in the meeting.

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Punjab Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill Highlights Media's Role in Safeguarding Women in Society

Chandigarh, 19 JulyMrs. Raj Lali Gill, Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women, held an interactive session with media representatives today in Chandigarh to discuss the urgent issue of societal evils faced by women in modern times. Mrs. Gill emphasized the pivotal role media can play in safeguarding women and counteracting the influence of anti-social elements.

During the meeting, Mrs. Gill outlined several key initiatives that the media should undertake for the protection and empowerment of women. She stated that the media can educate the public by highlighting issues such as domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and gender inequality, thereby ensuring the safety and welfare of women. Media reports play a crucial role in safeguarding women's rights and promoting their empowerment.

Mrs. Gill also shared her recent experiences of visiting jails in Ropar and Amritsar, where she encountered cases of young people who had secured jobs without proper documentation and later found themselves imprisoned because the companies turned out to be fraudulent. Without job contracts or appointment letters, employees are often unfairly considered complicit. She highlighted the alarming number of girls already in jail due to such circumstances and urged the media to actively report on these issues as a lesson for younger generations.

In addition to discussing the media's role, Mrs. Gill appealed to parents to treat their daughters as friends to ensure they feel completely safe.

The event also featured insights from Rajwinder Singh Gill, Deputy Director of the Punjab State Child Rights Commission. Rupinder Kaur, Deputy Director of the Punjab State Women's Commission, along with various media representatives, were also in attendance.

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Vigilance Bureau registers case against MC Nabha officials, contractor for embezzlement of Rs 1,84,45,551 in housing scam

Chandigarh July 19, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has registered a corruption case against a contractor and officials of Municipal Council (MC) Nabha for misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 1,84,45,551 received under Pardhan Mantri Shehri Awaas Yojna (PMSAY). house for all scheme

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said during investigation of a vigilance enquiry it was found that in the year 2018 the MC Nabha had received funds under house for all scheme (PMSAY) but the accused had embezzeld Rs. 1,84,45,551 by creating fake bills of development works within 6 days from dated 01.11.2018 to 06.11.2018.

He further added that it has come into notice that no development work was done from this amount but the officials in connivance with contractor had embezzled the funds by showing the works as development works instead of developing houses for all under the scheme.

The spokesperson informed that based on the probe the VB has registered a case under FIR NO. 32, Dated 18.7.2024 under sections 406, 420, 409, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC and under sections 13(1)(A) read with 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Patiala range. Further investigation into this case was under progress.

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Forester suspended on account of fake caste certificate

Chandigarh, July 19:The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is adopting zero tolerance policy towards malpractices. As part of this, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak had ordered a probe against Gulab Singh, Forester, Office of Divisional Forest Officer, Sri Amritsar Sahib, after which the said employee has been placed under suspension by the Financial Commissioner (Forest) Krishan Kumar.

It is noteworthy that it came to the attention of the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department that Gulab Singh, Forester, Office of Divisional Forest Officer, Sri Amritsar Sahib belongs to the General category but has been doing his job in the Department on the basis of a fake certificate pertaining to the SC category. The matter was got investigated by the Forest Range Officer, Sri Muktsar Sahib and in the preliminary enquiry, the allegations have been found correct on the basis of which, Gulab Singh has been suspended with immediate effect. His Headquarter has been fixed as the office of Divisional Forest Officer, Gurdaspur. The regular probe against the said employee has begun separately.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Bella Vista developer Prashant Manjrekar from Mumbai in Pearls scam

Chandigarh July 19, 2024 -The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in assistance with Immigration team has been able to arrest an absconding accused Prashant Manjrekar, a director of Sanranjeevan Infrastructure and Projects Private Ltd, from Mumbai Airport who was wanted in the Pearls Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) case. The accused was evading his arrest and attempting to going to Dubai from Mumbai Airport.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused was wanted in FIR No. 79 dated 16-07-2020 under sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of IPC, registered at police station city Zira, district Ferozepur for their involvement in illegal alienation of properties belonging to PACL Ltd. in village Gholumajra, district SAS Nagar. The accused had full knowledge that the Supreme Court had already restrained the PACL Ltd. from selling/alienating any of the properties wherein PACL has, in any manner, a right or interest and in village Gholumajra also, he said.

He further added that the directors/promoters of Finominal Construction Private Ltd and Sanarjeevan Infrastructure and Projects Private Ltd in connivance with orders had developed two colonies named Bella Vista -01 and Bella Vista -02 on a land measuring 115 Bighas in village Gholumajra on the disputed land of PACL in the year 2018-19. The accused developers had collected huge money by selling plots/houses in both the colonies and the VB has nominated the promoters of these companies in the said case.

Mentionably, a committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd) R.M. Lodha had been constituted pursuant to the order of Supreme Court to sell the properties of PACL Ltd. and use the sale proceeds to refund the investors who had invested their hard earned money in the collective investment scheme (CIS) offered by the accused company.

The spokesperson further added that the above mentioned accused has been taken on transit remand and would be produced in the concerned court in Punjab. Further investigation in this case was under progress, he added.