District-level camps will be organized to raise awareness among people regarding welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes: Dr. Baljit Kaur
Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes
Dr. Baljit Kaur held a meeting with SC/BC Teachers’ Union Punjab regarding their demands
Chandigarh, September 18:District-level camps will be organized to raise awareness about the schemes run by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, so that maximum benefits can be provided to them. This announcement was made by the Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, during a meeting with the SC/BC Teachers’ Union Punjab at the Civil Secretariat today.
During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities D.K. Tiwari, Director Amrit Singh, Director-cum-Joint Secretary Raj Bahadur Singh, and Deputy Director Ravinderpal Singh participated in discussions regarding the union's demands.
The SC/BC Teachers’ Union, Punjab, informed Dr. Baljit Kaur about their demands, which include implementing reservations as per population, ensuring that open merit reserved category candidates (all reserved category candidates who achieve the general category merit) are not counted against the reservation points during departmental recruitments and promotions, giving reserved category candidates the necessary relaxation in marks and application fees during departmental recruitments, implementing reservations during admissions to meritorius schools and ensuring that the Social Justice Department pays the examination fees for SC and BC students.
Dr. Baljit Kaur carefully listened to the union's demands and assured them that every legitimate demand would be fulfilled.
Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is consistently striving for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, minorities and economically weaker sections. She mentioned that the state government aims to improve the social and economic status of the youth from Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Continuous efforts are being made by the department to achieve this goal.
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*Dr. Baljit Kaur Hands Over Appointment Letters to Two Stenographers of the Social Security Department*
*Congratulations to the Newly Appointed Stenographers and a Call to Serve the People with Dedication and Diligence*
Chandigarh, September 18:In line with the Punjab Government's commitment to providing government jobs to the youth of the state, as envisioned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur today handed over appointment letters to two newly appointed stenographers at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh.
On this occasion, the Cabinet Minister extended her heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed employees and urged them to serve with honesty and dedication. She emphasized the department's role in the welfare of various sections of society and reminded the employees of their duty to serve with commitment and integrity.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further reiterated the Punjab Government's dedication to creating employment opportunities for the state's youth, ensuring they do not need to seek opportunities abroad to fulfill their aspirations. She highlighted that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is making significant strides towards fulfilling its promise of providing jobs and promoting a prosperous "Rangla Punjab."
Also present at the event were the Special Secretary of the Social Security, Women, and Child Development Department, Mr. Keshav Hingonia, Director Dr. Shena Agarwal and Superintendent Ms. Balraj Kaur.
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VB arrests Police constable for accepting Rs 49800 bribe
Accused personnel demanding Rs 6,50,000 as bribe
Chandigarh September 18, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state has arrested a police constable Kanwarpal Singh, posted at police station Nakodar Rural, district Jalandhar for demanding and accepting Rs 49800 as illegal gratification. He has been sent for one day police remand by the Jalandhar court.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said above mentioned police official has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Lakhvinder Singh, a resident of village Madrasa, in Sri Muktsar Sahib district on the Chief Minister's Anti Corruption Action Line.
He further informed that the complainant has alleged in his complaint that he is a security guard employed in a private company and had applied at the District Commander, Punjab Home Guard (PHG) Office Faridkot in the year 2017 to get job on compassionate grounds after the demise of his uncle employed in PHG. In this context, the said accused constable had demanded a bribe of Rs. 6,50,000 in lieu of getting him recruited on compassionate ground in the Home Guard.
He further alleged that the constable asked him to give Rs 50,000 as a first instalment. Thereafter, accused constable called him repeatedly to transfer the amount via PhonePe in his HDFC account thereby complainant transfer Rs 10000 each in four transactions and later deposited Rs. 9800 in his HDFC account which totalling an amount of Rs. 49,800.
The spokesperson informed that during the investigation, it has been proved that the said constable had took bribes from the complaint. On the basis of this investigation a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Jalandhar range. Further investigation into this case was under progress, he added.
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AYUSHMAN BHARAT MUKH MANTRI SEHAT BIMA YOJNA: PUNJAB HEALTH MINISTER DIRECTS STATE HEALTH AGENCY TO ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENTS TO EMPANELLED HOSPITALS
— ALSO ORDERS TO RECRUIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO STREAMLINE CLAIM PROCESS
— CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN LED PUNJAB GOVT COMMITTED TO ENSURE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO PEOPLE OF PUNJAB
— ENROL MAXIMUM PERSONS UNDER INSURANCE SCHEME TO ENSURE NO ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARY IS LEFT: DR BALBIR SINGH
CHANDIGARH, September 18: In a significant move to ensure timely payments to empaneled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana scheme as per the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the State Health Agency (SHA) is all set to hire medical professionals to expedite claims processing, said Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh here on Wednesday.
The Health Minister was charing a review meeting of sub-committee of State Health Agency here to discuss policy related matters, shortage of manpower and various other ongoing issues of State Health Agency. Administrative Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Member Punjab Development Commission Anurag Kundu and CEO State Health Agency (SHA) Punjab Ms Babita also attended the meeting.
He said that the recruitment of medical professionals is aimed at streamlining the claim process, reducing delays and improving overall efficiency, besides, alleviating the current workload and reduce delays in claims assessment.
“The recruitment drive will focus on qualified medical professionals who can effectively assess and process claims, thereby facilitating prompt reimbursements to healthcare providers,” he said, while adding that the newly appointed staff will undergo comprehensive training focused on the protocols and requirements specific to the claim processing system.
He said that apart from this training will also be provided to all present staff involved in the claims process to ensure they are up to date with best practices and procedural updates. This will help maintain high standards of service and accuracy in evaluations, he added.
Dr Balbir Singh also directed the concerned officers to clear the pending payments to all the hospitals, which are empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana. Notably, the Punjab Government has settled Rs 210 crore payment under this scheme from April 1, 2024 till September 15
Emphasizing the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government’s commitment to providing timely and effective healthcare services to all citizens, he also directed the concerned officers to initiate special drive to enrol maximum persons under the Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana so that no eligible beneficiary is left.
The scheme offers cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year in as many as 772 government and private empanelled hospitals across the state. The State Health Agency has issued 84.44 lakh cards extending benefit of this scheme to over 45 lakh families in the state, which offers access to around 1600 types of treatments, including knee replacements, heart surgeries, cancer treatments etc. These beneficiary families encompass NFSA Ration Card holders, J-form-holding farmers, Registered Labourers, Registered Small Traders, Accredited and Yellow Card-holding Journalists, and families covered under the Socio-Economic Caste Census Data of 2011.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries can easily obtain their cards by using the "Ayushman App," visiting the website “beneficiary.nha.gov.in”, or reaching out to their nearest ASHA worker or empaneled hospitals.