Dr. Baljit Kaur Raises Punjab’s Voice at Chintan Shivir, Calls for Policy Reforms and Enhanced Support in Welfare Schemes

"Under the leadership of CM S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is fully committed to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes"

"Rights must reach those in need" – Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasizes need for transparent monitoring of welfare schemes

Chandigarh, April 10:Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur represented the state at the National Chintan Shivir organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, held in Dehradun. Strongly voicing key issues concerning the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), Backward Classes, and Minorities, she made a robust case for Punjab's concerns before the Central Government.

Praising the initiative, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that platforms like these provide states with valuable opportunities to share the challenges and policy-level hurdles encountered while implementing welfare schemes. She affirmed that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is fully dedicated to the inclusive development of marginalized and underprivileged sections of society.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said, “Being the state with the highest Scheduled Caste population in the country, it is our moral responsibility to ensure their welfare through focused interventions.” She added that both Centrally Sponsored Schemes and State-run initiatives are being effectively implemented in Punjab with significant impact.

Key Issues Raised by Punjab at the Chintan Shivir:

Demand for Reforms in Scholarship Schemes:

Dr. Kaur called for revising the current income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh for scholarship eligibility, terming it outdated in the present economic context. She urged that raising the income limit would enable more deserving students to avail the benefits. Highlighting delays in central disbursal, she pointed out that funds for the years 2017 to 2020 are still pending, causing hardships for both students and educational institutions. She appealed to the Central Government to release the pending amount at the earliest.

She also demanded an increase in scholarship amounts for students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and De-notified Tribes (DNT), considering their growing educational needs. Dr. Kaur stressed the importance of covering the full course and tuition fee gap to ensure uninterrupted education for underprivileged students.

Demand for Timely Funding under the Adarsh Gram Yojana:

She informed that Punjab had identified 3,293 villages under the Adarsh Gram Yojana due to its large SC population, for which ₹684 crore was sanctioned. However, only ₹101 crore has been released so far. She urged the Central Government to release the remaining funds swiftly to enhance rural infrastructure.

Additionally, she recommended increasing the per-village grant from ₹20 lakh to ₹1 crore to ensure timely and quality development works.

Need for Transparency and Monitoring in Housing Schemes:

Appreciating the benefits of the housing scheme for the SC and economically weaker sections, Dr. Kaur raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency at the panchayat level in beneficiary selection. She demanded that the responsibility for identifying eligible beneficiaries and monitoring the scheme be assigned to the Department of Social Justice to ensure fair and effective implementation.

Punjab’s Own Schemes and Unique Initiatives:

Dr. Kaur highlighted various welfare schemes being run by the Punjab Government. Under the "Ashirwad Scheme", a financial assistance of ₹51,000 is provided for the marriage of daughters from SC, BC, and EWS families, limited to two girls per family. This initiative, she said, plays a crucial role in strengthening the socio-economic security of families.

Talking about recent progressive steps, Dr. Kaur mentioned that the Punjab Government has waived loans worth ₹70 crore availed by SC beneficiaries, benefiting over 5,000 individuals and offering them a fresh start in life. She further shared that Punjab has become the first state in the country to introduce sign language interpretation for live telecast of Assembly proceedings—an innovative step towards inclusivity for persons with hearing and speech impairments.

Commending the state-led "Project Jeevan Jot" launched in 2024, Dr. Kaur informed that 268 child beggars have been rescued and rehabilitated. Out of these, 19 children are currently placed in government-run homes with access to free education, nutrition, and healthcare, while the remaining have been reunited with their families through Child Welfare Committees.

Concluding the session, Dr. Baljit Kaur said:“This Chintan Shivir has provided us with a pathway toward collaborative progress and shared vision. The Punjab Government remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes reach every underprivileged, marginalized, and needy individual.”

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ECI Organises One-Day Orientation Programme for State Media Nodal Officers

- Addl CEO Harish Nayyar and PRO Narinder Pal Singh Jagdeo represented Punjab

Chandigarh, April 10:The Election commission of India has organised one-day Orientation Programme for Media Nodal Officers, Social Media Nodal Officers, and District Public Relations Officers at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi, Wednesday. The orientation was aimed at enhancing coordination and preparedness of election officials in an evolving media landscape.

From Punjab, Additional CEO Harish Nayyar and PRO Narinder Pal Singh Jagdeo attended the orientation program.

Media Officers from 28 States and 8 UTs participated in the orientation programme which aims to develop an effective communication strategy to ensure proactive information dissemination, counter misinformation, and promote voter awareness through various media platforms, in accordance with the legal framework i.e. the RP Act 1950 & 1951; Registration of Elector Rules 1960, Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and the instructions issued by ECI from time to time.

In his address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar while acknowledging the pivotal role of media as a key stakeholder in the electoral process, emphasized the importance of factual, timely and transparent communication in upholding the trust of voters in the electoral processes in a digitally mediated information world. He underlined that media officers must be proactive in communicating accurate information and rise to the challenge of ensuring that voters are correctly informed and empowered to discern facts from narratives without factual basis.

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RECENT ARREST IN AMRITSAR RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT INVOLVEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM OTHER STATES IN DRUG TRADE WITHIN PUNJAB: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA

ASSURES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND STRICT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POSITION

‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ : 3,279 CASES UNDER THE NDPS ACT, 5,537 INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED IN 41 DAYS

212 KG HEROIN, 6,945 KG POPPY HUSK, 105 KG OPIUM, 50 KG GANJA, 6 KG CHARAS, AND NEARLY 9 LAKH BANNED TABLETS AND CAPSULES SEIZED

DRUG MONEY WORTH APPROXIMATELY RS 6 CRORE RECOVERED, ILLEGAL PROPERTIES OF 57 DRUG SMUGGLERS DEMOLISHED

Chandigarh, April 10-The ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the arrest of eight key operatives including one official from an enforcement agency who belongs to Rohtak in Haryana, and recovery of 4 kg Heroin from their possession by Amritsar police, raises serious concerns about the involvement of enforcement officers from other states in the drug trade within Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured that an in-depth investigation would be conducted to identify the head of this gang, with strict legal action to follow, regardless of their position. The Finance Minister said that the Punjab Government is fulfilling its responsibility to curb drug trafficking at the border, but the Union Government seems to be failing in its duties.

Sharing the updates of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, the Finance Minister revealed that the extensive campaign resulted in the registration of 3,279 cases under the NDPS Act and the arrest of 5,537 individuals in past 41 days. He said that the significant seizures under this campaign include 212 kg of heroin, 6,945 kg of poppy husk, 105 kg of opium, 50 kg of ganja, 6 kg of charas, and nearly 9 lakh banned tablets and capsules. Additionally, drug money worth approximately Rs 6 crore has been recovered, and illegal properties of 57 drug smugglers have been demolished to teach them a befitting lesson.

Highlighting the rally in Ludhiana led by Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Finance Minister said that the campaign succeeded in mobilizing youth across villages and cities. He said that the Panch-Sarpanch and municipal councilors are actively participating in this campaign against drug trade. He said that this is for the first time that a budget has been allocated in the Punjab budget for anti-drone system and drug census to strengthen the action against drugs. He said that apart from this, a budget of about Rs 980 crore has been allocated to promote sports and steer youth away from drugs. He questioned that the scourge of drugs has also spread in other states of the country as well, but has any state led by Congress or BJP ever initiated such an action?

In a sharp critique of previous state governments, the Finance Minister accused the Akali Dal-BJP coalition and Congress governments of failing to address the drug crisis. He pointed out that despite promises by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to eradicate drugs within four weeks, the problem persisted. “In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government has been working tirelessly for the past three years to combat the drug menace, with the ‘Yudh nashian Virudh’ campaign representing a decisive effort to eliminate this scourge”. He added.

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Punjab Vidhan Sabha prorogued

Chandigarh, April 10-The Punjab Legislative Assembly, which was adjourned sine-die at the conclusion of its sitting held on the 28th March 2025, has been prorogued by an order of the Governor of Punjab, dated the 10th April 2025.

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‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: ON DAY 41, PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 84 DRUG SMUGGLERS; 2.5KG HEROIN, ₹70K DRUG MONEY RECOVERED

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

— OVER 200 POLICE TEAMS LED BY 86 SP/DSP RANK OFFICERS CHECKED 482 SUSPICIOUS PERSONS: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

— POLICE TEAMS ALSO CONDUCT SEARCHES AT JAILS IN SIX DISTRICTS: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

CHANDIGARH, April 10: With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 41st day, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg heroin, 86 kg poppy husk, and ₹70400 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5621 in just 41 days.

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. 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 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 86 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 452 locations across the state leading to the registration of 49 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 482 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

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 two persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Patiala, Sangrur and SAS Nagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.