CM announces to start exclusive drive to fill backlog of 1754 posts for PwDs

Reiterates firm commitment of state government to ensure well being of PwDs

Gives nod to amend rules under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016

Chandigarh, December 10:Reiterating firm commitment of the state government to ensure well being of Persons with Disabilities (PwD), the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday announced to start a major recruitment drive for filling up backlog of vacant posts in various departments.

Chairing a review meeting of Social Justice and Child Welfare department here at his official residence, the Chief Minister said that the state government has identified a backlog of vacant posts for PwDs across the various departments in various departments of the state government. He said that so far 1754 posts of Direct recruitment and 556 posts of promotion has been identified as backlog of PwD in various departments. Bhagwant Singh Mann asked the officers to expedite the process for filling up these vacant posts at the earliest.

The Chief Minister also gave nod for amending rules under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 adding that this amendment of rules will help in safeguarding the rights of persons with disability. He said that Persons with Disability are the real heroes of society as they excel in life despite of so many hardships. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is making strenuous efforts for ensuring that all such people live their lives with dignity and pride.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that State Government has taken many steps for holistic development of PwDs. He said that recently the State Government has approved free bus travel facility to dependents of blinds and notification in this regard is being issued shortly. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 50 % concession in fare has been given to PwDs in Punjab Roadways and PRTC Buses and during 2023-24 Rs 2.19 Crore has been spent by giving benefit to 7.5 lakh commuters.

The Chief Minister further said that the State Govt has covered the 2.65 lakh disabled persons under State Pension Scheme and Rs 278.17 Crore amount has been paid to beneficiaries during 2024-25. He said that to encourage the education amongst disabled children an amount worth Rs 3.37 Crore has been paid as scholarship to 12607 beneficiaries. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that the state government has released Rs 23.16 Crore amount under SIPDA scheme to make 144 Govt buildings accessible for PwDs.

The Chief Minister said that in order to ensure that PwDs live life with dignity and pride, the state government has facilitated the 105 PwDs to get loans of Rs 1.31 crore at concessional interest rates during last two years. Similarly, he said that 21 PwDs were fecilitated to get booths from various organisa'ons i.e. Milkfed, Markfed and others. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that the state government will leave no stone unturned for the well being of this important strata of society.

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Immediate discard error ridden editions of Gurshabd Ratnakar Mahan Kosh:Speaker Sandhwan

Discussion held with representatives of various Sikh organisations regarding errors in Mahan Kosh

Asks Higher Education department to submit report within three weeks

Chandigarh, December 10:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, advocating immediate action to discard error ridden Punjabi, Hindi and English editions of Gurshabd Ratnakar Mahan Kosh published by Punjabi University.

After holding discussions with representatives of various Sikh institutions here at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, S. Sandhwan said that appropriate steps will be taken to discard error ridden Punjabi, Hindi and English editions of the Mahan Kosh published by Punjabi University. He stressed that this work should be done only as per recommendations of the committee formed in this regard.

S. Sandhwan also asked the Higher Education Department to submit the necessary report within three weeks. He said that this work has become extremely important to maintain the supremacy of Gurbani and rectify the misconceptions for the future generations.

On this occasion, retired Professor Dr. Piarey Lal Garg, Kendri Sikh Sabha General Secretary Dr. Khushal Singh, representatives of Gyan Prakash Trust Ludhiana S. Slochan Bir Singh, S. Amarjit Singh Dhawan, S. Rajinder Singh Khalsa, S. Balbir Singh, Director of Sikh Missionary College S. Paramjit Singh, Director Higher Education Mr. Sanyam Agarwal and Head Punjabi Language Development Department Punjabi University Patiala Mrs. Parminderjit Kaur etc. were present.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests ASI for accepting Rs 10,000 bribe

Chandigarh December 10, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Tuesday has apprehended Raghbir Singh, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), posted at police station Talwandi Sabo, in Bathinda district for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Sukhpreet Singh, a resident of village Singo, in Talwandi Sabo block.

He informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged in his complaint that the above said accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 to favour him in a police case registered by complainant against the accused persons.The spokesperson added that after a preliminary enquiry into this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the accused was caught red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses.

He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB Police Station, Bathinda range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigations into this case was under progress.

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MUNDIAN URGES UNION JAL SHAKTI MINISTER TO RELEASE PENDING 1st INSTALMENT OF RS 161 CRORE UNDER JAL JEEVAN MISSION

ASSERTS THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR FURTHER ENHANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, December 10-Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Mr. Hardip Singh Mundian on Tuesday impressed upon the Union Minister for Jal Shakti Mr CR Patil to release a pending 1st instalment for Financial Year 2024-25 of Rs 161 Cr under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to further enhance the implementation of the scheme in Punjab. He got the assurance that this would be released on priority.

Participating in a meeting to review the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) scheme by the Union Minister, Mr Mundian said that it was imperative to ensure that the residents of the state get a regular supply of potable drinking water. He said that Punjab has made remarkable progress in attaining ODF status in rural areas. The Cabinet Minister further highlighted that the state has formulated Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) policy.

Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Mr Nilkanth S Avhad and Mission Director Mr Amit Talwar were also present in the meeting.

Mr Mundian said that the state intends to achieve Model Plus status under SBM (G) for all villages in Punjab on priority for the well being of the various sections of society.

Mr Mundian said that Gram Panchayats have been reconstituted in the state following the recent elections adding that substantial advancements will be made in the next three months, highlighting the state’s commitment to make further progress in SBM (G).

Meanwhile, the Union Minister complimented Punjab for its significant achievements in various parameters in SBM (G) in rural areas. He also appreciated the formulation of the Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) policy by the state.

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A total of six nominations received with regard to Municipal Corporation, Council and Nagar Panchayat Elections till today

Chandigarh, 10 December 2024:An official spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission said that a total of six nominations received till today in which one nomination received for Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, one nomination received for Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, one nomination received for Municipal Council, Balachaur, District SBS Nagar, two nominations received for Nagar Panchayat, Bhadson, District Patiala and one nomination received for Nagar Panchayat, Dirba, District Sangrur.