PUNJAB SIKHYA KRANTI: FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA INAUGURATES DEVELOPMENT WORKS WORTH RS 41.28 LAKH

ATTENDS GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL UGRAHAN’S FUNCTION AS CHIEF GUEST

FINANCE MINISTER URGES STUDENTS TO PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH DEDICATION

URGES CITIZENS TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE DRUG MENACE

HIGHLIGHTS MANN GOVERNMENT'S DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT TRANSFORMED DIRBA CONSTITUENCY

Chandigarh/Dirba/Sangrur, April 11-To strengthen the school infrastructure under the Punjab Sikhya Kranti initiative, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday inaugurated three new classrooms and a boundary wall at Government High School Ugrahan, constructed at a cost of Rs 41.28 lakh.

During the event, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has been providing top-tier facilities to government schools and elevating school education to international standards. Reflecting on the promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party, Cabinter Minister Cheema said that significant strides have been made in education and health sectors over the past three years, with plans for further transformative projects in the coming years.

Highlighting the advancements in government school infrastructure, Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the establishment of subject-specific labs, new classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, and upgraded furniture have collectively transformed the educational environment. He also mentioned the establishment of 118 Schools of Eminence and the organization of educational tours to countries like Finland and Singapore for government school teachers, aimed at integrating international-level technologies into Punjab's education system.

While encouraging students to dedicate themselves to their studies to bring pride to their schools and the state, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also called on parents and teachers to recognize and nurture the talents of their children, likening them to uncut diamonds. Furthermore, he directed officials to plant saplings to enhance the school's greenery and aesthetics.

Addressing the development of the Dirba constituency, Finance Minister Cheema remarked on the eradication of its historical stigma of backwardness through the initiatives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government. He also praised the active roles of Gram Panchayats and Nagar Panchayats in rural and urban development, respectively. He also urged citizens to support the government's 'Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Campaign to combat drug abuse.

The event featured a cultural program presented by Government Primary School and Government High School Ugrahan students. The school management honored Cheema and other dignitaries. The school in-charge shared notable achievements of the institution.

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BIG BREAKTHROUGH UNDER YUDDH NASHE VIRUDDH; DRUG TRAFFICKER LINKED TO PAKISTANI SMUGGLER FROM AMRITSAR ARRESTED; 18KG HEROIN RECOVERED

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

— ARRESTED ACCUSED’S ASSOCIATE KULWINDER SINGH ON THE RUN; MANHUNT ON TO NAB HIM, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— DRUG CONSIGNMENTS WERE BEING SMUGGLED VIA DRONES FROM PAKISTAN: ADGP ANTF NILABH KISHORE

CHANDIGARH/Amritsar, April 11:Striking a major blow to the cross-border drug smuggling amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) apprehended a key drug trafficker and recovered 18.2 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

The arrested drug smuggler has been identified as Hira Singh alias Hira, a resident of Village Khaira in Amritsar. Apart from recovering big haul of heroin, police teams have also impounded his HF Deluxe motorcycle (PB 02 BW 7803), which he was riding.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that accused Hira Singh and his associate identified Kulwinder Singh alias Kinda of of village Dauke in Amritsar, were in touch with Pakistan-based drug trafficker identified as Billa. The latter has been using drones to drop the large consignments of heroin from across the border for the past one year, he said.

The DGP said that raids are being conducted to nab accused Kulwinder Singh. Further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he added.

Sharing more details, ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore said that police teams of ANTF Border Range Amritsar had received a reliable input that accused Hira Singh and Kulwinder Singh are notorious drug smugglers and had been receiving heroin consignments via drones from a Pak-based drug smugglers for the past year.

Acting swiftly, Police teams led by SP ANTF Amritsar Gupreet Singh launched an operation and arrested the accused Hira Singh, when he was leaving his house on a motorcycle to deliver the heroin consignment. Police teams have recovered 12 packet of heroin (1.5 kg each), totalling 18 kg 227 gm, from his possession, he said.

The ADGP said that in order to break the chain of Heroin supply, the interrogation will be conducted of an arrested accused. Thereafter, action will be taken against the culprits on the basis of facts, he added.

A case FIR No. 94 dated 10.04.2025 has been registered under sections 21-C, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station ANTF, SAS Nagar.

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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan inaugurates development projects worth more than Rs 2.10 crore of various schools at Kotkapura

Development of Education and Health sector is the priority of our Government – Sandhwan

Chandigarh/Kotkapura April 11:The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ campaign to develop the state's Education infrastructure and to provide quality Education to students. The development works of schools that have been carried out in the last 3 years are being inaugurated now under this campaign. This was stated by the Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan while addressing the students of the school, their parents, teachers and city residents after inaugurating various development works of Dr. Chanda Singh Marwah Senior Secondary School for Girls, Kotkapura.

Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that development projects are also being carried out on a war footing level for all-round development of the state in various fields under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that development of Education and Health sectors are our priority and developing them on a war footing level. Major portion of the budget is being spent on the Health and Education sectors, he added.

Speaker inaugurated development works worth Rs. 1.79 crore in Dr. Chanda Singh Marwah Senior Secondary School for Girls, Kotkapura. Similarly, he also inaugurated development works worth Rs. 7.84 lakh in the Government Primary School Teg Bahadur Nagar Kotkapura, Rs. 3.64 lakh in the Government Primary School Ward No. 3 Kotkapura, Rs. 9.5 lakh in the Government Primary School Aman Nagar Kotkapura, Rs. 4. 49 lakh in the Government Primary School Kothe Theh Chibiya Wale Kotkapura. He said that in this way development projects worth more than Rs. 2.10 crore have been dedicated to the public and this process will continue in future also.

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PUNJAB TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS ONLINE ATTENDANCE SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES: LALJIT SINGH BHULLAR

Headquarters and regional offices to use 'M-Seva App' for daily attendance from today onwards

Employees to mark their attendance twice daily

Transport Department and SDM offices' entire staff receive training on new system

This initiative will enhance departmental efficiency and speed up resolution of public grievances: Transport Minister

Chandigarh, April 11:Taking a significant decision to digitize employee attendance, the Punjab Transport Department has implemented an online attendance system from today onwards. All employees will now be required to mark their online attendance twice daily.

Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that previously, attendance was recorded manually in registers. He said that complete training has been provided to all employees working in the Transport Department and SDM offices including regular, outsourced, contractual staff and lab attendants, to ensure a smooth transition to the online attendance system.

The Cabinet Minister informed that instructions have been issued for all employees to mark their attendance on the M-Seva App, adding that starting today, employees across various concerned offices and regional offices have begun using the app for attendance tracking.

S. Bhullar further said that the online system was launched after creating M-Seva login credentials for all employees and providing them with detailed user guides.

The Transport Minister said that employees cannot mark their attendance from home as the system incorporates geo-fencing along with latitude and longitude tracking software. This technology automatically records the employee's location when marking attendance.

S. Bhullar added that if an employee needs to work outside the office, he must verify his location through a mobile device. "This initiative will not only enhance the department's operational efficiency but also help address public concerns and complaints more effectively and swiftly," he added.

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EM HARJOT BAINS SLAMS OPPOSITION FOR PETTY POLITICS OVER EDUCATION REFORMS

• Congress, SAD-BJP leaders should hang their heads in shame for failing to provide even toilets in 75 years

• Instead of owning their failures, opposition leaders are undermining Punjab Govt’s transformative reforms

• 8K schools lacked boundary walls, 3K had no toilets before CM Mann led govt took over, reveals Bains

Chandigarh, April 11:Lashing out the opponents for engaging in petty politics over infrastructure development projects being inaugurated under “Sikhya Kranti” initiative in the state government schools, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains shamed Congress and SAD-BJP leaders for their decades-long neglect of government schools, where students were deprived of even basic facilities like toilets and boundary walls.

Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, on Friday evening, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that during his visits to government schools, some students and teachers informed him of the lack of basic facilities like toilets, boundary walls, and desks, forcing them to go outdoors to relieve themselves and the students had to sit on the ground. He attributed this situation to the previous regimes’ neglect of education.

“For 75 years, these parties looted Punjab while our children sat on floors and our daughters had to drop studies due to lack of toilets. Now, instead of repenting, they mock our efforts to rebuild the system,” said S Harjot Bains.

Revealing the shocking data of previous regimes, the Education Minister informed that before the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Government came to power in Punjab, there were no bathrooms in over 3000 schools and 8,000 government schools were without boundary walls and around three lakh students were sit on ground.

Inviting the media to come along with him to visit government schools to witness the transformation of education system, S. Harjot Bains said that Congress, SAD-BJP were not ashamed when our daughters had to leave the schools because of the lack of toilets. "Their (opposition leaders') own children study in schools where even the bathrooms have air conditioning facilities and security is deployed outside the schools," he said, while adding that they robbed the poors of Punjab for years and now they are making fun of the poor again. They stole from the poor and built big farmhouses, 5 & 7 star palaces, Punjab government gave clean bathrooms to the daughters and they are feeling ashamed.

He further said that they are jealous of the plaques because we did in three years what they couldn't do in 75 years. These are not just nameplates or plaques, it is a reminder of the failure of Congress and Akali-BJP governments in Punjab. "We are committed to convert the state into 'Parhda Punjab'," he said.

He emphasised that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has been dedicated to providing all government schools with essential amenities include separate toilets for girls and boys, boundary walls, clean drinking water, high-speed Wi-Fi connections, and modern smart classrooms and furniture. These improvements have been implemented across all government schools in Punjab over the past three years.

S. Harjot Singh Bains highlighted that around 28 lakh students are currently receiving education in the state's 20,000 government schools, while adding that over 12,000 government schools have undergone a significant transformation with an investment of Rs. 2000 crore under “Sikhya Kranti”.

He mentioned that the infrastructure development projects inaugurated today in 410 government schools across Punjab aim to encourage MLAs and officials to visit these schools, interact with students, and inspire them to achieve their goals.

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Trials for Khelo India Youth Games on 13th April

Chandigarh, April 11-Trials of various Punjab teams for the Khelo India Youth Games will be held on April 13 at different places. Players wishing to participate in these trials should have their date of birth on or after January 1, 2007.

An official spokesperson of the Sports Department said that the Khelo India Youth Games are being held in Bihar from 4th to 15 May. Trials for selection of Punjab's Basketball (girls) team will be held at Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana, Hockey (boys and girls) at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium Jalandhar, Kho Kho (boys and girls) at Polo Ground Patiala, Volleyball (boys) at Punjab Institute of Sports, Sector 63 Mohali and trails for Kabaddi (girls) team will be at Polo Ground Patiala. The trials will be held on 13th April at 11 am.

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Cabinet’s historic decision a step towards realisation of dream of Baba Sahib: says Cheema

Reiterates commitment of state government to realise dreams of national heroes

Chandigarh, April 11: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday said that the historic decision of Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to promulgate an Ordinance to provide adequate representation to members of SC community for contractual engagement as law officers in the state is aimed at realising dreams of Bharat Ratna Baba Sahib Dr BR Ambedkar- the Chief Architect of Indian constitution.

Interacting with the media persons, the Finance Minister said that since independence the Congress and other parties have exploited the weaker and underprivileged sections by not empowering them. However, he said that the Aam Aadmi Party has taken every step towards realising the dreams of national heroes like Baba Sahib Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Harpal Singh Cheema said that today’s Cabinet decision is a reflective of it adding that he had vehemently opposed the move of then Congress government to bring The Punjab Law Officers Engagement Act 2017 as it didn’t do justice with weaker sections by depriving them of due representation.

The Finance Minister said that today Cabinet gave nod to promulgate an ordinance to amend Punjab Law Officers Engagement Act 2017. He said that this step is aimed to relax income criteria for contractual engagement of Law officers belonging to SC Community in the state by reducing the existing desired annual income slab by 50%. Harpal Singh Cheema said that the purpose of relaxation in income criteria is to provide adequate representation to members of SC community for contractual engagement as law officers in AG Office, Punjab.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister said that in another significant decision, the Cabinet has also accorded its approval to One Time Relaxation (OTR) policy regarding Non Construction fee and outstanding allotment amount for allottees of Improvement Trusts of the state. He said that this decision will give a major relief to the allottees as the penal interest will be waived off. Likewise, Harpal Singh Cheema said that to maintain geographical and administrative contiguity, efficiency, cost optimisation and legislative synergy, the Cabinet also gave green signal for reorganisation and rationalisation of the existing blocks in the state.

The Finance Minister said that realignment of blocks is necessitated in order to ensure better administration of these blocks in the larger public interest. He further said that the Cabinet also gave consent to enhance retirement age of Doctors and Professors serving in Medical Colleges under Medical education and research department from existing 62 years to 65 years adding that this will help in imparting quality education in the Medical Colleges continuously thereby immensely benefitting the students in these colleges. Harpal Singh Cheema further said that the Cabinet also gave consent to hire the Specialists doctors retiring from the service to cope up with the shortage of doctors in government hospitals adding that these doctors will be hired annually on need based basis in the larger public interest.