*Bhagwant Mann Govt Directs Education & Power Departments to Fast-Track Employee Demands: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt taking swift action on recruitment, regularisation & service related issues of employees: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*School Education Department asked to expedite action on pending demands of education sector unions: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Outsourced employees' issues will be resolved through direct departmental contracts, PSPCL directed to review workers' demands sympathetically: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH; 29th July 2026:Punjab Finance Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted for resolving employee matters, Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday issued comprehensive directions to the Education and Power departments during detailed meetings held with representatives of seven unions from the Education Department and two unions from the Power Department to accelerate the review of service-related matters through the constituted officers' committee and financial issues through the finance committee to present concrete, actionable proposals for an expedited resolution.

During the meetings with the education sector unions, which were attended by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, the demands of the 3704 Teacher Union were given serious consideration. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed the high level committee constituted on July 9, comprising officials from the Finance Department, Personnel Department, School Education Department, Office of the Advocate General and union representatives, to submit its formal proposal at the earliest possible timeframe.

Addressing financial concerns raised by the ETT (Elementary Teacher Training) TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) Pass Teachers Association, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed officials from both the Finance and Education departments to conduct an immediate joint meeting with union leaders to formulate appropriate proposals for resolving all legitimate grievances.

Further strengthening the dialogue with education personnel, the cabinet minister met with representatives of the United Physical Education Union and the Murh Bahal Kachhe Adhiyapak Union, directing the School Education Department to accelerate administrative proceedings to resolve their valid demands.

Addressing recruitment concerns regarding 250 Art and Craft teacher positions, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, "The Punjab Government is actively working toward an effective resolution." He also appealed to the union leadership to discard internal conflicts and submit a unified memorandum of demands to facilitate a swift, fair and decisive outcome.

In subsequent deliberations with the Coordination Committee of PSPCL and PSTCL Contractual Workers, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, "The ongoing government initiative to bring outsourced personnel under direct departmental contracts will automatically resolve the vast majority of your operational challenges."

Meeting with the Powercom Outsource Spot Billing Meter Reader Union, the Finance Minister directed Punjab State Power Corporation Limited authorities to sympathetically review their legitimate grievances and initiate appropriate official action.

The extensive meetings witnessed active participation from union delegations representing diverse cadres. The 3704 Teacher Union was represented by Harjinder Singh, Rajeshwar Rai, Jagjeevanjot Singh, and Rajan Saini. The ETT TET Pass Teachers Association delegation included Kamal Thakur, Sohan Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Gaurav Kant, and Gurmukh Singh. Lakhveer Singh and Mandeep Singh represented the United Physical Education Union, while Vikas Sahni, Lakhwinder Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, and Jaswinder Kaur presented concerns on behalf of the Murh Bahal Kacche Adhiyapak Union. Representation for art and craft cadres included Sandeep Singh from the Rozgar Drawing Master Struggle Committee, Ranjit Singh from the B.Ed. PSTET-2 Pass Art and Craft Unemployed Teacher Union, Harjinder Singh from the Art and Craft TET Pass Unemployed Teacher Union, and Rakesh Kumar from the Unemployed PSTET Pass Art and Craft Struggle Union. The power sector delegations featured Balihar Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Jagroop Singh, Harjit Singh, and Gurpreet Singh from the Coordination Committee of PSPCL and PSTCL Contractual Workers, alongside Lakhwinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh Kahlon representing the Powercom Outsource Spot Billing Meter Reader Union.

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*PUNJAB TAXATION DEPARTMENT STEPS UP VAT DUES RECOVERY: PROPERTY AUCTION FETCHES Rs 1.21 CRORE: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA*

*Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema urges defaulting dealers to use the OTS scheme before coercive action escalates*

*Zero tolerance and uncompromising legal action for all unpaid tax liabilities after July 31: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 29 july 2026-The Punjab Taxation Department has achieved major breakthroughs in its ongoing drive to recover outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT) dues through property auction proceedings in Patiala district, recovering Rs 1.21 crore through successful property auction alongside securing an instant deposit of Rs 18.46 lakh under the One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme. Highlighting these recent developments, Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday called upon all eligible defaulting dealers across the state to settle their long-pending liabilities under the OTS Scheme before the July 31 deadline or face stern recovery actions, including property attachment and public auctions.

Detailing the successful recovery cases in a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “In Patiala district, the auction of property belonging to M/s Guruji Feeds, Rajpura, against whom a total tax demand of Rs 57.78 lakh was pending, was scheduled for July 27, 2026. Following the initiation of auction proceedings, the dealer came forward to avail itself of the beneficial terms under the OTS Scheme and deposited Rs 18.46 lakh to settle the case.” The Finance Minister said that this case illustrates the substantial relief available to eligible defaulters under the scheme, showing how timely settlement allows businesses to avoid the attachment and forced sale of their assets.

In another major enforcement action, Excise and Taxation Minister Cheema revealed that the department successfully auctioned the property of M/s Samana Roller Flour Mill Limited for Rs 1.21 crore, significantly exceeding its reserve price of Rs 74.31 lakh by approximately Rs 46.69 lakh. “In strict compliance with the prescribed auction procedure, an amount of Rs 30.25 lakh, representing 25 percent of the successful bid, was recovered immediately from the highest bidder on the day of the auction”, he added.

Appreciating the commendable efforts of the Taxation Department officers, the Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised that these two contrasting outcomes convey an unmistakable message to all VAT defaulters in Punjab. He said, “While the OTS Scheme offers a fair and genuine opportunity for an amicable settlement on highly beneficial terms, failing to utilise this window will inevitably lead to stringent recovery measures. The resolution achieved by M/s Guruji Feeds during the auction process proves that the scheme provides a practical way forward, and eligible dealers should voluntarily step up rather than waiting for the state to launch coercive enforcement.”

The Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema issued a strong appeal urging all eligible default cases to be resolved before the OTS Scheme expires on July 31, 2026. Issuing a firm warning, Minister Cheema made it clear that no leniency will be extended once the deadline passes. He said, “Defaulters who neglect to clear their dues under the scheme by the prescribed date will face uncompromising legal action, including immediate attachment and auction of their movable and immovable properties.”

He reiterated that the Taxation Department will continue its state-wide recovery drive with total transparency, firmness, and impartiality to safeguard government revenue.

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MERI RASOI Ration kit Distribution crosses 33 Lakh mark

Ludhiana leads with distribution of over 3.86 Lakh Ration Kits, Amritsar crosses 2.66 lakh mark & Patiala third with 2.37 Lakh

Chandigarh, July 29:The Punjab Government has intensified its ongoing flagship ration kit distribution drive namely MERI RASOI to ensure nutritional security for vulnerable households, with nearly 33.86 lakh families already benefiting under the initiative. The drive aims to cover a total of 40.48 lakh eligible families across Punjab after every quarter i.e. 3 Months.

Guided by the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, the distribution under the flagship initiative is being carried out on mission mode.

Notably, each family would receive one ration kit which has been carefully designed to meet essential dietary needs of a household. It contains two kilograms of lentils, two kilograms of sugar, one kilogram of salt, 200 grams of turmeric powder, and one litre of mustard oil for monthly consumption. These food kits are being provided in addition to the wheat already being distributed to eligible beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

The ration kits are assembled by the Markfed while the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department oversees the distribution network across the State.

Out of the 33.86 Lakh ration kits distributed so far, Ludhiana accounts for maximum with 386692, Amritsar at second spot with 266112, Patiala third with 237320, Gurdaspur fourth with 209040, Jalandhar fifth with 195614, Bathinda Sixth with 194449 Ration Kits.

As for the other districts Fazilka has seen distribution of 165364 Ration Kits, Sangrur 166102 Ration Kits, Hoshiarpur 184140, Tarn Taran 161253, Sri Muktsar Sahib 142995, Ferozepur 129673, Moga 123321, Mansa 100371, Kapurthala 90616, Fatehgarh Sahib 81867, Faridkot 82808, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar 91991, Pathankot 89596, Rupnagar 91469, Barnala 68592, Malerkotla 55400, and in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar 71614 ration kits stand distributed.

The objective is to supplement the staple grain with essential proteins, cooking oil, and spices, thereby improving overall nutritional intake for families covered under the scheme.

The distribution is being monitored to ensure transparency, prevent duplication, and guarantee last-mile delivery. District administrations, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and local officials are coordinating to ensure the success of the novel measure.

The scheme stands testimony to the State Government's committment to ensuring that no eligible family is left without food security. By adding these ration kits to the existing NFSA wheat distribution, both hunger and nutrition issues are being addressed.

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*Punjab Government Gifts Canal Irrigation to Farmers of 42 Villages in Ghanaur through Lift Irrigation System*

*Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal and MLA Gurlal Ghanaur inaugurate canal irrigation projects worth ₹26.73 crore*

*16,932 acres to benefit from canal irrigation in Ghanaur constituency*

*36.39-km underground pipeline laid and 2.44-km Ghadam Rajbaha concreted*

*₹450 crore spent across Punjab on flood protection works: Barinder Goyal*

*Chandigarh/Ghanaur, July 29:*Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal and MLA Gurlal Ghanaur today inaugurated lift irrigation-based canal projects worth ₹26.73 crore at village Kolhemajra, providing canal water to farmers in 42 villages of the Ghanaur constituency.

The Minister said the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has fulfilled a long-pending demand by extending canal irrigation to villages that had remained deprived despite being located near canals. The initiative will bring 16,932 acres under canal irrigation, helping conserve groundwater and reduce farmers’ irrigation costs.

He said that a 36.39-km underground pipeline has been laid at a cost of ₹22.23 crore, benefiting 38 villages and bringing 15,129 acres under canal irrigation for the first time. In addition, a 2.44-km stretch of the Ghadam Rajbaha has been concreted at a cost of ₹4.50 crore, providing irrigation to another 1,803 acres across four villages.

Addressing the media, Barinder Goyal said the Punjab Government has spent ₹450 crore on flood protection works across the state, including ₹13 crore on strengthening flood protection along the Ghaggar River in the Ghanaur constituency.

MLA Gurlal Ghanaur thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for undertaking unprecedented development works in the constituency. He said the lift irrigation system would not only conserve groundwater but also significantly reduce cultivation costs for farmers.

Farmers expressed gratitude to the Punjab Government, stating that their decades-old demand for regular canal irrigation had finally been fulfilled.

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*MEET HAYER HOLDS MIRROR TO CENTRE’S POLITICS OF DIVISION ON RELIGIOUS AND CASTE LINES IN LOK SABHA*

*Commends youth movement while speaking on Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill*

*Jantar Mantar youth agitation ensured real issues like education and unemployment come to the fore instead of propaganda*

"*No one is being punished anyway, increasing penalties in the amendment bill will make no difference": Meet Hayer*

Chandigarh, July 29:The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Sangrur Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, saluted the struggle of the country’s youth and said that the youth power has held up a mirror to the government that has been indulging in politics of division on the basis of religion and caste for the last 12 years. He said that instead of propaganda, real issues like education and unemployment have now come to the mainstream.

He further said that the Prime Minister’s selfie video at midnight has proved that education and unemployment are the real issues from which the BJP is running away. The Jantar Mantar protest has exposed the face of the BJP government and delivered a strong blow to the BJP’s politics of hatred. He added that the Centre knows it has no answers on the issue of education.

The Lok Sabha MP said that the Prime Minister’s clarification through a midnight selfie video is a result of the Centre’s panic and nervousness. He said that the Centre, which is making tall claims about the new amendment bill, should know that the so-called “major reforms” it is talking about are already in place in even the smallest countries of the world.

Meet Hayer further stated that the new bill proposes an increase in punishment, whereas provisions for punishment already exist, but no one has been punished since 2024. No one is being punished anyway, increasing penalties in the amendment bill will make no difference, added Meet Hayer.