*Every Child Deserves Care, Dignity and a Secure Future: Punjab Government Releases Nearly ₹218 Crore Financial Assistance for Dependent Children — Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is advancing towards a compassionate and inclusive ‘Rangla Punjab’ where every child receives support, protection and opportunities to grow*

*2.45 lakh dependent and orphan children across the state receiving continuous financial support: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*Nearly ₹433 crore budget provision for 2026-27 to ensure timely and uninterrupted assistance for child welfare: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

Chandigarh, October 1:Reaffirming its commitment towards the care, protection and brighter future of children in vulnerable circumstances, the Punjab Government has been taking continuous and sensitive measures to provide them with social security support. Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that nearly ₹218 crore financial assistance has been released so far for dependent and orphan children during the financial year 2026-27.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that every child deserves love, care, dignity and equal opportunities to realise their dreams. Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is following a compassionate approach to ensure that children facing challenging circumstances receive timely support and the confidence to move forward in life.

She said that this initiative reflects the vision of ‘Rangla Punjab’, where the safety, well-being and holistic development of every child remain a priority. The state government is committed to ensuring that no child is deprived of opportunities due to difficult circumstances.

The Cabinet Minister informed that around 2.45 lakh dependent and orphan children across Punjab are being provided financial assistance and benefits under the social security initiatives of the state government. The support is helping children meet their essential needs, continue their education and build a stronger foundation for their future.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that the scheme covers children below the age of 21 years whose both parents have passed away, both parents are missing, or parents are unable to take care of them due to physical or mental disability.

She further informed that to ensure smooth, transparent and timely delivery of assistance to eligible children, a budget provision of nearly ₹433 crore has been made for the financial year 2026-27.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government is giving top priority to child welfare and working towards creating an environment where every child gets a safe childhood, a dignified life and equal opportunities to develop their potential.

She reiterated that the government’s endeavour is to ensure that every child receives the necessary support to secure a better future and transform their dreams into reality. Punjab Government will continue to work with sensitivity and dedication towards the welfare and empowerment of children across the state.

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*Punjab records 22.11% growth in Net GST collection during September 2026: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Cumulative GST up by 17.39%. SGST Cash growth highest in the Country: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*VAT & CST collections register 28.70% growth during September: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 1st October 2026-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday annoinced that the state has recorded a robust 22.11 per cent year-on-year growth in Net GST collection during September 2026. The State's Net GST collection increased from ₹1,973.12 crore in September 2025 to ₹2,409.47 crore in September 2026, registering an increase of ₹436.35 crore.

Giving details of the revenue performance in a press communique issued here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, "SGST cash collection increased from ₹738.05 crore to ₹877.82 crore, registering 19 per cent growth which is highest in the Country. The cumulative Gross GST collection up to September 2026 stood at ₹15,405.12 crore, compared with ₹13,112.27 crore during the corresponding period last year, reflecting growth of 17.39 per cent."

Highlighting the performance of other major taxes, Cheema said, "VAT and CST collections during September increased by 28.70 per cent, from ₹577.11 crore in September 2025 to ₹742.75 crore in September 2026. Cumulatively, VAT and CST collections reached ₹4,558.48 crore, against ₹3,982.43 crore during the corresponding period last year, recording growth of 14.46 per cent with increase of Rs 576.05 Cr."

Referring to the comparative GST data released for September 2026, the Finance Minister said that Punjab's GST revenue grew by 16 per cent during the month, compared with 14 per cent growth at the all-India level. He further added that the growth in SGST cash is 19 per cent whereas at national level it is only 8 per cent.

Cheema said that alongside revenue mobilisation, the Excise and Taxation Department intensified intelligence-based enforcement and anti-evasion operations during September, with penalties amounting to approximately ₹142 crore imposed during the month. He said, "Enforcement operations focused on fraudulent Input Tax Credit, bogus billing, undocumented movement of goods and high-risk industrial and commercial corridors."

Highlighting some of the major actions during the month, the Finance Minister said that proceedings against M/s Jagat Metals Pvt. Ltd., Mandi Gobindgarh, detected suspected wrongful availment of ITC amounting to approximately ₹22.53 crore, following which the taxpayer deposited ₹9.50 crore as SGST in cash during the proceedings. "In another major statewide road-checking operation, 332 vehicles carrying primarily iron scrap and iron and steel goods worth over ₹10 crore were detained. Proceedings in respect of the aforesaid vehicles have resulted in recovery of ₹5.07 crore towards penalties till date. As proceedings in respect of nearly half of the vehicles are still pending, the penalty amount is expected to increase substantially, potentially doubling the amount recovered so far", said Cheema.

Reiterating the State Government's focus on compliance, Finance Minister Cheema said that technology-driven analytics, intelligence inputs and coordinated field enforcement would continue to be used to detect tax evasion while facilitating compliant taxpayers. He said the Department would maintain close scrutiny of fraudulent ITC chains, bogus billing networks and movement of goods without prescribed documents, and action would be taken strictly in accordance with the provisions of law.

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Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak initiates paddy procurement from Batala Grain Market

Punjab Government has successfully conducted procurement of crops during the last 9 seasons, this season will also be successful - Lal Chand Kataruchak

Rs. 42,786 crore CCL approved for Punjab before paddy procurement season

Says, Every single grain of farmers' crop will be procured

Chandigarh / Batala, October 1:The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Punjab, Sh. Lal Chand Kataruchak today visited the holy land of Batala and formally inaugurated the government procurement of paddy at the Grain Market.

He initiated the procurement of the produce brought by Gurpreet Singh of village Dulat and Prabhjot Kaur.

On this occasion, Rajnish Kumari Deputy Director, Food & Supplies Department Punjab, Sarangpreet Singh Aujla SDM Batala, Manik Mehta Chairman Market Committee Batala, Chairman Ravinder Singh, Amanjit Singh DFSC Gurdaspur, President Manbir Singh Randhawa, President Gurvinder Singh Jolly, Kuljit Singh District Mandi Officer and other officers of concerned departments were present.

Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has successfully conducted the procurement the last 9 seasons and this season will also be completed successfully.

He said that the government will ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement of every grain of the farmers' crop. He also appealed to the farmers to bring dried produce to the mandis so that they do not face any difficulty.

The Minister further informed that before the upcoming paddy procurement season starting from 1st October in the state, a major relief has been given to the state of Punjab in the form of approval of a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs. 42,786.68 crore for the month of October. He said that with the approval of CCL, immediate and smooth payment to the farmers for the paddy procured by the state government will be ensured.

The Cabinet Minister also said that the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has also received the required gunny bags for packing the paddy brought by farmers to the mandis and the state has been given a target of procuring 180 lakh metric tonnes of paddy for the season 2026-27. He said that the State Government will procure the farmers' crop at the rate of Rs. 2461 per quintal. To run the procurement operations smoothly, 1887 mandis have been notified so far and more mandis will be made operational as per requirement.

He said that the State Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to procuring every single grain produced so labourously by the farmers. Proper arrangements for clean drinking water etc. have been ensured for the labourers engaged in unloading and packing work in the mandis, added Mr. Kataruchak.

On this occasion, he also met the commission agents and farmers and assured them that they will not be allowed to face any difficulty in the mandis. Afterwards, he held a meeting with the concerned procurement agencies including DFSC and gave necessary directions for smooth conduct of procurement operations.

On this occasion, Manik Mehta, Chairman Market Committee Batala and his entire team also felicitated Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.

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*Punjab SIR nears completion, more than 99 work of SIR over: CEO Anindita Mitra*

*55 Assembly Constituencies and 08 Districts have completed 100% SIR 2026 exercise*

Chandigarh, October 1-The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab is nearing completion with 99.21 per cent of the work completed across the state.

Informing this, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Mrs Anindita Mitra said 08 districts — Moga, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (SBS Nagar), Mansa, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Sangrur, Patiala and Malerkotla — have completed the SIR 2026 exercise. As many as 55 of the 117 Assembly Constituencies have also completed the exercise.

To ensure that every eligible elector is included in the electoral roll and to facilitate electors, the CEO said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will contact electors in cases where notices have been issued and hearings or document submission are still pending, and collect the requisite documents directly from them, instead of calling electors for hearings, to offices.

"This arrangement will save electors from having to visit the offices of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for personal hearings and submission of documents, wherever applicable," she said.

Further, camps are being held over the coming weekend, to facilitate electors in those ACs where some pendency still remains.

Help Desks have also been established at the offices of District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) across the state to facilitate electors and address their queries and concerns relating to the electoral roll.

Mrs Mitra said the office of the CEO, Punjab, in coordination with the entire election machinery, is making concerted efforts to ensure smooth, transparent and timely completion of the process.

She appealed to all electors to extend full cooperation to BLOs and other election officials and provide the requisite documents and information, wherever required, to facilitate timely completion of the process.

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Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak Reviews Paddy Purchase at Raiya Mandi

State Government Committed to Procuring Every Grain Grown Through Farmers’ Hard Work and Sweat: Lal Chand Kataruchak

1,887 Mandis Notified Across Punjab to Ensure Smooth and Hassle-Free Paddy Purchase: Lal Chand Kataruchak

Chandigarh/Amritsar, October 1:Punjab Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak, today visited Raiya Grain Market in Amritsar district to review the arrangements for paddy purchase. He was accompanied by Baba Bakala Sahib MLA S. Dalbir Singh Tong, Sanjeev Bhandari, President, Nagar Council Raiya, Jathedar Baldev Singh Bodhewal, Block Samiti Member, Rajiv Bhandari, President, Arhtiya Association, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Mr. Jatin Verma, and officials of various purchase agencies.

At Raiya Grain Market, Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak reviewed the arrangements for the commencement of paddy purchase and congratulated farmers on the beginning of the purchase season. On the occasion, he offered sweets to farmers Gagandeep Singh Gagrewal and Parminder Singh Jallupur following the purchase of their produce. He also interacted with other farmers, labourers and commission agents who were present at the mandi.

Speaking to media persons, the Cabinet Minister said that government purchase of paddy has commenced across Punjab from October 1. He said all necessary arrangements, including shade, clean drinking water, sanitation and electricity, have been completed at mandis across the state for the convenience of farmers.

He informed that Punjab has been given a target of 180 lakh metric tonnes of paddy for the 2026-27 season. He said 1,887 mandis have so far been notified across the state to ensure smooth and efficient operations, while additional mandis would be made functional as required. He added that the department has also received 5 lakh gunny bags (bardana) for packing the paddy brought by farmers to the mandis.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that Punjab has received approval for a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of ₹42,786.68 crore for October for the current season. He said the state government would ensure prompt and uninterrupted payment to farmers for their purchased produce. He further stated that paddy would be purchased from farmers at the rate of ₹2,461 per quintal.

Reiterating the commitment of the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to purchase every grain produced through the hard work and sweat of farmers, Mr. Kataruchak said that the Punjab Government would ensure payment to farmers within 24 hours of purchasing their paddy.

He added that proper arrangements have also been made for clean drinking water and medical facilities for labourers engaged in unloading and packing operations at the mandis. He said that the government’s objective is to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders associated with the process, including farmers, commission agents and labourers.

The Minister further informed that the Government of India has prescribed a maximum permissible moisture limit of 17 per cent in paddy for purchase. He appealed to farmers to harvest their crop only after it has fully matured and to bring properly dried paddy to the mandis.

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Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Chairs High-Level Review on PSPCL Employee Demands; Directs Priority Resolution of Legitimate Demands

PSPCL management to table and expedite legitimate union demands at upcoming BoD meeting: Harpal Singh Cheema

Chandigarh, 1st October 2026:Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to resolve employees' issues, chaired high-level meetings with delegations of PSPCL employee and contractual unions.

Chairing the meetings the meetings alongside CMD PSPCL Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and senior officers, the Finance Minister Cheema patiently heard the grievances of the Unions and directed the management to resolve all legitimate matters on priority through the upcoming Board of Directors meeting.

The key demands presented by the unions prominently sought the rectification of the pay scale anomaly for Assistant Engineers, bringing outsourced personnel including those at NCC, CRC, stores, labs, and billing under direct departmental contracts, offering regular employment opportunities to trained diploma and degree apprentices, and reinstating retrenched meter readers while formalizing their service conditions and allowances.

Reiterating the state government's firm commitment to workforce welfare, Finance Minister Cheema emphasised that genuine administrative, structural, and financial issues would be redressed systematically and without undue delay. He assured the unions representatives that most of their demands are already in the pipeline.

During the meetings, Er JS Dhiman, Er Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, ER Sukhwant Singh, Er Jagdeep Singh Garcha, Er Jatinder Garg and Er Devinder Goyal from PSEB Engineers’ Association; Balihar Singh, Tek Chand, Sandeep Khatri and Balwinder Singh from Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazam Union; Kuljeet Singh, Tarandeep Singh, Amritsar Kumar and Pawandeep Singh from Outsource Employees Federation; Gurdeep Singh, Sukhmander Singh and Jagjit Singh from All Diploma Degree Apprenticeship Association; and Gurwinder Singh, Jagsir Singh and Molakdeep Singh from Powercom Meter Reader Union (Azad) presented their issues and demands.

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