CM FULFILS ANOTHER PROMISE MADE WITH FARMERS

HANDS OVER CHEQUE OF RS 1 CRORE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND APPOINTMENT LETTER OF GOVERNMENT JOB TO FAMILY OF SHUBKARAN SINGH

FULFILS PROMISE MADE WITH THE FAMILY OF YOUNG FARMER WHO ATTAINED MARTYRDOM AT KHANAURI BORDER DURING FARMER AGITATION

Chandigarh, July 9:Fulfilling the promise made with the family of a young farmer who attained martyrdom at Khanauri border during farmer agitation, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday handed over a cheque of financial assistance worth Rs 1 crore and appointment letter of government job to his family members.

Interacting with the bereaved family members after handing over the cheque and appointment letter, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed for the well being of the food growers of the state and no stone is being left for ensuring their welfare. He said that the young farmer Shubkaran Singh had attained martyrdom during firing at the border. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this barbaric and tragic incident had bruised the psyche of every Punjabi.

The Chief Minister said that the martyrdom of a farmer is a huge and irreparable loss for the family which cannot be compensated by any means. However, he said that Rs 1 crore financial assistance and government job to the family is a humble initiative of the state government to bail out the family in crisis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a humble gesture of the state government in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made by the young farmer for the cause of food growers of the country.

The Chief Minister further said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state have made the country self-reliant in food production due to which all the countrymen are indebted to them. He bemoaned that it is on record that despite our limited natural resources, the farmers of the state have put their sweat and toil to produce grains for the country that too at the cost of overexploitation of the only available natural resources of the state in terms of water level and soil fertility. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is the bounden duty of the government to help the farmers and their families in the hour of crisis adding that the state government is already making strenuous efforts in this regard.

=======================

Finance Minister Cheema Stresses Enhancing GST Compliance in Service Sector

Chandigarh, 09 July Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema chaired a review meeting of the Excise and Taxation department, where he directed officials to intensify efforts towards improving GST compliance in the service sector.

Finance Minister Cheema emphasized the need for robust monitoring and enforcement to minimize tax evasion and maximize revenue collection. He also urged officials to conduct regular audits, investigations, and outreach programs to ensure higher compliance rates. The meeting aimed to strengthen the tax administration, enhance revenue mobilization, and promote a culture of tax compliance among service sector stakeholders.

“By focusing on GST compliance in the service sector, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government aims to unlock additional revenue streams, boost economic growth, and contribute to the state's economic progress”, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

During the review meeting of the Excise department, the Minister directed officials to develop strategies to recover outstanding arrears dating back to FY 2016-17, intending to convert these long-overdue payments into realized revenue. The Minister instructed officials to exhaust all avenues to recover the outstanding arrears, leveraging every legal recourse available to ensure prompt recovery. The comprehensive review meeting deliberated on a range of key issues, including excise revenue optimization and stringent enforcement measures to curb evasion and smuggling.

Prominent amongst others, Additional Chief Secretary cum Finance Commissioner (Taxation) Vikas Partap Singh, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Varun Roojam and Additional Commissioner Taxation Gauri Parashar Joshi were present in the meeting.

======================================

PUNJAB WITNESSES INCREASE IN AREA UNDER FISH FARMING: GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN

Fisheries Minister extends greeting to fish/shrimp farmers on National Fish Farmers' Day

Chandigarh, July 9:In a significant step towards blue revolution in the state, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has succeeded in increasing the area under fish farming by 1942 acres during the FY 2023-24, revealed Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian. The area has increased from 42,031 acres to 43,973 acres in one year.

Giving all the credits for this achievement to the fish farmers, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian extended his greetings to all the fish & shrimp farmers of state on the eve of National Fish Farmers' Day. He also exhorted other farmers to adopt fish farming as Punjab Government has been making all out efforts to promote fish farming as an auxiliary occupation of the agriculture to increase their income.

He further informed that the state government has been providing quality fish seed from 16 government fish seed farms at subsidized rates to the fish farmers. "For the convenience of the shrimp farmers, services are being provided at the Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Center located at village Ena Khera in district Sri Muktsar Sahib”, he added.

The government has also been encouraging the shrimp farming in the saline affected south-western districts. The farmers are practicing shrimp farming in more than 1315 acres area, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said.

He further stated that 40% to 60% subsidy is being provided to adopt various projects such as fish and shrimp ponds, purchase of fish transport vehicles, fish kiosks/shops, cold storage plants, fish feed mills and ornamental fish units. The Punjab Government has also provided self-employment to 450 beneficiaries by disbursing a subsidy of approximately Rs 25 crores.

Notably, the National Fish Farmers' day is observed in memory of renowned scientists Professor Dr. Hiralal Chaudhary and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi. They brought a revolution in the field of Indian fisheries by carrying out induced breeding of carp fish for the first time in India on July 10, 1957.

========================================

JIMPA LAUDS CM FOR ENHANCING COVER OF CITIZEN CENTRIC SERVICES IN STATE

SAYS OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE SMOOTH AND HASSLE-FREE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE

Chandigarh, July 9:Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa on Tuesday lauded the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, for the further expansion of online citizen centric services available to the people thereby bringing the services at their doorsteps.

The Minister said that now Patwaris have been integrated into the e-governance system, through their online IDs which allows citizens to access most services related to document verification from their homes. He said that this enhancement in ambit of online schemes will streamline the verification process for various certificates, including those for caste, residence, old age pension schemes, income and others. The Revenue Minister emphasized that with patwaris now part of the online system, applicants will no longer need to visit their offices for verification reports as upon submission, applications will be electronically forwarded to the relevant patwari for verification.

Minister Jimpa highlighted that many civic services provided by the Revenue Department's officials and employees will be delivered without hassle, corruption, or unnecessary delays. To ensure this, higher officials will soon issue an instructional letter to field staff, clarifying the government's commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership, to providing smooth and efficient services to citizens. This directive will be applicable to all levels of the department's hierarchy. The minister also mentioned that the Revenue Department's officers and employees are regularly encouraged to serve the public selflessly. However, any deliberate harassment by officials or employees will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

The Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, remains firmly against corruption. Since taking office, the Chief Minister has introduced a helpline number to report corrupt officials. For complaints related to the Revenue Department, citizens can use 8184900002, and NRIs can file complaints at 9464100168. These numbers are for written complaints only. The Revenue Minister urged citizens to report any genuine work-related issues, instances of bribery, or any grievances regarding the Revenue Department's services through the helpline numbers. He assured that corrupt officers and employees would face stringent consequences.