Welfare of Women, Children and Senior Citizens is the Top Priority of the Mann Government: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Dr. Baljit Kaur directs officials to ensure timely and transparent delivery of welfare schemes to needy women, children and senior citizens

Orders issued for daily monitoring of Anganwadi Centres and expediting the work on Poshan Tracker

Chandigarh, June 18:Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur today reaffirmed the commitment of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government towards the holistic welfare of all sections of society, with special emphasis on the upliftment of women, children, and senior citizens. She stated that the true progress of any society is determined by the security, health, and education of its marginalized, elderly, and women populations.

Presiding over a detailed review meeting with departmental officials at Kisan Bhawan here today, Dr. Baljit Kaur issued strict instructions to ensure that the benefits of various welfare schemes being run by the Punjab Government reach the deserving beneficiaries in a transparent and timely manner.

During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the functioning of Anganwadi Centres, the status of vacancies for Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, initiatives under Early Childhood Care and Education, the ongoing Child Begging Rescue and Rehabilitation Campaign under Mission Vatsalya, the progress of the Poshan Tracker application, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme. She also discussed the construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings and toilets under MGNREGA and directed the official to complete the work of remaining Anganwadi centres and toilets as soon as possible.

Dr. Baljit Kaur directed that daily monitoring of Anganwadi Centres should be the personal responsibility of all district officers. She emphasized that immediate action must be taken against those centres that are not functioning regularly. She also instructed for the expeditious completion of pending work related to the Poshan Tracker app and the upgradation of Anganwadi Centres to be fast-tracked without delay.

The Minister laid special emphasis on personally leading the state’s Child Begging Rescue and Rehabilitation Campaign being run under Mission Vatsalya. She also directed for a comprehensive review of the functioning of Specialized Adoption Agencies and sought detailed information on all adoptions that have taken place in the state during the past three years.

Further, Dr. Baljit Kaur instructed the department’s Director to felicitate officers who are performing exceptionally well in the discharge of their duties by awarding them appreciation certificates, to encourage a culture of commitment and healthy competition. She categorically stated that disciplinary action must be initiated against district officials whose performance is found to be unsatisfactory, ensuring strict implementation of government schemes without any negligence.

The Minister asserted that the Punjab Government is fully committed to the empowerment of women, care for senior citizens, and development of children. She added that these continuous efforts will play a significant role in realizing the dream of a vibrant and progressive ‘Rangla Punjab.’

The meeting was attended by Special Chief Secretary of the Department Raji P. Shrivastava, Director Dr. Sheena Aggarwal, Special Secretary Keshav Hingonia, Additional Secretary Vimmi Bhullar, Joint Secretary Anand Sagar Sharma, and other senior officials.

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PUNJAB LEADS THE WAY: ACHIEVED NATION’S LOWEST PENDENCY IN SERVICE DELIVERY

• 99.88% services delivered in stipulated timeframe, over 48 Lakh citizens benefitted, says Aman Arora

• Officials with zero pendency to be rewarded: Good Governance Minister

Chandigarh, June 18:The Punjab Government has achieved a remarkable milestone in citizen-centric governance by successfully delivering 99.88% of essential services to citizens within the stipulated timeframe, thereby ensuring the lowest pendency in service delivery across the country, announced Mr. Aman Arora, State President of AAP and Minister for Good Governance & Information Technology (GG&IT), Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here at MGSIPA following a review meeting with senior officials of the department and Deputy Commissioners, Mr. Aman Arora informed that the Punjab Government has achieved a remarkable milestone in service delivery, with over 48.85 lakh citizens availing of various citizen-centric services between June 18, 2024 and June 17, 2025. An impressive 99.88% of services were delivered within the stipulated timeframe and only 5868 services (0.12%) delivery exceeded the prescribed timeline. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government's robust service delivery system, which was recognised by the Government of India by ranking Punjab first in timely service delivery.

He further stated that the government is mulling to reward officials with zero pendency, while all Deputy Commissioners have also been directed to take strict action against habitual delayers and officials raising unwarranted objections.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the Good Governance Minister stated that the state government has implemented another pioneering project to eliminate delay and corruption and ensure transparency in service delivery. The state has onboarded around 98% of officials & local representatives, including Patwaris, Municipal Councillors (MCs), Sarpanches and Namberdars, allowing them to digitally verify certificate applications. The project aims to reduce citizens' hassles and increase efficiency by eliminating the need for physical visits for document verification.

Mr. Aman Arora lauded Punjab's service delivery system, highlighting the CM led Punjab government's dedication to citizen-centric governance. He also congratulated the Deputy Commissioners and GG&IT department’s team for their relentless efforts to achieve this milestone. The online service delivery has revolutionized service access, ensuring transparency, accountability, promptness, and making a tangible difference in citizens' lives.

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Earlier during the meeting, Mr. Aman Arora directed the GG&IT department officials to revamp the citizen service delivery portal (connect.punjab.gov.in) to enhance user experience, efficiency and accessibility. This initiative aims to provide citizens with a self-service platform, allowing them to apply for services online without visiting government offices. The Additional Chief Secretary GG&IT Mr. Vikas Pratap assured the minister that the portal would be redesigned at the earliest and robust public grievance redressal mechanism would be ensured to effectively address the public issues.

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PUNJAB HEALTH MINISTER ADVOCATES FOR NATURAL FOOD PRACTICES AT WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY EVENT

— FDA MUST ENSURE THAT EVERY CITIZEN IN PUNJAB RECEIVES PURE AND UNADULTERATED FOOD: DR BALBIR SINGH

— HEALTH MINISTER EXHORTS PUBLIC TO MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF MOBILE FOOD TESTING VANS

Chandigarh, June 18:With an aim to realise the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to develop a healthy society and make the state a ‘Rangla Punjab’ again, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of returning to natural farming practices, stating that in earlier times, agricultural fields thrived without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, relying instead on earthworms and frogs as natural fertilizers to produce nutritious food.

The Health Minister was addressing the event organised by Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Punjab to mark the ‘World Food Safety Day-2025’ in line with the global theme for the year, “Food Safety: Science in Action”. The event, organised at Mahatama Gandhi Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) here, witnessed a series of expert-led sessions, shedding light on various aspects of food safety in the context of Punjab.

Emphasising the critical link between soil health and human well-being during his address, Dr Balbir Singh advocated for fresh and organic food, calling it the foundation of good health. Sharing his personal commitment to clean eating, he revealed that he practices kitchen gardening at home to ensure access to chemical-free and nutrient-rich food. He also stressed the importance of hygienic cooking and food preparation to prevent contamination and food borne illnesses.

Underlining the responsibility of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the Minister directed officials to strengthen food safety mechanisms by upgrading laboratories and ensuring strict enforcement against adulteration. "Merely collecting food samples is not enough; the FDA must ensure that every citizen receives pure and unadulterated food," he asserted. He further instructed officials to conduct regular awareness drives to educate food vendors on maintaining hygiene standards.

To empower citizens in ensuring food safety, Dr Balbir Singh encouraged the public to make maximum use of Mobile Food Testing Vans, which are equipped to examine over 150 parameters in milk, paneer, spices, and other daily consumables. "These vans are a crucial tool in our fight against food adulteration—I urge every individual to get their food tested," he said.

The Minister also emphasised the need for balanced diets and informed dietary choices, urging the FDA to intensify public education campaigns on nutrition and government health initiatives.

Concluding his address, Dr Balbir Singh appealed to all Punjabis to adopt the "Eat Right, Stay Healthy" approach and contribute to building a healthier, and nutritionally secure Punjab.

Earlier, Commissioner FDA Punjab Dilraj Singh shared insights into the department's ongoing efforts in promoting food safety through scientific enforcement and public awareness.

Vice Chancellor of GADVASU Dr JPS Gill, during his address emphasised the integration of scientific practices with local food systems to ensure long-term safety and sustainability.

Dr Poonam Khanna from PGI Chandigarh presented data on the nutritional status of men, women, and children in Punjab, while Dr. Niharika from the Directorate of Health Services, Punjab, spoke about the prevalence and management of food-borne illnesses in the state. Dr Manvesh, Assistant Professor at GADVASU, addressed concerns related to adulteration in milk and milk products, identifying it as a major food safety issue in the region.

Representatives from the food industry also contributed valuable perspectives during the event with Director Scientific & Regulatory at Pepsico Shaminder Pal Singh and Managing Director of Nik Bakers Vinod Mittal highlighting the industry roles and initiatives in upholding food safety standards. The event also featured an engaging session with millet-based food entrepreneurs from Healthy Earth and a special chef talk by internationally acclaimed chef Vikas Khanna, who highlighted the intersection of food heritage, nutrition, and safety.

Chairman Food Commission Punjab Bal Mukand Sharma, Joint Commissioner Food Safety Dr Amit Joshi and Director Labs Food Safety Punjab Ravneet Kaur were among the other prominent persons, who attended the event.

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