CM Deploys State Government Helicopter for Flood Relief; undertake field visits of affected areas with Cabinet Colleagues

In a First, State Helicopter Mobilized for Flood Relief Operations

CM visits Flood-Affected Gurdaspur District

Says Relief and Rescue of Affected People Is the Top Priority

Gurdaspur, August 27:In a rare humanitarian gesture, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced to depute the Helicopter of the state government to evacuate people and send relief material of the stranded families in the flood affected areas of the state.

“The people had given this helicopter to us by giving a whopping mandate and now we are pressing it in the service of people in this hour of crisis”, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister, who undertook a whirlwind tour of the flood affected areas in Gurdaspur district, said that several people are stuck in marooned villages due to which they need immediate help. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to ensure prompt and timely evacuation of the stranded people, a helicopter of the state government has been pressed into service. He said that from now onwards he will visit the flood affected areas by car whereas helicopters will be pressed into service for the people.

Interacting with the people, the Chief Minister said that flood control rooms have been set up in all the districts across the state and Punjab government is firmly committed to duly compensate the people for every single penny of loss incurred by them on account of heavy and incessant rainfall across the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is monitoring the situation every moment by taking regular updates from across the state. He said that a regular tab is being kept through district administrations in the entire state regarding the level of water and the relief measures being carried out in these districts.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is duty bound to help the people in this hour of grave crisis and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause. He said that succour is being provided even to the last person at the far flung areas of the state adding that special thrust is being laid to ensure relief in the worst affected areas of the state so that people do not face any sort of problem. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that top priority is being accorded to carry rescue and relief work in flood affected areas of the state.

The Chief Minister said that already all the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and the officers are in their respective areas and reaching out to the needy people in this hour of grave crisis. He said that an elaborate mechanism has been put in place to safeguard the life and property of people from the increasing level of water adding that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) are expediting the relief work in their respective districts so as to provide succor to the masses. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is duty bound to secure the interests of the people in this situation caused due to the heavy downpour of water adding that the Ministers, MLAs and officers are visiting the low lying and flood prone areas to ensure that people are evacuated from these areas to safe positions.

The Chief Minister said that massive relief and rescue operations are already going on in the flood torn areas to ensure that people do not face any sort of problem. He said that special thrust is being laid to ensure relief in the flood affected areas of the state so that people do not face any sort of problem. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to the well being of the people in these testing times.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has already ordered a special Girdawari to ascertain the loss incurred to people due to floods in the state. He said that the officers have been directed to ensure that the Special Girdawari is done in a fair manner so that people are duly compensated for their loss. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured the people that his government will compensate the people.

The Chief Minister said that every loss of crop, cattle, house or anything will be covered in the special girdawari to fully compensate the people for this colossal loss. He said that the loss in these low lying areas where water has caused havoc will also be ascertained and people will be duly compensated. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured the people that his government will compensate the people for loss of every single penny incurred by them during the floods.

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Ensuring Effective Implementation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is Punjab Government’s Top Priority: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Social Justice Minister Chairs High-Level Review Meeting

MLAs Appreciate State Government for Providing Post-Matric Scholarship Benefits to Over 2 Lakh SC Students

“No injustice will be allowed against the poor and marginalized,” says Dr. Baljit Kaur

Chandigarh, August 27:The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is fully committed to ensuring that no injustice is done to the poor and marginalized sections of society. This was stated by Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur while presiding over a high-level meeting at Punjab Bhawan today.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that one of the state government’s foremost priorities is the effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the grassroots level, so that victims receive timely and fair justice.

During the meeting, various departments and the police presented detailed reports on the work done so far. Participating MLAs and officials also shared valuable suggestions, which will be incorporated into future action plans.

Members of the High-Power Committee and MLAs lauded Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur for ensuring uninterrupted benefits to eligible Scheduled Caste students under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. They said this initiative marks a significant step towards the welfare and empowerment of SC students in the state.

Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that in the current year, the state government has set a target of covering 2.7 lakh SC students under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, with adequate budgetary provisions already in place.

The meeting also reviewed multiple issues, including the district-wise implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, functioning of district-level vigilance and monitoring committees, progress of welfare schemes for SCs, STs and other marginalized communities, coordination among law enforcement agencies, Social Justice Department and district administrations, legal aid to victims, compensation and rehabilitation measures, as well as financial support and budgetary allocations.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that the Punjab Government is committed to ensuring that every citizen lives with dignity and security. The High-Power Vigilance and Monitoring Committee constantly oversees the effective implementation of the SC/ST Act at the ground level. She stressed that social justice is not limited to legal safeguards, but also extends to education, employment, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

The Minister directed officials to hold regular district-level review meetings and prepare time-bound reports. She also underlined the need to expedite pending court cases under the Act to ensure swift justice.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that wherever shortcomings are identified, the state will take every possible step to address them, so that the Act is implemented in its true spirit. She thanked the MLAs and officials present in the meeting for extending their full cooperation to the state government in ensuring effective enforcement of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Among those present at the meeting included MLAs Principal Budh Ram, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, Dr. Charanjit Singh, Hakim Singh, Jeevan Singh Sanghowal, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Kulwant Singh Pandori, Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, along with Shri V.K. Meena, IAS, Principal Secretary, Social Justice; Shri Ravinder Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary, Social Justice; Smt. Vimmi Bhullar, IAS, Director, Social Justice; Shri G.S. Sahota, IAS, Executive Director, Backfinco; Shri Gurpreet Singh Khaira, IAS; Shri Naveen Saini, IPS, DIG (Crime); Shri Parminder Singh, Director, National Commission for SC; Smt. Surinderjit Kaur, AIG; Shri Raj Bahadur Singh, Joint Secretary, Social Justice; as well as senior officers from the Home and Finance Departments.