Speaker pays tribute at the 'Antim Ardas' of late Y. Puran Kumar IPS

Chandigarh, 26 October 2025:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan attended Bhog and Antim Ardas ceremony of late Y. Puran Kumar IPS at Gurudwara Nada Sahib, Panchkula. He expressed grief over the untimely demise of Y. Puran Kumar IPS. He said society will always remember his work done towards the welfare of the country.

Sandhwan also conveyed the message of AAP National Convenor Sh. Arvind Kejriwal who paid heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and said we are always stood by the family of late Y. Puran Kumar IPS in this hour of sorrow.

Speaker Sandhwan prayed to God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.God may grant place of abode to him at His feet.

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Engineer Opts for Modern Polyhouse Farming, Earns Up to ₹14 Lakh Annually with Support from Horticulture Department

State’s Farmer-Centric Schemes Make Horticulture a Profitable Venture

Chandigarh, October 26:Under the directions of Punjab Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat, the Horticulture Department is actively working to promote crop diversification and enhance farmers’ income across the state. The farmer-centric schemes of the Punjab Government are proving to be a boon for cultivators, ensuring every possible support to help them adopt modern farming practices.

Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur informed that taking advantage of the government’s schemes, Harbir Singh, a farmer from village Saraba in Ludhiana district, is earning handsome profits through polyhouse farming and has become an inspiration for other farmers. After obtaining a degree in Electrical Engineering, Harbir Singh chose farming as his profession instead of taking a job, setting new benchmarks by integrating traditional farming with modern technology.

Farmer Harbir Singh shared that he received comprehensive guidance on polyhouse cultivation from the Horticulture Department. He is currently cultivating seedless cucumber, coloured capsicum, melon, and potato under polyhouse, earning an average annual profit of ₹12 to ₹14 lakh.

He further mentioned that in 2014, he shifted from conventional vegetable cultivation and received specialized training from the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Kartarpur. He said that under the National Horticulture Mission scheme, he availed subsidy support to set up his polyhouse and started growing coloured capsicum and seedless cucumber. He regularly consulted officials of the Horticulture Department to resolve farming-related challenges.

Harbir believes thelat hard work, dedication, understanding problems minutely and consistent guidance from the Horticulture Department officials have been the key factors behind his success.

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Mann Government Releases ₹2400 Crore under Old Age Pension Scheme: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Over 23 Lakh Beneficiaries Receiving Support under Old Age Pension Scheme

Punjab Government Committed to Respect and Dignity of Senior Citizens

Chandigarh, 26 October:Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, informed that the Punjab Government has so far released ₹2400.70 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme during the current financial year.

Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under this scheme, over 23 lakh beneficiaries have received financial assistance. She further noted that the State Government has allocated a total budget of ₹4100 crore for the scheme in the current financial year to ensure that every senior citizen receives their entitled pension in a timely manner.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government values its senior citizens and is fully committed to protecting their respect and dignity. She added that the pension scheme is not merely financial support but a symbol of the government’s responsibility and honour towards the elderly.

The Minister also instructed departmental officials that “Our elders are our pride” and stressed that every eligible beneficiary must receive their pension on time, without any delays or lapses. The government remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of the scheme reach all deserving senior citizens promptly and efficiently.

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An Investors Meet held to create investment opportunities and foster sustainable growth through Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

Chandigarh, 26 October 2025:An Investors Meet was successfully held at Chandigarh under the aegis of Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), with a focus on attracting investments in tourism and hospitality infrastructure projects through enhanced Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the State of Punjab.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials from PIDB and proponent departments of Tourism & Cultural Affairs and Housing & Urban Development, prospective project investors and developers, and transaction advisors to present and discuss a portfolio of potential tourism and hospitality projects. The aim was to create investment opportunities and foster sustainable growth in the tourism and hospitality sector through private sector participation.

Key highlights of the Investors Meet included:- Presentation of the upcoming 06 tourism and hospitality projects on PPP to gauge and attract investor interest such as Development of Urban Ropeway Project in Amritsar, Development of Heritage Hotel at Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind, Development of Pinkcassia Tourist Complex at Aam Khas Bagh, Ropar, Development of Heritage Hotel at Darbar Hall, Kapurthala, Development of Convention Center cum Exhibition Center at Mohali and Development of Convention Center cum Exhibition Center at Ludhiana.

In this meet, discussions were held on project feasibility, timelines, and statutory clearances. Deliberations on PPP frameworks, including competitive bidding mechanisms and revenue-sharing models. Emphasis on creating bankable and investor-friendly project terms. Encouragement of investor feedback to help refine and customize project conditions for larger participation.

The meeting served as a platform to initiate meaningful dialogue between the public and private sectors, with the ultimate objective of boosting tourism and hospitality infrastructure and enhancing the overall visitor experience in Punjab.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating a transparent and supportive environment for investors and looks forward to continued collaboration with the private sector in developing world-class tourism and hospitality infrastructure.