*MANN GOVERNMENT’S CONCRETE AND RESULT-ORIENTED STEPS TOWARDS A DRUG-FREE PUNJAB: DR BALJIT KAUR*

*RS 467.49 LAKH SPENT TO STRENGTHEN DRUG-FREE CAMPAIGN*

*ACROSS THE STATE

SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT ORGANISES EXTENSIVE SERIES OF AWARENESS CAMPS STATEWIDE*

Chandigarh, January 4:Punjab’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working with firm resolve and continuity to make the state drug-free. She said that several important and concrete steps have been taken in this direction, the results of which are clearly visible at the grassroots level. To effectively take forward the drug-free campaign, a total amount of Rs 467.49 lakh has been spent by the government.

The Cabinet Minister said that to generate awareness against drugs, sensitise people and strengthen social participation, various departments of the Punjab Government have jointly planned and implemented multiple programmes in a coordinated manner. She said that special focus has been laid on sensitising children and teachers about the drug de-addiction campaign by designing and implementing various awareness programmes in schools and educational institutions, for which dedicated financial resources have also been provided.

Sharing further details, Dr Baljit Kaur informed that under the drug-free campaign, the Department of Health and Family Welfare spent Rs 107.22 lakh, the Information and Public Relations Department spent Rs 202.99 lakh on extensive public awareness activities, while the Social Security Department spent Rs 109.12 lakh to organise awareness camps across all districts of the state.

The Minister said that the worst impact of drug abuse is borne by the youth of the state and their families. Many mothers pray every day for their sons’ future, many children see hope fading from their fathers’ eyes, and the happiness of numerous households has been destroyed due to drugs. She said that the Mann Government deeply understands this pain and is pursuing the fight for a drug-free Punjab not merely as an administrative exercise, but with a humane and sensitive approach.

Emphasising the government’s resolve, Dr Baljit Kaur said that the objective is not only to eradicate drugs from their roots, but also to give every young person the courage to dream again, to wipe the tears of every mother, and to restore happiness and prosperity in every family. She said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann is firmly committed to ensuring that every youth of Punjab stays away from drugs and moves forward towards a life of progress and dignity.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Mr. Vikas Pratap; Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Kumar Rahul; Special Secretary of the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Mr. Keshav Hingonia; Director Dr. Shena Agrawal; Joint Secretary Mr. Anand Sagar Sharma, along with other senior officers of the department, were specially present in the meeting.

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

*328 MISSING SAROOPS MATTER: SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT) CONDUCTS RAIDS AND EFFECTS 02 ARRESTS*

*— SEARCHES CONDUCTED AT 14 LOCATIONS; SEIZURE OF MOBILE DEVICES, TABLETS, COMPUTERS AND STORAGE DEVICES*

*— SEIZED INCRIMINATING FINANCIAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO PAYMENTS MADE BY COMPANIES ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL PERSONS, INCLUDING POLITICIANS BEING SCRUTINIZED*

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, January 4:The Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting the investigations of the 328 missing Saroops matter has arrested two persons, conducted search operations at 14 locations and seized mobile devices, tablets, computers and accessories, storage devices and incriminating financial records and documents.

A spokesperson of the SIT stated here today that a total of 16 persons have been named in the FIR registered in Police Station C-Division, Commissionerate Amritsar. Two accused persons have allegedly died and 14 persons are under investigations. Satinder Singh Kohli and Kanwaljit Singh alias Kawaljit Singh have been arrested in this case so far.

The spokesperson further stated that Kanwaljit Singh alias Kawaljit Singh has been arrested on 03-01-2026. He was working as Assistant and played a direct role in serious irregularities relating to maintenance, handling of religious scriptures, and unauthorized preparation/storage of scriptures.

The spokesperson added that search operations have been conducted at 14 locations in Punjab and Chandigarh, including 02 locations in Chandigarh, 08 locations in Amritsar City and 01 location each in Gurdaspur, Ropar, Tarn Taran and Amritsar Rural. During the searches, 07 mobile phones, 03 tablets, 02 laptops, 01 storage device and incriminating financial records and documents have been seized.

The seized electronic devices will be analyzed forensically and the seized documents and financial documents are under scanner as payments made by companies associated with several persons, including politicians are being scrutinized.

The SIT is conducting investigations and collecting evidence in a systematic and meticulous manner. More searches and arrests are likely to take place. Further investigations are ongoing.

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

*PUNJAB REVOLUTIONIZES MATERNAL CARE AS 20,000 PREGNANT WOMEN MONTHLY TURN TO AAM AADMI CLINICS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CARE*

*— OVER 10,000 FREE ULTRASOUNDS CONDUCTED IN JUST 4 MONTHS*

*— STATEWIDE PROTOCOL-DRIVEN PREGNANCY CARE LAUNCHED VIA AAM AADMI CLINICS TO TACKLE MATERNAL HEALTH GAPS*

*— PUNJAB TARGETS HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY WITH EXPANDED ANTE-NATAL SERVICES AT PRIMARY HEALTHCARE LEVEL*

*— EXPANSION OF PREGNANCY CARE AT AAM AADMI CLINICS IS TRANSFORMATIVE STEP FOR MATERNAL HEALTH IN PUNJAB: DR BALBIR SINGH*

CHANDIGARH, January 4: In a major stride toward safeguarding the health of future generations, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government has successfully decentralized maternal healthcare, with Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) emerging as the new lifeline for expectant mothers. Within just four months of launching a specialized, protocol-driven pregnancy care model, the state has recorded a massive surge in service utilization, with nearly 20,000 pregnant women visiting these clinics every month.

Sharing the success of the initiative, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh revealed that the program has already provided free ultrasound services to over 10,000 women through a unique referral system. By empanelling nearly 500 private diagnostic centers, the government has ensured that women can access scans—which usually cost between ₹800 and ₹2,000—entirely free of charge. This intervention alone has saved Punjab’s families an estimated ₹1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses in a short span of 120 days.

Official data shows that less than 70 percent of pregnant women in Punjab had received their first ante-natal check-up and fewer than 60 percent had completed the recommended four check-ups, while the state’s maternal mortality ratio stood at 90 per one lakh live births, higher than the national average. These figures underlined the urgent need for a comprehensive, accessible pregnancy care model across the state.

Punjab witnesses nearly 4.3 lakh pregnancies every year, making early detection, regular monitoring, and timely referral critical for safeguarding the health of mothers and infants. Over the last three years, the Mann government has established 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have emerged as the backbone of Punjab’s primary healthcare system, recording over 4.6 crore OPD visits and treating nearly 70,000 patients daily. Leveraging this infrastructure, the government launched an expanded, protocol-driven pregnancy care model through AACs around four months ago.

Under this reform, all essential ante-natal check-ups are now available at Aam Aadmi Clinics themselves. These include routine and critical tests such as HIV and syphilis screening, complete blood tests, sugar, thyroid, hepatitis, fetal heart rate, cholesterol and hemoglobin assessments. Where ultrasounds are required, AAC doctors issue referral slips enabling pregnant women to access free ultrasound services.

Importantly, around 5,000 women are being identified monthly as high-risk pregnancies, allowing for continuous tracking, focused support, and timely referral to higher medical facilities for specialist care.

The reform has also significantly improved the patient experience. Women can now complete most pregnancy-related tests close to their homes, avoid long travel and queues at major hospitals, receive consultations within minutes, and access ultrasound services without any financial burden. From the first ante-natal visit to post-natal follow-up, the initiative strengthens the entire pregnancy care pathway by integrating technology, standardised clinical protocols, referral systems and community-level support.

On this momentous achievement, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the initiative reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to maternal and child health. “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is building a healthcare system that ensures every mother receives quality care close to home. With 4.3 lakh pregnancies annually, the expansion of pregnancy care services at Aam Aadmi Clinics is a transformative step and sets a new benchmark for primary healthcare in India,” he said.

The government maintains that the initiative is one of Punjab’s most significant investments in maternal and child health in recent years, aimed at ensuring that no woman is left behind due to geography, income constraints or lack of awareness, while steadily improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state.