CM ANNOUNCES NURSING COLLEGE AT THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF BABA SEWA SINGH THIKRIWALA

PAYS TRIBUTES TO THE LEGENDARY LEADER OF PARJA MANDAL MOVEMENT

EXHORTS PEOPLE TO FOLLOW FOOTSTEPS ON BABA SEWA SINGH THIKRIWAL TO FIGHT MODERN DAY IMPERIALISM IN FORM OF DYNASTIC RULE

SAYS MANPREET BADAL WILL EMPTY EXCHEQUER OF BJP TOO

STATE GOVERNMENT TO BRING A RESOLUTION IN PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA FOR NAMING THE UPCOMING HALWARA AIRPORT ON THE NAME OF SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA

Thikriwala (Barnala), January 19:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced to convert existing girls school at the native village of Parja Mandal movement leader Baba Sewa Singh Thikriwala, into a nursing college.

The Chief Minister, who was here to participate in 89th death anniversary of Baba Sewa Singh Thikriwal, said that it will be a befitting tribute to the great martyr who sacrificed his life at the altar of the motherland. He said that this will enable the girls of the region to excel in the medical field. Bhagwant Mann said that this nursing college will open new vistas of employment for the girls of the region thereby ushering a new era of unprecedented development.

The Chief Minister exhorted the people to follow the high ideals of public service set by Baba Sewa Singh Thikriwal in his life. He said that Baba Sewa Singh Thikriwal waged a relentless battle against the aristocracy and steered the country towards freedom. Bhagwant Mann urged the people to follow the footsteps of the great martyr in the fight against modern day imperialism in the form of dynastic rule.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is making strenuous efforts for saving the precious water of the state. He said that as the water table of the state is depleting fastly so the state government is consulting world renowned experts regarding ways and means to recharge the water table. Bhagwant Mann said that soon a pilot project will be launched in Barnala district for recharging the water table in the state.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts for promotion of alternate crops in the state. He said that all out efforts will be made to assure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce. Bhagwant Mann said that like for procurement of Paddy, Minimum Support Price will also be ensured in procurement of the alternate crops.

Slamming the successive previous governments for plundering the money of the state, the Chief Minister said that though nothing took place in the state but then also the leaders claimed that the state exchequer was empty. He said that ironically these governments didn’t take a single step for the welfare of the public but looted the taxpayers money. Bhagwant Mann said that due to the greed of these leaders Punjab suffered serious setbacks.

Quipping on former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, the Chief Minister said that this leader had always claimed that the finances of the state are empty. He said that now this former Congress leader has turned into a turncoat by joining the saffron party. However, Bhagwant Mann said that like Congress, he will empty the coffers of BJP too.

The Chief Minister also announced that the native village of Baba Sewa Singh Thikriwal will be transformed into a Model village equipped with ultra modern facilities. He said that as a mark of respect to the great freedom fighters, the state government has already named the Mohali airport after the legendary martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh adding that a 35 feet high statue of the great martyr will be installed at the airport. Bhagwant Mann also said that the state government will also pass a resolution in Punjab Vidhan Sabha for naming the upcoming Halwara airport in the name of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is laying major thrust on imparting quality education to the students. He said that the state government will set up a school of eminence in the state to enable the students in government schools to compete with their convent educated peers. Bhagwant Mann said that the state will soon be leading the country in the field of education, health and employment.

The Chief Minister further said that in a major push to Medical education in Punjab, the state government has decided to construct 16 new Medical colleges in the coming five years that will enhance the total tally of medical colleges in the state to 25 thereby ensuring that every district of the state touches a medical college. He said that the foundation stone of Sant Attar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences at Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur had already been laid by him and work on its construction will start soon. Bhagwant Mann further said that work on two other medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiapur has also started.

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Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur inaugurated the Smart Anganwadi Center at Dulowal village

Review of ongoing construction work of old age home with capacity of 72 senior citizens at a cost of about Rs. 9 crore.

About 100 Anganwadi centers in district will be renewed-Baljit Kaur

Chandigarh/ Mansa, January 19:Social Justice, Empowerment, Minorities, Social Security Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur inaugurated the Smart Anganwadi Center at Dulowal village of Mansa district.

Cabinet Minister said that 38 Anganwadi Centers have been renovated into Smart Anganwadi Centers in District Mansa and the work of renovating 31 more Anganwadi Centers into Smart Anganwadi Centers is in progress. She said that the goal is to renovate 100 Anganwadi centers in the district by spending about 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh per Anganwadi center. She said that these smart Anganwadi centers have solar panels, inverters, water purifiers, and LEDs. Apart from TV, other infrastructure related facilities have been provided.

Cabinet Minister Baljit Kaur reviewed the ongoing construction of an old age home with a capacity of 72 senior citizens at a cost of around Rs. 9 crore at Ramditta Kanchiyan, Sirsa Road Mansa. She said that the grant for the construction of the old age home will be released in the next few days, with which the entire work of the building will be completed.

She said that along with taking care of the elderly in the old age home, they will be provided with free food, medical facilities, day care, library, gardening and gym facilities. She said that the Punjab Government is striving to fulfill every promise made to the people.

On this occasion, MLA Sardulgarh Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bananwali, MLA Budhlada Mr. Budh Ram, MLA Mansa Dr. Vijay Singla, Deputy Commissioner Ms. Baldeep Kaur, S.S.P. Dr. Nanak Singh, Chairman District Planning Board Mr. Charanjit Singh Akkanwali, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mr. T. Benith and Assistant Commissioner (c) Mr. Harjinder Singh Jasal were also present.

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PUNJAB TO CONSTITUTE CORE GROUP TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF INDUSTRIES & H&UD, SAYS AMAN ARORA

• H&UD Minister interacts with industrialists at CII Headquarters

• Housing dept creating a mechanism to ensure permissions to industries within 45 days

Chandigarh, January 19:In yet another move to promote Ease of Doing Business in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has decided to constitute a Core Group to address issues pertaining to Industries and Housing and Urban Development. The Group will comprise representatives from departments including Housing and Urban Development (H&UD), Industries and other line departments.

This was revealed by Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Mr Aman Arora, while interacting with the industrialists at Confederation of Indian Industrialists (CII) Headquarters here on Thursday.

The Cabinet Minister said that the H&UD department has been creating a foolproof mechanism which will ensure industrialists get any kind of permission within 45 days. He said that efforts are also on to make Industrial plots easily available to investors, who want to establish industry in the state.

Mr. Aman Arora said that Mann government has not been leaving any stone unturned to bring industry in the state and emerge Punjab as one of the most favourite destinations for investment in the country. Acknowledging the fact the policy related to industries in Punjab was stringent, he said that due to non-compliance during the previous governments, it has failed to attract industries in the state. Mr Aman Arora said that Punjab has huge potential to cater industries, which will lead the state towards prosperity. He said that going one step ahead, the Punjab Government, apart from promoting ease of doing business, will now focus on ease of living too, which would further attract industrialists to choose Punjab as their home state.

To boost the economy and generate employment opportunities in the state, he said that Mann Government has already delegated powers for approval of Building Plans and grant of Completion Certificate of standalone industries including compounding of standalone industries, outside MC Limit, to Director of Factories so that the industrialist need not to apply at two separate departments for getting the Building Plans of their factories approved.

Mr. Aman Arora also listened to the concerns of the industrialists and ensured to resolve these at the earliest.

Inviting all the industrialists to join the Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit to be organized this February, he said that CII is an institutional partner with Invest Punjab. “All the industrialists should come together to make the mega event a huge success,” he added.

CEO Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion Mr. Kamal Kishor Yadav, Chief Administrator PUDA Ms Apneet Riyait, Chief Town Planner Punjab Mr Pankaj Bawa, Chairman CII Punjab Mr. Amit Thapar and Vice Chairman CII Dr. PJ Singh were among the prominent attendees at the meeting.

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Emphasis on comprehensive reforms to make Punjab a leading state in sports again

New Sports Policy will fulfil Chief Minister's dream: Meet Hayer

Sports Minister holds meeting with expert committee to formulate sports policy

Chandigarh, January 19:In order to fulfil the dream of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab the leading state of the country in sports again, the sports department has laid emphasis on comprehensive reforms in the new sports policy. It was stated by the Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in a press communiqué released after the meeting held at the Punjab Bhawan Chandigarh with the expert committee to deliberate on the draft of the Sports Policy.

Meet Hayer said that the implementation of the new sports policy will fulfil the Chief Minister's dream. In today's meeting, it was decided to adopt a scientific method regarding talent search for the selection of players. The Minister also said that the performance data of the players of the state should be collected and analyzed. By identifying the specialized places of various sports in the state, the focus should be on the respective sports there. Besides, the gradation policy should be rationalized, said Meet Hayer.

The sports minister said that a policy should be made to get financial help from corporate houses to create a sportsperson friendly ultra modern infrastructure. Similarly, a platform should be provided for NRIs to sponsor players and teams. Apart from this, the sports department along with the school education, higher education, technical education and medical education departments made a joint sports calendar.

Prominent among others who were present at the occasion included Principal Secretary Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Director Amit Talwar, Arjuna Awardee Hockey Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi, Dronacharya Awardee and former National Boxing Coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu and Vice Chancellor of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Sports University Patiala Lt. General (Retd.) JS Cheema.

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Punjab Govt. sanctions Rs 5.97 crore to install new sewerage system for Sri Muktsar Sahib- Jimpa

Chandigarh, January 19:Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government has intensified efforts for the overall development of cities of the state. The State Government has sanctioned Rs. 5.97 crore for the permanent solution to the sewage problem of the religious city of Sri Muktsar Sahib. After the start of the new sewerage system, the pilgrims coming from all over the world and the residents of the city will not see the overflow of sewage near Sri Darbar Sahib. Apart from this, the problem in other areas of the city where the filthy water overflows from the chambers will also get solved.

Divulging the details, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said that the water supply and sanitation department will install new pressure sewerage from Dussehra Ground to Ballamgarh Road Disposal. He also said that after the new sewerage system, there will not be overflow of sewage in main bazaar area, hakeman wali gali, khadian wali gali, mithan lal street, bharat nagar, city hotel wali gali, Sri Darbar Sahib Gate No. 1 & 2 and other areas.

Apart from this, there will be no sewage overflow in Jodhu Colony, thandevala road, Bawa colony, New Bawa Colony, Sri Guru Angad Dev Nagar, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Gurudwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib etc. Jimpa further said that due to the continuous discharge of sewage around Sri Darbar Sahib, the devotees often registered their protest but with the new sewerage system this problem would be solved permanently.

Jimpa further said that MLA of Sri Muktsar Sahib Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar had raised sewerage problem with him and he visited the city few months back. The demand for new sewerage has been solved now. The State Government is also paying full attention to the holistic development of other cities of Punjab and the problems of all the cities will be solved soon, added Jimpa.

Water Supply and Sanitation Department Principal Secretary D.K. Tiwari and HoD Muhammad Ishfaq said that for the proper management of the sewage problem in Sri Muktsar Sahib, the Punjab government is installing a 3450 meter long DIK-7 dia 600 mm pressure sewerage from Dussehra Ground to Ballamgarh Road Disposal.

It is pertinent to mention that the sewerage which was laid in Sri Anandpur Sahib in 1972 has been upgraded last year at a cost of Rs 8.73 crore. With this facility, the long pending demand of the residents and pilgrims of this internationally famous religious city has been fulfilled. The dirty water of the city which was contaminating the river water has been stopped now and soon the same facility will be available to the residents of Sri Muktsar Sahib.

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Making Punjab best state in country in terms of health, education and development is main goal of State Government- Dr. Baljit Kaur

Absolutely no tolerance for corruption in any government department -Cabinet Minister

Cabinet Minister reviews ongoing development works and welfare schemes in Mansa

Mansa/Chandigarh January 19:The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan is committed to provide quality health facilities to the people of the state, education and maximum employment to the youth as well as the overall development of Punjab. The Minister of Social and Justice Empowerment, Minorities, Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur held a meeting with various departmental officials at the local Bachat Bhawan today to review the progress of the ongoing development work and welfare schemes in the district.

Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur instructed the administrative officials that the Punjab government is committed to provide transparent and corruption-free administration to the people. She asked all the departmental officers and employees to perform their services with full honesty and diligence. She said that it should be ensured that the benefits of the public welfare schemes being run by the government are conveyed to the eligible and needy people and that the people can get the benefit of the administrative services without any difficulty. She said that the goal of the Punjab government is to make the state the best region in the country in basic areas like health and education, for which work is being done on a large scale to improve the condition of schools and hospitals.

The Cabinet Minister issued orders to all the departmental officials to ensure the participation of the MLAs of the respective constituencies regarding the projects being completed in the district and the camps being organized for public welfare schemes on the instructions of the Punjab Government. She said that the grant received by the government for the development works of each constituency should be used in a transparent and planned manner. During the meeting, MLA Sardulgarh Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bananwali, MLA Budhlada Mr. Budh Ram, MLA Mansa Dr. Vijay Singla informed the Cabinet Minister about the welfare schemes and development works related to the constituency.Talking to the media on this occasion, the Cabinet Minister said that the work is under process to deal with the sewerage problem in Mansa city, which will be solved very soon. She said that the amount of Shagan Scheme due to the needy families on the girl's marriage will be released soon. She said that due to the reduction of ration card holders who are found to be wrong in the district, the benefits of the Atta Dal scheme of the Government will be provided only to the needy families. Answering a question, the Cabinet Minister said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government is committed to rooting out corruption in Punjab and corruption will not be tolerated in any Government department.

On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Baldeep Kaur assured Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur that the benefits of the public welfare schemes of the Punjab Government would reach the eligible and needy people and that the development works would be carried out in a timely and transparent manner.

On this occasion SSP Dr. Nanak Singh, Chairman District Planning Board Mr. Charanjit Singh Akkanwali, Additional Deputy Commissioner (J) Mr. Upkar Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mr. T. Benith, S.D.M. Mansa Mr. Pramod Singla, Assistant Commissioner Mr. Harjinder Singh Jassal and other officials of various departments were present.

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Transport Minister conducts surprise checking at local bus stand

Says, Department to add new buses in its fleet soon

Orders officials to challan and impound buses plying without paying tax

Interacts with passengers in buses, seeks suggestions to improve bus services

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, January 19:Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Thursday carried out a surprise check at Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Interstate Bus Terminus, Ludhiana and ordered the officials to challan and impound all buses plying without paying tax.

The Minister accompanied by senior officials of the Transport department checked the documents of the tourist buses parked near the bus stand complex and found most of these buses were without proper valid documents including tax invoice, permit, tour programs, passengers' list and others.

He asked the officials of transport and police to challan and impound all defaulting buses.

Reiterating commitment to ensure a transparent and efficacious system in the department, Bhullar said those not paying taxes would not be spared and strict action would be taken against all defaulters.

The Minister said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to ensure smooth and hassle-free services to the people. He said that the government is all set to add new normal and Volvo buses in its fleet to ensure the people do not face any difficulty in getting the buses.

Earlier, the Minister also interacted with passengers in the buses and sought their feedback to improve the services. He instructed the officials to ensure that every bus must be stopped at the respective bus stand. No laxity will be tolerated and strict action will be taken against those who cause harassment to the people.

Later, Bhullar also checked records in offices of roadways and PRTC workshops.

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Media Bulletin COVID-19

19^th January 2023 (05:00 PM)

*After reconciliation of data, 1 sample added.

*After reconciliation of data, 1 confirmed case added to district Ludhiana.

On 19^th January 2023

Patients reported Positive on 19^th January 2023 – 5

Cumulative Cases:-