HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN HANDS OVER APPOINTMENT LETTERS TO 52 NEWLY RECRUITED EMPLOYEES*
*572 APPOINTMENTS MADE IN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT SINCE 2022*
*FRESH RECRUITMENT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN DEVELOPMENT WORKS AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN*
*Chandigarh, August 17: *Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian today handed over appointment letters to 52 newly recruited employees of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department during a function held at Punjab Bhawan.
Congratulating the newly appointed employees, the Cabinet Minister said that the recruitment would strengthen the department's human resource capacity and provide further momentum to development works being undertaken across the state. He said that adequate manpower is essential for ensuring efficient functioning of the department and timely execution of projects related to water supply and sanitation.
S. Hardeep Singh Mundian informed that appointment letters were handed over to 52 candidates for Group B, C and D posts under the Punjab Government's compassionate appointment policy and direct recruitment. The newly appointed employees include 2 Junior Engineers, 2 Junior Technicians, 9 Clerks, 33 Peon, 5 Safai Sewaks and 1 Daftari Chowkidar. The Cabinet Minister urged the newly appointed employees to discharge their responsibilities with sincerity, dedication and a strong sense of public service.
He said that the Water Supply and Sanitation Department has a direct bearing on the quality of life of people as it is entrusted with providing essential services such as safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. He called upon the new employees to work with commitment so that the benefits of government schemes and development projects reach people efficiently and within stipulated timelines.
S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann is pursuing a transparent and merit-based recruitment process across government departments while also extending the benefit of compassionate appointments to eligible families. He said that the government has so far provided more than 69,000 government jobs to the youth of Punjab since 2022, giving a strong boost to employment opportunities in the state.
The Cabinet Minister further informed that the Water Supply and Sanitation Department has made 572 appointments across various categories since 2022. These include 44 Sub Divisional Engineers, 99 Junior Engineers, 84 Junior Draftsmen, 59 Clerks, 27 Stenotypists, 34 Junior Technicians, 77 Helper Technicians, 135 Peon, 2 Chowkidars and 11 Sweepers.
He said that the induction of new employees would further augment the department's workforce and help accelerate ongoing projects while facilitating the timely implementation of upcoming schemes. Strengthening the field-level workforce would also help improve coordination and service delivery in rural and urban areas, he added.
Prominent amongst others who were present included Sh. Ramvir, Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Department Head Mrs. Syed Sehrish Asgar, Chief Engineers of the Department and family members of the newly appointed employees.
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*Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Holds Constructive Meetings with Transport & Water Supply Employee Unions*
*Punjab Govt Working Expeditiously To Complete Process Of Transitioning Outsourced Employees To Contractual Employment: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Administrative Process For Regularising Eligible Outsourced Workers To Be Completed Shortly: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Departments Directed To Ensure Transparent & Time-Bound Processing Of Contractual Engagement Of Outsourced Workers: Harpal Singh Cheema*
CHANDIGARH; 17th August 2026:Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who also serves as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee tasked with resolving employee issues and grievances, chaired meetings today with representatives from transport and water supply employee unions.
During the meetings with the Punjab Roadways Punbus / PRTC (Pepsu Road Transport Corporation) Contract Workers Union, Gram Panchayat Water Supply Pump Operators Association and Social Employees Union, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The concerns raised by the union representatives regarding the transition from outsourced arrangements to direct contractual employment were discussed in detail. Following the passage of the Bill, the respective departments are undertaking the necessary administrative procedures, which will be finalised shortly.”
Directing the officials of the concerned departments to expedite the process, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The departments have been directed to ensure that the entire processing is carried out transparently and expeditiously so that eligible outsourced workers do not face unnecessary delays in getting the benefit of the new legal framework.”
The union representatives apprised the Cabinet Sub-Committee of their concerns and sought timely implementation of the provisions relating to the transition of outsourced personnel to contractual employment. The Finance Minister said, “The Punjab Government is committed to taking all necessary steps for the effective implementation of the Bill and ensuring that the eligible workers receive the benefits provided under it.”
The meetings were attended by prominent employee union leaders including Varinder Singh Momi, Resham Singh Gill, Shamsher Singh, Harkesh Kumar Rohi Ram, Baljit Singh, Balwinder Singh Rath, Jagjit Singh, Jatinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Surjit Kaur, Jasdeep Singh and Baljit Singh.
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*Bhagwant Mann Govt to Add 100 World-Class 'PRTC JUNIOR' Buses to Fleet in 1 Month to Boost Rural Transport: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Punjab to get 1,279 new govt buses, biggest fleet expansion in 20 years led by Bhagwant Mann Govt: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*Punjab Govt breaks transport mafia’s stranglehold, launches 15 premium airport buses to Delhi Airport: Harpal Singh Cheema*
*PRTC & PUNBUS revenue to be strengthened alongside service expansion to ensure long-term financial stability: Harpal Singh Cheema*
CHANDIGARH; 17th August 2026:To overhaul and expand public transportation accessibility across rural regions, Punjab Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Monday that 100 world-class 'PRTC JUNIOR' buses will officially join the PRTC (PEPSU Road Transport Corporation) fleet by the middle of September this year. The announcement followed a comprehensive review meeting held with senior officials of the Punjab transport department to evaluate ongoing infrastructure upgrades and service expansions. The Minister revealed that these fully-built midi buses are being manufactured and delivered by Eicher.
During the high-level review session, Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema specifically directed the transport department to introduce innovative ideas aimed at further elevating the quality of public transport services. He emphasised the critical importance of simultaneously increasing revenue streams to ensure the long-term financial stability and operational strengthening of both PRTC and PUNBUS.
Underlining the state government’s push to revamp public transit, he announced that 1,279 new buses are being added to the state fleet. He said, “This will increase the number of government buses from 2,267 to 3,546, marking the largest addition in 20 years and taking Punjab closer to becoming the country’s top-performing state.”
The Transport Minister said the Bhagwant Mann Government is also strengthening connectivity for NRIs, international flyers, and regular commuters. He stated, “As part of this, we have rolled out 15 premium airport buses, including Volvo coaches from Jalandhar and Ludhiana to Delhi Airport. This has broken the stranglehold of the transport mafia and made travel easier for everyone.”
The review meeting saw the participation of senior officers from the transport department, including Secretary Transport Varun Roojam, Managing Director, PUNBUS, Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, PRTC, Manisha Rana, Additional Managing Director, PRTC, Navdeep Kumar, and General Manager, PRTC, Chandigarh, Amanvir Tiwana.
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*75% Of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Mental-Health Beneficiaries Are Aged 18–45, Highlighting Need For Timely Care Among Working-Age Population*
*Substance-Use & Mood Disorders Among Most Treated Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana*
*Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Provides Cashless Mental-Health Treatment To 709 Beneficiaries Worth ₹83.36 Lakh In 7 Months*
*Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, Yudh Nashean Virudh And CM Di Yogshala Strengthen Punjab’s Comprehensive Mental-Health Response: Dr Balbir Singh*
*18–45 Age Group Particularly Important From Mental-Health Perspective: Dr Gagandeep Sekhon, MD Psychiatry, Consultant Psychiatrist, Civil Hospital Barnala*
CHANDIGARH, August 17:A serious health condition does not only affect a person's wellbeing; it can place an enormous emotional and financial burden on an entire family. When the illness is related to mental health, stigma, lack of awareness and concerns over treatment costs can create additional barriers, often delaying the decision to seek professional help.
Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is helping address one part of that challenge by making covered mental-health treatment financially accessible. Data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, as of August 11, 2026, shows that in the available seven-month period, 709
beneficiaries received mental-health treatment under the scheme, involving treatment worth ₹83.36 lakh.
The age profile provides a particularly significant insight. 284 beneficiaries treated cashless under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana were aged 31–45, while 249 were aged 18–30. Together, these two groups account for 533 beneficiaries, or 75.2 per cent of the total.
On this, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “Mental healthcare should not become a luxury that a family seeks only when it can afford it. If someone needs professional help, the focus should be on getting that person the right care at the right time.”
The SHA data also shows that Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is addressing a range of mental-health conditions, including neurotic and stress-related disorders, mood and affective disorders, behavioural syndromes associated with physiological and physical factors, and mental and behavioural disorders linked to psychoactive substance use. The treatment pattern highlights the importance of addressing both common mental-health conditions and those associated with substance use.
Dr Gagandeep Sekhon, MD Psychiatry, Consultant Psychiatrist, Civil Hospital Barnala, said, “The 18–45 age group is particularly important from a mental-health perspective because this is the phase when people are building careers, managing relationships, raising families and handling significant financial responsibilities.”
Dr Gagandeep Sekhon added, “Mental health concerns are often ignored until they begin to interfere with daily functioning, by which time they are harder to manage.”
The SHA data also highlights the close relationship between mental health and substance use, making Punjab's Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign particularly relevant to the state's broader mental-health response. Substance dependence can have psychological, behavioural and social consequences and may require sustained professional treatment, de-addiction and rehabilitation. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana data included psychoactive substance-use disorders and mood disorders, which points to the importance of early awareness, timely intervention and accessible treatment pathways for young people.
At the same time, prevention and healthy living can complement clinical treatment.
Minister Dr Balbir Singh shared, “The Bhagwant Mann-led government has been working towards making healthcare more accessible and affordable for every family in Punjab, with special attention to the health and wellbeing of our youth. With a ₹10 lakh cashless cover per family per year, and mental healthcare also covered under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, the scheme helps remove the financial hesitation many people face when seeking treatment for mental-health conditions. Alongside this, 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' strengthens prevention, de-addiction and rehabilitation, while CM Di Yogshala promotes accessible wellness practices.”
Together, The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, Yudh Nashean Virudh and CM Di Yogshala represent complementary parts of Punjab's mental-health response; from prevention and healthy living to de-addiction, rehabilitation and access to professional treatment. With more than three out of every four beneficiaries in the available Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana data belonging to the 18–45 age group, making timely mental healthcare accessible could be particularly important for protecting the health, productivity and wellbeing of Punjab's working-age population.
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*Dr. Baljit Kaur Announces ₹8.33 Crore for Infrastructure Development in Gurdaspur's Minority-Concentration Areas; CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government Reaffirms Commitment to Inclusive Growth*
*258 Anganwadi Centres, 4 Community Complexes and 6 Additional Classrooms to be Completed Across Four Blocks*
*Major Step Towards Strengthening Community Infrastructure and Improving Public Services Across the Region*
Chandigarh, August 17:Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur on Monday announced that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has sanctioned and released ₹8.33 crore for the completion of key infrastructure projects in the minority-concentration areas of Gurdaspur district. She said these initiatives reflect the State Government's firm commitment to strengthening public infrastructure and advancing the educational, social and economic empowerment of minority communities, thereby accelerating inclusive development across the State.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the sanctioned amount will be utilised to complete the construction of 258 Anganwadi Centres, 4 Community Complexes and 6 Additional Classrooms across the four blocks of Gurdaspur, Kalanaur, Dera Baba Nanak and Dhariwal. She said these projects will significantly strengthen community infrastructure, improve access to quality public services and create better facilities for children, women and local residents.
The Cabinet Minister informed that the approved projects include the completion of 78 Anganwadi Centres and one Community Complex in Gurdaspur Block; 57 Anganwadi Centres, one Community Complex and five Additional Classrooms in Dera Baba Nanak Block; 51 Anganwadi Centres, one Community Complex and one Additional Classroom in Kalanaur Block; and 72 Anganwadi Centres along with one Community Complex in Dhariwal Block.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that these projects will create lasting community assets, improve the quality of life and ensure that the benefits of development reach every corner of the district.
Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that the projects will further strengthen grassroots infrastructure while enhancing the quality of childcare, educational and community services, benefiting people from all sections of society. She said that the Punjab Government, remains firmly committed to creating modern public infrastructure, ensuring equitable development and realising the vision of a "Rangla Punjab."