*PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA PAYS TRIBUTES TO DEPARTED SOULS*

Chandigarh, May 1:The Punjab Vidhan Sabha, on Friday paid heartfelt tributes to departed souls who had passed away since the last session of the Assembly.

During the special session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the House paid respects to the departed soul of freedom fighter Sh. Chaman Lal who took part in the Praja Mandal movement, Renowned photographer Sh. Raghu Rai, Indo-Pak war veteran Lt. Gen. Deepinder Singh and Hockey Olympian S. Gurbax Singh Grewal.

A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect during the obituary references.

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*Punjab Sets New Benchmark: Highest GST Collection Since Inception, Tops India in Growth: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab records highest ever monthly Gross GST collection of ₹2987.38 crore in April: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab Achieves an exceptional 66% growth in post-settlement GST, the highest in the country: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Punjab's Net GST collection reaches ₹2725.08 crore, registering a staggering 70.70% year-on-year growth: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Taxation Department's Anti-evasion drives yield over ₹175 crore in penalties; nearly 200 vehicles detained in a single-day operation: Harpal Singh Cheema*

Chandigarh, 1st May, 2026-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has set a historic benchmark in tax revenue for April 2026 as the state achieves its highest-ever monthly Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection since the tax's inception, simultaneously topping the nation in overall GST revenue growth.

Detailing this unprecedented achievement in a press communique issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh said, "The State has recorded a Gross GST collection of ₹2987.38 crore alongside a Net GST collection of ₹2725.08 crore. This exceptional performance reflects a remarkable year-on-year Net GST growth of 70.70%, translating to an impressive increase of approximately ₹1,129 crore over our collections in April 2025."

Elaborating on Punjab's national standing, the Excise and Taxation Minister said, "According to Government of India data, Punjab has recorded a staggering 66% growth in post-settlement GST, surging from ₹1,795 crore last year to ₹2,987 crore. This establishes us as the highest-growing state in the country, significantly outperforming the all-India growth average and leading all North Indian states."

Providing context on the fiscal metrics, Finance Minister Harpal Singh said, "While the year-on-year comparison is influenced by an abnormal IGST adjustment of ₹859 crore from April 2025, neutralizing this factor reveals an adjusted gross growth of 12.57% and an adjusted net growth of 10.97%. This clearly demonstrates our sustained, organic improvements in core tax administration and compliance."

Attributing this financial milestone to rigorous administrative measures, the Excise and Taxation Minister said, "Our robust GST growth is directly supported by intensified enforcement activities across Punjab. Through the extensive leverage of data analytics, coordinated field action, and intelligence-based inspections, we have successfully imposed penalties exceeding ₹175 crore. Furthermore, during a special anti-evasion operation in the iron and steel sector this April, we executed a record enforcement drive by detaining nearly 200 vehicles in a single day."

Reiterating Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's commitment to strengthening the revenue base if the state, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised, "Punjab's top ranking in GST revenue mobilization is a testament to the Taxation department's focused strategy, which perfectly combines technology-driven enforcement with genuine taxpayer facilitation. We remain entirely committed to continuing strict action against tax evasion while ensuring a fair, transparent, and supportive taxation system for all compliant taxpayers."

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*1 Lakh Dialysis Sessions, ₹16.5 Crore Covered: Bhagwant Mann Govt's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna Emerges as Lifeline for Kidney Patients*

CHANDIGARH, May 1:So far, around 1 lakh dialysis procedures, worth ₹16.5 crore, have been performed under the Bhagwant Mann Government's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY).

As chronic kidney disease rises across India, government-backed cashless dialysis programmes are emerging as a lifeline. Yet experts warn that survival is still being shaped more by access and affordability than by cure.

Dhian Singh from Ludhiana visits the hospital twice a week. For someone who has been undergoing long-term dialysis, he often faces a range of persistent physical and metabolic symptoms, even with regular treatment. However, there is some relief when it comes to financial assistance, the use of the Sehat Card. “Ever since I registered for the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, I have been getting my dialysis free of cost at Simrita Nursing Home,” says the man who has received cashless treatment more than a dozen times so far.

For patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), life does not move in days or weeks. It moves in cycles of a machine. Two to three times a week, for nearly four hours at a stretch, blood is drawn from the body, filtered through a dialysis unit, and returned cleansed of toxins that failing kidneys can no longer remove. It is a procedure that sustains life, but does not restore health.

Across India, CKD has become a major public health concern, closely linked to the rising burden of diabetes and hypertension.

Public health experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of patients progress to end-stage kidney disease each year, requiring either long-term dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive. Globally, the World Health Organization classifies CKD as one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases, driven by ageing populations and lifestyle-related risk factors. In India, however, the crisis is compounded by cost.

A single haemodialysis session can cost between ₹1,500 and ₹4,000 in the private sector. With most patients requiring two to three sessions a week, annual expenses can quickly run into several lakhs, well beyond the reach of most households without sustained financial assistance. For many families, treatment decisions are shaped as much by economics as by medical need.

It is in this space that government-supported programmes such as the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) in Punjab are playing a critical role in preventing treatment discontinuity.

In most patients, CKD is essentially the final pathway of multiple long-term conditions that silently damage kidney function for years before symptoms appear. Under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, dialysis services are offered free of cost in government and empanelled private hospitals, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure that earlier forced many patients to skip or delay sessions.

On this, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “1 lakh free dialysis treatments, worth 16.5 crore have been delivered under Sehat Yojana so far. No patient should miss dialysis due to cost.”

A nephrologist, Dr Sourav Goyal from Delhi Heart and Multispeciality Hospital, Moga, emphasises that the impact of financial coverage in dialysis care goes far beyond convenience. “Dialysis is not curative; it is a life-sustaining therapy. If a patient misses even one or two sessions, toxins accumulate rapidly, and complications can become fatal,” Dr Goyal says. “What cashless access ensures is continuity, and in dialysis care, continuity is survival,” he adds.

Sharing his experience, he adds, “We perform more dialysis sessions each month than we used to earlier, and many are conducted as part of cashless treatment. This is a huge support for patients and also a relief for us as doctors, as it prevents treatment discontinuation due to financial burden.”

He further highlights that India’s larger challenge lies in early detection. “Most patients are diagnosed very late, when kidney function is already severely compromised. At that stage, options are limited to dialysis or transplant.”

Medical research consistently shows that a significant proportion of CKD patients in India face catastrophic health expenditure, with families often exhausting savings or falling into debt within months of starting treatment.

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*Take Immediate Action on Stray Dog Menace: Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora Directs MC Commissioners*

Chandigarh, May 1, 2026:Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government, Shri Sanjeev Arora, today directed Municipal Corporation Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners (G&UD) to take immediate, coordinated and result-oriented action to effectively tackle the growing issue of stray dog menace across Punjab.

Describing the matter as a serious public safety and public health concern, the Minister emphasized that the increasing number of stray dogs in urban and semi-urban areas has become a significant challenge affecting daily life of citizens.

He highlighted that incidents of dog bites, attacks on children and elderly persons, and aggressive packs roaming in residential areas have created fear and insecurity among the public.

Shri Arora noted that the stray dog menace is not only a safety issue but also a major public health risk, as dog bites can lead to life-threatening diseases such as rabies. He added that frequent complaints are being received regarding stray dogs chasing pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and school-going children, often leading to accidents and injuries.

The Minister further pointed out that the unchecked population growth of stray dogs is largely due to lack of systematic sterilization and improper waste management, which provides easy access to food sources. Open garbage dumps and food waste in public places contribute significantly to the proliferation of stray dogs, worsening the situation.

To address the issue comprehensively, Shri Arora issued the following directions:

Immediate scaling up of sterilization programs to control stray dog population in a humane and scientific manner.

Mass vaccination drives to prevent the spread of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

Strengthening of dog shelters and holding facilities to manage aggressive or injured animals.

Improved solid waste management systems, ensuring timely disposal of garbage to eliminate food sources for stray dogs.

Constitution of dedicated monitoring teams at district and city levels for regular review and accountability.

Public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on safe behavior around stray animals and responsible waste disposal.

He stressed that all measures must be implemented strictly in accordance with animal welfare norms while ensuring that public safety remains the top priority.

Shri Arora directed that these initiatives be undertaken on a war footing, with visible and measurable outcomes. He also instructed all concerned officers to maintain close coordination with local bodies, veterinary departments, and NGOs to ensure effective execution of the action plan.

In order to ensure accountability and timely implementation, the Minister has asked all Municipal Corporation Commissioners and ADCs (G&UD) to submit a detailed action-taken report within seven days to his office.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Shri Arora said that the Punjab Government is fully dedicated to creating safe, hygienic and citizen-friendly urban environments, and that no laxity in addressing this issue will be tolerated.

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*PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA PAYS TRIBUTES TO DEPARTED SOULS*

Chandigarh, May 1:The Punjab Vidhan Sabha, on Friday paid heartfelt tributes to departed souls who had passed away since the last session of the Assembly.

During the special session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the House paid respects to the departed soul of freedom fighter Sh. Chaman Lal who took part in the Praja Mandal movement, Renowned photographer Sh. Raghu Rai, Indo-Pak war veteran Lt. Gen. Deepinder Singh and Hockey Olympian S. Gurbax Singh Grewal.

A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of departed souls as a mark of respect during the obituary references.

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*Punjab Vidhan Sabha Passed Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2026: Sanjeev Arora*

Chandigarh, 1 May 2026:Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2026. This bill was presented in Punjab Legislative Assembly by Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. This bill aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and proper functioning of societies operating in Punjab. The Government of Punjab has introduced the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, amending the historic Societies Act of 1860 under the dynamic leadership of National Convenor of AAP Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Punjab S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Cabinet Minister Shri Sanjeev Arora informed that this bill will modernise the regulatory framework, governing societies, especially those engaged in health, education, sports, social welfare and charitable activities. The amendments also bring all societies under a uniform, transparent regime ensuring responsible use of public funds and tax-exempt resources.

He highlighted that all registered societies in Punjab will now be mandatorily covered under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, ensuring public scrutiny, transparency in decision-making and greater public trust. Registrars have been empowered to seek any information or records from societies to ensure compliance with law and prevent misuse of funds or deviation from stated objectives.

Furthermore he stressed that in this bill, all societies will be required to renew their registration every five years to ensure active functioning, accurate records, and periodic verification of their objectives and management. All existing societies in Punjab must re-register under the amended Act within one year from its enforcement, bringing them under the new compliance and transparency framework.

He stated that societies cannot be registered if a name already in use within the same jurisdiction, or deceptively similar name that may mislead the public. No society is allowed to sell, transfer or dispose of immovable property without the prior approval of the Registrar, preventing unauthorized transactions and safeguarding public assets.

Societies will be oversight by Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in areas where societies are registered. DCs have been empowered to order inquiries through an officer of the rank of Tehsildar in case of complaints. If wrongdoing is detected and not corrected within the prescribed time, appoint an SDM-level Administrator to take charge and restore proper functioning. This will lead to strengthen governance & accountability.

Moreover he stated that if an elected managing committee is dissolved or an administrator is appointed, fresh elections must be conducted within six months, ensuring democratic functioning of societies.

Minister Arora said that many charitable institutions avail income tax benefits by registering as societies. This Act ensures such organisations follow strict compliance and accountability norms to continue receiving such exemptions in order to safeguard public & charitable institutions.

The amendments particularly strengthen monitoring of societies engaged in Health services, Educational institutions, Sports bodies and other public-oriented charitable activities. Our government's objective is to curb misuse of society structures, ensure democratic and transparent functioning as well as protect public assets and charitable resources. The Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2026 will improve governance in key social sectors, he added.

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*Punjab Chief Secretary Completes Self-Enumeration, Urges Citizens to actively Participate in Census 2027*

Chandigarh, May 1-Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha IAS has completed his self-enumeration at his residence through the online portal (se.census.gov.in). The process was facilitated by Secretary, Local Government Manjit Singh Brar and Director, Census Punjab and Chandigarh Dr. Navjot Khosa.

Mr. Sinha appealed to all residents of the state to actively participate in the National Census process, describing it as a civic responsibility that helps assess public needs, ensures equitable allocation of resources strengthening good governance in the process. He further urged that every household be counted, every voice be heard, and no one be left behind.

The Chief Secretary stated that active public participation would help shape a stronger, more inclusive, and developed India. He further highlighted that reliable Census data forms the foundation for planning infrastructural eco system such as schools, hospitals, roads, welfare schemes, and development policies, thereby making self-enumeration an important pillar in realising the vision of a developed India.

Self-enumeration is a key feature of Census 2027 and will be conducted from 30th April 2026 to 14th May 2026 in the State of Punjab. It enables individuals to conveniently submit their demographic and socio-economic details online from the comfort of their homes. Emphasising its importance, he stated that self-enumeration is vital for conducting a credible and inclusive Census, as it allows citizens to directly contribute to nation-building through accurate representation of their family, community, and region.

This initiative significantly reduces the need for physical interaction while enhancing the efficiency, coverage, and reliability of data collection. It will be followed by the Houselisting Phase from 15th May 2026 to 13th June 2026.

All residents are encouraged to avail themselves of this facility and contribute wholeheartedly to the success of Census 2027. Their active participation will play a pivotal role in building a comprehensive and credible national database, essential for informed decision-making and future planning, added the Chief Secretary.

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*Punjab Vidhan Sabha passes Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026 unanimously*

• *Punjab Jails Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh presented the Bill*

* *Move aimed at modernizing the prison administration system*

Chandigarh, May 1:With a motive to modernise the prison system, Punjan Vidhan Sabha on Friday passed Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026 unanimously. The bill was presented by Punjab Jails Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh. The bill aimed towards modernising the prison administration system and aligning it with contemporary correctional practices.

While introducing the Bill, Dr. Ravjot Singh mentioned that the proposed legislation aims to transform prisons from mere custodial institutions into centres of reformation, rehabilitation and social reintegration. He highlighted that the existing legal framework governing prisons, rooted in colonial-era laws, is outdated and inadequate to address present-day challenges.

The Minister stated that the new Bill provides a comprehensive and humane framework to ensure safe custody of prisoners while upholding their dignity and fundamental rights. It lays strong emphasis on correctional services, including education, vocational training, skill development and psychological counselling, to help inmates reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens.

Dr. Ravjot Singh further informed that the Bill introduces a robust classification system for prisoners based on factors such as age, gender, criminal history and risk assessment. Special provisions have been incorporated for vulnerable groups, including women prisoners, transgender inmates, elderly prisoners and persons with disabilities, ensuring their safety, dignity and welfare.

Highlighting the security aspect, the Minister noted that the Bill proposes the establishment of high-security prisons and dedicated high-risk zones within existing facilities to manage hardened criminals, organized crime offenders and other high-risk inmates. Advanced surveillance systems, including Artificial Intelligence-based monitoring, biometric identification and modern scanning technologies, will be integrated to strengthen prison security and prevent illegal activities.

The Bill also focuses on transparency and accountability in prison administration by introducing structured mechanisms for inspection, grievance redressal and oversight. A Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services will be strengthened to ensure efficient implementation of policies and effective management of prison institutions across the state.

In addition, provisions related to healthcare, sanitation, legal aid and communication facilities for prisoners have been significantly enhanced. The Bill ensures access to adequate medical treatment, mental health services and legal support, in line with constitutional safeguards and human rights standards.

Dr. Ravjot Singh underscored that the legislation also promotes the use of modern technology, including digital record-keeping, video conferencing and integration with the criminal justice system, to improve efficiency and coordination among various agencies.

The Minister expressed confidence that the Bill would bring about a paradigm shift in prison administration in Punjab by balancing security concerns with reformative and rehabilitative objectives. He urged all members of the House to support the legislation in the larger interest of justice, public safety and human dignity.

The introduction of this Bill reflects the Punjab Government’s commitment to progressive governance and its vision of building a correctional system that is secure, transparent and humane.

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