Punjab to make online payment to arthias

 By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 31

The Punjab Government has taken a historic initiative of online transfer the payments to the Arthias (Commission Agents) in the State during ensuing Rabi season against wheat procurement. The amounts would be directly transferred in the accounts of Arthias through ‘Kissan Arthia Information and Remittance Online Network’ with Rupay Debit Card. 

Disclosing this here today an official spokesman of the Punjab government informed that all procurement agencies of the state government would make all payments to arthias through online system to ensure the timely disbursement of amounts to Arthias on account of purchase of wheat during the ensuing Rabi season RMS-2013-14 from April, 1, 2013. He said that State has appealed to the Arthias to get registered under this system for receiving timely payments.

The Spokesman said that under this system, Arthias would be issued cards by the participating banks and they would have to swipe their cards on swipe machines to be installed in each Mandi by the banks concerned. He said that by swiping card, entry would be flashed in the portal of agencies for further approval by the agency staff. He informed that immediately after getting approval, the payment would be transferred into the accounts of Arthias by National Payment Corporation Of India (NPCI). He further said that eleven leading banks are participating in the project, namely State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India and State Bank of Patiala.

He said that in order to ensure the smooth procurement operations, Arthias are requested to get their particulars verified with portal in the office of respective Market Committees and get the card at the earliest.

Fatehgarh Sahib drug haul-recovery touches Rs. 484 crore

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 31

The Fatehgarh Sahib Police today recovered 10 kg of ‘Ice’ (Methamphetamine) and 230 kg of raw material (Pseudophedrine) from which ‘Ice’ is made. Both the  manufactured Ice and the raw material were being exported to UK, Canada and Holland by group of narcotic smugglers through  Kulwant Singh, a UK national, who was earlier arrested in this case from Delhi on March 19.

As per Anoop Singh Kahlon and Kulwant Singh, the international retail price of Ice is about Rs. 5 crore per kg and of raw material about Rs. 1 crore per kg and the wholesale price is about one fourth of that.

 The seizures were made from  the premises of Satinder Singh @  Dhama , r/o Panchkula, where 3 kg Ice and 75 kg of Pseudophedrine were recovered in an Innova vehicle belonging to Jagdish Bhola,.premises of Avtar Singh r/o Sirhind road Patiala - 2 kg Ice and 65 kg Pseudophedrine, hidden in a Scorpio vehicle belonging to the brother of Avtar Singh and  premises of Ravicharn Singh @ Ravi Deol r/o Sangrur - 5 kg Ice and 90 kg Pseudophedrine. Satinder Singh, Avtar Singh and Ravi Deol are absconding and police parties have been dispatched to apprehend them.

Earlier, the following recoveries had been effected in this case: - Heroin 28 kg, 540 gm,

Pseudophedrine 61 kg 300 gm and 3. Drug money –Rs.1 crore, 15 lac and 9000 dollars. Also 50 kg Ice had been flushed down the drain by father and brother-in-law of Jaswinder Singh Rocky, when Rocky was arrested on March 3 this year and before the Police could interrogate him.

The total wholesale price of the seizures in the international market are Rs 121 crore and the international retail price approximately Rs. 484 crores according to the figure given by Anoop Singh Kahlon and Kulwant Singh.

The source of Pseudophedrine being smuggled out was the pharmaceutical factory at Meerut being run by a retd. DSP of UP Police Kirpal Singh (earlier arrested) and his son Anuj (who is absconding). The source of Heroin was from across the border ( Afghanistan-Pakistan), procurement of  which was done by Jagdish Bhola, who is absconding.

The drugs (Heroin, Ice and Pseudophedrine) were being sent by this group of smugglers to UK, Canada and Holland. Consignments were being sent both through Air cargo from Delhi and by ship from Mumbai, which was organized by Kulwant Singh and Paramjit Singh (both arrested).

At UK, the consignments were being received by Latif, of Pakistan origin settled in UK, who is an associate of Kulwant Singh ( a UK citizen), at Canada by the father in law of Kulwant Singh, one Nirankar Singh Dhillon, r/o Toronto and in Holland  by one Sam and one Garry, both of Punjabi origin , but settled in Holland and who are associates of Manpreet @ Mani, a Canadian national , arrested earlier.

Five Chinese associates had visited chandigarh for quality check of Ice and pseudophedrine , in 2010. Their identities have been established  and further action is being taken.

Fifteen persons including two Canadian and one UK citizen have been arrested so far in this case, whereas more than 25 other persons of this network have figured, who are presently absconding. Police parties have been dispatched to UP, Delhi and Mumbai apart from several places in Punjab for further investigation and to apprehend the absconders.

DIG/ Counter Intelligence Ananya Gautam  assisted by  SP (D) FG Sb. Gurpreet Singh and the State special operation cell Amritsar, have been deputed to probe the international facets of the smuggling network and appropriately liaise with the UK, Canadian and Holland police.

For the good work done in this case six constables were today given the rank of Head Constable, eight Head Constables the rank of ASI, three ASIs the rank of Sub Inspector and two Sub Inspectors the rank of Inspector.

Aryans Group to Organize Job fair on April 4

By Punjabnewswire4u

MOHALI, MARCH 31

More than 10 companies will participate in Aryans Job Fair being organized by Aryans Group of Colleges, Chandigarh. This Job Fest is being organized exclusively for Polytechnic Diploma Holders and ITI’s on 4th April at Aryans campus situated on Chandigarh-Patiala Highway, near Chandigarh.

Giving this information, Dr Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges said that various Companies like Techclap (venture of ZCC), Mindfire Technologies, Joint venture hiring for Vodafone, Reliance, Spanco & Tata etc will be offering jobs. Students can get registered by applying online on www.aryans.edu.in or by calling on 98787-44888. He added that students need to carry 10 copies of their resumes and passport size photograph with them.

Dr Kataria further said that last year also in the month of September, Aryans Group organized Mega Job Fair exclusively for diploma holders in which 109 candidates got shortlisted for various positions in more than 15 companies.

Mr. B.S. Sidhu, Registrar, Aryans Group of Colleges said that Aryans Group is fully committed for the placement of its students at reputed national and international companies. Aryans Group has established its name in terms of placements in such a short span of time of 6 years.  More than 200 companies have already visited Aryans Campus last year & Around 300 companies are expected to visit in current financial year.

Dr. P.B. Mahapatra, Director, Aryans College of Engineering said that after the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab Sh. Parkash Singh Badal & H.E. the Governor of Punjab and Administrator Chandigarh, Sh. Shivraj V Patil awarded Aryans Group of Colleges for Excellence in Education. Recently, His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President has also awarded Aryans Group of Colleges (AGC) for “Excellence in Education”.

Prof A.P. Jain, Director, Aryans Group said that earlier also, Dr. Kiran Bedi, 1st Woman IPS of India, has awarded ABS as the Best upcoming B-School of North India. Many reputed personalities like Dr. Kiran Bedi, S. Joginder Singh (Ex-Director, CBI) etc. have visited Aryans campus several times.

It is to be mentioned that established in 2007, Aryans campus is located on Chandigarh–Patiala highway, Distt. Patiala and has lush green 20 acres pollution free campus. Aryans Group has been serving the educational and intellectual interests of the youth in a commendable manner. The group is running Management College, Engineering College, Education College, Nursing College and Junior Science College (+1 & +2 Non Medical).

Punjab to promote dental tourism: Badal

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH,  MARCH 29  

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the dental surgeons’ fraternity to play a pro-active role in promoting Dental Tourism in the state.

Mr. Badal was addressing the galaxy of dental surgeons across the Globe during the inaugural function of three-day  ‘1st Punjab State Dental Conference’ held here today at auditorium of the Government Medical College in sector 32. Underlining the need to provide best dental treatment at affordable prices to the dental patients for abroad, Mr. Badal said that presently updated health sector in the state could play a pivotal role in boosting ‘Dental Tourism’ in Punjab.

Lauding the initiatives of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Dental Association and Punjab Dental Council (PDC) in general and efforts of Dr. RS Maan and his team in particular for organizing this mega event for the first time in the state, Mr. Badal said that dentistry today had evolved into a very refined specialized field and became an organized profession moreover, people were also fully aware towards dental care.

Mr. Badal said that the concerted efforts of the SAD-BJP Government had improved the health care sector tremendously through its path-breaking initiatives for strengthening the health infrastructure both in terms of technological advancements as well as availing the expert doctors and other Para-medical staff for providing best health care treatment to the general public in the government hospitals of the state. In order to tap the vast potential of dentistry in the state, the Punjab government had laid special emphasis on setting up of dental colleges in the state, consequently today there were around 16 dental colleges in Punjab, added the Chief Minister. Likewise, government had also released Rs. 4.50 crore for the purchase of 90 dental chairs with highly advanced specifications and 20 digital x-rays and other machines.

Revealing the future plans, the Chief Minister said that to further upgrade the dentistry infrastructure in government hospitals, Rs. 5 crore would be spent to purchase 148 high-tech dental chairs, 90 dental X-rays machines along with other ultra-modern equipment to be installed in the Primary Health Centre’s for providing advanced dental facilities in the rural sector.

Reiterating the firm committed to combat oral Cancer that was unfortunately rapidly spreading in the Punjab, Mr. Badal said that to fight this deadly disease the state government had already banned the sale of Tobacco in the state besides taking other preventive steps. The Chief Minister further mentioned that the state government has initiated a crusade against the Cancer and Drug addiction in the state and had established Punjab State Cancer and Drug de-addiction Treatment Fund to provide an effective treatment for the patients. Apart from upgrading the infrastructure of three government colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot the state government also was providing State-of-the-Art Cancer treatment facilities in these colleges besides similar Centres at Sangrur and Bathinda district at a cost of Rs 300 crores and in addition to this Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Research Institute, Mumbai had also aggred to establish a Cancer diagnostic and treatment Hospital at Mullanpur in Mohali District. Besides, at a cost of Rs. 25 crore five state level Drug De-addiction centres were also being setup at Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot, Bathinda and Jalandhar by the state government, added Mr. Badal.

In order to provide the quality Health services to the people at their door steps, the state government had organized Mega Medical camps in recent past, where on the spot free of cost dental treatment was provided to the weaker sections of the society. Mr. Badal also mentioned that Punjab was the only state, which was providing full dentures free of cost by organizing dental fortnight every year in the month of November, whereas this one set of good denture was costing about Rs. 8000 in the private sector. The State Government had also set up a specialized Punjab Dental Implant centre, first of its kind in the civil dental services of the government sector at Mohali under Public Private Partnership scheme that was working successfully.

On the occasion Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal said that Health Department had achieved new heights under the bright leadership of the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. It was only Mr. Badal’s visionary approach that Health Department had conducted two Mega Health Care Medical Camps successfully. In order to promote the dentistry in a big way the SAD-BJP government during its previous regime had appointed 148 new dentists in the government sector. Today total 320 dentists were discharging their duties efficiently in the government hospitals, said Mr. Mittal.

Earlier, In-charge of the Conference Organizing Committee Dr. RS Maan welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries along with other office bearers and members of both the Punjab Civil Medical Services Dental Association and Punjab Dental Council. On behalf of the Council he also assured the Chief Minister that all the Dental Surgeons would work relentlessly to realize the dream of Mr. Badal to provide best dental care services at the doorsteps of the poor section of the society especially in the rural sector.

On the Occasion the Chief Minister also presented mementos as a token of appreciation to the Dental Surgeons of the country and abroad for their out standing contribution in the Medical field.  He also launched the Practitioner Portal, Biometric System of Punjab Dental Council besides, releasing Smart Cards for the members of the Council and a Dental awareness book-let for the general public.

Prominent amongst those who attended the function included Local Government and Medical Education Minister Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education & Research Mrs. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, VC Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences Dr. SS Gill besides, many renowned Dental Surgeons and dignitaries across the globe.

CM projects Punjab as most preferred investment destination

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 29

Exhorting the Industrial tycoons of the region to play a proactive role in the development of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that it would go a long way in heralding a new era of industrial development in the state.

 Addressing the gathering at a function organised by the India Today group to felicitate the business wizards and industrialists of the region, the Chief Minister said that time has come when the industrialists and the state government must remove the communication gap between them and make joint efforts to build a new Punjab. Eliciting the support of the industrialists in developing the key sectors like Education and Healthcare, Mr Badal said that the industrialists of the state should take inspiration from their brethren of Gujarat and Kerala to develop their own mother state. He said that the state was open to respond to the needs of the industrial sector for which a routine discussion must be held between them and the entrepreneurs. 

The Chief Minister said that in today’s changed scenario when Agriculture has reached a point of saturation, giving fillip to the Industry was the need of the hour due to which the SAD-BJP government has taken path breaking initiatives to promote industrial development in the state. He said that Punjab offers an investor friendly and congenial investment climate to the entrepreneurs to thrive with excellent physical infrastructure coupled with availability of trained and skilled manpower in the state. Mr Badal said that it was matter of pride for them that due to the concerted efforts of their government the state was being looked as the most favored destination for investment across the country adding that to further attract huge investment in the state, Punjab government would soon come up with an investor friendly New Industrial Policy.

The Chief Minister further said that knowing well that Power was the catalyst for industrialization; the Punjab government has taken unprecedented steps to augment power generation in the state adding that Punjab would become power surplus within next one year. He said that not only this but the state Government has taken major initiatives to provide single window service to remove all bottlenecks being confronted the investors. Mr Badal said they were committed to provide all possible assistance and cooperation to ensure balanced economic growth in the state with a sharpened focus on the industrial growth.

Clearing the mist regarding certain misconceptions about the state, the Chief Minister said that contrary to claim of the critics, the state government has strengthened the base of economy. He said that the state has achieved a Growth rate of 6.73% against target of 5.9 % during the 11th plan adding that state’s debt to GSDP ratio has been brought down from 44% in 2007 to 32% now – against the national ratio of 49.6%. Mr Badal said that this was further likely to register an increase of 29%.

The Chief Minister further said that state has adopted the path of fiscal consolidation and Punjab’s revenue deficit has come down to 0.6% of GSDP, against the National average of 3.3%. Likewise he said that fiscal deficit of state has also come down 3.28% against a National average of 5.2% adding that due to the consistent effort of the state government, revenue receipts of Punjab have increased at a rate of 10.43% during 2007-12. Mr Badal further said that per capita income of the state at current prices increased by 13.7% in 2012-13 against the National average of 11.71%. Punjab today has the best basic infrastructure in the country and we have been constantly maintaining it, added Mr Badal.

The Chief Minister however rued that said that besides being the nation’s food bowl Punjab also has a distinction of producing several renowned entrepreneurs and industrialists who were known across the globe for their enterprising skill, resilience and acumen since long. He said that these eminent personalities have made enormous contribution towards the socio economic development not only in their state, country but also globally. Mr Badal rued that Punjab, which was once, one of the progressive industrial states in the country was now on the verge of industrial decay due to apathetic and discriminatory attitude of Center.

The Chief Minister further said that Punjab being a land locked state with a hostile border has suffered a lot during the prolonged militancy coupled with the industrial package given by the GoI to the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir due to which the flight of industry took place from Punjab to these states. Mr Badal categorically said that though they were not against any such package given to these states but at the same time Punjab should also be duly compensated by allowing a similar package to offset the colossal loss suffered due to these concessions.

Dwelling on the need to develop Agro based industry in the state, the Chief Minister further said that Agro processing industry in the state has been given a special boost and mega agro projects have been approved so as to ensure maximum benefits to the small and marginal farmers. Likewise he said that in order to promote the agro based industry in the state, the SAD-BJP government has decided to give 50% subsidy to those who were desirous of setting up Agro based industries in the state.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu and Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Mr Harcharan Bains.