Badal seeks PM’s intervention for release of Indian crew in Iran

By Punjabnewswire4u

Chandigarh, Aug  29

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, today urged the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seeking his personal intervention to direct the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI to make use of all diplomatic channels to secure immediate release of 35 Indian national crew members along with Captain SS Cheema, of Shipping Corporation of India Limited owned Motor Tanker ‘Desh Shanti’ Vessel, who were arrested on Bandar Abbas in Iran since August 12, 2013.

In two separate letters addressed to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union External Affairs Minister Mr. Salman Khurshid, the Chief Minister impressed upon them for expediting release of the vessel along with its Captain and crew at the earliest.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Merchant Navy Officers Association led by Capt. Lalit Chander Dharmani along with Mrs. Neena Cheema, the wife of Captain SS Cheema called on Mr. Badal here at Chief Minister’s residence this evening to apprise him about the entire incident for seeking his support and help to get the crew members released expeditiously.

The association also informed Mr. Badal that the all the crew members have been arrested on the ground that the ship had allegedly polluted Iranian seas. The crew on board was feeling threatened and were distressed since the last 18 days. The hygiene of the vessel was also a matter of major concern.

It may be recalled that Captain Cheema is a resident of Mohali, who informed that his wife that vessel was in no way responsible for creating any pollution and not committed any irregularity rather it complied with all international rules and regulations. The association also urged the Chief Minister on behalf of the families of the sea farers that the vessel should be released immediately besides securing the safe return of their beloved ones to their homes.

Badal flags off first-of-its-kind mobile science lab for +2 students

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, AUG 28

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today flagged off the first-of-its-kind mobile laboratory in computers, physics and chemistry in “Rural Punjab" - an initiative of Rayat-Bahra Group aimed at benefiting rural masses and +2 science stream students.

Speaking at the launch ceremony here at Chief Minister’s residence, Mr. Badal said that the bus would take science and information technology to the threshold of rural areas of state. He appreciated the Rayat-Bahra group Chairman Gurvinder Singh Bahra for launching an endeavor that was set to change teaching scenario in Punjab. Mr. Badal thanked the group for giving this valuable mobile bus that will help school students to perform laboratory experiments and educate villagers to send mail on Internet, browse social networking sites and even enable video conference.

The Chief Minister said, “State government would replicate this model to provide mobile bus lab services to the students in the government schools located in remote and difficult areas.” He said that the state government had already embarked upon a massive program of modernization and upgradation facilities in the plus two schools with a thrust to refurbish its science laboratories to equip the students to undertake practical in physics, chemistry and computer efficaciously.

Elaborating on the plan Chairman RBGI said teachers and demonstrators of group would accompany the bus to neighboring villages. The group would work in consultation with village sarpanch, district education officer and school principals that would draw a time table to extend optimum support.

A fleet of ten buses would be inducted to cover schools within radius of 10 kms from four of its campuses namely Mohali, Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Patiala. Each mobile bus has facilities of complete physics, chemistry and computer lab including scanning, printing, photocopying, video conferencing etc.  Every bus costs Rs 25 lakh. Bus has workable area of 30 feet by 8 feet. It is decked with latest equipments having 16 N-Computing nodes, 2 KVA Online UPS, one HP multifunction printer, 1.5 Ton Invertor based AC, genset as well as all equipments of physics and chemistry lab as per + 1 and +2 syllabus. The first bus launch today would cover villages of Sahauran, Sohana, Banur, Daun, Ballomajra, Daun Majra, Khanpur, Jandpur and Ramgarh. 

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also flagged off a dental mobile lab to provide the dental care facilities and bring awareness about dental hygiene to the people especially in the far flung rural areas.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Transport Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar, Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna, Assistant Media Advisor to the Punjab Government Mr. Vineet Joshi, Director Technical Education Mr. B. Purshartha, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varun Roojam besides Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Special Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.

CM unveils program for rehabilitation of the water logged areas by developing fisheries

By  Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, AUG 27

          The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today unveiled a massive scheme to put use several acres of water logged land in the Malwa belt optimally, by constructing Ponds for Fisheries under the “Program for Rehabilitation of the Water logged areas”.

          Presiding over a high level meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fishery department here today, the Chief Minister while emphasizing the need for bailing out the farmers of the state through crop diversification, said that special attention needs to paid for helping the farmers of the waterlogged areas, who were battling with the natural tragedy from years. Underscoring the need for extending a helping hand to them, Mr. Badal said that the departments’ of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries with the active help of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary Animal Science University must implement this program with the active support of the farmers. He said that these departments along with the University must motivate the farmers to set up fish farms in the waterlogged areas so that fish farming could be successfully implemented there. The Chief Minister also sanctioned an amount of Rs 2 crore for initiating this project.  

Further to encourage the farmers of the state towards allied agricultural activities with twin objective of promoting crop diversification on one hand and supplementing the income of farmers through rearing small ruminants on the other, the Chief Minister also gave nod for setting up two ultra modern Goat Breeding centres in the state. Mr. Badal constituted a committee comprising of VC GADVASU, experts of Veterinary sciences and officials of Animal Husbandry department to prepare a blueprint regarding the project. He asked the committee submit its report within a month so that the work on this project could be started at the earliest.

The Chief Minister said that this centre should be established on scientific lines to impart advanced training to the farmers for goat rearing. Likewise he also laid thrust on processing of Goat’s milk by value addition so that the farmers could supplement their income. Mr. Badal also approved the setting up of Goat Breeding Board comprising of representatives of farmers, officers and national level experts of Goattery, to develop high yielding varieties of Goats in the state.

The Chief Minister also asked the committee to explore the potential of piggery in the state so that it could be encouraged amongst the farmers. Likewise Mr. Badal also gave approval for upgrading and strengthening the existing infra structure in three Government pig breeding centres at Nabha, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur by doubling its existing capacity.      

Later, in a separate meeting, the Chief Minister while interacting with the Bee Keepers from across the state said that the Punjab government was committed to encourage the Bee keeping in Punjab. He announced to enhance the subsidy on Bee keeping boxes from the existing 50% to 75% adding that the Raw Honey and Bee keeping equipments would be exempted from taxes. Mr. Badal also said that in order to provide sale outlets to the bee keepers in the state, the Punjab government would provide them booths at the public places under the AATMA Khaat scheme. He also underscored the need for uniform designing these outlets for selling Honey to popularize them as standardized booths.

The Chief Minister also asked the MARKFED authorities to provide market support to the Bee Keepers by purchasing the honey besides making provisions for preserving it. He also asked the MARKFED officers to explore the feasibility of setting up a processing unit of Honey in the state so that avenues of trade could be opened for the Bee Keepers. Mr. Badal also asked the officers of the Taxation, Forest and Irrigation department to refrain unnecessary harassment of the bee keepers on one pretext or other.      

Laying thrust on the need of more Research and Design (R&D) facilities for the processing of Honey, the Chief Minister also asked the Bee Keepers to collectively set up district level processing units of Honey for maximum profits. He also gave nod for starting a mass awareness campaign for apprising the people about the benefits of having Honey in their routine diet.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. G. Vajralingam, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, MD Markfed Dr. KS Sra, Vice Chancellor PAU Dr BS Dhillon, VC GADVASU Dr VK Taneja and Commissioner Agriculture Dr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu.    

US-India `natural ally’ in fight against terrorism: Prof.Walter

By Punjabnewswire4u

AMRITSAR, AUG 26

 Stressing that United States understands security concerns of India, Prof. Walter Russel Mead, a US Foreign policy expert today stated that US and India are `natural ally’ in fight against terrorism. He said lot of terrorists activities were emanating from Pakistan’s soil where security scenario is turning worrisome as state is turning weak against disruptive forces.

 Prof. Mead was speaking at a special lecture organized by PG Department of Political Science, Khalsa College Amritsar here today on the topic `US Foreign Policy’. He said it was true that the true nature of threat from terrorism was realized by US only after 9/11 happening but it does not mean that it was not aware about the destructive nature of terrorism before.

 ``The 9/11 sent a clear message to us that no one is safe and we can’t ignore terrorist activities which were assuming alarming proportions. The US and India are natural ally in the fight against terrorism’’, he said. He said two countries are worried about nuclear weapons in Pakistan might fall into `destructive hands’ of terrorists who might unleash catastrophe and advocated strong and stable Pakistan as weak state would lead to more chaos which will help terrorists.

 He said so bad is the security scenario in Pakistan that even military officers remove their Army number plates while moving from one place to another as they fear threat from terrorists.

 Prof. Walter was honoured at the campus by Principal Dr. Daljit Singh who said the students and teachers were enriched by the talk by him. Vote of thanks was offered by Department head Prof.Jaspreet Kaur and question-answer session was conducted by Prof.Devender Singh Registrar of the College. Teachers and students were present in large number and Prof.Meads also took the tour of the historic building of the College.

CHANDIGARH, AUG 26

Three Punjab IAS officers promoted

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, AUG 26

On the recommendations of the screening committee, the Punjab Government has promoted three senior IAS officers of 1983 batch Mr. Navreet Singh Kang, Mr. Suresh Kumar and Mr. Jagpal Singh in the pay scale of Chief Secretary Rs.80, 000/- per month (fixed) w.e.f August 28, 2013 on completion of their 30 years of service.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh cleared the file to this effect there by giving his nod this morning.

          It may be recalled that Mr. Badal constituted a three-member committee comprising the senior most IAS Officers Mrs. Geetika Kalha and Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to determine the eligibility criteria for the promotion of these officers in the pay scale of Chief Secretary.