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Dairymen score a bullseye
BJP begins brainstorming for MC poll
Refinery may pull more industry
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5 killed as four vehicles collide near Jagraon
Ministerspeak: Looking ahead
NEWS ANALYSIS
Central funds: CM meets Ashwani
Tota Singh must quit: Kaka
Probe indicts forest officials
Promotions endless chapter for teachers
Restore Wakf Board to earlier form: Jamait
Despite ban, stubble burning continues
Rising snatching cases
PU alters sports quota
Special drive against black films from today
Rural houses to get toilets: Rakhra
Bathinda gets Best District Panchayat award
Students to take pledge against cheating
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Dairymen score a bullseye
Sexed semen straws are created by separating X (female) sperms of quality bulls from the Y (male) sperms which are simply discarded. American cooperatives selling this technology claim its success rate is between 85 and 90 per cent. The farmers are being charged Rs 600 per straw with the state subsidising the remaining 50 per cent of the total cost of Rs 1200 per straw. While it takes three months to conduct a pregnancy test, farmers are expressing happiness with the results already. Many who were left out are now making demands for import of more such straws. Kuldeep Singh of Maqboolpur Bhaini village in Patiala says he got 10 cows impregnated with sexed semen. He said the process had to be repeated on two cows while eight others were impregnated successfully. Two cows that have crossed the three-month period have been tested positive for female calves. Veterinarian Gurdeep Singh said the Animal Husbandry Department was finding it difficult to meet the demand for sexed semen. He said complaints were being received from farmers who were left out and many dairy farmers had placed orders for the straws which were in short supply. Dr Parampal Singh, who is associated with Semen Bank, Patiala, said around 300 sexed semen straws were left to be utilised. He said this, despite a tight check on distribution which was done only through department doctors. The Animal Husbandry Department has trained 10 doctors in each district to conduct insemination, said Deputy Director Ravi Bhushan. He said this was necessary as the mortality rate of female sperms was high and the insemination process needed a certain expertise. Each doctor was given only 20 straws at a time, but most doctors had taken this quota thrice over, Dr Bhushan said. The demand for import of more sexed semen had arisen even before completion of the pilot project mainly because there is no market for male calves. Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said more imports would be allowed for modern dairy farmers who could afford to pay for the sexed doses. About the plan n Imported sexed semen straws give dairy farmers an option to get only female calves, which would mean more milk n
Sexed semen straws are created by separating X (female) sperms of quality bulls from the Y (male) sperms n
American cooperatives selling this technology claim its success rate is between 85% and 90% n
The state had imported 5,000 sexed semen straws from the US three months ago under a pilot project n
The farmers are charged Rs 600 per straw with the state subsidising the remaining 50% of the total cost of Rs 1,200 per straw
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BJP begins brainstorming for MC poll
Ludhiana, May 6 Sharma was in Ludhiana to chair the two-day BJP state executive meeting that started today. Denying that there was any groupism in the party at any level, he asserted that a healthy difference of opinion was not bad for the party. The BJP had contested 23 seats in the Punjab Assembly polls, but it played a decisive role in all 117 seats, he claimed. Claiming the responsibility for the party's dismal performance in Ludhiana, he said as the state party chief he owned up the responsibility for it. He parried any further questions on the party's performance in the Assembly polls by saying that it was the party's internal matter. Without naming Bains brothers, he said some Independents who later returned to the Akali fold had affected the "overall election scenario" in Ludhiana. Refusing to comment on the Rajoana hanging case, he said the matter was sub judice. "The party's stand has been clear: It is against terrorism and it wants peace and prosperity in the state," he added. Asserting that the party was committed to fulfill its poll manifesto promises, he said he was hopeful that the memorial of Swami Virjanand at latter's birthplace in Kartarpur would be constructed, as announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the election rally held in Jalandhar last December. He also said that the party had passed a resolution today, demanding that the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee be implemented. The party also demanded a bonus of Rs 500 (per quintal) on the Minimum Support Price of wheat. The state government must take up with the Centre the issue of the reduction of the kerosene quota, he added. The party's national vice-president Shanta Kumar, national general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda, Punjab Local Bodies Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, Punjab BJP general secretary Kamal Sharma and BJP district president Parveen Bansal also attended the meeting. The party passed another resolution to thank the electorate for their support to the party in the Assembly polls. Shanta Kumar expressed his optimism on bringing the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) leaders back to the BJP fold before the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. The Himachal Pradesh BJP and the HLP would have to take the initiative to pave the way for the HLP leaders' return to the BJP fold, he said. "Both the parties have to sit together and discuss the issue. I am hopeful that the outcome of this initiative will be a positive one," he said. He said the contribution of the HLP leaders to the state was indisputable. "Unfortunately, they were in a hurry to leave the party (BJP)," he said. He reiterated that there should be a zero-tolerance to corruption among political leaders.
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Refinery may pull more industry
Chandigarh, May 6 The opposition Congress has been targeting the state government over fiscal concessions granted to the project, a joint venture between HPCL and Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL). If officials in the state Industry Department are to be believed, queries for investment worth Rs 480 crore in the downstream industry to be set up near the refinery have been received. They said there was a proposal to set up a plastic park between Phullokari (the refinery site) and Bathinda. "As the refinery will generate polypropylene and PET coke, we are keen to set up a plastic industrial park. The proposal is being considered by the Union Government and is expected to be cleared after the Centre gives final nod to the proposals in the 12th Five Year Plan by the year-end," says Principal Secretary (Industries, Punjab) AR Talwar. A company from Andhra Pradesh is keen on setting up a Rs 200-crore plant near the refinery to buy sulphur generated from it, he says. The refinery has a generating capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum, including petrol (1,000 TMT), diesel (3700 TMT), LPG (200 TMT), kerosene (730 TMT), naphtha (300 TMT), mineral turpentine oil (252 TMT), aviation turbine fuel (500 TMT) and haxane (5 TMT). "This refinery will also generate three solid products, including 440 TMT polypropylene, 900 TMT pet coke and 200 TMT sulphur. All these can be used by naphtha cracker or associated units and downstream polymer or chemical units," an official says. The HMEL recently got a study conducted by IDS on how the refinery would lead to the creation of downstream industry. The study concluded that downstream industry would come up in a big way in either Bathinda or Ludhiana, the state's industrial capital. As polyester staple fibre (PSF), polyester filament yarn (PFY) and partially oriented yarn (POY) are used as ingredients for manufacturing textiles, the availability of these would help in the growth of downstream petrochemical industry. The PET is typically used as an ingredient for manufacturing bottle chips, which in turn are converted into mineral water bottles, bottles for soft drinks and other bottles for storage of food products. Even polymer products like LLDPE, HDPE and PP can be converted by end-processors to consumable items like packaging films, shopping bags, heavy duty sacks, lamination, canal lining and other agricultural uses, bottles and containers, wires and cables, items like overhead tanks, heavy duty crates, containers, bins, woven sacks, fibrillated yarn, medical and hospital use products, blow moulded bottles, moulded industrial products, staple fibre and automotive industry (bumpers and inside furnishing of automobiles). These industries too can come up in the state.
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5 killed as four vehicles collide near Jagraon
Jagraon, May 6 The accident took place at 9 am when a Mahindra Jeep going towards Ludhiana from Moga collided head-on with a Mahindra Scorpio SUV. Two other vehicles coming from behind also collided with them. A highway patrol rushed the victims to the Civil Hospital Jagraon where three victims were declared brought dead while two succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment. The deceased, all belonging to Bhona village in Moga, have been identified as Kulwinder Kaur (45), Veerpal Kaur (22), Harpal Kaur (55) Parwinder Kaur (60) and Paramjit Kaur (55). The victims along with other persons from the village were on their way to attend a religious function near Baddowal in a jeep. Three other persons, including two women, who were travelling in a Mahindra Scorpio were critically injured. They have been identified as Bhinda (40), Amarjit Kaur (55) and Kiranjeet Kaur (22) of Hans Kalan village, near Jagraon. The doctors referred them to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. A case has been registered at Mullanpur Dakha police station. Mohammad Jamil, SHO, Dakha, said the police had recorded the statements of the injured and started investigation. The exact cause of the accident was not known yet, he added.
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Ministerspeak: Looking ahead
What is your perspective and vision with regards to your ministry? Despite the efforts of the Akali BJP government in its previous tenure, industrialisation has eluded Punjab so far. But we will now make concerted efforts to promote rapid industrialisation in the state. The immediate focus is on creating an industry-friendly environment and facilities on a par with other rapidly growing states like Gujarat. We will make single-window clearance more effective for new projects. A new export promotion plan is on the anvil. We are also bringing out a policy on “deemed approval”, where in case of a delay in getting approval from a department, the Industries Department will give the go-ahead to the project within 30 days of receiving the proposal. In the next one year, Punjab will become a power surplus state. We will then be able to hard-sell ourselves better as the best industrial investment destination in the country. What tops your agenda with regards to the Industries Department? While we look at getting fresh industrial investment, the immediate agenda is to promote and develop the existing industry in Punjab. For this, we will improve infrastructure at Industrial Focal Points. We will be reaching out to industrialists in the state with our department managers holding meetings with them to look into their grievances and to help them expand operations in the state. We will promote development of industrial clusters. The immediate agenda is to stop the flight of industry from the state while wooing fresh investment. What are your plans to improve the functioning of the department? The biggest problem that investors say they face in the state is non-functioning of the single-window clearance. We will make it more effective so that investors face no harassment in getting prompt approvals for their investment proposals. Besides, we have decided to be more inclusive and associate with industrialists through a regular interface to give a fillip to the existing industry. For recovering bad loans from industry (given by PSIDC and PFC), we will shortly come out with a one-time settlement (OTS) policy for the defaulting industry. Have you identified the challenges in implementing various proposals ? The biggest challenge is in creating an industry-friendly environment. The other big challenge is to create land banks in different parts of the state. We will probably create pockets in the Kandi area and near Bathinda, where land is cheaper. Once this is done, we will be able to offer land to industrialists at subsidised rates. Are there enough funds to implement these proposals? I have been assured by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that the necessary funds will be made available to the department to speed up investment. But I would like to reiterate that more than the funds, it is the concerted will of department officials and my core team that will help implement various proposals for developing and promoting industry in Punjab. Have you worked out a schedule to implement these proposals? We have already started work on attracting fresh investment and containing the existing industry. Ever since the government took over in March, we have issued letters of intent for investment proposals worth Rs 2,900 crore. In the first year, we will focus on promoting and expanding the existing industry besides attracting more investment.
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NEWS ANALYSIS
Chandigarh, May 6 “It is now clear that Amarinder will not be removed till June 10”, remarked an Amarinder supporter sarcastically. The announcement has come as a blessing in disguise for Congress rebels who are now unlikely to show much interest in the MC elections as a positive poll outcome would mean continuation of Amarinder as the PCC chief. They certainly wouldn’t want that. There is a culture in the Congress to sabotage the prospects of a rival leader, particularly when sabotage can lead to rich dividends, and this was witnessed in abundance during the assembly elections even when the stakes were high. Hence, Congress leaders may not hesitate to undermine the party’s prospects in the MC elections in the hope that an adverse outcome will hasten Amarinder’s fall. Observers maintain that the Congress has struck a double blow on to itself-by giving Amarinder just a month to show good results, an uphill task, and by giving a chance to rebels to undermine the party’s chances in the municipal poll only to discredit Amarinder. Ideally, the party should have announced Amarinder’s continuation as PCC chief till the 2014 parliamentary elections. It would have motivated him to perform well in the MC elections and this would have worked in the party’s interests. It would have also reined in rebels.
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Central funds: CM meets Ashwani
New Delhi, May 6 Badal urged Ashwani Kumar that adequate funds were needed to carry out development projects in the state under Central schemes. He told the minister that village ponds needed cleaning by scientific disposal of sludge. Badal told the minister about the problems being faced by farmers of border areas. He also asked for special incentives for setting up industrial units in the border areas. On Friday, Badal had called on Defence Minister AK Antony, seeking permission for starting international flights from Chandigarh to UAE. Chandigarh: A delegation of Congress legislators led by Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and CLP leader Sunil Jakhar will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon to demand an economic package for Punjab. The delegation will take up the jewellers’ demand for removal of excise on unbranded ornaments. and request the PM to announce a bonus at Rs 100 per quintal on wheat.— TNS
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Tota Singh must quit: Kaka
Moga, May 6 Since Tota Singh had been convicted in a case, he should resign from the Cabinet on moral grounds, he said today. “Misuse of official machinery is a big crime. Tota Singh should resign from the assembly and seek a fresh mandate”. Kaka also said CM Parkash Singh Badal had no right to remain in office with two of his ministers convicted by courts. Meanwhile, Badal has not yet sought the resignation of Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for misuse of cars between 1997 and 2002 when he was Education Minister. Provisions under the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, allows Tota Singh to continue as member of the assembly, said Charanjit Singh Bakhshi, Tota Singh’s counsel. He said there was no provision in the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, to disqualify an already elected member of Parliament or the state legislature. Under Section 8, a person could be barred from contesting elections if sentenced to more than two years in prison and that too after three months from the date of pronouncement of the court orders.
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Probe indicts forest officials
The probe has held Forest Department officials responsible for the deaths. The panel of three officials, comprising Rambir, SDM; Vikrampal Bhatti, ASP; and Pardeep Bansal, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, also blamed lack of basic infrastructure at the mini zoo. Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav has forwarded the findings of the inquiry to the Principal Secretary and the Forest Department. He has recommended disciplinary action against the erring officials and listed suggestions to mitigate such disasters in future. The inquiry report suggests formulation of standard operative procedure (SOP) for any kind of eventuality. “The SOP will serve as a guide manual telling people how to react and operate in such exigencies,” Yadav said. He also recommended setting up of a round-the-clock dispensary at the deer park. Besides, he has advocated increase in the number of forest guards and imparting training to the existing employees. “One of the major causes of such a high toll was the time lag the lower rung officials took in informing the seniors,” Yadav said. The report also lays emphasis on strict following of the Central Zoo Authority guidelines with respect to the upkeep and maintenance of animal enclosures and their care.
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Promotions endless chapter for teachers
Muktsar, May 6 The then Education Minister, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, had announced to promote a record 4,342 teachers varying from master cadre to lecturer, lecturer to principal and master cadre to headmaster after their names were duly cleared by different departmental promotion committees. Among those cleared for promotions were 3,822 master cadre employees, including those of science, math and social studies. They were to be made lecturers. Similarly, 208 lecturers were to be promoted as principals and 312 from master cadre to headmasters. It was also announced that newly promoted teachers would be allotted their new places of postings in the coming days. But, even after a gap of almost five months and that too when the SAD-BJP alliance has returned to power, except for a few masters promoted as headmasters and lecturers as principals, hardly any master has been promoted as lecturer anywhere across the state. Kulwinder Singh, Government Teachers’ Union (Punjab) vice-president and Muktsar district president, said, “The same SAD-led government had announced to promote 4,342 teachers before the assembly elections. But except for a few masters who were made headmasters and lecturers who were made principals nobody has been promoted… We even raised the issue with the Punjab Education Department secretary but to no avail.” Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said, “We are committed to fulfill our earlier announcements. A few teachers have been promoted and the cases of those left too are under consideration.” About the delay, he said there were some complicated cases, which had to be again discussed by departmental promotion committees.
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Restore Wakf Board to earlier form: Jamait
Chandigarh, May 6 Addressing mediapersons here today, Hazrat Maulana Arshad Madni, Jamait president, said the way Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was advocating single Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for Punjab and Haryana, the Jamait also wanted that all these states be brought under single Wakf Board to effectively deal with problems of the Muslim community. He demanded that instead of giving land for education and religious purposes on lease, the government should permanently transfer land in the name of the organisations concerned. He also demanded that encroachments on places related to the community be dismantled and further encroachments be checked. He said in 2009, the Centre Wakf Board directed that the Punjab Wakf Board be reconstituted on the old pattern by bringing the boards of Punjab, Haryana, HP and Chandigarh under one umbrella. — TNS
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Despite ban, stubble burning continues
Sangrur/Patiala, May 6 During a visit to villages in Sunam, Sangrur and Lehragaga, it came to light that post-harvest, wheat stubble in most of the fields was burnt to ashes. A shopkeeper in Lehragaga opined that because of stubble burning, dense smoke even engulfs residential areas, thereby causing respiratory problems to inhabitants. During a visit to areas of Patran, Shutrana, Samana and periphery areas of the city, TNS team spotted numerous farms, wherein wheat stubble was being burnt. Patiala residents said there was an immediate need to create awareness among farmers on the issue. “Unless and until farmers are made aware about the ill effects of stubble burning, the practice will continue,” said Mohit Kapila, a city resident. Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital principal Dr KD Singh said stubble burning could cause conjunctivitis. "The smoke emanating from the burning of stubble can lead to several health problems, including bronchitis, respiratory problems and skin ailments," he added. A physician says stubble burning also depletes the red blood cell (RBC) count and adversely affects the oxygen carrying capacity in the body. It is pertinent to mention that due of stubble burning, accident cases were also reported from various parts of the state. On October 11, 2011, three children were charred to death when an autorickshaw accidentally overturned at a field where the paddy straw was set ablaze near Mehta village in Amritsar. Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said he had spoken to SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill for registration of cases against farmers violating the prohibitory orders against stubble burning. He, however, added, “I feel that solution to the problem can be achieved through spreading awareness among farmers and NGOs can play an instrumental role in this regard.” Sangrur DC Kumar Rahul was not available for comments
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Rising snatching cases
Ludhiana, May 6 In a strongly worded letter, the ADGP states: “A large number of snatching incidents taking place in your area are causing a sense of lawlessness in the mind of the general public, besides exposing helplessness of the police in tackling these incidents”. Sharma, who also holds the charge of HRD, CP, Law & Order, said it was a known fact that a large number of such incidents were either not reported or not registered by the local police. “Hence, it is becoming very difficult to ascertain the extent of crime and lawlessness which causes a great sense of insecurity”. The ADGP has demanded a weekly report on snatching incidents, bearing signatures of Commissioners of Police (Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana) and SSPs of the respective districts. He has further demanded police station-wise report every Friday with a warning that any delay in the receipt of the report shall be viewed seriously. Shama has issued a set of instructions to fix accountability of the officers responsible for the maintenance of law and crime control.
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PU alters sports quota
Faridkot, May 6 From this academic session, the PU has abolished eight groups of sportspersons, making them ineligible for admission under sports quota in various departments of the university. In PU, 5 per cent seats in each course are reserved under the sports category. Till last academic session, 2011-2012, there were four categories (making 37 groups) of sportspersons of international, national and state caliber to fill sports quota seats in the PU. But from the current academic session (2012-2013), the PU has abolished eight of these 37 groups. Interestingly, till last academic session about half of the sports quota seats were filled from these ‘abolished’ groups of sports persons. And even then, many sports quota seats remained vacant. Now, many sportspersons, who fall in these eight groups, are crying foul, accusing the university authorities of deliberately keeping the sports quota seats vacant to shift them to the general category. However, the university authorities said the decision to abolish these groups was taken to upgrade the sports standard. Speaking to TNS, Dr Rakesh Malik, assistant director, Sports Department, Panjab University, said as many candidates with poor sports potential were getting admission in the university under sports quota, a high-level committee took a decision to abolish eight groups of sportspersons from the purview of sports quota seats. Relying on these groups of the sportspersons, many students who even did not participate in any important sports event were getting admission under the sports quota, said Malik. The decision to delete these groups was taken to upgrade sports quota standard for admission in the university, he said. However, Tejinder Singh Sekhon and Baldev Singh, two advocates in Faridkot, said the approach of the university would discourage state-level sportsperson. “The university wants high-flying international and national level sportspersons to fill sports quota seats but these candidates are not easily available, so most of the sports quota seats are lying vacant,” said Tajinder Sekhon, accusing the university of tweaking rules and deviating from the basic philosophy of promoting sports. In 2011-2012, in the list of 71 sportspersons for admission in PU, 35 were from the groups that had been abolished by the university this time, said
Sekhon.
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Special drive against black films from today
Patiala, May 6 The apex court has banned the use of any kind of black films on vehicle windowanes. Numerous vehicles on Patiala roads, a majority of them belonging to small-time politicians and bureaucrats, can been seen flouting norms without any stringent check so far. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Gill said policemen would set up special nakas against the use of black films on windowpanes of vehicles and to issue challans on the spot. “From Monday, no vehicle will be allowed on city roads with black films and the directions of the Supreme Court will be followed,” Gill stated. The police had already warned people of a special drive on Friday and from Monday, traffic police would be on the prowl, he added. Illegal use of black films and red light on vehicles is increasing at an alarming pace in the city with policemen almost 'helpless' in checking the menace. Some government officers and a few local politicians have their vehicle windowpanes tainted black. In its orders in 2002, the Punjab and Haryana High Court told Punjab and Chandigarh that all the permissions issued for the use of black films on or before the aforesaid date stands cancelled. Later, the security wing had issued new stickers to the officers who were allowed to use such vehicles, in respect to the court order.
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Rural houses to get toilets: Rakhra
Patiala, May 6 While interacting with inhabitants of more than a dozen villages of the Samana assembly segment, Rakhra said they had entered into an agreement with reputed company, Sulabh International, which would build the toilets in villages. Rakhra said construction of a toilet would cost Rs 18,500. "After completing the construction work, maintenance of these toilets will also be undertaken of by the Sulabh International for a year," he announced. Meanwhile, speaking to mediapersons, Rakhra said funds for the Shagun scheme would be disbursed within two months.
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Bathinda gets Best District Panchayat award
Bathinda, May 6 The award was given to the Bathinda ZP as it was adjudged the Best District Panchayat for the year 2011-12 under the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) in the state of Punjab, based on the parameters of accountability and efficient and transparent functioning. Talking to this reporter here today, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bathinda ZP, Rajinder Singh Batra, said the award had been handed over to the chairperson of the Bathinda ZP, Rajwinder Kaur and him by the two Union Ministers, Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh and the Panchayati Raj Minister, Kishore Chandra Deo. The Deputy CEO further added that earlier, the incentive grant for the ZP was `25 lakh for being adjudged the Best District Panchayat in the state, but it had now been increased to `30 lakh. He further said the grant would be utilised for undertaking development activities within its jurisdiction for which the modalities would be chalked out soon.
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Students to take pledge against cheating
Bathinda, May 6 During the oath, the students will pledge not to tell lies, not to cheat, to keep away from addiction, serve and protect the environment, to respect their elders, live in co-operation with their schoolmates and to follow the traffic rules. The schools have been directed to follow the instructions at the earliest. The school heads have also been asked to make sure that the students take the oath everyday and the importance of the oath is explained to them. Hailing the direction to administer oath to the students everyday during the morning assembly, the head of a government school in the city said, “The pledge is quite pertinent to the social evils that are plaguing our young generation. In a state like Punjab, where even school students are victims of substance abuse and alcoholism, making them aware of the bad effects of addiction and asking them to keep away from such substances is important.” “Cheating is also found to be quite rampant during any and every kind of examination. The recent hue and cry over cheating during the AIEEE examination is just a case in point. If a child cheats during his school life, he/she will grow up to be a corrupt person,” she added.
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Chandigarh, May 6
Jagraon, May 6
Sangrur/Patiala, May 6
Patiala, May 6
Chandigarh, May 6
For first-time minister Anil Joshi, getting the portfolio of Industries is just another challenge in his political career. Joshi feels that the aggressiveness and dynamism he is known for is what will help him halt the flight of industry from Punjab besides getting the much-needed industrial investment to see the state economy back on the rails. In an interview with Ruchika M Khanna, the minister spoke about his agenda to promote industrialisation in Punjab.
Bathinda, May 6