R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh
Old-age allowance for pensioners: The Punjab Government has provided relief to pensioners belonging to All India Services of Punjab cadre by granting them an old-age allowance. A spokesperson said instructions in this regard had been issued to all departmental heads, commissioners of divisions and deputy commissioners in the state. 

795 computer labs to be set up: The Punjab Government will establish 795 more computer labs under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project in the state. Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said under this centrally sponsored scheme, Punjab ICT Education Society had launched a computer learning programme for the students of Class VI to Class XII for which computer education had been made compulsory. 

Andhra ministers visit state assembly: A delegation of ministers from Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday visited the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and met Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal. During a meeting to study paddy procurement guidelines in Punjab, D. Sridhar Babu, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Andhra Pradesh; Kanna Lakshminarayana, Agriculture Minister; N. Raghuveera Reddy, Revenue Minister; and other officials discussed the code of ethics of working of the Punjab Assembly. 

Brick-kiln owners meet Sukhbir: A delegation of brick-kiln owners met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to apprise him of the adverse fallout of a recent Supreme Court directive on the brick-kiln industry. The delegation sought the support of the state government in taking up their case with the Union Environment Ministry.