Due to considerable improvement in the Covid situation across the State, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday ordered relaxation in restrictions from 150 to 300 on indoor and 300 to 500 on outdoor gatherings in the State. He however, said that the Covid protocol restrictions would be adhered to strictly despite these relaxations.

Reviewing the Covid position in the State, the Chief Minister also asked the School Education Department to encourage the students to attend classes by following the necessary health protocols. Likewise, he also asked the Social Security, Women and Child Development department to reopen anganwari centres while strictly following the prescribed Covid safety norms.

Expressing satisfaction over the decline in positivity rate of Covid cases, the Chief Minister also asked the Health department to ensure strict compliance to Covid safety protocols including wearing of mask and social distancing. He also asked the Health department to ramp up the testing capacity upto 50000 per day as a precautionary measure in view of the coming festive season.

Making a brief presentation on the current Covid scenario, the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Alok Shekhar said that the 232 cases were reported during last week with an average of 33 positive cases per day. He further informed that from September 14 to 20 only a single case of Mucormycosis was reported, whereas, no new case was reported thereafter. The Principal Secretary Health also apprised the Chief Minister that the Covid situation in the state was stable and at present 25,000 to 30,000 Covid tests were being done daily with a special focus on the students.

Giving an account of population covered for Covid vaccination across the state, Shekhar informed that 91 percent of the population above 60 years, 77 percent of 45-59 and 57 percent of 18-44 years was covered for the first dose of COVID vaccination.

Punjabi players of indian hockey squad to be given jobs as per choice: charanjit singh Channi

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said that the Punjabi players of Indian hockey team would be given jobs as per their choice for which the Sports Department has been directed to bring agenda in the next Cabinet. He also offered them to join on the post of PCS, DSP or in the Sports Department as per their qualifications.

During the second Cabinet meeting here at the Chief Minister’s Office, Channi also  announced the construction of the stadiums in the name of each player of the Indian Hockey team, which made every countryman especially the Punjabis proud for winning a medal after 41 years during Tokyo Olympics. He said this move would be instrumental in inspiring the budding players.

Channi said the hockey team has brought laurels not only to Punjab but the entire country and it is a matter of sheer honour and pride that 11 players including Captain Manpreet Singh belonged to the State. He exhorted the players to continue playing along with their jobs thus staying connected with the game so as to train the upcoming players.

Authorisation of CCL of Rs.35,712.73 crore upto end october 2021 for paddy procurement during kms 2021-22

Punjab on Wednesday got authorization of Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs.35,712.73 crore upto end October 2021 for procurement of Paddy during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22 and extension of the time limit for liquidation of food credit account pertaining to Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) upto end July 2022.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sanctioned CCL of Rs.35,713 crore for paddy procurement against Rs.42,013 crore demanded by the state government and the remaining amount of Rs.6300 crore would be released close to November 2021 for purchasing paddy during that month.  The Chief Minister also thanked the Union Food Secretary for his personal intervention and helping the state in getting timely issuance of CCL for smooth procurement.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Channi had raised this issue with the Union Secretary Food and Public Distribution Sudhanshu Pandey, who called on the Chief Minister in his office on September 24. The Chief Minister urged Pandey to take up this matter with RBI for expeditious authorisation of CCL to ensure smooth and hassle free procurement of paddy during current KMS.