Punjab aims to bring 10L hectares under basmati

Chandigarh:  In a move to conserve water and promote sustainable agriculture, Punjab Government is set to increase the area under Basmati cultivation by approximately 67 percent this sowing season. The state Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced this initiative during a review meeting with department officials on Wednesday. The Minister revealed that the Basmati crop will now cover around 10 lakh hectares in 2024-25, up from 5.96 lakh hectares last year. This expansion is part of the state's strategy to reduce reliance on water-intensive paddy cultivation. Highlighting the benefits of the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, Minister Khudian directed the officials to increase the area under DSR. “To encourage maximum farmers to adopt the DSR technique, the Punjab Government is providing financial aid of Rs 1500 per acre,” he stated. The aim is to bring two lakh hectares of paddy (non-basmati) under DSR this season, compared to 1.70 lakh hectares last year.

Punjab CM condemns 'cowardly' and 'unpardonable' terror attack in Kathua and Doda

Chandigarh:  Condemning the terror attacks on Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir in which one Jawan of CRPF attained martyrdom and two others were seriously injured, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that a befitting reply should be given to such anti-national activities. “Any attack on unity and integrity of the nation is unwarranted and undesirable…It should be given an apt reply,” said Mann, adding that the sovereignty of the country must be upheld by protection of our borders by foiling any such attack. “Such incidents must be dealt with a heavy hand so as to avoid any threat to unity and integrity of the nation. The perpetrators of this ‘cowardly’ and ‘unpardonable’ act must be given an exemplary punishment so that it acts as a deterrent for others in the future,” he said, adding that it is unfortunate that a jawan had attained martyrdom while discharging duty to safeguard the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. The Chief Minister said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed family in particular.

Punjab Govt to launch special campaign to fill backlog of PwDs posts

Chandigarh:  To promote inclusivity and provide equal opportunities, the Punjab Government will launch a special campaign to fill vacant posts reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Under Section 34 of the RPWD Act, 2016, the Government has fixed a fur percent reservation for PWDs in both direct recruitment and promotion across various departments.  The state’s Social Security, Women and Child Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday explained that after a thorough verification of the Roster Register across all departments of Punjab, the backlog of posts reserved for Persons with Disabilities has been identified. According to the latest reports from various Departments, Corporations and Boards, there are 1721 posts available for direct recruitment and 536 posts available for promotion. “The Social Security Department has reached out to all state departments to confirm and verify this backlog information. This data will then be forwarded to the Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB) for prompt action to recruit qualified individuals for these positions,” she said, adding that 87 departments, corporations and boards have responded with their backlog information.

 Cheema Calls for Robust Methanol Regulation Framework to Prevent Hooch Tragedies

Chandigarh:  In a decisive move to curb the misuse of methanol and prevent hooch tragedies, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday directed the senior officials to engage with the Union Government for the creation of a robust framework to monitor and regulate the interstate movement of methanol. Cheema, during a review meeting, instructed the Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner (Taxation) Vikas Pratap; and Excise and Taxation Commissioner Varun Roojam to take up the issue with the relevant departments at the national level. The focus is to avert potential hooch tragedies stemming from the illicit use of methanol.  Emphasizing the importance of stringent measures, Cheema called for a comprehensive enforcement mechanism, particularly targeting the online sale of methanol. “This initiative is pivotal in preventing the diversion of methanol for the production of illicit alcohol, which can lead to hooch tragedies,” he asserted.

 Yoga programs to be organized in all districts of Haryana on Int’l Yoga Day from 7 to 8 am on June 21

Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of Health, Medical Education and Research, and AYUSH Kamal Gupta on Wednesday said that yoga practice harmonizes the mind, body, and intellect, filling life with enthusiasm and joy while protecting it from stress and disorders. No medical treatment can make life happy, but it is possible through imbibing yoga in daily lifestyle. Today, yoga has united the entire world, and the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Presiding over a review meeting with the officers of the AYUSH Department and Haryana Yoga Aayog regarding the preparations for the tenth International Yoga Day to be held on June 21, 2024, he said that the Government has decided to organize yoga programs at district and block levels across all districts on the occasion of International Yoga Day from 7 to 8 AM on June 21. Additionally, yoga training programs for participants in the International Yoga Day event will be conducted from May 29 to June 15.