SKM’s Unity Talks with KMM and SKM (Non-Political) on Feb 27
As part of efforts to unify different farmer groups, the Shambhu and Khanauri protest leaders have invited the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) for a meeting on February 27 in Chandigarh. This follows an earlier meeting on February 12 between SKM and KMM, which saw limited participation due to a Mahapanchayat at the Khanauri border. The upcoming meeting is expected to bring greater coordination between various factions of the farmer movement.
The farmers’ struggle has reached a critical moment, with both government negotiations and internal unity meetings shaping the future course of action. Dallewal’s unyielding hunger strike, the call for solidarity, and the demand for MSP’s legal guarantee continue to fuel the movement. As the sixth round of talks approaches, all eyes will be on Chandigarh to see whether the Centre is willing to make meaningful concessions or if the farmers will need to escalate their agitation further.
Himachal Govt introduces 60-Day Special Maternity Leave, relief to female employees
Shimla: To support female government employees, the Himachal Pradesh Government has introduced a 60-day Special Maternity Leave for women who experience a stillbirth or the loss of a child soon after birth. Currently, female government employees with less than two surviving children are entitled to 180 days of maternity leave from the date of commencement. The newly announced Special Maternity Leave will be available under the same eligibility conditions but will apply exclusively in cases of stillbirth or neonatal loss. This leave can only be availed for deliveries in authorized hospitals. "Recognizing the physical and emotional toll of such tragic circumstances, the state government’s initiative aims to provide affected employees with essential time for recovery and healing. This move underscores the government’s commitment to employee welfare, ensuring job security and fostering a healthy work-life balance for its female workforce," a statement issued on Thursday said.
Hry Election Commissioner to meet representatives of political parties on Feb 24
Chandigarh: Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh on Thursday said that a meeting with representatives of political parties will be held on February 24 at 12:00 pm at the Nirvachan Sadan in Panchkula in view of the upcoming Municipal Elections. During the meeting, discussions will be held on various matters including the adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, and ensuring that the elections are conducted in a peaceful, fair, and transparent manner.
Hry Police tops national crime records Bureau's monthly ranking for 10th time
Chandigarh: Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Thursday said that State Police has secured the first position for the 10th time in 2024 in the monthly ranking of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) by the National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Director of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) Sibash Kabiraj stated that the objective of developing CCTNS is to create a comprehensive and integrated system for crime investigation and apprehending criminals. Several positive changes have been implemented in the SCRB to enhance technical capabilities and improve work processes. As a result, Haryana Police has secured the first position in the NCRB's monthly ranking 15 times in the last 17 months.
Sports Nurseries in Hry to be further strengthened: Sports Minister
Chandigarh: Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam on Thursday said that Haryana has become a sports powerhouse. To ensure that players win more medals at global events like the Olympics, World Championships, Asian, and Commonwealth Games, the government is ramping up efforts to provide more advanced sports facilities. As part of this initiative, sports nurseries in the state will be made more effective. Players’ attendance will now be monitored through a biometric system. This will not only bring greater transparency but will also ensure that diet allowances are distributed only to eligible players after confirming their attendance. The biometric attendance system will be initially launched at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium in Panchkula. On success of this system, it will be expanded to other stadiums and schools with sports nurseries across Haryana.
Mayor forms three sub-panels of MCC for water management, tax assessment
Chandigarh: The City Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla on Thursday announced the formation of three key committees during the 345th General House meeting of the Municipal Corporation. These committees will focus on improving tax assessment, water management, and road infrastructure under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Act, 1994. To ensure a fair and transparent tax collection process, Dr. Ramneek Singh Bedi has been appointed as the Chairman of the House Tax Assessment Committee. His team will work on assessing property taxes efficiently and ensuring smooth revenue collection.
TB Mukt Bharat campaign organised
Chandigarh: National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) of the Health Department, UT Chandigarh on Thursday organised a Media Sensitization Programme with the ambitious goal of Government of India of achieving a TB Free India by 2025. UT official said that the workshop aimed to build a collaborative approach with media professionals. This initiative focused on promoting awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging community participation in the fight against TB. A briefing on the current global, national and State TB Scenario was shared. The workshop highlighted the importance of early detection and accessing free diagnostic and treatment services provided under NTEP, he added.
Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day celebrated at Punjab Raj Bhavan
Chandigarh: Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day were celebrated on Thursday at Punjab Raj Bhawan. The celebrations provided an opportunity to bring India’s diverse cultural heritage on a common platform and reinforce the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. Various presentations showcasing the vibrant traditions and rich cultural tapestry of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh were presented during the event. On the occasion, the Punjab Governor and Administrator Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted the cultural, geographical and historical features of the two States and said that such events are important for strengthening national integration.