Harsimrat welcomes hike in Anganwadi honorarium

Chandigarh: Welcoming the NDA Government’s decision to hike honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers by 50 percent and doubling the honorarium of ASHA workers, the Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday said that now Punjab Government should also come to their aid and enhance their honorariums immediately.

One died, seven injured in lightning strike

Fatehgarh Sahib: A 64-year-old man died while seven people, including a minor, were injured in a lightning strike on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at around 9.30 am in Khanpur village near Sirhind town when Harvesh Singh and others had taken shelter under a tree because of rains, said the police. Harvesh Singh died after a lightning strike while seven others, including a six-year-old boy, sustained injuries.

Four Punjab IAS officers promoted as Additional Chief Secretary

Chandigarh: Punjab Government on Wednesday promoted four 1988-batch IAS officers as the Additional Chief Secretary. These officers include Ravneet Kaur, Sanjay Kumar, Anjali Bhawra and Roshan Sunkaria.

Gursharan Singh Rangmanch Utsav from Sept 14

Chandigarh: Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the aegis of Punjab Kala Parishad, would organize three-day Gursharan Singh Rangmanch Utsav from September 14 to 16 at Comrade Satish Loomba auditorium at Moga. Akademi president Kewal Dhaliwal said that the Akademi organizes ‘Naat Utsavs’ at regular intervals under the guidance of Punjab Kala Parishad chairman Dr Surjit Patar. The present rangmanch utsav is part of this series and is dedicated to the birth anniversary of Gursharan Singh ‘Bhaaji’.

EcoSikh launches a global tree planting campaign

Chandigarh: EcoSikh, an NGO committed to environment protection, launched a worldwide campaign ‘550 Rukh Guru de Naam’. Under this initiative, people will be invited to celebrate Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary in 2019 by planting 550 trees each at their respective locations in every country of the world and especially in Punjab. The organization is targeting to reach one million trees by the end of next year. EcoSikh global president Dr Rajwant Singh said that this was the best way to exhibit close connection of Sikh spirituality with God's creation — the beautiful flora and fauna.

HP govt ensuring best healthcare facilities to mother-child: CM

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said that the State Government was committed to provide best prenatal and post natal healthcare facilities to the mothers, besides best nutrition in order to ensure good health of mother and child. Thakur, addressing the Aanganwari workers, representatives of Mahila Mandals and Panchayats on the occasion of Poshahar week at Bagsiad in Seraj area of Mandi district, also administered them an oath regarding nutrition campaign under the Poshan Abhiyan — government’s one of the most ambitious programme for ensuring best nutrition for better health of mother and child.

14th Hero MTB Himalaya biking race on Sept 27

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) Ram Subhag Singh on Wednesday said that Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), in association with Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, would organise 14th Hero Himalaya 2018 from September 27 to October 6. He said that the race would be flagged off on the World Tourism Day on September 27 from historic Ridge Shimla and would conclude at Dharamshala on October 6. He said that 75 top-ranked cyclists from 14 countries around the world are expected to participate.

IIT Mandi, NIRDPR holds study to document best practices under MGNREGA

Mandi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, recently collaborated with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) for conducting a study on successful implementation of MGNREGA in several districts of Himachal Pradesh. The study, titled ‘Documentation of Successful Practices and Scalable Models under MGNREGA in Himachal Pradesh’, sought to identify and delineate practices and processes responsible for successful implementation of MGNREGA in the diverse areas of the State.