Himachal CM launches JUARE disaster management programme

Shimla: Timely preparedness was vital to mitigate the risk and vulnerability of various natural and other calamities besides alerting the people of a particular area in time, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said while addressing the people on the occasion of launching of week-long disaster management programme “JUARE" (Joint United Action for Resilience in Emergencies) organized by the Kullu district administration at Atal Sadan Kullu.  Thakur said that efforts were being made by the State Government to strengthen the disaster management system in the state and appreciated the efforts of the District Administration Kullu for launching an inspiring and ideal program for the State in the district.  He said that the main purpose of this program was to make the common man aware of the disaster and to train the management for rescue and relief at the time of disaster.  It is a unique initiative in itself, he added.

Sukhbir sets up 5-member panel to evolve consensus for a united fight against anti-Punjab, anti-Panthic forces

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday set up a five-member coordination panel to talk to “all panthic and pro-Punjab political parties” and evolve a consensus for a united fight against “anti-panth, anti-Punjab, and Delhi-centric forces” in the forthcoming Parliamentary by-poll due next month. Earlier, Sukhbir was authorised by the party’s highest decision making body, the Core  Committee, to take a decision on all aspects of the by-poll. “The coordination committee would talk to all other political parties and organisations committed to the cause of the panth and Punjab to arrive at a consensus both on the candidature as well as a joint strategy for the bypoll,” said Sukhbir’s Principal Advisor Harcharan Bains after the core committee meeting. Bains said: “SAD treats this election as ‘Punjab versus Delhi’ and an opportunity for the panth and Punjab to thwart and defeat the assault of the anti-Punjab forces and enemies of panth operating from outside with the blessings of forces opposed to panth and Punjab. These forces have not only befooled and betrayed the people of the state with their fake propaganda circus but are also engaged in devious conspiracies to wreck the Khalsa Panth and its heritage from within and weaken the Punjabi and panthic identity.”

Punjab increases rates of group insurance scheme for govt employees

Chandigarh:  Punjab Government has increased the rates of Group Insurance Scheme (GIS) to almost four times for government employees. The state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema gave his assent to brighten the future of Punjab Government employees and their family members. “In case of death or retirement of an employee, he or she was paid Rs 15,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh which has now been increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 4.80 lakh. The decision will be effective from January 1, 2023,” said an official spokesperson.  Divulging details, he said that at present, Rs 120 per month is deducted from the salary of Group A officers in the form of GIS and in case of retirement or death of the officer Rs 1.20 lakh is paid. From January 1, 2023, the deduction will be Rs 480 per month and the payment will be Rs 4.80 lakh. Similarly, for Group B employees, the rate is Rs 60 and payment is Rs 60,000. It will now be increased to Rs 240 per month and the payment will be Rs 2.40 lakh. The rate for Group C employees is Rs 30 and the payment is Rs 30,000, which will now be increased to Rs 120 per month and the payment will be Rs 1.20 lakh. For Group D employees, the rate is Rs 15 and the payment is Rs 15,000, which will now be increased to Rs 60 per month and the payment will be Rs 60,000.

College Professor sentenced to four years in jail in Jind

Chandigarh: The Court of Additional District and Session Judge, Jind on Friday sentenced Subhash Duggal, Associate Professor in Government College, Jind to four years’ imprisonment on finding him guilty of accepting bribe from a student.  The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. A spokesperson of the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau said that Subhash Duggal was arrested by the Bureau after an inquiry related to corruption charges was initiated against him.

Haryana Police busts extortion ring in Panchkula, 3 accused ASI held

Panchkula: Haryana Police on Friday busted an extortion gang in Panchkula district and arrested three accused including Police post Incharge. The gang used to trap their targets in the name of loans and extort money from them by threatening to implicate them in false cases. Commissioner of Police, Panchkula Hanif Qureshi said that the arrested accused have been identified as Anil Bhalla, a resident of Sector 2 Panchkula, Narendra Khillan of Sector 10 Panchkula and ASI Gurmez Singh, Incharge of Police Post, Sector-2, Panchkula. Akash Bhalla, another member of the gang is still absconding.

To check violations of heavy vehicles, special inspection drive to be launched in Haryana

Chandigarh: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that a meeting of senior officers to check the violations of heavy vehicles on highways in the state and to speed up the inspection drive will be held soon and strict action will be taken against drunk driving. Vij said that the inspection drive would be continued to check the violations of heavy vehicles on highways and he himself would visit other districts of the state to inspect lane driving on the highways. He said that everyone will have to follow the traffic rules and ensure the others also follow.

Haryana CS reviews Auti Appeal Software 

Chandigarh:  Directing all Administrative Secretaries to bring the services of their departments on board with Auto Appeal Software (AAS) within 7 days, the Haryana Chief Sanjeev Kaushal on Friday, while reviewing the implementation of the Auto Appeal Software (AAS) launched under the Right to Service Act said that Haryana is the first state in the country to introduce such a unique system. This decision has been taken to make citizens aware of the time period of services available under the Right to Service Act. Under AAS, 192 services of various departments have been brought on board, he added. Kaushal was presiding over the review meeting held through video conferencing in Chandigarh.  The CS has gave directions to all the Administrative Secretaries to bring the services of their departments on board with AAS within 7 days and failure to do so will result in strict action being taken, he said.