PUNJAB

The government has roped in Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a consultant, initially for six months, for helping the state in its efforts for crop diversification and management of crop stubble.

The global consultant will suggest the pathway to the government while it prepares its Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture policy, to be announced by the end of this month. On the cards is the shift from the wheat-paddy to increasing the area under Cotton, basmati, sugarcane, pulses and oilseeds. However, wet May (rain 136 per cent above normal) is likely to play truant in the implementation of the new agriculture policy.

This app is available on Google play store in the name of PunjabMines and every android user will be able to access this app and submit his or her complaint in case of any unlawful mining activity.

PunjabsPatialadistrict has become the first district in the country to adopt the Right to Walk policy, which not only focuses on the safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists but also highlights the districts commitment to preserve its heritage.

I am honoured to announce the launch of the Patiala Right to Walk policy, as Patiala becomes the first district in the country to adopt this ground-breaking initiative. This policy is a significant milestone in our relentless efforts to prioritise the well-being and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists.

The Right to Walk policy is a collaborative effort between the Patiala District Administration, thePunjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre,SAS Nagar, and various other government agencies.

The Chandigarh administration on Wednesday approved a new Excise Policy for fiscal 2023-24, aiming to bring uniformity with neighboring tri-cities — Panchkula and Mohali — and to promote low-alcoholic drinks.

Also, liquor is expected to be slightly cheaper now after the policy comes into force as the cow cess has been reduced on it. But a new tax, clean air cess, will now be levied.

The policy for 2023-24 aims at balancing the aspirations of consumers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and the government, a statement said onWednesday. A major development for the retail vends, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and bars is the extension in time for operating. Now the liquor vends will be operational from 9 a.m. to midnight, while bars till 3 a.m.

To promote low-alcoholic drinks, license fees and duties have not been increased on beer, wine, ready to drink, among others.

The Chandigarh Administration has kept the excise duties on all types of liquor the same as in the previous years policy. Quotas of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), country liquor (CL) and imported foreign liquor (IFL) have been kept unchanged. Quarterly quota lifting quantities have been eased based on the suggestions of stakeholders.

ven as the Captain Amarinder Singh-ledPunjabgovernment has been stressing on improving Health facilities, the state has been found lagging behind inmaternal healthcare, a key indicator of healthcare facilities of any state.

Though Punjab is performing at par with thenational averagebut is behind other states in maternal mortality rate (MMR), according to the latest PunjabEconomic Surveyreport.
As per the data, MMR in Punjab stands at 122 per lakh live births, which is at par with the national Average. On the other hand, Kerala has a mortality rate of 42 per lakh live birth, lowest in the country. It is followed by Maharashtra with MMR of 55 per lakh live birth, 63 in Nadu, 74 in Andhra Pradesh, 87 in Gujarat and 98 in Haryana.

In Punjab, 30.7% of all expecting mothers received all types of recommended antenatal care against the national average of 20.9%. In Kerala, as high as 61.2% of expecting mother received antenatal care, 45% in Tamil Nadu, 43.9% in Andhra Pradesh and 32.4% in Maharashtra.

To strengthening maternal healthcare, the State Government in the budget allocated Rs 65 crore for the construction of eight new maternal and child health wings at sub-divisional hospitals of Talwandi Sabo, Nabha, Patti and Derabassi and district hospitals of Muktsar and Gurdaspur, and community health centres of Bhawanigarh and Raikot. Besides, Rs 57 crore has been given for the completion of the construction work of the nine maternal and child health wings proposed in the budget for the year 2020-21.

The state fares much better than the national average and other states in terms of expenditure incurred on delivery in public health facilities. The average out of pocket expenditure per delivery in Punjab stands at Rs 1,890 against the national average of Rs 3,197. Whereas in Kerala the expenditure stands at Rs 6,901 per delivery, Rs 3,578 in Maharashtra, Rs 2,322 in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 2,136 in Gujarat.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked the officers to ensure that new Industrial Policy is dedicated to soon.

Mann, chairing a high level review meeting, said that Punjab is on the threshold of becoming a front-runner industrial state in the country; and the new Industrial Policy, being prepared by the State Government, will act as a pivot for it. For the first time, this industry policy has been formulated after taking the views of all the stakeholders, especially the industrialists, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the suggestions of the states industrial captains have been duly incorporated in this policy. Likewise, Mann said that the opinions received from the industrial tycoons, during his recent visits to Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai too, have been included in it. This new industrial policy will give much needed fillip to industrial Growth of the state, he added.