PUNJAB

Punjab Enhances Compensation Due to Natural Calamities By 25%

by

In a major pro-farmer decision aimed at safeguarding their interests during natural calamities, the Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave nod for enhancing the compensation due to natures fury by 25 per cent per acre thereby giving a major respite to the food growers.

Keeping in view the loss incurred by the farmers recently due to heavy rains, hailstorms, and strong winds, the Cabinet has decided to enhance the relief amount from Rs 12,000 per acre to Rs 15,000 per acre for 76-100 per cent loss of crops. This measure will give a healing touch to the affected farmers who will be able to get a reasonable financial relief from the government, said a spokesperson of the Chief Ministers Office, adding that these relief rates will be applicable from March 1, 2023.

Improvement in doc-patient ratio

by

Punjab has recorded an overall improvement in the ratio of Population served per doctor. The doctor-patient ratio has improved from 1,004 patient perdoctorin 2019 to 988 patients per doctor, almost meeting the World Health Organisations (WHO) prescribed the norm of one doctor for 1,000 people. A nurse caters to 347 people, better than 399 in 2019. Despite the improvement, disparity has been observed between districts. However, in Tarn Taran district one doctor caters to over 11,000 people, while in Faridkot the ratio is 500 patients per doctor. Similarly, one nurse serves over 7,600 individuals in Pathankot against 63 in Patiala.

Improvement has also been made in health . Population served per has improved from 1,657 in 2019 to 1,595 in 2020. On Average, one health facility serves a radius of 2.86km.

Punjab Budget Session to begin with governors address on March 3

by

With thePunjab governor Banwarilal Purohitgiving his Consent, the Budget Session of thePunjab Assemblywill begin on March 3 with his address.

As per the date-wise programme issued by the Vidhan Sabha secretariat, there will be a and discussion on the governors address on March 6 (Monday) and legislative business will be carried out on March 7 (Tuesday) while March 9 (Thursday) has been reserved for non-official business.

The budget estimates for 2023-24 will be presented by finance ministerHarpal Singh Cheemaon March 10 (Friday) and there will be a general discussion on the budget estimates the following day.

Public sand mining sites to be declared in Punjab, says Hayer

by

ThePunjabmining department will soon introduce public mining sites across the state to ensure that people can purchase sand from such sites by paying only Rs 5.50 per square feet.

Mining and geology minister Gurmeet SinghMeet Hayersaid on Monday that the public mining sites will help in checking any malpractice to jack up the prices of sand and give the freedom of choice to people to buy sand from the source of choice and at price of choice.

The chief minister would shortly announce details of all such mining sites in various districts and the first such public mining site would be inaugurated soon, he added.

Punjabs GST revenue collected on receipt basis during the month of July this year has witnessed 29 percent jump as compared to the previous year.

by

The GST revenue collected on receipt basis, that is cash collected under State Goods and Services Tax head, Central Goods and Services Tax head, Integrated Goods and Services Tax head and Cess head, during the month of July 2021 stands at Rs 1,533 crores which remained Rs 1,188 crores during July 2020.

The GST revenue, that is State Goods and Services Tax collected in cash and the credit of Integrated Goods and Services Tax, used to make payment of State Goods and Services Tax, transferred by the Centre, collected during the month of July 2021 is Rs 1455.85 crores which remained Rs 1103.31 crores during the month of July 2020. The GST revenue during the month of July 2021 is 31.95 percent higher than the GST revenue during the month of July 2020, which indicates that the pace of economic recovery has improved.

The GST revenue up to the month of July 2021 is 85.28 percent higher than the corresponding period in the previous year. Punjab is rigorously monitoring bogus billing and unscrupulous trade practices through effective enforcement. Use of advanced data analytics from multiple sources and sector wise study of modus operandi of in particular sectors is practised by the Taxation Department, Punjab,

Punjab CM announces to introduces AI for need-based construction of rural roads

by

To ensure the judicious use of public for development purposes, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) for need-based construction of rural roads in the State.

The Chief Minister, chairing a meeting of Punjab Mandi Board at his office, gave a nod for introducing Artificial Intelligence for need-based construction of the rural roads in the state. This step will ensure optimum use of existing Resources of the state along with ensuring top quality work on rural roads. This technique will revolutionize the construction work on roads by saving a lot of public money, he added.

The State Government has decided to give a major facelift to the link road Infrastructure by widening, strengthening, and upgradation of rural roads across the State. Keeping in view the importance of this road Network to facilitate the people, the State Government has taken this decision, said Mann, asking the Punjab Mandi Board to ensure high quality of the work besides ensuring that every penny allocated for that project was invested in a justified manner.

Senior Congress leader and six-time MP from Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital in Amritsar. He was 100.

by

He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1972 from the Amritsar parliamentary constituency, and again re-elected from the same seat in the 1980, 1985, 1992, 1996 and 1999 as a member of the Congress. Bhatia had also served as the Governor of Kerala from 2004 to 2008 and the governor of Bihar from 2008 to 2009. He had also served as the minister of state for external affairs in 1992.

Punjab Cabinet nod to amend coop audit service rules

by

Keeping in view the larger interest of employees and the administrative need of the Cooperation Department to ensure efficiency in its functioning, the Punjab Cabinet today approved amendment to the Punjab Cooperative Audit (Group-B) Service Rules, 2016.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by CM Charanjit Singh Channi.

The amendment to the provisions due to the restructuring of the department would provide for direct/promotional avenues to the posts of audit officer, superintendent grade 2, senior auditor, inspector audit and senior assistant. After the approval of the officer committee, the restructuring of the department was approved during a Cabinet meeting on December 30, 2020, in which the posts of inspector were reduced from 774 to 654, while those of senior auditor were increased from 32 to 107.