Amrit Pal Brar

Barnala, June 24:

Deputy Commissioner Barnala Tej Partap Singh Phoolka, on Monday, said that the Drug de-addiction centre, being run inside civil hospital Barnala, is proving beneficial for the treatment of drug addicts. He informed that as many as 941 patients have been registered for the treatment from January 2018 in the de-addiction centre and most of the patients are Indoor Patients.

He added that the trained staff at the centre admit the patients in the IPD and provide them proper treatment for few days to stabilize them.

Tej Partap Singh Phoolka ssaid that in 2018, as many as 726 patients were registered in the de-addiction centre out of which 536 were admitted for treatment and rest 190 were given medicine on daily basis from outdoor patient department (OPD).

He added that in 2019 till May, as many as 215 new patients were registered out of which 214 were admitted.

Phoolka said that DAPO, a campaign against the drugs has been started by the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh to not only root out the drug menace, but also for rehabilitation of addicts by providing them free treatment.

He said that the authorities of private drug deaddiction centres have also been strictly instructed to ensure functioning of clinics and centres as per Standard Operating Protocol and mark daily attendance of patients.

Deputy Commissioner added that OOAT Clinics are also being run at various locations in the district to provide free treatment to the drug addicts on daily basis.

He added that in these OOAT clinics a specialist physiatrist has been appointed to provide medicines to drug addicts who himself administers the medicine to the drug addicts for proper treatment.

Move aimed at ensuring minimum hindrance to people during protests

Sarkar Darbar Bureau

Jalandhar, June 24- In order to ensure minimum hindrance to the people during the protests by protesting organizations, the district administration has designated 8 places in the district for the purpose of peaceful protests in Jalandhar.

Divulging the details, the Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma today said that these places have been carefully selected to ensure that normal life was not at all disturbed during the protests by political parties or other organizations.

He said that these places include PUDA ground opposite Tehsil complex Jalandhar, Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall, Burlton Park, Improvement Trust ground Kartarpur, Grain Market Bhogpur, on the western side of Kapurthala road Nakodar, Grain Market village Saifawala (Phillaur) and Nagar Panchayat complex Shahkot has been identified for protests outside the city.

The Deputy Commissioner said that these places have been designated for purpose of peaceful protest with several riders. He said that the protestors would have to seek prior permission from the Commissioner of Police or the concerned Sub Divisional Magistrate, whichever was applicable, before the protest.

Likewise, Sharma said that no weapon including knives, lathis or others would be allowed during the protest.

The Deputy Commissioner further said that the organizers of the protest would have to give the undertaking to ensure the peaceful march and protest with marshals at each relevant junction.

He further said that the organizers/ protestors would be responsible for any sort of loss to human life or property for any unlawful act during the protest.

Sharma said that these orders, being issued in pursuance of circular issued by Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Punjab with reference to CWP No. 28061 ‘Varinder Pal Sigh VS State of Punjab’, would be applicable for two months.

Complaint would be referred to the District Grievances Redressal Officers of the concerned District

Sarkar Darbar Bureau

Chandigarh, June 24, 2019: The Punjab Government is providing facilities to the eligible beneficiaries as per the National Food Security Act, 2013.

In case any beneficiary encounters any difficulty in getting the benefits of the scheme they can register their complaint on the commission’s website psfc.punjab.gov.in.  This has been revealed in a press release.

As per the press release, the Chairman, Punjab Food Commission D.P. Reddy it was generally seen that the beneficiaries had to face problems in availing the facilities under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and the redressal of the same through correspondence with the commission consumed a huge amount of time. It is to address this issue that the website of the commission has been operationalized which would serve the dual purpose of Information, Education and Communication dissemination to all the stakeholders besides the registering of complaints.

With the launch of this website any complaint coming to the Commission would be referred to the District Grievances Redressal Officers of the concerned District and the appeals would be dealt with at the level of the Commission.

He further sad that the complainant can get his complaint settled internally or externally as per the provisions of the Act Through the built-in MIS, the Commission would be able to see the status of any complaint.

All the three Departments, i.e. Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Social Security, Women& Child Development and School Education have designated Nodal Officers to resolve the grievances of their respective Departments. Each Department has designated Master Trainers, who, in turn would impart training to the officials of their respective Departments.

In case the complainant is not satisfied with the order of the District Grievances Redressal Officer, he can file an on-line appeal, before the Commission. For further details public can log on to psfc.punjab.gov.in

Who will be new Home Secretary of Punjab?

Who will make it ?

By Amrit Pal Singh Brar

Chandigarh, 23 June 2019: Appointment of new Home Secretary is likely to be made in the coming days. Nirmaljit Singh Kalsi Home Secretary of Punjab is retiring in June end. He has already applied for the post of Chief Information Commissioner Punjab. Though, the outgoing DGP Suresh Arora is also interested in this post.

As per the seniority list, the following officers can be considered as contenders, Karan Bir Singh Sidhu 1984 batch, he is to retire on 31 July 2021, Arun Goel 1985 batch, he is on central deputation since long and his retirement is on 31 December 2022, C Roul 1985 batch, his retirement is on 31 December 2020, Satish Chandra 1985 batch is to retire on 30 September 2020, Kalpana Mittal Barua 1985 batch is to retire on 30 November 2020, ManiKant Prasad Singh 1986 batch known as MP Singh, his retirement is in December 2019. Vini Mahajan 1987 batch has a long tenure to serve, her retirement is in October 2024. Her batch mate Vishwajeet Khanna’s retirement is on 30 June 2021. All these officers are considered as upright officers.

Karan Bir Singh Sidhu has already served as Home Secretary during the SAD BJP regime and now he is in Special Chief Secretary rank and heading MAGSIPA, which was earlier, headed by the outgoing CS and senior bureaucrat Sarvesh Kaushal.

Arun Goel is on central deputation since long; his background is from Patiala, the constituency of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Patiala based people are considered heavyweights these days. Earlier, during the regime of SAD BJP, the officers with background from Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda, enjoyed upper hand in postings and other matters. Same parameter works now; it’s the Patiala people, who are working on key posts these days. Whether, this connection will bring Arun Goel back to Punjab, only time will answer.

Satish Chandra of 1985 batch is serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Health and Family Welfare. Known for simplicity and hardworking, Satish Chandra is one of the very upright officers of the state. He is a result oriented officer and has given excellent output, wherever he is posted.

Vini Mahajan 1987 batch has a long tenure to serve the state and her husband Dinkar Gupta is presently serving as DGP of Punjab. She is likely to be empanelled in the rank of Secretary in the Government of India within next three months.

According to the opinion of the observers, the performance and tenure of the outgoing Home Secretary was at the lowest point. Promotions of the police officials from NGOs to GOs and other ranks took a long time and still pending, due to unknown reasons. Punjab needs a dynamics Home Secretary. Who will make it? Only Capt Amarinder Singh can answer to this question. (Author can be contacted at amritbrar2012@gmail.com 9814313405)

Sarkar Darbar Bureau

Jalandhar, June 22- The government drug de-addiction, centers are lending a great help to the drug dependents and their families in the district as many as 33370 persons have so far taken treatment in two drug de-addiction centers of the district.

According to the data available, the total OPD in Model Drug De-Addiction center in Civil Hospital was 5925 in 2016 followed by 6110 in 2017, 7936 in 2018 and 1915 this year (Till May 2019).

The footfall in OPD Drug De-Addiction center in Nurmahal was 2105 in 2016, 2489 in 2017, 2504 in 2018 and 1027 this year (Till May 2019).

Similarly, the IPD in both Model Drug De-Addiction center in Civil Hospital and Nurmahal Drug De-Addiction Centre was 759 in 2016, 849 in 2017, 1161 in 2018 and 591 IPD this year (Till May 2019).

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the awareness among the drug dependents and their families resulted positively that they are arriving at the centers for the treatment in these de-addiction centers.

Sharma told that the continuous strict police action on drug peddlers by Punjab Police along with mass level sensitization programs including Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) and Buddy, have motivated the drug dependants and their families to shun the stigma attached with the drug menace hence they are freely coming to the centers for treatment of their loved ones.

The Deputy Commissioner said that it was an encouraging trend but the district administration would continue its efforts until the entire district was not made drug free.

He said that these centers were the result of the commitment of the state government to wipe out this menace from the state through proper treatment and diagnosis of the drug affected persons.

Hundreds of People led by Isha Kalia Perform Yoga at Hoshiarpur

Amrit Pal Brar

Hoshiarpur, 22 June

Deputy Commissioner Hoshiarpur Isha Kalia today gave a clarion call to the people for making Yoga an integral part of their daily routine for a living a healthy and happy life. She was addressing people on Yoga day on Saturday.

Isha Kalia said Yoga is emerging as the only way for relieving mental pressure and relaxation to keep body fit across. Yoga for 20 minutes daily energizes the body and makes the body feel fresh for a whole day.

She further said “ Yoga helps in maintaining mental and physical equilibrium thereby ensuring a quality life”.

DC and CP directs officials to bring all such children in mainstream

FIR Filed, Two Arrested

Amrit Pal Brar

Jalandhar, 21June: – A joint team of the civil and police administration rescued 11 children who were being engaged in the segregation of waste, begging or other such work from areas nearby Railway Station and Bhagat Singh Chowk on Thursday late night.

The children in the age of 8 to 13 were being exploited educationally and economically. The children have been produced before the Child Welfare Committee and are being shifted to protection homes.

Pained over the exploitation of children, the deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has directed to officials to rescue each such child and put them in the schools for bringing them into the mainstream.

Presiding over the meeting held in the meeting hall of DAC, they said that the guilty in this incident will face severe punishment for mistreatment of children.

They asked the officials from police, education, health, district program office, child labour, and members of the Child Welfare Committee, NGO and Local Municipal Councillor to leave no stone unturned to ensure that such incident must not happen.

Meanwhile, a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the two persons namely Vikas Kumar of Godam Mohalla in Amritsar originally from Muzaffarpur and Shidar Kumar Shiva Ji Nagar in Jalandhar under various sections of IPC and Juvenile Justice Act 2000 in Navi Baradari Police Station. The team has also seized two tubes of chemical vulcanizing fluid, two liquor bottles and tobacco packets.

The fluid was being sniffed as a drug by them.  This fluid is being used for repairing the puncture tube and tyres. The children were not studying in any school.

On the occasion, SDM Mr Paramvir Singh, ADCP Ms D Sudarvizhi, District Education Officer Harinder Pal Singh, Assistant Commissioner Labour Department Jalandhar Inderjeet Singh Sra, Deputy District Education Officer Anil Awasthi and others were present.