Chandigarh, March 21: The Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria reaffirmed the firm commitment of the state government. They are determined to wipe out the scourge of drugs. On Friday, he said that under the ongoing crusade against drugs, there is Yudh Nasheyan Virudh. A special focus has been placed on this campaign. The focus is to break the economic chain in the entire nexus.

Punjab Govt Intensifies War on Drugs and Organized Crime”

In his address during the eight session of 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Governor stated that the state Government has intensified its fight against drug trafficking. The Government also targets organized crime. They have taken strategic initiatives. One such initiative is the extremely resolute and focussed launch of War against Drugs (Youdh Nasheyan Virudh) on February 25. He said that a high powered, Cabinet sub-committee has been set up. It is led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Its purpose is to make this campaign a grand success. Gulab Chand Kataria said that several properties of the drug traffickers have been demolished. This action sends the message of the state’s firm conviction to eliminate the problem of drugs completely from Punjab.

 Punjab Governor  Strengthens Anti-Narcotics Task Force for Drug Crackdown

The Governor said that the Special Task Force (STF) has been restructured and strengthened. It is now the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). The task force was established to enforce drug laws. It aims to rehabilitate victims and prevent substance abuse.He said they held 33,079 public awareness meetings statewide to educate people. Additionally, they formed 19,523 Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in just four months. Gulab Chand Kataria said they also set up the Special Intelligence and Technical Unit.This unit analyzes drug-related data, communications, and financial transactions. This significantly boosts ANTF’s effectiveness.

“Punjab’s Crackdown on Crime: 1,588 Arrests & 571 Gangs Busted : Gulab Chand Kataria

The Governor said that the Anti Gangster Task Force and field units have made remarkable progress in combating organized crime. They have arrested 1,588 criminals and neutralized 13 gangsters. They also busted 571 criminal modules.Task Force recovered 1,477 weapons and 327 vehicles used in crimes. He said that for the safety and security of the people of Punjab, the state Government has taken every possible administrative measure. Legal measures were also taken to maintain law and order in the State. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state Government has made significant strides in counter-intelligence, cybercrime prevention, and modernization. He added that from January 1 to November 28, 2024, the Punjab Police has busted nine terror modules. This led to 59 arrests and the recovery of weapons. The Governor said that Punjab State Cyber Crime Division continues to actively combat cyber threats. Notably, this includes establishing 28 cyber police stations across Punjab. Furthermore, they have implemented 24×7 social media monitoring to enhance security. In addition, initiatives like the Cyber Mittar chatbot are also in place to support these efforts.

Gulab Chand Kataria Highlights Healthcare Achievements and Free Medicine Initiative”

“Highlighting another significant achievement, he stated that the state government has launched several groundbreaking schemes. Specifically, these schemes strategically target crucial sectors such as Health and Education. Moreover, Gulab Chand Kataria emphasized that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are currently operational across the state. Consequently, a total of 2.98 crore patients have already availed themselves of health services at these clinics. Furthermore, in an effort to enhance healthcare accessibility, the state’s healthcare system has been significantly strengthened by conducting more than 90 lakh diagnostic lab tests so far. This continued commitment underscores the government’s dedication to improving public welfare.” The Governor said that Medicines worth Rs. 600 crores at the prevailing market rates and diagnostics tests worth Rs. 100 crores have been provided to the patients at these clinics. He mentioned that these clinics have significantly reduced out of pocket expenditure on health care for the people of the State. The reduction amounts to a whopping Rs. 1296 crore. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state Government is committed. It aims to provide free medicines to all the patients in Government Hospitals. An amount of Rs. 200 crore is expected to be spent on purchasing medicines and consumables in the next financial year 2025-26.

“Punjab Govt Expands Affordable X-Ray & Ultrasound Services”: Gulab Chand Kataria

The state government is committed to providing X-ray facilities to all district hospitals. It is also equipping sub-divisional hospitals and community health centers with ultrasound facilities, the Governor said. The Government aims to offer Ultrasound facilities at very reasonable rates. He said that 554 private X-ray and Ultrasound centres have been empanelled. These centres provide services to the patients at the same reasonable prices. Gulab Chand Kataria said that additional cost on this account is being borne by the State Government and in the next 12 months, approximate benefit to be provided to the patients of Punjab will be Rs. 53 Crores on account of these services.

“Governor Unveils Hospital Upgrade Plan, Highlights Farishtey Scheme Impact”

The Governor said that a comprehensive plan has been made. It focuses on the improvement of buildings of all the District Hospitals. This plan will be implemented over the next three years. He said that Rs. 150 crores have been spent on civil works. These funds were also used for installing fire fighting systems in 16 Government Hospitals during the year 2024-25. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state government has launched the Farishtey Scheme on January 25, 2024. This scheme aims to save the life and limb of accident victims. It intends to lower the mortality and morbidity rate due to injuries occurring during roadside accidents. The Governor said that till date 487 (178 public and 309 private) hospitals have been empanelled under this scheme. He added that since the scheme’s inception, a total of 404 beneficiaries have been registered on the portal. This registration is valid till February, 2025. They have taken treatment under this scheme in empanelled hospitals, with a pre-authorization amount of Rs. 42.55 lakhs.

“Punjab Expands Medical Colleges, Boosts Yoga & School Security”

He said that currently the state has 12 government and private Medical Colleges. There are a total of 1700 MBBS seats in the state. He also added that the state Government is establishing five new medical colleges. These colleges will be at Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, and Malerkotla. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the Government has launched the ‘‘CM di Yogashala’’ project. The initiative aims to encourage regular yoga practices to promote physical and mental wellbeing. It focuses on reducing stress and improving the overall health of its citizens. The Governor stated that the government conducts 3,200 yoga classes daily across various cities in all districts of Punjab, benefiting approximately 1,00,000 participants each day. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to providing well-managed, safe, and secure campuses in government schools under “Punjab Sikhya Kranti.” Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state government has appointed 2042 campus Managers and 1378 security Guards through PESCO.

 Punjab Governor Highlights Education, Transport & Infrastructure Boost in Schools”

The Governor said that, in addition to this, the state government has launched a subsidized transport facility, with 230 buses now operating in Schools of Eminence and Girls’ schools. Furthermore, he emphasized that the government remains deeply committed to providing Hi-tech Education in Government schools by setting up 1,970 ICT labs and 7,702 smart classrooms, as well as ensuring 100 Mbps internet connections in 19,120 schools. Moreover, he highlighted that, in order to empower students with the necessary skills and resources to dream big, the state government has introduced a transformative initiative. Under this scheme, the government carefully selected 51,565 students, forming 6,700 teams, and provided them with Rs 10.32 crores in seed money. Consequently, this support has enabled students to turn their business ideas into real, thriving enterprises. The Governor stated that, in an endeavor to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure in government schools, the state government has invested Rs. 568.43 crores in the construction of additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, toilets, and other essential facilities. Furthermore, he emphasized that the state government has actively ensured that farmers, especially those located at the tail ends of canals, receive a consistent and reliable supply of canal water. Moreover, Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted that, as part of this effort, the state government has executed 79 projects for the rehabilitation and lining of canals in the current financial year 2024-25.

 Punjab Governor  Highlights Water Restoration & Record Crop Procurement”

The Governor stated that authorities have restored 77 canals. These canals were abandoned or non-functional for 30 to 40 years. They cover a length of around 545 km. Additionally, they have revived about 16,000 watercourses, abandoned for the past 30-40 years, spanning approximately 4,200 km. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state Government has been able to utilize more than 12% of additional water during the last Kharif season. This is in comparison to that of the last five years. The Governor further said that the state government has successfully undertaken procurement operations for procurement of Wheat and Paddy under Central Pool. He said that the government purchased 121.31 lakh tons of wheat and 173.58 lakh tons of paddy during the Rabi and Kharif seasons, respectively, and directly deposited Rs. 68,630 crores of Minimum Support Price into farmers’ bank accounts.

state Government has procured 14,400 e-PoS kits

The Governor said that the state Government has procured 14,400 e-PoS kits and Electronic Weighing scales. They equipped each Fair Price Shop with a dedicated e-PoS kit and Electronic Weighing Scale. This ensures transparency and efficiency in distribution of wheat under National Food Security Act. He said that Agriculture remains vital to the economy of Punjab. During India’s food crisis, the state’s hardworking farmers played a leading role in the Green Revolution. Gulab Chand Kataria said that Punjabi farmers have continuously contributed to maintaining India’s food security for the past five decades. The Governor said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab produces about 18% wheat and 11% rice and 4% cotton of total production. He said that Punjab State has contributed about 24% and 50.4% of paddy and wheat respectively to the central grain reserve. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state Government has provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs. 1500/- per acre to the farmers for promotion of Direct Seeding of Rice.

total 2.53 lakh acres area cultivated under DSR

The Governor said that during Kharif 2024, total 2.53 lakh acres area cultivated under DSR as compared to 1.70 lakh acres during kharif 2023 which is 48.8% more than the last year. He said that in order to enable farmers to export Basmati of international standard, the Punjab government has banned 10 agricultural pesticides used on Basmati. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the Department of Agriculture has started a pilot project at block Chougawan, District Amritsar to produce pesticide residue free basmati. The Governor said that to promote Crop Diversification and increase the area under maize, the state Government has provided subsidy to hybrid varieties of maize seeds certified and recommended by PAU, Ludhiana @ Rs. 100 per kg of total amount Rs. 2.30 crore. He said that they have set up maize exhibitions across 3,500 hectares in the state and will provide farmers with maize seeds and other inputs like fertilizers and pesticides as assistance at a rate of Rs. 6,000 per hectare. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the Punjab government has formed an 11-member committee to develop an agricultural policy based on Punjab’s environment, culture, and crops. This policy aims to promote sustainable agriculture, protect natural resources, and increase farmers’ income. He added that the draft agriculture policy has been circulated to all stakeholders, including farmers and laborers.

“Governor Highlights Punjab’s Power Reforms & Farmer Support”

The Governor said that being sensitive to the cause of farmers, the state Government has been proactive in clearing the past dues as well as ensuring timely payment to the sugar cane growers, to promote crop diversification in Punjab. “The state government commits to providing reliable and affordable power across all sectors in Punjab and actively enhances power infrastructure.” The government is implementing schemes that benefit every citizen. Gulab Chand Kataria said that Punjab has met its all time highest ever peak demand of 16,058 Megawatts on 29.06.2024. The state Government has ensured more than eight hours power supply to agriculture consumers during paddy season. They did this without imposing any power cut on Domestic, Commercial, Industrial and other consumers. This approach led to a bumper paddy crop.

“Punjab Governor Highlights Free Power & Merit-Based Jobs”

The Governor said that the Government has implemented a free electricity scheme of 300 units monthly to domestic consumers. This has been in place since July 2022. It has benefited around 70 Lacs i.e. 90% of households, receiving zero bills in a billing cycle. He continued with the endeavour of providing government jobs on merit to deserving candidates. The state Government has ensured fairness in recruitment. They have also ensured efficiency. Gulab Chand Kataria stated that over 51,000 candidates have received appointment letters. These were issued under regular recruitment by various departments of the Government of Punjab since 2022. The Governor said that a trend is now being observed of reverse brain drain. Many able youth of Punjab who were earlier opting to go abroad are now joining the service of Government of Punjab. He also highlighted several other initiatives taken by the state government. These initiatives span the fields of Industry, Sports, infrastructure development, transport, law and order, anti-corruption, NOC for plots, and others. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the state government believes in healthy co-operation. They move together to take Punjab to new heights. Their quest is for justice to everyone and achieving a knowledge society. This will be a model for all. He expressed hope that all will walk together step-by-step to re-establish ‘Prosperous Punjab.’