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Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
At least 60 incidents of violence at Punjab's public health facilities in a year; docs remind AAP govt of 'unfulfilled' promise to deploy security
In Punjab, at least 60 incidents of extreme violence — 'endangering the lives of doctors and other healthcare staff' — have occurred at government healthcare facilities over the past year, showed data compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association. Amidst this, demanding adequate security arrangements at the earliest, the Association on Saturday wrote a fresh letter to Punjab Health Secretary Kumal Rahul, stating the AAP-led 'state government is yet to fulfil its promise of deploying security personnel at government health facilities on August 19, 2024, for the safety of health workers. Doctors expect the promise will now be fulfilled by August 19 this year.' Criticising the state government, Association president Dr Akhil Sarin said even as it was announced during a press conference on August 19, 2024, that 'security personnel would be deployed at public healthcare facilities 24X7', followed by a 'written assurance' by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on September 11, 2024, 'the promise remains unfulfilled'. Further highlighting the surge in violence at public healthcare facilities, the Association emphasised the 'lack of security', particularly in rural areas, leaving woman doctors vulnerable during night duties. This lack of security is also cited as a factor contributing to high attrition rates among health workers. 'The incidents of extreme violence have shaken the cadre to the core, but we are still performing our duties with utmost dedication. It is high time for the government to fulfil its promise and provide adequate security to healthcare staff. The PCMS cadre is the only cadre involved in high-risk activities — on ground 24X7 duty in medico-legal tests, which also involves examining criminal elements and getting exposed to anti-social elements in the society… We hope the government, which claims to bring 'Sehat Kranti' (health revolution) in the state, will solve such basic issues, instead of making us beg to save our lives,' Dr Sarin said, adding representatives of the Association are also set to meet the Punjab Health Secretary in Chandigarh on Monday — to discuss the security issue. According to district-wise data compiled by the Association, at least six of the total incidents of extreme violence against doctors and medical staff were reported from Amritsar, five each (Pathankot and Hoshiarpur), four each (Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Moga), three each (Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Mohali, Bathinda, and Patiala), two each (Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Ferozepur), and one each (Ropar, and Barnala). Mentioning such incidents in the letter, the Association stated a 'terrifying incident' recently reported from Talwandi Sabo sub-divisional hospital (SDH), where a patient attacked a healthcare worker on-duty with a sharp-edged weapon, injuring him severely. In June 2025, another patient fired gunshots inside the emergency ward of the Kartarpur Community Health Centre (CHC). At Sultanpur Lodhi SDH, two parties had a violent face-off, following which a doctor on-duty and the staff were forced to flee and lock themselves inside the building. Similar incidents were reported from public healthcare facilities in Jagraon, Zira, Dera Bassi, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur among others, the letter read.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kang becomes 1st in AAP to voice concern over Punjab's contentious land pooling policy
Chandigarh: Amid massive opposition to AAP govt's controversial land pooling policy in Punjab, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang on Sunday advised his party's supremo, Arvind Kejriwal, and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to hear "objections raised by farmer unions on the policy". In a post on X on Sunday evening, Kang, who is the first AAP leader to publicly voice his concerns regarding the controversial policy, said, "Govt should move forward only after taking farmers and our farmer unions into confidence through dialogue." He called on the state govt to listen to the farmers with empathy and address their issues through meaningful dialogue. "My suggestion to @ArvindKejriwal ji and @BhagwantMann ji is that our govt has done a lot for the betterment of farmers in the last three years, such as ensuring uninterrupted power supply for agriculture, aiming to deliver canal water to every field, expediting mandi reforms, and promoting crop diversification, among other efforts. On this policy too, govt should move forward only after taking farmers and our farmer unions into confidence through dialogue," he said. Kang, who put out the post in both Punjabi and English, said, "On this too, trust must be earned – not assumed – before any policy takes root." The AAP govt in Punjab, led by Mann, has been facing criticism from opposition parties, farm unions, and farmers ever since it proposed the land pooling policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo Under the policy, state govt plans to acquire more than 40,000 acres of land across the state for housing and industrial projects, promising residential and commercial plots of varied dimensions, depending on the contribution of land parcels by them, for the contributing landowners in the developed projects. All three main opposition parties in Punjab, the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the BJP, have been opposing the scheme, calling it a "land grabbing" scheme. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar even termed it a "Ponzi scheme," even as the ruling AAP claimed it to be aimed at planned urbanisation in the state. Facing criticism over the policy, the AAP-led govt, after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, approved a number of amendments to the policy. These amendments included annual compensation to the landowners, extending residential and commercial plot allotments to farmers with smaller landholdings, and issuing letters offering residential and commercial plots in a time-bound manner. The amendments aimed to allay the concerns of the farmers. However, criticism of the policy continued, with Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announcing protests against the policy on Wednesday. Opposing the policy, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also demanded its rollback. |
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition to Punjab's land-pooling policy brings together farmers
Opposition to Punjab's land-pooling policy brings together farmers BATHINDA: Resistance to AAP-led Punjab government's land-pooling policy is acting as the glue to bring together fractured farm organisations and individual farmers beyond political affiliation, reports Neel Kamal. It appears to be rekindling farm struggles that seemed to be losing momentum - seeing that there was not much hue and cry after Punjab Police slammed shut the protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana. The Bhagwant Mann government has been trying to convince people that land-pooling scheme was beneficial to farmers but it hasn't been able to dispel farmers' apprehension of losing land. Individual farmers from villages where land is being 'pooled' - those so far not associated with farm organisations - are now turning towards them to oppose the scheme. The policy aims to pool over 40,000 acres of farmland to promote planned urban development. It's a land-for-land scheme, where landowners voluntarily give up land and are given developed residential and commercial plots in exchange. SKM's green light to its Punjab chapter to hold tractor rallies on July 30 in villages that are likely to be brought under land-pooling scheme has come as a boost to forces opposing the scheme. The national committee of KMM has also backed the SKM call, further emboldening resistance.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In a first, Delhi govt mulls renaming schools after local war heroes
As Delhi marked Kargil Vijay Diwas on Saturday with tributes to martyrs, Education Minister Ashish Sood announced that the government is considering renaming government schools after local martyrs to 'inspire students and citizens' and instil 'patriotism'. 'This will help inspire students and citizens alike, and instil a sense of duty and patriotism among the younger generation,' the minister's office said in a statement on Saturday. The proposal is under consideration and will involve identifying suitable 'prominent government schools' across Delhi. Currently, Delhi government schools are largely named through centrally or state-run schemes, often in honour of national figures rather than individual local heroes. For instance, schools under the Centre's flagship scheme carry the prefix 'PM SHRI'. In the 2025–26 state budget, the Delhi government announced the rollout of 'CM SHRI Schools' as part of its own model school initiative. In April 2022, the then AAP-led government renamed all Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (RPVVs) as Dr B R Ambedkar Schools of Specialized Excellence. This year, the Education Department also announced plans to set up at least 100 language labs named after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. So far, the renaming of educational institutions has mostly taken place in central universities. In 2016, Jawaharlal Nehru University renamed its central library after Dr B R Ambedkar following a student-backed proposal. While some seminar halls and centres have been renamed in other universities, similar initiatives have not been seen in Delhi government schools until now. Saturday's announcement was made during a commemorative event at Shivaji College, University of Delhi, where Sood served as the chief guest. He paid tributes to three alumni of the college, including Captain Sumit Roy, Captain Hanif-ud-Din and Captain Anuj Nayyar, who were killed in the 1999 Kargil War. 'The lives of these young warriors are a timeless source of inspiration. Their supreme sacrifice in the prime of youth was extraordinary. I genuinely believe that there is something exceptional in those who willingly lay down their lives for the nation,' Sood said. The education minister also spoke of civic responsibility as a form of service. 'Serving the nation also means fulfilling our civic duties, keeping our surroundings clean, following traffic rules, protecting public property, and living as responsible citizens. These are also acts of patriotism, equally vital for the progress of the country,' he said. The event was attended by Swapna Roy, the mother of Captain Sumit Roy. The ceremony was organised by the college's National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme units and saw participation by faculty members, college officials, and students.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Punjab Police steps up vigil: Mann government deploys anti-drone measures to curb cross-border smuggling
Mann government deploys anti-drone measures to curb cross-border smuggling in Punjab CHANDIGARH: Pakistan has long used drones to smuggle contraband, including heroin, arms, and explosives, into Punjab. In response, the Punjab Police has begun deploying advanced anti-drone technology in a bid to eliminate cross-border drug and arms trafficking. Official data suggests that drone intrusions have reduced significantly in recent years. According to data shared by the state government, drone seizures have risen sharply since 2022. While just 2 drones were intercepted in 2019, 7 in 2020, and 1 in 2021, the numbers spiked following the Aam Aadmi Party's government in Punjab. Punjab Police seized 28 drones in 2022, 121 in 2023, and a record 294 in 2024. As of July 15, 2025, 138 drones have been recovered this year, taking the total to 591 since 2022. Police have also arrested over 22,000 individuals under the state's 'War Against Drugs' campaign. The scale of contraband dropped via drones also remains a major concern. Recoveries so far include 932 kg of heroin, 263 pistols, 14 AK-47 rifles, 66 hand grenades, and nearly 15 kg of RDX. According to state officials, a layered surveillance system has been established in 596 border villages, which includes networks of local residents, retired soldiers, and police personnel tasked with 24/7 monitoring. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo The villages have been digitally mapped into three categories, with records of road layouts, suspect lists, and area-specific security requirements. Police officers now log activities using "beat books", and protection teams across villages are connected through WhatsApp. Authorities say the system ensures that security is embedded at the grassroots level rather than being limited to police stations. Punjab government has allocated ₹51 crore for the procurement of nine advanced anti-drone systems. Joint efforts by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police now involve technology-based tracking, forensic analysis, and communication surveillance to intercept drones. The AAP-led Punjab government said in a statement,' Whether it's drones, drugs, terrorism, or smuggling, no one will be spared. This is not just a matter of state security; it's about national safety, and the Punjab government is addressing it with full force.' Officials say districts such as Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, and Fazilka were previously known for frequent drone activity, are now witnessing stronger border control.
