Latest news with #CivilSecretariat
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab introduces drones for enhanced emergency response capabilities
Listen to article Punjab's Civil Defence Department has unveiled advanced drone technology to manage emergencies in hazardous and inaccessible locations, marking a significant upgrade to the province's disaster response capabilities. The initiative was showcased at the Civil Secretariat, where Provincial Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique, and Secretary Home, Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, witnessed a live demonstration of the new equipment. The drones demonstrated capabilities including airlifting individuals from dangerous sites, neutralising explosives, and conducting surveillance. Other high-tech tools—such as remote-controlled vehicles, snake cameras, IED drones, anti-drone guns, bomb disposal suits, and mine detectors—were also on display. A bomb disposal robot successfully neutralised an explosive device in an inaccessible location, while a heavy-lift drone carried a 60-kg dummy, showcasing its potential to rescue stranded people from high-rise buildings, fire zones, or rugged terrain. 'This drone service is a major milestone for Civil Defence,' Khawaja Salman Rafique said. 'Our personnel are frontline soldiers during floods and emergencies, and we are equipping them with world-class tools to save lives.' Briefing the minister, Dr Qazi highlighted recent achievements, including the neutralization of 29 Indian drones during heightened border tensions, underscoring Civil Defence's role in both peace and conflict. The Home Department is also developing a mobile application to register citizens as volunteers, aiming to expand community participation in disaster response. 'This app will soon be launched to streamline volunteer registration,' he said. With advanced training for bomb disposal squads and support from district administrations, Punjab is positioning Civil Defence as a modern, well-equipped force to meet evolving security and emergency challenges.
News18
23-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Tripura govt to begin paddy procurement from Jul 26
Agartala, Jul 23 (PTI) In a bid to support farmers and ensure fair prices, the Tripura government will launch a statewide paddy procurement drive starting July 26, officials said on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Monday, which was attended by Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury. All district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates across the state joined the meeting via video conferencing, the officials said. 'The procurement will commence from Brajendranagar Gram Panchayat in the Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura district. The drive will gradually expand to cover all gram panchayats across the eight districts of the state," one of the officials said. The government has planned to procure 3,875 metric tonnes of Boro paddy in this phase, purchasing it at a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 23 per kilogram, he said. The initiative aims to strengthen the rural economy and safeguard the interests of paddy farmers by ensuring that they receive appropriate compensation for their produce, he said. The move is seen as part of the government's broader commitment to agricultural welfare and economic stability for farming communities, he added. PTI JOY BDC view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 14:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jammu: BJP MLAS stage protest against making Urdu language test mandatory for naib tehsildars posts
The BJP MLAs on Monday protested outside the Civil Secretariat and Assembly against the NC government for making Urdu language test mandatory for the posts of naib tehsildars in revenue department. Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Sunil Sharma and supporters stage a protest outside the Civil Secretariat over the issue of making Urdu a compulsory subject for the post of naib tehsildar on Monday. (ANI) The BJP has been opposing the move across Jammu for over three weeks, holding protests and rallies across at the district level. The party has warned of launching a region-wide agitation if the order is not withdrawn. However, experts stated that the government has to amend a flawed SRO 74 pertaining to recruitment rules to ensure level playing field among the job aspirants. The MLAs of the saffron party arrived at the Civil Secretariat in the morning and staged a dharna, calling the order discriminatory and detrimental to the interests of Jammu's youth. Carrying placards highlighting injustice against Jammu's youth, Dogras and other official languages of the union territory, the BJP leaders raised slogans against the government and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, accusing the part of trying to create unrest in the region. 'We are staging a dharna against the decision to make Urdu mandatory for naib tehsildar examinations in Jammu and Kashmir, which is not acceptable to us,' BJP MLA and former minister Sham Lal Sharma said. He said, 'Kashmir-centric parties, particularly the NC, have been discriminating against this region for decades. This is a fresh example of it.' Taking a swipe at the NC governments for decades-long discrimination against Jammu and its people, he said, 'We thought their discriminatory approach had changed after 2019, but it continues even today.' 'By making Urdu mandatory for such important posts in the government, the NC rulers have overruled previous provisions where knowing the language Urdu was not compulsory,' Sharma further said. 'We are holding protests to get it revoked. The matter has been brought to the notice of the Lieutenant Governor as well and memorandums have been submitted through deputy commissioners, but nothing has been done so far,' he said. Sharma said that 14 BJP MLAs had even met chief minister Omar Abdullah over the issue. 'His approach was positive. Still, no action has been taken, and tomorrow is the last day to apply for the posts.' 'They are trying to create unrest in Jammu and are forcing us to go on agitation. All 28 BJP MLAs have started it with today's two-hour-long token dharna,' he added. The former minister further said that the party will soon announce its next course of action. 'Making Urdu a compulsory subject in recruitment for naib tehsildars is a gross injustice to the youth of the Jammu region,' BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi said, adding that such injustice will not be tolerated. 'We will not allow the repetition of such injustice,' he said and added that the move is a clear violation of equal status accorded to multiple official languages, including Dogri, Hindi, Kashmiri, Urdu and English.
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tripura govt gives jobs to kin of 18 people killed in political violence before 2018
The Tripura government has provided jobs to 18 people whose family members were killed in political violence in the state before 2018, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath said in Agartala on Saturday. The minister said 39 petitions were submitted to the scrutiny committee, and 18 people were offered jobs in various departments. Nath is the chairman of the scrutiny committee, which also comprises the law secretary, secretary of information and cultural affairs, an inspector general of police, and the additional secretary of the home department. 'Another meeting of the committee was held on June 19. We got eight more petitions, and five of the names were recommended. We are reviewing the remaining petitions,' the minister told reporters at the Civil Secretariat. 'We give due respect to democracy. We feel that supporting the family members of those who were killed in political violence is our moral duty. Our government has not shown any discrimination on the basis of political affiliations in this case,' he said. The BJP-led coalition government first came to power in the state in 2018, unseating the erstwhile CPI(M)-led Left Front government which had ruled the state for 25 consecutive years. Criticising the previous government, Nath said, 'Several political murders happened before 2018 during the earlier government's tenure. Murders and political violence are not healthy for democracy. If it happens, it is a failure and embarrassment for shame for the government'. He, however, could not give an exact figure of the political murders that purportedly occurred prior to 2018. 'Petitions received are of cases from different years like 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998,1981, 2015, 2016, 2017…,' he said. Nath added that those who wish to apply under the scheme should collect forms from the sub-divisional magistrates' offices. These applications will be assessed by the committee based on inputs shared by district magistrates and superintendents of police. 'If the names are approved by the committee, it will be forwarded to the Finance Department, and based on vacancies in different departments, they will be given jobs,' he added.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We are not intimidated by cowardly acts of terror": CM Omar Abdullah after Cabinet meet in Pahalgam
Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 27 (ANI): As the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet held its meeting in Pahalgam on Tuesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was a 'clear message' to terrorists that 'enemies of peace will never dictate our resolve.' The cabinet meeting was held over a month after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, including one Nepali national, were brutally killed by terrorists. This is the first time that a Cabinet meeting was held outside Jammu or Srinagar, since his government took office. 'This morning, J&K cabinet meeting was convened in Pahalgam. Though we worked as per the agenda of our government, we did not have a cabinet meeting in Pahalgam for just an administrative or government function. The agenda of development and happiness in J-K, the agenda to represent the people in J-K will not stop due to bloodshed,' the Chief Minister said during a press conference. 'This is the first time this government has held a cabinet meeting outside Jammu or Srinagar,' he added. Posting about the meet on X, he said, 'Chaired a Cabinet Meeting at Pahalgam today. It was not just a routine administrative exercise, but a clear message--we are not intimidated by cowardly acts of terror. The enemies of peace will never dictate our resolve. Jammu & Kashmir stands firm, strong, and unafraid.' CM Abdullah also thanked the people of Pahalgam for raising their voice against the bloodshed on April 22 when Pakistan-sponsored terrorists brutally killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet also discussed tourism in the valley, as it is a big source of revenue for locals in Pahalgam. CM Abdullah said that a group of tour operators from Maharashtra are also in Pahalgam and will also be visiting Srinagar. 'Since we are in Pahalgam, tourism is also on our agenda.. A group of Maharashtra tour operators is here in Pahalgam. They will also visit Srinagar. What encourages us is that earlier the group was going to be of 20-25 people. But, around 60 tour operators from Maharashtra have come to see how the travel and tour industry can be resumed here... I want to thank these people...' The Pahalgam attack had severely affected the region's tourism, leading to widespread fear among visitors and a sharp decline in bookings and trips. The meeting addressed these concerns and reinforced the government's commitment to combating terrorism and reviving tourism in the area. Earlier, on May 15, responding to the challenges faced by the tourism sector after the terror attack, CM Abdullah chaired a meeting with the Hoteliers Association at the Civil Secretariat. During the meeting, he assured stakeholders of the government's full support and pledged to consider their suggestions for reviving tourism in the region. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for a comprehensive tourism revival plan to be developed jointly with the Tourism Department after the conclusion of this year's Shri Amarnath ji Yatra. He proposed that the package include support for hotels, houseboats, shikaras, taxis, handicrafts, and innovative initiatives like unique shopping festivals inspired by those in Dubai. Abdullah also expressed concern for small-scale entrepreneurs who have recently taken loans to invest in tourist taxis, deluxe minibuses, and guest accommodations, highlighting their vulnerability amid the downturn. The April 22 terror attack not only resulted in the tragic loss of life but also cast a long-term shadow on Jammu and Kashmir's tourism sector, one of the key contributors to its economy. Many local businesses dependent on tourism have suffered heavy losses since the incident. (ANI)
