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Time of India
12 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
UT removes ineligible ration card holders from beneficiary list
Chandigarh: As part of the drive to weed out ineligible persons taking ration card benefits, the UT administration identified around 10,000 persons who are no longer eligible. The purging was done from the list of 3.5 lakh beneficiaries registered in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Besides, 44,000 beneficiaries could not be verified and may be removed from the list. "The 10,000 beneficiaries who were found to be ineligible include deceased individuals, some who themselves claimed that they were no longer eligible, and others who did not meet set eligibility parameters," a UT official said. The 44,000 individuals could not be verified as they were not found at the address disclosed when the Food and Supply department official went to verify their credentials at the stated address. They did not contact the department during the e-KYC drive of ration card holders either. "The final list of such beneficiaries will be submitted to competent authorities after completion of the e-KYC drive, on the basis of which it will be decided to continue with benefits or remove them from the beneficiary list. These could also be people who may have migrated from the city to other parts of the country. Such people, if still meeting the eligibility criteria, will continue to get benefits in the state they have migrated to from the city," said the official. He added that the department would carry out an "electronic-know your customer" (e-KYC) exercise across the city. Under the drive, in addition to physical surveys, details of beneficiaries will be captured through a biometric-based hand-held electronic machine. The data will be validated through the Aadhaar server. The administration decided to undertake e-KYC of the ration card holders in the city on the directions of Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This will help with targeted delivery of government benefits to eligible beneficiaries and reduce financial burden on the exchequer. The survey will also eliminate chances of 'dead' individuals and those who have already migrated from the city from getting benefits intended for city residents. The department has not undertaken a comprehensive validation drive for several years," said the official. The UT releases a monthly subsidy of around Rs 7 crore to ration card holders. The city follows direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank account of the beneficiary. "As UT follows DBT, regular contact between beneficiaries and UT officials is not there. In other states, where distribution of food grains is done through ration depots, there is regular contact. So a comprehensive validation and verification drive was a much needed exercise for the city to weed out ineligible beneficiaries," the official explained. After completion of the survey, ineligible beneficiaries will be removed from the ration card database. Around 10,000 beneficiaries are still pending. BOX: Centre shared list Recently, the central government shared a list of around 60,000 beneficiaries with the administration, who may not meet the eligibility criteria for the PDS system in the city. "The central government, in a pan-India exercise, used data on vehicle ownership, electricity usage, etc, to filter out ineligible beneficiaries. States have been asked to verify the same on the ground," said the official. MSID:: 122978899 413 |
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Now, Chandigarh to offer free education till 18 for children with special needs
In a significant step towards ensuring equal opportunities and building an inclusive education system, the UT administration on Friday launched a dedicated education policy for children with special needs (CWSN). Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria unveiling the inclusive education policy for children with special needs in the presence of chief secretary Rajeev Verma, education secretary Preerna Puri and director school education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar in Chandigarh on Friday. (HT Photo) The policy, framed in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, includes several key provisions such as free education till the age of 18, 3% reservation under EWS/disadvantaged group category in admissions and availability of textbooks in accessible formats. Children with benchmark disabilities, as defined under the RPwD Act, 2016, are considered children with special needs. Unveiling the policy at Punjab Raj Bhavan, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria said, 'This policy is not just limited to opening the doors of schools, it also aims to bring out the inherent talent and potential of these children. Chandigarh is proud to be strengthening the spirit of equal opportunity and inclusion in the field of education.' The policy will directly benefit 3,175 children with special needs, currently studying in government schools across Chandigarh, and is likely to set standards for private schools as well. At present, the education department has 16 special educators at the JBT level, 20 at the TGT level and 21 resource teachers under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. Policy a result of HC directions The policy comes in line with directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana high court in two cases in 2017 and 2019. Under the new policy, free and compulsory education will now be extended to children with disabilities in government and aided schools till the age of 18, up from the earlier age limit of 14. Children who are unable to attend school due to their disability will be provided home-based education. This will be supported through transport allowances and other support services. The policy also gives CWSN the right to admission in all-inclusive neighbourhood schools, and mandates a 3% reservation for them within the 25% quota reserved under the EWS/disadvantaged category under the Right to Education Act. Private recognised schools will also be required to admit children with special needs and provide them with appropriate educational support in line with this policy. To ensure the inclusive classrooms are run effectively, the policy mandates the presence of trained special educators, adapted curriculum, Braille and large print books, sign language resources and a special evaluation system. For children with more severe disabilities, links with special schools and integrated education centres will be strengthened. Vocational and skill training will also be provided from Class 9 onwards to help students with special needs become self-reliant. Additionally, state-level sports competitions for CWSN will be held in collaboration with the department of sports. The number of government schools with Special Resource Centres, which offer therapy, counselling for parents, assessments and functional academics, has been increased from five to 20 under this policy. To ensure smooth and effective implementation, every school will have a grievance redress committee. A state-level monitoring committee has also been set up. Also present at the policy launch were UT chief secretary Rajiv Verma, principal secretary to governor Vivek Pratap Singh, education secretary Prerna Puri and director of school education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chandigarh launches inclusive education policy for kids with disabilities
The Chandigarh Administration on Friday rolled out its first comprehensive Education Policy for Children with Special Needs – 2025, aimed at ensuring barrier-free, dignified, and quality education for children with benchmark disabilities. The policy was launched at Punjab Raj Bhavan by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who called it 'a strong initiative towards inclusiveness and the spirit of equality guaranteed by the Constitution'. Kataria underlined the social significance of the step, stating, 'the measure of the true progress of any society is how it empowers its weakest sections. This policy is not just limited to opening the doors of schools, it is also a means to bring out the inherent talent and potential of the children. Chandigarh is proud that we are strengthening the spirit of equal opportunity and inclusion in the field of education'. Framed in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the policy guarantees free and compulsory education in government and aided schools for children with disabilities up to the age of 18. For those unable to attend regular classes, home-based education will be provided, supported by a transport allowance and auxiliary services. Admissions have been made entirely non-discriminatory, with all inclusive neighbourhood schools required to admit disabled children. A three per cent reservation has also been set aside for them within the 25 per cent quota for economically weaker sections under the Right to Education Act. Private schools will now be obliged to admit students with special needs and provide tailored educational support. The framework mandates the appointment of trained special educators for inclusive classrooms, adapted curricula, Braille and large-print textbooks, sign language resources, and modified evaluation systems. Collaboration with special schools and integrated education centres will support children with severe disabilities, while vocational and skill training from Class 9 onwards will prepare them for independent livelihoods. To foster a sensitive learning environment, the policy calls for regular training and awareness programmes for teachers, parents and classmates. A grievance redressal committee in every school and a state-level monitoring body will oversee its implementation. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Principal Secretary to the Governor Vivek Pratap Singh, Education Secretary Prerna Puri and Director of School Education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, were present at the launch. Officials said the new policy represents 'an inspirational effort to strengthen the values of social justice, inclusion and compassion' and carries the message that 'disability is not a limitation; with the right environment and opportunities, every child can make society proud with their talent'.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Janata darbar: Chandigarh administrator resolves issues on the spot
UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has been holding regular Janata Darbars to hear public grievances directly and ensure their speedy resolution. The initiative has been receiving a positive response from citizens. On Wednesday, once again, a Janata Darbar was held at the UT Secretariat in Chandigarh, where residents from different parts of the city came to present their issues directly to the Administrator. A total of 17 complaints were received, most of which were resolved on the spot. The Administrator listened attentively to each grievance and instructed the officials concerned to take prompt action. In some cases, he personally sought updates from officials to expedite solutions. These Janata Darbars are supposed to function as an important bridge for direct dialogue between citizens and the administration. Residents have been assured that their issues will be taken seriously and addressed with full transparency and care. The issues raised in earlier Janata Darbars were also reviewed in detail with the officials concerned, and necessary steps have already been taken to resolve them.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh flights to Nanded Sahib & Ayodhya on cards
Chandigarh: In a push to enhance regional and religious tourism connectivity, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria proposed the introduction of direct flights from Chandigarh to Nanded Sahib and Ayodhya. He raised the request during a meeting with Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu held recently in the national capital. The governor also urged the minister to restore flight services to Udaipur, Dehradun, Amritsar, and other destinations that were previously connected to Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, but have since been suspended. Highlighting the strategic importance of Chandigarh airport, Kataria said it acts as a vital aviation hub for Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. He underscored the growing demand for improved domestic and international air connectivity from the region's residents. "Direct connectivity to destinations like Nanded Sahib, a significant pilgrimage site for Sikhs, and Ayodhya, now a prominent spiritual destination, will cater to both religious and tourism-related travel," Kataria noted. He also emphasised that boosting air links will help spur economic activity, promote trade, and support the region's development goals. In response, minister Naidu assured that the civil aviation ministry would actively explore the proposals and work with all stakeholders, including airlines and airport authorities, to expand route networks and improve passenger amenities at the Chandigarh airport.
