Latest news with #HimanshuJain
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
AAI defers Halwara airport terminal inauguration; no new date announced
The long-awaited inauguration of the newly constructed civil terminal at Halwara in Ludhiana district has been postponed, officials confirmed on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was earlier scheduled to virtually inaugurate the facility on July 27. However, the event has now been deferred without any official explanation. A view of Halwara Airport in Ludhiana (HT File) Ludhiana deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed the postponement, stating, 'We have been informed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials that the inauguration of the civil terminal has been postponed. No specific reason has been given for it yet.' Developed at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Halwara in Raikot subdivision, the civil terminal was a long-pending demand of Ludhiana residents, especially the business community, to enhance the region's air connectivity. It is a significant project that has been in the pipeline for over seven years. It was first approved by the Punjab cabinet in 2018 during the Congress-led government and has since seen multiple delays and missed deadlines. Though initially proposed as an international airport, the new terminal will begin operations with domestic flights only. As per current specifications, it is designed to handle one domestic flight at a time, with the capacity to accommodate 150 passengers during arrival and departure. The terminal will effectively serve as a replacement for Ludhiana's existing Sahnewal Airport, which currently operates a single daily flight between Ludhiana and Hindon (Ghaziabad). Once Halwara becomes operational, Sahnewal is expected to shut down. The construction of the terminal was in response to a longstanding demand by Ludhiana residents and industrialists for better air connectivity. The city, often referred to as the industrial capital of Punjab, has suffered from limited aviation infrastructure, forcing travellers to rely on faraway airports like Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Anti-begging drive: DNA tests of children begin in Ludhiana
Six of the 18 children rescued from begging earlier this week underwent DNA testing along with four accompanying adults at the Civil Hospital here on Wednesday. This crucial step aims to ascertain the true parentage of children whose guardians could not provide credible claims, according to DCPO Saini. The initiation of DNA testing follows the establishment of a committee by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain on Tuesday. (HT Photo) For the remaining 12 children, guardians have asserted parentage and are in the process of submitting documents such as Aadhaar Cards, birth certificates, and school certificates for verification. So far, documents for two children have been received, and one child has already been reunited with their parents after successful verification. 'Guardians are approaching us with documents. We will verify those to ascertain parentage. So far we have received documents for two kids and one of them has already been handed back to the parents,' Saini stated. The initiation of DNA testing follows the establishment of a committee by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain on Tuesday. This committee, comprising the district child protection officer and representatives from the police commissioner and civil surgeon, was formed to ensure the seamless execution of DNA testing under Project Jeevanjot 2.0, an initiative designed to combat child trafficking and exploitation. This move came after an earlier attempt at DNA testing on Monday faced obstacles due to a lack of clear guidelines. The district administration rescued the 18 children during city-wide raids aimed at cracking down on child trafficking. Currently, all rescued children are being housed at the Children Home in Doraha. Project JeevanJyot 2.0 outlines a clear path forward: 'If DNA tests match, the child shall be restored to the family. The authorities shall issue a warning to the family to not indulge the child into begging. The DCPO shall provide counselling to the family to enroll the children in schools and about the ill effects of keeping the child on streets.' Should parents persist in involving the child in begging, the draft states they will be declared 'unfit guardians,' and 'The child shall be sent to Children Home and the child shall be declared legally free for adoption.' Conversely, if DNA test results are negative, the Child Welfare Committee will initiate legal action by filing an FIR under relevant legislation such as the BNS, Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, or Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, against the adults found accompanying them. Additionally, the child's photos and details will be uploaded on the 'Track the Child' portal to aid in tracing their biological parents for rehabilitation.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Time of India
DC leads raids against child trafficking
Ludhiana: Determined to end the menace of children being engaged in begging and combat child trafficking in the district, deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain personally led raids in various locations of the city Monday night. The initiative, part of Jeevanjot-2 launched by Punjab govt, aims to verify familial relationships through DNA testing to curb exploitation and ensure child welfare. During the raid, a team identified four children found begging near a temple. After thorough verification, it was confirmed that the children were accompanied by their parents and were also attending school. The DC issued a stern warning to the parents, directing them to refrain from involving their children in begging, saying that strict legal action would be taken for any future violations. tnn
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DC inspects offices to check proper execution of ‘easy registry' system
Ludhiana: Deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain Monday conducted a thorough inspection of the sub-registrar offices in Ludhiana Central and West to assess their functioning and the implementation of the Easy Registry system. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During the visit, Jain engaged with citizens seeking land registration services and held discussions with deed writers and lawyers to get their feedback on the newly launched Easy Registry. He sought insights into their experiences and suggestions for further enhancements. The DC highlighted that Easy Registry has streamlined the registration process, eliminating the need for middlemen and multiple office visits. "All registry-related information is accessible via WhatsApp, making the process faster, transparent, and user-friendly," he said. The system offers online document submission, digital pre-verification, and appointment scheduling at sub-registrar offices. Citizens can prepare sale deed drafts independently or seek assistance from service providers, contactable via the helpline 1076, who can also provide home visits for document preparation. The DC emphasised that the system saves time, cost, and effort, with pre-verification completed within 48 hours and registrations finalized promptly as per scheduled appointments. This eliminates long queues and repetitive visits, offering significant convenience, especially for busy professionals. Jain reiterated the Punjab government's commitment to delivering efficient and transparent public services. He clarified that the inspection aimed to enhance operational efficiency, not to find faults among officers. He directed all officials to perform their duties with integrity and diligence to ensure a seamless experience for citizens visiting government offices.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Time of India
18 kids found begging with adults rescued in one day
Ludhiana: Eighteen children found begging with adults were rescued by a committee formed by deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain during raids at key locations in the city Sunday. The initiative, part of Project Jeevanjot-2, aims to verify familial relationships through DNA testing to curb child trafficking and exploitation for begging. The raids targeted high-traffic areas, including the railway station, bus stand, and Chaura Bazar, an official statement by the district administration said. The operation was led by district child protection officer Rashmi Saini, along with Ludhiana city police, RPF, representatives from NGOs Childline, and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA). Saini warned that adults found forcing children, not related to them, to beg will face strict legal consequences. Their DNA tests will be conducted, and during the 15-20 day waiting period for the results, the rescued children will be kept in govt-run childcare home, Doraha. The DNA tests will be carried out at the Civil Hospital from Monday, she added. She reiterated that if DNA reports confirm that the adults are not biological parents, stringent action will be taken against them under anti-trafficking and child protection laws. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo She highlighted that Punjab is pioneering this initiative, becoming the first state in the country to implement such a drive to eliminate child trafficking and exploitation through begging. On Friday, the vice-chairperson of Punjab state commission for protection of child rights announced the launch of Project JeevanJyot 2.0, an initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of children across Punjab. Gunjeet Ruchi Bawa directed the formation of a task force in every district as part of the initiative. "Each task force will be chaired by the DC and comprise key officials," a statement said.
