Women helpline number ‘181’ launched

Panipat: Minister for Women and Child Kavita Jain on Saturday launched a toll free women helpline number — 181 — during a programme organised by the Women and Child Department at PIET College in Samalkha. She also released a booklet and calendar of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Addressing the gathering, the minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme from Panipat on January 22, 2015. The gender ratio at birth was 871 in 2014, but after the launch, it has risen to 914. The state had received four awards at the national level for successfully running the programme, said the minister. TNS

Govt revises non-practising allowance 

Chandigarh: The state government has decided to revise the Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) of medical officers, assistant medical officers, senior medical officers, dental surgeons and the Director of the ESI Health Care at the rate of 20 per cent with effect from May 1, 2018. Stating this on Saturday, Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu said the CM had approved a proposal in this regard. The decision would benefit 272 beneficiaries in the state. The annual financial liability on account of this revision would be Rs 4.21 crore. Those eligible for this allowance include government employee posted against a clinical post and actually working against such a post, government employee posted against a whole time post and government employee in whose case there is ample scope of undertaking private practice. TNS