Jail security to be beefed up: Minister

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 16

Punjab Minister for Cooperation and Jails Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa unfurled the Tricolour at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium on Independence Day. The occasion was celebrated with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm here on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, Randhawa said the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is leading the state on the road to progress and prosperity.

He said they are successfully running the anti-drug drive in the state under which the government is not only curbing drug addiction but is also facilitating de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

He said the jail department will soon be recruiting 700 employees to beef up jail security.

Talking to mediapersons, he said the Union government has been requested to deploy two companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the purpose.

These companies will be deployed to ensure the security of jails across the state, he said. Besides, each jail would have a body scanner, mobile phone detector and sniffer dogs to ensure that nothing illegal goes inside the jail premises, he added.

According to him, they will also provide religious books and other literature in jails so that the prisoners can be motivated to change for the better.

Randhawa said the cooperation department has also taken an initiative towards the management of paddy straw to facilitate clean environment to the people of Punjab.

Under the scheme, a sum of Rs 131 crore has been allocated to the department, which will be utilised for the purchase of equipment for environment-friendly disposal of paddy stubble through primary agriculture cooperative societies in the state.

The minister also distributed debt waiver certificates to 11 farmers while kicking off the second phase of the drive. He also initiated a scheme to provide agricultural equipment to cooperative societies of Jalal and Mehraj villages at 80 per cent subsidy.

Randhawa felicitated Jeond Milk Supply Society, Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Raike Kalan and Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Chathewala, for their excellent performance. He also disbursed health cards to the beneficiaries of Bhai Ghanaiya Scheme and kicked off a scheme for setting up solar power plants under which people will be provided solar panels on subsidy. He gave away job cards to 10 beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana, gas connections to 40 beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme, appointment letters to 40 youths under ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar’ scheme and 14 tricycles to the disabled and 21 sewing machines to the needy.

Earlier, the minister felicitated achievers from different fields, apart from schools and colleges that presented cultural programmes on the occasion. A total of 15 tableau were exhibited during the celebrations. Randhawa also met the families of freedom fighters and war widows and assured them that the government is committed to provide them with all the facilities.

Prominent among those present on the occasion were Inspector general of Police (IGP) MF Farooqui, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Praneet, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sakshi Sawhney and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Nanak Singh.