New Delhi, March 21

A total of 88 Kashmiri youths joined militancy in 2016, the highest in the last six years, the Centre has said, adding that infiltration almost tripled last year as compared to 2015.It, however, said the situation in J&K had “improved to a large extent” in the current year. In written replies to two separate questions in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir shared data about Kashmiri youths taking up arms, infiltration attempts and law and order situation in the Valley.The data shows a steady increase in the number of youths taking up arms in the Valley from 2014 onwards as compared to the period between 2010 and 2013.According to the data, 88 Kashmiri youths joined militancy in 2016, which is the highest in the last six years.In 2010, 54 youths joined militancy, in 2011 the number came down to 23. It further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 16 in 2013, it said. In 2014, the number shot to 53, and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark in six years (88) in 2016, the data said.“The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been affected by terrorism, sponsored and supported from across the border. The levels of terrorist violence in the hinterland of J&Kare linked to infiltration from across the border,” Ahir said.The data on infiltration shows that about 121 terrorists had sneaked into the country in 2012, highest in six years, followed by 119 in 2016.“The counter-terrorism efforts saw the best figures in 2010, when 81 per cent of the infiltration attempts were thwarted by the security forces, with only 95 terrorists entering the country as against 489 attempts,” the data said.In 2011, 52 terrorists had crossed over against 247 infiltration attempts, while in 2013, 97 ultras managed to sneak in against 277 attempts, it said. — PTI

Laying focus on violence-prone areas’

• “Barring some violence-prone pockets, the situation is at present normal. Efforts are afoot to bring the situation under control in these vulnerable pockets,” said Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in the Lok Sabha

Charanjit Singh Channi assumes charge as Technical Education Minister on Monday. Photo courtesy: Facebook Charanjit Channi

‎Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20

Charanjit Singh Channi on assuming charge as Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister on Monday said his priority would be to ensure professional training to the youth of the state. ‎He said evaluation of the present syllabi in the technical education institutes would be carried out, which would be replaced by the syllabi in accordance with demands of today’s technologically driven era and would be of the level of IITs and other prominent institutes.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Minister said it would be his endeavour to substitute the outdated courses with the ones which would be job-oriented. He said the intelligent students would be sent abroad for higher studies at government expense which would save them from being exploited by unscrupulous agents.

A Sikh manuscript and swords displayed at Newarke Houses Museum in Leicester. Photos: sikhmuseum.org.uk

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

An exhibition underway at Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester, is showcasing relics from the Anglo-Sikh wars.The wars were fought between the Sikh Empire and the East India Company in a series of battles leading to the annexation of Punjab in 1849. The British were led by Generals who had fought in many military campaigns, such as the Napoleonic wars (1803-15), while the Sikh forces comprised remnants of the army created by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.The exhibition uses 3D modelling and augmented reality technology to bring lost relics to life. The Anglo-Sikh Wars Project was initiated last year by the Sikh Museum Initiative (SMI), which has worked with various museums across the UK. The SMI was formed in 2015 by a group of Leicester professionals and volunteers to research and promote Sikh heritage in the UK.Leading the project is Sikh scholar and historian Gurinder Singh Mann, head of the SMI. Speaking at the exhibition launch recently, Mann said: “This exhibition has brought together many items from the Anglo-Sikh wars in one place for the first time. A number of items have never been seen in public before.“We have 3D-modelled several key relics, from the Kohinoor diamond to the sword of Lord Hardinge. Our augmented reality set-up showcases how we can advance our knowledge of history and heritage through new technologies.”The exhibition, which will continue till June 4, tells the story of the battles through artefacts which were captured by British regiments, including swords, manuscripts, paintings and other objects from the battlefield.There is a parallel display at the University of Leicester, where copies of the Illustrated London News and other publications from the period can be viewed.

VIP culture ‘to end’ I Legislation on ‘conflict of interest’ I Cartels to face action

The Cabinet has called for banning use of red beacons atop vehicles, though CM’s convoy (above) is exempt. Barring Manpreet Badal, all ministers allowed use of beacons while leaving post the meeting. Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 18

Proposing an overhaul of the political, administrative and police setup in Punjab, the Capt Amarinder Singh government, in its first Cabinet meeting, today decided to end the VIP culture and bring in a legislation on “conflict of interest”, wherein the ministers or MLAs could be unseated on being found to have business interest in their official capacity.

No beacons will be used by ministers, MLAs and officers on vehicles, except on emergency vehicles, the vehicles of the CM, the Chief Justice and High Court Judges.

To cut expenditure and minimise public harassment, the functioning of the district administration would not be disturbed during visits by the CM and ministers.

No banquets and dinners at government expense will be allowed.

With an aim to end the sand mining, transport, cable and liquor “cartels” active during the previous Parkash Singh Badal government, the Cabinet decided to introduce a slew of steps and legislations.

Apart from bringing a White Paper on various omissions and commissions by the SAD-BJP government, it was decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry to review “false” political cases and fix accountability.

Further, a third party audit of all the government expenditure (above Rs 10 crore) during the last three years would be done. In future, third party audit of government spending will be an annual feature.

The Cabinet also decided to recall unutilised pre-election funds from all departments to generate revenue and stayed all decisions of the last six months pending for review.

For transparency and accountability, all the MLAs and MPs will have to declare their immovable properties on January 1 every year and asset details of all IAS, IPS, PCS and Class-1 officers would be tabled every year in the Vidhan Sabha.

33% JOBS FOR WOMEN

Cabinet decided to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in all government jobs and increase their representation in PRIs and Urban Local Bodies from 33 to 50 per cent.

NO FOREIGN TRAVEL

The Cabinet banned foreign travel by ministers, MLAs and officials for two years.

HALQA SYSTEM GOES

The system of halqa incharge and use of political clout by staff in seeking transfers and favours has been ended.

DRUG TASK FORCE

A Special Task Force headed by ADGP Harpreet Sidhu, leading anti-Maoist ops in Chhattisgarh, will implement a programme to eliminate drugs. In next meeting, Home Department will submit a proposal for enactment of Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act.

NO SALE OF FARMER LAND

A new legislation will be brought to prohibit sale/auction of farmers’ land by lending agencies.

JOINT EXERCISE WITH NEPAL ARMY GOES ON FOR 9TH DAY

K-SITUATION, HARSH WEATHER CAST SHADOW ON ZOJILA TUNNEL PROJECT

CAPT STARTS SECOND INNINGS WITH TEAM OF 9 FIRST TASK: DRUG TASK FORCE

MINISTERS AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS

LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL ,CHIEF PATTRON SANJHA MORCHA THE MAZAR OF HAZRAT MOINUDDIN CHISHTY PRAYS AT AJMER

CAPT AMARINDER SINGH TAKES OATH AS PUNJAB CM RAHUL GANDHI, MANMOHAN SINGH ATTEND SWEARING-IN

CAPT KEEPS HOME; MOHINDRA GETS HEALTH, SIDHU LOCAL BODIES, MANPREET FINANCE

NO DEPUTY CM POST FOR SIDHU, TAKES OATH AS CABINET MINISTER

AMARINDER SINGH’S JOURNEY TO BEING PUNJAB’S CAPTAIN A SECOND TIME

KARAN AVTAR SINGH NAMED PUNJAB CHIEF SECRETARY AMONG 12 TOP TRANSFERS

AMARINDER SINGH’S JOURNEY TO BEING PUNJAB’S CAPTAIN A SECOND TIME

ATUL NANDA APPOINTED PUNJAB ADVOCATE-GENERAL

PRIORITY WILL BE TO RESTORE LOST GLORY OF PUNJAB: MANPREET BADAL CHANNI ORDERS REMOVAL OF RED BEACON FROM HIS CAR

6,000 PUNJAB BUS PERMITS TO GO

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 12
The death of an Army person, identified as Nishan Singh, a resident of the cantonment area here, has become a puzzle for the authorities concerned. Nishan’s body was found in his car in the Kot Khalsa area yesterday.
A postmortem examination of his body was conducted at the Government Medical College here today. A medical board comprising two doctors from the Forensic Department was constituted for the purpose.
Gurjit Singh, in charge, Kot Khalsa police chowki and investigating officer in the case, said there was no breakthrough so far. He said the police had initiated action under the Criminal Procedure Code for time being.
“Action will be taken accordingly as soon as we get the postmortem examination report,” said Gurjit.
Nishan was found dead in his car at the Kot Khalsa railway crossing yesterday. The incident came to light when the people saw the car, which remained parked near the crossing for a long time. When they asked the driver to move the car, he did not respond and was found dead.
They immediately informed the police. The deceased was later identified as Nishan Singh, a Lance Naik in the Army. He was living in the Cantonment area. The police informed the Army authorities about his death, which also reached the spot and carried out investigation.
It is suspected that Nishan may have been poisoned to death. However, the police authorities said they could not say anything at the moment as the autopsy report was awaited. Further investigation was under progress, police official added.

The Aam Aadmi Party will be a better Opposition than the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Akali Dal has committed sins during its 10­year rule and had to pay for it. MANPREET BADAL, Congress

Punjab Congress chief Captain won by the highest margin of 52,407 votes, while SAD’s Lakhbir Singh won by a lowest margin of 485 votes

HIGHEST MARGIN

CAPTAIN AMARINDER SINGH CONG Patiala Urban 52,407 Victory margin

NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU CONG Amritsar East 42,809 Victory margin

BHARAT BHUSHAN ASHU CONG Ludhiana West 36,521 Victory margin

AVTAR SINGH JUNIOR CONG Jalandhar North 32,291 Victory margin

LOWEST MARGIN

LAKHBIR SINGH LODHINANGAL SAD Batala 485 Victory margin

DAVINDER SINGH GHUBAYA CONG Fazilka 265 Victory margin

PRITAM SINGH KOTBHAI CONG Bhucho Mandi 645 Victory margin

BUDH RAM AAP Budhlada 1,276 Victory margin

Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur flash the victory sign after his win in Amritsar on Saturday. Tribune photo: Vishal Kumar

Amritsar, March 11

The Congress victory in Punjab is the defeat of the Badal family’s arrogance and will herald the revival of the party in the country, Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Saturday.The Congress is all set to return to power in the agrarian state where it has been out of power for a decade now.“This is the revival of the Congress. It is a beginning. The Congress will revive from here. The party will take strength from here and spread across the country,” Sidhu said addressing a press conference.He said the party’s victory is the result of people’s faith and confidence in the Congress.Sidhu said he earlier told Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi about making Punjab a leader.“This is Punjab Congress’s gift to the party leadership. It is a new year gift from our side,” he said, conceding that the Assembly poll was “a fight for existence” for the Congress.The former BJP MP, who switched over to the Congress ahead of elections, attacked the Badals, saying the people of the state had defeated the arrogance of those in power till now.“This is the destruction of Akali Dal. People have broken the arrogance of the evil and arrogance loses when atrocities touch a peak,” he said.“Thieves looted Punjab and filled their own coffers,” he said.Sidhu, who contested from Amritsar East, which was held by his wife and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Navjot Kaur, also took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he was “the principal of the school where he studied”.He said the paid trolls that the AAP convener carried out on social media to make wrong projections during elections had been defeated. “The truth never gets defeated,” he said.“Now the arrogance has been shown the door,” he said, adding that the Congress would provide new energy to the state. “Kejriwal’s intentions were wrong… he wanted everything for himself,” he said, adding, “for Badals it was everything for their personal welfare”.“Congress will always fight for the rights of people of Punjab,” he said.The cricketer-turned-politician said “it is the biggest victory of party workers”.He expressed confidence that the Congress after coming to power in the state would work selflessly for the progress of Punjab and would not act with any sense of vendetta against its opponents.On the issue of drugs, he said a stringent law would be made to end the menace.“People have a lot of expectation from the Congress and we will strive hard to fulfill them,” he said.The Congress will take measures to end farm suicides, he said.“By giving a decisive verdict in favour of Punjab, the seeds of prosperity have been sown,” he said.Punjab would set an example of good governance and state’s empty coffers would be refilled, he said. Punjab’s lost glory would be brought back, an elated Sidhu said. PTI

1. Un Married Daughter of Ex.Serviceman is Eligible for Family Pension after demise of Ex.Serviceman & His Wife Irrespective of their Age till the Marriage she is Eligible for Family Pension. 

2. Divorced Daughter of Ex.Serviceman also Eligible for Family Pension (Subject to condition she should submit Financial Condition Report)

3. Widow Daughter also Eligible for Family Pension (Subject to condition that she should submit Financial Condition Certificate from Revenue Authorities)

4. Disabled Children of Ex.Serviceman are also eligible for Family Pension…

For Disabled children.

a) Part-II Order is must.

b) you should submit the Disability Certificate from MH or Medical Board and endorsement of Family Pension should be done in the Concern Records through Sainik Welfare Office…. 

 

5. obtain your monthly pension payment slips from Bank

6. Kindly register your phone number and email & pan card with your Bank Account . You will get pension break up from the month of April/ may

7.. Whenever there is any additional credits or debits like 

a). Payments of Instalments of OROP, 

b). Payment of Arrears under DL-33; 

c). Payment of Arrears of 7th CPC, 

d). DR Arrears etc., Calculated Sheet has to be obtained and whenever there are Debits entries like TDS etc., Form-10 or Form-16 have to be obtained from PDA Bank. 

8. Submit in written to your PDA Bank/Branch that you are a Senior Citizen and the Tax exemption limit is Rs.3 lakhs, accordingly the TDS also will be reduced.

 

9. Since DL-33 Arrears are relating to previous FY-AY Years (2006-2014), you may file your IT returns distributing the said amount of TDS, claiming REFUND of the deducted TDS amount.

 

10. Do not forget to convert your pension A/c immediately into Joint A/c (E or S) along with your wife.

 

11. please take care that family name is notified correctly in PPO and in revenue records like aadhar, pan card etc. If there is any correction please rectify through your record office.

12. Government of India is insisting for joint accounts because of the difficulties faced by widows. If everything is correct Bank will commence widow’s pension in the same month itself…

 

13. Notify family pension in the PPO or any authorised letter from pension sanctioning authority is mandatory for commencing the widow pension. earlier only hand written PPOs are there. kindly notify family pension through your record office. Date of birth of the family and original pensioner should be notified by your record office or PSA.

*Joint Bank Account*

(a). joint accounts are opened such that any one can take pension. either or survivor mode.

(b) it will be very easy for Bank for opening of family pension  

*NOTE:*

 some pensioners think that if we open joint account everything is finished without noting the name of family pensioner in the ppo Which is not correct…. without notifying the correct name of the spouse the Bank will not give Family Pension (Even joint Account is there in the Bank).

 

Please note above Points for easy to get Family Pension otherwise its very difficult for widow to get the Family Pension….

 

*DUAL FAMILY PENSION*

Previously After retirement from Armed forces if Ex servicemen joined in state/central Government job then after he retired from that post he will get two Pensions I.e., one from Military side and second one is from Civil side as he is eligible for two pensions but if an Ex servicemen Expired wife (spouse) is eligible only one family pension i.e., Military pension or Civil Family pension either one only eligible…. 

in the year 2013 Government of India (MOD) has issued orders that the wife(spouse) also eligible two family Pensions and CDA Allahabad also issued circular No.504 the widow is eligible both the pensions i.e., Military pension as well as Civil pension with effect from 24th September, 2012. 

Telangana State Government has also issued Orders duly sanctioning Dual Family Pension (if widow opt military pension on the death of Ex.serviceman).

 

*NOTE*

Even Now many Ex.Servicemen and widows of Ex.Serviceman  are not Aware of the above rules so kindly give wide publicity among all Ex.serviceman & their families on this…

 

Regards

TBRL scientists (from left): Devarati Bhattacharya, Rajesh Kumari, Meenakshi Bhatkula, Vandana Arya and Sakshi Arora.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7

As soldiers strap on bulletproof jackets that prevent injuries from small arms fire during anti-terror operations or climb into armoured vehicles that can withstand improvised explosive device blasts, a handful of women scientists have been plugging away in laboratories hundreds of kilometres away to ensure the gear being used meets the requisite standards of protection.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Not many women in India get to work with bullets and bombs, but a small but select group of women scientists have successfully made a career at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), a Defence Research and Development Organisation unit that evaluates the performance of ammunition and warheads.Speaking to The Tribune on the eve of International Women’s Day, some of them shared their experiences and perception of being associated with what is considered by many as a “dangerous field”.“It is a highly challenging subject and we have been involved in establishing test protocol of various types of ammunition and explosives, for which no well-defined parameters existed earlier,” says Dr Rajesh Kumari, a senior scientist who has been associated with the subject for 25 years. “The safety aspect is very important in our work and all activities involve a lot of planning and deliberations under set procedures,” she adds.“It’s a great responsibility,” says Dr Devarati Bhattacharya, an engineer who joined the DRDO 11 years ago. “The most satisfying aspect of our job is that the soldiers on the borders are able to get better protectionbecause of the work we do,” she says. While women still form a small percentage of the technical workforce, their number in the DRDO has steadily grown over the years. “In 1989, there were only three women scientists in the TBRL. We now have 25 women scientists and an equal number of technical officers,” says Meenakshi Bhatkula. “We do the same work as our male counterparts and are adjudged equally,” she says.The relatively low number of women in the DRDO is a societal reflection and the ratio is similar in other fields, points out Dr Vandana Arya, a veteran of 14 years.Women scientists also need to balance their profession with household responsibilities. A lot of what they do at the laboratories remains under wraps and only a few broad details get shared with family members. “Unlike most male colleagues, women also have additional domestic responsibilities to take care of and time management becomes imperative,” says Sakshi Arora, who joined the defence establishment 10 years ago.“There are times when you have to work late into the night during important tests or travel away from home,” she adds. At times an important demonstration may be held up for hours or even days simply because of a cloud overhead.How family members look at an explosive expert amongst them is summarised by Dr Vandana, when she says: “There have been instances when I have returned home and my daughter has simply told me, ‘Mom, your clothes smell bad,’ as I had been working with chemicals and explosives the whole day.”