The Punjab Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved free travel for women on government-run buses.
Women can use the facility on Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways and City Services buses operated by the local authorities. However, this does not apply to state-owned air-conditioned buses from Volvo and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The announcement was made recently in the Punjab budget. The program will benefit more than 1.31 million women / girls across the state (as per the 2011 census).
“All women who are family members of government employees in Punjab and live in Chandigarh or are employees of the state government but live in Chandigarh can also enjoy the benefits of free travel regardless of age and income criteria.” Official said.
“Not only is this program expected to reduce early school leaving among women due to the high cost of daily transportation, but it is also expected to help working women who have to travel considerable distances to get to work,” he added. The facility will thus give women access to “safe, cheap and reliable” travel to engage in economic activities.
The Cabinet also nodded to the establishment of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) to control illegal mining in the state in order to increase the revenue the government is losing due to the illegal practice.
The agency is run by a police officer who is not below the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) under the mining and geology wing of the state water resources division, a prime minister spokesman said.
“The ED will help monitor the unauthorized movement of smaller minerals not only within the state but also across the interstate borders of Punjab in coordination with the mining department. It will also prosecute those who indulge in illegal activities under the Mining and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. It also ensures that those in the sand and gravel business are not overloaded beyond the price stipulated in the mining policy, ”added the spokesman.
The agency will have a mandate to work with the director (mining) and chief engineers who deal with mining and district enforcement committees to develop measures to achieve its objectives.
It will also collect information for this purpose and coordinate with the authorities of neighboring states dealing with illegal mining. The ED chief is supported by 3 superintendents from police officers at the headquarters.
The 7 mining blocks (number may vary depending on government policy) are each headed by an officer who is not below the rank of Deputy Chief of Police (DSP) and is supported by inspectors, sub-inspectors and senior police officers.
The deployment can be modified from time to time to accommodate functional requirements. The police staff employed in the agency receive salaries, equipment and weapons from the police authority. If necessary, special equipment from the District Mineral Foundation’s funds will be provided.
In addition to the District Police investigating mining cases, the ED would also currently register and investigate cases. It will submit final reports (challans) to the courts concerned. The examination is terminated for a specific period.
To streamline the way the government-run beef pounds work and effectively eradicate the threat posed by stray animals, the cabinet also approved them to operate as part of a public-private partnership (PPP).
The CMO spokesman said there would be no financial burden on the state to operate these books (except in Amritsar and Ferozepur) in PPP mode as they become self-sustaining by generating the required income through various activities.
