Chandigarh :  Governor of Punjab  Banwari Lal Purohit on Friday said that in the last one year the state government has made arduous efforts to rejuvenate the glory of Punjab.
In his address during the Budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Governor said that people of Punjab gave his government an opportunity to serve them for the first time. He said that his government began with the goal of delivering on all our promises not withstanding severe financial constraints.  Purohit said that the motto of his government is to provide its people, a transparent governance and for this, his government has adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy towards corruption.
The Governor said that to eradicate corruption from the State, his government has launched Anti-Corruption Action Line adding that from March 16, 2022 to February 28, 2023 Vigilance Bureau, Punjab has registered cases under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He said that state government is committed to provide employment to the youth of the state. Mr Purohit said that in the last one year 26, 797 Appointment Letters have been distributed to the eligible beneficiaries.
The Governor said that the state government is according top priority to health and education sectors. He said that 504 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened in the state to impart quality health services to people.  Purohit said that Punjab is one of the three front ranking States with 99.24o/o institutional deliveries as per HMIS data adding that Infant Mortality Rate in the State has been reduced to 18 per 1000 live births.
The Governor said that In order to improve the quality of education in the State, his Government has notified a Policy of Welfare of Ad hoc, Contractual, Temporary Teachers and Other Employees working in School Education. Pursuant to this Policy, 13, 769 applications of candidates have been received so far for regularization of their services. He said that the Government has launched a flagship program – ‘schools of Eminence’ on January 21, 2023 under which 117 Government Senior Secondary Schools have been selected to be transformed into ‘Schools of Eminence’ which will cater to the students of classes IX to XII. Mr Purohit said that these Schools will be built on five pillars of support and strength i.e. Infrastructure, Academics, Human Resource Management, Sports & Co-curricular Activities and Community Engagement to nurture individual ability and skills valuable for higher education, employment and training of students.
The Governor said that an International Education Affairs Cell (IEAC) has been established to provide world class training to teachers, school heads and educational administrators working at different levels in the School Education Department. He said that first batch of trainees consisting of 36 Principals/Education officers has been sent to Principals Academy, Singapore for Leadership Development Program. Mr Purohit said that Power is the most vital necessity for an agrarian State like Punjab referred to as ‘Food Bowl of India’.
The Governor said that Punjab has ensured 24×7 Power to more than one crore consumers adding that despite of the nationwide coal crisis this year, his government has met its all-time high peak demand during paddy season. He said that Pachhwara Central Coal Mine, closed for past 7 years due to legal issues was operationalized giving the State access to cheaper and higher quality coal. Purohit said that True to its commitment, his government has granted free 600 units of electricity bimonthly/300 units of electricity monthly to all domestic consumers, for consumption of electricity from July 2022.
The Governor said that For the first time, over 90% domestic consumers received Zero Bill. He said that right hours regular electric supply was given to Agriculture Consumers. Likewise, the Governor said that Pending domestic bills amounting to Rs.1298 crore have also been waived off in line with the Government’s commitment.