The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is formulating a new incentive-based policy to address the critical shortage of teachers and doctors in the state's border districts. This strategic move aims to ensure that essential services in education and healthcare do not suffer in these sensitive areas.
Addressing the Border Area Crisis
The pressing issue of manpower shortage was a key topic of discussion during a recent state Cabinet meeting. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to develop a comprehensive policy framework. The directive comes after the CM, while campaigning for the Tarn Taran Assembly byelection, learned that professionals often use personal connections to secure transfers to districts closer to Chandigarh, such as Mohali.
An official familiar with the matter highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "The situation is so bad that sometimes a school loses five teachers in a year to transfers. This affects the studies of children." Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema confirmed that a committee will be formed to explore options, with incentivizing professionals who remain in border districts being a primary consideration. The financial implications of such a policy are also being assessed.
Cabinet Tightens Rules for Societies and Mining
In a separate but significant decision, the Punjab Cabinet has approved amendments to the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora announced that this will bring charitable societies under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, increasing transparency.
The new regulations mandate that all existing societies must re-register within one year. Furthermore, societies will require renewal every five years and will be subject to regular audits. The government will initially focus on organizations in the health and education sectors, where numerous complaints have been registered. The amendments also restrict the use of government-associated names like 'Gandhi' or 'Reserve Bank' during registration and place controls on property sales.
Curbing Illegal Mining with GPS Tracking
To combat the rampant issue of illegal mining, the Cabinet has made it mandatory for all vehicles transporting sand and gravel to install GPS tracking systems. Finance Minister Cheema explained that this will allow the government to monitor the real-time movement of these vehicles, enabling swift action against illegal activities.
The Cabinet also approved modifications to the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules, 2013, aligning them with the updated 2025 policy. A key administrative change involves transferring the role of the appellate authority within the Mining Department to the Superintendent Engineer, a move intended to streamline the process for handling appeals related to seized vehicles and other mining disputes.
