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October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.  Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.   Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       
Issue:Sep' 2017

CHANDIGARH DIARY

Neerja Bhanot Award

V.P. Prabhakar

Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki conferred the 26th Neerja Bhanot Award on Dr Sarojini Agarwal from Lucknow at PHD Chamber of Commerce, Sector 31, Chandigarh, on September 7.
The award consisisted of Rs. 1.5 lakh, a citation and a trophy . The award was instituted by Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust in the memory of the brave senior flight purser Neerja Bhanot, who saved 360 persons will sacrificing her own during the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi Airport. The Governor also gave Rs. 5 lakh to Mrs Agarwal.
This was for the first time that the award function was held on Neerja Bhanot's birthday. According to Mr Annesh Bhanot, brother of Neerja Bhanot, earlier this function used to be held on different dates due to various reasons. Now it would be held on her birthday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Haryana Governor said that "A daughter should be like Neerja and the mother should be like Dr Sarojini Agarwal."
The governor said, "she was just 23. She chose to stay back for three children. Very few people in the world can do that. She is our honour." Solanki added that Dr Agarwal runs an organisation called Mainsha Mandir, which was dedicated to the care of over 700 girls who belonged to economically weaker sections.
Dr Sarojini Agarwal who came with her son, is a writer and poet and has written a number of books. While concluding her address, she recited a poem written by her on Neerja.
Dr Agarwal lost her eight year old daughter Manisha, on April 1, 1978 in a road accident. After that she founded Manisha Mandir in 1984. She started accepting girls who are orphaned and handicapped.
She provides home and education to girls she adopts and looks after them at the shelter home in Lucknow. She also won the National Award in 2005.
Annesh Banot, brother of Neerja, shared a brief history about the formation of the trust..

Journalists' protest

Journalists of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh under the banner of the Chandigarh Press Club, on August 29, staged a protest against violence against their fraternity in Panchkula.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, journalists demanded action against the policemen and government functionaries who largely remained silent spectators during the attack on the journalists during the verdict of Dera Sacha Saudha chief Ram Rahim Singh on August 25. The Club Governing Council later submitted a memorandum to Haryana Governor Solanki, demanding action against the policemen.
"A charter of demands was submitted to the Governor who assured timely action against the erring officials," Club President Jaswant Rana said, adding that the Haryana government must compensate media persons for the damage caused to their property.
Rana said the governor also assured the journalists that he would speak to the Haryana Chief Minister in this regard. Over 40 vehicles, comprising cars, two-wheelers and OB vans, of the Journalists were set on fire by a mob Cameras of the photojournalists and TV channels were stanched and damaged by the mob.
Describing the attack on journalist unfortunate, Club Secretary General Barinder Rawat said this was an attack on the freedom of expression.

Projects approved

J.P. Nadda The Union Health Ministry has approved three projects of PGI which would cost Rs. 1475 crore. Two projects would be located in Chandigarh and one in Una in Himachal Pradesh.
A meeting of the Delegated Investment Board of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was attended among others by the Directors of PGI, Dr Jagat Ram. The meeting was presided over by J.P. Nadda, Union Health Minster and Family Welfare.
Nadda, who belonged to Himachal Pradesh, said: " Our government is committed to providing health facilities and coverage to all people at affordable prices on the doorstep. I urge the Himachal Pradesh Government to provide land at the earliest so that work on the satellite centre at Una can be started immediately."
Dr Jagat Ram, Director of PGI, said : "It is a major boost not only for us but the entire region, which will stand to benefit from the new projects.
While the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre will come up in Chandigarh, a satellite centre of PGI will be set up at Una in Himachal Paradesh. The 300 bedded PGI satellite centre in Una will help cater to the patients of the Himachal.

Tax concession

Arun Jaitley Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on August 16 that industries in Himalayan states (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand) and north eastern states, including would continue to get tax expiation till March 2027, albeit as refund, under the current GST regime.
He said: "Within the framework of the GST Act, each industry would be entitled to its own refund mechanism during this particular period (March 31, 2027)."
The Cabinet sub Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narender Modi, has given approval to the scheme of providing budgetary support under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime for the eligible industrial units in Himalayan States and northestern states," he said.
The support shall be available for the residual period (10 years from the date of the commercial production) in these states. Mr Jaitely said that the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) would notify the scheme, including details operational guidelines for this implementation within six weeks.
A budgetary support of Rs. 27, 413 crore has been approved form July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2027 for such industrial units located in these states.
Mr Suneet Kochher, Punjab State Council Chairman of ASSOCHAM, said, "All major industrial houses in Punjab have chosen to expand and diversify outside Punjab, especially in Himachal Pradesh.