Columnists

Kanchan Vasdev

To combat coronavirus, Punjab ordered 1 lakh PPE kits, has got only 6600 so far

Sat, Mar 28, 2020

“There is a shortage of masks and kits in the entire country. These are imported and the orders are not materialising. We had placed an order of 1 lakh each. But what we have received is very small quantity,” an official said.

Punjab: Captain Amarinder Singh asks village heads to help in tracking NRIs

Sat, Mar 28, 2020

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday asked the Rural Development and Panchayats Department to involve village Sarpanches in reporting to the authorities about any failing on this front.

Coronavirus scare: Capt govt quadruples its testing to 320 samples per day

Fri, Mar 27, 2020

From testing 80-100 samples per day at Government Medical College, Amritsar, and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, the state government has now allowed the two institutions to test 320 samples (overall) in a day.

Punjab postpones wheat procurement, ops to begin April 15

Wed, Mar 25, 2020

This time Punjab is also facing a problem of plenty as all its godowns are filled to the brim. With the efforts to contain the novel coronavirus being put in place, the government is also hurrying to clear its godowns by sending the wheat to recipient states.

500 doctors volunteer to help Punjab fight COVID-19

Wed, Mar 25, 2020

From testing only those with symptoms, the Punjab government has now started testing all those having come in contact with positive cases.

Punjab: No relaxation in curfew, supplies at doorstep, says Capt govt

Wed, Mar 25, 2020

As per the latest orders, people will be forced to stay confined at home and daily essentials will be made to reach them by the respective district administrations by engaging identifying local hawkers, grocers shopping complexes and malls.

Punjab: More curbs, tracking teams formed as quarantine-dodging NRIs spark alarm

Wed, Mar 25, 2020

The teams in Kapurthala need to locate around 4,000 NRIs. In Nawanshahr, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the region, that number is nearly 2,000.

Punjab looks at crowdfunding to combat coronavirus outbreak

Tue, Mar 24, 2020

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday also announced that it would donate a month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to assist the state government in its efforts to combat the virus.

Punjab: From lockdown to curfew as coronavirus cases surge

Mon, Mar 23, 2020

Sources said the government had got reports from all districts that many people were out on roads and not following the lock down instructions.

Punjab orders lockdown till March 31

Mon, Mar 23, 2020

Deputy Commissioners of all the 22 districts were asked to issue orders in the respective districts for the lockdown that would come into effect at 6 am Monday and would remain into effect till 9 pm on March 31.

Coronavirus scare: Punjab Health Minister says NRIs coming to India are being ‘irresponsible’

Sun, Mar 22, 2020

Meanwhile, seven persons,including six relatives of the Nawanshahr man who passed away after cardiac arrest and tested positive post death, have been tested positive for coronavirus.

Coronavirus scare: Punjab govt plans complete lockdown for two weeks

Sun, Mar 22, 2020

The announcement is likely to be made Sunday night, after the 'Janata Curfew' called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends.

‘We are making the left meet the right’

Sat, Mar 21, 2020

Administrative Secretary, the Department of Employment Generation, Rahul Tewari tells The Indian Express that the government data is authentic and every employment entry in their records can be cross-checked.

The job at hand

Sat, Mar 21, 2020

While Punjab’s Cong govt claims to have facilitated employment for over 12 lakh youths in last 3 years as part of its pre-poll promise, opposition claims most of them have only landed menial jobs.

Coronavirus: Punjab to ban public transport from March 21

Fri, Mar 20, 2020

The decision to halt all public transport includes state- run and private buses and autorickshaws from 00:00 hours Saturday.

Coronavirus India update March 19: Death toll rises to four, total cases now at 173

Thu, Mar 19, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) India news updates: As India intensifies measures to stem its outbreak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm to talk about steps being taken against the virus.

Punjab can test only 100 samples of COVID-19 suspects a day: Health dept sources

Tue, Mar 17, 2020

Sources in the state health department said, “The two hospitals have a capacity of this much only. But we have not been receiving more than 8-10 samples from across the state. Some days the number has not been more than five.”

Punjab CM vows: One lakh jobs, cheap power, new sand mining policy

Tue, Mar 17, 2020

Addressing the media after four of Cabinet ministers read out a report card of the government that completed three years on Monday.

On long road to fiscal recovery, Punjab still has miles to go

Mon, Mar 16, 2020

As CM Amarinder Singh's government completes three years in office on March 16, The Indian Express analyses the progress report of the state in key sectors.

Punjab: Amarinder’s scheduled event to mark 3 years in power raises concerns amid coronavirus fears

Mon, Mar 16, 2020

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will be accompanied by all Cabinet ministers, PPCC president Sunil Jakhar and AICC General Secretary Asha Kumari for the press conference.