R28 cr disbursed under Shagun scheme in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Saturday claimed to have cleared 18,798 cases of Shagun scheme — from March to June this year — and deposited Rs 28 crore directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. In a press statement, welfare minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said the government had issued instructions to disburse Rs 15,000 under the Shagun scheme directly into the bank account of the beneficiary brides.

TO DEAL WITH TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE The Punjab government has constituted an empowered committee to deal with the tobacco industry interference in public health policies and to ensure forceful implementation of the Tobacco Control Act.

The committee headed by the principal secretary (health) Vini Mahajan would have principal secretary (home), financial commissioner (taxation), secretary health as designated special officer, director information and public relations as members and director health and family welfare would be the member secretary.

Mahajan said it was felt that whenever any move was made to implement ban on flavoured chewing tobacco/e-cigarettes, the tobacco industry tried to scuttle the move. Recently, the implementation of pack warnings on 85% area on both sides of packs of tobacco products has been delayed and in the states the increased VAT is not applicable to all tobacco products like bidis.