02072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/2/2026 1:18 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 29°C MID-DAY MEAL WORKERS PROTEST IN TARN TARAN 19 VENDORS PENALISED FOR VIOLATING COTPA NORMS SUNNY GETS ANOTHER TAREEKH ...THIS TIME ON OTT Mid-day meal workers across the district observed a one-day strike on Wednesday. P2 The Health Department, in coordination with the district administration and police, conducted an enforcement drive.P3 Deolsays,“IKKAisnotjustacourtroom drama.Itisastoryaboutrelationships,andthe difficultchoiceslifeforcesyoutomake.”P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:27 AM THURSDAY | 2 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR MAWAN DHIYAN SATKAR YOJANA Minister ETO leads grant launch event Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 1 Fulfilling its final election guarantee, the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, today launched the Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, under which Rs 1,500 per month has been credited into the bank accounts of women belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, while Rs 1,000 per month has been transferred to women belonging to the general and other categories. To mark the occasion, Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO organised a programme at Royal Farm, Village Udo Nangal (near Mehta Chowk), where a large LED screen was installed to enable women from the Jandiala Guru Assembly constituency to virtually witness the Chief Minister launching the scheme. Congratulating the women at the launch of the scheme, the Cabinet minister said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had fulfilled the promise it had made to the women of AMOUNT DISBURSED 1,500 SCHEDULED CASTE 1,000 GENERAL & OTHERS ‘PROMISE MADE TO WOMEN FULFILLED’ Aadmi Party ❝The Aamhas fulfilled the government promise it had made to the women of Punjab. ❞ — Harbhajan Singh ETO, PUNJAB PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER << Women share sweets at the launch of Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana in Amritsar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Punjab. He further said that, in a significant initiative, the government released the assistance for three months together, covering July, August and September. He added that the honorarium had started reaching the beneficiaries’ bank accounts from today itself. He said the scheme was now a permanent welfare initiative and would continue. By implementing this scheme, the government enhanced the dignity and financial empowerment of women, stressing that the daughters and sisters of Punjab were second to none in any field. He further stated that for the first time in Punjab, a gov- ernment had ensured that “public money reaches the people directly”, while effectively curbing corruption through transparent governance. A special gathering was organised at the Ajnala constituency office of the Aam Aadmi Party to watch the live telecast of the launch of the Yojana, where party leaders and workers from both urban and rural areas participated and sweets were distributed to celebrate the occasion. Constituency MLA and chief spokesperson of the AAP, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, warmly welcomed the beneficiaries of the scheme. Under the first phase, women belong- ing to the general category received ?3,000 (for three months), while women belonging to the Scheduled Castes category received ?4,500 (for three months). Dhaliwal further said that women already receiving social security pensions would also be eligible to benefit from the Yojana. He added that the Punjab Government had earmarked ?9,300 crore for the scheme. To ensure its effective implementation, around 200,000 Mahila Satkar Sakhis had been deployed across the state to facilitate the registration of eligible beneficiaries. Registration had also been carried out through anganwadi centres, seva kendras, suvidha centres, and other locations specially designated by deputy commissioners in different districts. He clarified that eligible women who had not yet registered under the scheme could still complete their registration and avail of the benefits in the coming days. Vicky Dutta, a leader of the AAP, distributed sweets among women recipients inside the walled city. 1,88,026 women found eligible for monthly scheme Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 1 The district administration has found 1,88,026 women, including 52,488 belonging to the reserved categories, eligible for the monthly aid of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per month, respectively, under the Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have flayed the ruling AAP for the timing of the scheme’s launch when the Punjab Assembly election is barely months away. Congress leader Anil Joshi termed it a complete eyewash as the AAP’s manifesto stated the aid for five years. He said it was exactly only for three months. After the quarter ending September, these beneficiaries will not get anything as the model code of conduct will be introduced. He asserted that each beneficiary should have been given Rs 60,000 during the past five years. Welfare measures showcased changing voting patterns in the state. Certain high-income segments have been excluded from the scheme. These are serving and retired government employees, income tax payers as well as current and former lawmakers (MPs and MLAs). Those already receiving existing social security pensions under the widow, aged and handicapped categories are eligible to receive the new honorarium. Opposition leaders reminded that the AAP had originally promised these benefits for every eligible woman aged above 18, irrespective of income, but the final programme excluded income tax payees, government employees and pensioners from its ambit. To ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme, the administration had engaged 3,484 Mahila Satkar Sakhis (MSSs) across the three constituencies. A total of 1,072 volunteers were deployed in Majitha, 1,169 in Jandiala Guru and 1,243 in Amritsar South. Under the scheme, electoral rolls were used to identify and register eligible beneficiaries. Each volunteer was assigned around 50 households and will conduct door-to-door visits to verify the credentials of eligible women. Cops seize 1.1 kg heroin, three weapons, NCB secures attachment of drug money in multiple operations assets in drugs seizure case Narcotics, contraband seized from jail warder, case registered Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 1 The Amritsar rural police arrested four persons and confiscated 1.1 kg of heroin, three weapons, cash and drug money from their possession in the past 24 hours. Among those arrested included Jasbir Singh, alias Bhui, of Ghanshampur Khurd village, Santokh Singh of Panj Garayian, Rajbir Singh of Mehla wala and Rafiqe of Jaja village in Tanda in Hoshiapur district. Jasbir’s accomplice Shainti and Rafique’s accomplice Karan has been at large and efforts were being made to nab them. The police have registered four separate cases under the NDPS Act and Arms Act at Rajasansi, Gharinda, Lopoke and Mehta police stations. In the first case, the police intercepted a white Hyundai Creta (PB10-KL- Two groups resort to firing over DJ songs Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, July 1 Firing took place between two groups over songs played on the DJ at a birthday party at Black Kettle Restaurant in Patti late on Monday night. The police seized two shells and a live cartridge from the spot. The investigating officer in the case, ASI Harjinder Singh, said a party was going on there regarding the birthday of Dimapjit Singh, a resident of Assal Chowk, Patti, in which firing took place between the two groups. Police officials address mediapersons in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR 2959) at a checkpoint near a newly constructed bridge on Chogawan Road. The driver, identified as Rafiq, allegedly tried to turn the vehicle around on spotting the police in an attempt to run away from the scene, but was arrested. During the search, officials seized a .32 bore foreign-made pistol marked “Made in England”, a magazine loaded with two live cartridges, and Rs 8.40 lakh in cash concealed beneath a plastic cover near the vehicle’s wiper assembly. The accused failed to produce any valid arms licence. During questioning, he allegedly disclosed the involvement of another person, identified as Karan, who is absconding, and claimed he had been connected to an overseas contact through a mobile number saved as “Sandhu”. Cops have seized the car, cash and weapon for further investigation. In another operation, the police seized an abandoned yellow packet from agricultural fields on the outskirts of Dhanoe Kalan village. The contents tested positive for heroin using a fieldtesting kit. The packet contained 842 gm of heroin, including the packing material. A case has been registered and efforts are underway to identify those responsible. Amritsar, July 1 The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amritsar, has secured the attachment of assets in connection with a major narcotics trafficking case involving the seizure of a total of 18 kg drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine and opium. Sources in the NCB said the competent authority and administrator under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976, and NDPS Act, New Delhi, has confirmed the freezing of two vehicles owned by the accused, Harmanjit Singh Sandhu. The order, issued recently under Section 68-F(1) of the NDPS Act, upholds the provisional freezing order dated May 29. The frozen vehicles include a Toyota Etios Liva GD, bearing registration number PB02CT9678, valued at Rs 5.69 The accused in Amritsar police custody. lakh, and a Toyota Fortuner Sigma 4 (AT), bearing registration number PB02EM0002, valued at Rs 27.22 lakh. Earlier, on June 17, the same authority had confirmed the freezing of 93 kanals and 11 marlas of agricultural land worth Rs 1.75 crore in the name of the mother of the accused, Harjinder Kaur. The land is situated in Burj village of Chabhal tehsil in Tarn Taran district. With the latest order, the total value of properties confirmed as frozen in the case has risen to about Rs 2.08 crore till now. Amritsar, July 1 The Amritsar Police have registered a case after seizing a substantial quantity of narcotics and other prohibited items from a jail warder at the Central Jail here, triggering a probe into an alleged smuggling racket inside the prison. According to the police, a search of warder Robinpreet Singh led to the seizure of 79.40 gm of opium, 41.18 grams of a black narcotic substance, 93.32 gm of white narcotic powder, 215 gm of tobacco, 205 ml of an intoxicant liquid, and an Apple touchscreen mobile phone. During preliminary investigation and interrogation, the name of a jail inmate, identified as Rahul Kumar, came to light. Cops suspected an organised network was operating to smuggle drugs and other banned items into the jail premises. National Green Tribunal imposes fine of ~50,000 on Municipal Corporation Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 1 The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Judicial Member and Dr A Senthil Vel, Expert Member, has imposed a fresh fine of Rs 50,000 on the Amritsar Municipal Corporation for delay in the compliance of previous orders by the Tribunal concerning the management of legacy waste at the Chabbal Road dumping site in Amritsar. Hearing the original application Sunil Luthra vs State of Punjab & Others regarding the management of legacy waste at the Chabbal Road dumping site in Amritsar, the Tribunal noted that, in its earlier order dated April 1, 2026, the respondents (MC Amritsar) had been directed to examine the grievances raised in the application, undertake appropriate remedial measures in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. They were to file comprehensive responses detailing the action taken or proposed, including budgetary allocations, timelines for compliance and adherence to the directions issued by the Tribunal, in compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. In its response, the MC’S MOVE TO CLEAR LEGACY WASTE A view of garbage dumped in Amritsar. REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, submitted that the Chabbal Road site was c m y b an old, abandoned dumping site where no fresh waste was being dumped. It fur- The project covers the city’s three major dumping grounds — Bhagtanwala, Jhabal Road and Narayangarh. Under the proposed plan, around 3.67 lakh metric tonnes of waste remaining after bioremediation at the Bhagtanwala dump, 1.37 lakh metric tonnes at Jhabal Road and 57,000 metric tonnes at Narayangarh will be scientifically processed and disposed of. ther stated that the tendering process for bio-remediation and the disposal of legacy waste had been initiated and the 3.67 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste at the Chabhal Road landfill would be scientifically processed and cleared within six months of awarding the contract. However, the Tribunal observed that the response filed by the Municipal Corporation did not adequately address the grievances raised in the application and failed to furnish the requisite details regarding compliance with the Tribunal’s earlier directions, including particulars of the tendering process, technical evaluation, budgetary provisions and timelines. The Tribunal granted additional time to file a comprehensive response and the adjournment in the interest of justice, subject to payment of ?50,000 as costs. The amount is to be deposited with the National Green Tribunal Bar Association, Principal Bench, New Delhi, within one month. The Tribunal further directed the MCA to file an additional response within two months containing all requisite details. The officials concerned have also been directed to initiate appropriate punitive action in accordance with law and submit an additional response detailing the action taken within the same period.