CHAPTER XIII

 

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

 

In the recent years the role the public administration has increased manifold  in order to meet the modern day requirements of human life. Being a welfare State, the Government has undertaken so much diverse activities that many new departments have come into existence, which play a key role in the development and functional activities of Government.

            The administrative set up, fucntions and activities of the departments, which have not been mentioned elsewhere in the Gazetteer, have been dealt with hereunder:

 

(a)   Public Works Department

 

Public Works Department (PWD) is one of the important departments of the Government. It is responsible for excution of various developmental works of the State. The activities of the Public Works Department may be mainly divided into construction and maintenance of buildings, bridges and roads; rural water supply works; drainage works; irrigation and linning of irrigation channels, etc. The jurisdiction of the circles/ divisions of the department are not necessarily contained to a district. However the divisons/ subdivisions having jurisdiction over the Nawashahr District are discussed below:

 

Executive Engineer, Provincial Division, PWD (B&R), Nawashahr.- In the present district of Nawashahr this division was established on 14 June 1999. It is headed by an Executive Engineer, and functions under the administrative control of Superintending Engineer, Construction Circle No. 2, PWD (B&R), Jalandhar. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1 Divisonal Accounts Officer, 1 Superintendent, 3 Senior Assistants, 1 Head Draftsman, 1 Draftsman, 1 Junior Draftsman, besides Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

This division has two subdivisions viz Provincial Subdivision, PWD (B&R), Nawashahr and Construction Subdivision PWD (B&R), Nawashahr. Each of these Subdivisions is headed by Sub Divisional Engineer. Sub Divisional Engineer, Provincial Subdivision PWD (B&R), Nawashahr is  assisted by 1 Junior Engineer, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Deputy Sub Divisional Clerk and other miscellaneous Class IV staff. Sub Divisional Engineer, Construction Subdivision PWD (B&R), Nawashahr is assisted by 5 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Deputy Sub Divisional Clerk and other miscellaneous Class IV staff.

 

Sub Divisional Engineer, Public Health (Government Works), Nawashahr.- This Subdivision was established at Nawashahr in 1971-72. It is headed by Sub Divisional Engineer who functions under the administrative control of Executive Engineer (GW) Jalandhar Division, Jalandhar who in turn is under the control of Superintending Engineer, (GW) Jalandhar Circle, Jalandhar.

The Sub Divisional Engineer is assisted by 4 Assistant Engineers, 1 Senior Clerk, 1 Junior Clerk  besides miscellaneous Class IV staff.

The main functions of this subdivision are the maintenance of water supply, sewerage and sanitary work in Government institutions.

 

Executive Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply) Nawashahr.- This division was set up in September 1991. It is headed by Executive Engineer who functions under the adminisrative control of Superintending Engineer, Public Health (RWS) Hoshiarpur Circle, Hoshiarpur. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1 Superintendent, 3 Senior Assistants, 3 Senior Clerks, 2 Clerks, 1 Steno, 4 Auditors, 1 Accountant. 1 Head Draftsman, 2 Draftsmen and 2 Junior Draftsmen besides miscellaneous Class IV Staff.

This division has 2 subdivisions viz. Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.1, Nawashahr and Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.2, Nawashahr.

Each subdivision is under the charge of Sub Divisional Engineer. In Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.1, Sub Divisional Engineer is assisted by 4 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional clerk, 1 Pump Driver, besides miscellaneous Class IV Staff. Where as in Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.2, Sub Divisional Engineer is assisted by 1 Junior Engineer, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk, 1 Driver, 1 Fitter 2 Pump Drivers, besides miscellaneous Class IV Staff.

 

Executive Engineer, Public Health (Rural Water Supply), Balachaur.- This division was established in September 1991*. It is headed by Executive Engineer, who is under the administrative control of Superintending Engineer, Public Health (RWS), Hoshiarpur Circle, Hoshiarpur. He is assisted by 1 Superintendent, 3 Senior Assistants, 4 Clerks, 1 Steno, 1 Accountant, 1 Head Draftsman, 1 Draftsman and 3 Junior Draftsmen and besides miscellaneous Class IV Staff.

 

 

* This division was merged with Public Health (RWS) Division, Nawashahr on 2 May 2002

This division has three subdivisions, viz. Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.1, Balachaur, Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No.2 Balachaur and Public Health (RWS) Subdivision No. 3 Gharshankar. From above first two are functioning in Nawashahr District whereas the third one is in Hoshiarpur District.

Each Subdivision is under the charge of Sub Divisional Engineer who is assisted in each subdivision of Nawashahr District by 2 Junior Engineers, 1 Sub Divisional Clerk and besides miscellaneous Class IV Staff.

(b) Cooperative Department

 

Punjab has the privilage of being pioneer in cooperative movement in the country. Cooperatives have been playing a vital role in the economic uplift of people, particularly for the weaker sections in the rural areas during the last about hundred years. The different types of cooperatives in the State serve the people in diverse economic activities. Its growth in Punjab State has been so spectacular that at present there is particularly no major sphere of economic activity of the people which has not been touched by it.

The Cooperative Department is represented in the district by the Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Nawashahr. The office of Deputy Resigstrar, Cooperative Societies, Nawashahr was established on 11 March 1996. He functions under the administrative control of Registrar Cooperative Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assisted by 2 Assistant Registrars, one each at Nawashahr and Balachaur.

The  office of the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Nawashahr was established on 1 November 1966 . He is assisted by 1 Superintendent, 1 Steno, 4 Clerks, 19 Inspectors and 5 Peons. The office of the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Balachaur was established on 26 March 2001 and is assisted by 1 Senior Assistant, 4 Clerks, 7 Inspectors and 4 Peons.

The Deputy Registrar is reponsible for the healthy growth and development of the cooperative movement and registers the cooperative societies. He ensures that agriculturists receive adequate and timely supply of short, medium and long term cerdit through central cooperative banks, land development banks and cooperative service societies. He also arranges through cooperative marketing societies the supply of chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, insecticides and pesticides.

 

 

(c)  Public Relations Department

 

The office of the District Public Relations Officer, Nawashahr came into existence in November 1995. At  the district level, the department of Public Relations is represented by the Assistant Public Relations Officer, Nawashahr. who is officiating as District Public Relations Officer. He is under the administrative control of Director, Public Relations, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assisted by 1 Accountant, 1 Steno-typist, 1 Cinema Operator,1 Artist besides miscellanous Class III and Class IV staff.

            The department is mainly responsible for collection and circulatation of the official information and news. It helps the press and electronics media and their correspondents by way of furnishing them necessary information. At the district level, the District Public Relations Officer maintains constant liaison with the public for putting across the Government point of view. He undertake publicity drive through meetings, cinema shows, drama performances and personal contacts with a view to inform and educate the people about various programmes and policies formulated by the Government and the development made in different fields. He keeps the Government informed of public reactions to its plans and policies and convey the public grievances to the district and State authorities. The office also runs an information centre at the district headquarters.

 

(d) Food and Supplies Department

 

The Department of Food and Supplies is represented at the district level by the District Food and Supplies Controller, Nawashahr. He functions under the adminsitrative control of Director, Food and Supplies , Punjab, Chandigarh. The office of District Food and Supplies Controller, Nawashahr was established in November 1995. In the discharge of his official duties he is assisted by 2 Food and Supplies Officers, 5 Assistant Food and Supplies Officers, 1 Superinendent, 1 Senior Auditor, 1 Accountant, 5 Auditors, 4 Clerks, 18 Inspectors Grade-I, 13 Inspectors Grade-II besides class IV staff.

The District  Food and Supplies Controller is primarily responsible for the procurement of foodgrains in the district. He also looks after the proper storage of the stocks of foodgrains kept in the provincial reserves and arrangement for their distribution, distribution of sugar, kerosene oil and vegetable ghee, etc., to the people belonging to below poverty line and above poverty line under different schemes. The distribution of foodgrain and other essential commodities is regulated through a net work of fair price shops in the district. A new  scheme namely ‘Antodya Scheme’ has been launched by the Government of India. Under this scheme 470 below poverty line families has been getting 25 kg wheat per month at the rate of Rs 2 per kg in the district. The District Food and Supplies Controller is also responsible to issue/renewal of brick kilns and firewood licences and checking of licences of food grains, rice shellers besides, the checking of petrol pump and cooking gas agencies. The department also maintains its own godowns for the storage of foodgrains.

            As on 31 March 2001, there were 298 fair price shops (248 rural and 50 urban) functioning in the district

 

                                    (e) Finance Department

 

            The department is represented at the district level by District Treasury Officer, Jalandhar through a Treasury Officer posted at Nawashahr. The Treasury Officer, Nawashahr is the incharge of Sub-treasury functioning at Nawashahr. As  on 31 March 2001, the Treasury Officer, Nawashahr was assisted by 1 Senior Assistant, 1 Senior Clerk, 1 Clerk, 1 Treasurer besides Class IV staff.

            The main functions of Treasury Officer are, to make receipts and payments on behalf of Government; to maintain the accounts of Government and storage of stamps, valuables, etc. He is also responsible to District Treasury Officer, Jalandhar, who is responsible to the Accountant General, Punjab for the regular submission of monthly accounts and allied returns, etc.

 

                                    (f) Planning Department

 

            The department is represented at the district level by the Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser, Nawashahr, whose office was established in December 1995. The Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser is assisted by 1 Research Officer, 1 Assistant Research Officer, 2 Statistical Assistants, 4 Investigators besides other miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.

 The main functions of the office of the Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser are; to coordinate the statistical activities of various offices at the district level and to publish statistical data; to improve the quality of statistical work done at the district level; to collect weekly retail prices and to act as data bank for government institutions and interested public. Besides, Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser  acts as Additional Secretary to District Planning and Development Board. His main function is to call the meetings of the board. In these meetings, funds are released to different departments, sanctioned under various plan schemes.

 

(g) Language Department

 

            The Language Department in Nawashahr District is represented by District Language Officer, Jalandhar, as there is no seperate office in the district.

            The main functions of the District Language Officer are; to inspect, help and guide the district officers regarding the introduction of offical language i.e. Punjabi; to hold classes for Punjabi, Hindi to government employees; to impart training in Punjabi typewriting and shorthand; to hold examinations in Punjabi and Hindi at district level; to assist the government offices in translating pamphlets/books in Punjabi; to organise literary seminars, dramas kavi darbars (poetic symposia), etc. This office also functions as a sales depot  for the books published by the Language Department, Punjab.

 

                                    (h) Sainik Welfare Department

 

            The welfare of ex-servicemen is exclusively looked after by the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Chandigarh. At the district level the Department of Sainik Welfare is represented by the District Sainik Welfare Officer, Nawashahr. His office was established on 1 August 1998 in the district.

            The main functions of the department are: to disseminate information to the general public regarding armed forces in the country; to keep watch over the welfare of families of servicemen and of ex-servicemen by assisting them in representing their cases to the authorities; to give information to the general public regarding conditions of service in the armed forces; to investigate applications for relief from various military and civil charitable funds and to grant financial relief to the ex-servicemen and their dependents from the funds at their disposal.

            The main welfare activities of the department are: to settle the financial problems such as pension and other retirement/release benefits/dues to ex-servicemen; to maintain close liaison with pension disbursing authorities/agencies in the district; to provide assistance for settlement of land and other disputes; to render assistance to the families of the serving personnel in regard to their safety/security during the absence of the serving personnel; to maintain sainik welfare measures such as rest houses for ex-servicenmen, old age pensioners home, vocational and other training facilities, etc., to provide medical assistance for medical treatment in military/civil hospitals and to  maintain liaison with other welfare organizations  to procure additional funds for the welfare measures. The Department organizes flag day and rallies for ex-servicemen. It also maintains a list of senior retired officers. It ensures proper maintenance of war memorials in the district.

 

(i) Soil and Water Conservation Department

 

The department is represented in the district by the Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, whose office in this district was established on 1 April 1997. He is under the administrative control of Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assited by 3 Assistant Soil Conservation Officers posted at Nawashahr and Balachaur in Nawashahr District one at Garhshankar in Hoshiarpur District and these are incharge of their respective subdivision. The Assistant Soil Conservation Officer has four sections under him and each section is managed by a Agricultural Inspector/Junior Engineer. Each Agricultural Inspector/ Junior Engineer has four Agricultural Sub Inspectors/ Surveyors and one Beldar under him.

The main functions of the department in the Nawashahr District are; to lay underground drains, levelling of land and to instal drip irrigation system. Apart from this in the Kandi area of Balachaur Subdivision work relating to perennial flay project and water harvesting tank and lift irrigation scheme is also being done. The work done by department in 2000-2001 in the district are as under:

 

Name of

the Scheme

Under Ground Water

Expenditure           Physical

                          Achievement

(Rs in lakhs)      (in hectares)

Land Levelling

Length    Expenditure           Physical

( in             ( Rs in           achievement

 Meters)    lakhs)             (in    hectares)                                       

NABARD

47.83

334

26,405

3.50

13

 

 

District Planning

Board

 

0.67

9

442

-

-

 

Rural Development

Board

6.74

70

2,934

-

-

 

                      ( Source: Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Nawashahr)

 

 

 

 

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