News / Author / Harmandeep Singh

Harmandeep Singh

Harmandeep Singh is staff Correspondent and have specialisation in investigative reporting. He covers Punjab politics, mining, crime, school education, health, medical education, administration, labour department, brain-drain and rural areas besides burning issues of Sangrur and Barnala districts.

Articles by Harmandeep Singh

Aam Aadmi Clinics: Focus on OPDs may leave emergency services neglected

With Punjab Civil Medical Services doctors posted at the various Primary Health Centres in the state, now being entrusted with the job of running the newly added around 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics , rural emergency services are likely to take a hit.

The state government has converted around 400 PHCs to AACs and these clinics will provide OPD services and tests will also be done here. (HT photo)

cities

Updated on Jan 28, 2023 09:18 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

92 ayurvedic medical officers in Punjab’s Sangrur deprived of full pay since September

As many as 92 ayurvedic medical officers are still drawing basic salaries even after completing three-year probation period in September last year.

New Indian Rupee 2000 Currency Note after Demonitization (Representational Photo)

cities

Published on Jan 22, 2023 08:44 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Waiting for job letters: ETT teachers in Punjab’s Sangrur threaten to ‘gherao’ education minister on R Day

Over 1,100 ETT teachers, waiting for the offer letters for the past seven months, has been making rounds of the education department’s office in Mohali but to no avail.

Annoyed over the delay the aspiring teachers have now decided to ‘gherao’ education minister Harjot Singh Bains on January 26. (Representational Photo)

cities

Published on Jan 20, 2023 08:21 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Five migrant labourers die of suffocation in Punjab’s Sunam

Had left coal brazier (angithi) burning to ward off the cold in a closed room while they slept; sixth labourer hospitalised in critical condition

Five migrant labourers died of suffocation after falling asleep with a coal brazier (angithi) burning in their room to ward off the cold at a rice-sheller at Chhaharh village near Sunam town on Monday. (Representational photo)

cities

Published on Jan 09, 2023 05:15 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh

Medical college row: Tractor march taken out in Punjab’s Sangrur

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had on Sunday slammed the Dhindsa and Badal families for ‘joining hands’ to stall work of the Sangrur medical college for their ‘vested political interests’

A tractor march was carried out by Sangrur residents on Monday against the Dhindsa family, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for allegedly stalling work of a medical college. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Jan 03, 2023 12:51 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Academic session nears fag end: BC, general category students in Punjab bereft of free uniforms

The current academic year has reached near fag end but students of government schools across the state from general and backward class categories, and pre-primary classes are yet to receive free uniforms.

Even as the board examinations are scheduled to be held in February next year but there is no sign of giving uniforms to students of these classes. (HT file photo)

cities

Published on Dec 25, 2022 07:33 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh

Valiant canines’ victorious service: Police dog ‘Micky’ retires after 9 years, Sangrur police line to remain her home

Police dog named ‘Micky’- who played an important role with the anti-sabotage team of additional director general of police (ADGP), security wing Punjab at Chandigarh for seven years on deputation and two years in Sangrur police - retired last month after nine years of service.

Labrador retriever, Micky, will no longer guard chief ministers, cabinet ministers, VVIP dignitaries, state guests and top cops on the front line as she will spend the rest of her life at Sangrur police line. (HT photo)

cities

Published on Dec 16, 2022 10:04 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Punjab: Craze for foreign shores catching up among Sangrur cops

In Sangrur, of the 21 cops who have taken early retirement in last six months, 17 have mentioned emigration as their reason behind leaving the police force, shows the official data

The trend of settling abroad is fast catching up in the Sangrur police department as many cops are opting for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to start a new chapter of their lives overseas. (Image for representational purpose)

cities

Published on Dec 10, 2022 01:00 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Labour welfare: Punjab labour dept’s 50,000 free cycle distribution violates central govt’s directive

The state labour department has decided to purchase 50,000 cycles for labourers from the welfare funds of the building and other construction workers’ (BOCW) welfare board, while the central government has clearly stopped usage of welfare funds to give benefits in form of in-kind.

The central government has allowed states to give benefits or assistance to workers only through direct benefit transfer (DBT). (Representational photo)

cities

Published on Dec 05, 2022 06:58 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Punjab primary games: Students all set, but where are the sports kits?

While around 7,000 students, aged 6 to 10, are set to participate in the games, which will be held at Anandpur Sahib from December 6 to 9, the Punjab education department has provided no funds to schools to arrange sports kits for them

Unlike previous editions of the primary games, the Punjab education department this year has released no funds for the tracksuits and sports shoes that teachers say are crucial for mobility, and protection from injuries and winter chill. (HT File Photo)

cities

Published on Dec 03, 2022 01:00 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Cops lathi-charge protesting farm labourers outside Mann’s house

The Punjab Police on Wednesday lathi-charged farm labourers protesting outside Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s house in Sangrur district over an increase in their minimum daily wage and other demands, members of labour union’s said.

Police lathi-charge farmers protesting outside Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann's residence, in Sangrur. (PTI)

cities

Updated on Dec 01, 2022 01:33 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Prized profession: Teaching a way of life in this Sangrur village

A committee of government employees at Gularhi village in Sangrur also trains other villagers to ready them for teaching jobs

Gularhi village in Sangrur, with a population of 3,400, has 600 houses and over 200 government school teachers. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 29, 2022 12:33 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Vacant agricultural officers’ posts affecting Punjab government’s pro-farmer schemes

Shortage of agricultural development officer, block agricultural officer and agricultural sub-inspectors in agriculture department is affecting working of the department

ADOs are the ones who directly remain in touch with farmers and the public in the field and take the government’s pro farmer scheme and initiative to them. (HT file photo)

cities

Published on Nov 27, 2022 07:43 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Educational tour demand fallout: Five Sangrur teachers transferred, booked for ‘unruly behaviour’

Punjab education department has transferred five teachers of Sangrur, for allegedly creating ruckus, while seeking permission for extracurricular activities for students.

The teachers had earlier protested at the District education officer (DEO) in Sangrur on November 3, seeking permission for extracurricular activities. (HT photo)

cities

Published on Nov 19, 2022 10:43 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Private diagnostic centres flourish in Punjab in absence of proper guidelines

Director, health services, says all diagnostic centres will be registered once Clinical Establishments Act is implemented in the state

Private laboratories have been mushrooming in Punjab in the absence of a comprehensive framework to regulate diagnostic centres in the state. (Image for representational purpose)

cities

Updated on Nov 19, 2022 12:23 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Punjab’s air quality improves as paddy harvest nears end

Punjab agriculture director Gurvinder Singh said wheat has been sown on more than 70% of the targeted area of 35 lakh hectares, while the paddy has been harvested in 97% of the total area under cultivation

Five out of eight continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations of Punjab calculated air quality as ‘satisfactory’ on Tuesday, indicating that the paddy stubble burning phase is inching towards its end. (PTI picture for representational purpose)

cities

Published on Nov 16, 2022 12:46 AM IST

ByVishal Joshi and Harmandeep Singh, Bathinda/sangrur

Naib tehsildar recruitment: Five arrested in Patiala for helping candidates cheat in written exam

The recruitment had run into controversy after several leaders of opposition parties, including Sukhpal Singh Khaira, raised questions over the results of the written test

Patiala range IG Mukhwinder Singh Chhina, along with SSP Varun Sharma and other officials, addressing a press conference on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Nov 16, 2022 12:22 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Patiala

Stubble burning: Sangrur admin takes action, makes red entries in revenue records

Sangrur has had 2,721 cases of stubble burning during the kharif (monsoon crop) season, while the number of farm fires in the district stood at 8,006 in 2021

Dry paddy stubble burns in a field in Faridkot on Thursday. (ANI Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 03, 2022 07:29 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh

Stubble burning: ₹7 lakh fine imposed on farmers in Sangrur

The revenue department has marked red entries in revenue record of 285 farmers, while the Punjab Pollution Control Board has imposed a penalty of over ₹7.12 lakh on these farmers

Sangrur district has seen a total 2721 cases of stubble burning in the Kharif (monsoon crop) season. (ANI photo)

cities

Published on Nov 03, 2022 07:16 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

2,131 farm fires push Punjab to hit season’s all-time high

Despite various initiatives by the Punjab government, cases of stubble burning continue to rise as the state on Monday witnessed this season’s highest figure with 2,131 farm fires

A farmer setting paddy stubble on fire in his filed near Nathana village in Bathinda on Monday. (Sanjeev Kumar/Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Nov 02, 2022 01:53 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Farmers call off 19-day protest outside Punjab CM’s Sangrur house

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta-Ugrahan leaders meet Punjab agriculture minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal in Patiala, decide to end stir on Saturday after government gives written assurance on their demands

Punjab agriculture minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and the state leadership of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta-Ugrahan at a meeting in Patiala on Friday. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 28, 2022 03:09 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh

Sangrur | It will be a fight for rights on Diwali night for these women farmers

This year, they will be at the doorsteps of chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Sangrur, where they have been sitting since October 9 seeking implementation of the “accepted” demands.

Singing songs and staging plays, the BKU Ugrahan supporters will be been seen sitting on protest outside chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Sangrur. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 24, 2022 02:02 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Punjab | Workers welfare funds to be used to hire 30 new cars

Despite already having 27 cars for official purposes, the building and other construction workers’ (BOCW) welfare board is all set to hire 30 more vehicles, the rent for which will be paid from the funds meant for the betterment of poor and underprivileged workers

The existing sets of wheels with the building and other construction workers’ (BOCW) welfare board include, 24 Tata Sumos, an Indigo and two Innovas. The Indigo and Tata Sumo cars were purchased in 2010 while the Innova was added to the fleet in 2014. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 24, 2022 01:50 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Farmers ready for long haul, plan ‘Tikri-like’ protest in Punjab’s Sangrur

According to the farm leaders, the number of protesters remains between 3,000 and 6,000 but on October 15, it reached up to 15,000 during their ‘Lalkar Rally’; as per the authorities, efforts are on to resolve the matter at the earliest, but farmers say they are prepared for be in it for the long haul

Farmers have been camping on the three-kilometre stretch leading to Sangrur from the Patiala-Bathinda highway for the past nine days (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 18, 2022 12:11 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Paddy stubble management: Farmers prefer super seeders, not keen on buying other machines

Only a lowly 41% purchased machinery after failing to secure subsidy for sought-after super seeders to help with paddy stubble management in draw of lots

Farmers in Punjab prefer subsidies on super seeders to help with paddy stubble management. (HT File)

cities

Published on Oct 13, 2022 03:18 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Farmers’ protest near CM Bhagwant Mann’s Sangrur residence enters Day 2

Farmers’ protest site passes through a colony where CM Bhagwant Mann’s residence is located in Sangrur.Farmers had started a protest demanding implementation of demands that were accepted by state and Centre

From setting up makeshift houses and tents to making temporary toilets and kitchens and serving langar, the 3-km stretch is resembling the Tikri and Singu border farmers’ protest sites. Their protest site passes through a colony where CM Bhagwant Mann’s residence is located. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 11, 2022 02:22 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Newly recruited ETT teachers in Sangrur, Barnala await 3-month salary

The delay in salary is due to failure of school education department to create the teachers’ Permanent Retirement Account Number which is mandatory for the government employees

Teachers said that they have to borrow money from their friends and acquaintances. (AFP file photo)

cities

Published on Oct 03, 2022 09:26 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Vanishing Legacy: Ranbir College principal’s heritage residence in a shambles

Spread over one acre, the ramshackle building is one of the remaining monuments of the Jind dynasty, in Sangrur, the old royal capital of the Jind state

The College house was specially built for the residence of the principal of Ranbir College by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the last ruler of the Jind dynasty, in 1938, a year before the college was established. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Oct 03, 2022 12:52 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh

Sangrur | How this entrepreneur is helping empower rural women through handicraft

Kirandeep Kaur, 56, wife of Ranbir Singh, who retired as a lieutenant commander from the navy, is providing material and resources to these women for weaving ‘durries’, ‘khes’, ‘manjees’, embroidered napkins, tea cosies and cushions. Later, she collects these pieces and sells them online or at exhibitions.

Kirandeep Kaur (left) provides material and resources to underprivileged women living near her ancestral village, Balwaar Khurd, to weave rugs, blankets etc, and then sells it online. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Sep 30, 2022 02:06 AM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Sangrur

Reinstatement demand: Cops cane-charge assistant profs marching towards minister’s house

Amid cane-charge, finger of a 30-year-old assistant professor Jodha Singh was fractured when cops were assaulting the APs. He is posted at botany department of Mohindra college

The protesting APs were seeking a meeting with chief minister Bhagwant Mann. (HT photo)

cities

Published on Sep 19, 2022 08:44 PM IST

ByHarmandeep Singh, Barnala

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Harmandeep Singh

Harmandeep Singh is staff Correspondent and have specialisation in investigative reporting. He covers Punjab politics, mining, crime, school education, health, medical education, administration, labour department, brain-drain and rural areas besides burning issues of Sangrur and Barnala districts.

With Punjab Civil Medical Services doctors posted at the various Primary Health Centres in the state, now being entrusted with the job of running the newly added around 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics , rural emergency services are likely to take a hit.

As many as 92 ayurvedic medical officers are still drawing basic salaries even after completing three-year probation period in September last year.

Over 1,100 ETT teachers, waiting for the offer letters for the past seven months, has been making rounds of the education department’s office in Mohali but to no avail.

Had left coal brazier (angithi) burning to ward off the cold in a closed room while they slept; sixth labourer hospitalised in critical condition

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had on Sunday slammed the Dhindsa and Badal families for ‘joining hands’ to stall work of the Sangrur medical college for their ‘vested political interests’

The current academic year has reached near fag end but students of government schools across the state from general and backward class categories, and pre-primary classes are yet to receive free uniforms.

Police dog named ‘Micky’- who played an important role with the anti-sabotage team of additional director general of police (ADGP), security wing Punjab at Chandigarh for seven years on deputation and two years in Sangrur police - retired last month after nine years of service.

In Sangrur, of the 21 cops who have taken early retirement in last six months, 17 have mentioned emigration as their reason behind leaving the police force, shows the official data

The state labour department has decided to purchase 50,000 cycles for labourers from the welfare funds of the building and other construction workers’ (BOCW) welfare board, while the central government has clearly stopped usage of welfare funds to give benefits in form of in-kind.

While around 7,000 students, aged 6 to 10, are set to participate in the games, which will be held at Anandpur Sahib from December 6 to 9, the Punjab education department has provided no funds to schools to arrange sports kits for them

The Punjab Police on Wednesday lathi-charged farm labourers protesting outside Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s house in Sangrur district over an increase in their minimum daily wage and other demands, members of labour union’s said.

A committee of government employees at Gularhi village in Sangrur also trains other villagers to ready them for teaching jobs

Shortage of agricultural development officer, block agricultural officer and agricultural sub-inspectors in agriculture department is affecting working of the department

Punjab education department has transferred five teachers of Sangrur, for allegedly creating ruckus, while seeking permission for extracurricular activities for students.

Director, health services, says all diagnostic centres will be registered once Clinical Establishments Act is implemented in the state

Punjab agriculture director Gurvinder Singh said wheat has been sown on more than 70% of the targeted area of 35 lakh hectares, while the paddy has been harvested in 97% of the total area under cultivation

The recruitment had run into controversy after several leaders of opposition parties, including Sukhpal Singh Khaira, raised questions over the results of the written test

Sangrur has had 2,721 cases of stubble burning during the kharif (monsoon crop) season, while the number of farm fires in the district stood at 8,006 in 2021

The revenue department has marked red entries in revenue record of 285 farmers, while the Punjab Pollution Control Board has imposed a penalty of over ₹7.12 lakh on these farmers

Despite various initiatives by the Punjab government, cases of stubble burning continue to rise as the state on Monday witnessed this season’s highest figure with 2,131 farm fires

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta-Ugrahan leaders meet Punjab agriculture minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal in Patiala, decide to end stir on Saturday after government gives written assurance on their demands

This year, they will be at the doorsteps of chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence in Sangrur, where they have been sitting since October 9 seeking implementation of the “accepted” demands.

Despite already having 27 cars for official purposes, the building and other construction workers’ (BOCW) welfare board is all set to hire 30 more vehicles, the rent for which will be paid from the funds meant for the betterment of poor and underprivileged workers

Only a lowly 41% purchased machinery after failing to secure subsidy for sought-after super seeders to help with paddy stubble management in draw of lots

Farmers’ protest site passes through a colony where CM Bhagwant Mann’s residence is located in Sangrur.Farmers had started a protest demanding implementation of demands that were accepted by state and Centre

The delay in salary is due to failure of school education department to create the teachers’ Permanent Retirement Account Number which is mandatory for the government employees

Spread over one acre, the ramshackle building is one of the remaining monuments of the Jind dynasty, in Sangrur, the old royal capital of the Jind state

Amid cane-charge, finger of a 30-year-old assistant professor Jodha Singh was fractured when cops were assaulting the APs. He is posted at botany department of Mohindra college

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like