In a significant decision, Punjab cabinet Sunday gave nod to present Punjab Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill-2010 in the forth coming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha for its enactment to curb illegal activities of people involved in organized racket of human trafficking and also to safeguard the legitimate interests of illiterate innocent persons who have been cheated by illegal activities of Travel Agents.

The cabinet also approved the conversion of the Punjab Value Added Tax (Fourth Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 (Punjab Ordinance No 7 of 2010) and the Punjab Entertainments Duty (Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 (Punjab Ordinance No.6 of 2010 ) into respective Acts through presentation of these bills in the coming session of Punjab Assembly.

The Cabinet also gave a green signal to introduce the bill for amending section 153-A, 295 A of Indian Penal Code and 438 of Criminal procedure Code. The underlying objective to make these sections more stringent was to ensure exemplary punishment to all those who flare up communal tension and exploit religious sentiments of the people through reportedly publications in Newspapers/Text books causing disharmony, hatred or ill will among different religious, racial, languages or regional groups or caste or communities there by vitiating the peaceful atmosphere of communal harmony and amity in the society.

The Cabinet also approved the presentation of the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill-2010 in the coming session of the Punjab Assembly for its conversion into an act. The

proposed act was aimed at regulating the matters to recover damages caused to the public and private property from miscreants. Like wise, the cabinet also gave permission to present the Punjab Special Security Group Bill, 2010 in the coming Punjab Assembly session for its enactment to constitute Armed Force for providing proximate security to the highly threatened persons and their family members.

The Cabinet also gave go ahead for amending section 19(1) and 20(1) of the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2002 by substituting the value of ticket from "Six Rupees" to "Eight Rupees" .

In another decision, the cabinet also gave approval for the introduction of the Chitkara University Bill, 2010 in the coming session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to establish self financed private

university known as 'Chitkara University' at village Jhansala in Tehsil Rajpura of district Patiala. The proposed multi-domain university would impart higher education and research in professional Medical, Medical, Technical and General Education.

The Cabinet also gave approval to enhance the sumptuary allowance of Chief Minister/Deputy Chief Minister/Ministers/State Ministers/Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 7500/- and house rent allowance from Rs. 30000/- to Rs. 50000/- per month respectively.

The Cabinet also Okayed to introduce a bill during the coming session of Punjab Assembly for making amendments in the provision of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 in order to create a post of Vice Chairman in Punjab Mandi Board and to extend the time limit up to for reconstitution of superseded Market Committees December 31, 2010.