Punjab order on paddy procurement
MANSA, Oct 17 — The Punjab Government agencies, by relaxing specifications, will procure paddy crop brought.

Wheat traders evade taxes
RAMAN, Oct 17 — Taxes in crores were being evaded as certain traders were taking wheat and other foodgrain from Punjab to other states.

"People's convention" on "fake encounters"
AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — "Disillusioned" over not keeping the promise of constituting a commission to take legal action against police officials responsible for the killing of Punjab youth in fake "encounters" more than 200 families of the slain militants made their first ever collective public appearance here today.

In-laws held for dowry death
AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — A three-month pregnant woman was allegedly poisoned to death by her in-laws for bringing insufficient dowry, a maid and her husband were tortured and kept in illegal custody for four days at a B-division police station in gross violation of human rights. They were rescued by a ruling party MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, and other BJP leaders.

Permanent adalat set up at Ropar
ROPAR, Oct 17 — The fifth permanent Lok Adalat in the state was set up in the district judicial complex here today. Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman of the Punjab Legal Services Authority inaugurated the Lok Adalat.

DGP honours slain cops' kin
AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — Director General Punjab Police, PC Dogra has said that rules would be relaxed to recruit the dependants of the police officials killed while fighting militancy.

Dalit front holds march

MC employees not paid salary

'Start' talks with staff leaders

CPI, CPM review situation

Badal, Mittal to meet PM on Oct 20
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab's Minister for Food and Supplies, told newsmen here today that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and he would meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on October 20 to press for the immediate relaxation in specifications for paddy and rice.

He said his government had already requested the Union Food Minister to relax the specifications in view of the damage caused to paddy by widespread heavy rains in the area.

He said Punjab had demanded relaxation in paddy specifications for damage and discolouration from 3 per cent to 5 per cent and in the case of rice from 4 per cent to 6 per cent.

So far, the rice millers, he said, had purchased 25.21 lakh tonnes of paddy out of a total procurement of 56.49 lakh tonnes.

The kharif season for 1998-99, he said, had been advanced, with effect from September 15 last, as certain districts like Amritsar and Ferozepore, reported early arrivals as compared to Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur and Patiala.

Keeping in view the ground realities, Mr Mittal said Punjab had requested the GOI to revise the tolerance limit for broken percentage in grade "A" and common raw rice to 25 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, as against 22 per cent and 24 per cent allowed under the current kharif season.

Denying any distress sale by the farmers, he said only 17 per cent of the total paddy purchased had been accounted for sale between Rs 460 and Rs 470 per quintal, 10 per cent between Rs 450 and Rs 460, 5 per cent between Rs 420 and Rs 450 and 1 per cent at prices between Rs 370 and Rs 420. He also said only purchase of 6,845 tonnes was at prices between Rs 200 and Rs 270 per quintal.

Out of the total purchase, Mr Mittal said 67 per cent of the paddy had been purchased by millers at prices more than the minimum support prices.

Amarinder defends Bhattal's replacement
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Oct 17 — Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh today said the Congress Legislature Party took the decision of replacing Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from its leadership as it felt the latter had overextended her visit abroad before which she had promised to resign from her post.

Addressing a press conference here after a meeting during which former BSP legislator Rajinder Kumar Chakiara and former Sugarfed Director Satnam Singh joined the party along with seven Municipal Committee members of Adampur. Capt Amarinder Singh said Mrs Bhattal herself had taken the decision to resign from the post of CLP leader before proceeding abroad but had then requested for more time as she had been invited abroad in her official capacity. He said following this three months had elapsed and the party legislators had taken the decision to replace Mrs Bhattal.

Capt Amarinder however said the removal of Mrs Bhattal would not send out wrong signals in the party as it was not done in isolation. He said Congress general secretary Meira Kumar was an observer at the meeting of the legislature party when Mr Jagjit Singh was elected its leader. This decision was then endorsed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he said.

When asked about his reaction to a purported report that Mrs Bhattal had complained to Mrs Sonia Gandhi regarding the manner in which she had been replaced from the CLP leadership, Capt Amarinder said he was not aware of any such report. He, however, said he had met Mrs Gandhi yesterday and had not come to know of any such complaint.

Capt Amarinder said the replacement of Mrs Bhattal would not affect Congress Party's chances in the Adampur byelection as the entire party was being involved in the party campaign. He announced that the state party had recommended the names of Dr Harbhajan Singh and Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lali as candidates for the seat to the high command and that the high command would take a final decision in the matter.

Capt Amarinder said the party was in favour of putting up its own candidate for the Adampur seat and wanted other secular-minded parties to support it to defeat the Akali-BJP candidate. He said it was wrong for Punjab Bahujan Samaj Party president Col C.D. Singh Kamboj to lay claim to the Adampur seat and expect the Congress to support the BSP candidate as the Congress candidate had come second in the last elections from Adampur.

"Due to this factor the BSP does not have a right to have its candidate if all secular-minded parties get together to field a common candidate." He said adding the Congress was however still open to the formation of a secular front. He on the same hand questioned the appointment of Col Kamboj's younger brother Major Rajdeep Singh as general manager of the Punjab Bhavan at Delhi saying it was the first time a Deputy Director of the Sainik Welfare Board had been appointed to such an important post.

When questioned if there was any dissension in the party with some senior leaders including MPs Umrao Singh, Iqbal Singh and Balbir Singh besides Mr Darshan Singh and Lekh Raj choosing to stay away from a meeting held to take stock of the situation in the light of the byelection. He said this was not the case. He said all five leaders had sent a letter signed jointly leaving him to decide the party's candidate for the byelection.

The Pradesh Congress president came down heavily on the Punjab government for failing to ensure support price to farmers for paddy. He said such a situation had never occurred earlier. Capt Amarinder demanded that the government announce special concessions for farmers whose crop had been completely destroyed by unseasonal rains besides explaining why it had not been able to enforce the support price.

Referral system launched in hospitals
From A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA: In a bid to upgrade the quality of medical services available at government hospitals and medical health centres and dispensaries, the Punjab Health Systems Corporation has launched a referral system as a pilot project in Ropar and Bathinda districts.

The launch, which has been without much fanfare is already drawing a favourable response from patients. "The aim of the referral system is to provide the best possible medical care to the patient", says Mr S.S. Channi, Managing Director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. "It is a two-way process. Without feedback, the referral system is incomplete".

In Ropar district, the corporation has taken up the system at the Civil Hospital, Ropar, Sub-Divisional Hospitals at Anandpur Sahib and Kharar; Community Health Centres at Chamkaur Sahib, Kurali and Nurpur Bedi and the area hospital at S.A.S. Nagar.

In Bathinda district, the corporation has introduced the system at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, Sub-Divisional Hospitals at Rampura Phul and Talwandi Sabo and Community Health Centres at Goniana, Sangat, Nathana, Bhagta and area hospitals at Maur Mandi, Raman Mandi and Bhhucho Mandi and the Children's Hospital at Bathinda.

According to Mr Channi, health institutions at these places have been renovated to provide better services to patients. Operation theatres have also been upgraded and toilets provided. Doctors, nurses and other members of the paramedical staff have been imparted training in clinical skills and managerial skills at institutions of repute like the AIIMS, (New Delhi), the PGI, and Government Medical College, (both Chandigarh) to update their knowledge and skills so as to deliver first-rate health services.

All health institutions in the two districts have also been equipped with ambulances to provide for speedy transfer of patients to the nearest medical centre whenever needed. They have also been provided with wireless and phones at the district level together with fax to improve communications.

All the Senior Medical Officers have been empowered to purchase items up to Rs 2,000 and DMC up to Rs 5,000 and the Civil Surgeon up to Rs 10,000 to meet any emergencies without calling for quotations. He can purchase medicines, X-ray films, laboratory chemicals, etc. to meet demand for one or two weeks so that patients are promptly provided with necessary medicines and allied services.

Mr Channi says that all types of tests are now available at health institutions in two districts as per the service norms laid down. Emergency services are also available round the clock. Patients who are referred is issued referral cards. They are then counselled in why referral is necessary: either for investigation or for admission or for expert opinion.

Patients with referral cards do not have to stand in the queue for general out-patients. They can go directly to the doctor referred on priority through a special counter. They need not have O.P.D. tickets.

The referral card itself serves as O.P.D. ticket. There is also no ticket fee for referred patients. The patient is also provided with a feedback card so that the referring doctor gets information with regard to the improvement made by the patient.

A colour code has been provided. The Community Health Centre refers on blue card, while the Sub-Divisional Hospital refers on green card and the district hospital on white card.

Punjab order on paddy procurement
Tribune News Service

MANSA, Oct 17 — The Punjab Government agencies, by relaxing specifications, will procure paddy crop brought at purchase centres by the farmers. This was announced by the State Food and Supply Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, while addressing a gathering of farmers here today.

Mr Garg said a decision to procure the paddy crop of the rain-affected farmers was taken on the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

He stated that paddy which had not been affected by the rain would be procured by the state government agencies whenever it came to the market, while the paddy having more moisture content than the prescribed limit would be purchased after drying up.

Paddy which had been affected between 4 to 13 per cent would be bought by the state procurement agencies at a lower price than the minimum support price of Rs 470 fixed by the Central Government.

He said Mr Badal had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala.

No procurement agency and traders would be allowed to exploit farmers by buying paddy on cheap rates. He added that the location of the purchase centres, which had been inundated by rain water could be changed by the commission agents and farmers of that area.

He warned that any official of procurement agencies found harassing farmers would not be spared and strict departmental action taken against him.

Later, he addressed a meeting of district officers, officials of procurement agencies and commission agents, and advised them to carry out procurement operation honestly.

Wheat traders evade taxes
Tribune News Service

RAMAN, Oct 17 — Taxes in crores were being evaded as certain traders were taking wheat and other foodgrain from Punjab to other states.

Recently a team of Excise and Taxation Department, Bathinda, raided the local railway station and seized 23 wagons loaded with wheat and barley.

Official sources said these wagons were going to Madras without paying the market fee, the rural development fund and sales tax. The wagons had been booked by certain local traders.

Sources said the Excise and Sales Tax Department had recovered a penalty of Rs 1.50 lakh from the errant traders.

Mr Samarjit Singh, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, when contacted on phone said the raid was conducted on October 1 and the wagon loads of foodgrain were seized despite strong resistance from the Railway authorities.

He said wheat was being sent on a large scale from the district, the department was making efforts to detect the evasion of sales tax.

Official sources said this illegal practice began in November last year and was detected by the officials of food and supply department at Bathinda railway station in December last year and 1200 wheat bags were seized then.

After the seizure, the unscrupulous traders shifted their operations to small railway stations of Punjab. They were also carrying out illegal sale in trucks. More than 500 goods trains loaded with wheat had left from Punjab since November last year.

Thousands tonnes of wheat had been stored in the private godowns by traders in Gidderbaha, Goniana, Kotkapura, Mansa, Maur, Raman, Talwandi Sabo areas. This was purchased by the traders directly from farmers from their farm by evading market fee and the rural development fund.

Sources said that wagons were being booked in the name of farmers to evade taxes.

"People's convention" on "fake encounters"
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — "Disillusioned" over not keeping the promise of constituting a commission to take legal action against police officials responsible for the killing of Punjab youth in fake "encounters" more than 200 families of the slain militants made their first ever collective public appearance here today.

The widows, orphans and parents of the slain militants gave "startling" accounts about the alleged "cold blooded murders" of their relatives during heyday of terrorism at the "People's Convention" held here today.

The "People's Convention" was a joint effort of the Dal Khalsa International, the Akal Federation, the Human Rights Organisation (SAD), the Punjab Human Rights Wing and the Akali Dal Mann to highlight the "miserable life" being led by the families of the slain militants.

While in one corner of the city the families of the slain militants assembled while on the other corner of the town families of the slain police officials were honoured by the Director-General Punjab Police, Mr PC Dogra.

Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) who presided over the People's Convention called upon the families of the slain militants to campaign against the government in Adampur.

Justice Ajit Singh Bains (retd), chairman, Punjab Human Rights Organisation, said that the Peoples Commission would hold its ‘courts’ in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur next month. The Peoples Commission would also visit villages to enlist the missing youths who reportedly were killed by the police in cold blood in the past.

There was consensus among the speakers that the Badal government was "anti-Panthic" as it failed to book either the Congress leaders or police officials directly responsible for the "innocent killings".

Mr Jagmohan Singh Tony, general secretary of the SAD (Amritsar) said that the arrest of Gurnam Singh Bandala by the Batala police who earlier was shown killed by the Ropar police four years ago was sufficient reason for constituting the Peoples Commission. Many more Sikh youths might have been killed by the police for huge cash prizes and promotion in the past as the arrest of Bandala was an eye-opener for this.

Among those who spoke on the occasion included Mr Narain Singh, convener, Akal Federation, Mr Kirpal Singh Randhawa, Mr Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, general secretary, Dal Khalsa and Mrs Paramjeet Kaur Khalra.

The resolution, unanimously passed by the convention included, immediate release of detainees languishing in jails for long time and an appeal to the state government not to interfere in working of the 'Peoples Commission'.

In-laws held for dowry death
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — A three-month pregnant woman was allegedly poisoned to death by her in-laws for bringing insufficient dowry, a maid and her husband were tortured and kept in illegal custody for four days at a B-division police station in gross violation of human rights. They were rescued by a ruling party MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, and other BJP leaders.

In the first case, Satnam Singh, a small farmer of Mann Kathunangal village, with tears in his eyes cursed the weather gods for his daughter's death.

Due to excess moisture he could not sell his paddy and so he was not able to arrange money for buying a Hero Honda for his son-in-law, who was a constable.

Giving details, he said his daughter, Sharanjeet Kaur, was married, eight months ago at Shukarchak Fatehgarh village. Ever since the marriage, his daughter's in-laws had been forcing her to bring more dowry.

The district police chief, Mr Gurdev Singh Sahota, said the mother-in-law and father-in-law had already been arrested by the police while her husband had absconded.

In the second case, Bholi (32), a maid, and her husband, Vikram, were tortured in police custody on the suspicion of a theft. Bholi, who had been working in the house of a jeweller, was arrested by the police on October 13. The FIR was, however, lodged three days after the theft.

Mr Major Singh, Station House Officer (B-division) when contacted admitted that the couple was brought to the police station for investigation in connection with the theft. According to the FIR, lodged by Jarnail Singh of East Mohan Nagar yesterday, some gold, cash and other valuables were stolen from him house.

Mr Gurdev Singh Sahota, SSP, while talking to TNS, said that a high-level probe by the SP (City), Mr Jagdish Singh Kahlon, had been ordered. Mr Sahota, however, claimed that the couple was not kept in illegal custody as alleged by Mrs Chawla and denied torturing them.

Permanent adalat set up at Ropar
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Oct 17 — The fifth permanent Lok Adalat in the state was set up in the district judicial complex here today. Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman of the Punjab Legal Services Authority inaugurated the Lok Adalat.

Addressing the function, Mr Justice Brar called upon the district-level legal services authorities to have complete knowledge of the concept of a Lok Adalat so that officials could play a vital role in educating the masses about various benefits of lok adalats.

Mr Justice Brar also stressed upon the need to involve teachers and the student community in making it a mass movement and urged the media to write special articles on the subject. He also exhorted the public as well as police officials to make efforts to solve various disputes at the police station level. This would also help in strengthening the Lok Adalat system.

Mr Justice Brar also disclosed that to provide free legal aid, the minimum income was being raised from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000. He also said this permanent Lok Adalat would now function regularly.

Presiding over the function, Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, said Punjab was the first state in the country which had taken the initiative to set up permanent lok adalats. He stressed upon the need to hold camps in the rural areas to spread the message of Lok Adalat.

Mr Justice Kumaran also asked the district-level legal services authorities to hold monthly meetings for the successful working of lok adalats.

Mr Amar Dutt, District and Sessions Judge, while hailing the setting up of the fifth Lok Adalat here, said this would speed up the settlement of various disputes in the district.

Mr K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, while proposing a vote of thanks, said the age-old system of settling disputes through mutual negotiations would flourish in a big way in the newly set up Lok Adalat.

Earlier, Mr Harmohan Singh Paul, president of the District Bar Association, Ropar, assured that help would be extended by the advocates in strengthening the Lok Adalat system.

DGP honours slain cops' kin
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 17 — Director General Punjab Police, PC Dogra has said that rules would be relaxed to recruit the dependants of the police officials killed while fighting militancy.

Honouring the families of 597 slain police officials in the Guru Nanak auditorium here today, Mr Dogra said that all-out efforts were being made by the police to defend cases of police employees who fought terrorism.

Without naming the human rights organisations, Mr Dogra alleged that they were attempting to revive the "old black" days.

He said that the constitution of ‘Peoples Commission’ was aimed at demoralising the police. It was second attack on the people of Punjab, he observed. Mr Dogra directed all district police chiefs in the state to redress grievances of the families of the slain police officials who died while performing duty. He said that in border districts, the police suffered much loss during terrorism.

Mr Dogra said that the police was vigilant to check attempts of the Pakistan's ISI to revive terrorism in the state. This won't be allowed to happen, he said.

The family members of the slain police officials were given the gift packets on the eve of Divali by the DGP.

'No rift between PYC, Punjab Cong'
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Oct 17 — Punjab Youth Congress vice-president Mr Parminder Mehta yesterday denied any differences between the Youth Congress and the state Congress.

He clarified that the Punjab Congress and the Youth Congress were working in coordination.

The Congress would soon organise state-level ‘jan samparak’ campaign to expose the SAD-BJP government which he described as a directionless and corrupt government.

Plea to appoint education board chairman
From Our Correspondent

FAZILKA, Oct 17 — The Punjab School Education Board has been without a chairman for the past one year. The functioning of the board is hampered in the absence of a regular head.

Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, spokesman of the Government Secondary Teachers Union, Punjab, has urged the Chief Minister to appoint an eminent educationist on this post without any further delay. As many as 971 teachers working in different primary schools of Punjab have not been paid salaries for the past four months.

The reason for the non-payment of salaries is that the Finance Department has not granted sanction to these posts. Hence these teachers are facing great financial crunch.

Mr Kalra in a statement has appealed the state government to release the salaries of the affected teachers.

Dalit front holds awareness march
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Oct 17 — A two-day social awareness march organised by the Indian Minorities and Dalit Front under the leadership of its national president, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Public Relations Minister, Punjab, was received today at the local Bhatha Sahib Gurdwara by Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, MP, Mr Pritam Singh Sallo Majra, district president of the SAD and others.

The march started yesterday from Amritsar and passed through Ludhiana, Nawanshahr and Ropar today and would terminate at Chandigarh.

Mr Sekhwan, while addressing a function at Ramgarhia Gurdwara in Ludhiana, said the march had been organised to create awareness among the Dalits about their right to equality and to strengthen brotherhood in the society.

Despite heavy rain, a rousing welcome was given to the march by a large gathering.

'Start' talks with staff leaders
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, Oct 17 — The Mulazam Action Committee (MAC) has urged the state government to start a dialogue with the leaders of employees' organisations.

At a meeting of the MAC here yesterday, it was unanimously decided to hold a state-level employees' rally and demonstration at Jalandhar on November 17.

The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation senior vice-president, Mr Kulwant Singh Lehri, said the meeting demanded an end to alleged corruption in transfers, appointments and promotions.

Addressing the meeting, various leaders condemned the move to privatise power, transportation, PDS, education, health and PWD. They demanded time-bound promotion scales after four, nine and 14 years of service, regularisation of ad hoc, work charged and daily-wage earners and the removal of pay anomalies.

MC employees not paid salary
From Our Correspondent

BATALA, Oct 17 — Employees of the local municipal council sat on dharna yesterday to protest against the indifferent attitude of the Executive Officer of the council, Mr Surinderpaul Singh Khorana.

Mr Gurbachan Lal, convener of the Municipal Karamchari Sangh, Batala, said Divali was approaching and the employees had not been paid their salary till date.

The salary of the employees has to be given on the seventh of every month. But till date the salary for September had not been paid.

Mr Gurbachan Lal alleged Mr Khorana had made payments to the contractors but did not bother about the employees of the municipal council.

CPI, CPM review political situation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — Mr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the Punjab State Council of the CPI, and Mr Balwant Singh, Secretary of the state unit of the CPM, reviewed the political situation in the context of the Adampur Assembly byelection. Both leaders have decided to oppose the SAD-BJP candidate in the election.

They said they would persuade other opposition parties for putting up a common candidate to defeat the ruling combine in the election. They expressed sympathy with the farming community which had suffered a heavy loss due to the inclement weather.