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| Tuesday, October 31, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Farm front: challenges ahead-III Millers blame FCI for crisis Ripudaman can’t be killer: aunt
Punjab plea against acquittal dismissed |
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Labourers beaten up: SSP told to
register case Blast darkens victims’ lives
Speaker to hear rebel MLAs Convention a political
stunt: Badal
Beneficiaries await
plot allotment Medicinal plant board
for Punjab
Punjab reinstates patwaris Rs 50 cr scheme to improve drainage system Rent law changed to help NRIs
Residents nab cop Dacoits decamp with
3.7 lakh, revolver
Teachers’ postings to be rationalised Frustration at delay
in promotions 100 teachers not paid
salary since June ‘Restore glory of Persian language’
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Farm front: challenges ahead-III LUDHIANA:
Besides teaching, research is an important component in any academic institution. Punjab Agricultural University is no exception. Both education and research here get translated into action on the farmer’s field through extension education. PAU’s five constituent colleges and 22 regional research centres have played a part in transforming Punjab’s economy. But once again agriculture is at the crossroads. New challenges and opportunities again await PAU’s response. Farmers are unable to achieve “even the average economic status of Punjab. Unless this situation is quickly remedied, there is bound to be renewed social tension”. This quote is from the convocation address by the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M.S. Gill, at PAU in November, 1998. PAU offers 54 Master’s and Ph D programmes. Since its inception in 1962, it has awarded 7,030 MSc and 2,060 Ph D degrees. Now a compilation relating to the post graduate degrees awarded and the abstracts of all theses submitted between 1970 and 1990 is available. It was done at the initiative of the Director of Research, Dr M.S. Bajwa. In the same way a detailed catalogue is now available wherein the current research status is indicated by identified “goals, thrust points and experiments”. It tells who is to do what. This ensures responsibility and accountability of every research worker and scientist. Earlier it was not so. Now the research methodology is mapped and computerised. The collegewise catalogues also give information about which project was started when and where and what was the impact of its recommendations. Compilations have their own merit. However, over the years, the real focus of research got diffused. PAU lost its reflexes. It failed to respond to new challenges even as the Green Revolution showed stains of yellow and the state’s agricultural economy stagnated or slowed down. Insiders, on condition of anonymity, say scientists became too individualistic. Networking was given the go-by. The department heads built wall of ego around them, getting insulated and isolated. Rotation of headship caused immense damage to academics. It proved to be the undoing of most of the departments. While finance became a stumbling block, politicking grew roots. Unionism, favouritism, nepotism and mediocrity sprouted. PAU’s credibility nosedived. Indiscipline became a rule rather than an exception. Now agricultural administrators at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and consultants from the World Bank, including Dr D.S. Padda, are at PAU to assess its “performance” before according it “accreditation”. The necessary preparations are on to impress the team through overt and covert operations. Nevertheless, a feeble attempt is now under way to rediscover PAU’s potential. “A handful of scientists have realised the import of the resource crunch. They are wont to live with it and work within the available means”, says Dr Pal Singh Sidhu, Dean, College of Agriculture. Dr Bajwa talks of the new focus and thrust being given to research. Research in future will be measured on the scale of “social and economic impact and usefulness”. Deadwood will be weeded out and unproductive research disciplines closed down. Agronomy, soil science and plant breeding are under a fresh review. The task before social scientists, economists and home science specialists is to develop a prototype of a “workable farming system” that can be adopted by the small peasantry. This should, based on the available data, fit into the existing system of small peasants for sustainable development and get them respectable incomes. The shadow of the World Trade Organisation is getting darker and closer. Therefore, research technologies have to change. Future agricultural produce and products have to be made worth international markets qualitatively. The terms of trade have to favour farming. There has also to be a balance between the cost of cultivation and the pricing of food, making the latter affordable so that 300 million poor can also buy. A survey by the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management has identified four categories of research projects. “About 50 per cent of the projects are of interest to an individual; about 15 per cent are developed because of the interest of others, including the funding agencies; another 15 per cent are developed without even an identification of the precise objectives and research methodology; and only about 20 per cent of the projects are developed on the basis of identified problems that require solutions within a specified time and cost frame.” This applies to PAU, too. Therefore, Dr Bajwa says future research projects will be evaluated in terms of “concept, their problem-solving ability and focus”. PAU is to play a “pro-active role” and ensure “research management”. A laid-back leadership is responsible for what ails PAU. The air at PAU is thick with despondency. There is a veil of pessimism. It has to be lifted. It is a difficult thing, given what an insider confided: “At least 50 per cent of the faculty and employees are engaged in side business ranging from readymade garments to kiryana shops and property dealing, poultry units to small agricultural farms and dairy units, consultancy services with the private sector to the marketing of steel furniture.” Dr M.S. Gill, a young scientist, says that focus of research should correspond to both agricultural and social problems. The agricultural problems are imbalance in water use; a denuded sub-montane region crying for a forest cover to check soil and water erosion; hard soil crust due to puddling done for paddy cultivation; ill-effects of submersible pumps on cavity wells; lack of appropriate technology for small farmers; unavailability of substitute crops in the absence of an assured market and price; unscientific storage; decreasing soil fertility, etc. The social problems include frustration among rural youth (unemployment and drug abuse); poor standards of school education and absenteeism among teachers and students; ignorance and illiteracy; overdependence on migratory labour; ostentatious expenditure on social functions, and increasing indebtedness. Research, says Dr Gill, should address itself to these problems. PAU’s recommendations in future should fit into the socio-economic milieu of small peasants. |
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Millers blame FCI for crisis MANSA, Oct 30 — The Punjab unit president of the shellers’ association, Mr Bhagirath Lal Singla in a meeting of the local millers association here today said the Punjab Government has declared nearly 450 rice mills of the state as defaulters as well as more than 80 per cent of the local mills as these mills failed to deliver the milled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in lieu of the four lakh MT paddy provided to them by the paddy procurement agencies for the milling purpose. The local association’s president, Mr Kamal Bhushan Danewalia, said this lapse was due to the inability of the Food Corporation of India in accepting the rice due to lack a storage facilities. As a result the industry was facing a serious threat and thousands of labourers, particularly from the other states, had become jobless. The government was also losing crores of rupees on this account. Officials of Food Corporation of India, on the other hand, blamed on the rice millers, asserting that the rice offered to Food Corporation of India by the millers did not meet the specifications laid down by the Government of India. But surplus production of paddy and its poor quality and high costs of its production, handing and transportation had created problems for India in the international market where India offered, its rice at $ 230 a tonne while USA, Thailand and other countries quoted a much lower price of $ 195, hence the Food Corporation of India insistance on adherence to quality specifications. The state government should intervene immediately and help in selling this four lakh MT paddy to the rice mills where it was already laying by negotiating its price. It would give a new lease of life to the millers, employment to the workers and relief to the state government which was presently in no position to purchase or store any paddy or rice. Mr Singla further said that the problem might be more acute this year due to the varied specifications for paddy procurement laid down by the government. The government allowed to procure paddy with damaged, discoloured, sprouted and shrivelled grains no maximum limit to 7 per cent instead of the earlier 3 per cent of fair average quality paddy. The government also decided to procure paddy with a moisture content upto a maximum limit of 18 per cent instead of 16 per cent as announced earlier. According to last year’s specifications for milling purpose 2 per cent damage and 3 per cent discolour grain was allowed by the Food Corporation of India. But during the current year due to poor quality of paddy these specifications should be amended. The Punjab Shellers Association had demanded to increase the specifications to 4 per cent damage and 6 per cent discolour from 2 and 3 per cent, respectively. Mr Sat Pal, general secretary, Mansa Shellers Association said another question was that the procurement of the paddy began in Punjab from September 21, 2000, with paddy damaged specification to 4 per cent. As the paddy was not as per the government’s specifications, on October 14, 2000, the government increased the paddy damaged specifications to 7 per cent from 3 per cent resulting in reduction in rice out-turn ration for damaged paddy by 3 per cent. The quality of the paddy purchased by the procurement agencies before and after October 14, 2000, was the same, so the reduced rice out-turn ratio should be effective throughout full season. However, the Food Corporation of India has adopted a double standard by demanding 67 per cent rice before October 14 and 64 per cent afterwards, which was totally illogical, unfair and unjustified, when the quality of the paddy was the same before and after October 14, 2000, then why the difference between the out-turn ratio norms adopted by central and state procurement agencies, he questioned. Mr Singla told this correspondent that a delegation of the association would soon meet the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distributions Systems, Mr Shanta Kumar, about the problems being faced by this industry. |
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Rice millers threaten agitation PATIALA, Oct 30 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association today appealed to the state government to immediately stop the forcible execution of agreements regarding shelling, failing which the millers would adopt the path of agitation to press for the acceptance of their demands. In a statement here, the Association president, Mr Tarsem Saini said while the millers had agreed to store this season’s paddy in their mill premises on the request of the government, they had been assured that their genuine demands would be accepted before the execution of the agreements. He said, certain employees of the procuring agencies in collusion with some traders had purchased paddy at cheaper rates and lifted it for storage to the mill premises and recorded that the paddy had been purchased at the minimum support price . He said this was being done despite the fact that rice produced from it would not match the government specifications. Mr Saini said the government was now pressurising millers to shell these stocks and was forcing them to sign the execution agreements in this regard . He said the Civil Supplies Department was not issuing them contract numbers and suspending licences of commission agents running rice shellers . He said if the government was sincere in getting the paddy milled it should stop pressurising the millers and accede to the demands regarding fixing percentage of damaged paddy, enhancing the percentage of broken rice and allowing 15 per cent moisture content. He said there should also be amendments in the milling agreement as last year around 400 rice millers who could not deliver rice due to space shortage were forced to deposit the cost of the balance rice . Mr Saini said the millers had suffered heavy losses as they were forced to pay prevalent market rate. He said those who did not pay up were declared defaulters and their mills had been closed . He said due to space shortage in FCI godowns the millers feared that rice from the present paddy stock would not be delivered and all the millers of the state would be declared defaulters . |
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BKU (E) traffic blockade today AJITWAL (Moga), Oct 30 (PTI) — The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) state executive has issued a call to farmers to block roads for three hours throughout the state tomorrow from 12 noon to 3 pm. The state executive body meeting, which lasted for more than three hours here last night also decided to call its next state-level meeting at Sangrur on November one to review the situation. The farmers body will chalk out a new line of action to press upon the state government to accept its demands including withdrawing cases against 14 farmers and stopping the distress sale of paddy. After the meeting state BKU Ekta vice president Sukhdev Singh while briefing media persons at Ajitwal said that the meeting was presided over by Ruldu Singh, senior vice president of BKU Ekta, in the absence of Peshora Singh, president. A probe into the unprovoked lathicharge by the police and action against erring officials, compensation to farmers whose paddy was purchased on distress sale and purchase of damaged and discoloured paddy at the MSP of Rs 540 per quintal were also demanded. |
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Sunam farmers threaten stir SUNAM, Oct 30 — Paddy growers of this area are once again up in arms against the state government. They may launch an agitation as one of the state procurement agencies, Markfed, has refused to procure paddy since October 28 at Neelowal and Bharor centres. Due to the non-procurement for the past three days, these procurement centres have become congested with paddy stocks. This correspondent noticed at Chhajli procurement centre today that 15,000 quintals of paddy was lying unsold. A Markfed official said on the condition of anonymity that they had over shot the procurement target at these centres. According to sources, Markfed had stopped procurement as it was facing shortage of bardana (gunny bags). But the Markfed authorities deny the shortage of bardana. Mr Darbara Singh, the BKU (Ekta) President, Sunam block, has threatened to block rail and road traffic if paddy procurement was not resumed tomorrow. Meanwhile, a deputation of arhtiyas and farmers led by Mr Manohar Lal, president of the Arhtiya Association, Chhagli, met Mr Praheet Bhardwaj SDM, here today. The SDM assured the deputation that the issue would be taken up with the Markfed authorities. Mr Harminder Singh, Secretary, Market Committee (MC), Sunam, said here today that 12,15,756 quintals of paddy had been procured so far in the procurement centres of Sunam. He also said the municipal committee had earned a revenue of Rs 1.30 crore as market fee, besides Rs 1.30 crore as the rural development fund. |
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Ripudaman can’t be killer: aunt FEROZEPORE, Oct 30 — An aged aunt of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who has been arrested by the Canadian Police for bombing Kanishka airbus carrying 329 passengers in 1985 off the coast of Ireland, is not willing to accept that her nephew could be a killer. The only member of the Malik family living in the cantonment here, Mrs Joginder Kaur remembers Ripudaman as a kind-hearted soul since his childhood and cannot imagine him trigerring a mid-air blast. Ridiculing the charges made out against him by the Canadian Police, she asked — “How Ripudaman could think of bombing an airbus that was piloted by a Sikh (Mr S.S. Bhinder)?” Although she admitted that Ripudaman had gone astray following Operation Bluestar in 1984 — the cause attributed by the Canadian Police to the crime, she said she could not imagine her nephew could conspire to kill innocent passengers. Supporting her point, she said that Ripudaman was regular donor to the gurdwaras and poor, “I believe, he is a victim of circumstances. Somebody may have misused the money donated by him for planting the bomb”, she tried to reason. She, however, admitted that the Operation Bluestar had transformed her nephew’s personality. Apart from giving up meat, Ripudaman had stopped wearing trousers and shirts and had started sporting traditional Sikh attire. “He had turned extremely religious and believed in simplicity”, she said recounting one of her visits to Canada. She admitted, that Ripudaman had all his sympathies for the Sikh community and might have been supporting his compatriots out of emotions, but could not be a party to any terrorist act. Mrs Joginder Kaur, who is residing alone at a mansion on the Muktsar Road here, said that Ripudaman and her younger son had left for abroad way back in 70s. Before that Ripudaman had graduated from the local RSD College. Frequently referring to Ripudaman as “machoo”, she explained that he was given this name affectionately as he used to crawl like a fish during infancy. According to her, Ripudaman may have inherited certain qualities from his grandfather, Dr Balwant Singh, who had actively participated in Akali agitations. Dr Balwant Singh was a leading doctor of the city and had two sons — Dharampal Singh and Ranjit Singh. Ripudaman was born to Ranjit Singh, while Mrs Joginder Kaur is the widow of Mr Dharampal Singh. Barring her, most members of the Malik family are settled in America, Canada and Europe. |
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Highcourt CHANDIGARH, Oct 30 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg today dismissed two appeals — one filed by the state of Punjab and another by three convicts — in a dowry death case. Vinod Kumar (husband), Charanjit Singh (father-in-law), Pardeep Kumar (brother-in-law), Sanyogita (mother- in law), Ms Sarita and Bandana (sister-in-laws), all residents of Amritsar, were booked by the police for killing Vinod Kumar’s wife, Kanchan alias Ranju, and her two minor children, Sikha and Sanket. They were all charge- sheeted by the District and Sessions Judge, Amritsar, on May 15, 1994, for causing the death of Kanchan by burning and strangulation under Sections 201, 302 and 304-B, IPC. The Sessions Judge had convicted Vinod Kumar under Sections 302 and 201, IPC, and had awarded him three life sentences and a fine of Rs 2000 with life sentences for killing Kanchan (wife), Shikha (daughter) and Sanket (son). All the three sentences were to run concurrently. Charanjit (father -in -law) and Pardeep Kumar (brother-in-law) were convicted to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000 each and in case of default, an additional prison term of four months. The Judge had acquitted Sanyogita, Kamlesh , Sarita and Vandana of the charges framed against therm. The state government, not satisfied with the Judge’s order, filed an appeal against their acquittal stating that all should also be awarded life term like Vinod Kumar. However, the Bench rejected the appeal. Similarly , the three convicts has also filed an appeal against their conviction which was also rejected by the Bench. Notice to Union Home
Secy on pension A Division Bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta issued notice of motion for January 18, 2001, to the Union Home Secretary and others on a writ petition filed by former constables Bhupinder Singh of Ghuman village in Ludhiana district and another, whereby they claimed pension as admissible under the service rules governing them for serving the B.S.F. for more than 10 years. It was contended on behalf of the petitioners that under compelling circumstances both petitioners submitted their resignation to the competent authorities on completing more than 10 years’ service in the B.S.F. The same were accepted with pensionary benefits under Rule 19 of the B.S.F. Rules,1969. But to the astonishment of the petitioners they were not released the pension despite their repeated representations. Counsel for the petitioners argued on their behalf that as per the provisions of Rule 19 of the B.S.F. Rules, 1969 read with Rule 49 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, both the petitioners are entitled for the grant of pension on completion of 10 years of their service in the Border Security Force. |
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Labourers beaten up: SSP told to
register case BATHINDA, Oct 30 — The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has directed the SSP here to register a case against those responsible for allegedly beating up hundreds of migrant labourers on the night of September 15 at Rampuraphul. According to reports, more than hundred labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were allegedly forced to leave the town and sent back to their native places by a police party led by a senior official. According to a complaint registered with the PSHRC, the labourers were attacked with lathis by about 20-25 police personnel led by Surjeet Singh Khosa, DSP, and SHO Arshdeep Singh. The labourers were asleeping when they were attacked. An inquiry conducted by the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) an NGO, revealed that a large number of labourers injured in the attack were admitted to hospital. The report said Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, had admitted that the officials were at fault but the case against them were not registered. The SSP said the case could not be registered and added that an inquiry report in this regard would be sent to the PSHRC. |
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Blast darkens victims’ lives BATHINDA, Oct 30 — The festival of lights Divali — has spelt darkness for many of the victims of the blast on the Bathinda-Rewari passenger near Rama Mandi. Two of its victims, Bhim Singh and Baldev Singh, are likely to lose their sight. More than 10 others are being treated for hearing loss. For the family of Deepak Gupta of Sirsa who was on his way back after bearing sweets for his sister, Divali has brought darkness. Gupta, who had just made a life for himself after the death of his father when he was still in his teens, was killed in the blast. Ironically Gupta generally travelled by car and was on the train only because he had been delayed by a late night function. Miraculously his two young children sitting beside him were not hurt in the explosion. Balraj Singh, a farm labourer of Manwala village, who is being treated for stomach injuries, told TNS that he was going to Rama Mandi to buy candles and crackers for Devali. He is waiting to be discharged to get on with his life. The victims of the blast are yet to come to terms with their tragedy and shiver at the thought of the blast. |
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Speaker to hear rebel MLAs CHANDIGARH, Oct 30 (UNI) — Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal today fixed the next date of hearing of the petition seeking the dismissal of 11 “rebel” MLAs of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to January 16, 2001. The Speaker fixed the date after hearing the arguments of the advocates of MLAs concerned. Two petitions to disqualify the MLAs from the membership of the House were filed on May 26 by five ministers and MLAs belonging to the SAD, including Mr Ajaib Singh Makhmailpura, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Sikander Singh Maluka and Mr Raghubir Singh. The MLAs against whom petitions were filed are Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, Mr Hira Singh Gabira, Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu and Ms Daljit Kaur. |
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Convention a political
stunt: Badal BADIALA (Bathinda), Oct 30 — The Chief Minister and President of the SAD, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said that a convention of Sikh intellectuals, Sikh organisations and other prominent persons called by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra at Ludhiana on November 15 was a political stunt. He said there was no danger to any religion in Punjab and nobody was trying to undermine the authority of Akal Takht. He alleged that the SHSAD President, Mr Tohra, was trying to create a Panthic division by raising the issue of religion with a view to helping the Congress. Mr Badal was here to preside over a state-level function organised in connection with the death anniversary of Sant Fateh Singh, architect of Punjab suba. He said the Punjab Government had banned the collection of funds in the name of the Red Cross or sports mala by any official adding that the government had also decided to waive the registration fee for the transfer of land. The distribution of relief to those paddy growers who had sold off their crop much below the minimum support price before the procurement process started would begin soon. The Deputy Commissioner had been directed to start checking the record of the Marketing Board. |
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Beneficiaries await
plot allotment AMRITSAR, Oct 30 — After nearly 25 years of struggle and two years of litigation, beneficiaries of the 1975 scheme for the poor and homeless under which they were allotted plots of 100 sq yards each, feel let down by the government. Out of the 592 eligible persons who were issued “sanads” (property documents), only 38 allotted have been given the possession of plots in Gausabad village of the Verka block on the production of “sanads”. A notification by the government, according to Mr Satya Pal Dang, CPI leader said “possession to the remaining allottees will be given as and when they produce the ‘sanads’ regarding the allotment.” Mr Dang said the allottees were misled by the then BDPO who had deposited the “sanads” with the office on the pretext that the allottees could get loans for construction on the plots. New “sanads” were then ordered to be made. However, they never reached the beneficiaries. The case hangs fire, as the government order prohibits the possession of plots without the presentation of the “sanads”. |
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Medicinal plant board
for Punjab NEW DELHI, Oct 30 — The Punjab Government would be setting up a Medicinal Plant Board soon to implement the Vanaspati Van Yojna of the Central Government. Speaking at the conference of state health ministers of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy held here today, the Punjab Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla said the state would strive to lead in the field of medicinal plants as it had done in the case of agriculture. Demanding proper test laboratories at the
Ayurvedic and homoeopathic colleges, Dr Chawla also sought separate entrance examination for these courses both at state and national levels. The minister requested the Centre to allocate at least 10 per cent of the health budget to ayurveda and homoeopathy. According to an official spokesman, Dr Chawla said a team of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences would assess the manpower and infrastructure before issuing NOC to new medical or
para-medical colleges of the state. |
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Man crossing rail track killed JALANDHAR, Oct 30 (UNI) — Om Parkash (45), resident of the cantonment, was killed by a train near Rama Mandi this afternoon, police sources said. The mishap occurred when his foot got entangled between the tracks while crossing them. He died on the way to the Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, Chhinder Kaur (25) of Rawalpindi area near Phagwara, who was admitted with burn injuries to a hospital here on October 4, died today. In another incident, Manjit Kaur (32) of Basti Peer Daad, succumbed to her burns which she suffered on October 18, the sources said. |
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Chandraswami lays hospital stone MOGA, Oct 30 (UNI) — The controversial Chandraswami laid the foundation stone of a Rs 1.5 crore 500-bedded hospital at Daudhar village in this district yesterday. The hospital, covering an area of three and half hectares, is a part of Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Babe-ke-Ayurvedic College, Daudhar. The hospital will be the first of its kind and will be equipped with all modern equipment. |
Coop bank staff flay
Registrar’s decision NAWANSHAHR, Oct 30 — Employees of the local Central Cooperative Bank on a call given by their state body wore black badges today to register their protest against the decision of the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, to withdraw their incentives which included interest free wheat loan, festival loan, bonus, and ex-gratia. Mr Gurmit Singh Tiwana, senior vice-president of the state unit of the Cooperative Bank Employees Union, in a press note said the bank employees had been availing of these facilities since long |
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CM donates 5 lakh for complex CHANDIGARH, Oct 30 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today donated Rs 5 lakh for the construction of the Khalsa Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib. Announcing his donation, Mr Badal launched a campaign for raising funds for this Rs 150 crore project through which Sikh history will be depicted by using the latest multi-media technology. |
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Punjab reinstates patwaris CHANDIGARH, Oct 30 — All patwaris, whose services were terminated last year because of their active participation in a strike, have been taken back in the Punjab Revenue Department. Criminal cases registered against them will also be withdrawn. Disclosing this, the Punjab Revenue Minister, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, told TNS today that he had directed the authorities concerned to reinstate the patwaris, whose number was nearly 30. There were serious criminal charges against certain patwaris, but the government had decided to withdraw the charges, he added. The decision to reinstate the patwaris had been taken on compassionate grounds and not under pressure from any trade union. This was made clear by the minister to a group of the affected patwaris, who were here to meet him. Mr Sekhwan said the government was yet to decide whether the termination period should be considered as break in service or leave without pay. He said the patwaris concerned had apologised in writing and also given an assurance that in future they would not take part in strikes. The minister said all patwaris had submitted petitions to the Financial Commissioner ( Revenue) requesting the revocation of the termination orders. Earlier, the government had withdrawn criminal cases against 300 other patwaris who were facing minor charges. Their services were not terminated. Mr Sekhwan said that 38 patwaris, who had not participated in the strike, had been given two special increments for exhibiting sincerity in their work. Some of them had been promoted kanungos as per their seniority in service. Patwaris in the state had gone on strike in 1999. But the government had taken a tough stand against them and refused to accept their demands. Meanwhile, Mr Sekhwan said that mini-secretariats would constructed at the remaining district headquarters within one year. PUDA had been assigned the task of constructing the buildings. In Gurdaspur district, the present district administrative complex would be converted into a market and the mini-secretariat would be built at a new place near the bus stand. Mr Sekhwan said the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had told all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the process of building modern bus stands in all important towns and cities in the state. PUDA had been told to raise funds for this purpose. |
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Rs 50 cr scheme to improve drainage system PATIALA, Oct 30 — Punjab Finance and Planning Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh today announced that the government was spending Rs 50 crore on a special scheme under which the drainage system in villages would be improved and the ponds cleaned. Captain Kanwaljit Singh said a special fund of Rs 40 crore was being made available to the schools in Punjab to impart computer training to students. He further announced that the road connecting Vajidari and Bhadson would be laid and metalled from his discretionary fund. He granted Rs 1 lakh for building the mound around the pond in the village. Captain Kanwaljit Singh visited Vajidari village in Nabha subdivision for a cultural mela and a prize distribution function. He expressed that the development of youth would take the nation on the path of progress. Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Randhir Singh Rehmal-Majri, Mr Gurkirat Singh Thuhi were also present. |
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Rent law changed to help NRIs CHANDIGARH, Oct 30 — The Punjab Government today amended the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, which would entitle an NRI to recover possession of one residential and one non-residential building rented out by him or her for his or her own use or for the use of anyone ordinarily living with him or her and dependent on him or her. This right will be available only after a period of five years from the date of becoming the owner of such a building. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers held this morning. The meeting also enhanced the ex-gratia grant of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to those suffering 100 per cent disability, on a par with persons killed in terrorist violence by the security forces acting in aid of the civil power. The meeting also approved the guarantee deed and the agreement deed to raise house loans of Rs 200 crore by PUDA from HUDCO for the optimum use of vacant government land. The government also decided to waive the guarantee free in respect of a land loan of Rs 200 crore. |
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Residents nab cop PATIALA, Oct 30 — Alert residents apprehended a policeman who had entered a house in Urban Estate , Phase II, on the night of October 28. They claimed he was a gunman of Deputy Superintendent of Police G.S. Bedi . Police sources said the Urban Estate police chowki had registered a case under Section 471 (wrongful entry) against constable Surinder Singh. Though residents said Surinder Singh was the gunman of the local DSP, it could not be ascertained officially as no senior police officer was available for comment . Residents of Urban Estate, Phase II, said the constable was caught by them after nearly a 1-km long chase. They said four to five residents on voluntary night duty, following a spate of robberies in the area, first spotted the constable a late last night. They said when they raised the alarm the constable scaled the wall of the house and ran towards another block of houses. They said the constable was finally nabbed when he could not escape from a EWS (economically weaker section) house he had entered. They said the constable was slightly injured while scaling the wall due to which the residents were able to apprehend him. Phase Resident Welfare Association general secretary J.S. Bhatia said the policeman was handed over to the police in the early hours today. He said there were two other men with him but they escaped. Mr Bhatia said the residents had also handed over the identity card of another constable — Joginder Singh — which had been recovered from the policeman’s pocket. Mr Bhatia disclosed that the residents had taken to night watchman duties since the past week. He said there had been around 35 robberies in Urban Estate, Phase II since the past six months, all of which had been registered, but nothing had come out of them. He said there had been a spate of robberies in the past ten days itself which had forced the residents to start their own voluntary night patrol.  |
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Dacoits decamp with
3.7 lakh, revolver FEROZEPORE, Oct 30 — Four dacoits struck at the Chatti Gali locality here last night and decamped with Rs 3.70 lakh in cash, jewellery and 5 kg of gold. The dacoits, who possessed two country-made pistols and a sharp-edged weapon, forced their way into the house of Mr Bajaj and took away a licenced revolver. A case has been registered under Sections 342, 482 and 506, IPC. No arrest has, however, been made so far. Mr Bajaj, who owns a rice mill, did not discount the involvement of persons known to his family. Mr Ashwini Bajaj and Mr Ajay Bajaj said the dacoits barged into their house around 10.15 p.m. and detained all of them in a room at gun point. Later, they put the cash and jewellery in pillow cases. They also took away a loaded revolver with seven rounds before leaving the house. “While leaving, they locked the house from outside to prevent us from approaching anyone for help”, Mr Ajay Bajaj said. They were roughed up by the dacoits, when they resisted their attempt to take away the valuables. He said he could recognise the dacoits as their faces were not covered. The police said raids were being conducted on suspected hideouts. It had also taken into account the possibility of the involvement of somebody close to the family. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Secretary, Major Harminder Singh Bhullar, who visited the site of the crime, said the incident reflected the law and order situation in the city.
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Teachers’ postings to be rationalised PATIALA, Oct 30 — Nodal schools will be instituted in Punjab for secondary level students of science and commerce streams in rural areas to give impetus to the teaching of both streams as well as ensure proper distribution of teachers throughout the state. The concept of nodal schools has been mooted after a rationalisation study of teachers of science and commerce streams revealed that there were serious imbalances in their distribution throughout the state. It was revealed in the study that teachers of Science and Commerce subjects were concentrated in a few schools leaving many others without these teachers. Similarly in many cases a lower number of students taking up science or commerce subjects in particular schools did not justify posting of teachers in the institutions. There were even cases where the number of teachers of both streams was equal to the number of students taking up the subjects in rural schools. Following this it has been decided that nodal schools for teaching science and commerce will be identified in each block of the state. All the students of the block interested in pursuing these streams will be able to avail of the specialist teachers who will be posted at these schools. In this way while students are likely to benefit through opening of dedicated schools, the posts of teachers will also be rationalised according to the need in each block and the government will be able to undo the present lop-sidedness in this regard. Talking to TNS, DPI, Schools Jagtar Singh Khattra said according to the scheme wherever less than ten per cent of students are enrolled in science and commerce streams, the students as well as teachers will be shifted to the local nodal school. Rationalisation is also expected with regard to schools having low number of students of both streams and are situated next to each other. Secondary teachers had been demanding rationalisation of the posts for a long time even though most of them want to be shifted to schools in the nearest city on the plea that there are not enough teachers of both subjects in city schools. Mr Khattra also said that the government has now decided to make it mandatory for all teachers to join their new place of posting following promotion within a stipulated time or forgo the promotion for another two years. . Under this new scheme it has been decided to take action against 300 teachers who have not joined their new place of posting after being promoted recently. Nearly 800 teachers had been promoted recently in the state out of which 300 have not joined their new place of posting. The DPI, Schools said the government was also going in for recruitment of 1400 more teachers in the state besides 500 vocational teachers. |
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Frustration at delay
in promotions MALERKOTLA Oct 30 — The Punjab Government has neither promoted any school officials nor posted a fresh seniority list for the past many years. Mr Joginder Singh Aulakh, president, Gazetted Educational School Services Association, Punjab, in a press note issued here today said some 50 per cent of posts in the Punjab Education Department right from school principals to the Deputy Director level were lying vacant. Even many of those promoted are serving in their old pay and scale and have been selected ignoring the principle of seniority and natural justice. Similarly, the government has appointed many junior officers as District Education officers by ignoring the law and the principle of seniority as recommended by the Fourth Pay Commission. He said these had led to resentment among senior school officers. Criticising the Education Department for its pick-and-choose policy, he demanded that a fresh seniority list be prepared immediately and all appointments and promotions be based on this list. He also demanded fresh recruitments to fill vacant posts of school principals. |
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100 teachers not paid
salary since June FAZILKA, Oct 30 — About 100 primary teachers of 50 schools in Ferozepore, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts have not been paid salaries since June. According to sources, the Education Department has not accorded sanction to these posts. The schools were established in 1995 and the sanction for the release of salaries to teachers is granted periodically, Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, spokesman for the government Secondary/Primary Teachers Association, Punjab, has demanded that financial sanction for these posts be granted permanently to enable regular disbursement of salaries. |
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‘Restore glory of Persian language’ PATIALA,
Oct 30 — Participants at the 22nd annual all-India Persian teachers conference at Punjabi University here today lamented that Persian had lost its rightful place in India and demand the reorientation of the language to understand India’s role in world history. “The realisation is yet to come that Persian is the wellhead of history for this country. It is a matter of grave concern that a number of Persian posts are lying vacant in various colleges and universities,” said former professor Azarmi Dhukt
Safavi, president, All India Persian Teachers’ Conference in her presidential address. Prof Khanegi, secretary of education in Iran and also an adviser to the president of Iran in his key note address emphasised on the message of love and harmony conveyed by Persian. He said the government of Iran would extend every possible help and cooperation to promote Punjabi language and literature in India. Mr Masood
Khalili, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan said, “The cultures of both our countries has always united us despite the political differences. The poets especially of Punjab have influenced the Persian writtings and scriptures. The name of Punjab itself is a Persian world.” In this three-day conference organised by the department of Persian, Urdu and Arabic of Punjabi University over 300 delegates including 112 foreign delegates from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are participating. |
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| University youth festival AMRITSAR, Oct 30 — Dr J.S. Gujral, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, inaugurated, a three-day ‘A-zone’ youth festival for students (men) of Guru Nanak Dev University here today. More than 500 students hailing from about 40 affiliated colleges of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts are participating in the festival. The youth festival will conclude on November 1. |
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