A solemn function was organised by the District Sainik Welfare Board and Vajra Corps at the Punjab State War Memorial on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day on Thursday.

Senior serving and retired Army officers, civil dignitaries, ex-servicemen and widows of martyrs attended the function. Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, recalled the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers of Punjab. He said that the contribution made for the Flag Day fund would be utilised by the Sainik Boards for empowerment of widows, disabled soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents.

He presented a cheque of Rs 25,000 to the District Sainik Welfare Board for the welfare of ex-servicemen and widows.

Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner and President of District Sainik Welfare Board, too exhorted everyone to contribute generously towards the fund. He highlighted that Sainik Welfare Office, Jalandhar, was getting the maximum Flag Day contributions in the state. He said that while the amount collected was to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs last year, the aim was to collect more this year.

Lt Col Manmohan Singh, Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, took the officials for a round to the “Hall of fame” Kargil Gallery and War Library. He said that out of the collections during the year 2005-06, financial assistance worth Rs 2.23 lakhs had been provided to 207 widows and 210 ex-servicemen.

On the occasion, physically challenged Harbans Lal, an ex-serviceman of Sofi Pind, was gifted a wheel chair. Four widows and an ex-serviceman were presented cheques of Rs 1000 each, five widows were given blankets and four widows were given sewing machines.

The day also marked the inauguration of musical fountains in the memorial. NCC cadets and college students pinned sticker flags to the chief guest and others and collected donations from them.

Mother’s love and care has certainly been the most protective umbrella against any set of adversities. But, even the contemporary fathers can look after their kids with equal love and care. Father’s Day is a celebration to salute such fathers who did not let their children feel the void of motherly love and care.

Thirtyfour-year-old Ashok Pandey, a daily-wage earner at Mauli village in Phagwara, is playing the dual role of mother and father for his two sons. Pandey’s wife had left him and her two sons (at that time six and three years old) to live with her brother’s family.

Since then, he has been performing the mother’s role in bringing up his sons.

Waking up at six in the morning, he does it all from preparing food to readying his sons for school. His elder son studies in Class V while the younger one is in Class II in a local school.

“I myself perform the household chores, washing clothes and utensils, etc. I send my kids to school in the morning and then go to work at 10.30 am,” he says.

But when asked whether his sons miss their mother, Pandey replies: “They used to miss her initially, but then I took the responsibility of loving my kids like a mother and now they don’t feel the absence of their mother any more.”

The only thing that Pandey regrets is that he is unable to pay for their tuition. But, the children are very happy with the love that they are receiving from their father.

Another story that makes us salute these fathers is that of an Army officer who lost his wife 10 years ago. Capt Tarsem Singh’s wife died of cancer in 1995 leaving the responsibility of a 24-year-old mentally challenged son on his shoulders.

“Till the time my wife was alive, I never realised that I had a mentally challenged son with just 35 per cent IQ,” says Capt Tarsem Singh, recalling how caring and loving his wife was.

“After her death, I started looking after my son. I also started cooking for him. Initially, my cooking was poor and I used to face problems like cuts and burns, but now I am a better cook than any housewife,” he adds proudly.

Perturbed over denial of reservation benefits to them, the Diocese of the city have demanded that Dalit Christians should be accorded reservation benefits in Punjab on the lines of states of Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.

A group of Christian leaders, led by Father Franco, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Jalandhar and Mr Tarsem Peter, the president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, have also sought to dispel the common apprehension that extension of reservation to Dalit Christians would lead to conversions to Christianity.

Addressing a press conference here today, Father Franco, Mr Tarsem Peter, Father Robby, chief of the United Christian Forum of Human Rights, Father Mathew, president of Pastoral Council, Mr Rakesh William, president of the Catholic Church Action Committee, Mr Roshan Josaph, director of the Punjab Tubewell Corporation, and Ms Rani, president of Nari Shakti, an NGO, alleged that Dalit Christians were a discriminated lot.

“Buddhists and Sikhs with Dalit background have been given reservation benefits, but, this has not been done in case of Dalit Christians. It is despite the fact that Dalit Christians of UP and Kerala are enjoying such benefits. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had assured Christians that he would also accord the benefit to Christians if such an arrangement was there in any other state. Now, UP and Kerala have extended reservation to Dalit Christians, but, Punjab based Dalit Christians are still waiting for it,” said the Christian leaders.

“Is it not a matter of discrimination that on the one hand Dalit Sikhs or Buddhists are getting the benefit while on the other Dalit Christians have been denied the same? We have decided to extend our support to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India and the National Council of Dalit Christians, which are holding a chain fast over the issue at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. We will also join the fast at Delhi from December 16,” said Father Franco and Mr Peter.

Mr Shamaun Sandhu, Mr Parmjit Vichoa, Mr Johnson Ajnala said Dalit Christians have also decided to take up the issue with Union Minister Oscar Fernandes during his coming Jalandhar visit.

Eklavya School conducted a workshop on “Learning disabilities and difficulties”. It was conducted by Mr Anuj Dada and Ms Anjali Dada, parents of Dhananjay of nursery. They said autism was a developmental disorder in which children failed to respond to their name and often avoided eye contact with other people. 

“They have difficulty in interpreting other person’s feeling because they can’t understand social cues such as tone of voice or facial expressions and don’t watch other people’s faces for cues about appropriate behavior. 

“Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and spinning. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.”  Children with autism don’t know how to play interactively with other children.”

The parents also gave useful tips to teachers. “Use clear and simple language. Avoid abstractions. Tell what to do instead of telling what not to do. Give only those choices which can be actually provided. Create opportunities for conversation and give help to such children only when needed”, they explained to the teachers.

Ms Sapna Bakshi, Principal of the school, said the teachers of the school regularly attend workshops and seminars to update their knowledge and to be able to cater to the individual needs of the children.

The school celebrated “waste to wealth” week, during which the students were helped in making useful things from waste material.

Children of pre-nursery made pencil stands from old tins, powder boxes and glasses.

Nursery tiny tots made friendship bands with bindis, buttons, beads and coloured papers, hanging dolls with kites, ribbons and old rakhis, and stationary stand with old bangles and cardboard.

Students of LKG created drawer set and multipurpose boxes out of shoe boxes and coloured papers. Fascinating climbing turtles were made from old chart papers, ribbons and wrapping papers.