The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Rajya Sabha member Dr Narain Singh at the ‘ghorean di mandi’ (horse fair) in Muktsar. Stud book on ‘Marwari’ horses in offing
Muktsar, October 31
When the chairman of the Marwari Stud Registration Society, Dr Narain Singh, a member of the Rajya Sabha from Jodhpur, came to the horse fair here on the occasion of Dussehra, he had a news to break: a stud book on Marwari horses is in the pipeline.

Rajya Sabha member Dr Narain Singh at the ‘ghorean di mandi’ (horse fair) in Muktsar. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera

Axe falls on SHO in Moga after scandal
Moga, October 31
Local police registered a case against station house officer (SHO), Badhani Kalan, Raman Kumar for his involvement in the scandal that embarrassed the police department, here today. He was later dismissed on the orders of the senior superintendent of police, Faridkot, L.K. Yadav who also holds the additional charge of Moga.

‘Congress is with farmers, poor’
Mansa, October 31
The president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, on Wednesday, recalled the contribution of the Nehru family in the unity and development of the country.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (centre), MLA Budlada (right) Mangit Rai Bansal and MLA Bathinda, Harminder Singh Jassi (left) at the rally held to mark the 23rd death anniversary of Indira Gandhi in Mansa on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Women’s college to have water purification plant
Abohar, October 31
The Bhag Singh Hayer Khalsa College for Women, located at Kala Tibba village on Seetogunno road, will be the first rural institution in the region to have a ground-water purification plant.

Gearing up: To ensure a safe and successful festival of lights, the district police has intensified night patrolling in Bathinda. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera

Fatal fall for labourer as soil caves in
Bathinda, October 31
Two labourers got buried in the ditches dug up to install tube wells, in two different mishaps in the district today.

DC suspends three teachers
Barnala, October 31
Three female teachers were suspended during inspection held at various schools and dispensaries of district Branala here today. Deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta along with DDPO Parveen Goyal made a surprise visit to eight schools falling under Zila Parishad.

Army School, Bathinda win basketball tourney
Bathinda, October 31
The Army School, Bathinda, won the South-Western Command Inter-Army Schools Basketball Championship held at Army School here from October 26 to 30.

Chemist shops raided
Bathinda, October 31
Two chemist shops in the city were searched during a raid conducted by the Drug Inspector (DI) and his team, here today.

Yogi’s cremation creates controversy
Moga, October 31
The manner in which an ascetic, belonging to the Nath Yogi sect, was cremated created a controversy regarding his death as relatives alleged foul play here today.

Punjab Day Today
Officials ‘cosy’ with Queen’s language
Punjab Official Languages Act, 1967 makes the use of Punjabi mandatory
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 31
The love of Punjabis for their language is well-known. For a state whose people have settled down all over the world and whose catchphrases have become a symbol of Indianness, it is interesting to learn that despite an official order, work here still gets done in the Queen’s language by some officials.

The stock-taking on eve of Punjab Day, to be observed tomorrow, reveals that the Punjabi language still has a lot of ground to cover as many government officials are still performing their duties in the English language.

As per the official figures of the Punjab Languages Department, in the last 18 months, out of 1,837 government offices checked by the state languages department, 277 government officials were found to be working in English. As many as 123 were high-ranking officials. In the last seven and a half years, around 7,000 government offices have been checked and 2,800 officials have been found to be working in English.

Till September this year, 737 government offices were checked and 48 senior officials and 75 others were found to be working in English.

As per the State Languages Act 1967, a state government official not using the Punjabi language for official correspondence can face strict action which may include censure, no annual increment and even denial of promotion.

According to the Punjab Languages Department figures, in 2006 and 2005, action was taken against only 17 and 24 such officials. In the first nine months of 2005, 718 offices were checked and 42 officials were found to be working in English. In 2004, 479 offices were checked and 10 per cent of senior officials and 13 per cent of low ranking officials were found to be working in English. In 2003, 1,118 offices were checked and 8 per cent of senior officials and 16 per cent of junior officials were found to be working in English.

The languages department officials in the districts are assigned the task of conducting surprise checks in government offices to ensure that official work is done in Punjabi and any lapse brought to the notice of the Languages Department is acted upon.

Director, Punjab Languages Department, Avtar Singh Had, said that punitive measure had been taken by the state government to ensure strict enforcement of the Punjab Official Languages Act, 1967, which makes it mandatory for all officers and the administration to use Punjabi, the official language of the state since April, 1968.

Punjab cycles its way to eco-friendliness
Praful Nagpal

Fazilka, October 31
The number of bicycle users in Punjab is among the highest in the country, proving amply that people here understand the meaning of sustainable development.

According to an analysis conducted by Navdeep Asija of Fazilka, who has done his Masters in Geotech and Geo-environmental Engineering from IIT Delhi, cycle density per 10,000 people in Punjab is the highest compared to states that have a similar terrain and geographical conditions, except for the hill states. His research is based on the 2001 census.

State Loves To Pedal

A study says that cycle density per 10,000 people in Punjab is the highest compared to other states.

Asija’s analysis reveals that as per capita income in the states is going up, the number of cycle users is going down. This is the trend in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

But Punjab has shown an altogether different trend. Despite the fact that Punjab has the maximum per capita income (as per 2001 data), after Goa, the Punjabi’s love for the bicycle has not gone down. Almost every second occupied household in Punjab has a minimum of one bicycle.

The high density of non-motorised mode of transportation proves that Punjab is moving ahead as far as ecologically sustainable development is concerned.

In Punjab, there are 1,257 cycle users for every 10,000 persons while in Haryana, it is just 835 users per 10,000 people.

A research conducted by Urja Purash of Uttarakhand and Dr Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor at IIT Roorkee, reveals that to burn one litre of fuel, 15.2 kg of air from the atmosphere is needed.

Based on this, if we consider the average daily length of a cyclist’s trip as 5-6 km in a day; then one cycle user is saving half a litre of fuel and 7.6 kg of fresh air. Therefore, the high density of cycle users in the state is also contributing to the preservation of environment a daily basis.

Other states, which have a lower but comparable result in terms of cycle density, are Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It is so because of lower per capita income, between Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per annum, as modes of motorised transport can be an expensive affair.

Punjab is equally attracted to other modes of motorised transport but here, bicycle has not been ignored by the people.

Cycling is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people taking to bicycles to commute, communities experience reduced traffic snarls, improvement in air quality and greater physical fitness, all beneficial to people.

Stud book on ‘Marwari’ horses in offing
Prabhjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Teghbeer Singh Brar inspects a pony at his Sarainaga stud farm near Muktsar. — A Tribune photograph

Muktsar, October 31
When the chairman of the Marwari Stud Registration Society, Dr Narain Singh, a member of the Rajya Sabha from Jodhpur, came to the horse fair here on the occasion of Dussehra, he had a news to break: a stud book on Marwari horses is in the pipeline.

Like the thoroughbred horses, which are a hybrid variety of Albino and Arabian mammals, the ‘desi’ Marwari horses would also now have a record of their physical and genetic characteristics, besides a record of their ancestors.

This effort of creating a stud book of Marwari horses would help the owners export the ‘desi’ breed as well, which could create a revolution in horse-trading in the country, Dr Narain Singh said.

“Till now, we were not allowed to export ‘desi’ breeds like ‘Marwari’ and ‘Kathiawari’, but the Union government has now given the nod to the Marwari Stud Registration Society for the creation of a stud book on ‘desi’ breeds,” Narain Singh told ‘The Tribune.’

He said this became possible when the Centre’s Department of Animal Husbandry recognised the Society at a meeting held in Hissar nearly three months back.

The Rajya Sabha member said he had raised the issue —- of recognising ‘desi’ breed horses and their export —- in Parliament. The compilation of the stud book was an outcome of this. Now, the chairman of the Marwari Stud Registration Society is hoping for a meeting with the Centre’s Equine Development Board for a meeting to discuss the issue. “It’s been three years now and the Equine Board has not met even once,” he said.

This horse lover from Rajasthan said he saw a hope in the performance of the ‘Marwari’ breed horses at the international level. At the last 120-km Endurance Race at Jodhpur, a ‘Marwari’ horse had stolen the show, leaving behind the thoroughbred horses. This had given him great hope.

The Equine Development Board’s lone member from Punjab, Balkaran Singh Brar, said he would be writing to the chairman of the Board for a meeting of the apex body so that trade in ‘desi’ breed horses could also be off-shore.

Besides ‘Marwari’ and ‘Kathiawari’ breeds, the other indigenous breeds are ‘Sindhi’, ‘Manipuri’ and ‘Bhutia’.

Axe falls on SHO in Moga after scandal
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Moga, October 31
Local police registered a case against station house officer (SHO), Badhani Kalan, Raman Kumar for his involvement in the scandal that embarrassed the police department, here today. He was later dismissed on the orders of the senior superintendent of police, Faridkot, L.K. Yadav who also holds the additional charge of Moga.

It may be mentioned that a week ago, Amarjit Singh, SHO of police station city I, was also apprehended and a case was registered against him for seeking bribe from a person on the pretext of getting his name deleted from the FIR.

According to police sources, a team sent to Tanda village in Kapurthala district for apprehending the two absconding accused in the Manpreet Kaur and Manjit Kaur case had to return empty-handed recently. They were told that Raman Kumar had dropped them there a few days back.

The district police had instituted an inquiry following directions from ADGP (Law and Order) Chander Shekhar. Bhupinder Singh, DSP (Baghapurana), had conducted the inquiry that concluded on August 10. A resident of Dhudike village, Ranjit Singh had complained with proof that Amarjit had threatened to frame him in the case unless he shelled out Rs 50,000. He recorded the bribe call of the cop made from his office phone number.

Manpreet and Manjit had registered a case against seven persons, including Ranjit, that they had tried to abduct them near Chand Neewan Gurdwara under the Baghapurana police station a few months ago.

Earlier, Manpreet had registered a case of sexual exploitation against 16 persons at the city I police station in April. However, after some time, she retracted her statement against some of them. She had allegedly extorted a hefty amount from them on the promise of getting their names struck off the FIR.

‘Congress is with farmers, poor’
Our Correspondent

Mansa, October 31
The president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, on Wednesday, recalled the contribution of the Nehru family in the unity and development of the country.

Addressing a rally held here on the occasion of 23rd death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she said, “The Nehru family had sacrificed their lives for the unity and integrity of the country. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had made a valuable contribution in the development of India.”

Calling upon the Congress workers to fight against the alleged attrocities of Akali-BJP government against Congressmen, she said they would fight for justice and go to the court for the same.

She asked the Punjab police not to register false cases against the Congress workers.

Criticising the policies of the present government, she said the Congress was with the farmers and poor and all development works had been done in the regime of Congress. She also said the Centre had given enough funds for the prosperity of Punjab even though the Alkalis were criticising the Central Government. Bhattal informed that she had written a letter to the senior officials of the state government to direct officials and police personnel, not to become puppets in the hands of politicians.

Talking to mediapersons after the rally, Bhattal alleged that the SAD-BJP government was not adopting progressive policies for the state’s development.

Women’s college to have water purification plant
Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 31
The Bhag Singh Hayer Khalsa College for Women, located at Kala Tibba village on Seetogunno road, will be the first rural institution in the region to have a ground-water purification plant.

IFFCO chairman Surinder Kumar Jakhar, while attending the PU Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival as the chief guest in the college today, said equipment to provide potable water for around thousand students, and staff members, would be imported from Holland.

He praised Bibi Harbaksh Kaur Hayer for donating Rs 1.6 crore and agricultural land for the construction of the college.

In his presidential remarks, Sunil Jakhar MLA advocated for 50 per cent reservation for women in jobs. Meanwhile, results made available indicated that Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College, DAV College, both in Abohar, and Government College and Guru Nanak College of Muktsar were in a close race for the top position at the PU Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival, which entered its second day on Wednesday. Results: Individual prizes- Shabad: Sushma Rani; Group singing: Ritika; Indian orchestra: Shilpa.

Winners in main competition: Geet/Ghazal: 1. Ritika 2. Sunil Kumar 3. Seema Rani, Indian classical vocal: 1. Rythm 2. Nagma, Folk song: 1. Sukhpreet 2. Jasbir Singh 3. Amandeep, Music non-percussion: 1. Gaurav Arya 2. Khushboo 3. Shivani Sharma, Instrumental music percussion: Manpreet, Folk instrumental: 1. Gurvinder Kaur 2. Suraj 3. Sahil, Rangoli: 1. Neha 2. Mini Singla 3. Malika, Cartooning: 1. Navjot 2. Sukhmander 3. Suraj, Still life: 1. Durgesh 2. Sarbjeet 3. Gursimran, Poster making: 1. Komal 2. Radhika 3. Konika , Clay modelling: 1. Nitish Yadav 2. Sandeep Kaur 3. Harpreet, Collage making: 1. Meenu Bala 2. Priyanka Sharma 3. Kanik, On the Spot painting: 1. Ritika Minocha 2. Gursimran Kaur 3. Harjit Kaur.

Fatal fall for labourer as soil caves in
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 31
Two labourers got buried in the ditches dug up to install tube wells, in two different mishaps in the district today.

Sources said that while Parma Singh of Dyal Pura Bhai Ka village was digging and cementing the borewell, the land caved in and the labourer fell in the 40-feet deep pit.

Villagers rushed to the spot after getting information about the accident and with the help of tractors and a JCB, started the rescue attempts. The rescue operations came to a halt twice as the soil caved in.

In another mishap, Manga Singh of Hamir Garh village fell while installing a motor pump in a pit. A passerby helped him in getting out of the ditch.

Shockingly, the Naib Tehsildar, Bhagta, Gurmel singh and BDPO, Bhagta, Sanjeev Kumar, took three hours to reach the spot.

Amar Preet, medical officer, Bhagta, reached the spot with his team for rescue operations. The rescue team, after repeated attempts, succeeded in bringing out Manga Singh. He was later taken to the civil hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Attempts to rescue Parma Singh of Dyal Pura Bhai Ka village were still on. The incidents were a chilling reminder of the mishap in Rajasthan where a child had fallen in a pit and had to be rescued by the Army.

DC suspends three teachers
Our correspondent

Barnala, October 31
Three female teachers were suspended during inspection held at various schools and dispensaries of district Branala here today. Deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta along with DDPO Parveen Goyal made a surprise visit to eight schools falling under Zila Parishad.

Talking to ‘The Tribune,’ the Deputy Commissioner said that the raids were conducted at government schools situated at Burj Fatehgarh, Bhai Deep Singh, Maju ke, Manna Pindi, Gill kothe Ke, and Kale Ke village.

Harmandeep Kaur of government school Gill Kothe Ke was found absent from the school. She was also found guilty of tampering with the school records. On the other hand, Ranjeet Kaur of Gill Kothe Ke school was on a seven-day leave. Seema of Manna Pindi was also absent as she was going to school at Dhanula village without any formal orders.

The three were suspended due to irregularities in their work while the staff at remaining schools was found on duty and school records were in order.

Meanwhile, the district authorities inspected two dispensaries at Batthal and Attar Singh Wala village.