The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

	International Women’s Day Living dreams of their own Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 8 This reporter was the only male at the function organised to commemorate the Women’s Day at a college in Bathinda. It is quite rare to see 200-250 women at one place here. The district is notorious with an unfavourable sex ratio of 865 females per 1000 males (2001 census) which is 19 less than what was in 1991. Women literacy rate is 53.76 per cent, which is 15 per cent less than male’s. Is being a woman a social handicap? Garima Singh, an IRS officer, who was the chief guest at today’s function doesn’t feel so. She was against women having persecution mentality. She said, “ Role and contribution of an individual is paramount.” Inspired more from former president APJ Abdul Kalam, she said, “ It is not that the count of women achievers is less and gender can’t be an issue in choosing an ideal. Thoughts are extremely important as theycan change the mindset. Garima is a mother of a boy and wife of Bathinda SSP Naunihal Singh. When asked about her goals, she said, “ I want to perform my duties well as a wife and mother. I would like to make exemplary contribution towards the nation building.” Garima doesn’t believe in reservation for women in the Parliament. She clarified that patriarchal mindset must be changed; children must be taught to respect women. When asked about her picture of liberated woman, she says, “ She is educated, aware of rights and conscious of what is happening around.” Mamta (28), a Dalit woman from Jhansi, carries bricks on her head at the site of a mall in Bathinda, for just Rs 70 a day which is Rs 30 less than her male counterparts. She works while in veil and took permission from her husband to talk to the reporter. She is an illiterate and didn’t know what are rights and what is Women’s Day! When asked who is responsible for the plight of woman, she said, “ Poverty.” On her goal in the life, she said she wanted to earn as much as to care for her children. Her husband refused to get her photographed. Paramjit Kaur (34) is a mother of seven children,three girls and four boys. She works on the reconstruction of Barnala highway with her husband and earns Rs 80 per day. She got married when she was just 15. She herself is illiterate and her daughters also don’t go to school. When asked about her dream, she said, “I want to find good bridegrooms for my daughters and may my sons become officers!
	No rules for high, mighty: Shamlat land transferred Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 8 “No rule and regulations for the elite class’, would not be incorrect in case of a private bank constructed on a Shamlat at the Bibiwala road, here. The reason is simple, names of eminent personalities are involved in the transaction deed, therefore restricting the administration to take strict action against the guilty. The building constructed over the land has been given on rent to a private bank. In the report prepared by the administration, it has been clearly mentioned that the big amount of the stamp duty has been evaded in the transaction. It has also come in notice that the deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari through a letter number 809 dated August 17, 2007 marked an enquiry to the Additional deputy commissioner (development). After the whole investigation the ADC (D) submitted the report to the DC on September 13, 2007. After the findings, the DC Bathinda sent a letter vide number 4657, dated September 26, 2007 to the DC Muktsar stating that the transfer of the land has been done by the Sub-registrar Gidderbaha. The land in question is a Shamlat in Bathinda. The DC Bathinda further sent the documents to the DC Muktsar for the recovery of the stamp duty only. Information procured through Right to Information Act, states that the land is shamlat and transaction done by Piara Singh (November 30, 2005) and Pawan Kumar,l raj Kumar and Tek Chand (November 9, 2006) is illegal. The report further speaks that the present value of the land is approximate Rs 125 lakh whereas the market value of the site has been shown three lakh only. At one side the stamp duty had been evaded and on the other side shamlat land worth crores of rupees had been illegally transferred. The site plan had been approved by the Municipal Corporation and mentioned as residential area but the ownership could not be verified. The whole chapter apparently went under the carpet as nothing has been done in this regard. Despite several attempts, DC , Rahul Tewari could not be contacted for his comment.
	Commuters protest against cops ‘high handedness’ Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 8 Irked over the continuous harassment caused by the traffic police, the residents and BJP activists staged dharna and blocked the road near Gol Diggi here today. The incident triggered when the traffic cops harassed a relative of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) activist. Sources at the spot said that constable Harbans Singh intercepted one Maruti car and asked the driver to show the documents, who then indulged in grumbling with the constable. The driver alleged that the traffic policeman filled the challan, without asking a single question. Frustrated over the issue, the driver called up the BJP activists, who, including, the president and general secretary, reached the spot and blocked the road to show their resentment. The protest continued before the protesters received assurance from the superintendent of police (detective), Surinder pal Singh about the suspension of the traffic policemen deputed over there. District BJP president Narender Mittal alleged that the traffic police was involved in malpractices on the pretext of checking. “The traffic checks is just another way to fill their pockets and achieve target for the financial year”, he added. “The city residents have been fearing thefts and snatchings but the police officials are yet to wake up,” rued Mittal. BJP district general secretary, Naveen Singla said, “Traffic cops just harass the common man, as commuter s are supposed to get the documents checked at least thrice within the limits of the city while there is no concern for the overloaded trucks plying in the city.” When the DSP (D), Surinder pal Singh was contacted, he said, “To resolve the dispute constable Harbans Singh, has been transferred to the police line and further investigations are going on.
	Women’s Day celebrated Our Correspondent Abohar, March 8 The D A V College of Education today organised several programmes and competitions including, poem recitation, declamation and Add-mad, to mark the International Women Day. Jagmeet Kaur, Baljit Singh and Gurvinder Singh won first top positions in the poem competition contest while in the declamation contest Himanshi, Ashok Kumar and Prabhjot bagged the first three prizes. The Kenway College of Education also celebrated the day. The would-be-teachers expressed their thoughts on women empowerment. Principal Satyender Singh spoke on the role of women since the freedom struggle. SDM N S Brar presided over a programme held in the Arya Mahila Propkarini Sabha. The Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch honoured some women who had excelled in different fields. Barnala: To mark the International Women’s Day, a cultural programme was organised at the LBS Arya Mahila College with vigour and enthusiasm. Principal Neelam Sharma made the students aware of their rights and responsibilities towards society. She said that this was the high time when girls should come forward to fight for their rights. ]Ranjana Menon, principal of the LBS Collegiate Senior Secondary School, talked about female foeticide, dowry system and exploitation of the women. Bharat Bhushan Menon, general secretary, college and other managing committee members, congratulated the principals and staff members on this specific day. —OC Mansa: To mark the Women’s Day, progressive women association held a function in the Baba Bujha Singh Bhawan. Addressing the gathering, Jasbeer Kaur Natt said that injustice was continued with the women in many fields so there was a need for them to unite for their rights. Some evils as dowry and foeticide had been continually affecting females. She appealed to the women to mobilise against the social evils. —OC
	‘De-addiction is the need of the hour’ Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, March 8 All sections of society should work together to prevent drug abuse and make an effort to bring the drug addicts, especially the truck drivers, in the mainstream. This was stated by Jitendra Jain, DIG, Bathinda range, during his visit to the de-addiction seminar at Birla Plus Cement complex at Lehra Mohabbat village today. Jain appreciated the efforts of Birla Plus Cement and Truck Union, Bhucho village, in association with Adesh Hospital, Bathinda who have adopted Lehra Mohabbat and Bhucho villages for de-addiction of truckers. “There is a need to establish more drug de-addiction centres where activities are designed to bring behavioural changes in truckers. It would help them to overcome the habit and lead a normal life”, he added. Sunil Gupta and P.D. Bansal of Adesh Hospital laid emphasis on the need to provide free vocational training to the truckers. They said that it would help not only in de-addicting them but also stop the transportation of drugs. They also set the target to de-addict about 1,000 truck drivers and cleaners in their respective villages. Gupta said he would provide free consultation services for truckers at Lehra Mohabbat and Bhucho villages on Saturdays and Tuesdays respectively. Indoor treatment facilities for the needy will also be made free of cost at these villages, he added. Stage artistes Attro-Chatro troupe also regaled the audience in a humorous way to overcome the habit of taking drugs among truckers. Besides releasing a variety of stickers, an exhibition, de-addiction camp and consultation centre were also inaugurated.
	Man commits suicide Moga, March 8 Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Sherpur Kalan village, has committed suicide by consuming sulphas tablets in front of house of his brother-in-law, Avtaar Singh, a resident of Dhudike village, yesterday. Father of the deceased, Joginder Singh in a complaint to the Nehna police alleged that his son committed suicide after getting 'frustrated' by the 'ill treatment' meted by his wife Balwinder Kaur and Avtaar Singh. The couple had been married for 15 years. — TNS