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Congress candidates for Raj, J&K polls
Specified place for hoardings/banners: DC
Dera Sacha Sauda gears up for Rajasthan polls, panel tours towns
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Fly ash a perpetual problem for city residents
Ganga, a resident of Dhobiana Basti in Bathinda, showing the skin allergy of her two-year old daughter caused allegedly due to fly ash.
‘30,000 die of cancer every year’
A doctor examining a patient at the free cancer awareness and detection camp held at Swami Vivekanand Girls College in Bathinda on Sunday.
A Tribune photograph
Khaira raises questions about CM’s sangat darshan
Admn plans to drive polythene bags out
Sweepers seek permanent status
Atta-dal Scheme
Cause for concern
Rural games for girls from
today
Army moots 150 polyclinics for ex-servicemen
2 of family killed in road mishap
School celebrates its foundation day
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Congress candidates for Raj, J&K polls Raj Sadosh
Abohar, November 2 Kataria was in his home town Abohar due to Diwali festival for the last five days. He has also been nominated as party's election observer for the Jammu region. The Congress had on October 30 released first list of candidates for 116 constituencies in Rajasthan. Forty-five sitting legislators were asked to re-contest the elections while some of the former MLAs were also accommodated. However, the party had finalised names for only one seat (Anoopgarh) in district Sriganganagar and three for Hanumangarh district out of 11 constituencies. Kuldeep Indora who has been nominated for Anoopgarh constituency was given a warm welcome as he reached Sriganganagar by morning train today after getting the Congress ticket. He was garlanded by many and taken in a huge procession to his residence. The BJP leaders are busy in mobilising workers to ensure impressive participation in the Sankalp Rally slated for November 5 after which the saffron party is expected to release the much awaited list of its candidates, sources indicated. Meanwhile, the prospective candidates utilised Sunday for campaigning in rural areas whereas some of them held wardwise meetings also in Hanumangarh town.
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Specified place for hoardings/banners: DC
Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 2 The candidates will have to pay Rs 2,000 for putting a hoarding sized 10x20 ft if installed near Kauda Chowk, Vinoba Basti park, Indira Vatika, Bus Stand, Nehru Park, P Block Park and Tara Chand Vatika in Sriganganagar city. A fee of Rs 40 will be charged for each banner. The DC expressed concern over poor percentage in videography for issuing photo I-cards in 60 booths and warned of strict action if the targets were not achieved by November 8. Instructions for providing ramps in rest of the 11 polling stations have also been issued. — OC
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Dera Sacha Sauda gears up for Rajasthan polls, panel tours towns
Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 2 A day earlier, the committee-members during their visit to Bathinda and Ferozepur districts had held close door meetings with senior local functionaries to judge the pulse of hundreds of followers who had social relations in the neighboring Rajasthan segments. One Lakhjit Kumar of Sriganganagar who accompanied the political committee said that heavy turn out was found during the Naam Charcha in each town. Well placed sources said that the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had initially planned to visit his ancestral village Gurusar Modia located on the boundaries of Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts to celebrate the festival of lights but the district administration refused permission lamenting that it can not take any risk on the eve of election season. However, the Dera followers on Sunday also distributed monthly food kits to the listed needy families in the Deras after Naam Charcha at Gurusar Modia, Budhranwali, Sadulshehar and Hanumangarh. Here in Abohar, the police finally relented by allowing Naam Charcha when the organisers agreed to use the loud speakers with low volume. Importantly, the Dera followers are believed to have played a vital role in the Congress victory in the Malwa region of Punjab during the Assembly elections last year. Now when the SAD (B) has resolved to put up some candidates in the Rajasthan Assembly elections slated for December 4 besides extending support to the saffron party for other seats, the visit of the high-power Dera political committee gains significance, political observers said. The sect has developed large Deras at Budhranwali and Gurusar Modia in the region. Recently, a chain of blood donation camps besides eye check-up camps was also organised by the Gurusar Modia hospital in six towns to help needy persons. |
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Fly ash a perpetual problem for city residents
Bathinda, November 2 The heaps of fly ash have made the life of residents miserable and the indifference of the authorities have only worsened the problem. To tide over the problem, fly ash was lifted from the dumping ground and spread in the low-lying areas of the city. This coupled with the fact that the change in wind direction after winter sets in here results in fly ash being deposited even on rooftops in colonies here has only exacerbated the problem. On the one hand, the ruling party and government officials claim that the city would be developed on the pattern of European cities but it appears to be a distant dream keeping in view the actual condition here. During a random visit to the Dhobiana Basti and Urban Estate Phase III, the low-lying areas in the city, the TNS team found a number of women cooking amid the dusty air and children playing in the heaps of fly ash, a health hazard. When asked why they were living amid the fly ash, they spoke of their disillusionment with official policies. “Look at the face of my six-yar-old daughter. The allergy has affected her face. My father-in-law too has a respiratory problem just because of the problem of fly ash which we have to put up with round-the-clock,” rued Bhinder Kaur. Pointing at her seven-year-old son, Rahul, whose skin too has been affected by another form of allergy, her mother blamed the authorities concerned and said, “The ash will kill us as we lack resources and can not move anywhere else.” “See this chapati, can you eat it? I know that you people can never consume it as the contents of fly ash are quite visible in it. But we are helpless.” These were the words of 30-year-old Gurdev Kaur, who was cooking food, sitting on the mound of grey ash. An elderly person, Harbhagwan Singh, said, “Dumping the fly ash in this colony, where we people, who have no value in the eyes of government officers, reside is twin strategy of the officials. On the one hand, they want us to shift from this area and on the other, they want to accommodate the company that generates this waste.” “We read many a time that the State Human Rights Commission takes notice of such incidents and orders immediate action in this regard. But here, we are waiting for the day when someone will pay heed to this menace,” said Gurmail Singh, an octogenarian living in the area. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said, “The fly ash was laid to fill the low-lying areas. Soon, we will put a layer of soil over the ash so that it does not harm anyone.”
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‘30,000 die of cancer every year’
Bathinda, November 2 Organised by the Bathinda Vikas Manch, the camp aimed at creating awareness among people on how to prevent cancer. Rakesh Narula, organiser of the camp, said the core vision of the manch was to bring awareness about breast cancer, helping hospitals in treatment and care of cancer patients, helping terminally ill patients to live with comfort, peace and dignity besides providing support to victim’s family. Sarin said according to the data of an international agency for research on cancer (WHO), close to 80,000 women were affected by breast cancer in India every year and about 30,000 cancer patients succumb to the disease each year. He said at least one in 30 women living in metro cities in India was likely to develop breast cancer. Bansal said on account of the prevalent menace of smoking and tobacco abuse, cancer of oval cavity, mouth and lungs among men were on the rise. The evil of early marriage had led to an alarmingly high rate of cervix cancer among women in the country, he added. The doctors said the cancer could be cured if detected well in time. “Prevention of the disease is better than its cure,” they added. About 52 patients were examined and about 10 mimeographs were done during the camp. Raj Gupta, principal of the college, J.R. Goyal and Naresh Pathania, secretary and district training officer, respectively of the Red Cross, Bathinda, were also present on the occasion. |
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Khaira raises questions about CM’s sangat darshan
Kapurthala, November 2 In a letter written to Badal yesterday, Khaira expressed regret for not involving elected representatives of the Opposition in sangat darshan programmes. Also a District Congress president, Khaira stated in his letter that it was a matter of great regret that he was neither informed nor invited for the proposed sangat darshan being held in his constituency on Wednesday. Khaira further questioned the CM whether he, as an elected representative of people, did not deserve to be a part of the programme where Badal appeared to hear grievances of the public. The Bholath MLA further stated that over 200 Congress leaders and workers of his constituency, including him, were falsely implicated in criminal cases during the past over 18 months of his rule. A list of false cases was presented by him to the Governor of Punjab on whose intervention such cases were found politically motivated and, thus, cancelled, he claimed. Khaira further stated that SAD president Sukhbir Badal had earlier on October 15 illegally laid four foundation stones in his constituency. Being an MP from Faridkot, Sukhbir was in no way entitled to perform duties of ministers and the Chief Minister. Besides police atrocities, he intended to discuss and present the aspirations of his electorate on issues such as flood control, education, health and other matters of public importance during Badal’s visit to his constituency, he added. The Bholath MLA said he, along with approximately 200 Congress workers and respectable persons, might kindly be given appropriate time during the sangat darshan programme. He further stated that he was sure he would not ignore his request or else the very purpose of meeting the public and knowing their difficulties would stand defeated. |
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Admn plans to drive polythene bags out
Bathinda, November 2 Talking about the drive, deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari said the aim was to rid the district of polythene bags before the end of the year. “As a part of the drive, the administration has asked the schoolchildren to collect the polythene bags. The one who collected the maximum number of polythene bags would be rewarded. The polythene bags would be disposed of later,” said Tewari. The administration has also urged shopkeepers and the villagers against using the plastic bags. However, once the drive was over, the shopkeepers would be allowed to use non-recycled polythene bags as per the norms. The massive use of these bags and their improper disposal had been impairing the sewerage system and the cleanliness drives launched in the district. For want of checks, the drains got choked due to polythene bags during rains, which led to the sewer water flooding the roads and residential areas. According to BMC officials, the choked sewer lines had led to the stagnation of storm water in the low-lying areas. Plastic bags are littered across the district. Nearly every town and city in the state faces this problem in the absence of someone to guide the residents about the proper use and disposal of the polythene items. The BMC authorities have reportedly decided to invoke the provisions of the Act promulgated by the state government a few years ago to check the use of polythene and plastic carry bags in the district. The Act envisages a fine of Rs 5,000 and imprisonment up to three months for any violation thereof. But it is seen that provisions of the Act have not been implemented properly anywhere in the state ever since it was brought into force.
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Sweepers seek permanent status
Mansa, November 2 After visiting the administrative complex, it was found that some women sweepers have been working at very low wages for many years. Only a few sweepers working there are regular staff. Several employees of different departments said that they give salary to these workers every month from their pockets while some sweepers get their wages from the departmental funds. Neelam gets only Rs 650 per month for her three hours’ job. Similarly, Ram Kumar Dhariwal, who has been working there for the last nine years, also gets Rs 650. Pal Kaur, who has been working for the last five years, said that she had been getting Rs 1,200 for her six hours’ work. A widow Parkasho Devi rued that she has been working for the last 20 years and was drawing only Rs 600 per month. Another sweeper, Kamlesh said that she was being paid Rs 1000 against the three hours work. These workers demanded that their jobs should be regularised with increased salaries. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul said that after going through the entire process, necessary steps would be taken for the welfare of these workers.
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Govt to put surplus wheat in open market
Jangveer Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 2 In a turn of events, Punjab is now getting around 65,000 tonnes of wheat under the Centre-sponsored Antodaya Scheme every month, allowing it to fulfil its obligations under the Atta-dal Scheme and also pass on the benefit to the middle class. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has decided to put this excess wheat in the open market. Minister Adesh Partap Singh said the commodity would be certified and fortified before being released in the market. He said the modalities of how this would be done and the price at which the wheat would be sold were still to be finalised. The common man will benefit from the release of wheat into the open market as the state is getting the commodity at a subsidised cost of Rs 6.50, which is nearly half of its price in the open market. The state is also comfortably placed as far as its populist Atta-dal Scheme is concerned. In times of shortage, it had to provide wheat bought at Rs 12.50 per kg at a price of Rs 4 per kg under the scheme. This subsidy quotient of Rs 8.50 per kg has now been reduced to only Rs 2 per kg with an ease in the supply of foodgrain from the Centre. The state stands to make a saving of Rs 300 crore due to the increased supply. The state government is supplying wheat to over 13 lakh households with a maximum of 35 kg per household per month under the Aata-dal scheme launched in August last year.
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Model high school
in shambles
Raj Sadosh
Abohar, November 2 The Public Works Department has not received funds for the repair of the school buildings and whitewashing for last four years. The classrooms of the primary section have been dumped with the damaged furniture and the other waste material forcing the kids to hold classes in the open. The kitchen constructed under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan at a cost of Rs 1.2 lakh, is not being used along with the utensils that were provided under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan due to assigning of the responsibility to supply the mid-day-meals to the contractors. They have still not made perfect arrangements for the supply of fresh chapatis, the students rued. Drain flows unabated touching the boundary wall of the institution. A private sweets and toffee making unit in the neighbourhood adds to the environment al pollution besides endangering the sidewalls of the classrooms. The parents and the teachers, however, are grateful to some social activists, including Jagat Verma and Ravinder Chalana, who recently got the roof of some classrooms repaired and provided a shed named “Guru Chhaya”.
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Rural games for girls from
today
Moga, November 2 Hazari Lal Sharma, Deputy Director of the sports department of the Jalandhar division while stating this said that as many as 1,266 participants from various districts of the state are going to participate in these games. "We have deputed 150 officials to conduct these games efficiently", he said. He said that the main aim of these games was to involve the maximum number of rural girls in the sports activities at the block, district, state and national level sports activities. He was hopeful that the conduct of these games would definitely infuse the interest of the rural girls in the sports activities, which would also help in hunting the best talent from the country side. He further said that the state-level rural games competition would be conducted in seven disciplines: athletics, archery, hockey, kabbadi, kho-kho, volleyball and weightlifting. He announced that the teams to represent the state in the national-level rural games would also be selected during these games.
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Army moots 150 polyclinics for ex-servicemen
Pathankot, November 2 Col L.S. Randhawa, regional director, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, while disclosing this at an integrated ex-servicemen rally organised by the Gurj Division under the patronage of Western Command at the Mamun military station here, said if the proposal got through, four polyclinics would be opened in Pathankot and its adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh. At the rally organised by the division to know the problems being faced by ex-servicemen and to inform them about various re-employment opportunities, hundreds of ex-servicemen, senior Army and civil officials and other prominent citizens were present. The rally was inaugurated by Major-Gen Ravi Harshvardhan, GOC of the division. Colonel Randhawa said though the scheme was a good initiative for the ex-servicemen, only 45 per cent of them had come forward avail themselves of its benefits. Though the Centre had released enough funds for making it beneficial for the ex-servicemen, the funds remained under-utilised as the number of ex-servicemen opting for it was very less.
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2 of family killed in road mishap
Fazilka, November 2 According to sources, the incident took place when Karnail Singh (40) along with his wife Kashmiro Bai (30) and son Kuldeep Singh (18) was coming to Fazilka from village Pakka Chisti on his motorbike. When they reached near Ram Palace here, a speeding truck coming from Abohar hit the bike causing it to skid. Karnail and Kuldeep were crushed by the truck while Kashmiro fell in the opposite direction and had a miraculous escape. She remained unhurt. Karnail was coming to Fazilka in connection with the marriage of his elder son. The mutilated bodies of the duo were scattered on road. The bike was also badly damaged. The driver of truck bearing registration number RJ-07-G-1454 has been reportedly taken into custody by city police. |
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School celebrates its foundation day
Bathinda, November 2 Deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari, who was chief guest on the occasion, distributed prizes to class X students. Among others present at the function were Swarup Singla and Inderjit Singh Brar, president and chairman of the school, respectively.
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Bathinda, November 2
India is now among the five countries of the world where cancer is spreading its tentacles fast. This information was given by Dr Jatin Sarin, an eminent medical oncologist, and Dr Vijay Bansal, cancer surgeon, Ivy Hospital, Mohali, during a free cancer awareness and detection camp held at Swami Vivekanand Girls College here today. In India, nearly 8 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer every year.
