Bathinda, February 14
“Punjab police requires image makeover,” said the chairperson of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, Justice R.S. Mongia.

He added that around 80 to 90 per cent of complaints received by the commission were against police.

Addressing a state-level seminar on Human Rights Violation by State Agencies organised here by the Global Human Rights Council (GHRC), Bathinda, on Saturday, Justice Mongia also called upon the people to raise their voice against human rights violations.

Simplifying the term human rights, he said that right to respectful life is human right. “It is an umbrella term which includes liberty, equality, dignity and related concepts,” he elaborated.

Explaining what to do when one’s human rights are violated, Justice Mongia said that a person should first approach the state agency, if the agency ignores his or her plea then the commission comes into picture. If a state agency violates human rights, people could directly approach the commission, he added.

He also said that people should approach NGOs dealing with human rights violations, as those bodies would guide them.

Speaking about corruption, he said that short-cuts to get things done lead to corruption. “There is always a giver and a receiver. If one does not give, then how could one receive? In fact, people adopt short-cut methods and give the menace a chance to grow,” he added.

Nodal officers of all commissions in Punjab, superintendent of police Iqbal Singh, Arvind Thakur, chairperson, GHRC, V.K. Vashisht, president, Chhaju Ram, vice-president, Ashok Sadiora and others were also present at the seminar.

Bathinda, February 14
Marriages of altogether 11 girls, belonging to poor families, were solemnised at a gurdwara in Model Town here today. For the fourth consecutive year, the Bhai Ghanaiya Charitable Foundation, Bathinda, in association with the NRI Charitable Foundation, Canada, organised the mass marriage. Besides, the NGOs also donated 16 tricycles and two wheel-chairs to differently-abled persons.

All the weddings were arranged ones and the couples belonged to same caste and religion. They hailed from different villages of this district. For the NGOs’ support, poor parents did not have to incur expenses to meet the dowry and other social obligations.

Organisers said while the NRI foundation took care of financial needs, arrangements, including identification and verification of poor families, were done by the local NGO.

“People approach the organisation on their own and after verifying their economic status, we inform them about the day and the venue of the wedding,” said Parminder Singh Walia, one of the local organisers.

When asked if they did not ask for help under the state governemnt’s Shagun Scheme, he said, “We don’t need any support from any political party.” The organiser added that they had invited ADC Upjeet Singh Brar to preside over the ceremony but he did not turn up. “From the next time, we will not be inviting anyone from the administration also.”

Shinder Singh Bhullar, an NRI, informed that all members of his NGO hailed from villages of Bathinda district only and wanted to do something for the poor in this region.

To start a new life, each couple got two beds, five beddings, a fan, a sewing machine, a clock, utensils, clothes, a bicycle and gold-plated jewellery. Bawa Balwinder Singh Maluka of Dera Ram Tilla blessed the couples.

Meanwhile, the local foundation also introduced an air-conditioned ambulance service, which is available to the residents of the state. Charge for the service is the quantum of diesel burnt.

Bathinda, February 14
Following the instructions of district science supervisor Gurdeep Singh, Government High School, Chak Ram Singh Wala conducted an inter-school painting, poetry and speech contests under eco-club activities on Friday.

Students of 11 different schools of Nathana block were invited to the event. Forty-four students of middle, secondary and senior secondary schools and the eco-club members were present on the occasion.

The winners bagged the prizes sponsored by Science and Technology Department, Punjab. Principal Bhucho Kalan Mewa Singh exhorted the students to be future environmentalists.

Headmistress Rajinder Kaur said the school organises eco-club activities to increase environmental awareness among the rural pockets of Punjab. — TNS

Mansa, February 14
Daughter-in-law of Captain Amarinder Singh and wife of Raninder Singh, Reshma, alleged that the Akali-led government had been registering cases against her family members including her husband and father-in-law to stop them from contesting and campaigning for the coming parliamentary elections.

She was addressing a public meeting in Mansa on Saturday. Talking to the media, she said that she was not interested in contesting elections.

When asked about "Nanni Chaan" programme, she said that fight against social evils and conservation of environment was required but it should not be attached to politics. Reshma addressed public meetings at villages Saidewala, Ware, Mandali and Akan Wali. — OC