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Low sex ratio behind girl selling racket in Rajasthan
Pension benefits continue to elude teachers, govt staff
Central varsity to offer education at nominal fee
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GZSCET principal suspended
Farmers protest against water crisis
Breaches worry residents
Barnala DC calls for utilisation of grants
Three nabbed for smuggling cattle
Ex-sarpanch held on corruption charges
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Low sex ratio behind girl selling racket in Rajasthan
Bathinda, June 12 The police, who recovered four girls, found that all of them had been sold in the areas adjoining the town. The girls were recovered by the Bathinda police while one was found by Muktsar police. The couple arrested in this connection from Nar Singh colony in Doomwali reportedly admitted before the police that they had struck a deal for selling five Punjab girls in Laxmangarh. Sandeep Singh, Sangat station house officer, said, "During the interrogation of the recovered girls, the police found that the sex ratio in the area is low and due to this, girls are sold there. The girls were lured with cash for marrying men there." "We have come to know that in Laxmangarh and adjoining areas, a majority of the girls belong to UP and Maharashtra. People told us that it was due to these Punjabi girls that the racket has been exposed, otherwise the practice was going on for a long time," he added. As per the details, after Kamaljeet Kaur, the Sangat police has recovered two more ‘sold’ girls, namely Veer Pal Kaur and Meenu of Mirjeana village. The Muktsar police has also recovered a girl, Pooja, who was also sold to one Balu Ram of Laxmangarh. One Tej Kaur alias Banso of Talwandi Sabo, arrested in this connection, has confessed to having received Rs 25,000 for selling the girls in Laxmangarh. Police sources said that Banso got the girls in connivance with a woman, who ran a beauty parlour adjacent to Banso's house. Sangat police got the medical examination conducted of both Veer Pal Kaur and Meenu. Mukesh and Seeru of Laxmangarh, to whom they were allegedly sold for Rs 1.5 lakh for each, have been booked for rape. When contacted, SP (D) Ajay Maluja said, "Veer Pal and Meenu were sold a month back but returned after spending just a fortnight there. It was Major Singh, the mediator from Doomwali, who took them back to meet their parents, who were unaware about the deal." "The girls told us that they were not married formally. The girls had to work there as bonded labourer," said Maluja. Police is now searching for Mithu Ram of village Udeykaran situated near Muktsar, who allegedly sold Pooja along with one more girl, Rani of Abohar, who is yet to be traced.
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Pension benefits continue to elude teachers, govt staff
Fazilka, June 12 It may be recalled that the employees of all the government aided schools of the state were getting pensionery benefits at par with Punjab government employees up to May 31, 2003. The then Captain Amarinder Singh government had abruptly stopped the pension benefits to hundreds of teachers and employees of these schools, who retired after June 2003. This had caused great resentment amongst the affected teachers and employees, which continues till now. Their number has now swollen to 2000 and unfortunately about 48 of them have passed away. While others facing financial crunch and hardships are trying to sustain themselves with a ray of hope that some day their pension would be restored and they would be treated at par with majority of their colleagues, who had retired by May 31, 2003. ML Chopra, president, Pensioners Cell, Punjab, Gurcharan Singh Chahal, president, Government Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union, Punjab, and Raj Kishore Karla, patron, Shiksha Sudhar Committee, Punjab, have disclosed that an amount of about Rs 140 crore is lying in the government treasury on account of monthly deduction towards pension fund from teacher and employees of the government aided schools. The liability of pension of the superannuating employees and teachers can easily be met with such a hefty amount. But the government has allegedly adopted an indifferent attitude towards this issue. Still no efforts have been made for the payment of pension to the affected employees and teachers. Since the teachers and employees of these government aided schools felt that the government had adopted a tough stance of not releasing pension to them, they took up the matter to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court, while disposing of the petition in its
decision dated September 27, 2005, directed the Punjab government to restore the pension to the affected employees and teachers. However, instead of restoring the pension, the government exercised its option of taking up the matter of Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court. This caused much resentment amongst the affected employees and teachers. Taking notice of the intensified agitation, the outgoing Captain Amarinder Singh government announced to restore the pension in December 2006. However, the model code of conduct for Assembly polls of 2007 came into force before the announcement made by the Captain government could be notified. The Parkash Sigh Badal led government, which came into saddle in February 2007 in its poll manifesto, declared that the pension benefits would be given to all the government aided school teachers and employees. This poll manifesto promise proved to be hollow as even after lapse of more than two years, the Punjab government has not notified
the demands of the employees and teachers, who have retired after May 31, 2003, and all those who are on the verge of retirement in near future. Chopra, Chahal and Kalra has in memorandum sent to Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Upinderjit Kaur, Education Minister of Punjab have reminded them
of their promise made during the poll manifesto and demanded that pensionary benefits should be given to the employees and teachers, who have retired after May 31, 2003.
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Central varsity to offer education at nominal fee
Bathinda, June 12 Post-graduate courses would be started this year and under-graduate courses would begin next year. Ten schools have been short-listed, which would come up at the university. They include School of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Emerging Life Science Technologies, School of Information and Communicative Sciences, School of Design and Planning, School of Global Relations, School of Environment and Earth Studies, School of Social Sciences and Humanities and School of Technology and Management. These schools will have four to eight departments. Up to five schools may be started this year with one or more centres with basic and applied sciences, environmental sciences, technology, social sciences and humanities being a priority. These courses would be flexible and students would be allowed to switch to other courses. The university would have semester system with 100 per cent internal evaluation and continuous assessment. Students would be benefited by grade point system and credit transfer mechanism with the other universities. Students would get to see their evaluated answer sheets and could participate in the teachers assessment programme, the VC said. High level of uranium found in the Malwa belt would be researched at the university. Bathinda, being a polluted region, would also be a priority for higher research for outlining and safeguarding a healthy environment. Effective research facilities would be provided to the faculty. The transit campus of the university is coming up on a 35-acre land located on the Mansa road, 5 km from Bathinda. A spinning mill that was closed eight years ago has been taken on lease where the university would be housed till its own campus on 500 acres comes up at village Ghudda. Green architecture would be the concept while constructing the university campus, the VC said. “We would not regret making windows and corridors as construction would be planned. But for now, the CPWD is trying to put life into a dead building at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore and it would take two months,” Dr Jai Rup added.
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GZSCET principal suspended
Bathinda, June 12 “We ordered his suspension with immediate effect yesterday. H.S. Randhawa, who is the head of the mechanical department in the college, will be replacing Dr Harpal Singh,” she added. According to sources in the college, there were allegations against Dr Harpal Singh for misusing his TA/DA (travelling and dearness allowances) benefits. The sources added that a complaint in this regard was sent to the higher authorities in Chandigarh. The complaint had mentioned that Dr Harpal Singh claimed TA/DA to the tune of Rs 4.5 lakh. He also got for himself as many as 12 awards from various organisations in Delhi by paying a fee of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per award. Dr Harpal Singh claimed the fee so paid from the college funds. Even going to Delhi for receiving the awards and bills for staying there was claimed from the college funds, the complainant alleged. A two-member committee was formed to probe the charges against Dr Harpal Singh and submit its report within seven days. The suspension order was given on the basis of the report tabled by the committee a few days back, sources said. “There were many charges against Dr Harpal Singh and many irregularities had surfaced on the basis of which the government took the decision,” Tejinder Kaur said. Dr Harpal Singh, however, could not be contacted for his version despite repeated attempts.
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Farmers protest against water crisis
Abohar, June 12 The villages are facing a serious water crisis not only for irrigation but for drinking also, they rued. The protesters said only 60 per cent of sowing has so far been done while the scientists in the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) had advised that the task should be finished by May 20. They further alleged that the SAD-BJP alliance government had adopted two-pronged strategy. The masters wanted to teach a lesson to the farmers of Abohar and Balluana assembly segments for not giving a lead to the alliance candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya in the recent Lok Sabha elections, they said. Also the authorities were reportedly under pressure to divert supply of the canal water to KSD sub-canal that feeds agricultural farms owned by the Badal family at village Chak Badal located in the neighbouring area of Rajasthan. The farmers, who shouted anti-government slogans while carrying banners of the Bhartiya Kisan Union resented that the department had been apathetic in removing wild green grass growth from the sub-canals of the region resulting in slow flow of water. They also alleged that theft of water remains unchecked. However, the officials claimed that 50 cases of theft had been detected and action was in the pipe line. The protesters warned that agitation will be launched, if water is not made available to the tail-end villages by Monday.
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Breaches worry residents
Mansa, June 12 Kashmir Singh and Gurbachan Singh, residents of Kushla village, located near the Bhakhra canal, rued that due to the poor upkeep of the canal embankment, breaches have taken place resulting in problems for people. Gursaran Singh, a resident of Makha village, demanded more supply of water from this canal for the people of nearby villages. Ajitinder Singh Mofar, MLA, Sardulgarh, blamed the state government for not carrying out repair work. Though this problem was raised in the Punjab Assembly but the government did not pay any heed to it, he said. According to information available, the responsibility for carrying out the repair work lies with the Haryana and Rajasthan governments. Sources in the canal department said the lining of this canal had been badly damaged due to continuous use. The gates and gears have been installed in the channel work in such a way that it is difficult to operate them. Drains, hollow joints and weak embankments have also add to the woes of the people, they added. According to sources, 90 to 95 per cent share of the funds for repair work was supposed to be released by the Haryana and Rajasthan government. A joint inspection was also undertaken by the officials of Punjab and Haryana in September 2007. Meanwhile, Punjab irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon blamed Haryana and Rajasthan for not releasing funds for the repair work of the canal. Haryana irrigation minister, Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, however, said sufficient funds had been released to the Punjab government. However, when asked to show the utilisation proof, the Punjab government did not do so, Yadav said, adding that Haryana was ready to provide funds to Punjab provided utilisation proof is issued. |
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Barnala DC calls for utilisation of grants
Barnala, June 12 It is pertinent to mention that this was the first meeting of the district officials after the new DC assumed charge. Addressing the district officials, he exhorted them to be honest towards their duty and be dedicated to redress the grievances of the needy and poor people. He further said that all the new schemes of the government and grants should be utilised in a proper manner. Sidhu warned the officials against indulging in corrupt practices. In case of any complaint, strict legal proceedings would be initiated against the accused and no pressure from any quarter will be entertained, he
mentioned. Officials were asked to abide by the directions of the government about the preferences to be given to development schemes. He assured his help and guidance to the officials in case of any difficulty in discharging their duties. Sidhu further sought the cooperation of all for the progress of Barnala district. Harjeet Singh ADC, Balwant Sing ADC (Development), Omkar Singh GA, Amandeep Bansal SDM, Gopal Singh Dardi DPRO Barnala including officials from different departments were present at the meeting. |
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Three nabbed for smuggling cattle
Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 12 Confirming that three persons identified as Baldev Singh, Mangal Singh and Karnail Singh from Rajpura of Punjab have been arrested under various sections of the IPC including 307 and Cow Slaughter Prevention Act of the state, an official spokesman said the culprits allegedly tried to crush ASI Subhash Chander, at a check-post as he signalled them to stop, but he escaped by jumping on the roadside. Some persons had reportedly informed the police that a truck, bearing Haryana registration number, loaded with bullocks from the village 17 SGM and neighbouring areas, was being taken to a butcher. The truck on being chased crashed through six police nakas and allegedly tried to kill the cops on duty. Finally, the chasing party busted its tyre by resorting to firing. Two bullocks were found dead while 14 others including two in semi-unconscious condition were handed over to a Gaushala, sources added. |
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Ex-sarpanch held on corruption charges
Abohar, June 12 As per the information available, village Pattisadiq sarpanch Makhan Singh, known as a SAD loyalist, was placed under suspension during 2006-07 and Khayali Singh, a member, was authorised to officiate. Later, some villagers complained to the state government that Khayali Singh in connivance with panchayat secretary Balwinder Singh had usurped grants worth Rs 12.79 lakh. A senior officer of the Panchayati Raj department conducted an inquiry and recommended the registration of a case against both the accused on June 2. Balwinder Singh could not be arrested, sources added.
— OC |
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