Bathinda, July 28
The Indian Railways move to help cancer patients by way of 100 per cent concession in base fare has started prompting more and more patients of cancer-hit Malwa belt to avail of the facility, besides providing a big relief to them.

At present, the Indian Railways provides 100 per cent concession to cancer patients in base fare in 3-AC and sleeper class while travelling for treatment. There is, however, no concession in premium charges like reservation charge and super-fast charge.

The escort or attendant of a patient is eligible for 75 per cent concession in base fare.

The facility was announced in the last rail budget. Earlier, cancer patients and their escorts were eligible for 75 per cent concession in the fare.

Bathinda Area Traffic Manager (ATM) Sher Singh said more and more patients have now started availing of the facility. “That was not the case some six to seven months ago when 100 per cent concession was not given,” he added.

Nowadays, on an average, nearly three to four patients apply for concession at Bathinda station daily to travel in reserve coaches. “The reservation counters at Bathinda station receive around 125 such applications each month,” the ATM said, adding that while some six months back, the figure used to be near about 25 to 30 per month.

Sources in Railways said the figure did not include the passengers who travel in unreserved class after availing of the concession. “If both the figures are combined, the number of cancer patients boarding trains at Bathinda station having concessional-tickets would be much higher,” the sources said.

The sources said apart from 100 per cent concession, awareness about such facility had also increased prompting the patients and their family members to avail of the same. Even illiterates and people from remote areas of this belt had started asking for the facility, the sources said.

As far as other facilities for cancer patients are concerned, the Railways has made a provision to provide lower berth to them. Waitlist tickets issued to a cancer patient automatically get confirmed under the Headquarter Quota, provided there is a vacancy in the quota.

It is not necessary that the patient himself has to buy the ticket. His attendant or escort can buy the ticket for him on his behalf. In absence of an escort, a patient could directly contact chief reservation supervisor and other official concerned, in case he needs assistance.

Bathinda, July 28
To facilitate the income tax assessees, the authorities of Income Tax Department have opened five special counters here to receive their income tax (IT) returns. These counters will function till 8 pm on July 31, the last day of submitting IT returns by individuals/Hindu undivided families (HUFs) and non-audit cases.

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Bathinda, Raj Kumar said here today the assessees could also file IT returns online on the department’s website www.incometaxindia.gov.in. He said before submitting their IT returns, the assessees should ensure that they have duly paid the self-assessment tax.

He also appealed to the assessees not to wait for the last date (July 31) to file the returns so as to avoid rush on the day.

The income tax authorities have exhorted the assessees to use the right income tax return (ITR) forms applicable to them.

The Bathinda range of Income Tax Department covers Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Mansa and Faridkot districts. There are about 1.75 lakh income tax assessees in the Bathinda range.

During last year, a sum of Rs 300 crore (including TDS) was collected by the Income Tax Department in the Bathinda range.

Bathinda, July 28
During the ongoing ‘Mission Earth’ week, students of the Millennium School, Bathinda, vowed to “Lets go green to get our globe clean.’ To mark the occasion, an inter-house environment conundrum was also held.

Students became walking posters and gave the message to everyone around that ‘Do not just sit back and watch the world die.’

Principal Beena Rao, faculty members and students promised to contribute for a clean and green Bathinda.

To promote the use of cotton, a T-shirt design contest on theme of ‘My Cotton World’ was held in the school in coordination with Cotton Council International.

Bathinda, July 28
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, has issued guidelines to all deputy commissioners (DCs) of the state to implement the scheme “Modernisation of villages that have more than 50 per cent of scheduled caste (SC) population”. Besides modernisation, the basic facilities in these villages will also be improved.

It is learnt that under the scheme, the DCs have been asked to get the following works done: Installation of hand pumps; construction of pucca streets, drains and phirneys (circular road); and installation of solar lights in the streets.

The government has fixed an amount of Rs 5 lakh for every village to convert ‘kuchha’ streets, drains and phirneys into concrete ones and for disposal of dirty water from the village. While Rs 1.30 lakh has been earmarked for installation of solar lights in the village, Rs 15,000 will be spent on the installation of hand pumps.

Under the scheme, the government has kept funds in the SC Special Component.

In light of this, the government has directed the DCs to get these works done in the areas of the villages where the SC population reside.

The selection of the villages will be done by the DCs in their respective districts. However, these works will be got done in phases keeping in view the availability of funds. The village Panchayats will be made executive agencies for getting the works done.

Bathinda, July 28
The Additional Deputy Commissioner Upjeet Singh Brar today distributed appointment letters to six students, who are in the final year of mechanical engineering course, of the Government Polytechnic College, Bathinda.

On the occasion, principal of the college Yadvinder Singh said these students had been selected by the Maruti-Suzuki India Limited, Gurgaon, during a campus placement programme.

The company has offered them an annual pay package of Rs 1.6 lakh. The selected students would be joining their duties on August 18.

It may be noted that as many as 59 students of the college have got appointment letters during this year. — TNS

Bathinda, July 28
If your salad plate does not consist of pieces of red tomatoes nowadays, don’t frown on your wife! She is not at fault. In fact, your favourite red tomatoes are too hot these days and buying it simply means a big dent in her monthly food budget.

Not only tomatoes, all the green vegetables without which you cannot think of lunch or dinner are capable of making a big hole in your pocket.

Sounds exaggerated! Check it: Peas: Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg; cauliflower: Rs 60 per kg, tomatoes: Rs 40 per kg. There is no vegetable which is less than Rs 30 per kg, except brinjal which you bring home at Rs 20 per kg.

On the one hand, heavy rains destroyed vegetables in many fields while on the other, floods caused transportation of goods to markets impossible thereby making a gap in demand-supply. Resultantly, prices of vegetables are shooting northwards.

“Production has been affected by the rains and supply is also not adequate,” said Kamaljeet Singh of Indra Market, Gol Diggi here, while citing reasons for sky-rocketing prices of vegetables.

“We are buying tomatoes, peas and other vegetables from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh as local suppliers have been failing to supply the same,” said another vegetable seller at the Indra Market.

The prices of almost all the vegetables are hovering around Rs 35-40 per kg from the last seven or more days. The fluctuations have not been more than Rs 5 in any item and noticeable price fluctuation has not been seen during the period.

Not only housewives, but the vegetable sellers are also bearing the brunt. “Sale has been considerably affected as most of the buyers nowadays prefer to buy in grams. Kilogram seldom figures in buyers’ jargon,” rued a vegetable seller at the Rose Garden. Other vendors echoed a similar sentiment.

Bathinda, July 28
In a representation, the General Samaj Party has urged the Bathinda SSP that the local police should not register cases against anyone without carrying out proper investigation.

The leaders of the party alleged that due to this, several times innocent persons had faced harassment in the past. They also asked the SSP to pay special attention in this direction so that innocent person do not have to face harassment in future. — TNS 

Ferozepur, July 28
The state irrigation department authorities have decided to issue charge-sheets to two junior engineers and to call explanation from an official of the rank of sub-divisional engineer (SDE) for their alleged negligence in maintaining the level of water in the Sirhind feeder canal and hence, endangering its banks on July 20.

Baljeet Singh Sandhu, superintendent engineer (SE), irrigation, Ferozepur, said the charge-sheets would be issued to Gurdeep Singh and Harcharan Singh (junior engineers). He said action against these officials had been initiated after they were found negligent in performing their duties as per the established norms in an inquiry conducted by a team led by RK Garg, executive engineer, Rajasthan feeder canal division.

A major mishap was averted on July 20 when timely intervention by officials of the irrigation department managed to stop the overflowing and subsequent breaching of the Sirhind feeder canal and hence, saving a major part of the Malwa region of Punjab from floods.

Sriganganagar, July 28
A farmer hailing from the Jat Sikh community was allegedly kidnapped and killed by his son, brother, a nephew and others for having relationship with a woman of the Scheduled Caste community.

The police have arrested three accused and got remand for interrogation till August 2, Mahabir Prasad, SHO at Mateelirathan, confirmed today. More arrests were expected soon in this honour killing case, the police said.

As per details provided by the police, Gurcharan Singh of village Chak 18-Z was kidnapped in a jeep and beaten to death last Friday. His body was found on Saturday outside village Chak 22-GB that falls under the jurisdiction of Srivijaynagar police station. The jeep that was used for kidnapping the farmer had been abandoned near the body.

Preliminary investigation reportedly indicated that Gurcharan Singh had deserted his wife, two sons and daughter and started living with a woman (Jasbir Kaur), who belonged to a scheduled caste. 

Fazilka, July 28
The BSF have nabbed a person roaming in suspicious circumstance near the barbed wire fencing. As per the details, the BSF jawans noticed the person near the barbed wire fencing in the area of village Gulaba Bhaini of Fazilka sector.

The jawans have handed him over to the Sadar Police, Fazilka.

He is reported to be mentally retarded and dumb. Nothing has been recovered from his possession. He was medically examined at the local civil hospital.