Jalandhar, October 3
Keeping in view the huge rush of dengue and viral fever patients, the Punjab Health Department has provided additional 11 doctors and 30 nurses to the local civil hospital here.

Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Principal Secretary, Health, Satish Chandra, who visited the civil hospital today, have directed the Chief Medical Officer to ensure presence of at least two doctors and an adequate number of nurses round the clock on each floor of the hospital.

Arrangement has also been made to provide additional 150 beds in the local civil hospital. Meanwhile, the Health Department today also announced free treatment for dengue patients in the state. Announcement in this regard was made after the visit of the Health Minister.

Of the 400 confirmed dengue cases, 212 have been reported in Jalandhar, 91 in Ludhiana and remaining in other parts of the state. Beside, the number of viral fever cases is in thousands. The Health Department said the patients admitted to the local civil hospital would not have to pay the file, admission, tests, investigations and platelet transfusion charges. However, they would have to buy the single-use apheresis kit, used for separating platelets from the blood, from the market. The kit costs more than Rs 7,000 and has to be disposed off after use.

Satish Chandra said the CMO had been directed to prepare the case history of viral fever cases and submit the same to the community medicine department of the PGI to sort out the mystery with regard to the viral fever. He said that the PGI would be requested to find that what type of virus was causing the viral fever leading the fall of blood count tremendously even in non-dengue patients.Such virus, whether it is airborne or transmitted through the vector bite, should be immediately isolated, identified and named.

In case, the virus is airborne, then the health department would have to adopt a different strategy to treat such cases. Such cases would have to be kept in isolated wards instead general wards."

Chandigarh, October 3
Three days into the arrival of paddy in state mandis, the stalemate between the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and commission agents is threatening the smooth running of the procurement process in the entire region. According to the latest figures of procurement available with The Tribune, the FCI has not lifted a single grain of paddy so far. The procurement officially started on October 1.

As the FCI has abstained from mandis, other government agencies have increased their procurement in comparison to the corresponding period last year - in a bid to halt the trickle down effect. Initially, the government agencies are working overtime to ensure quick lifting and have surpassed the last year’s procurement figures of the first three days. But how long they will be able to maintain the tempo is anyone’s guess.

What has, however, complicated the issue is the directions of various associations of commission agents in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to their members to boycott the FCI. They have asked all commission agents not to make any sale to the FCI. Last year, the FCI had procured 15,342 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy in the first three days.

President of the state Arhtiyas’ Association Ravinder Singh Cheema has sought immediate intervention of the government to resolve the issue of payment to commission agents, failing which the slowdown in the procurement is bound to affect farmers. Out of the total procurement of 2,06,578 MT till today, over half has been procured by PUNGRAIN alone.

In the absence of the FCI from mandis, the other procurement agencies have more than doubled the procurement they had made during the corresponding period last year. Even though PUNGRAIN has procured more than half of the 2 lakh MT of paddy procured till now.

Other government agencies have increased their procurement. PUNSUP has procured 51,024 MT as compared to 32,778 MT last year. MARKFED that follows next has procured 44,582 MT till today as against 39,517 MT at this time last year. The Ware Housing Corporation has procured 33,788 MT as against 19,388 MT at this time last year.

The highest procurement has so far been recorded in Tarn Taran at 48,344 MT followed by Kapurthala at 31,178, Ferozepur at 29,004 and Jalandhar at 26,361 MT. Districts like Sangrur and Barnala are yet to start the procurement mainly on account of the rift between commission agents and the FCI and also due to the late maturing of paddy there.

Commission agents are demanding that the FCI follows the same procedure for making payments to farmers and commission agents as laid out in the Agriculture Marketing Act. 

Chandigarh, October 3
Increase in the number of visas by the Canadian Government, issued under provincial nominee programme (PNP), provides an opportunity to get permanent residency for them who are not included in the 29-priority occupation list (POL).

While taking to The Tribune here today, Worldwide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS) chairman Col BS Sandhu (retd) said under the PNP, number of visas has been increased by 15 to 20 per cent. “This has opened options for permanent residency for those who do not qualify for the same under new federal rules. The new federal rule has limited 1,000 immigrants per occupation among 29 occupations enlisted in POL. The restriction for this year is 20,000,” he said. He added that the hike in quota became possible as provinces realised that PNP is a good solution to overcome labour problems.

Under the new norms, Alberta province will receive 5,000 immigrants under Alberta Immigrant Nomination Program (AINP). This is a significant increase from 4,200 allocated last year and 2,800 allocated two years ago, he said. Similarly, British Columbia will receive 3,500 immigrants instead of 3,200, Saskatchewan will receive 4,000 immigrants instead of 3,700 and Manitoba will receive 5,000 immigrants instead of 4,600 immigrants. The PNP has brought with it advantages of faster case processing, free education for kids up to grade 13, free medical coverage, unemployment insurance, social welfare allowance etc.

Besides the PNP, aspirants going to Canada have another option i.e. immigration through Arranged Employment Opinion (AEO). “This is fast-track option for PR and its processing time period is just 1-2 years and professionals related to the field of sales and marketing, insurance, construction, manufacturing, warehousing, retail, events and hospitality, transportation sector can avail this opportunity. He said an applicant could settle in Canada as he has a job offer in hand even before arrival. For this, the applicant has to fulfil certain laid down parameters,” he said.

Patiala, October 3
A drainage pipe laid by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) across the road beneath the Patiala’s bus stand flyover, for proper drainage of the rainwater, has been virtually lying defunct for the past around 15 years. The result: The area turns into a virtual pond during the rainy season, severely affecting the flow of traffic on the stretch. All this despite the fact that a sum of around Rs 30 lakh had been spent on the project for the convenience of commuters.

Around 15 years ago, when the bus stand flyover was constructed, the project to lay a big pipe for the disposal of rainwater from the road beneath the flyover was awarded to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB). The project was completed, but it never became fully functional and even now commuters continue to face trouble on account of waterlogging on the road during the monsoon.

The PWSSB laid a 24-inch (diameter) drainage pipe, but it was yet to be connected with the pipe that carries water from the catchment area.

“Whenever it rains, water gets accumulated in this particular area and the road remains waterlogged for almost a week. Instead of rectifying the problem, the Patiala MC has passed the buck to the PWSSB,” said majority of commuters, including bank employee Rajesh Sachdeva and student Jasvir Singh.

The civic authorities have sent letters to the PWSSB asking it to clarify its stand on the matter. Municipal Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang said it was the duty of the PWSSB to make the required connection with catchment area flow. “Without connecting the pipe with the catchment area, there was no need to spend such a huge amount on the project,” he said.

However, PWSSB Superintending Engineer, Patiala, VK Garg said the pipe under question was duly connected with the drainage pipe meant for disposal of rainwater. However, some persons connected a sewage pipe with the drainage pipe, which led to its chocking. He said some shopkeepers had covered the manholes on the road, thus worsening the things. “The non-cleaning of the drainage pipe also became a hurdle in the smooth drainage of rainwater,” he said.

Mohali, October 3
A key scheme of the UPA government is having a tough time in at least parts of Punjab. According to information made available officially to a RTI ( Right to Information) applicant, only a handful of the poor have been given employment under the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guaratee ( MGNREGA) scheme. What is more, they have been employed for 2 to 17 days contrary to the scheme which promises employment for 100 days in a year.

The figures released under the RTI pertain to the Kharar Block of the Mohali district and provide a shocking picture of the last two years. While the Act provides that local Panchayats would pay compensation if they fail to offer employment. But this provision too appears to have been flouted.

The Ministry of Rural Development, the implementing authority, also insists that 50 per cent of the employment must go to women and facilities such as crèches, drinking water and first aid must be made available at work sites. But the provisions are hardly being followed, alleged the RTI applicant, Dr. Jasdeepak Singh. The Act, he pointed out, is also concerned with ensuring payment of minimum wages and proper implementation of the funds by way of banning contractors and use of machines.

There is an urgent need to monitor the working of the scheme at Kharar, he says, where officials mechanically released sums between Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh for improving rural connectivity. Physical verification of the work and fund utilisation remain to be done though.

Information received by him, says Dr Singh, indicate that only 10 beneficiaries from village Baddi were provided employment for 13 days. In Alipur village, six people were given four days of work each while in Bard Majra, ten villagers were employed for 13 days each during 2008-09. There was little improvement the following year either as in 2009-20010, all the beneficaries were given work ranging from 2 to 17 days.

While implementing the scheme, the department preferred to get the same type of work (village roads, out fall drain and culverts) executed during the financial year 2010-2011 in the Kharar block. 

Chandigarh, October 3
The state government today announced district-level empowered committees to inspect and ensure proper implementation of Punjabi language in all offices of the state, including boards, corporations, subordinate courts and all types of educational institutions under the Punjab State Language (amended) Act (PSLA)-2008 and Punjab, Punjabi and learning of other Languages Act-2008 in the state.

Minister for Education and Languages Upinderjit Kaur said committees comprising 13 members had been constituted under Section 8-B of the PLSA to ensure proper implementation of the mother tongue as an official language. "From this year, the state government has decided to provide Rs 500 per meeting as an honorarium to all non-official members of the committees," she added.

The minister said as per the notification issued, the elected representatives of the respective districts have been nominated as chairmen/chairpersons, whereas the DCs would be the vice-chairmen/vice-chairpersons of these committees. "In all districts, the DEOs, DPROs and DAs will be the official members and District Languages Officers (DLOs) will be the conveners of these committees,” she added.

She said the committees had been directed to meet at least once in two months and the term of these would be for one year from the date of its notification. "It will inspect and review the proper use of Punjabi at the district level in all government offices and educational institutions and report back to the state-level empowered committee for further action,” she said. The committees would also inspect tvarious types of schools to ensure teaching of Punjabi up to Class X, as it has been made mandatory under the Punjabi and Learning of other Languages Act-2008. 

Chandigarh, October 3
The Chamar Maha Sabha today urged the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh to clarify his stand on the issue concerning the reservation for the Scheduled Castes, especially Chamars.

In a statement issued here yesterday, sabha president Paramjit Singh Kainth asked Amarinder Singh to come forward and clear his stand over the issue as the matter had become a major issue in the state’s politics and the state government had adopted a negative approach in this regard.

He alleged that the present regime was trying to deny the rights of the SCs because of which, anger had started brewing up in the cadre of the SCs. — TNS

Rodewala Khurd (Indo-Pak Border), October 3
For the farmers of this non-descript village along the Indo-Pak border fence near Attari, life has been an ordeal since the Partition divided their agricultural land into two parts -- one beyond the fence and the other inside it.

Today they get restricted time to till their land on the other side of the fence, causing agricultural losses to them year after year. To farm these lands, they depend on the Border Security Force (BSF) for protection.

Talking to The Tribune, Baldev Singh, a farmer from the village, said, “Ideally the gates of the fence should remain open from 8 am to 5 pm to facilitate proper farming in the remaining part of our land on the other side. However, at times the gate is opened only for two-three hours, which takes a toll on our crop.” Baljeet Singh, panchayat member, alleged that some gates on the fence merely exist on paper. “In our area Gate No.5 is missing while the distance between Gate No.4 and Gate No.6 is around 2 km. Therefore, it takes a lot of time for the farmers whose land lies between these gates to reach their fields.”

To add to their woes, the labour, too, doesn’t come cheap when it comes to work on the fields across the fence. “They charge extra money to work on the other side of the fence. Also, they charge a full day’s wages irrespective of the number of hours for which the BSF keeps the gates open,” they said, adding that a labourer costs them anywhere between Rs 150-200 a day.

Similarly, Gurcharan Singh, a farmer from Mahawa village who owns 10 acres of land across the fence, said they suffered 30 per cent production losses on account of the problems in tilling land across the fence. He also lamented that they could not sow crops of their choice on these lands as only traditional crops like wheat and paddy were allowed by the authorities. “As we don’t get tube well connections across the fence, we want to go in for the crops that need less water instead of water-guzzling crops like paddy, but we can’t do that.”

He said they had received compensation of Rs 2,500 per acre of land across the fence during the previous NDA regime. “We haven’t received a single penny in lieu of losses that we have suffered due to owning land on the border for the last six years.” Jagir Singh, another farmer, said stray animals also wreak havoc on their crop across the border, while they could not take any measures to check it.

The farmers say the premise usually taken by the BSF men to shut the gates early is that they have to perform night duty as well. They feel that the government should ensure adequate manpower along the border so that they can farm their land properly.

On the other hand, BSF IG Himmat Singh said they would look into the problems of the farmers and take necessary measures. When asked about shortage of manpower, he admitted that the BSF men deployed on the border had a lot of duties to perform. 

Ferozepur, October 3
Teri Sikhi, an organisation of Sikhs living in foreign countries, which has been fighting for the cause of making the Dera Baba Nanak and Kartarpur Sahib corridor today extend its thanks to the Punjab Assembly for passing a resolution for the construction of the same.

The organisation has urged the Pakistan Government to make necessary arrangements for passing a similar resolution so that the corridor could be set up without any delay.

Talking to TNS, chairman of Teri Sikhi Jaspal Singh Sandhu said relentless efforts made by the organisation had started bearing fruits. The Punjab Assembly of India had passed a resolution strongly advocating the setting up of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib corridor and would send the same to the Centre. — TNS

Patiala, October 3
The In-Service Doctors Wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab, has said that the only way out to end the ongoing resentment among medical teachers working in the state-run medical colleges is by giving them time-bound promotions.

Association leaders said except the government-run medical colleges of Patiala and Amritsar, the system of time-bound promotions was being followed in all other medical colleges in Punjab and other states under the guidelines of the Medical Council of India.

Medical teachers and PCMS doctors have launched an agitation in protest again the move of the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), to fill vacant posts of medical teachers under the direct quota by the DMER itself.

Chairman of the wing Dr DS Bhullar said as per rules, the meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) should be held twice a year. “But for the past two years, the Department of the DMER, Punjab, has failed to convene the DPC meeting,” he rued.

He said the DMER had created 49 new posts, out of which 31 were to be filled under the promotion quota, but as per the circular dated September 3, 2010, issued by the DMER Punjab, all these posts had been advertised under the direct quota posts.

Seeking intervention of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Dr Bhullar said all vacant posts must be filled from among the medical teachers and PCMS doctors already serving under the state government and had been waiting for promotions since long.

“In case, the system of time-bound promotions is implemented, there will be no need for the DPC meetings. We appeal to the CM to give a personal hearing to the agitating medical teachers at the earliest to settle the issue,” said Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association president Dr JPS Walia.

Jagraon, October 3
If revelations made by doctors arrested for duping a family of this town on the pretext of getting its son admitted to a private medical institute in Jammu are to be believed, the rich do not hesitate in risking their money for the sake of the future of their wards.

Though a large number of families are duped every year, swindlers go off scot-free as the police is informed only after all channels for the recovery of duped money are exploited. In case, any of the victims starts pursuing the case, swindlers enter into compromise with him and the police is not informed about the compromise.

Dr Gobardhan Dass of Zeera, his son Pankaj, and their two accomplices, Dr Neeraj Sahni of Delhi and Dr Pankaj Kumar, who had been booked for allegedly duping Dr PK Maini of this town on the pretext of getting his son Sumit admitted to some medical institute two months ago, confessed having duped many persons in the same way.

Swindlers fished their targets through advertisements and to hide their identity, they used cellphone connections procured on the basis of fake identities. Instead of calling their clients to their offices, they reached the target themselves.

Based on the inquiry conducted by Rachhpal Singh Dhindsa, in charge (CIA), the police has arrested Dr Gobardhan and his son Pankaj.

Seeking admission for his son to MD, Dr Maini had contacted Dr Gobardhan in response to an advertisement in a vernacular daily. Keeping his identity concealed, the advertiser had assured admission to any of the prestigious medical colleges of the country at a reasonable fee under the management quota.

Dr Gobardhan allegedly settled the deal for Rs 40 lakh and received Rs 10 lakh as an initial payment from him. After shuttling from one institute to the other in Jammu, Dr Gobardhan showed inability and introduced Dr Maini to Dr Sahni and Dr Pankaj. Another deal to get admission to some institute of Bangalore was settled and the balance payments were made at various occasions. The complainant was made to visit various colleges of South. However, he got suspicious when the suspects stopped responding to his phone calls. Realising that he had been duped, Maini approached the Ludhiana SSP (Rural) and sought action against the suspects.

Investigations revealed that Dr Neeraj Sahni had entered into compromise with the complainant and got anticipatory bail. However, he will join investigations to be conducted by the police.