Bathinda, October 15
The functioning of the Red Cross Integrated Treatment-cum-Rehabilitation Centre for drug addicts, situated on the Goniana road here, has been affected adversely on account of the failure of the Central Government to release the required funds.

The funds, amounting to Rs 8.45 lakh, were to be released by the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment during the current financial year.

As the Ministry has failed to release the grant since April this year, it has not been possible to provide 70 and 50 per cent cost respectively of the medicines provided, respectively of the total cost.

Though the Ministry sanctions an amount of Rs 72,000 per annum to the centre for the medicines but as no money has been deposited in the Centre's accounts for the past six months, medicines have not been purchased. So the patients now have to purchase medicines from their own pockets.

Besides, the entire staff of the Centre has also been waiting for their salaries for the last six months (from April to September 2011).

As it is the festival season, especially with Diwali round the corner, it has become more difficult for the staff members to make both ends meet when they have not been getting their salaries for the last six months.

The staff members, who have been awaiting their salaries so far include the project director, doctor (part-time), accountant (part-time), counsellor, social worker, staff nurse and the safai sewak.

As far as providing food to the indoor patients is concerned, the Ministry has made a provision just to provide the food to the members of below poverty line (BPL) families at the Centre. But no addict from a BPL card holding family has been admitted to the Centre so far, according to official information.

However, the food at the centre is prepared by the attendants of the patients, for which material is provided by the donors, which costs approximately to the tune of Rs 5,000 per month.

Project director Baljinder Singh said though the centre was being run by the District Red Cross Society, 90 per cent funds were being provided by the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment and 10 per cent by the Red Cross Society.

Since April 2011, as many as 152 patients had been admitted to the centre for treatment for a period of 15 to 20 days. However, in the first week of October, there were 13 patients. But due to Diwali, had got themselves discharged to celebrate the festival with their families, he added.

The case for the release of the grant (Rs 8.45 lakh) was sent by the District Red Cross Society to the Social Security Department, Punjab, in the last week of June this year.

The department forwarded it to the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment, but the funds have not been forthcoming.

The secretary of the District Red Cross Society JR Goyal said that according to information available, the grant was likely to be released soon by the Ministry. However, he could not specify the time-frame. 

Bathinda, October 15
Under the presidentship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Dr Abhinav Trikha, the meetings of district-level advisory committees of various departments, including health, revenue, irrigation, cooperation, public health and social welfare, were held here.

Members of the various committees and officers of the departments concerned participated in these meetings.

At these meetings the members expressed their views to improve the functioning of the departments and get the grievances of the people redressed. The officers concerned heard their views and assured the members that the same would be implemented in letter and spirit.

In the meeting of the Health Department, District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa gave information about the spread of dengue fever in the city and also appealed to the members to make the people aware about the preventive measures.

Dr Randhawa said the symptoms of the dengue fever and other viral fevers were almost same.

The DHO said people should not create panic, if they had fever, rather they should go for Mac Elisa test, which was a confirmatory test and was being done free of cost at the Civil Hospital here.

He also informed the members that the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, and the Health Department had jointly formed teams for door to-door survey and detection of the larva causing dengue, besides spraying requisite medicine.

Dr Trikha assured the members that the progress reports of the works would be tabled at the next meetings of these committees.

Bathinda, October 15
As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the work for the revision of electoral rolls in Bathinda (Urban) and Bathinda (Rural) Assembly constituencies is in progress nowadays. All booth level officers (BLOs) will receive claims and objections from people on October 16 from 9 am to 5 pm at their respective polling booths.

Giving this information here, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Dr Abhinav Trikha and Bathinda SDM Sandip Rishi said those who would be 18 years or above on January 1 next year could present their claims on Form No. 6 before the BLOs along with requisite documents in order to get their votes prepared.

In case of deletion of vote, objection could be filed on Form No. 7 and in case of correction, the objection could be filed on Form No. 8. However, Form No 6-A was mandatory for non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Dr Trikha also held a meeting with the heads of the schools and colleges. He appealed to them to make efforts for enrolling maximum number of youths as voters.

SDM Sandip Rishi said as many as 196 polling booths had been set up in the Bathinda (Urban) Assembly constituency. Besides, a complaint cell had also been set up in his office. He said an employee had also been deputed at the complaint cell for recording the complaints. He would also receive complaints on telephone number 0164-2212525 for the convenience of the general public, the SDM added.

Bathinda, October 15
Karva Chauth was celebrated with enthusiasm around the city today.

Women from all walks of lie observed a fast, praying for the long life of their husbands.

Newly-married and engaged women were seen more excited today. Some of the women, who are staying away from their husbands, either spoke over the phone before ending their fast or talked to them through the Internet telephony.

Mehendi makers did a brisk business today too, taking advantage of the last minute shoppers, especially the working women. Similarly, bangle sellers and sellers of artificial jewellery had a busy time. In the evening, many women performed prayers together.

The last minute shoppers choked the Dhobi Bazaar, which witnessed an unprecedented rush. To accommodate the growing rush, many sweetmeat makers have put up extended stalls outside their shops. At the time of the festivities and the crowd, the need for adequate number of traffic cops was felt.

The moon failed to keep its date with women on time. As per the meteorological department, the moon was supposed to be seen by 7:51 pm. However, owing to the clouds of dust and the pollution, the moon could not be seen in the city before 8:15 pm.

Women were seen in groups in the parks in various localities of the city, playing tambola. In the evening, many of them broke their fasts together, with an elegant Karva Chauth platter after witnessing the moon through the traditional sieve.

Long queues were seen outside the ATMs and it soon ran short of cash. essential items like milk too were reported to be in short supply due to the festival rush.

Crowds were seen at the malls in the city and restaurants and eating joints did a brisk business as did the cinema halls in the city.

The Karva Chauth this time also coincided with the weekend and it added to the festive fervour in the city, acting as a trailer for the main blockbuster, that is Diwali. 

Bathinda, October 15
A literary extravaganza—the 33rd Prof Mohan Singh Mela— which was to begin here from October 18, has been postponed.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Youth Club Organization, Punjab, and the Prof Mohan Singh Mela Committee, convened here today.

In a press statement issued here today, the president of the organizing committee, Jasvir Singh Grewal said the event has been postponed owing to the death of Gurdev Singh Jassowal, the brother of the patron of Prof Mohan Singh Memorial Society, Jagdev Singh Jassowal.

The Mela was to be held from October 18 to 20 in memory of Prof Mohan Singh. A final date is yet to be decided. The organizers had said that the Prof Mohan Singh award would be given to Jaswant Singh Kanwal, Sant Baba Sucha Singh Gurmat award to Giani Pinder Pal Singh,

Tarlochan Singh Riyasati Memorial Environemt award to Baba Balvir Singh Seechewal, Singh Sahib Mann Singh Jhaur award to Giani Sahib Singh Shabad Markanda and Bapu Kartar Singh Jassowal award to Baba Budh Singh Dhahan Kaleran.

Similarly, the Kavishar Karnail Singh Paras award was to be given to Dhadhi Sandeep Singh Rupaloz, Balwant Gargi NRI Punjabi literature award to Shiv Charan Jaggi Kussa, dramatist Gursharan Singh award to Dr Satish Kumar Verma, Didar Singh Sandhu award to Raj Kakra, Lal Chand Yamla Jatt award to Hakam Sufi, Inderjit Hasanpuri award to Mangal Hathoor, Sant Ram Udasi award to Tarlochan Lochi, Gurnam Singh Teer award to Saroop Parinda, Prof Karam Singh Folk Art award to Avninder Singh Grewal and Balraj Sahin Punjabi Film award to Satish Kaul.

Bathinda October 15
Winters are just round the corner and the quilt makers in the city are happy about it as they are doing a roaring business.

On the road near the Fort, one finds several quilt makers busy tightening frames and stitching quilts, pillows and mattresses.

A quilt maker Vinod Naik said he and his over hundred associates, all from Rajasthan, do brisk business every winter. They have set up six indigenous ginning machines to process raw cotton and five frames for sewing quilts as well as mattresses near the Dhobi Ghat area.

Naik said, “We get orders from the city and surrounding villages throughout the year. However, demand increases manifolds during these three-four months and earnings thereof help us meet our future needs.”

As the months from October till May witness maximum marriages and festivals in the region, the demand for quilts, mattresses and pillows also shoots northward.

“Generally, villagers demand these items in bulk such as 20-25 quilts and mattresses, as there is a trend of making new beddings in Punjabi marriages. There are times when we make even 30-40 quilts and pillows and four-five mattresses in a day,” said Naik.

Another quilt maker on the Fort road Rajinder says, “Winter is undoubtedly the right time for people like us, who are totally dependent on quilt business.”

About the preference of customers, Rajinder said, “It depends. For household purpose, people stress on good quality of cotton whereas hoteliers always go for quilts made of low quality cotton.”

The season turns equally lucrative for big traders of winter products. They claim that customers these days prefer readymade products to handmade items.

Bharat Bhushan, owner of the Bharat Handloom, Dhobi Bazaar said, “The time is changing as people go for readymade fibre quilts rather than the handmade cotton ones. They are ready to spend anything but do not compromise on quality.”

The best part of quilts made of fibre is that they are lighter and in turn, easy to carry. In addition, they are cosier and can be easily washed at home, which suits customers. The aesthetics is another reason for the rise in demand of fibrous quilts.

Pawan Sharma, a salesman at the Hast Kala Kendra, Dhobi Bazaar, said, “We attend to a huge number of customers of quilts during these days. We deal with both fibre and cotton quilts. However, those made of cotton seem to be outdated as there is more demand for ones made of fibre even as they are costlier.”

While indigenous cotton and fibre or synthetic cotton is priced at Rs 130 per kg, cashmilon is available for Rs 50-60 per kg

For hand-made cotton quilts, makers buy cotton from the local grain market while synthetic stuff is purchased from local distributors, who bring it from Ludhiana.

The ones made of synthetic cotton contain 2 kg of cotton and a quilt made of indigenous cotton needs 4 kg of material.

A hand-made quilt costs up to Rs 800. The price range for readymade fibre quilts begins from Rs 2,000 and goes up to Rs 5,000.

Fibre quilts are chiefly manufactured by the Reliance Company. Other brands of fibre quilts available in the city markets are Weaves and Tilts. 

Bathinda, October 15
While the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) is trying its best to complete the renovation of the Sports Stadium to host the kabaddi matches within the next 15 days, players of judo, boxing and shooting have been at the receiving end for the last six months.

The indoor stadium for judo and boxing has been converted into a store room, where the newly purchased sports material, to be distributed for gymnasiums in the villages, is dumped. Also, the doors of the shooting range have remained closed for many months past and nobody is aware exactly who has the keys.

Also, the employees of the District Sports Office (DSO), including the DSO himself, have been told to operate from the 'store' where the sports material has been dumped.

A visit to the rear of the stadium that is under renovation -where an indoor stadium and shooting range are situated-portrays a picture of neglect but the authorities are busy giving a face-lift to the front portion only.

Sportspersons and coaches practising at the stadium said they have requested the authorities many times to provide them with an alternative place to practice but to no avail.

"The initiative taken to renovate the stadium is good but the government should have adopted a pro-active approach by providing us with space for judo, boxing and shooting as well," said Barinder, a local resident.

While the government began the construction of the sports stadium in a hurry, for the Kabaddi World Cup, it failed to take care of the sportspersons practising here for a long time.

A nephew of Barinder, a judo player- who has been practising in the stadium for the last few years, said they had been facing problems after the indoor judo stadium was converted into a store room. "While the judokas have to take mattresses outside everyday, boxers keep searching for other places in the city to practice," Barinder said.

A boxing coach at the stadium, pleading anonymity, said the government has nothing to do with other games except Kabaddi, as it will help it in getting publicity before the next Vidhan Sabha elections.

"I have not seen the doors of the indoor shooting range open for many months. People mock at the plaque, besides the closed doors of the shooting range which eulogize Member of Parliament from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur, for granting Rs 7 lakhs from the MPLAD funds for the shooting range," said a former boxer.

He added that the authorities have been visiting the stadium everyday and never try to take a round of the stadium or enquire into the alternative arrangements made for other games.

Officials of the BDA present at the stadium today said that nearly Rs 7.5 crores have been spent on the construction of the stadium which is likely to be completed within the next 15 days.

Everything is complete except for the floodlights, fixing of chairs and some other work which is on at war footing. "The government is keen to get the work done so that Kabaddi World Cup can be organised before the Vidha Sabha elections," said an official, pleading anonymity.

District Sports Officer, Karam Singh Sidhu, admitting to the problems being faced by the sportspersons and his staff, who are operating from the place where a large number of sports equipment have been stored for the last six months, said the problem may end once the construction of the stadium is over.

The DSO admitted that the shooting range has been locked for a long time and his office or the judokas could have been shifted there, but mismanagement rules the roost, he said. 

Bathinda October 15
For the next fortnight, till October 30, the stadium of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) will come alive as the players of the Indian kabaddi team arrived here yesterday to attend the fitness camp.

The camp has been organised to make the players fit for the World Cup Kabaddi-2011, slated to begin on November 1.

There are 31 players who have been selected for the camp after conducting the fitness and the doping tests.

It is worth mentioning that out of the 51 samples of the players collected for the doping tests, 19 were found to be positive. Those players have been suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Therefore, only 31 players are to attend the fitness camp.

Out of these 31 aspirants, 14 would be selected to form the Indian kabaddi team for the coming World Cup.

All the players are new except for five, including Mangat Singh from Jalandhar, who was the captain of the World Cup team in 2010. International player Sukhbir Srava of Faridkot, Bittu Duggal of Sangrur, Gulzari from Moonak and Hardevinder Dulla of Kapurthala are among those who also played last year.

The chief coach of the team, Harpreet Baba said, "The other old players could not mark their presence in the World Cup because some of them have minor injuries and were found to be unfit for the tournament. Also, some players are not playing as they are busy with their jobs." Baba and coach Balbir Bittu will train the players for the tournament.

Last year, when the Punjab Government organised the Kabaddi World Cup, the Indian team constituted mostly of players from Punjab. The team beat Pakistan in the final. This time too, only two players are from Haryana. The rest are from Punjab. Hence, the 2011 team will again see the dominance of Punjabi boys.

Bathinda, October 15
Students of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Bathinda cantonment, have bagged laurels at the national KV schools' athletics meet held in New Delhi.

Principal Dr Ashok Upadhyay appreciated the efforts of PT teachers who had trained the players.

A felicitation ceremony was held at the school today wherein winners of various events were honoured. Charvi won the gold medal in the under-14 category for 80-metre hurdles race. She also won the top medals in 400 metre race and 4x100 metre relay race. However, she had to settle with silver in 200-metre race.

In the triple jump U-19 category, Rajbir Kaur won the bronze medal while Garima picked a bronze in the 5,000 metre race U-17 category. Manju won a silver in 4x400 m relay race in the U-19 category. She also participated in 400-metre hurdle race, 100-metre hurdle race and long jump.

In the U-17 category, Mandeep Kaur participated in discus throw and Vandana participated in 400 m race. In U-19 category, Veena Kumari participated in kho-kho and 4x100 metre relay race. Ashish Kumar participated in the athletics U-17 category.

Bathinda, October 15
A labourer was electrocuted when he came in contact with live wires while working in the house of a farmer at Gehri Buttar village today.

The deceased has been identified as Raju who had been working as a labourer for sometime. Villagers said Raju died on the spot as he came in contact with the high voltage wires. His body was brought to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination and was later handed over to the family members.

Inquest proceedings have been initiated in this regard at the Sangat police station.