 |
|
|
MNREGA: Operating at snail’s pace due to staff crunch
Some councillors call them problem, some saviour
Gang of looters busted, 7 held
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Special schoolchildren hold exhibition of Diwali gift items prepared by them
KMV to hold conference on women empowerment
Military Police celebrates raising day
28 city players to participate in Akshay Kumar karate championship
|
|
MNREGA: Operating at snail’s pace due to staff crunch
Jalandhar, October 18 Jalandhar has a meagre strength of 76 MNREGA employees, including a handful of gram rozgar sevaks (GRS) to run the scheme, which in turn has been acting as a major roadblock. While the sanctioned strength of the gram rozgar sevaks at the panchayat level, according to the MNREGA, 2005, is 901, as the district has 901 panchayats. But, the show has been running with just 47 gram rozgar sevaks rsulting in undue harassment of the workers at the sites. It is probably due to this reason that a low number of approximately 33,000 MNREGA job cards could be made till date. Among the employees who have been running the scheme in the district are IT managers, additional programme officers, IT/computer assistants, technical assistants, gram rozgar sevaks, accountants and data entry operators. According to members of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) Contract Government Employees Union, the scheme has failed to take off in the district and the state owing to lackadaisical attitude of the state government. “The clause 18 of the section 1 of chapter 4 of MNREGA Act, 2005, states that the necessary staff and technical support for effective implementation of the scheme is the sole responsibility of the state government. But, the government has been shunning its responsibility quoting that this was a Centre-sponsored scheme and the onus falls on the latter,” said a union member. Sumit Mohan, an IT assistant in the district, said the rozgar sevaks are the backbone of the scheme as they were required to supervise the work of the MNREGA workers at the village levels. “A majority of the MNREGA works in the district, including rural connectivity, renovation of ponds, cleaning of drains and land development works, have been badly
affected due to the absence of the gram rozgar sevaks, but the state government is least bothered,”Sumit Mohan , an It Assistant in the district, added. Employees of MNREGA highlighted that the Jalandhar (West) block, which falls in the Union members handed over a memorandum to the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Jairam Ramesh, stating the flaws in the implementation of the scheme and their demands. “It sounds like a joke that a MNREGA labourer gets Rs 153 per day, while we are being paid Rs 133 per day,” they added. “Earlier we brought
our problems to the
notice of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and the Punjab Financial Commissioner, but that ended up passing the buck to the Union Government,” union members added. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Sarojini Gautam Sharda was not available for
comments, as she is
away on a long leave to
the USA. Demands of the MNREGA employees
n Six per cent contingency provision n
Separate salary head for MNREGA employees at the state level n
Salaries according to a set pay scale n
Implementation of a service rule book n
House rent, travel, dearness, medical and mobile phone allowances n
Infrastructure at state, district, block and gram panchayat level n Increase in salaries according to the inflation rate settled according to the price of index discordant note
The memorandum has quoted the statement of Dy CM Sukhbir Badal, which reads: “MNREGA scheme is a wholly centrally sponsored scheme and there is no participation of the state government in it. However, we will recommend the case to the Advocate General, Punjab”. Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura said, “MNREGA scheme failed in the state because the Centre is not giving the required funds to the state. We are unable to regularise the services of the MNREGA employees working under the scheme.” |
|
Some councillors call them problem, some saviour
Jalandhar, October 18 Councillors, led by Deputy Mayor Parvesh Tangri, had come up with a peculiar problem in this regard in the recently concluded MC House meeting. He had said the machines had become more of a problem with them. His logic was, “The fogging staff reaches our home asking for motorcycles for rounds to be done in their wards. Since we have to use our petrol for the job, we need to be compensated for the same.” A SAD leader, Tangri, said, “Two men with two machines come on a single vehicle. They then ask us to provide them another vehicle so that they are able to quickly cover the ward. Other councillors drive for them through the streets, but I being a Deputy Mayor cannot do that. I need to provide them two men and two vehicles, which sometimes becomes difficult.” Congress councillor Dinesh Dhall too agrees that a bike and a driver had to be provided, but claims that the fogging is effective only in case the machines are taken along on foot. Akali councillor Gurdeep Singh Nagra, however, differs. He laughed as he said, “There is no binding on us to take the fogging staff around on bikes. It is for our interest as we tend to show to the public that it is the councillor who is getting the service done for them. So, we need not mind the expense. Anyways, we need to do it just for a few days in two months’ time.” The five machines of the sort, priced at Rs 63,000 each, had been imported from Germany this year. The machines have been
found to be quite effective in old city areas,
including Pucca Bagh, Atari Bazaar, Rasta Mohalla, Meena Bazaar, Sheikhan Bazaar, where it is not possible to take vehicle-mounted machines. SAD councillor Kuldip Singh Oberoi said,
“The entire area of
my ward number 29
falls in the old, congested city, so the machine
has come as a boon for
me. Last year as many
as 40 residents from
just one street of my ward had become victim of dengue.” He is even convinced with the economics worked out with the shoulder-mounted machine.
He adds, “Every round
of the vehicle-mounted fogging machine consumes 200 litres of
fuel. On the contrary,
we need just 5 litres
of diesel for the shoulder-mounted machine in
one round as the powder
is to be mixed with
diesel for the purpose.” Mayor Rakesh Rathour had asked Assistant
Commissioner Ved
Vyas to look into the
matter and do anything if needful. New machines
The MC has also imported five new vehicle-mounted fogging machines of Pulse Fog brand. The machines are unique as, during the process, mist is also released, which forces the fogged gas to settle down for a longer period and make it more effective. The cost of each machine is Rs 7,02,900. The office has also purchased five new vehicles for mounting the machines for Rs 16 lakh. The total purchase for fogging machinery comes to Rs 54 lakh this year, including the cost of shoulder-mounted machines.
|
|
Gang of looters busted, 7 held
Nakodar, October 18 The police has also recovered four country-made pistols, 10 live cartridges, two sharp-edged iron weapons (datar), an iron rod, a motorcycle, four television sets, four gas cylinders, two home theatre systems, Rs 20,000, 10 mobile phones and a juicer from their possession. Acting on a tip-off, inspector Surinder Pal Singh, sub-inspector Shiv Kumar along with police personnel raided a brick-kiln near Sareeh village in Nakodar and arrested the accused. The accused have been identified as Satpal Singh, alias Satta, Shinderpal, alias Laden, both residents of Adramaan village in Mehatpur, Baljit Singh, alias Bitti, of Sanghowal village in Mehatpur, Vindo Kumar, alias Billo, Charanjit Singh, alias Laadu, both of Mohalla Rehmanpura in Nakodar, Som Raj of Varya Dona village in Kapurthala and Amit Kumar, alias Ravi, of Udham Singh Nagar in Nakodar. During interrogation, the gang members confessed to have committed around 40 incidents of crime, including looting and snatchings, at gunpoint in the Kapurthala district, said inspector Surinderpal. He said the accused had also confessed that they had looted 20 mobile phones and Rs 20,000 from a mobile seller near Ladhra village in the first week of October. In the same period, the accused snatched Rs 70,000 from a Uttar Pradesh-based merchant after injuring him. The police said the accused were planning to loot petrol pumps in the nearby areas. A case has been registered. |
|
Special schoolchildren hold exhibition of Diwali gift items prepared by them
Jalandhar, October 18 The occasion was the first-ever exhibition of Diwali items organised by the special students of Udaan Special School in the city here today. Udaan is a school for slow learners, autistic children, mentally challenged, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome patients. The three-day-long exhibition will conclude on October 20. Students displayed their creativity in designer earthen lamps, Diwali gift packings, traditional shagun envelops, greeting cards, artificial flowers and special set of Diwali earthen lamps. Such was their enthusiasm that right from the beginning of the exhibition the students kept talking in some hard to decipher words about their efforts in making the Diwali gifts. And many of them also came in holiday mood, all dressed up in colourful attires on the occasion. Rajni, a special child, who is residing in the Pushpa Gujral Nari Niketan Trust, spoke in some half-broken words and said Diwali was her favourite festival, “I made Diwali lamps, coloured them and added sparkles in the wax to make them beautiful. Our teachers also worked with us.” Another student, Taranpal Singh, a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy patient, responded to the appreciation he received through his round eyes and big smile. He made special paintings with messages like “Happy Diwali” and “Be Happy”. Owner of the school, Meenu Shahi, who is also a special educator, said, “To begin with we have informed our own friends to buy Diwali gifts from our school. As there is a week to go for Diwali, we are ready to take orders from various corporate houses, institutions and families who wish to gift these items made by the special children to their friends or relatives. This is a small initiative and these students need motivation and blessings to move ahead in life.” The students, all in the age group of five to 30 years, started making these Diwali gifts around a month back. “They take extra time in completing a job but accomplish it patiently. In fact some of them even made similar Diwali items for their houses,” she said. She said the money collected from the exhibition would be used for purchasing a photostat machine and telefax so that the students could learn its usage and subsequently look for some options to make themselves financially strong. |
|
KMV to hold conference on women empowerment
Jalandhar, October 18 Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla would inaugurate the session while Punjab Child and Women Development Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla would be the guest of honour. Addressing a press conference, Principal of the college Dr Atima Sharma said during the conference as many as 160 papers would be presented and a souvenir comprising the abstracts of paper presenters would also be released. Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Dr A.S. Brar would deliver the presidential address and Dr Edward J. Downes from Boston University, USA, would be the keynote speaker on the topic. Eminent women achievers in different fields like Dr Eileen C. Reilly, Harvard University, US, Dr Jyoti K. Grewal from Zyed University, Dubai, Dr Rashmi Sahi from St Stephens College, Hong Kong, Dr Anjana Sandhir from Columbia University, New York, Chief News Editor of the UNI, Delhi, Ritambra, and many other leading women journalists and entrepreneurs will address the gathering on the need of providing higher education to women.
|
|
Military Police celebrates raising day
Jalandhar, October 18 Officiating General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Vajra Corps Major-Gen SK Aggarwal was the chief guest. The celebrations were attended by serving and retired Army officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and the jawans. Addressing the jawans, General Aggarwal applauded the role of the CMP in maintaining good order and military discipline. He lauded the CMP for controlling the traffic and allied disciplinary measures in Jalandhar Cantonment. The Jalandhar Garrison is policed round the clock by the CMP. Besides this, CMP personnel are also deployed for sudden surprise checks at various places to control any malpractices. The CMP has also been organising joint checks with the civil police inside the cantonment to control rash and negligent driving thereby reducing the accidents.
|
|
28 city players to participate in Akshay Kumar karate championship
Jalandhar, October 18 The championship is beginning tomorrow at Mumbai and will Among the selected karatekas in the boys’ category, Pawandeep Randhawa would present the sword demonstration, while Arun Pandey would show his skill in stick demonstration. In the girls’ category, Ummeed has been selected for sword demo, specially by Akshay Kumar, and Simran Chandra has been chosen for fighting in the seniors’ category. The other 24 students selected for the championship are Vishal Singh Sandhu, Haribir Wadhwa, Nirmal Tej Singh, Maaz Khan, Manik Jayee, Pranjal Gupta, Rayanth Nanda, Vasu Kumar, Divyanshu Singh, Mayank Kumar, Himanshu Bharat, Gagandeep Singh, Gagandep Bakshi, Gurtej Singh, Aastya Anand, Gurjot Singh, Arihit Sehgal, Nakshatra Singh, Hitish, Mahavir Sharma, Ajaib Singh, Khazan Singh, Nishan Singh and Manhill Bembey.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Jalandhar, October 18
Jalandhar, October 18
