Bathinda, December 4
The ministerial employees, who were on mass casual leave from November 22 so far in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands, will join duties tomorrow in their respective offices, including those situated at the Mini-secretariat, in the city and other parts of the district.

The joining of duties by the ministerial staff (clerical cadre) will certainly provide a relief to the general public that has been facing inconvenience in getting their works done since November 22.

District president of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union (PSMSU) Sukhpal Singh Sidhu said today that the union had called off its agitation on the appeal of the state government that had promised to the union that its some pending demands would be settled soon.

He said they would join their duties from tomorrow in the light of state government's positive attitude towards the ministerial staff.

In case the government did not fulfill its commitment then the union would chalk out its next course of agitation, he added.

The district general secretary Kewal Bansal said the three-member Cabinet sub-committee had invited the PSMSU on December 6 for holding talks on the remaining issues.

He said now it depended on the three-member sub-committee as to what type of attitude it adopted towards the pending demands of the union.

He said if the sub-committee agreed to the pending demands and the government implemented the same then the ministerial staff would completely withdraw its agitation.

He also said though the government had already accepted their demands regarding pay-scales and grade pay partially, but there were three categories, senior assistant, superintendent Grade-I and Grade-II, to whom the government had not given higher grade pay, as demanded by the union.

The district general seceratary of the PSMSU said the matter, relating to these categories would be discussed with the Cabinet sub-committee at the meeting on December 6.

Bansal further said the government had also exempted the clerks (who were recruited before 2009) from passing type test, but in lieu of the type test they had to do a 120-hour computer training course.

Due to the mass casual leave by the ministerial staff, clerical work had remained paralysed completely in the government offices on several working days.

Not only the common persons faced problems in getting their works done but the state government had also suffered a lot as even the ministerial staff of the treasuries was also on mass casual leave since November 22. Due to it, the funds could not be released for development works.

Bathinda, December 4
Helpline numbers have been set up in the offices of election registration officer and assistant election registration officer in view of the upcoming Assembly elections.

In a press statement issued here today, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer KK Yadav said the helpline numbers have been set up following the directions of the State Election Commission.

Yadav said through this helpline, the electorates could get all kinds of information related to procedure of making votes, deleting votes, getting details about the returning officers, about electronic voting machines (EVMs) and making complaints regarding booths.

Even NRIs can seek information about their votes, the District Election Officer said.

For Rampura Phul Assembly constituency 90, voters can reach the election registration officer at 01651-248225 and the assistant election registration officer at 01651-248231.

Similarly, for Bhucho Mandi constituency 91, the election registration officer can be reached at 0164-2211042 and the assistant election registration officer at 0164-2213246.

For Bathinda city constituency 92, the election registration officer can be reached at 0164-2212525 and the assistant election registration officer at 0164-2212412.

For Bathinda rural 93, the election registration officer can be reached at 0164-2241949/ 2210736 and the assistant election registration office at 0164-2211575.

For Talwandi Sabo Assembly constituency 95, the election registration officer can be reached at 01655-220241 and the assistant election registration officer at 01655-220252.

For Maur Assembly constituency 95, the election registration officer can be reached at 0164-2211086 and the assistant election registration officer at 01655-500911.

Bathinda, December 4
Nearly 20 per cent more elderly persons get admitted to the hospitals or heart diseases institutes in winter as compared to the summer as winter brings its own adverse affects on the vulnerable population, elderly in particular who are more susceptible to extra cold conditions.

According to medical experts, severe cold conditions take its toll, especially the aging population. Compromised underline heart function, poor adaptability to extremes of temperature and more susceptibility to respiratory infections, contribute to the increase in the heart related problems.

Talking to TNS here today Dr Rajesh Jindal, Surgeon, Jindal Heart Institute, Bathinda, said there were mainly three reasons behind the increase in the heart problems among elderly persons during winter.

He said, "First reason is high blood pressure as the blood pressure level tends to increase in winter months that contribute significantly to the increase in the incidents of cardiac events. High blood pressure leads to more heart failure and heart attack events".

Dr Jindal further said blood clotting ability is the second reason due to which number of heart attacks increased, especially among the elderly persons during winter. The third reason is heart failure. The heart failure cases increased due to severe breathing difficulty on account of poor heart pumping. He said hospitalization of number of heart failure cases in the elderly population increased in winter due to cold conditions as many of the elderly persons had compromised (weakened) heart and lung functions, besides they were not able to bear additional stress, imposed by the winter conditions.

Another doctor, K.K. Goyal, posted at the local Civil Hospital, said the diabetes (sugar) was also a risk factor for the heart patient, especially in the elderly population.

According to a heart specialist in the light of trends of the past three years it can be stated that the admission of heart failure and heart attack cases in the hospitals or nursing homes increased by about 20 percent every year.

He said among the heart patients there was 70 percent population above 55 years while remaining 30 percent is below 55 years.

Majority of the elderly persons suffered from heart attack or heart failure while the young persons faced other heart problems, like problem in heart valves. 

An artist being honoured on the concluding day of the 17th Art Festival at the Teachers' Home in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

On one hand traffic blockades on the roads and at the chowks by the agitators always irritate commuters who criticise the police personnel for not acting against the agitators to get the blockade lifted and provide them relief but on the other hand the police expresses its own limitations, with regard to not initiating action against the agitators. A couple of days ago when such a blockade was organsied near bus stand for more than one and half hours by about 50 protesters the administration and the police avoided to take any action, despite the fact that people continued to face inconvenience. When some one asked a police official, present there on the occasion, why the police was playing the role of a mute spectator, he replied, "Neither the police is helpless nor it wants to remain a mute spectator, but it is the government that has no policy to tackle such matters".

The star attraction of marriage party...

The entire episode of former cabinet minister Chiranji Lal Garg first being oust from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and then being taken back (all in a day) gave Garg the much needed attention he had been vying for the last five years. Not only Garg has suddenly gained importance in the political circuits, but even at the marriage ceremonies being held in city, he remained the most sough after guest-to-talk-to this week.

Playing squash to keep fit..

Being fit is important. Not only for the common man but for the bureaucrats as well. With surmounting stress due to assembly election being round the corner and number of VIP visits plaguing the city, district administration officials find little or no time to take care of their fitness level. The deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner could be seen playing squash at the city club to keep themselves fit. "Besides fitness, it also gives a vent to the day's hard work," adds one of the officers. — (Inputs from Sushil Goyal, Megha Mann)

Bathinda, December 4
The annual function of St Kabir Convent Senior Secondary School was held here. Chief guest at the occasion was vice-chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) Dr SS Gill and guest of honor was Dr Darshan Singh Sidhu, the registrar of varsity. Founder principal of the school Pushpa Arora welcomed the guests. Program started with hymn singing and students then presented song Welcome to St Kabir. Managing director of the school ML Arora was also present.

Students presented classical dance on song Taal Se Taal Mila, Haryanvi song Mujhe Naulakha Mangva De and others . Principal Anju Dogra presented annual report of the school. — TNS

Bathinda, December 4
The future of a nation lies in the well being of its children. However, what if the children are engaged in forced child labour and become victims of social injustice and education deprivation. Despite being categorically stated a wrong practice by the Indian constitution, the practice of child labour continues to exist throughout the country. The Right to Education Act makes education a fundamental right of every child and also specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. However, the desired results are yet to be achieved. Bathinda Tribune speaks to professionals about enforcement of the Right to Education Act.

The Right of children to Free and  Compulsory Education Act came into force on April 1, last year. This was a  historic day for the people of India as the right to education was accorded the same legal status as the right to life as provided by the Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.

According to the Act, every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided eight years of elementary education. Any cost that prevents a child from accessing school will be borne by the state, which would have the responsibility of enrolling the child as well as ensuring attendance and completion of eight years of schooling.

No child would be denied admission for want of documents. No child would be turned away if the admission cycle in the school is over and also no child would be asked to take an admission test.

Children with disabilities would also be educated in the mainstream schools. All the private schools would be required to enroll children from weaker sections and disadvantaged communities in their incoming class to the extent of 25 per cent of their enrolment, by simple random selection. No seats in this quota can be left vacant. These children will be treated at par with all the other children in the school and subsidised by the state at the rate of average per learner costs in the government schools (unless the per learner costs in the private school are lower).

All schools will have to prescribe to norms and standards laid out in the Act and no school that does not fulfill these standards within threeyears will be allowed to function. All private schools will have to apply for recognition, failing which, they would be penalised to the tune of Rs 1 lakh and if they still continue to function, they will be liable to pay Rs 10,000 per day as fine. Norms and standards of teacher qualification and training are also being laid down by an Academic Authority. Teachers in all schools will have to subscribe to these norms within five years.