Jalandhar, January 7
Call it little time for preparing, all major parties have chosen to field old warhorses from the nine constituencies in Jalandhar this time. The two new faces that have appeared in the political circle are also members of political families that have been in active politics for decades.

Wife of Mohinder Singh Kaypee, MP from Jalandhar, Suman Kaypee will be a new face from Jalandhar (West) and so will be Gurpartap Wadala from Nakodar, who is the son of SGPC member Kuldip Singh Wadala. Barring these two candidates, everyone in the fray are those who had the taste contesting election at least once.

Suman Kaypee served as a cashier of the Punjab National Bank till a few years back. She has grown up children - two daughters Rupali, pursuing MBA from Chicago, and Karishma, who is a BBA student of Lyallpur Khalsa College. Her son Richie is also in the same college.

Gurpartap is armed with double experience as even his father-in-law late Jatinder Singh Kariha was three-time MLA at Nawanshahr. His mother-in-law Satinder Kaur is now the candidate from the same seat.

Estranged brothers Ch Jagjit Singh and Ch Santokh Singh have also been pitched in the poll battle. While the elder brother will be contesting for the seventh time from Kartarpur seat (he had lost last time to Avinash Chander of SAD in 2002), the younger one will be contesting for the fifth time from Phillaur seat (twice successful).

Jalandhar January 7
The intense cold wave today claimed the life of 65-year-old man, whose body was found near the Chik Chik chowk this afternoon. The deceased was yet to be identified.

Police officials said shopkeepers of the area informed them about the body. On reaching the spot, the police took the body into its custody and sent the same for postmortem examination in the Civil Hospital.

Police sources said they have kept the body at the morgue at Civil Hospital and if the deceased was not identified in the coming 72 hours, he would be cremated.

Sources said in December 2011, four died due to the intense cold and the bodies of all of them were not identified. Out of the four abovesaid deceased, two were in their 60s and remaining two were in their 40s.

Jalandhar, January 7
The Community Police Suvida Centres (CPSCs), it seems, have been launched in a jiffy by the state government to garner public support in the ensuing assembly polls as tall claims of the government to provide police services under one roof have fallen flat.

An investigation carried out by Jalandhar Tribune revealed that all CPSCs of the district are providing only a few services to the public which otherwise were available at the police stations. People still have to visit the police department offices at District Complex for many services.

Even officials at the CPSCs expressed unhappiness over government’s failure to extend full-fledged services to the public. “Even we feel ashamed when people return empty handed without getting their work done. We always refer them to the Jalandhar main branch for some services,” said an official.

The data revealed that since the launching of the Suvida Kendras in the district, they have been offering only a few services to the people. The much hyped centres were to provide 20 services, but astoundingly out of these, services like registration of FIR of lost articles, copy of an old FIR, issuance character certificate, permission for public functions, loud speakers for processions and registration of tenants are available. The services which are not available include NOC for arms licence, passport verifications, police clearance certificate and registration of foreigners.

Officials of the centres revealed that as they have set up a board outside every centre which claims to provide 20 services. Reading the board, public always come to avail the services, but the applicant is often returned empty handed. “I have come here to apply for a police verification certificate, but I was shocked when an employee said you have to visit the main CPSC branch located at Jalandhar,” an applicant from Shahkot said. He added: “What is the fun of establishing such centres at the local level if they are not providing key services.”

Harvinder Singh Bhalla, in charge, CPSCs, police commissionerate, said: “We do not have all the services at the CPSCs. Applicants have to visit the main centre located at the DC complex. In future also, such services will be available at the main branch rather the the subsidiary branches.”

Jalandhar, January 7
An 11-KV high tension wire snapped and fell on the rooftop of several houses in Globe Colony. Luckily, no mishap occurred as the wire did not fall on any person.

Residents of the locality informed Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) officials.

Though Chief Engineer Gopal Sharma deputed PSPCL JE Sukhdev Singh to get the problem rectified, the residents wanted the power corp to fix the problem in such a way that the wires do not pass over any house.

Earlier, several accidents had occurred due to the high-tension wire and many have died in the process.

PSPCL authorities said “The wire may be removed only after required amount to shift wires to another place is deposited.”

Residents also brought the entire matter to the notice of Jalandhar north MLA KD Bhandari, who is again trying his luck from this seat. They demanded that the wire be shifted to a safer place to avoid any mishap in the future.

Bhandari said, “There were several areas in his Jalandhar north constituency where high tension wires pass over houses. While I succeeded in sorting the issue in many such areas after getting the required funds from the CM, the remaining areas including Globe Colony are on my priority list.”

Jalandhar, January 7
While there is lot of speculation and hectic activity on the political scene, what really makes or breaks a politician is actually his/her voters. A politician can’t really profit with half (or more) of the voters in his constituency angry. But a conversation with women from various walks of life reveals that they have little liking for politicians and their smooth talk.

City women are sick of the lack of safety and security on streets and chaos and disparities in the field of education.

With the poll scene constantly growing intense, city women want issues like security, inflation, domestic violence, education, female foeticide, unemployment and health to be taken up in the coming Assembly elections.

Vandana Ghai, a housewife, says, “Everyday, we hear of snatching and crime against women. I don’t feel safe to go out after 6 pm. I can’t send my daughters out alone. The Wadala Chowk area, where I live, and the nearby Urban Estate areas are clearly unsafe for women after dark. From an unsafe city to skyrocketing kitchen budgets, our survival has been made difficult. Issues of women’s safety and inflation certainly need to be addressed this time during elections.”

Komal Mehta, who runs a local NGO, says, “None of the election candidates have ever deemed it important to address the issues of women living hellish lives. I have worked with women in slums. Domestic violence and crimes against women are on the rise. While the government announces big schemes for schools, there is no work happening at the grassroots level. A large number of poor parents still refuse to send their daughters to school. Hygiene or proper living doesn’t figure in their definition of happiness. Earning Rs 30 to 50 and getting food two times a day is their idea of normalcy. They are not aware enough to realise they are hugely being discriminated against. But are these issues ever raised during the elections?”

“Working with these women I observed that a politician comes and gives a sack of wheat and women rush to vote for him. I would just like them to be aware and vote for candidates who will keep their well-being in mind.”

Ramnita Sharda, a lecturer at a local college, says, “Special schemes need to be implemented for the girl child. Education, both at the school and college needs to be taken seriously. Eve teasing and crimes are also issues that are really important to be addressed by candidates that women get a socially secure environment to live and work in, in the city.”

“Tax exemption for women and implementation of pension schemes for college lecturers is also extremely important. While politicians go on over a plethora of issues, these women specific issues are always sidelined. It’s time that women wake up to their games.”

Kheto Devi, president of the Sudhar Sabha of the local Indira Colony slums says, “I just want that the girls in the slums to be educated. They have precious little in the name of health care and education. The candidates have never addressed these issues. When basic health and education is not ensured, how can we dream of getting them jobs and make them self-sufficient. It’s the duty of politicians to take up these issues in the upcoming polls.”

Mandeep, a teacher working at a local NCLP school, says, “I am double MA BEd. I am presently in a job where I am being paid a meagre four thousand bucks. Teachers less qualified than me (plus 2) are earning Rs 10,000. Empty posts are being filled with contractual teachers, even as existing teachers are dissatisfied. My salary, too, along with other NCLP colleagues, has been pending since April. I haven’t as yet encountered a single candidate paying heed to what goes on or doesn’t with teachers or at our schools. They wouldn’t even know how many schools there are in their constituency.”

“My last class didn’t get their stipends (they have passed out a year ago) and the stipends of the present class are also pending. Our poor labour students come in without wearing sweaters in the dead of winters. We fell like crying but when we don’t have money, how can we extend them additional help.”

“Teachers or students’ well being or educational issues never ever make it to election issues even though we are the ones who decide the course of students’ future. The city education scene is bad. The issue ought to make its way into the elections.”

Harivnder Kaur, principal, Red Cross School For The Deaf, says, “Women labourers get paid half of what their male counterparts do. There’s anarchy and crime on city streets. Eve-teasing and female foeticide are also common. No matter what politicians pretend to do about these issues. Not much has been done so far. This time, these issues should make it to elections.”

“Education for the girl child should also be made a poll issue. The insight of a candidate for the well-being of his constituency would be reflected if he takes up these issues.”

Poonam, a teacher at a private school, says, “Lack of creative and aggressive educational programmes is wreaking havoc on the minds of children. We have never seen any local initiatives by candidates where a thrust is given on a healthy and creative school environment for children. Ensuring a safe city for us to live in is also important. Scared women can’t be as great as teachers as free-minded ones.”