Bathinda, february 7
After February 15, post offices will cease to be the locations to get enrolled for the Unique Identity card (UID) as the Department of Post has decided to stop the enrolment work from February 16.

So anyone wish to visit any of the nine postal locations in Bathinda district for this purpose only, hurry up as only eight days are left!

The communiqué concerning the smooth exit, issued by the Postal Department, Punjab Circle, has reached at the office concerned at Bathinda, sources in the postal department confirmed, adding that locations concerned in Bathinda postal district have also been informed and instructed to work accordingly.

As per the sources in department of post, the Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) has reviewed the progress of Aadhar enrolments considering the base of 20 crore enrolment limit throughout the country or 31 March 2012, whichever is earlier.

And the postal directorate, New Delhi, had allocated to the Punjab Circle, a limit of 2.75 lakhs enrolments or timeline up to February 15, which ever is earlier.

Considering the pace of enrolment at different locations in Punjab, which comes to 11,200 (approximately per week), the limit of 2.47 lakhs is likely to be crossed by February 15.

In view of the instructions got from the UIDAI and the Postal Directorate, New Delhi, the Punjab Circle has decided to stop the enrolment work by February 15 and issued instructions for the smooth exit in all the postal locations in Punjab and the Union Territory, Chandigarh, sources said adding that the postal department would not be liable to pay for enrolment made after February 15, 2012.

Sources said that stop work may be initiated right away to ensure compliance with exit policy of the UIDAI.

However, sources in the postal department also said that the decision of this effect was taken perhaps due to the fact that the normal work of the postal department was being hampered by the enrolment work concerning UID.

The enrolment for UID has been going on at nine locations in Bathinda postal area, namely Bathinda Head Post Office (PO), Bathinda City PO, Buchho Mandi, Goniana Mandi, Mansa, Phul, Maur mandi, Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul. 

Bathinda, February 7
The female voters of the Bathinda (rural) assembly constituency took the lead over their male counterparts by registering high number of votes polled during the assembly elections held on January 30.

Precisely, 81.60 per cent women voters cast their vote as compared to mere 78.57 per cent of male voters. The Bathinda (rural) reserved is a newly carved out assembly segment that has witnessed an encouraging trend of women voters turning up more in number.

While Bathinda (rural) saw women taking the lead, the other five segments, including Rampura, Bhucho (Reserve), Bathinda (Urban), Talwandi Sabo and Maur constituencies had male voters in the lead.

Maximum poll percentage was registered in Rampura at 87.50 per cent. Even the women voters at Rampura stole the show by having highest polling percentage of 86.82 per cent while men in this constituency registered the highest polling percentage at 88.11 per cent.

The Bathinda (Urban) segment registered the least polling percentage of 73.91 per cent. “The Bathinda (Urban) constituency has improved its polling percentage as compared to the 2007 assembly elections when it stood at mere 71 per cent,” said the election officials.

District election officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav said the urban segments fall victim to the apathy of urban voters. He said there were a large number of employees in the urban area, who were posted deployed on election duty in the district. “It is not known as to how many employees used the postal ballot,” he said.

Besides employees, the city also has businessmen as its dweller, who do not prefer to stand in a queue and wait for their turn to cast vote.

The district administration had run a series of campaigns urging the urban voters to exercise their right to franchise, which buoyed the polling percentage to 73.91.

Bathinda, February 7
Around 7,000 computer teachers in the state have not been paid salaries for the last five months.

In a press statement issued here today, the president of the Computer Teachers’ Union, Balkaran Singh, and the general secretary of the union, Pradeep Singh Maluka, stated that in the absence of salary, the teachers are reeling under financial crisis and stress.

“In the times of IT-enabled education system, the computer teachers have become the backbone of the education system in Punjab. Besides imparting computer education to the students, we also play pivotal role in day-to-day functioning of the department,” Balkaran Singh stated.

During the recent assembly election, the computer teachers performed jobs of data entry, did clerical work, sent online posts and received the same.

“All of us did our duties sincerely and this is how the government is paying us (by not releasing our salaries),” he added.

During a meeting of the computer teachers convened today, it was directed that on February 8, all the computer teachers will give their letters to respective deputy commissioners demanding the release of their salaries pending for five months.

Mansa district president of the union Amritpal Garg, general secretary Zafardin, Sukhdev Singh, Gurpreet Lehri, Kulvir Singh, Dharamveer, Kulwant Singh, Vikas Garg and others were also present at the meeting.

Bathinda, February 7
Though mercury dipped considerably in Bathinda and its adjoining areas on Tuesday, the residents enjoyed the day as sun provided the much-needed warmth throughout the day.

Children smell flowers at the Rose Garden. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

Meanwhile, fog was reported in the morning hours in the isolated parts in the region. Mercury southward swing continued and the minimum temperature recorded today at 7.30 am was 3 degree Celsius, nearly 2.4 degree Celsius lower than on Monday, as per the agri-met department of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), regional station, Bathinda.

The temperature recorded at 2.30 pm was 16 degree Celsius, nearly three degree Celsius lower than yesterday.

The wind also continued its pace recording 5.5 km per hour in the region.

Cashing on the warm conditions prevailed with the presence of sun today which also happened a holiday on account of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, residents found basking in the sunshine in several places like parks that worn the look of picnic spots.

Bathinda, February 7
Pritpal Singh Bhinder (86), father of a former senior additional advocate general, Punjab, and candidate of the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) from Bathinda (Urban) constituency in the recently held Assembly elections, Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, died after a prolonged illness here today. He will be cremated at 11 am at Ram Bagh, near Grain Market, here.

Pritam Singh Bhinder, a renowned government building contractor of his times, is survived by four sons and a daughter.

After hearing about the demise of Pritam Singh Bhinder, several dignitaries, including Faridkot MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, a retired High Court judge Justice Nirmal Singh and vice-chairman of Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) Gurdeep Singh, visited the Bhinder family here and expressed grief over the demise of Pritam Singh Bhinder.

Among others who expressed shock over the death of Pritam Singh Bhinder included Justice Rakesh Garg, a former acting chief justice of High Court Mehtab Singh Gill, a former minister Sikendar Singh Malooka, district secretary of the CPI Jagjit Singh Joga and district secretary of the CPM Sat Pal Bharti. 

Bathinda, February 7
When singer Jennifer Lopez sang, ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing’, she certainly wasn’t counting in the fact that the business of love, celebrating the humble day of love – the Valentine’s Day - is worth more than `12,000 crore. Yes, this is the figure estimated by a survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) in the year 2010-11.

And no one — not even if you are against it — remains untouched by it. So right from the newspaper advertisements to your roadside florist, to the discount posters in your favourite shopping hotspot, to the malls, the restaurants and the parks – every place partakes of this big and expensive love cake.

And tapping the young blood and emotions, is not only the Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on February 14 every year, but a whole week which culminates on the Valentine’s Day. What we are talking of is the Valentine’s Week.

The Valentine’s Week, as many youngsters in the city would know, began on Tuesday with the Rose Day. It will be followed by the Proposal Day on February 8, the Chocolate Day on February 9, the Teddy Day on February 10, the Promise Day on February 11, the Kiss Day on February 12, the Hug Day on February 13, and finally the much-celebrated and hyped the Valentine’s Day on February 14.

The Assocham report further adds that the biggest grossers on these Days are the card galleries, florists, chocolatiers, gift shops and music stores.

According to reports, the Archies Limited makes a turnover of over 16 per cent during this week and the sales go up by 10-12 times the normal sales.

The card giant plans new designs exclusively for this week and also comes up with different gift items for those celebrating the festival of love. The gifts may range from the humble mugs to crystal vases, to heart-shaped soft toys, talking teddies, to the more exquisite jewellery boxes and scented candles.

The study, compiled after an interaction with 1,200 people, including professionals and students from schools and colleges, concluded that those in love are ready to spend anywhere between `5,000 and `1,50,000 to celebrate the Valentine’s Day.

“Bathinda is a small town and everybody knows almost everyone else here. It is a problem even to be spotted with someone who is ‘just a friend’. But of course, the malls and the various eating joints have come to the rescue of many youngsters who want to spend some time with their partners,” says 17-year-old Rujuta Narula, a school student.

And as Amitabh Bachchan does in the film ‘Baghban’– sing a song for his lady-love Hema Malini and do a little jig with youngsters - the elders are also waking up to the festival of love, albeit slowly.

“My parents joke with me and ask me what I am doing at home on the Valentine’s Day. Elders are opening up to the festival now. They may not be aware about the entire week, though,” says Harshdeep Singh, a college student.

Bathinda, February 7
A proposal, mooted by the chairman of Board of Governors of Medical Council of India (MCI), Dr KK Talwar, and a member of the Board of Governors of the MCI, Dr HS Rissam, for making one-year rural stint mandatory for MBBS graduates after internship, was strongly opposed by the Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) today.

In a press note, issued here today, state president of the IMA, Dr Shiv Dutta Gupta, said at present the MBBS graduates completed their degrees in four and a half years, followed by a year-long internship. Thus, a doctor spent five and a half years to complete the MBBS course. But with the proposal of the Medical Council of India’s chairman and a member, the duration of the MBBS course would increase to six and a half years.

Dr Gupta said instead of adding one-year rural stint to the MBBS course, the MCI should bifurcate one year internship into two parts, six-month-long internship in rural area and another six months at a medical college or district hospital.

He said if the government was so concerned about providing health facilities to rural population then it should double the salaries of the doctors and staff working in rural areas and should also give special incentive to the persons working in difficult and remote areas.

He further added that the government should also send mobile (hospital) vans, equipped with laboratory, X-ray machine, ECG machine etc, daily from district headquarters to cover the rural areas.

The state president of the IMA also suggested that the government should provide transport to drop doctors and staff at their workplace in villages and pick them up after duty hours to drop them near their residential areas.

He also said a national debate should be held to formulate policies for encouraging medical graduates to serve in rural areas. 

Bathinda, February 7
The birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas was celebrated with religious fervour at Guru Ravidas temples and Guru Ravidas Gurdwaras in the city today. The devotees paid obeisance at the Guru Ravidas gurdwaras and temples. On the occasion, langars were also served to the devotees.

Besides, the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas was also celebrated at Guru Ravidas Bhawan at Kotshameer village. The bhog ceremony of Akhand Path Sahib of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was also performed.

Addressing the gathering at Kotshameer, state president of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Kiranjit Singh Gehri, urged the Central Government, Punjab Govt and the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Commitee to jointly hold state level function in future to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.

He also said the function should be held jointly as the message of the Guru was for all, not for the people of any particular caste or community.

Lok Janshakti Party chief Gehri added that Sri Akal Takht Sahib should also issue an edict to celebrate the birth anniversary of all those, including gurus and bhagats, whose ‘Bani’ is included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in the historical gurdwaras. 

Bathinda, February 7
Pargat Singh, a resident of village Kothe Kaur Singh Wala, was allegedly beaten up on February 3.

In his complaint to the Nehianwala police station, Pargat Singh said he was coming back from a wedding with a person named Ram Singh from his village on a motorcycle. Both were in an inebriated state.

At around 5 pm, when they reached village Ablu, they had a tiff over some issue. Ram Singh called up his son and nephew who reached the spot and allegedly beat up Pargat.

Police have booked a case against Ram Singh, Inderjit Singh, Rachpal Singh and Kuldeep Singh under sections 324, 323 and 34 of the IPC.

Bathinda, February 7
A motorcycle was stolen from Gole Diggi area. In his complaint to the Kotwali police station, Sukhmandar Singh, a 
resident of Bhai Mati 
Dass Nagar, stated that he had parked his motorcycle near the Gole Diggi water tank on January 12. Someone stole his motorcycle, with number plate PB 03 S 5887. Police have registered case against the unknown person.

Bathinda, February 7
An awareness camp on eye donation was organized by a city-based NGO at the government secondary school in Maesarkhana today. The chief guest on the occasion was Varinderpal Kaur, the principal.

The students were told that there are an estimated 1.5 crore visually-impaired persons in the country and with efforts, 18 lakh of them can be gain eyesight.

The students were urged to spread the message of eye donation so that the visually-impaired can get over their handicap.