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Mid-day meal scheme: Rising cost of cylinders, commodities
Undertrial on parole nabbed with 122 kg poppy husk
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Acquisition plan dropped, JDA to go in for land pool system
Seven quintal ‘spurious’ ghee seized from factory
JDA may give another hearing to owners of marriage palaces
Two killed in road accidents
House burgled in Rama Mandi
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Mid-day meal scheme: Rising cost of cylinders, commodities Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 9 While one government aided school in the district has already suspended the mid-day meal scheme in the primary wing (it also stayed suspended for three months until July in another school), many government school administrations claim that every month, the staff is putting money from their own pockets to keep the mid-day meal afloat. Even inside sources in the Education Department said they were getting regular complaints from schools regarding ‘unmanageable’ mid-day meal costs. Cylinders or wood
While the Education Department has always laid emphasis on the use of cylinders and cooking gas in schools, things have come to such a position that now some of the schools are even reportedly being told to use wood as a cheap substitute for cylinders, by block officers themselves. “The total cooking cost of some of the schools, which have less student strength, comes to a total of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month. How can these schools spend Rs 1,180 on cooking gas cylinders? Using wood or other substitutes is the only practical option for them. And while it is readily available in villages, city schools are stuck even in this case, because wood costs a lot in cities,” said some department sources. Utensil costs
While the schools recently received grants for buying utensils per student, the utensil estimates, schools say are lesser than need. School sources said, “The government has provided us grants according to 85 per cent attendance. Officers have themselves assumed that there will be an 85 per cent attendance is schools, when we should ideally get grants as per 100 per cent attendance.” Manish Aggarwal, teacher at a local government-aided school, said, “They have fixed a total utensil cost of Rs 50 for a 300 gm plate and a 30 gm spoon – but the total cost of these utensils is more than Rs 60. So in any case, we are putting in at least Rs 10 or above from our own side per plate and spoon.” Putting money to keep scheme afloat
While primary schools get Rs 3.11 per student and upper primary schools get Rs 4.65 per student, there has been no rise in grants in view of rising prices. Staff at a government school in the bazaar area, said, “This time it isn’t a problem that is restricted to one or two schools. Almost all the schools are facing it. If rajmah costs Rs 40 to 50 earlier, now it costs Rs 80. Prices have been increased by at least one and a half times per student. Per month, we are putting in at least Rs 2,500 to 3,000 from our own pockets.” Staff of another government school in a village, said, “Mostly, mid-day meal grants already arrive late. It is only after we have put in Rs 10,000 from our side. If cylinder, pulses and cooking costs are all considered, we are incurring extra costs of Rs 60 to 70 daily. So we are putting an extra of Rs 1,000 to 2,000 per month from our own pockets.” Before the schools have even bought cylinders, there is uproar about growing cylinder prices. Just a few days ago, we arranged a cylinder for a school for Rs 420. The government knows about the problems of schools, and will arrange an alternative. As far as the total costs are concerned, I believe we provide enough grants to schools so that they can cook the meal even with the increased prices. They need to be patient about it. Schools cannot suspend the mid-day meal on their own. We will ensure that the meals are started in these
schools. — Neelam Kumari, District Education Officer
Mid-day meal suspended
Staff at the Shiv Devi Girls High School (an aided school), where the scheme had been suspended, said, “We do not have adequate infrastructure to support the scheme. We have 1,500 students, above 700 in primary classes alone, in which the scheme has been suspended. We were unable to handle the situation on our own. |
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Undertrial on parole nabbed with 122 kg poppy husk
Jalandhar October 9 Earlier too he was arrested in a drug peddling case. Sukha Singh was a resident of Alowal near Nakodar. The police received a tip-off that Sukha Singh was on his way to supply poppy husk to his clients near Kartarpur. Acting on the information, the police laid a naka on the Kishangarh road and intercepted a truck. The police seized four bags of poppy husk weighing 122 kg. During preliminary investigation, Sukha Singh said he was released on parole. A case under Section 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused.
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Acquisition plan dropped, JDA to go in for land pool system
Jalandhar, October 9 While earlier the officials had been taking consent from the nearly 200 farmers for acquiring the land, they have now decided to do away with the land acquisition plan. As per the new proposal, the JDA will share 50 per cent of the developed land with the farmers who currently own it. The farmers will be free to retain the developed land or sell it off at their own end. After development of the area under the scheme plan and earmarking land for road cuttings, parks, community centres and other amenities, the authority expects to have nearly 54 per cent land for the purpose of sale for residential or commercial purpose. Of this, 27 per cent will be retained by the JDA while the rest would go to the farmers in the proportion in which they owned it. As per another rough estimate, a farmer who currently owns 1-acre land will get 100 sq yards of developed residential land and a similar size developed commercial site. The decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Administrator-cum-Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti on Friday which was attended by the Additional Chief Administrator Sarojini Gautam Sharda, XENs of JDA and officials from the Revenue Department. Sharda said 7 to 10 days’ time has been given to farmers to think about the option and respond to them. A few farmers have already visited the office and given their consent on the matter. “There is no provision of compensation in the new scheme. Compensation will only be given to farmers for the crop that they might have sown and would not be able to harvest, which too will be decided by the DC,” she said. This implies that the farmers would not get a lump sum at one go which usually happens during such schemes. Instead, they will have to wait for the dividends till the area gets developed. It is learnt that the officials decided to change the purchase plan as the per marla cost for acquisition was coming out to be too high. Urban Estate-III scheme
While earlier the officials had been taking consent from the nearly 200 farmers for acquiring the land, they have now decided to do away with the land acquisition plan. Now, the JDA will share 50 pc of the developed land with the farmers who currently own it. The farmers will be free to retain the developed land or sell it off at their own end. |
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Seven quintal ‘spurious’ ghee seized from factory
Jalandhar, October 9 The factory, being run from a godown, has been sealed. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and Essential Commodities Act has also been registered against the owner, Ravinder Mittal, a resident of Jalandhar Cantonment. Acting on a tip-off, a team of the health officials led by Food Safety Officer Sukhrao Singh and police officials from the Rama Mandi police station, raided the premises of Deotsiddh Milkfood Products, a ghee manufacturing unit in Ladhewali village, and confiscated nearly seven quintal of “spurious” Balak Desi Ghee, a brand name of an Uttar Pradesh-based company. Sukhrao Singh said the illegal trade was being run from rented premises in the village for quite some time. During search, the raiding party seized tins, boxes, plastic pouches and a huge drum containing the ghee. The health department has collected five samples and sent them to a Chandigarh-based laboratory for examinations, the FSO said. Assistance Commissioner of Police Naresh Dogra said the police had also impounded the goods and machinery being used for manufacturing the ghee. He added packs of certain other brands of ghee were also seized from the spot. Factory owner arrested
Health and police officials raid Deotsiddh Milkfood Products, a ghee manufacturing unit in Ladhewali village, and confiscated nearly seven quintal of “spurious” Balak Desi Ghee, a brand name of an Uttar Pradesh-based company. Factory owner Ravinder Mittal has been arrested and a case under relevant sections of the IPC and Essential Commodities Act has been registered against him. |
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Vigyan Sammelan from Oct 11
Jalandhar, October 9 The event is being jointly organised by the Vijnana Bharati, the Punjab Technical University (PTU), the LPU and the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, all sharing a total budget of Rs 2.5 crore. The theme for the event will be ‘Science for global development’ dedicated to Indian mathematician Srinivas Ramanujan. The event will witness participation of renowned scientists, technocrats, artisans and farmers who would share their own experiences and findings with a large audience comprising students, researchers and science teachers from schools and colleges across the state. Three major plenary sessions will be held on safe drinking water, affordable healthcare systems and agricultural practices. The event will also have special sessions by luminaries such as Dr Vijay P Bhatkar, architect of India’s first super computer Param, Dr Vikram Desai of ISRO on telemedicine, industrialist Naveen Jindal on use of nanotechnology, Shanti Lal Jain, chairman of Calcutta Tramways Co on use of trams, by Dr MS Kang, former VC of Punjab Agricultural University on sustainable agriculture, Dr Thomas, director of CMC Ludhiana, on health issues. Also, there will be demonstrations on unique farming practices by farmers to be introduced by NGO Kheti Virasat Mission. The students will also get an opportunity to interact with Tessy Thomas of AGNI V fame. There also will be an ‘Infotainment fiesta’ during which educational film shows, adventure sports, literary events, competitive and non-competitive events and career counselling sessions will be held for students. Free mock tests will be held to evaluate the current preparedness of engineering and medical aspirants. Free psychometric tests for career suitability will also be held to help students decide their career goals. An extensive exhibition will have unique models to be put up by innovators, students and researchers. A group from Nasik will bring along a huge boat made out of waste bottles. It will also include exhibits by 25 tribal artisans from Madhya Pradesh. There will be five cash prizes in the categories of Best Rural/Indigenous Technology, Best Innovation, Best Poster Presentation for each day, Best Oral Presentation for each day and Best Exhibit Award. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will inaugurate the science exhibition on October 11. Advisor to the Prime Minister of India TKA Nair will be the chief guest at the sammelan on the second day. The valedictory function will be attended by Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil. PTU Vice Chancellor Dr Rajneesh Arora said even any uneducated person from across the country with any innovation to share, be him a carpenter or a farmer, would be welcomed. Coordinator from Vijnana Bharati Jay Kumar said the organisation would help him in documenting details of his project in English for being shared with the audience. LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal said free lodging and food would be provided to the participants of the sammelan.
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JDA may give another hearing to owners of marriage palaces
Jalandhar, October 9 Owners of palaces have been asked to submit documents, including NOCs and permissions availed from various departments including Fire, Punjab Pollution Control Board, PowerCom, Forest, Excise and Taxation with the District Town Planner by October 15. Additional Chief Administrator Sarojini Gautam Sharda said the decision had been taken after a brief meeting with the president of the marriage palace association Ranbir Singh Tut. Three hearings have been held earlier for palace owners of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala on October 3, 5 and 8, respectively. In the Jalandhar meeting, seven of 62 palace owners had turned up. As many as 30 palace owners of a total of 73 had turned up from Hoshiarpur. In the Kapurthala palace owners hearing held yesterday, nearly 15 palace owners out of the total 53 had turned up.
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Air Force Day celebrated
Jalandhar, October 9 Air Commodore M Fernandez, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Adampur, paid tributes to all those martyrs, who had sacrificed their lives for the nation during different wars and conflicts, by presenting a wreath at the Station War Memorial. An oath taking ceremony was also organised on this occasion wherein all the station personnel took oath to serve the nation with devotion and integrity. Various functions were celebrated during the past fortnight. Events included painting competition for children, healthy baby show, mini marathon and cycle race etc. Air Commodore M Fernandez, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Adampur, and Vaneeta Fernandez, president, Air Force Wives Welfare Association, were present during these activities and competitions. They gave away prizes to the winners.
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Jalandhar, October 9 More than 650 students from 16 colleges of the north zone of the university participated. Sargun (DAVIET, Jalandhar) got with Best Actress award and Aditya Rampal (RIET, Phagwara) bagged Best Actor award. At the function, Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari said, “Youth of our country is full of energy. We should value the energy of the youth,” he said. Charanjit Singh Channi, chairman of the CT Group, appreciated the efforts of all the participants.
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Two killed in road accidents
Jalandhar October 9 An NRI died after his scooter, he was riding on, rammed into a roadside divider on Lamha Pind flyover. The deceased was identified as Dharminder Kumar, a resident of Kartarpur. The victim was going towards Kaki Pind on his scooter to meet his wife. As he reached the flyover, he lost control and rammed into a roadside cemented divider. The victim died on the spot. The deceased had got married just three months back. The body has been sent for the post-mortem examination. The police has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. In another incident, Ranjit Singh, resident of Kala Bakra was killed in a head-on collision between a truck and tractor-trailer here late last night. Police sources said the victim was reportedly on his way to the Jalandhar grain market to sale his agricultural produce. As he reached near Kahanpur village, he had a head-on collision with the truck coming from the wrong side. The victim died on the spot. The truck driver escaped after the incident. The Maqsoodan police has registered a case of negligent driving against the unidentified driver.
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Jalandhar October 9 House owner Manjit Singh alleged that he along with his all family members had gone to Amritsar to attend a function and when they returned home, they found locks of the main door of his house lying broken. “When we entered the house, we found the house ransacked. The miscreants decamped with gold ornaments worth several lakhs of rupees and some cash,” he said. The police has registered a case. — OC
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across the district. But with the recent rise in the prices of cylinders (earlier they paid Rs 420, now prices have risen to Rs 1,180), many schools, both the government and aided, have been pushed up against the wall as far as handling the cost of the mid-day meal scheme is concerned.
The district health department with the assistance of the police unearthed a factory manufacturing spurious desi ghee and arrested its owner.
The factory, being run from a godown, has been sealed.
A case under relevant sections of the IPC and Essential Commodities Act has also been registered against the owner, Ravinder
Mittal, a resident of Jalandhar Cantonment.
