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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Seminar dwells on social role of electronic media
Barnala, November 15
The local Electronic Media Club organised a seminar, dedicated to Press Day, here today. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul was the chief guest at the function. The area in-charge of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the Bhadaur Assembly constituency, Darbara Singh Guru, also participated in the seminar.

Protesters paralyse rail traffic in Malout
Malout/Muktsar, November 15
Residents of Malout town today paralysed rail traffic for almost two hours after squatting on the railway tracks, demanding the re-opening of the pedestrian pathway constructed under the railway overbridge that divides the city into two parts.
Protesters squat on te railway track in Malout to protest against the demolition of a pathway. A Tribune photograph

Protesters squat on te railway track in Malout to protest against the demolition of a pathway

BKU flays Centre for ‘freezing’ wheat MSP
Moga, November 15
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) has condemned the union government's move on 'freezing' the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat crop and demanded that the government reconsider its decision keeping in view of the larger interests of the farmers of the country.

Farmers in border areas to get seeds at subsidised rates
Ferozepur, November 15
Farmers belonging to this border region are being provided with superior variety of seeds at a subsidised rate which will not only ensure a higher yield of crop but also financial benefit to the growers. The step is being taken under the "National Seed Security Mission".

Two killed in road accident
Fazilka, November 15
Tragedy struck today when a woman, Satya Rani (50) and her son Vipan Kumar (23), residents of Jalalabad, were killed in a road accident while they were coming to village Mouzam near here to celebrate the festival of Bhaiya Dooj.

	Flyover project gets flak in Moga Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, November 15 A deputation of former councillors of the erstwhile Municipal Council led by its former president Barjinder Singh Brar met the District Magistrate-cum-Administrator of the Moga Municipal Corporation on Thursday and demanded that the local civic body should pass a resolution against the proposed earth-filled flyovers coming up on NH-95 within the municipal limits of the city. According to Brar, these flyovers on a 6-km stretch of the road in the heart of Moga would divide the city into two parts, which would not only create traffic hazards but also affect the business establishments located on both sides of the road. Brar claimed that with the passing of the resolution against the earth-filled flyovers in the MC, the NHAI authorities would be forced to have a re-look at the design of the flyovers keeping in view the interests of the local residents. According to Brar, if the NHAI authorities and the construction company do not re-consider the construction of the flyover on pillars, he along with the former councillors would launch an agitation to protect the interests of the people. Brar's father and a senior leader of the SAD, Jathedar Tota Singh, who is an MLA from Dharamkot constituency, has already opposed the move of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to construct the earth-filled flyovers. In fact, Tota Singh has gone to the extent of saying that there was no need for flyovers within the MC limits. "There is already an alternative arrangement in the shape of a ring road and bypass to ensure the flow of traffic from Rajasthan-Bathinda-Kotkapura and Sangrur-Barnala and the government can strengthen and widen these ring roads, which will cost less in comparison to the flyovers," he said. Local Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain is also against the earth-filled flyovers and has said that he would soon meet the Union Minister for Surface Transport and the officials of the National Highway Authority of India to inform them about the perils of the flyovers on pillars.
	In Muktsar, youths shy away from enrolling as voters Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, November 15 The youngsters in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's home district Muktsar have evinced less interest in enrolling as voters. Only 35 per cent of the total eligible youngsters have enrolled as voters in the last 10 months in the district. As per the figures procured from the district administration, of the total 35,994 eligible youngsters, only 12,713 applied for enrollment as voters. The new vote making process came to an end on October 31 and will now again begin only next year. "All eligible people, including those who will turn 18 on January 1, 2013, were told to fill up the forms for new voters. But the participation was very low," said a visibly worried Election Tehsildar, Hukam Singh Sodhi. "Our supervisors and booth level officers (BLOs) had intensively covered the area but the youngsters in the age group of 18-19 years showed a poor response. Most of the youngsters or their parents avoided filling and submitting the forms," he added. Sodhi further said that during the first phase, 4,899 youngsters were registered as new voters and during the second phase, 7,814 people applied. He, however, blamed the political parties for the poor response. "The Commissioner (Ferozepur division) and Muktsar Deputy Commissioner also held meetings in this regard and took steps from time to time to spread awareness among the rural as well as the urban populace. But the political parties, which otherwise depute a large number of their agents at polling booths during the elections, did not give us any kind of support, which finally brought negative results." "The field staff informed me that the educated people were shy in registering their children as voters as compared to the uneducated people. “But nobody gave any clear reason behind this annoying development. The parents of a majority of the youngsters plainly said their children were not at home." It may be mentioned here that during his recent visit to Muktsar, Raminder Singh, Commissioner (Ferozepur division), had directed the representatives of all political parties to immediately appoint their booth level agents (BLAs), so that the maximum number of people could be registered as new voters.
	Seminar dwells on social role of electronic media Tribune News Service Barnala, November 15 The local Electronic Media Club organised a seminar, dedicated to Press Day, here today. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul was the chief guest at the function. The area in-charge of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the Bhadaur Assembly constituency, Darbara Singh Guru, also participated in the seminar. The speakers at the seminar expressed their views about the social role of the electronic media, its functioning and the challenges before it. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul said the electronic media was playing a vital role in society. The DC said the media should work against social evils but at the same time, restrict itself from reporting such matters that can create a hate atmosphere in society. Self-restraing was the best for the electronic media, he felt. Darbara Singh Guru said the electronic media had the power to present the real face of society. A former MP, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, said like the print media, the electronic media was also playing a major role in Barnala district. Prof PK Sharma stressed upon the need for striking a balance among political, human interest, developmental and academic news items. Those who addressed the seminar included additional deputy commissioner Parveen Kumar, state president of Tarksheel Society Balwinder Jawandha, district president of Punjab Union of Journalists Jagseer Singh Sandhu and Bharat Bhushan Menon. Among others who were present, included SP (D) Balraj Singh Sidhu, principal Neelam Sharma, Gurjinder Singh Sidhu, deputy director, public relations, Gopal Singh Dardi and Vineet Sharma. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul and Darbara Singh Guru were honoured with mementoes by the chairman of the Electronic Media Club, Sukhcharanpreet Sukhi, president of the club, Asees Sharma, Jagdev Singh Sekhon, Balwant Sidhu, Baljinder Chauhan and Ravinder Palko.
	Protesters paralyse rail traffic in Malout Tribune News Service Malout/Muktsar, November 15 Residents of Malout town today paralysed rail traffic for almost two hours after squatting on the railway tracks, demanding the re-opening of the pedestrian pathway constructed under the railway overbridge that divides the city into two parts. People started lodging their protest this morning when the railway authorities removed the pathway, which otherwise facilitated the pedestrians. The agitators raised slogans against the railway authorities and the district administration. Meanwhile, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Amandeep Bansal reached the spot and after pacifying the protesters, persuaded them to lift their dharna. However, the blockade caused inconvenience to the railway passengers. Even the passenger train running between Ambala-Sri Ganganagar got delayed due because of the protest. It may be mentioned that the railway authorities had decided to close the pedestrian pathway after some stray cattle were killed when they came under a moving train here last Wednesday.
	BKU flays Centre for ‘freezing’ wheat MSP Tribune News Service Moga, November 15 The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) has condemned the union government's move on 'freezing' the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat crop and demanded that the government reconsider its decision keeping in view of the larger interests of the farmers of the country. At a meeting of the BKU held at Machike village under the leadership of its president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri, the farmers asked the union government to consider the recommendations made by the National Farmers' Commission on the MSP of the crops. They held both the union and the state governments responsible for the mess created in the grain markets over the purchase of paddy during the ongoing procurement season across the state. They further criticized the firing in Maharashtra on farmers who were demanding a hike in sugarcane price, which led to the death of two farmers. The office-bearers of the BKU observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to the deceased farmers. The BKU passed a resolution against the setting up of a nuclear power plant at Kadaikulum in Tamil Nadu by forcibly acquiring the fertile land of the farmers and using the police force to curb their agitation. The farmers also criticized the role of the state government and police machinery in the infamous Shruti kidnapping episode. The BKU leadership announced that they would participate in the agitation on November 27 being organized by various trade unions outside Nari Niketan at Jalandhar.

Farmers in border areas to get seeds at subsidised rates
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, November 15
Farmers belonging to this border region are being provided with superior variety of seeds at a subsidised rate which will not only ensure a higher yield of crop but also financial benefit to the growers. The step is being taken under the "National Seed Security Mission".

Giving details, Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju said under the scheme, 56 villages in six blocks of the district have been identified wherein the farmers will be provided around 3263 quintals of superior quality of certified seeds. A subsidy of Rs 500 per quintal was also being offered for this, he said. The DC said the aim was to help the farmers to procure a higher yield of crops and at the same time augment their earnings.

The DC said the seeds being provided to the farmers were certified by the experts from the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana. Only the recommended variety of seeds, including PBW-502, DBW-17. PBW-550 and PBW-621, were being given to the farmers under the scheme, he added.

Raju said that till date, 225 quintals of PBW- 502, 225 quintals of DBW-17, 250 quintals of PBW- 550 and 850 quintals of PBW- 621 seeds have been provided to the farmers.

As per the information, the cost of these seeds in the open market is Rs 2,250 per quintal whereas they were being provided to the farmers at the subsidised rate of Rs 1,750 per quintal.

Paramjit Singh Sandhu Chief Agriculture Officer, said in every selected village under the six blocks of the district, a group of around 100 farmers has been set up in which each farmer has been provided seeds for at least half an acre of land.

Sandhu said that starting from the process of sowing of the seeds to harvesting the department will organize three training camps for farmers in these villages.