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Fee waiver: Partial relief for girls
Faridkot, April 18
Three weeks after the Punjab Education Department decided to withdraw its order to provide free education to poor girl students, the department took a U-turn rescinding its decision but to a limited effect.

Potholed road: F’pur residents mull legal route
Ferozepur, April 18
Hundreds of residents belonging to the Guru Nagar area and surrounding localities today blocked the Ferozepur-Zira road near the grain market in protest against the pitiable condition of the road which has withered due to the overflowing sewage. Ironically, this stretch of road was recently recarpeted by the Public Works Department (PWD).

Cong leaders dwell on causes of defeat in Assembly polls
Bathinda, April 18
Senior Congress activists of the Malwa region today complained that the growing nepotism within the organization and the ill timed elections for the Youth Congress were responsible for the defeat of the party in the last assembly elections in Punjab.

EARLIER STORIES

	Chief Secretary visits Bathinda villages April 18, 2013
	Pollution Control Board cracks the whip on MC April 17, 2013
	Edu Dept extends deadline to send self-declaration forms April 16, 2013
	Bathinda family warns of protest in Sriganganagar April 15, 2013
	HC tells Mansa SSP to probe the charge April 12, 2013
	Probe ordered into pension scam in F’kot village April 10, 2013
	Prisoner hangs himself to death in Central Jail April 9, 2013
	Kameana prefers its own water supply April 8, 2013
	FIR lodged against ASI, Akali sarpanch April 6, 2013

	Fee waiver: Partial relief for girls Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, April 18 Three weeks after the Punjab Education Department decided to withdraw its order to provide free education to poor girl students, the department took a U-turn rescinding its decision but to a limited effect. Now, free education will be available only to 30 per cent of the students from the weaker sections in the rural areas and 20 per cent of such students in government schools in the urban areas. In the orders issued by Anjali Bhanwra, principal secretary (School Education) today, all District Education Officers (DEOs) and school heads have been informed that 30 per cent of the girl students studying in Class IX to XII in the rural areas and 20 per cent girl students in the urban areas will not be charged any fee if they belong to BPL families or if their father was dead or if they belonged to landless families and had no other source of income except labour. The school principal will identify such girl students to allow them fee waiver, the principal secretary has directed. Earlier on March 31, the education department had withdrawn its earlier fee concession orders of June 2010, July 2011 and August 2012. This withdrawal of the fee concession led to political bashing, accusing the state government of announcing the fee waiver as a populist measure aimed at garnering votes in the assembly elections. Two years ago, after the state government had decided to waive the fees of girl students studying in Class IX to XII in government as well as aided schools in the state, these students were asked not to pay admission fee, re-admission fee, amalgamated fund and sports fund. But after the withdrawal of the fee waiver on March 31, 2013, in addition to the monthly school tuition fees, students were required to make various other fee payments, which would total up to around Rs 2,500 per year, including a monthly fee of Rs 15 for the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), Rs 10 for sports and Rs 5 for cultural activities, besides an annual fee of Rs 240 at the time of admission. But now with a limited relief only to students from weaker sections of society, the schools will be able to collect funds from 70 per cent Class IX to XII students in the rural areas and 80 per cent girl students in the rural areas. Up to Class VIII, all students are already being provided free-of-cost education in government schools.
	Potholed road: F’pur residents mull legal route Our Correspondent Ferozepur, April 18 Hundreds of residents belonging to the Guru Nagar area and surrounding localities today blocked the Ferozepur-Zira road near the grain market in protest against the pitiable condition of the road which has withered due to the overflowing sewage. Ironically, this stretch of road was recently recarpeted by the Public Works Department (PWD). However, it has been damaged badly due to the overflowing sewage. Angrej Singh, a local resident, said large potholes have come up on this portion of the road which acts as death trap for the commuters. Several accidents involving women and school-going children have taken place here during the last few days. “We have made several representations to the administration and the local body to rectify the problem, but in vain.” said Gurpreet Singh, another resident who lives in the area. “The road that goes to the cremation ground has not yet been constructed. Even those roads which were recently constructed have been damaged beyond repair causing utter loss to the state exchequer,” said Harjinder Singh. At several locations in the city, the overflowing sewage has also been posing serious hazards to the safety of the passersby. In the past also, the residents have resorted to protests but the various departments including the municipal committee, sewerage board besides the PWD have been busy passing on the buck to shirk their own responsibility. Earlier too, hundreds of van and auto-rickshaw drivers had staged a massive protest following which the then ADC Gurmel Singh and MC president Ashwani Grover had assured of necessary action. However, the situation has only worsened. As per the information, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) has laid a new sewerage line on this road near the grain market. But instead of providing any relief, it has become a source of nuisance for the residents of nearby colonies who have to stand the stinking smell of stagnant water every day. A section of the residents have now decided to adopt a legal course to make the authorities improve the sanitary conditions and roads in the town.
	Cong leaders dwell on causes of defeat in Assembly polls SP Sharma Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 18 Senior Congress activists of the Malwa region today complained that the growing nepotism within the organization and the ill timed elections for the Youth Congress were responsible for the defeat of the party in the last assembly elections in Punjab. They also expressed the apprehension that a similar trend might continue in the Lok Sabha elections next year if remedial measures were not taken immediately by the party high command. The Congress activists ventilated their views at a daylong workshop that was organised here to involve the grass-roots workers in building the organization. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar, organization in-charge Harish Chaudhary and coordinator Devinder Yadav were among those present at the meeting. Most activists from the seven districts of the region were critical of the Congress leadership for giving preferential treatment to the "paratroopers" from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over those who have remained loyal to the party. Congress tickets at several places were given to those from the SAD who had joined the Congress after being denied the ticket by their parent organization. Many participants pointed out that holding of the elections of office-bearers of the Youth Congress shortly before the assembly polls was a wrong step as this created factionalism that reflected badly in the assembly elections. They were also critical of the party leadership delaying the announcement of candidates for the elections. Leaders of various frontal organizations complained that they were given step-motherly treatment and not given an opportunity to speak at the meeting. Subhash Lohakar and Malkiat Singh, chairman of the OBC wing of the Congress in Muktsar and Faridkot, respectively, said they were not allowed to speak despite their repeated requests.
	Hearing adjourned in murder case of ex-DGP Gill’s father Moga, April 18 District and sessions judge of Moga, Karamjit Singh Kang, today adjourned the arguments in the murder case of former Congress MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, father of ex-DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, in which an Indian-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh Gill is facing the murder charges. The court has fixed April 25 as the next date of hearing in the case. The arguments of the defence counsel would resume on that day. The local lawyers had suspended the work of the local courts on Thursday as one of their colleagues had died at Faridkot and most lawyers had gone to attend the cremation. It may be mentioned that arguments had begun in the high-profile case more than two years after the evidences were closed by the court. — TNS
	Fate of CSS teachers sealed as Centre discontinues scheme Our Correspondent Abohar, April 18 The fate of hundreds of teachers recruited under the Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) stands sealed as they were informed today that their contract was over since the Central Government had not extended the scheme. The heads of the government schools were told to pass on the information to the teachers concerned immediately and send confirmation in this regard. Notably, the CSS and other teachers had on March 23 organised a rally at Ludhiana to express resentment over the lackadaisical attitude of the state government. They felt cheated as lobbyists in the ruling alliance had succeeded in getting their rally scheduled for February 15 at Moga postponed by assuring that their meeting would be organised with the Chief Minister after the Moga polls on March 3. Earlier the Public Information officer in the office of the Director General School Education had vide letter number RTI/RMSA/2013/0286 dated January 1, 2013 informed that period of posts advertised under the CSS scheme was over since the Central Government had discontinued the scheme. There will be no recruitment. The file to consider adjusting the teachers who were working under the CSS in the Education Department is under the consideration of the Director Public Instructions (DPI). Proceedings are in the pipeline to pay salary to the CSS teachers for the past 10 months, the letter read. It visibly appears that the state government intends to get rid of its legal liability over continuing the service besides payment of salary for the past one year, sources said. The teachers concerned might decide a course of action after consulting the state leadership of their union.