J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

HC issues notice of motion to state govt, EC and others
Chandigarh, May 13
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Punjab Government, State Election Commission, Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Surinder Singh Bullewal on a petition filed in public interest for transparency in reservation and rotation of the post of sarpanches in the state during the impending panchayat elections.

Zila parishad and block samiti polls
Electioneering going on in full swing; SAD, Congress face factionalism  
Nawanshahr, May 13
Electioneering for the zila parishad and block samiti polls scheduled for May 19 has been going on in full swing in the district. Though the political parties, including the ruling SAD and the opposition Congress, have been facing undercurrents of factionalism, the leaders of both the parties are evading the issue on the pretext that all of them are trying at their best to strengthen the party at the grass-root level.

MoU for medical concessions to NRIs
Ludhiana, May 13
With an aim to promote medical tourism in the state, the government is asking reputed private hospitals to provide health facilities at discounted rates to non-resident Indians (NRIs).

HC issues notice of motion to state govt, EC and others
Move comes in the wake of a PIL seeking transparency in the reservation for sarpanches during the panchayat election 
Tribune News Service

The petition

The petitioner alleged that the Deputy Commissioners concerned were misusing their powers, and declaring seats of sarpanch as reserved or otherwise at their whim

Zila parishad and block samiti polls 
Electioneering going on in full swing; SAD, Congress face factionalism 
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, May 13
Electioneering for the zila parishad and block samiti polls scheduled for May 19 has been going on in full swing in the district. Though the political parties, including the ruling SAD and the opposition Congress, have been facing undercurrents of factionalism, the leaders of both the parties are evading the issue on the pretext that all of them are trying at their best to strengthen the party at the grass-root level.

As in the Assembly election held last year, the strength of the ruling SAD was reduced to one seat only in the district and the Congress could not manage to form the government in the state. Both the ruling and the opposition parties here in the district are desperate to gain their ground at the grass-root level. Moreover, due to the death of both the main leaders- former SAD MLA Jatinder Singh Kariha and former Congress MLA Parkash Singh before the previous Assembly polls, the widows of both these arch political rivals- Bibi Satinder Kaur Kariha (SAD) and local Congress MLA Gur Iqbal Kaur Babli, have been struggling to strengthen their position. Moreover, the PPP-led Sanjha Morcha and the BSP had not only faced electoral setbacks in the previous Assembly polls, but some important leaders, including Dr SK Sukhi, who had contested the last Lok Sabha election, as the SP candidate from Hoshiarpur had joined the SAD in the recent past. Consequently, new political equations and electoral alliances have emerged here in the district. In the Balachaur Assembly segment, the Congress, Sanjha Morcha and BSP have joined hands against the ruling SAD. In some zones, the BSP and PPP-led Sanjha Morcha have joined hands. As the political leaders belonging to different parties, including the ruling SAD, are busy making shrewd moves and counter moves to ensure victory, hence, the electioneering is going on more or less peaceful. Even district Congress president Satvir Singh Palli Jhkki said barring minor incidents, there was no major complaint of coercion or threats from the ruling party. "The Congress has come from the phase of despondency after facing electoral defeat in the last Assembly polls. Besides, the opposition has united to expose the hollow promises and the anti-people policies of the SAD," said Satvir Singh, while claiming that the positive and encouraging response of the people and the infighting in the ruling SAD would certainly yield electoral results.

Jagteshwar Singh Majhitha, son-in-law of SAD leader Bibi Satinder Kaur Kariha and Dr SK Sukhi, while claiming sweeping victory for the SAD, said the electoral alliance between the Congress, PPP-led Sanjha Morcha and BSP in some zones in the district could do no harm, as most of the prominent leaders and workers of the PPP and BSP had already joined the SAD in the recent past. The people would repose their faith in the development and welfare policies of the SAD.

As many as 27 candidates are in the fray for the 10 Zila Parishad zones and 223 candidates for the 86 Block Samiti zones in the district. As many as 560 polling booths have been set up and 2,500 employees and 1,700 cops have been deputed on poll duty. HS Pabla, poll observer, had asked the district administration and the staff put on the poll duty to ensure free and impartial polls.

MoU for medical concessions to NRIs
Anupam Bhagria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 13
With an aim to promote medical tourism in the state, the government is asking reputed private hospitals to provide health facilities at discounted rates to non-resident Indians (NRIs).

"Private hospitals are being approached by the state health department for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government. Once a hospital signs the MoU, it would be impanelled to provide subsidised treatment to NRIs. The hospitals have been asked to provide 10 to 15 per cent concession to NRIs for any kind of treatment. NRIs will be issued a privilege card for availing the facility," said a source.

Health treatments are very costly in foreign countries and the waiting list of patients is too long. Therefore, a majority of the NRIs prefer to get their treatment in India.

The Medical Superintendent, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, said, "I got verbal instructions about this from a health officer today. We have been instructed to sign an MoU for giving 10 per cent discount to NRI patients."

A senior doctor of another private hospital said, "It is ironical that NRIs, who can easily afford any treatment, will be given discounts. Instead, they should be charged extra money and discounts should be given to poor and needy patients."

Promoting medical tourism

Private hospitals are being approached by the Health Department for signing an MoU with the state government

Once this is done, the hospital will be impanelled to provide subsidised treatment to the NRIs

The hospitals will then have to give 10 to 15 per cent concession to NRIs for any kind of treatment

The NRIs will be issued a privilege card for making use of the facility 

Officials fail to submit report to SC panel

Chandigarh, May 13
Punjab Government officials, who had been summoned by the National Scheduled Castes Commission to present an action taken report on the non-implementation of the SC Sub-Plan funds, failed to produce the relevant documents again. The funds were to the tune of Rs 4,039 crore.

Petitioner Paramjit Singh Kainth, president of the Chamar Mahan Sabha, said Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh and Finance Secretary DP Reddy did not appear at the hearing at Loknayak Bhawan. Welfare Secretary Anurag Aggarwal, Pirthi Chand, Director, Welfare Department, and joint secretary SCSP Chaman Lal were among those who were present. When asked about the absence of the Chief Secretary, they said he was “indisposed”. — TNS