B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Hunger strike: Health of spl trainer teacher worsens
Faridkot, May 24
As the health condition of the woman special trainer teacher (STT) who is on a hunger strike for four-week deteriorated, the district administration and the police swung into action to end the hunger strike. The authorities fear that the deteriorating health of the teacher may cause widespread protests and attract reaction from thousands of protesting teachers in the state.

Inquiry against Moga chief agricultural officer underway
Moga, May 24
A high-level inquiry by the Punjab Government into the allegations of corruption and dereliction of duty against Dr Darshan Singh Sandhu, Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) of the Moga district, continued on the second consecutive day.

Fazilka braves power crisis for 2nd day in row
Fazilka, May 24
On the second consecutive day, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) imposed a power cut from early morning till late evening leaving the residents high and dry as mercury rose to nearly 47 degree Celsius.

Hunger strike: Health of spl trainer teacher worsens
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, May 24
As the health condition of the woman special trainer teacher (STT) who is on a hunger strike for four-week deteriorated, the district administration and the police swung into action to end the hunger strike. The authorities fear that the deteriorating health of the teacher may cause widespread protests and attract reaction from thousands of protesting teachers in the state.

Beant Kaur (26) is on a hunger strike for the last four weeks and the doctors attending to her in the Civil Hospital, Faridkot, informed to the district authorities that her condition was highly critical.

"If she continues with her hunger strike and does not allow any medical interference, her life will be in danger," said the doctors.

The Deputy Commissioner and the SSP, Faridkot, today rushed to the Civil Hospital to prevail upon the teacher to end the hunger strike. But, Beant Kaur remained adamant on her demand of getting a permanent job.

The DC reportedly spoke to the higher authorities in Chandigarh and informed them about the situation.

Meanwhile, the police officers, who had gone to the Civil Hospital, Faridkot, to meet Beant Kaur faced a strong protest from other special trainer teachers.

About 1,894 STTs were employed in Punjab a few years ago at meagre remuneration to increase enrolment in government schools of the state and their services were terminated on March 31, 2013.

Demanding continuation of their job, these teachers are holding protests all over the state.

Sources revealed that 217 of these teachers are lodged in different jails of the state. They were arrested during protests held in the last one month.

Besides these teachers, 159 other language teachers are also in the jail. They are protesting against the government for not releasing arrears of their salaries.

The Hindi and Urdu language teachers, recruited under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Authority (RMSA) and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) had got their last salary on March 31, 2012.

"These teachers, including newly married girls and mothers of infants, have been denied access to their family members only for their fault of demanding their salaries," alleged Sunil Jakhar, who visited the Faridkot jail five days ago to meet the teachers.

Inquiry against Moga chief agricultural officer underway
Tribune News Service

Moga, May 24
A high-level inquiry by the Punjab Government into the allegations of corruption and dereliction of duty against Dr Darshan Singh Sandhu, Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) of the Moga district, continued on the second consecutive day.

The local officials of the Agriculture Department also carried out a protest against the CAO and sought his immediate transfer. They also demanded a departmental action against him.

The Principal Secretary of the department, Suresh Kumar, had directed Dr Gurdial Singh, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department to enquire into the allegations.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Gurdial Singh, who is camping in Moga for the past two days, said he had come here to record the statements of the agriculture officers, agriculture development officers and to enquire into the allegations of corruption against the CAO.

He said, “All the officials, including the CAO, have recorded their statements and I will look into every aspect of the complaint.”

The official said the enquiry will be completed in the next couple of days. He added that the report would be submitted to the Secretary of the department by Monday.

There were allegations that Dr Sandhu had made a "bogus" payment of Rs 1.5 lakh with regard to subsidy given on laser land-leveller to a local farmer without inviting open applications. As per the rules, applications need to be invited and then farmers should be selected by a draw before making subsidy payments. However, the CAO maintained that the General Assistant to District Magistrate Jyoti Bala had sanctioned the release of payment.

The employees also alleged that without inviting tenders or quotations, a payment of Rs 1,37,450 was released in advance by the CAO to purchase a bio-fertiliser from the Sai Bio Organics, a local firm. The owner of the firm, Aman Sharma, admitted that he had received the amount but was yet to supply the bio-fertiliser to the department. 

Fazilka braves power crisis for 2nd day in row
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, May 24
On the second consecutive day, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) imposed a power cut from early morning till late evening leaving the residents high and dry as mercury rose to nearly 47 degree Celsius.

The department had imposed a day-long power cut from 8 am to 7 pm yesterday. The supply is being frequently disrupted for the last three months on the pretext of laying a double cable circuit from 220-KV power station at Ghubaya to Fazilka. The old circuit and connector are unable to bear the ever rising demand of power.

“At least four more day-long power cuts shall have to be imposed to complete the work,” said an official posted at the power grid station.