This is for the first time that the rates were increased during the past 12 years, as earlier, the transporters never allowed the PRTC to raise the fees. We started collecting the fees as per the revised prices and everything was going well till around 3.30 pm when a section of private transporters raised a hue and cry over the increase in fees.
— Jaswinder chahal area traffic manager, bus stand

A mini-bus carrying passengers exits the bus stand four times a day. In view of the poor condition of the transporters, the 50 per cent hike in the fees (from ~10 to ~15) is not acceptable. Till the revised rates are not withdrawn, mini-buses will continue to pick passengers from outside the bus stand.
— Baltej Singh wandar President, mini-bus Operators union

Bathinda, July 12
The Government Rajindra College will not be able to offer a course in hotel management this year too. The course, which was to be offered starting the last academic season, has got delayed by one more year.

For long, the process of fulfilling all the requisites to begin the course has been underway. The college authorities had planned to begin the admission procedure for a diploma courses in food and beverage service, and food production last year along with other courses.

A year on, the project is still facing several roadblocks. “To begin with, the building which is to be used for the course is yet to be completed by the Public Works Department. There are several other formalities as well which have to be fulfilled,” said the principal of the college, Vijay Goyal.

The building is being constructed next to the boys’ hostel on the premises of the college. Apart from the incomplete building, the college authorities are yet to procure equipment required to start both the courses.

Manvinder Singh, a lecturer in the college who is looking after the project, said, “The Public Works Department is yet to hand over the building to the college authorities. Although the government has released a grant of Rs 50 lakh to buy the equipment required for the courses, we will begin procuring the equipment only after we get the charge of the building.”

He also shared that once the building is complete, the college authorities will start dealing with other formalities.

Expressing hope that the college will be able to offer the course starting the academic session 2014-15, Manvinder Singh said the college authorities would get the syllabus approved by the Punjabi University, Patiala, and begin recruitment of teachers as per the guidelines of the university.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the project has got delayed. The project started in the year 2008 and a letter was sent to the DPI on June 22, 2009. The project was taken up again after the Punjabi University, Patiala, to which the college is affiliated, asked the college authorities to begin the courses starting the academic session 2012-13.

Bathinda, July 12
The entrance test for admission to research programmes at the Central University of Punjab is being organised on July 14 at the city campus of the university on the Bathinda-Mansa road.

Applications were invited for admission to MPhil-PhD programmes in biosciences, comparative literature, development economics, environmental science and technology, South and Central Asian studies, and integrated MPharm-PhD programme in pharmaceutical sciences (medicinal chemistry).

Candidates appearing for the examination have been issued roll numbers to be downloaded from the university’s website.

The examination is being conducted by the Central University of Rajasthan on behalf of the 10 newly-established Central Universities, at 59 different centres spread across the country.

Keeping in view the large number of candidates appearing for the test, the entrance examination has been planned to be conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of undergraduate courses, the test for which was conducted on June 2. The test for post-graduate courses was conducted on June 15-16 while that for the research programmes like MPhil-PhD integrated programmes is to be held on July 14.

The results of the entrance examination being held on July 14 will be declared on July 30. 

Bathinda, July 12
As many as 18,508 girl students have taken admission in Classes IX to XII in government high schools and government senior secondary schools of the district this academic session.

The figure has been arrived at following the data collected by the office of the District Education Officer (Secondary Education), Harkanwaljeet Kaur, for submitting it with the Department of Public Instructions (DPI), Secondary.

In the last week of June, the DPI had issued a letter to the heads of all the government schools of the state to furnish details of all the girl students studying in Classes IX to XII in their respective schools. The DPI had sought these details to ascertain the number of girls who need to be given bicycles under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme of the state government.

As per the office of the DEO, there are as many as 80 senior secondary schools and 90 high schools in the district. As many as 6,377 girls have taken admission in Class IX this academic session. The number of girls who took admission in Class X this year stands at 5,042. While there are 3799 girls in Class XI, 3290 girls have taken admission in Class XII in the government schools in the district.

When asked if the cycles had been delivered for the girl students, Amardeep Singh, who is handling the project at the office of the DEO, said, "The DPI had asked us to send the data of the girls. We are not aware of the number of cycles that will reach us to be distributed among the girls."

The SAD-BJP Government had started the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme to encourage girls to continue their studies. Free bicycles were to be distributed among those girl students of Classes XI and XII who had to commute long distances to pursue their studies in schools located in other villages.

The scheme has, however, not been on the right track. While as many as 5,166 bicycles were distributed in the district in the year 2011-12, not even a single cycle was provided in the district in the financial year 2012-13.

While the Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development had directed the DEO to send across the number of beneficiaries from the district for the financial year 2011-12, no such information was sought for the year 2012-13. However, the data under the scheme has been sought this year, which raises hope among the beneficiaries. 

Bathinda, July 12
A delegation of the ETT Teachers Union today submitted a memorandum of demands to the state government through the office of the Deputy Commissioner here.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, Jagsir Sahota, the district president of the union, said, "We recently came to know that the state government is about to put an end to the Assured Career Progress (ACP) scheme. We submitted a memorandum expressing our displeasure in this regard and asked the government to refrain from going ahead with the idea."

In the absence of the DC, the memorandum was handed over to the District Revenue Officer.

Under the ACP scheme, the teachers who completed four years of service became eligible for promotions and additional increments apart from annual increment.

"The government had said that since it could not give promotions to all the teachers who completed four years of service, it would give additional increment. Now, the government is about to escape that responsibility as well by putting an end to the scheme," Sahota added.

He said earlier, the government had put an end to their promotions and now it was all set to stop their additional increment which would restrict their professional as well as financial growth.

The union also demanded that the schools which are being run under the aegis of the Panchayati Raj be brought under the Education Department. The union argued that the drawing and disbursing powers of such schools was in the hands of the Block Development Officers who knew little about the requirements of an academic institution.

"There are as many as 123 schools in the district which are being run under the Panchayati Raj. The future of teachers and students of the schools is in a limbo as these schools are supervised both by the Rural Development Department and the Education Department, both of which have different sets of rules," he said. 

We recently came to know that the state government is about to put an end to the ACP scheme. We submitted a memorandum expressing our displeasure in this regard and asked the government to refrain from going ahead with the idea. Earlier, the government had said that since it could not give promotions to all the teachers who completed four years of service, it would give additional increment. Now, the government is about to escape that responsibility as well by putting an end to the scheme.
— Jagsir Sahota Dist president, ETT Teachers unioin

Bathinda, July 12
Met Life Insurance Company Limited, now PNB Met Life, has been directed by the Consumer Forum to refund Rs 1.5 lakhs taken from a resident of the Veer Colony on the pretext of selling him an insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh in lieu of Rs 50,000. Later, the city resident was told to deposit two more instalments of Rs 50,000 despite paying a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh. The insurance company returned him mere Rs 32,999.

Chiranji Lal, complainant, accused PNB Met Life, near Haji Rattan, Bathinda, of selling him the policy for Rs 50,000 in January 2010. Thecomplainant said initially he was told that he could withdraw his money anytime and it would be returned along with interest.

He was, however, returned only Rs 32,999 despite paying a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh in three instalments. The complainant alleged that neither any cover note nor separate terms and conditions were provided to him. In 2011, when the complainant approached the opposite party to refund Rs 50,000, he was told to pay two more instalments of Rs 1.5 lakh in 2011 and 2012.

Under the forced circumstances, the complainant paid Rs 1 lakh in two instalments.The firm sent a cheque of Rs 32,319 to the complainant .

Pleading before the bench, the company stated that the complainant was informed about the terms and conditions of the policy after which he signed and offered an annual premium of Rs 50,000, thereafter, the policy documents, schedule and standard terms, along with the welcome letter were dispatched to the complainant through courier. The insurance firm stated that it was clearly written in their welcome letter that in case, the complainant disagreed with the terms and conditions of the policy, he could return the policy within 15 days.

The company stated that the complainant had paid only one premium as a result of which the policy was moved to premium discontinuance status and was auto foreclosed. The foreclosure amount of Rs 32,319.97 was refunded to the complainant and cheque was dispatched to him by courier.

After hearing the arguments, the Forum observed that the insurance company had failed to prove that the documents, including covering letter and welcome letter, were received by the complainant. The Forum held that the firm had failed to place on file any photocopy of any document to prove their version and in such circumstances, the version of the complainant seemed to be correct that no policy along with terms and conditions were provided to him.

Keeping in view the facts, circumstances and the evidence, there was deficiency in the service provided by the insurance firm as at the time of effecting the insurance, the company got signed the the proposal form which did not contain detailed terms and conditions and thereafter without supplying any policy along with terms and conditions to the complainant or any welcome letter, foreclosed the policy and deducted such a huge amount without furnishing him any details, the forum observed.

The Forum held that the complaint was partly accepted with Rs 2500 as cost and compensation. The insurance firm has been directed to refund the premium amount deposited by the complainant (Rs. 1.5 lakh) after deducting proportionate risk premium for the period on cover and the expenses incurred by the insurer on medical examination of the proposer and stamp duty charges. The firm has also been directed to furnish the complete details of the deductions. 

The Forum observed that the insurance company has failed to prove that the documents, including covering letter and welcome letter, were received by the complainant. The Forum held that the firm has failed to place on file any photocopy of any document to prove their version and in such circumstances, the version of the complainant seemed to be correct that no policy along with terms and conditions were provided to him.

Bathinda, July 12
Members of the district Youth Congress staged a protest on Friday against the extravagance of the Punjab Government, which is spending lakhs of rupees for the purchase of expensive luxury BMW cars.

Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader Ashu Thakur said the purchase of such cars for the personal use of Badal family was a mockery of the people who were paying high taxes and shedding more on power bills in the state.

"People do not have money and have been forced to curtail their use of electricity due to skyrocketing electricity bills. The government do not have funds to pay salary to its employees, but it is spending money to purchase such vehicles," Ashu said.

"Almost every business is on the verge of closure in Punjab and the industry is moving out of the state. Property taxes have broken the back of poor and middle class people," he added. 

Bathinda, July 12
Technolothon-The International School Championship- will be held at Lord Rama School on July 14. The examination is conducted by Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, across India as part of its annual techno-management festival "Techniche".

Although the online registration for this aptitude exam has been closed, interested students can take part in the competition through on-the-spot registration before 10 am. Students of Class IX-XII can take part in the competition.

The contestants will have to appear for the examination in pairs. Those who make it to the mains, will be invited to IIT, Guwahati, during "Techniche", where they will contest to bag the championship.

Laptops will be awarded to each of the winning participant during the championship at IIT Guwahati.

Bathinda, July 12
A six weeks NDA/CDS written examination coaching programme, being conducted by the District Defence Services Welfare Office concluded here today. As many as 32 candidates were enrolled - general category (16), wards of ex-servicemen (11), SC/STs (5) and three female candidates- for the programme. In addition to the written examination, coaching, interactions with senior Army, Navy and Air Force officers were also organised to give the candidates an overview of the respective services. The candidates were also briefed about the procedures and guidelines for appearing in the Service Selection Board exam.

Speaking during a farewell function at Sainik Vocational Training Centre, Commodore R S Virk (retd), DSWO, expressed his gratitude towards the faculty members - Monika Singh, principal, Police Public School, Roshan Singh, Iti Behl and Harsimrat Kaur - for their tireless efforts in imparting coaching to the candidates.

Capt D K Sharma, Commanding Officer, 3 Punjab Naval NCC Unit, Bathinda, was the chief guest on the occasion. He also applauded the dedication and the zeal of the candidates and thanked them for their cooperation and discipline during the course. The candidates were confident about their success in the SSB exam and said the result-oriented training approach adopted during the coaching would certainly beneifit them. 

Bathinda, July 12
A deputation of the SC-BC Teachers' Union met District Education Officer (Elementary Education) Dr Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta recently. The deputation was headed by the union’s district president Chet Ram and chief organiser Mahinder Pal Singh.

The union members said the DEO had promised them that the transparency would be maintained during the transfer of teachers and the process would be undertaken as per the rules and regulations of the Education Department. The DEO also assured that a preference would be given to the physically-impaired teachers, widows, those suffering from chronic ailments and unmarried teachers.

She also assured them that scholarships for the students belonging to backward classes will be released soon. The union was assured that an action would be taken against the teachers using fake SC, BC certificates to get jobs in the Education Department. —TNS

Bathinda, July 12
Students of government schools in the district, who passed the PSEB Class X exam with a score of 80 per cent were made aware about various career options during a counselling camp in the city recently.

As many as 266 students from 80 senior secondary schools and 93 high schools from the district were present present during during the camp. Dr Jaspal Singh, a senior professor at Punjabi University, Patiala, was present to make the students aware about various career options.

Bathinda, July 12
A body of an unidentified man was found under a tree near the Bathinda railway station. The man appears to be 60 years of age and the matter was brought into the notice of volunteers of NGO Sahara Jan Sewa, which helped in shifting the body to the Civil Hospital.

The police was informed about the incident and inquest proceedings were initiated in this connection under Section 174 of the CrPc.

The volunteers said the unidentified man was a vagabond and had been putting up outside the railway station for the past sometime.