The

P U N J A B

Monday July 6, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Labourers laying brick flooring in street 6, Bibiwala road in Bathinda

'25 per cent pregnant women in Punjab anaemic'
AMRITSAR, July 5 — Punjabis, irrespective of their financial status, are well-known for their eating habits but when it comes to spending a few extra rupees on nutritious food required by their wives during pregnancy, they prefer to tighten their pockets...

Nishan-e-Khalsa design okayed
CHANDIGARH, July 5 — The executive committee of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation today approved the design of the proposed "Nishan-e-Khalsa" at Anandpur Sahib...

Residents show the way
BATHINDA: Residents of street no 6 on the Bibiwala road here has set an example by financing on their own the civil amenities in their locality...

"SAD let down BJP in panchayat poll"
FEROZEPORE, July 5 — The BJP is unhappy over the performance of its alliance partner — the SAD, which not only is ingnoring the BJP but, also trying to demoralise BJP men...

Is govt a champion of farmers' cause?
BATHINDA, July 5 — Is the SAD-BJP government of the state, which claims to be a champion of farmers' interests, really a well-wisher of that community? ...

Teachers await appointment letters
GURDASPUR, July 5 — As many as 1500 selected teachers who are moving from pillar to post for getting appointment letters in spite of directions from the High Court ...

Disappearance of girl a puzzle
NAWANSHAHR, July 5 — The mysterious disappearance of Sunaina, daughter of Mr Shivjit Kumar Sood, a lecturer in a local college, who was married on January 25 in the nearby Bheen village, has become a puzzle for the parents, in-laws and the police...

'25 per cent pregnant women
in Punjab anaemic'
AMRITSAR, July 5 (UNI) — Punjabis, irrespective of their financial status, are well-known for their eating habits but when it comes to spending a few extra rupees on nutritious food required by their wives during pregnancy, they prefer to tighten their pockets.
This came to the fore when the state Family Welfare Department conducted a fortnight-long 'safe motherhood campaign' in rural areas and slum areas of urban localities in the state from June one.
The doctors involved in the campaign collected data on pregnancy- related problems from all districts in the state and were astonished to find that even in an advanced state like Punjab, incidences of anaemia in pregnant women were very high.
According to Dr P.S. Jassi, the director of the department, as many as 2,69,281 pregnant women were examined during the campaign out of which 25.43 per cent were found to be anaemic. During pregnancy,

women are something special and they have to be fed and looked after well but this does not seem to be the case in rural Punjab in particular Dr Jassi said while referring to the data collected during the campaign.
The 'safe motherhood campaign', which was appreciated by the World Health Organisation (who), also brought to light the fact that little or no care was taken of pregnant women in rural Punjab.
Pregnancy is not considered a special occasion here, where the woman needs more nutritious food and must be cared for, both physically and mentally, Dr Jassi added.
Wife-beating, even during their advanced stages of pregnancy, was still quite common in rural areas of the state and this was particularly so where the husbands regularly consumed alcohol, the campaign revealed.
A large number of women examined during the campaign revealed that their failure to bear a male child often led to tensions in the house and both the husbands as well as mothers-in law had a significant hand in this problem.

During the campaign, it was also found that pregnant women in rural areas did not go in for periodical check-ups for which the main blame lay on the husbands and the women's in-laws.
Of the 30,000-odd would-be-mothers examined in Amritsar district, 9496 were anaemic while in Ludhiana this figure was 8901 followed by Hoshiarpur where the number of anaemic expectant mothers were around 7,000. Muktsar district had the lowest number of anaemic cases at 188, followed by Gurdaspur where there were just 253 such cases out of the nearly 25,000 pregnant women examined.
The study also revealed that though a Punjabi woman during pregnancy may be suffering from anaemia, she was far more healthier than those from other states. Only 1.23 per cent pregant women were found to be underweight.
Likewise, incidences of high blood pressure were as low as 1.87 per cent and urine problems associated with pregnancy was just 0.53 per cent.

"SAD let down BJP in panchayat poll"
From Our Correspondent
FEROZEPORE, July 5 — The BJP is unhappy over the performance of its alliance partner — the SAD, which not only is ingnoring the BJP but, also trying to demoralise BJP men under a conspiracy.
Stating this here today, the BJP's state general secretary, (organisation), Mr Jagmohan Kaura added that the SAD tried its best to keep away the BJP from panchayat elections.
He added that the SAD reserved for women and SCs those panchayats which were dominated by the BJP. Besides, there were a large number of complaints that nomination papers of the BJP backed candidates were rejected at the behest of the SAD.
Mr Kaura said that the state unit of the BJP felt that attitude of the SAD towards the BJP was against the spirit of party alliance.

He said, it was a matter of regret that the BJP men were insulted by majority of Akali ministers whenever they went to them for public causes. He added, "we can tolerate anything. But, the insult of BJP workers can never be tolerated."
Mr Kaura told that BJP leaders also felt that the SAD did not take into confidence the BJP men while making important transfers and appointments in the state.
He said, the Akalis should not forget that there the SAD-BJP combine government was ruling the state and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal should take all important decision only after taking into confidence its ally, the BJP.
Mr Kaura said, under minimum common programme, the BJP had also made some promises to the people of Punjab and the party was bound to fulfil those promises. But, this could be possible only if there was coordination between the SAD and the BJP.
He added that all these matters were discussed at a recent meeting of the state body of the BJP under the presidentship of Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, MP.

Nishan-e-Khalsa design okayed
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 5 — The executive committee of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation today approved the design of the proposed "Nishan-e-Khalsa" at Anandpur Sahib.
The foundation of the Rs 60 crore project will be laid sometime in October next. The design has been prepared by Mr Satnam Singh, architect, after taking into consideration inputs provided by several Sikh scholars, historians and religious leaders.
The executive decided that a meeting of the foundation be convened to put its seal of approval on the project.
The central piece "khanda" (double-edged sword) will be fabricated abroad. It will be made of special steel and alloys rising 300 ft.
Prominent among those who went over details of the project design included the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. The Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh

Sahib. Bhai Manjit Singh and Capt Kanwaljit Singh were also present, besides the executive committee Chairman, Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, MP.
The project is estimated to be completed during the tricentenary celebrations. The "Nishan-e-Khalsa" is being projected as an "ajooba" (wonder). The task of designing the "nek" was stupendous because it also includes a pentagonal museum gallery to depict the birth of the Khalsa. Concept designs take as much time as construction itself of museum of such magnitude.
The "Nishan-e-Khalsa" is expected to become fairly visible only by Baisakhi 2000, though, the 300 years of the birth of Khalsa falls next year i.e. 1999.
The Chief Minister also released a Gurbani cassette of Shafqat Ali Khan. It has been produced by HMV. It carries the logos of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation as well as of the tricentenary birth of the Khalsa.
The organising secretary of the tri-centenary celebrations, Mr D.S. Jaspal, explained the design concept to the committee.

Is govt a champion of farmers' cause?
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service
BATHINDA, July 5 — Is the SAD-BJP government of the state, which claims to be a champion of farmers' interests, really a well-wisher of that community?
The answer comes to negative if the fact that Markfed is selling urea and DAP fertilisers to the farmers through cooperative societies at rates much higher than those prevailing in the open market is any indicator.
The cooperative societies are selling a 50-kg bag at the rate of Rs 183 against the open market price of Rs 170 and DAP fertiliser at Rs 415 against the open market price of Rs 400.
Though Markfed is selling these commodities to small and merginal farmers on a credit basis through the cooperative societies, the farmers will have to pay 15 per cent interest on the total amount per annum.

Taking all figures into account, small and marginal farmers are paying 4 per cent to 6 per cent more for these fertilisers than the rate prevailing in the open market.
Markfed which has captured the 70 per cent market share of these fertilisers will earn about Rs 20 crore from small and marginal farmers who are already in great debt. The urea requirement of the state in the current paddy and cotton season is about 10 lakh MT and DAP required is about 1.5 lakh MT.
Facing a severe cash crunch, small and marginal farmers who had already pledged their land holdings to procure various loans had adopted this novel way to raise cash. The farmers taking fertilisers from Markfed on credit through the cooperative societies and selling their entire stock of urea and DAP to big farmers at throwaway prices.
The Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala, when asked this question at a Press conference here recently said the overhead expenditure of Markfed was more than the private traders. He said private traders were selling urea and DAP without taking any profit.
Mr K.K. Dixit, DM of Markfed, said they were selling urea to cooperative societies at the rate of Rs 171.75 per 50 kg bag and it was the cooperative societies which were further selling fertilisers to the farmers by fixing their own prices.
He said during the current crop season, the sale of urea and DAP by Markfed was going up as compared to the last year as due to financial crises, more farmers were opting to buy from Markfed on credit through cooperative societies.

Teachers await appointment letters
From Our Correspondent
GURDASPUR, July 5 — As many as 1500 selected teachers who are moving from pillar to post for getting appointment letters in spite of directions from the High Court to issue them appointment letters by June 23 have given an ultimatum to the Punjab government to issue them appointment letters by July 15 failing which they threatened to start "jail bharo" movement along with their families and move the high court for contempt.
According to a spokesman of "selected" teachers it was in January 1996 that 300 vacancies of teacher were advertised in newspapers against which 12000 applications were received. District selection committees with district education officers of the respective districts as head were constituted which made selections from November 21 to 28, 1996.
The high court issued instructions to declare the merit list of the candidates which was published in the newspapers on December 3, 1996.

The spokesmen said that 1500 selected teachers were issued appointment letters whereas the remaining 1500 selected teachers were awaiting appointment letters.
The spokesman said that Mr Ved Prakash, one of the selected teachers move of the high court seeking directions to the Education Department to issue them appointment letters. Consequently the high court directed the Punjab government to comply by June 23, 1998.
The spokesman added that the Punjab government published a notice in the newspapers that selected teachers should reach Panjab University campus between April 21 and 28, 1998 to get appointment letters. The selected teachers including Mrs Reena who had given birth to a child and was in a serious condition, reached Chandigarh to obtain appointment letters but in vain. The officials of the Education Department put them off by saying that they should return home and appointment letters would be issued to them within 10 days but no appointment letter had been issued so far.

Disappearance of girl a puzzle
From Our Correspondent
NAWANSHAHR, July 5 — The mysterious disappearance of Sunaina, daughter of Mr Shivjit Kumar Sood, a lecturer in a local college, who was married on January 25 in the nearby Bheen village, has become a puzzle for the parents, in-laws and the police.
Sunaina has been missing since June 11 from the computer centre, which she runs along with her husband Subodh Kumar at Nawanshahr.
Mr Sood, with tears in his eyes, told mediapersons here today that the in-laws of his daughter were demanding more dowry and had started harassing her on one pretext or the other. He complained that the police instead of tracing his daughter had been trying to malign them. It had not taken any action against the in-laws of his daughter, he further alleged.
However, Mr Kuldip Singh, DSP, said that the police had been working on a theory and was hopeful of tracing the girl soon.
Mr Ram Saroop, father-in-law of Sunaina, termed all the allegations against them as baseless and malicious.

Residents show the way
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service
BATHINDA: Residents of street no 6 on the Bibiwala road here has set an example by financing on their own the civil amenities in their locality.
After getting negative response from the authorities concerned, residents of the locality collected funds to lay underground sewerage system in 1996. A sum of Rs 66,000 was spent by 22 families of the locality on the sewerage system.
After waiting for more than a decade, now the residents have taken up the task of laying brick flooring on the street. A sum of Rs 55,000 has been collected and the work is in progress.
Residents say that before the laying of sewerage system they were living in hellish conditions and when the Punjab Sewerage Board and municipal council authorities were approached for this purpose, they were plainly refused. Residents say that they are maintaining the sewerage system from their own funds.
There is no street light in the locality and the drinking water supply is erratic.
Residents complain that all three municipal council's parks in the locality are in a bad shape. The sewerage water from other localities flow into the parks. Stray cattle has made these parks as their permanent abode.
They demand laying of pre-mix on the street on which brick flooring is being done.
Council sources said the council will sell its immovable properties situated in the heart of city for generating funds to provide basic amenities to residents and the exercise would take more than one year.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, president of the municipal council, said an estimate had been prepared for the maintenance of the municipal parks and the parks would be given a facelift when the council will get funds.