Chandigarh, October 26
A silent revolution is changing the lives of people inhabiting the impoverished Majri block belt of Ropar. Neglected for years, villages dotting the region are getting a new lease of life, thanks to the interest Bisnauli Sarvodaya Gramodyog Sewa Sanstha (BSGSS), a reputed Delhi-based NGO, is taking in the area.

In a few months of its presence in the block, the NGO has teamed up with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, to develop a solution to the problem of severe anaemia in 25 villages of the block. Bereft of healthcare centres, the residents who had long been reeling under disease now have a chance to turn their destinies around.

Speaking to The Tribune today, Ms Nandita Bakshi, the spirit behind the BSGSS, said, “We have tied up with PAU which has developed high-yielding kitchen garden seeds in a pack.

Each such pack costs Rs 25 and yields vegetables for six months. By consuming these, the villagers can battle anaemia and enhance haemoglobin levels.

The problem is acute as the area is marked by small land holdings, poor farming and meager yield due to water shortage.

Even on the health front, the villages are vulnerable as they hardly have a government medical facility.

We are here to fill gaps on the invitation of Punjab Minister Jagmohan Kang. To begin with, we will give 1000 seed packs to villagers free of cost.”

Problems confronting the region are many — anaemia, malnourishment and acute arthritis being just a few. The villages are consumed by the menace of addiction, as initial surveys by the BSGSS point out.

So serious is the situation that the NGO with the Union Ministry of Health is proposing a drug de-addiction centre in the block.

“During our health camps in nine villages, we confirmed 150 cases of substance abuse in the area. There would be more which explains why we are pursuing the matter with Government of India.

We have bought in our own funds to run mobile healthcare vans in the block apart from supplying free medicines to those who cannot pay,” Ms Bakshi explained.

And most villagers here can’t pay, as they are employed on meager wages as gardeners or daily labourers.

Neglected for years, the villagers, however, are seeking medical attention which BSGSS has given them. Ten-year-old Rajvinder from Nangalia is just one of the several children who have tested positive for anaemia in a health camp organised by BSGSS.

Her mother Sukhwinder is also anaemic. Of the 5200 patients checked by NGO’s doctors over the past few months, 70 per cent have been women and children.

Of these, 60 per cent suffered from malnourishment and its medical manifestations, including anaemia.

For its part, the BSGSS, has formed 37 self-help groups (SHGs) of women living in the following villages of Majri block — Nangalia, Mullanpur, Jayanti Majri, Kasauli, Kanne ka Wada, Badi and Chhoti Kannaur, Mirzapur, Tandi, Gochar and Korombewala. It now plans a four-pronged intervention to rid the block of poverty.

“We will set up stitching centres and link them to export houses. To address the problem of anaemia we will distribute and popularise the use of PAU’s high-yielding kitchen garden seed varieties.

We are also bringing skills to impart bakery training to women so that they can sell locally and make living.

Our SHGs now have bank accounts to facilitate the flow of credit in future,” Ms Bakshi said, during her brief halt in Chandigarh today.

Dasuya, October 26
The DIG of Orissa police, Mr Jaswinder Singh, was cremated with full state honours at his native Bodal village today. The body wrapped in the National Flag was brought to the village last evening.

It was kept in his house in the village for the people to pay their last homage. Today morning, thousands of people from the surrounding villages gathered at Bodal to participate in the last journey of Jaswinder Singh to the cremation ground.

On behalf of the state government, Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, Minister for Technical Education, laid a wreath over his body. The DGP of Punjab police, Mr Sarabjit Singh Virk, and other senior police officers of the state, including Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon, IG Jalandhar range, Mr HS Randhawa, DIG Patiala range, and Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, DIG Jalandhar range, and two officials of Orissa police—Mr Vinod Mishra and Mr Ishwar Chander Patnaik—paid their last respects.

As the body was being carried to the cremation ground people gathered on the roofs of their houses to have a last glimpse of their local hero and martyr. The body was carried to the village cremation ground in a vehicle of the Punjab police decorated with flowers.

At the cremation ground, a contingent of 13 Punjab Police fired in the air and lowered firearms as a mark of respect. The sons of Jaswinder Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Subhkarman Singh, lit the pyre of their father with moist eyes at about 11.30 am.

The villagers and family members of the late DIG today once again demanded a CBI inquiry into the circumstances that led to his death. They alleged that the inquiry conducted by the Orissa police could not be trusted for holding the fair inquiry. They also demanded that a community hall should be constructed in Bodal in the name of late DIG to commemorate him.

The deputy commissioner Gurdaspur Mr DK Tiwari, SSP Hoshiarpur Mr RN Dhoke, SSP Jalandhar Mr Ishwar Chander, Mr Desh Raj Bugha and Chaudhary Balbir Singh Maini MLAs, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna MP from Hoshiarpur and state president of the BJP and Mr Surinder Singh district president of the SAD were among other who attended the cremation ceremony.

Sangrur, October 26
A large number of revenue patwaris of this district under the leadership of Mr Nirmal Singh Mason, district president of the Revenue Patwar Union, Punjab, today staged a dharna outside the district administrative complex here in support of their demands.

Their main demands include basic pay scale of Rs 5480-8925 from January 1, 1996, to patwaris, promotional scale after four, nine and 14 years of service, stoppage of direct recruitment of kanoongoes, promotions of patwaris as kanoongoes on vacant posts, Rs 500 per month as rent for the office building, Rs 500 per month as stationery allowance, Rs 1000 per month as fixed travelling allowance for patwaris, establishment of a separate directorate for the Revenue Department, and supply of new furniture to kanoongoes and patwaris.

Besides the leaders of the patwaris, the agitators were also addressed by Mr Nachhattar Singh Jahangir, in charge, Mulazam Front, Punjab; Mr Tejinder Singh Sanghreri, district president of the Mulazam Front, Punjab; Mr Jagtar Singh, state president of the Karamchari Dal, PRTC; and Mr Harvinder Singh Chatha, Cchief adviser of the Mulazam Front, Punjab.

Barnala, October 26
Seven persons of Bhaini Fatta village, suspected to be HIV-positive, have been detected HIV-positive, causing a tense atmosphere in the village.

Sangrur Civil Surgeon M.K. Bansal confirmed one AIDS patient, adding that many villagers were drug addicts.

To create awareness among the villagers, the health department today held an awareness camp at the village, about 15 km from here.

Sarpanch Hari Singh requested villagers to give blood samples voluntarily, but they were frightened and hesitant, with only 24 persons giving their blood samples.

Gurdaspur, October 26
The overspeeding police Gypsy, which caused the death of a college student, Kamal Kishore, at Kathlore yesterday, belonged to Narot MLA Rumal Chand.

Police sources said the Gypsy had been identified, but the person driving the vehicle was yet to be identified.

The police declined to comment on the alleged involvement of the MLA’s vehicle in the killing of the student.

The police registered a case of accident against the unidentified vehicle driver.

Though a large number of people present at the spot were eyewitnesses to the accident, the police did not make any effort to record their statements.

The sources said the matter might be hushed up due to the involvement of politically powerful people in the case. The state government cleared a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 for Ashok Kumar, who was injured in the incident. — TNS

Chandigarh, October 26
The body of Mrs Mohini Gyani, widow of Lt-Gen P.S. Gyani, former Chairman of The Tribune Trust, was cremated here today. Mrs Gyani had died last evening at a Mohali hospital due to cardio respiratory arrest.

Among those present at the cremation were the Governor, Punjab, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), and former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice S.S. Sodhi.

Wreaths were also laid on the body on behalf of the Tribune Trust by Mr O.P. Arora, Additional General- Manager, The Tribune, and Mrs B.K. Nehru, wife of a former Chairman of the Trust.

Patiala, October 26
The Punjab Pensioners Welfare Association, in an emergency meeting held under the presidentship of Mr H.S. Sodhi, condemned the indifferent attitude of the state government.

The association said the pensioners were hurt as they were being not given the promised medical allowance of Rs 500 per month.

Mr Sat Pal Rahi, senior vice-president of the association, in a press statement issued here today, said Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister, had promised that there would be a hike in gratuity, house rent allowance and maintenance allowance. Similar promises were also made in the election manifesto of the Congress party.

He said other demands included five per cent increase in pension at the age of 80, DA to family pensioners, 50 per cent concession in bus fare, leave travel concession, dearness pension, old-age allowance and interim release of Rs 1000 per month.

Ropar, October 26
The statement of the victim in the infamous Nayagaon minor rape case was today recorded during in-camera proceedings in the court of the District and Sessions Judge, Mrs Rekha Mittal.

The case was adjourned for further recording the statement of the victim for November 1. The victim, daughter of a Punjab Police driver residing in Khuda Ali Sher, was allegedly raped by a group of men when she was barely 12 years’ old and was studying in Class VIII.

Thereafter for the next two years, the victim had allegedly been raped by some of the accused.

The victim complained to the police only when she got pregnant. The victim delivered a child in the PGI on March 5, 2003. Later, the father of the victim had approached the high court finding the police incapable in arresting the accused in the case.

He had alleged that after the release of her daughter from the PGI, she, her younger brother and mother were abducted by the accused from Nayagaon.

Thereafter the SIT, constituted by the high court, filed a challan against 23 accused persons in the case in the Special Court, Ropar.

Chandigarh, October 26
The Panjab Government in a late night order transferred 12 PCS officers, including five Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs).

Mr Ashok Kumar Sikka will be the new SDM, Nabha, replacing Mr Gurtej Singh, who has been transferred as SDM, Sardoolgarh. Mr Kuldeep Singh has been posted as SDM, Moonak. Mr S.K. Singla, Samana, has been shifted as Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana. He will be replaced by Mr Gurmeet Singh at Samana.

Mr G.S. Chahal, SDM, Dhuri and Mr Rishi Pal Singh, SDM, Fatehgarh Sahib, will swap places.

Ms Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, will hold additional charge of AC, Grievences, Jalandhar. Mr Mohinder Singh will join as Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Patiala, replacing Mr Jasbir Singh, who joins as Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Ludhiana.

Mr Shiv Ram Kaler has been given full time charge of ACA, PUDA, Ludhiana. Mr Harbir Singh, Estate Officer, PUDA, Jalandhar, will hold additional charge of Executive Magistrate, Jalandhar.

CRIME

Group clash over construction of wall

Kharar, October 26
Members of two groups were injured in a clash at Bhajoli village last night.

They were brought to the local Civil Hospital from where one of them was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

According to the police, heated arguments took place when one group of persons started constructing a wall, which it claimed, that got damaged when it was hit by a tractor. The other group came and started objecting to the construction alleging that the wall was being constructed on the common land. Tempers started running high which led to the clash. — OC

Bathinda, October 26
An impressive static display of various operational equipment, aircraft, SAGW missile launchers and firefighting equipment marked the culmination of the 74th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Air Force at Bhisiana Air Force Station here today.

The static display was especially organised for school and college students of the neighbouring area and civil dignitaries of the city. Students from 45 schools of Bathinda and nearby districts were invited at the airbase.

The centre of attraction was the flypast by MiG-21 aircraft, which plays a vital role in the Indian Air Force.

Earlier, activities like the oath-taking ceremony of air warriors, inter-Air Force School dramatics competition and inter-unit sports meet were held to mark the occasion.

Remembering the air warriors who had served in IAF, a high tea was organised for the armed forces veterans of the IAF.

Meanwhile, at the Air Force Day parade held on October 8 in New Delhi, Gp Capt RK Dhir, Station Commander, Air Force Station, Bhisiana, was conferred with the Vayu Sena Medal by the Chief of Air Staff.

Chandigarh, October 26
The Punjab Education Department today issued charge sheets to 26 teachers who were found absent during a surprise check of government schools in Muktsar district.

A total of 254 schools in the district were checked under a special drive carried out by 20 teams of the department. A total 26 teachers were found absent. Another 61 had come late while the heads of five schools had closed their schools before time and left. Sources in the department said these heads of schools faced suspension.

Apart from the absentees being charge-sheeted, the late comers would be give a show-cause notice for minor punishment. — TNS

Patiala, October 26
On a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, teachers of non-government aided colleges of Patiala, including M.M. Modi College and Khalsa College, went on a two-period strike and staged dharna.

All members of the union would proceed on a mass casual leave and join a state-level rally to be held in Chandigarh on October 31 where all state executive members would court arrest.

Dr Harcharan Singh, secretary, and Prof Sharwan Kumar, president of the Modi College Teachers Union, flayed the Punjab Government for not implementing the pension-cum-gratuity scheme for non-government aided colleges, which was also a poll promise of the Congress party.

They also demanded lifting of ban on recruitment against vacant posts in the colleges. It was also pointed out that though many demands of the colleges were agreed to in a meeting with Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Higher Education Minister, the same were not implemented yet.

Prof A. S. Bhatia, district secretary of the union, demanded HRA for rural colleges and relaxation of refresher courses.