B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

PNDT controversy
Doctors threaten to intensify stir
Bathinda, November 3
Taking a stand on the ongoing controversy, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bathinda, announced today that it would continue its protest by discontinuing the ultrasound examination of pregnant women till the government accepted its demands. The association also threatened to intensify its stir if its demands were not met.

Quality education for girls needed: CM

Ferozepur, November 3 Punjabi culture was at its best today as girls from various colleges virtually set the stage on fire with their electrifying performances on the concluding day of the Punjab University Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth Festival held here at  the Dev Samaj College of Education.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal releasing a souvenir at the Punjab University Zonal Youth Festival held at Dev Samaj College of Education, Ferozepur, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Academicians ring alarm bells over reforms in education
Muktsar, November 3
The academicians here have rung alarm bells over the role of panchayats in running schools, the high drop-out rate, a feeling of stagnation amongst the teachers, vacant posts and distribution of books to poor children at the fag end of the academic session.

Pakistan’s artistes steal hearts
Moga, November 3
Artists from Lahore’s Ajoka theatre deftly performed the captivating story of “Bullah”, based on a turbulent chapter of Punjab’s history, on the stage here on Friday. The Local Nagar Council Club organised the play with the assistance of the district administration.

No final decision on hiked power tariff: Badal
Ferozepur, November 3
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out immediate implementation of the hiked tariff of electricity rates in urban areas which is already being opposed by its coalition partner in the state, the BJP.

BKU-Ekta up in arms against privatisation
‘Government ignoring public interest’
Bathinda, November 3
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta) held a district level meeting at Gurudwara Haji Rattan Sahib, here this morning.

Village belles: Students from different colleges of Muktsar zone displayed life in rural areas at the PU festival held at Bhag Singh Khalsa College for Women, near Abohar on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Finishing touch: A woman painting red a coin bank, popular among kids, ahead of Diwali, the festival of lights, in Bathinda on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Stray animals come as menace in Mansa
Mansa, November 3
Stray animals in the city have become a great source of hindrance for traffic in the city. Cattle can be seen moving freely on the main roads thereby putting the lives of those using the road at risk.

DPR office crying for maintenance
Barnala, November 3
The District Public Relations Office (DPRO) here is in shambles. It has not been sanctioned money to install basic communication facilities or carry out renovation for 10 years. The municipal committee here wants the office vacated, as it wants to widen and renovate the only municipal park in the city. The DPRO office here is housed in a small building situated in a municipal park and has to pay rent to municipal committee.

‘Resolve disputes through Lok Adalat’
Bathinda, November 3
A Lok Adalat was organised in the court complex of Bathinda on Saturday. It was presided over by additional district sessions judge G. K. Dheer. Seven courts were organised on Saturday. Additional sessions judge J. S. Kalar, civil judge Bhajan Ram, chief judicial magistrate Balwinder Singh, additional civil judge Nirmal Singh, civil judge Ranjeet Kaur, civil judge Surjeet Singh, advocates and social workers were present during the proceedings of the Lok Adalat.

4 women held for stealing ornaments
Sriganganagar, November 3
Four women belonging to the Bawria community were arrested for stealing gold ornaments here today. The four, who had migrated from Abohar and settled in Aboharia Colony, were arrested within six hours of the theft, DSP Sat Pal Midha said.

Residents stage dharna
Bathinda, November 3
Following a call by the Phatak Banao Sangharsh Committee, residents of Janata Nagar sat on a dharna on Saturday. Committee leader Makhan Singh Bahiman Deewana said the colony is surrounded by a railway track on two sides and the Sirhind canal on the third. It makes it difficult for big vehicles to enter the colony.

Lok Adalat held in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, November 3
A special Lok Adalat for the disposal of matrimonial disputes, cases registered under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, cases related to rent, land acquisition, bank loans, property disputes, revenue and consumer matters, telephone and electricity disputes was organised here today.

Health dept seizes 20 kg khoya
Bathinda, November 3
An inspection team, led by officials from the district health office, seized 20 kg of khoya from a cold storage at Behman Diwana village, near here this morning.

Officials raiding the cold storage in Bathinda. — A Tribune photograph

PSEB engg killed in road mishap
Bathinda, November 3
One junior engineer of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Mohinder Singh, from Rajkot, was killed in a collision between two motorcycles near the cantonment area here, today.

Demand for court by lawyers
Fazilka, November 3
Advocates of Fazilka, led by Anil Jain, president of Bar Association, today pleaded for the setting up of the court of additional district and sessions judge before Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was here to preside over the Lok Adalat, in the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate S.S. Mann.

PNDT controversy
Doctors threaten to intensify stir
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 3
Taking a stand on the ongoing controversy, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bathinda, announced today that it would continue its protest by discontinuing the ultrasound examination of pregnant women till the government accepted its demands. The association also threatened to intensify its stir if its demands were not met.

Members of the association clarified that the IMA, Punjab, had called off the strike in the state. But Bathinda was an exception as this district has been the worst affected as far as lodging of false cases against the doctors is concerned.

The district chapter of the IMA has also alleged that innocent doctors were being targeted and false cases registered against them under the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act.

The IMA pointed out that the ultrasound machine, used all over the world as a diagnostic tool for organs in the body, had become a matter of tension for the doctors here.

Talking to TNS, HS Narang, president, IMA, Bathinda, said, “The PNDT Act, 1994, also provides a platform for prosecuting pregnant women, their companions and those who disclose the sex of the foetus.”

“However, it is only the innocent doctors who are being targeted and unauthorised persons without a valid permission from the appropriate authority have lodged false cases against as many as ten prominent doctors in Bathinda under the PNDT Act,” he charged.

Supporting Narang’s view, Manjit Singh Sidhu, honorary secretary of the Indian Medical Association, Bathinda, said, “Due to the prevailing circumstances, the fraternity of doctors here has been pushed to the wall and has been forced to take the difficult decision of discontinuing the ultrasound examination of all pregnant ladies.”

“In some of these frivolous cases, a foetus had not even formed, while in others, it was too small in size for sex determination to be possible. Still the cases were filed against some of the most respected and eminent doctors of Bathinda,” added Dr Amrit Sethi, president, IMA, Punjab.

The members of IMA, Bathinda, appealed to the people to find a solution to the problem so that no innocent doctor or pregnant woman gets harassed in any way.

Quality education for girls needed: CM
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, November 3
Punjabi culture was at its best today as girls from various colleges virtually set the stage on fire with their electrifying performances on the concluding day of the Punjab University Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth Festival held here at 
the Dev Samaj College of Education.

Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, who was the chief guest at the valedictory programme, hailed the show.

Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sukhpal Singh, Sher Singh, both chief parliamentary secretaries, Ishwar Chander, DIG, Bhagwant Singh, DC, DP Singh, SSP and several senior SAD-BJP leaders besides civil and police officials were present at the function.

Addressing the gathering, Badal laid stress on quality education for girls. He said that education for girls was imperative for any state to grow and prosper. In a nostalgic vein, Badal remembered his own school days, which he spent in this border town as he did his matriculation from a local school. While lauding the efforts of the host college in providing excellent education to women of this area, Badal emphasised upon the need for more such centres of excellence for learning, for which he exhorted private entrepreneurs to come forward and contribute.

Badal said his government was doing its best for the growth of education in Punjab to bring it at par with the best in the country. Earlier, Badal laid the foundation stone of a new hostel building for the college and announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh from the CM’s discretionary quota for its construction.

The results for the various events were as follows:
Group Dance: DAV College of Education, Abohar (I), Sri Satya Sai College of Education (II), Guru Gobind Singh College of Education (III) Debate: Bawa Nihal Singh College of Education (I), DAV College, Abohar (II), Bawa Nihal Singh College, Muktsar (III) Elocution: Lala Jagat Narayan College, Jalalabad, (I), DAV College Abohar (II), DAV College Abohar (III) Giddha: Dev Samaj College (I), Bawa Nihal Singh College, Muktsar (II), Dashmesh Girls College, Badal (III) Poem Recitation: DAV College Abohar (I), DAV College Abohar (II), Khalsa College of Education, Muktsar (III) Dr. Jagdish Kaur Principal, M R Manchanda Secretary, Dr. Rajinder Sharma Manager, Mrs Madhu Prashar honoured the dignitaries.

Academicians ring alarm bells over reforms in education
Prabhjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 3
The academicians here have rung alarm bells over the role of panchayats in running schools, the high drop-out rate, a feeling of stagnation amongst the teachers, vacant posts and distribution of books to poor children at the fag end of the academic session.

These concerns came out spontaneously at a seminar on the ‘Prevailing system of school education in Punjab,’ organised by the ‘Lok Chetna Manch’ at the Red Cross auditorium here last evening.

Principals, teachers and other academicians gathered at the event where renowned educationist Pyare Lal Garg, the coordinator of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, laid stress on the use of traditional and cultural methodologies to make students understand the various academic theories and formulae, in his keynote address.

Highlighting the role of village panchayats in running schools, in the backdrop of the school education system being handed over to the panchayati raj institutions, Garg said that teachers should realise the potential of the panchayats in running schools efficiently, instead of fearing any kind of repression or harassment.

“The panchayats should be taken into confidence and it is the duty of the teachers to sensitise panchayat members about good education for children,” he said.

He also pointed out that certain lobbies at the bureaucratic and other levels were wrongly underestimating the panchayats in managing the school education system.

Garg also highlighted the relevance of ethics in classroom lectures, behavioural attitude of the teaching faculty towards students, and the responsibility of teachers in maintaining cordial relations not only with the students but also with their parents.

Earlier, senior journalist Hamir Singh said education in Punjab was being commercialised to an extent where the poor parents were finding it difficult to provide good education to their wards. He expressed his apprehension over the Punjab government’s decision to open Ádarsh schools, saying the government needed to bring in reforms in the education sector and revive the existing government schools first.

There was a consensus at the seminar that the ‘mid-day meal’ scheme in Punjab schools had failed to meet the expectations of the poor and needy children.

Pakistan’s artistes steal hearts
Tribune News Service

Moga, November 3
Artists from Lahore’s Ajoka theatre deftly performed the captivating story of “Bullah”, based on a turbulent chapter of Punjab’s history, on the stage here on Friday. The Local Nagar Council Club organised the play with the assistance of the district administration.

The play portrayed the life of the mystic sufi-poet Bulle Shah, who lived in the times when the Mughal empire was on the decline. He called for tolerance and love when communal strife was dividing society in Punjab.

The mystic’s philosophy of brotherhood and humanism did not find favour with the clerics who did not allow his body to be buried in the city. His disciples had to bury his body on the outskirts of the thriving town of Kasur. However, with the passage of time, the city revolved around his tomb.

Shahid Nadeem wrote the play and actors lived their roles to near perfection.

Madeeha Gauhar, director of the Pakistani theatre group, said the play offered a history of undivided Punjab, and was a conscious step towards the realisation of a shared past.

She also called for free movement of the nationals of both the countries across the international border for developing more understanding, harmony and a feeling of co-existence.

The 28-member Pakistani troupe is visiting India for performing plays in this part of the country.

No final decision on hiked power tariff: Badal
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, November 3
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out immediate implementation of the hiked tariff of electricity rates in urban areas which is already being opposed by its coalition partner in the state, the BJP.

Badal said the entire case regarding new power tariffs had been misrepresented and the issue was being unnecessarily hyped by the media.

He said the new electricity rates were proposed by the PSEB’s Regulatory Commission and not by the government or the Akali Dal. However, a final decision on the same had yet to be taken, he added.

Answering to a query about the grant of bail to former DGP S.S. Virk, he said the matter was sub-judice and law would take its own course.

Referring to PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s statement, Badal said the Congress was crying hoarse alleging that the politics of vendetta was being pursued by the SAD, whereas the ground reality showed that not even a single case had been filed out of a feeling of vindictiveness.

BKU-Ekta up in arms against privatisation
‘Government ignoring public interest’
Tribune News Service

Stray animals come as menace in Mansa
Our Correspondent

Mansa, November 3
Stray animals in the city have become a great source of hindrance for traffic in the city. Cattle can be seen moving freely on the main roads thereby putting the lives of those using the road at risk.

These carefree wanderers are a common sight on the road leading from the bus stand to the court and the streets in the main market.

“These stray animals have caused road accidents but the civic authorities seem to be unaware of it,” said Hardeep Singh, a teacher. Jagjit Singh, who resides near Mansakhurad village, rued, “Stray animals can cause damage to the vehicles and hurt the commuters, particularly at night. The stretch of road between the bus stand and the court is in a poor condition and the presence of stray animals makes it even worse.”

Municipal council chairman Narotam Singh Chehal said, “Only the district administration can solve the problem. The municipal council does not have the funds to construct a new gaushala (cowshed). The present cowshed is already full to its capacity.”

DPR office crying for maintenance
Our Correspondent

Barnala, November 3
The District Public Relations Office (DPRO) here is in shambles. It has not been sanctioned money to install basic communication facilities or carry out renovation for 10 years. The municipal committee here wants the office vacated, as it wants to widen and renovate the only municipal park in the city. The DPRO office here is housed in a small building situated in a municipal park and has to pay rent to municipal committee.

The office itself is devoid of facilities like telephone, fax or computer. The only typing machine available for typing out press releases, remains out of order most of the time.

When Barnala became a district about a year ago, the post of an officiating DPRO was sanctioned. Still, the real powers lie with the DPRO at Sangrur. Consequently, the office, which is supposed to be a centre of interaction for media persons, presents a bizarre look and reporters avoid visiting the place.

Officiating DPRO Darshana Sharma confirmed that the office lacked the basic infrastructure. Sharma said she had written to the authorities to take note of the problem so that interaction with media persons could be made possible.

‘Resolve disputes through Lok Adalat’
Tribune News Service

Additional civil judge Nirmal Singh listening to the problems of the petitioners at the Lok Adalat in Bathinda on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera

Bathinda, November 3
A Lok Adalat was organised in the court complex of Bathinda on Saturday. It was presided over by additional district sessions judge G. K. Dheer. Seven courts were organised on Saturday. Additional sessions judge J. S. Kalar, civil judge Bhajan Ram, chief judicial magistrate Balwinder Singh, additional civil judge Nirmal Singh, civil judge Ranjeet Kaur, civil judge Surjeet Singh, advocates and social workers were present during the proceedings of the Lok Adalat.

Cases related to motor accident claims, family disputes, civil and criminal cases, in which agreement could be reached, were taken up. Justice G. K. Dheer advised the petitioners to resolve their disputes through the Lok Adalats as they save time and money.

Deputy district attorney, Bathinda, Rakesh Soni informed about the welfare policies of his department.

A Lok Adalat was also held at Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul.

4 women held for stealing ornaments
Our Correspondent

Sriganganagar, November 3
Four women belonging to the Bawria community were arrested for stealing gold ornaments here today. The four, who had migrated from Abohar and settled in Aboharia Colony, were arrested within six hours of the theft, DSP Sat Pal Midha said.

According to information, Santro, Sunehri, Bhagwani and Malkeeto reportedly confessed to their crime. The police claimed that stolen gold and silver ornaments had been recovered from them.

Earlier, Ajay Kumar of Lalgarh had lodged a complaint with the police that he was returning with his newly-wed sister from Vijaynagar in a roadways bus when two women from the Bawria community occupied the seat next to his sister’s. On reaching home, his sister found the ornaments missing from the suitcase. The police immediately swung into action and nabbed the suspects from the Aboharia Colony here. Interrogation led to confessions and subsequent recoveries, sources said.

Residents stage dharna

Bathinda, November 3
Following a call by the Phatak Banao Sangharsh Committee, residents of Janata Nagar sat on a dharna on Saturday. Committee leader Makhan Singh Bahiman Deewana said the colony is surrounded by a railway track on two sides and the Sirhind canal on the third. It makes it difficult for big vehicles to enter the colony.

Entry through the underbridge, which is also quite low in height, is also tough. Committee's president Harbans Lal demanded a railway crossing at this underbridge. The meet was also addressed by former minister Chiranjee Lal Garg. — TNS

Lok Adalat held in Ferozepur

Ferozepur, November 3
A special Lok Adalat for the disposal of matrimonial disputes, cases registered under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, cases related to rent, land acquisition, bank loans, property disputes, revenue and consumer matters, telephone and electricity disputes was organised here today.

The Lok Adalat was presided over by the District and Sessions Judge, U. S. Gera under the guidance of Justice Rajesh Bindal.

As many as 5,431 cases were taken up at the Lok Adalat out of which 4,277 cases were settled on the spot. — OC

Health dept seizes 20 kg khoya
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 3
An inspection team, led by officials from the district health office, seized 20 kg of khoya from a cold storage at Behman Diwana village, near here this morning.

Food inspector Sanjay Katyal said, “We got a tip-off that some sweet-makers of Gidderbaha have been using adulterated khoya for preparing sweets. Soon after receiving the information, we rushed to the spot and took three samples. The samples have been sent to the laboratory and the report will come within a few days.”

It should be noted that during the last five days, the department has taken 15 samples from various spots. The report is awaited.

PSEB engg killed in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 3
One junior engineer of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Mohinder Singh, from Rajkot, was killed in a collision between two motorcycles near the cantonment area here, today.

The police sources said Singh, on his motorcycle bearing the registration number AP-31Q-8475, was on his way from the cantonment to the city. His motorbike collided with another motorcycle bearing registration number CH-01U-2361, coming from the opposite direction.

He was rushed to the civil hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The cantonment police registered a case against Kushal Singla of Bhadaur village under section 311 of the IPC. He was later released on bail.

The body has been handed over to his family members.

Demand for court by lawyers
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, November 3
Advocates of Fazilka, led by Anil Jain, president of Bar Association, today pleaded for the setting up of the court of additional district and sessions judge before Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was here to preside over the Lok Adalat, in the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate S.S. Mann.

Bindal said only a full bench of the High Court could take a decision in this regard, but assured that he would pursue the matter with the bench. Regarding the demand to set up a mobile court at Fazilka, the judge said that such a court was not needed, since the area was well connected with roads.