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Farmer invents low-cost waxing machine Horticulturist and progressive farmer, Sukhpal Singh Bhullar displaying his new grading and waxing machine at his farm in village Ghuman Kalan in Bathinda.
— Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera
‘Grading, waxing plants to boost kinnow sales’
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Psychotropic Drug Addiction On The Rise
Not a long
walk: Addicts entering the rehabilitation centre at the Civil hospital in Bathinda. Tribune
photo by Malkiat Singh
“Punjab against supplying water to
Hansi-Butana canal”
Fazilka Heritage Fest concludes
Anti-encroachment drive: Park vacated
Water-borne diseases
Punjab School Tourney Concludes
6 held under NDPS Act
Eye-donation gains momentum
ASI killed in road accident
9 injured in separate accidents
Kavi darbar, mushiara enthral Bathinda
Budding Talent: Aaryan Bhardwaj, a student of class I, performing at Kavi Darbar and Mushaira held in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune
photo by Malkiat Singh
Teachers union criticises government
JCO dies of electrocution
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Farmer invents low-cost waxing machine
Ghuman Kalan (Bathinda), November 25 It’s the story of Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, a horticulturist in his mid 40s, from Ghuman Kalan village in the district and having annual kinnow production of 200 quintals from 15 acres land. Waxing is done to increase the shelf life of Kinnow fruit by at least a month. In Punjab, three grading centres one each at villages Badal (Muktsar), Kangmai (Hoshiarpur) and Balluana (Ferozepur) were opened with partial finance provided by the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation is running them. Citrus is one of the major crops of Malwa area with Ferozepur leading the list with 11,500 hectares under citrus crops, Muktsar with 3,000 hectares, Bathinda 2,000 hectares, Faridkot 500 hectares, Mansa 300 hectares and Ludhiana 130 hectares. ``Though there are many such grading and waxing machines available in the market, but this one is somewhat different from others. This machine has been made in-house with an investment of seven lakh rupees, while the other company made machines cost somewhat around 20 to 25 lakh rupees. Under the National Horticulture Mission, government of Punjab gives 25 per cent subsidy on it,’’ Bhullar explains. About his new machine, he said, ``I bought all the raw material from Delhi and parts of Punjab. It has been assembled in-house, at my farm, Bhullar Orchards, and I have taken technical guidance locally. Grading, washing, drying and waxing will be done by this machine and for this whole process; total cost per kilograms of Kinnows will come out to be 75 paisa. Punjab Agro charges Rs 1.5 per kg and there is 50 per cent subsidy on it. For drying, I want to use cheap source of energy so that the cost per kg comes down.’’ Now that he owns this machine, from next season onwards, he would outsource kinnows from other farmers also. ``Our farmers know how to grow good quality kinnows but fail when it comes to marketing. I would help them to market their produce nationally as well as internationally.’’ He has also applied for the Euro GAP quality certification, which would be awarded to him by the end of this year. ``These standards are required for export to the European Union and also for supplying to big retail chains in the country. Besides many other retail chains present in the state, I am in talks with Reliance Fresh also for supplying Kinnows.’’
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‘Grading, waxing plants to boost kinnow sales’
Abohar , November 25 While inaugurating the 14th such plant in the private sector in this region, Badal, known as a think tank of the Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by his elder brother Parkash Singh Badal, said with the inauguration of second Multi Fruit & Vegetables Processing Plant at Alamgarh in this sub-division last month, Punjab was all set to herald a fruit revolution in the state in a big way in order to encourage crop diversification and to find suitable alternative for wheat – paddy cropping pattern. Badal said to achieve this goal, the Punjab government had set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)- the Council for Citrus and Agri Juicing to promote the cultivation of citrus in the state. He said special programmes had been implemented to develop horticulture in Punjab and two multi- fruit processing units at a total cost of Rs 80 crore at Hoshiarpur and Abohar, with a processing capacity of 80,000 MTs, each of fruits and vegetables, were also set up. To begin with 5,577 acres of land had been brought under citrus cultivation during the current year, he added. Expressing the need to encourage horticulture, he said it was the right time to motivate our farming community to shift from the traditional cropping pattern to high value cash crops like fruits, vegetables and oil seeds. He categorically said with the steep rise in the prices of the inputs, the agriculture in the state was no more a profitable venture and the Punjab farmers were under a heavy debt of around Rs 25,000 crore. He said that to save the beleaguered the farmers, they should be offered remunerative price for the crops. Confirming that the state government had sent a comprehensive proposal to the ministry of horticulture, seeking financial assistance under the “National Horticulture Mission” towards a push for the second Green Revolution, Badal said there was a tremendous potential for the production of fruits and vegetables in the state and such units would ensure the value addition to the crops of farmers resulting in increase in their returns. He cautioned the farmers on expected canal water crisis after a decade and advised them to adopt drip or sprinkle irrigation system in orchards and other fields. With setting up of Kinnow fruit grading and waxing plants, chances of exporting fruit had brightened, he hoped. |
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Psychotropic Drug Addiction On The Rise
Bathinda, November 25 Dilbag Singh, a 17-year-old, is also there at this rehabilitation centre and is undergoing treatment for addiction to
Alprax, an anxiolytic. Dilbagh used to buy these tablets from local medical shops at a higher price to get a high. Malkeet Singh (32), a tailor and father of two, used to consume Alprax with poppy husk. He has been an addict for nearly a decade now. For him, what had begun as an experiment, later led to dependence. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association identified drug abuse as disease, for the first time, in 1956. Since then, the tale has gone far. You don’t have to go too far in search of drug peddlers in the Malwa region of Punjab. The business seems to be flourishing here. In what amounts to a disregard for the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, chemists here are selling prohibited drugs without the doctor’s prescription.
Alprazolam, Nitrozepam, Lorazepam, Nitrave, Proxyvon, and Corex are medicines available with chemists, which can cause addiction. Brown sugar (heroin) addicts switch to
Proxyvon, Corex and Nitrazepam, as they are cheaply available at local medicine shops. But despite the large number of drug addicts in the region, there is just a 22-bed rehabilitation centre at the Civil Hospital in Bathinda, run jointly by the health department and the Red Cross, to bring succour to those affected. Roop Singh Maan, a counsellor working at the rehabilitation centre, said that drug addicts are turning to Lomotil tablets, as poppy husk is expensive and difficult to get. The main sources of these tablets are chemists, as 100 tablets are available for just Rs 25, even cheaper than country-made liquor. Around 15 per cent of the patients at the Bathinda rehabilitation center in 2006, were on drugs like
Corex, tablets and injections. By October 2007, this percentage increased to 25. And this year, around 145 persons addicted to drugs have been admitted so far. Medical practitioners are also concerned about the latest trends. According to them while these drugs cannot be done away with, they can be quite beneficial in some cases. Dr Nidhi Gupta, who has been working for the rehabilitation of drug addicts for the last four years, said, “ There are instances where patients use the same prescription again and again to procure such drugs. And here, the role of chemists becomes important. They should maintain records of the sale of psychotropic drugs.” Generally, chemists do not give bills for these kinds of drugs and thus save sales tax. Sudhir Goyal of Bhushan Medical Store on Mall Road in Bathinda admitted that there are black sheep in their profession. “Around 70 per cent of the medical shops will have to close down if they start dispensing medicines without the doctor’s prescription. Particularly in rural areas, the sale is less, so they cater to the drug addicts,” he said. Punjab has also found a mention in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) report 2006, for being a transit point for smuggling drugs into India from Afghanistan and Pakistan. This could also be a reason for such a large number of drug addicts in Punjab alone. According to a study by the Chandigarh-based Institute of Development and Communications in 2006, the percentage of households affected by drug abuse in Malwa was 64. The percentage for the Doaba area was 68 while for Majha, it was 61. In Bathinda, there are around 896 chemist retail outlets and around 559 wholesale drug dealers, but only 869 schools, including 219 High and Secondary ones. May be, there are less schools that’s why more chemist shops! (Some names have been changed to protect identity) |
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“Punjab against supplying water to
Hansi-Butana canal”
Muktsar, November 25 The meeting is scheduled for November 28. “The canal to Haryana is not justified when Punjab is already facing shortage of water,” Badal said while talking to newspersons at annual function of a college at Killianwali here. Badal said Punjab had been denied a canal earlier, despite the fact that the state was facing severe shortage of water, both for irrigation and drinking purposes. It may be recalled that Punjab had opposed every move for the Hansi-Butana canal on various grounds. One of the arguments in this regard was the denial of Dasmesh canal to Punjab, which the state had demanded in 2001-02. Earlier this year, the Centre also rejected Punjab’s petition for the Dasmesh canal. “If we (Punjab) are denied a canal to irrigate our fields, then how can a canal out of the water basin of same river be granted to another state,” the Chief Minister asked. He said the state government, with the assistance of the Centre, would spend an additional sum of Rs 100 crore to resolve the problem of water logging in the cotton belt. The work in this regard was already on, he added. The Chief Minister said his government was committed to develop the Malwa region. And in this regard, he would lay the foundation stone of the proposed cricket stadium on December 8. The four-laning of the highways, Bathinda to Chandigarh and Dabwali to Fazilka, has received a nod and the work for this would start soon, he said. |
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Fazilka Heritage Fest concludes
Fazilka, November 25 It was also an endeavour to promote use of bicycles to save fuel and save the environment by growing more plants. The youths also vowed to minimise the use of polythene bags. Members of the Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF), the Students for Society Organisation, Fazilka, the Punjab Sabhyacharak Manch, Fazilka and the Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army jointly organised a cycle rally through the main markets in an endeavour to motivate people to ride bicycles as far as possible instead of using vehicles run on petrol or diesel. Third and the last day of the festival was observed as “Baba Pokhar Dass Nite”. On the occasion, over 20 teams presented Punjabi folk dances, including Bhangra, Gidha and Jhumar. The novel attraction at the programme was the auction of a replica of Fazilka’s famous clock tower. The organisers said the amount received from the auction would be utilised for next year celebrations. Fazilka Heritage Festival patron Dr Bhupinder Singh, secretary Navdeep Asija said considering the success of the festival in which thousands from the city and the surrounding areas had participated, it has been decided that next year, the festival would be celebrated for one week. The festival had concluded around midnight.
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Anti-encroachment drive: Park vacated
Bathinda, November 25 The Improvement Trust Bathinda along with the police department initiated the drive at 10 am at the park located in the colony at the backside of the Paramveer Gas Agency. The demolition team lased with fire tenders, lady police, commandos, NGOs and a JCB machine crushed all the 30 illegal jhuggis within few minutes. Giving the details of the drive, KK Yadav, administrator, Improvement Trust Bathinda, said, “We have already made repeated announcements to all of them to vacate the park. Even before today’s activity, they all were given time to uproot their jhuggis and to take away their households. We adopted this step only when they refused to vacate the unauthorized possession.” During the drive, the residents of the jhuggis, allegedly pelted stones over the JCB machine and also hit the official car of the administrator, Improvement Trust Bathinda. The president of the jhuggis residents, Shanti Devi said that she had met with ex-minister Chiranji Lal regarding this matter in the morning. She alleged that a car hit her in the morning and his sons Shant Ram and Shankar and son-in-law Pujari, who had come to know her well being were intentionally booked by the police. She further alleged that the policemen thrashed ladies, which was unlawful on the part of police department. In the evening, Kotwali police has registered a case against Shant Ram, Pujari, Shankar and Soma Rani and Shanti Devi under sections 353, 186, 341, 148 of the IPC. But due to her injuries, police has not arrested Shanti Devi. On his part, Chiranji lal Garg said, “I had met with the deputy commissioner, Bathinda and he assured me to delay the demolition for two days. Even then the action had been taken on the same day. I will write to the chief minister about this inhuman action of the administrator, Improvement Trust Bathinda.”
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Residents see ray of hope in accupressure
Rajay Deep Tribune News Service
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), November 25 Accupressure is not the one and only treatment but naturopaths, homoeopaths, acupuncture is also getting name and fame in the area. The reported noxious effects of some allopathic medicines have induced a lot of people to move toward these alternative systems. An accupressurist treats patients suffering from pain, stress, or tension using accupressure techniques. He first of all tries to find out causes of accretion and the best possible technique to practice over the patient. The accupressurist also recommends appropriate diet and practices for the patient to prevent a reappearance of the disease. As per the reports of various health related institutions, about 80 per cent of the villages in Talwandi Sabo have water pollution. As per the survey in the area and consulting with the institutions, it has been speculated that the “cancer cases and deaths are higher in the area. The reason ascertained behind the problem was reported the more use of pesticides. In an investigation of ground water in four villages of the Bathinda district showed that the levels of sulphates, fluorine, sodium and nitrates are much more than the desired quantity. Talking to an accupresurist at an acupressure center, run by Sital Dass Cheritable Trust, at Talwandi sabo, the TNS team observed that the patients in the area were mostly come up with the backache, breast cancer, joint pains and respiration. The accupresurist, over there, said people even after knowing the contaminated water, do not care to take precautions. The acupressure process has treatment even for the cancer but it takes time to relieve the patient from the sufferings.” A patient of knee-pain, Bant Singh of village Bhagi Bandar said, “After experimenting all the allopathic medicines, I have been undergoing accupressure treatment and getting relieved from the pain.”
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Punjab School Tourney Concludes
Barnala, November 25 Addressing the participants, Dhillon stressed upon the educational institutes to promote various games among the students leaving aside cricket. He said it was really unfortunate that most of the industrial houses sponsor cricket players at the cost of others. He further stated that to perform well at the international level we should promote sports culture among the youths. Dhillon also donated Rs 51,000 for this state level tournament. The results are as following Lovepreet from Ropar won the sub junior under-14 girls category while Sanil Sikri of Firozepur bagged sub-junior boys title. In junior girls under-19 category, Nirdosh From Ludhiana won first position while Sumit Dogra of Jalandhar stood first in the junior boys category. In youth girls under-21 category, Manisha from Patiala won the title while in youth boys category, Hitesh Dogra of Jalandhar bagged the title. General secretary, Punjab Table Tennis Association, Madan Lal Sharma was the chief referee. |
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6 held under NDPS Act
Abohar, November 25 A party led by ASI Daljit Singh intercepted these women near Malout bypass and recovered 6 kg poppy husk, which they had smuggled from neighbouring area of Rajasthan. They have been identified as Geeta Rani, Chander Kaur and Paramjit Kaur alias Pammi, all residents of Malout. They were booked under sections 15, 61and 85 of the NDPS Act. According to information received from Sadulshehar, 30 km from here, SHO Chhinderpal Singh arrested Angrej Singh, near Hazara bus stop, on Saturday and recovered 60 gm smack, whereas another police party nabbed Sadhu Singh, a resident of Gaddarkhera village, with 65 gm smack. His son was arrested on recovery of 4.300 gm smack, DSP (Rural) Sat Pal Midha said today. All were booked under the NDPS Act. The police is interrogating them to draw information on sources of supply.
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Eye-donation gains momentum
Fazilka, November 25 With the efforts of the Social Welfare Society, Harish, Sandeep, Rajinder and Shiv Kumar Kukkar donated their eyes of their father Harbans Lal Kukkar on Saturday evening. The Ram Sharnam also motivated Des Raj Dhuria of Fazilka, who agreed to donate the eyes of his mother Ram Piari. Both the sets of donated eyes were extracted by a team of technicians of Shri Jagdamba Andh Vidalya, Sriganganagar. So far, 18 pairs of eyes had been donated with the initiative of the Social Welfare Society in last few months and 11 pairs with the initiative of the Ram
Sharnam.
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ASI killed in road accident
Abohar, November 25 Sources informed today that ASI Gurdev Singh was going in a car along with constable Raj Kumar when his car rammed into a truck, loaded with vegetable oil containers, parked on the roadside, at around 10:35 pm. The collision smashed the front glass of the car and the ASI jumped out, which resulted in a head injury. A police party immediately rushed to the spot, but found Gurdev Singh dead. The constable was seriously injured and shifted to the civil hospital. |
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9 injured in separate accidents
Abohar, November 25 Sources said Surinder Kumar, Jethu Ram and Mohammad Jameel sustained burns due to leakage from the gas cylinder being used for welding. They have been hospitalised. Sources in the civil hospital said six persons got injured as a tractor-trailer overturned near Ruhrianwali village on Saturday evening. Ram Ugar, Santosh Kumar, Kedar Nath and Dharampal were among them. As Dharampal’s condition was stated to be serious, the doctors referred him to the PGI. |
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Kavi darbar, mushiara enthral Bathinda
Bathinda, November 25 The programme that started at 7 pm continued till midnight. The participants with their poems and couplets entertained the audience, who could not resist clapping throughout the programme. M.F.Farooqui (IPS), Mohammad Rafi, Rabina Shabnam, Sardar Panchchi, Labh Singh Kheeva J.S.Anand and Harnek Singh Komal were among those who participated in the Kavi Darbar. The most enthralling performance of the evening was made by a five and a half year old child, Aaryan Bhardwaj. The audience were so spellbound by his performance that they could not hold themselves from giving him a big round of applause. Jatinder Jain, DIG Faridkot range, was the chief guest on the occasion. However, DC Bathinda, Rahul Tewari who had to preside over the programme, could not make it to the venue. Another highlight of the evening was the showcasing of Shahid Bhagat Singh’s books and pictures. |
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Teachers union criticises government
Bathinda, November 25 "Instead the government is planning to hand over these schools to private hands. This is clearly a breach of trust by the government. To discuss this issue, we have called a meeting of all teachers unions at Ludhiana on December 2 and next plan of action against the state government would be chalked out in it’’, Swaranjit Singh Bhagta, senior vice president of the union alleged by issuing a press release here today. It was on July 1 last year when the Punjab government appointed about 11,000 teachers in the state on contract basis in the government primary schools and out of this 5,000 were B.Ed teachers. In Punjab, about 4,000 schools were brought under zila parishad from Education Department.
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JCO dies of electrocution
Bathinda, November 25 SHO Cantt police station, Gurjeet Singh said, "He died due to the electric shock while trying to get water from bucket. When the police found him dead he was holding iron rod in is hand." Shiv Shankar, an army jawan, when went to his residence for some work, found him lying on the floor of the bathroom, there. He informed the police station," he added. The deceased was taken to the civil Hospital Bathinda, where his post-mortem was performed. After that the body was handed over to the army persons. Police has initiated the proceedings after registering the case under section 174 of the CrPC. |
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It was the year 1995 when a young farmer from a dusty hamlet located in the citrus belt of Malwa constructed a kinnow grading machine out of scrap.
Bathinda, November 25
Bathinda, November 25
