Faridkot, February 10
The vacant posts of planning officers, civil engineers, executive officers and junior engineers (JE) in the municipal corporations and municipal councils across the state would be filled up soon, said Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, who was here to participate in the seventh Mass Marriage ceremony organised by the Nirog Bal Ashram, Kotkapura, today.

Agreeing that the working of the civic bodies across the state was being hampered in the absence of officers, he reiterated that the SAD-BJP coalition government was committed to the overall development of the state.

Informing that as many as 100 municipal councils would go to polls soon, he added that the elections for municipal corporation, Bathinda, would be held in April.

The local bodies minister, who also holds the charge of industry and commerce, said that a detailed report on 12 out of 44 towns, identified for speedy development, has been prepared.

On an optimistic note, he said that emphasis had been laid on solid waste management and sewerage treatment plant for the holistic development of these cities.

He hoped that the implementation of the dynamic plan would herald the beginning of a new era by putting these cities on the path of swift development.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, he said that it was pursuing a partisan approach towards Punjab as far as industrial development was concerned.

He said that Punjab has invariably been ignored while introducing new industrial schemes. On the other hand, Punjab’s neighbouring states had been extended tax holidays at its cost.

The minister urged the central government to grant a special package for the agro-based industry in this border state.

He was of the opinion that it would encourage the farmers and help Punjab come out of stagnation.

With the financial support of NRI Rikhy Ram Dhawan, the marriage of 31 girls were solemnised. Each bride was given a bicycle, a double bed, an iron box, a fan, a sewing machine, utensils and bedding to start their married life.

Bathinda, February 10
Local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia today said that the BJP and SAD will stage a demonstration in Delhi on February 26 to seek help from the centre for farmers and industrialists of Punjab. The BJP will press for a package in conformity with the natural potential of the state, he said. The minister, who was here to mobilise BJP activists for the coming municipal corporation election, also spoke to the press.

Thanking the voters, Kalia said, “The urban voters have played an important role in BJP’s victory. So, the party is committed to their betterment. For this, 44 cities have been selected for development and Bathinda is one of them.”

The minister, who also holds the portfolio for commerce and industries, said, “Subsidies of around Rs 150 crore have been granted to the state, including Rs 100 crore, after the ruling coalition came to power. We have been chalking out all possibilities to grant Rs 100 crore subsidy for industries soon.” About the dates of MC elections, he said, “It will be in April and the exact date would be announced by the Election Commission.”

Later, Kalia convened a meeting of local BJP leaders. Problems being faced by BJP’s workers and their relationship with SAD, reportedly figured at the meeting. Some BJP workers complained that local SAD workers were ignoring them. They also complained about the “district administration favouring SAD leaders” and taking up their work on a priority basis.

The differences over the ‘name-dropping’ in the foundation stones, discrimination in allotment of tubewell connections, encroachments of parks, alleged rumour over sale of government properties in Bathinda also came up for discussion.

At the end of the meeting, the minister instructed K.K. Yadav, the municipal commissioner, to redress the grievances of BJP workers.

Bathinda, February 10
The national level championship, ‘Tycoons 2008, The Great Leadership Hunt’, was successfully held by Career Launcher, Bathinda. According to a press release, Avneesh Duggal from Yadwindra Engineering College, Talwandi Sabo and Pardeep Kumar from the GTB Engineering College, Chappianwali, were selected for the regional finals.

Career Launcher, Bathinda, over the last 30 days, had targeted various colleges and conducted the preliminary written quiz test in which 40 students were shortlisted. —TNS 

Fazilka, February 10
Three minor children of a migrant labourer were charred to death as they were reportedly asleep in their room near Mandi Ladhuka of the Fazilka sub-division. The tragedy occurred around 9 pm on Saturday night.

According to the FIR lodged with the police post of Mandi Ladhuka, Jai Narain (35) was working as a watchman in a rice mill in the nearby Ghubaya village. He, along with his wife and five children Satish (13), Rishi (10), Upasna (8), Rachna (6) and Raman (4), used to live in a small room in fields on the out skirts of Ladhuka Mandi. Pushpa, wife of Jai Narayan, along with her son Rishi had gone to their native village, Bhajeri, in Kanauj district of Uttar Pardesh about a fortnight ago.

Satish (13), the eldest son of Jai Narayan, works in the same rice mill during the day.

On that fateful day, Jai Narayan served meals to his three children in the evening and bolted the only door of the room from outside and left for his duty. Satish, the eldest son, used to return late at night. Last night, when he reached the room, he noticed smoke emanating from the room.

As he opened the door, he was shocked to see his two sisters and a brother charred to death in the room.

According to Sahib Singh Sandhu, in-charge, police post Ladhuka Mandi, Jai Narayan had left an oil lamp in the room because of a power cut. There were two gallons of kerosene and quilts lying in the room, which, cops said, might have accidentally caught fire, resulting in the death of the children.

Mansa, February 10
Although the health departments of the Central and the state governments have been making efforts to control tuberculosis (TB), lack of awareness about the disease is proving to be a hurdle in it.

According to information, India has maximum number of TB patients and the disease affects about 18 lakh people every year while about four lakh die of it.

The National TB Control Programme, launched in 1962, was operational till 1992. In 1992, an expert committee declared the programme as “failed” due to low priorities, managerial weakness, over dependence on X-ray and inadequate funding.

Later, the Revised National TB Control Programme was launched which covers almost the whole country. To overcome the dependence on X-ray, sputum microscopy- based diagnosis technique was implemented.

The diagnosis is done at designated microscopy centre for one lakh population at free of cost.

The state TB officer, Dr Pawan Bansal said that although the government had raised a huge infrastructure to tackle the disease, lack of awareness among people was creating hurdles in the way.

He said that in Punjab, 282 DMCs and 13,788 DOT centres had been established for free diagnosis and free treatment of T.B. In 
districts, the programme is run by the district T.B. control societies under the chairmanship of deputy commissioners.

He said that government had provided big infrastructure and free treatment of TB patients but only 60 per cent patients come in government centres and 40 per cent go for private treatment.

Nissan Singh, TB officer in Mansa, also emphasised upon the need for creating awareness about it among people. Social, health and political organisations could play a key role, he added.

He said that more than 5,000 people were affected by T.B. everyday in the country and over 1,000 people die of it everyday.

Nissan said that district Mansa has two tuberculosis units, one at Mansa and the other at Budhlada, and seven microscopy units have been operating in Mansa, Khialakalan, Bhikhi, Budhlada, Bareta, Sardulgarh and Jhunir.

According to the doctor, with the help of wall paintings, hoardings, awareness sessions, rallies and banners, awareness about TB was being created among the people in the district.

Fazilka, February 10
The government is apparently not taking any practical steps to improve education in the state. On the one hand, the state government is observing the current year as the Education Development Year and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur have declared that Rs 100 crore would be spent on setting up of model schools and improving the basic infrastructure in government schools and colleges. And on the other hand, it is not taking steps to fill up vacancies of teachers in the colleges.

Sources in the education department alleged that on the pretext of rationalisation, most of the posts are being abolished after declaring these as surplus.

According to available details, the government has, vide its circular dated 27th December 2007, abolished 151 posts of lecturers. Another 111 posts in different subjects, including physics, chemistry, biology and economics, mathematics, political science, geography, music and physical training have been declared surplus.

The government has also issued instructions not to disburse salaries against these posts from April 1, 2008.

Raj Kishore Kalra, patron of the Shiksha Sudhar Committee, Punjab, said that the situation had turned from bad to worse in 54 government colleges of the state due to the rationalisation.

He said that there were 47 colleges in the state but the previous Congress government opened seven more colleges. And the strength of lecturers decreased from 2,024 to 1,873.

More surprisingly, of the 1,873 posts, about 750 are lying vacant. As such, nearly 50 per cent of the posts of college lecturers are vacant. Altogether 19 colleges are without regular principals, said Kalra.

The Badal government had promised to fill up all vacant posts. However, no step was being taken in this direction, he added.

The lack of teachers in the colleges was adversely affecting the studies of the students, Kalra said. This had also caused resentment among the eligible unemployed lecturers who had been waiting for their appointment since long, he added.

Kalra demanded that to improve the standard of education in colleges, the government should fill up the vacancies without any delay.

Abohar, February 10
Sulochna and Maya shared the “Best Athlete” position by winning the first positions in 100 and 200 meter, and 400 and 800 meter races respectively during the 6th Annual Sports Meet in Bhag Singh College for Women at Kala Tibba village near here on Saturday. Chairperson Harbaksh Kaur Hayer presented medals to the toppers in different events. Principal Parminder Sharma presided over the award ceremony.

Results:

100 mtr: (1) Maya (2) Gurpreet/Bindu (3) Paramjit

200 mtr: (1) Maya (2) Sulochna (3) Bindu

400 mtr: (1) Sulochna (2) Suman (3) Laxmi

800 mtr: (1) Sulochna (2) Harjit Kaur (3) Suman

4x100 mtr relay: (1) Harjit/Karamjit (2) Maya/Ramanjit (3) Suman/Bindu

Shot put: (1) Manisha (2) Malika (3) Sharanjit

Javelin throw: (1) Davinder (2) Veerpal Kaur (3) Sharanjit

Discus throw: (1) Gurpreet Kaur (2) Neetu Bala (3) Veerpal Kaur

3 leg race: (1) Navneet/Gagandeep (2) Laxmi/Reena (3) Gursimran/Manisha

Long jump: (1) Bindu (2) Maya (3) Gurpreet

Sack race: (1) Manju (2) Sapna (3) Poonam

Obstacle race: (1) Manju (2) Kiran (3) Gagan/Bhagwanti.

Rajinder Singh Jakhar, director of the Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank, inaugurated the meet. Vivek Chhabra compered the event. Excitement among the viewers added much colour to the function.