Faridkot, March 7
Health department has announced to give reward of Rs 5,000 to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and Anganwadi worker for providing information regarding female foeticide.

Laxmi Kanta Chawla, health and family welfare minister, announced this while giving appointment letters to the ASHA workers from Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot during a function organised on the eve of the Women’s Day here today.

She exhorted the ASHA workers, who had been appointed on the ratio of one against 1000 people, to bring revolutionary transformation in health sector in rural areas. She asked them to bring women and their children to the nearest health centres to provide them quality treatment and added that they could force the absentee doctors to join clinics punctually.

She informed that as many as 15,000 ASHA workers had been appointed in the state. They would be paid commissions on case basis and no fixed monthly stipend would be given like in case of Anganwadi workers.

Meanwhile, members of the Anganwadi workers union led by its president Hargobind Kaur protested against the appointment of the ASHA workers outside the venue. She told the TNS that there was no use of appointing such workers for the same work, which they had been discharging.

The health and family welfare minister expressed her concern over the trend of delivery of children through midwife.

She said that the department, which was unable to find adequate number of doctors, had decided to utilise the services of retired doctors. Besides, 147 doctors had been issued appointment letters on contract and they would join health institutes in Malwa and added that 57 doctors would be appointed in Community Health Centres.

T.R Sarangal, mission director, NRHM cum project director of the Punjab AIDS Control Society, Gurcharan Kaur, former Rajya Sabha member, Gurdev Singh Badal, senior Akali leader and V.K Meena, Deputy Commissioner, were also present.  

Bathinda, March 7
The district administration is all set to conduct the elections for rural local bodies, which would be held on April 7, as announced today by the state election commission.

The administration has completed all the formalities for elections of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad. The voters’ list has already been published and the ballet papers have also reached the district election office.

As per the data procured from the administration, there are 5,83,800 voters in 317 panchayats, and the district election office have recommended 625 booths for smooth polling, which are yet to be 
notified.

A senior official deputed in the electoral process said that 2,200 ballot boxes are required, as three boxes would be placed at all the booths. Out of the total number, the Bathinda administration possesses only 1,300 and the rest would be procured from Ambala, just a week before the declared date. The inspection for the ballot boxes is underway.

Counting of the Gram Panchayat votes would be done on the day of polling itself, while the counting of Panchayat Samitis and the Zila Parishad would be done on the orders of the State Election Commission.

The administration has prepared a list of the polling staff in a prescribed performa, but the duties would be allocated after receiving the randomly data selecting software.

Giving details, additional district election officer, Vijay N. Zade said, “We are hopeful that the software would be here till Monday and in another ten days, the process of uploading the data would be 
completed.”

Sub-divisional magistrates would act as the registration officers (RO) for the panchayat samitis, while Additional deputy commissioner (development) would be responsible for the Zila Parishad. The district level officers, mostly executive engineers, would be given the charge of Gram Panchayat.

To assist ROs, 40 AROs have been recommended, out of which 12 are for Zila Parishad, eight for Panchayat Samitis and 20 for Gram Panchayats.

The polling for all the three categories—Zila parishad, panchayat samiti and Gram panchayat would start at 8 am.

Moga, March 7
Pardeep Singh, a resident of Ghaloti village, alleged that he was duped of Rs 6 lakh by three persons on the pretext of sending abroad. Kot Isse Khan police station registered a case against Harjinder Singh, Buttar Singh and one Hardeep Singh, travel agent from Delhi.

Pardeep in his complaint stated that he apprised one of his friends of his desire to go to Italy for finding green pastures. He made him to meet Hardeep Singh who sought hefty amount for sending him abroad. The complainant said that as per the deal, he paid Rs 3 lakh in November 2006. He said that, however, the travel agent sent him to Thailand and later to China in which his Rs 70,000 were spent and added that the travel agent assured him that these sojourns had brightened his prospects of travelling and settling in an European nation.

He claimed that last year he paid second installment of Rs 3 lakh to the agent. However, after passing of such a long time the agent neither returned his money nor facilitated journey to Italy.

Barnala, March 7
Irritated over the ever-increasing incidents of thefts in the urban as well as rural areas, the Bharti Kissan Union (Dakonda) has given an ultimatum to the district police to curb the menace by March 9 or face another stir.

Members of the Union said that if the police failed to check the thefts than BKU would stage traffic blockade for four hours at Tapa, Barnala, Dhnuala Pakho Kanchian and Mehlakalan on March 10.

Members took the decision at a meeting held at Gurudwara Mehalkalan today. District president Darshan Singh Ugoke presided over the meet. Senior BKU leader Manjeet Singh Dhaner also participated in the meet. —OC

Bathinda, March 7
The local civil hospital, which caters to more than three lakh patients every year, is in bad shape due to the apathetic attitude of the state government. Around 800 patients from Bathinda and adjoining areas visit the hospital daily.

This 100-bedded hospital, though has sufficient strength of doctors, including specialists, but is short of paramedical staff. It needs at least 40 per cent more nurses than the required strength, admits Dr Charanjeet Garg, SMO.

This district-level hospital, where on an average more than 60 patients are admitted in different wards, is working with only 20 nurses on the roll.

Patients complain that medicines are always in short supply at the hospital. In most cases they are asked to arrange their own medicines, including life-saving drugs. Sometimes, glucose is also not available.

According to sources, the hospital has ultrasound and x-ray machines, but without a radiologist. The hospital authorities have engaged a paramedical staff member for X-ray machine after imparting training to him. “We have to go to private hospitals for an x-ray or blood test because of heavy rush of patients at the hospital”, rued Kulwinder Kaur, who had come for a check-up of her son.

In the absence of adequate facilities at the hospital, serious cases are mostly referred to Chandigarh, Ludhiana or Patiala.

The patients also complained that the centralisation of fee had created problem for them. The patients had to first get the OPD slip by standing in a queue, and then they had to wait for their turn at the doctor’s room. If the doctors suggest some tests then again had to return at the same counter for tests in the lab.

Dr Charanjeet Garg, SMO, when contacted, said though the hospital had been going through a staff crunch, still the available staff was trying its utmost to provide services to the patients. He said that he has written to the health corporation to sanction sufficient amount to plug the leakage of roofs of the hospital.

Bathinda, March 7
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has alleged that some unscrupulous elements in this cotton belt are cheating farmers by selling them Mealy bug resistant cottonseed. 

The PAU authorities as well as the Mahyco-Monsanto Biotec (company selling famous Bollgard brand of Bt cotton) has clarified that the claim of such traders, that mealy bug resistant seed being sold by them, is totally false and far from the truth.

“We have got reports from this area that some seed dealers with their own vested interests are misguiding the farmers by making such claims. So far, there is no variety that is resistant to Mealy bug. Farmers can themselves control Mealy bug by sowing PAU recommended varieties and by following recommendations of university experts,” Dr Nachhatar Singh Malhi, director (extension education), PAU said while speaking to the TNS over phone.

Due to the Mealy bug attack on the cotton this year, the government is expecting a shortfall of at least 4 lakh bales as compared to the last year.

The fact is that Bt cotton saves the crop from only one pest (bollworm) while the cotton is attacked by almost 165 pests.

Christopher Samuel, senior manager (Public Affairs), Mahyco-Monsanto Biotec (MMB), said, “To spread awareness on the benefits of genuine Bollgard Bt cotton seeds, MMB has conducted farmer meetings in 1,500 villages in Punjab and Haryana over the past two months, which were attended by more than 55,000 farmers.

We are educating farmers on the benefits of protection from genuine seeds versus the risk of zero or low yields from illegal seeds. We are also urging them to buy Bt seeds with a ‘pucca’ bill from the retailer so that they don’t get cheated.”

Dr Malhi further said, “A few years ago, some traders from Gujarat cheated the Punjab farmers by selling them spurious Bt Cotton seed. These un-recommended varieties are rather more prone to attack of mealy bug.”

Last season, many farmers of this belt were cheated with spurious Bt cotton seeds and in majority of the cases, the cotton plants yielded no cotton.

One such farmer, Gamdoor Singh of Tungwali village, bought Bt cotton seed for Rs 350 per packet from Gujarat on the recommendation of a seed dealer in his area. “I suffered huge loss because of buying spurious seeds and now, I would recommend all my farmer brothers to buy just genuine Bt cotton seeds.”

Bathinda, March 7
Sandeep Kumar of Udham Singh house won gold medals in 100m, 400m and Triple Jump events while Amandeep Kaur won gold medals in 200m and 400m events at sports meet of Malwa College of Physical Education, held here today. Gurpreet Singh Malooka, managing director, Co-operative Bank, Bathinda was the chief guest while R K Bangar, principal, Government Rajindra College, presided over the function.

Results:

Boys:

100m: 1 Sandeep Kumar 2 Tejinder 3 Mohabba

400m: 1 Sandeep Kumar 2 Gagandeep Sharma 3 Mohabbat Preet.

Triple Jump: 1 Sandeep Kumar 2 Gagandeep Sharma 3 Gurprit Singh.

Shot Put: 1 Suresh Kumar 2 Sukhveer Singh 3 Tajinder Singh.

Discus Throw: 1 Sukhveer Singh 2 Tajinder Singh 3 Ranjit Singh.

Girls:

200m: 1 Amandeep Kaur 2 Navjot Kaur 3 Pardeep Kaur.

400m: 1 Amandeep Kaur 2 Navjot Kaur 3 Pardeep Kaur.

800m: 1 Navjot Kaur 2 Beant Kaur 3 Sunita.

Long Jump: 1 Pardeep Kaur 2 Beant Kaur 3 Navjot Kaur.

Bathinda, March 7
Municipal officials are quite optimistic that the sale of much-talked Blue Fox Complex, a piece of land-adjoining Rose Garden on March 12, which also happens to be the first property on sale in the new list, would fetch handsome price.

The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) today, advertised the auction of the sale of the land in question (21,261 sq. yard), terming it a commercial land on National Highway. The reserve price of the land has been fixed as Rs. 50,000 per sq. yard and the eligibility fee is fixed at one crore.

The land in question was a tourist complex project, which was undertaken by the District Red Cross, Bathinda with the help of the Municipal Committee, Bathinda on March 15, 1979. The then chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal on May 6, 1979, inaugurated the project. However, the irony is that the property will again be sold in his regime.

After some years, the property was transferred to the Municipal Corporation Bathinda and then it was shifted to the PIDB. The state government has floated the proposal of sale of some properties in the cabinet meeting on October 9, 2007 and the very next day it was sanctioned.

As per the information received from the administration, the Blue Fox project was launched for the funding of the Red Cross, but after some time the Municipal Committee started receiving the amount generated from the project. Since 1990 the Municipal Committee has been leasing it out on fixed rent, which now the officials have been terming as negligible.

When contacted, the Municipal Commissioner, K.K. Yadav, said, “There is no expectation about the last and final bid, but it can be said that it would fetch a handsome amount. The amount would go in the account of the PIDB and then it would go to the state exchequer from where the funds would be allocated to the Municipal Corporation to be used for development projects.

Replying to a query, Yadav said as the amount of lease, which is around three lakh per year, is negligible; the authorities have resorted to the sale of land.

It is worth mentioning here that the recent property - a 21,780 sq yard piece of land in the heart of the city fetched the all time high price of Rs.184 crores in December last year.

Bathinda, March 7
The ten member bicycle expedition organised by 414 (independent) Engineer Squadron to commemorate the Silver Jubilee Raising Day, returned to warm welcome here today after pedalling 1120 kms over a period of 15 days.

The expedition which was flagged off on February 22 from Bathinda by Brigadier R V Kanitkar, Commander 14 (independent) Armoured Brigade traversed through rugged terrain in plains of South Punjab, West Haryana and bordering areas in Western Rajasthan.

The expedition comprising one officer, one junior commissioned officer and eight Ranks was accorded a warm welcome and team members interacted with the local population at numerous places enroute.

A large number of people especially the youth were enthused by the spirit of army expedition and expressed their keen desire to join the Army. The team member answered a volley of queries about army life and exhorted the youngsters to join the army to serve the nation. The expedition members also had wide exposure to the countryside and learned a lot about the culture, history and way of life in the areas covered by them.

The main objective of the expedition was to have better interaction between army and civilians and it was a sort of ‘mission achieved’. It was a great adventure and fun which helped us learn more about unity in diversity, said a team member.

The expedition was flagged in today by Colonel Raminder Chimni (deputy commander), 14 (independent) Armoured Brigade.

Bathinda, March 7
The Talwandi Sabo police booked three persons—Jagdev Singh, Sudhir Verma and Manjeet Singh in a case of cheating one Jasmeet Singh, a resident of Sangat, of Rs 3 lakh. The police sources said that Jagdev Singh, a relative of the complainant, demanded Rs 3 lakh for having his son appointed in railways.

The accused misrepresented Manjeet Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib as the chief ticket inspector in the railways. The complainant further mentioned the name of Sudhir Verma, a doctor at Gidderbaha, in front of whom the alleged deal took place.

The matter was reported to the EOW branch and on the investigation of the branch; the Talwandi Sabo police arrested Manjeet Singh, while the other two accused were still on large.—TNS