Bathinda, September 5
The price of cotton, on the first day of its arrival at the grain market here today, prevailed between Rs 2,700 and Rs 2,950 per quintal. Farmers brought about 100 quintals of cotton and were happy for they were expecting a good yield this season (about 40 per cent more than what they reaped last season). 

However, they were disappointed because despite the good yield, they could not get the right price for their produce, as cotton mill traders are on strike in protest against the hike in cess on cotton. Only a couple of traders picked up the cotton today and at the rates that they deemed right.

Teja Singh of Shergarh village brought about one and a half quintal of cotton and sold it for Rs 2,930 per quintal. He was not happy selling his produce at a low price while the price at Maur Mandi hovered around Rs 3,250. He owns two acres of land and expects a good crop, about 35 per cent more than last year, provided it was not infested by any pest as it did last season. Teja said while he was happy that due to good rains, the yield was good, but at the same time, he was disappointed with the price he was getting for his crop. "We don't have any other way out, but to sell."

Another farmer of the same village, Gurdeep Singh, who owns about 20 acres of land brought along with him about 8 quintals of cotton and sold it at the rate of Rs 2,900 per quintal. He said he had heard that the price was around Rs 3,500 in other markets. The farmer expects about 50 per cent rise in the yield this time. "Kharcha hi poora nahi hunda (we cannot meet expenses with the price we are getting)," Gurdeep lamented. He added that inflation was at an all-time high. "Moreover, power cuts have added to our woes. Eight hours of electricity supply has been fixed. But they still impose power cuts for two hours."

Jang Singh Gherhi Bhagi was already pensive for his crop had been destroyed due to pest attacks. To worsen the things, he got less price for the crop he had brought to the market today.

"We picked up about 50 quintals of cotton at the price ranging between Rs 2,700 to Rs 2950," said Jaswinder Singh of the Punjab Spintex Limited, Behman Deewana, who was among the two traders who picked cotton today.

Mohan Lal, owner of Aggarwal Cotton Company, rued that the government had slapped an additional market cess applicable from back date for the past three years. "Moreover, the market cess has been raised which is not good. That is why traders are on strike. We have been duly paying the sales tax along with the applicable VAT. Then why should we pay additional cess now," he asked.

Bathinda, September 5
The weather-beaten but finely chiselled face stands out despite the rustic look. Karnail Singh, son of Labh Singh, as the 76-year-old loves to introduce himself, hails from village Bishnandi, near Jaito Mandi in Bathinda district.

The septuagenarian's claim to fame is a carpet that he rolls out. It has a map of India carved on it. The names of the states and the seas are inscribed in Gurmukhi along with the date on which the carpet was ready: 12.10.1971.

Despite the passage of over three decades, the carpet is clean and looks new. This is because, as Karnail Singh says, he does not allow any one to touch or caress it. "You never know, someone might damage it with a blade," he reveals his fear. The carpet is rolled and kept in a bag and is under lock and key, such is his love for it.

Karnail says he is illiterate and it was a school teacher in his Bishnandi village who inspired him to take up the work. It took him over four and a half months to get the thread dyed. To learn how to make loghri, he visited village Mulyanwali in Fazilka district. Finally, his hard work paid off.

Karnail Singh said people come from Chandigarh and other places asking him to sell the carpet. But the price on offer is not worth considering, he says, revealing that he wants to sell it for not less than Rs one lakh. If he gets it, he may well consider selling the carpet.

The carpet has been displayed at the heritage fair and also at the agricultural university in Ludhiana. Karnail Singh counts DGP NPS Aulakh as an admirer of his work but laments that despite the encomiums, not much monetary gain has come his way. He was also honoured at Gurdas Mann's akhara near Jaito. A widower for six years now, Karnail Singh has two sons and two daughters and cultivates wheat and narma for 
subsistence.

Barnala, September 5
Due to the alleged negligence of a local doctor, a farm labourer died at a private nursing home here today. The agitated villagers blocked road traffic and staged a dharna for about three hours in protest against the death and demanded strict action against the guilty doctor. But later, they reached a compromise after the doctor concerned agreed to pay a huge sum of as compensation to the aggrieved family.

The deceased, Binder Singh, is survived by his wife and two daughters, one two and a half years old and the other only nine days old.

Former MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu , BSP local leader Aikam Singh and Congress SC cell district president Bant Singh Barnala reached the site and played a key role in reaching a compromise between the doctors and the labourer’s family.

Aikam Singh said that Binder Singh, 24, was working in the fields of farmer Chibbar Singh. He was spraying on paddy a pesticide named quinalphos. All of a sudden, he started feeling giddy.

He complained to the framer that he was not feeling well. The farmer’s family immediately took him to a nursing home and admitted him there for treatment. But according to the farmer’s family, the doctor concerned was allegedly not present in the clinic. he was somewhere else. His compounder admitted him to the nursing home.

The doctor’s staff, Buta Singh, told the patients’ relatives that the doctor was not present in the clinic and he has described the patient’s condition to the doctor over phone. The doctor allegedly prescribed medicine and injection on the phone. After that, the doctor reached the clinic.

Binder was admitted at around 9 am today and he died in the noon around 12 pm. Even till his death, the doctor was not present in the nursing home. So, the villagers gathered at the nursing home situated on K.C. road and staged a dharna and blocked the road traffic.

DSP Balraj Singh, along with city SHO, Harmeek Singh rushed to the site to take stock of the situation. The patient’s family refused to take the dead body of Binder Singh till action was taken against the doctor, Vijay Kumar.

Aikam Singh said that the doctor has agreed  to pay Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased. It was only after the financial assistance was announced that the dharna was lifted and the family received the body. A case was registered by the police in this regard.

Abohar, September 5
A thunderous applause emanating from all corners of the jampacked auditorium at the Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College helped Sandra in winning top award in the classical dance competition during the three-day “Talent Hunt” festival which concluded last night.

She was not only adjudged the best by a panel of judges but also emerged as the choice of the audience too.

“I had never seen such a fine performance earlier,” remarked one of the regular viewer of such festivals.

The festival was organised under the guidance of principal Neelam Arun Mittu by Surinder Kaur Sandhu, Shakuntla and Meena Mahajan. 

Toppers in different events are: Punjabi solo dance: Dipika, Hindi solo dance: Kajal, traditional singing: Harjot, essay writing: Rupinder, storywriting: Nirmala and Arshdeep, poem composing: Kanika and Inderjit, one-act play: Sarika, shabad/bhajan; Jyoti, debate: Prachi, still life drawing: Gurpreet, collage making: Khushbu, poster making: Jaskirat and Harjot, landscaping: Saroj, cartooning: Jaskirat, mehandi: Anuradha, rangoli: Samiksha, knitting: Veerpal, Pakhi making: Sumita, crochet work: Veerpal, phulkari: Mamta and cross stitch: Simarjit.

Amandeep was declared the best performer in group dance with Saroj and Kanika sharing the second position. In Gidha, the first position was clinched by Navkiran while Suman got the second position.

Bathinda, September 5
Several colourful programmes, including speech contests and games, were organised at schools in Bathinda district to mark the Teachers’ Day celebrations today. The day is celebrated in memory of the noted educationist, philosopher and former President of India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

Celebrating the day, the Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Bathinda honoured its teachers for honing the talents of students. Members of the managing committee of the school honour the teachers on the occasion. The programme began with welcome speech given by the head of the institution, Jaswinder Singh. Later, teachers presented shabads. Students and teachers expressed their views regarding role of teachers in the present society. They also threw light on the life and philosophy of Dr. S Radhakrishnan. Secretary H.S. Sandhu, assistant secretary H.S. Mokha, former director Bhag Singh Sidhu, and others also spoke on the occasion.

The day was also celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Government High School, Nehianwala. While the teachers expressed their views on ‘Teachers and their role towards students and society’ the students presented various programmes in which qawali was the main attraction. Fun games especially for teachers were arranged to mark the occasion.

Headmistress Bhupinder Kaur appreciated all the teachers for last year’s excellent board results. She urged the teachers to adopt latest teaching techniques to further improve the performance of the students and put their best efforts in a humanitarian way especially for poor students. She advised the students to concentrate on science and computer education keeping in view the emerging world scenario. Fun games winners Karam Singh and Sarla Devi were given prizes.

In a function held at Gurukul College here, managing director of the college Bhushan Kumar Goyal said teachers in the present society carried immense responsibility of making students capable to compete in cut-throat competition and at the same time of inculcating values in the students.

Students of the Swami Vivekananda Girls College, Bathinda shed light on the relevance of day. They also presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion.

Abohar, September 5
Many schools celebrated Teachers’ Day but some did so with a difference. At the Government High School in village Gidderanwali, teachers Rajni and Saranjit Singh honoured students who had recorded 100 per cent attendance during the current academic session.

DPE Paramjit Pal was honoured as the best teacher. Headmaster Brij Lal shed light on the life and ideals of Dr S. Radhakrishnan. In the competitions held on the occasion, Deepak Kumar, Harpreet Kaur and Harbans Kaur topped in painting, card making and declamation contests.

In the town, the Teachers’ Day function was conducted completely by the students of class IX and X. They applied vermilion on the forehead of principal Brahmrita while she blessed the students. At Sardar Patel Institute for Multipurpose Health workers, chairman S.R. Sharma lighted a lamp before the portrait of Mother India. Principal Jagseer Singh and Sharma honoured the students. The students presented garlands and “shriphal” to the teachers.

Bhupinder Utreja of Government High School, village Kerakhera, informed that Saroj Rani had topped in the poem recitation contest at the district-level while Gursharan Singh won the second prize in folk singing. — OC

Moga, September 5
The computer teachers' union burnt the effigy of chief minister Prakash Singh Badal, here today. Especially, choosing to protest on Teachers' Day, the union leaders accused the ruling party of backtracking from the promise of regularising their services made in its election manifesto.

The computer teachers first gathered in a local gurudwara this morning and held a meeting to condemn the alleged anti-employee policies of the state government. Then, they carried out a protest rally passing through the main bazaar of the town raising slogans against the state government.

In the heart of town outside the main bus stand, the teachers blocked traffic for about half an hour and burnt the effigy of the chief minister.

Iqbal Singh, district president of the union, said that the state government was not giving salaries to computer teachers on time. It was being delayed by about three to four months for the past over on year. He announced that the stir would be intensified if the demands were not met immediately. — TNS

Ferozepur, September 5
An emergency meeting of the private dental colleges of Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Amritsar, Dera Bassi and Sunam was held today to discuss the situation arising out of the news that appeared in section of the press regarding the holding of third counselling by Baba Farid Universty, Faridkot to admit students in a new dental college.

A spokesman for these colleges, said that according to prospectus of PMET-2008 and Punjab government notification number 05/03/08 HBIII/1934, dated 31/03/08, “ The seats remaining vacant in management as well as government quota shall be filled by the management of the private college in a fair and transparent manner after due publicity”. But the news that has appeared is causing confusion among the students, he added.

The spokesman said that there is neither any provision for admission to any college getting permission after July 31, 2008, nor for any further counseling as per Punjab government the notification and prospectus of PMET-2008.

He demanded that the Punjab government and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, should clarify the facts and act in accordance with the rules and not allow any shifting of students already admitted and studying in various dental colleges of the state. Otherwise, it will create chaos and confusions amongst the students, he said.

Bathinda, September 5
The executive body meeting of the Muslim Human Welfare Society (MHWS), Bathinda, was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Anis Ahmed.

Sukhdev Khan, president, Jamil Ahmed, secretary, Taukir Zia, adviser, Bashir Khan and Mohammed Salim Khan, joint secretaries, attended the 
meeting.

It was decided to honour Khusi Mohammed, chief executive officer of the Punjab Wakf Board, at 10 am on Sunday at the Hazi Rattan dargah office of the Board. It was also decided to get nomination for the chairman in the Punjab Wakf Board. 

Bathinda, September 5
Veena Handa, principal, GH School, Tungwali, was given a farewell by the staff and students of the school upon her retirement after 34 years of service towards the cause of education.

She was honoured on the occasion by the DEO (Secondary), Bathinda, staff of State Bank of Patiala, Tungwali, panchayat members and the parents-teachers association. A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. — TNS

Ferozepur, September 5
In three separate incidents, the Ferozpur police arrested three drug peddlers and seized large quantity of poppy husk and opium from their possession. In Makhu, SHO Ashwani Kumar arrested a drug peddler identified as Dharmajeet Singh, a resident of village Dulhewala in district Moga and recovered 210 kg poppy husk from him.

Likewise, in Ghall Khurd, the police nabbed Harpreet Singh, a resident of Sunder Nagar, Faridkot, for allegedly possessing 57 kg of poppy husk.

Sub-inspector Dogar Singh from the narcotics department nabbed another person identified as Gagan Singh, a resident of Dhani Shera, in Sirsa district along with 500 grams of opium.

Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered against the three.