Bathinda, October 10
Accusing the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and the government of adopting "anti-farmer" policies, activists of the farmers' unions lodged their protest at the DC office and then staged a dharna outside the CCI regional office located at Mall road, here today.

The protesting farmers blamed the CCI officials for delay in the MSP purchase of cotton. They said that after the protest by farmers, the government ordered the CCI to start the purchase at he MSP, but in the terms, the officials listed a number of conditions regarding the quality of the crop.

Addressing the gathering, leaders of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) and Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) alleged that the Central and the state governments were hand-in-glove with the traders and arhtiyas, due to which the government agencies did not buy the crop at the MSP, which had been fixed at Rs 2,800 per quintal. They said that in the absence of government support, they were forced to sell the crop even at Rs 2,500.

They added that after starting the MSP purchase, the farmers had been facing many discrepancies in the purchase. Even after the CCI started the purchase, farmers had been getting less than the MSP, citing moisture in the crop as the reason for it.

In the terms, it had been decided that after eight per cent, for every one per cent of moisture, one per cent of the fixed price would be deducted from the farmers. In addition to it, the condition relating to the length of the product (cotton) had also been fixed.

Submitting a memorandum to the Naib Tehsildar, they alleged that the officials and arhtiyas, had been looting the farmers due to which the MSP, which was meant to reach the farmers, was not going to them. They said that as per the terms, the 2.5 per cent commission of the arhtiyas should be paid by the CCI but here, the commission was being deducted from the income of the farmers.

Shingara Singh Mann, district president of the BKU Ekta (Ugrahan) and Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary, BKU (Ekta) lashed out at the functioning of the state and central governments.

When contacted, V.P. Nagpal, branch manager, CCI, said, "Earlier, we were making commercial purchase but as soon as it was decided that the CCI would buy at the MSP, we started correspondence with the ministry and from October 8, the CCI has been purchasing at the maximum support price. Just in two days, we have purchased 8000 bales of cotton."

About the allegation of commission deduction from the maximum support price, he said, "We have not received any such complaint, but it would be probed." Replying about other charges, he said all was being done under well defined rules.

Moga, October 10
After the recent change of guard in the local Municipal Council, the state Vigilance Bureau (VB) has again sprung into action to find out irregularities done in the construction of roads during the previous Congress government.

A team of the bureau with technical officers from Chandigarh along with its local officials today collected few samples of the construction done on couple of roads during the past few years by the local Municipal Council in this town.

The former president of the MC K.S. Gill and a former councillor Ajay Gora in a written complaint lodged before the bureau had levelled serious allegations of use of sub-standard material in the construction of various roads/streets of this town by the local body during the tenure of another former president Joginder Pal Jain who is presently the Congress MLA from this assembly constituency.

This was for the third time that the technical team comprising executive engineer Mukesh Goel and assistant executive engineer S.K. Sharma had come here from Chandigarh to look into the allegations and collect samples of the construction work.

On July 7, this year, this technical team came here for the first time to collect the samples but the then executive officer of the municipal council, Brij Mohan Jham, instead of co-operating the investigating agency used his influence to gather a section of the officials and employees of the MC in front of the bureau's local office to protest against the inquiry due to which the probe was put-off for some time.

Then, on October 4, the technical team arrived here for the second time and took only one sample but the complainants objected to it on the pretext that the samples were not taken in their presence.

Today, the technical team came here for the third time. Both the complainants were summoned by the executive officials of bureau and all the samples were taken in their presence.

Talwinderjit Singh, DSP of the Vigilance Bureau, who is the investigating officer, in this case while talking to TNS revealed that the samples were taken from the Akalsar road to 'bandh phatak' along the railway line commonly known as the camp road that was constructed at a cost of

Rs 22.51 lakh by Amar Construction Company and Akalsar road to railway track along with Nand Singh Ji Nagar on Kotkapura bye-pass constructed at a cost of Rs 35.54 lakh by Macro India Company.

The DSP said that the samples were sealed in the presence of the complainants. "We will send these samples to a government laboratory for tests", he said. He further said that their technical team would again come here to collect few more samples from other roads of the town, next week.

Senior officials of the local body were also present when the technical team took the samples.

The officials from the Vigilance Bureau had asked them to submit the record of construction works done on as many 35 roads in the town during the past three years.

Bathinda, October 10
In an incident of roof collapse, one labourer killed and two sustained injuries at Model Town Phase I, today.

According to the available details, Naib Singh, Surjeet Singh and Ved Parkash all were working in some construction work of a building, when all of a sudden the roof collapsed and they were buried under it.

Naib Singh was a resident of Parinda Wali Gali while Ved Parkash resides in Bahadur Nagar. Surjeet Singh is a resident of village Burj Mehma in the district.

Volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva rushed them to civil hospital, where doctors declared Naib Singh dead. Civil Lines police started an investigation of into case. Further details are awaited.

Bathinda, October 10
Sukhjeet Singh Gill of Paras Ram Nagar reported that due to the irregularities at the Regional Passport Office, he was sent a passport of some unknown person.

Showing the copy of the passport, he said that the passport, he received, carried the name and photograph of one Jaswinder Singh of village Vairo Ke Patti, Tehsil Bagha Purana, district Moga.

He said that he visited the Suvidha Centre, Bathinda, where he was suggested that he should approach the passport office, Chandigarh, from where the passport was issued.

Speaking further, he said, "I have informed the passport authorities about the fact through an e-mail but as of now, nothing has been done."

When contacted, Davinder Singh, SHO Kotwali, said that in such a case, police action is not required. Therefore, the complainant should himself go to Chandigarh passport office and submit it there.

Bathinda, October 10
World Mental Health Day was observed at the civil dispensary in Bandi village here today. Posters and educational charts on the 'relationship between physical and mental health: co-occurring disorders' were displayed.

O.P. Trehan, a psychiatrist from DMCH, Ludhiana, pointed out that the state of well-being involved both physical and mental well-being. Mental and physical health and illness represented crucial parts of life and were interdependent, he said.

He said studies had shown that every aspect of health had a major impact on others. Diseases like cancer, cardio-vascular disorders, diabetes and HIV/AIDS should not be viewed in isolation from the possible mental and psychological issues of an individual, Trehan observed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had emphasised that the presence of major physical diseases affected the mental health of individuals and members of their families, societies and countries.

An Australian study had shown that individuals with schizophrenia were found to be 2.9 times more likely to die of cardio-vascular disorders than others.

Pritam Singh, a nephrologist, said, anxiety and depression often caused adverse changes in a person's immune system, making the individual prone to physical illness. Mental disorders had a profound effect on the person's behavioural pattern, including exercise, dietary habits, sexual life and addiction to smoking and alcohol, which might further increase chances of physical illness, he added.

"Special attention was required to an integrated approach to mental health services and primary healthcare," Singh said.

Members of the general public were informed about the four major co-occurring problems, cardio-vascular problems, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer, as these caused anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and stress.

Bathinda, October 10
A shocking incident came to light today in Goniana Khurd village where a man, who is said to be mentally unstable, was set free after being chained for 1.5 years.

Balveer Singh, who is 45 years old, and has three daughters and a son, was locked in a room after being chained, and was set free by volunteers of an NGO, Sahara Jan Sewa today.

Balveer worked as a servant at a landlord's house for around four years but lost his mental balance. His family got him treated at various places but to no avail.

"We spent a lot of money on our father's treatment. We took him to many doctors but nothing seemed to help him. Now we are left with no money and we had to resort to this step of tying him with chains. I know it is inhuman but we didn't have any other way out," his 20-year-old son rued.

Balveer had started abusing people in his village and started behaving in a strange manner which made everyone advise the family to lock him up in a room. He wasn't allowed to come out of the room at all. He found it difficult to sleep.

Somebody from Balveer's village gave a call to the Sahara Jan Sewa yesterday and told them about Balveer's condition. On hearing this, Jagga Singh, Rakesh Kumar along with other members of Sahara Jan Sewa went to Goniana Khurd village today to rescue Balveer.

The village sarpanch Bharpoor Singh was called in and after speaking to Balveer's family and assuring them that he would be fully treated and that the cost of his treatment would be borne by the Sahara Jan Sewa, Balveer was admitted to the civil hospital after releasing him.

Vijay Goyal of the Sahara Jan Sewa said, "We will get Balveer treated and the cost would be borne by us. The medicines are strong so Balveer will be given a special diet and we will take proper care so that he becomes normal soon."

Abohar, October 10
An attempt by some colonisers to take physical possession of a disputed prime land located on the corner of the old water works by way of demarcation through the employees of the revenue department was foiled today.

Municipal council president Shiv Raj Goyal taking a firm stand on the contentious issue rushed to the disputed site along with scores of BJP workers and councillors to oppose the proposed demarcation. They made it clear to the government staff that the land had been in physical possession of the council for more than forty 40 years and water tanks existed there for a long period. So any demarcation is subject to the approval of the full house.

As per information, two local colonisers had reportedly included a close relative of the Badals from Muktsar in executing a purchase deal of one third part of the land that existed in khasra number 2006/2. None had shown interest in the land before creation of a road to link the Aggarsein Marg with the state highway outside Sunder Nagar here. The road in the neighbourhood was one of the notable achievements of the local legislator Sunil Jakhar and was thus called as "Sunil Setu" as it fulfilled long cherished desire of hundreds of citizens by facilitating diversion of traffic from the most strategic point in the heart of the town. The roadside plot was used for many years by the Army to house the Army Supplies Core (ASC) even when some persons got its mutation done in their favour allegedly by unfair means.

Sources said the vested interests had succeeded in stalling the auction of the disputed land by the municipal council using their influence in the corridors of power last year. Today, they made an attempt to get physical possession with the help of the revenue staff but the BJP workers opposed it. They were unofficially told that the officers were under pressure from the "highest quarters" to help the colonisers this or that way but they stood by the interests of the council as well as common people.

Abohar, October 10
Amrikpal Singh Sidhu took over as chairman of the Improvement Trust here. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal, popularly known as "think-tank" of the SAD (B) and Lok Sabha member Zora Singh Mann specially arrived to greet him and extend good wishes.

Mann and Badal said Sidhu was re-appointed chairman as he enjoyed clean image and had prepared many schemes during his last tenure when Parkash Singh Badal served as Chief Minister. However, the schemes could be implemented when the Congress was in power. Both the senior SAD leaders criticized Captain Amrinder Singh for allegedly betraying the electorates who had voted him to power by not fulfilling the promises made in the party manifesto. Stirringly they said, "For more than four years the Raja kept on flying in air and enjoyed all sort of luxuries as Chief Minister because for him it was virtually not possible to pass through the roads as the same remained blocked due to unabated demonstrations by all sections of people."

Mann and Badal advised Sidhu and municipal council president Shiv Raj Goyal of the BJP to work together and get maximum of funds for development from Parkash Singh Badal. Circle Jathedar Kaur Singh and Paramjit Singh former MLA from Guruharsahai also congratulated Sidhu on his taking over the charge.

Sidhu assured that the town would be given a facelift with the cooperation of the municipal council and pending schemes will be completed.

Abohar, October 10
Nearly 20,000 students are expected to participate in the zonal-level youth festivals of the Panjab University (PU), which will commence on October 12, S.M. Kant director youth services department informed this correspondent today.

Kant said that 178 colleges affiliated with the PU had been divided into 12 zones. This year, more than seven festivals out of 12 will be hosted by the rural colleges.

There will be competitions in music, dance, theatre, fine arts and literary items. One-day heritage festivals would also be held during these festivals to promote rich cultural heritage of Punjab, he added.

Festivals for colleges of education are being held separately. Lala Jagat Narayan Education College located in Jalalabad west sub-division of Ferozepur district will host the festival for C zone of the education colleges from October 21 to 24. Festival for Muktsar zone colleges will be held at Guru Nanak College for Girls, Muktsar from October 18 to 21. Moga-Ferozepur-A zone festival is to be hosted by Shri Ram College village Dalla in district Ludhiana between October 20 and 23. The SDS College for Women Lopon is hosting festival for Moga-Ferozepur-B zone between October 12 and 15.

Moga, October 10
An evening of music mixed with classical and folk songs by singers from Delhi gave the night a delightful and relaxed air.

It was less of a political show and more of a stimulating showmanship to revive the spirit of supporters and well-wishers of Barjinder Brar, popularly known as Makhan Brar and Yogesh Goel, who had taken over as president of the Municipal Council and chairman of the Improvement Trust, respectively.

Sponsored by a local renowned doctor, the gala event went on till midnight in which the local barons, councillors, police officials, the youth brigade and many others were present. But none of the newly-elected women representatives of the MC were present here.

Many police officials 'indicted' by the state election commission, were seen making merry at the do. Their presence at the event has made speculations rife that they may be trying to ingratiate themselves with Jathedar Tota Singh, Makhan Brar's father, for plum assignments. Some of them are accused of having turned the show in favour of some SAD candidates and their presence was interpreted as their eagerness for the rewards.

Many noted personalities of the town including lawyers, bureaucrats, doctors, a section of the media, were invited to the show by the sponsors.

Bathinda, October 10
Assistant director, Sports Department, Punjab, Sohan Lal Lotey, today made it clear that the department had come out of the financial crunch and now had enough funds.

Lotey was here along with Harpal Singh, deputy director, on the eve of the inauguration of the Punjab State Games for Women being organised by the Punjab Sports Department at the Sports Stadium in Bathinda from Saturday.

Speaking about the funds with the department, he disclosed that after director Pargat Singh took charge, the department had got a boost and now the funds, which were Rs 9.12 crore had exceeded Rs 18 crore.

Categorising the funds, he stated that Rs 12.44 crore had been kept for infrastructure, which were received from the Government of India, Rs 3.25 from the Punjab government, Rs 2.16 crore had been provided for the block level, inter-block level and state competitions.

Recounting the efforts to boost the games in the state, Lotey said that on October 15, the CM would distribute sports equipment to 14,000 players in Jalandhar. At least 450 players from every district would reach there.

Speaking about hockey, the most popular game in Punjab, he said the department had been putting in its best effrots to install nine small turfs and two major astroturf, one at Talwandi Sabo and the other at Jalandhar. He said that for the turfs at Jalandhar and Talwandi Sabo, diector Pargat Singh himself had been taking a lot of interest to ensure that the work starts soon.

Blaming the district sports associations for the poor state of games, he said that despite the encouraging efforts of the department, most of them were totally defunct.

Speaking about the annual budget, he said the department had Rs 125 lakh, out of which Rs 50 lakh were lying in the planned category and Rs 75 lakh in the unplanned category.

When questioned about the pathetic condition of the sports grounds, he said the department had Rs 50 lakh for repair works, but the responsibility lies upon the district sports officers to bring the matter to the notice of the authorities. He said that 245 coaches had been working in the department and 169 were recently appointed. He clarified that there was no shortage of coaches now.

Bathinda, October 10
According to the sports department authorities, all arrangements for the accommodation, catering, transportation, medical and security had been finalised. Mohali and Tarn Taran have been lodged in Arya Model School; Jalandhar in DAV Public School; Gurdaspur in Police Public School; Amrisar and Barnala in MHR Senior Secondary School; Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda in SSD Kanya Maha Vidyalya; Moga and Nawan Shahar in Arya Girls School; Patiala and Sangrur in Baba Farid School; Fatehgarh Sahib and Kapurthala in Guru School, Kamla Nehru; Mansa in Khalsa Girls School; Muktsar in St. Joseph's Convent School; Roop Nagar and Faridkot in Bhoj Raj Jain High School.