Bathinda, October 21
Homage was paid to the martyrs of the police and para-military forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty to uphold unity, peace and harmony at the Commemoration Day function organised at the Police Lines here this morning.

To mark the day, the district police paid rich tributes to as many as 683 martyrs of police and para-military forces. Jawans reversed arms and offered salute to the men in uniform who fell prey to the assasin's bullets.

The top brass of the district police including Deputy Inspector General, Faridkot range, Jitendra Jain, Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Chaudhary, Superintendent of Police (H) Harbhajan Singh, Brigadier Bant Singh (retd) and SSP Harchand Singh (retd) were present on the occasion. They offered garlands at the martyr's flame ignited there and presented gifts to the family members of the deceased.

Senior officials delivered speeches, paying tributes to the martyrs and urged the future generation to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst themselves to serve the nation better.

After the function was over, family members of some martyrs narrated their problems to the officials present there. The requests mostly related to jobs, pension and domestic requirements.

Narrating her woes to the DIG and SSP, an elderly woman, Malkeet Kaur from village Ghanda Banna, said, "My son was a constable when he lost his life in a bomb blast at Mansa in 1991. He was unmarried so nobody from our family was given a job. Later, we were cheated by a travel agent who duped us of Rs 10 lakh. We lodged a complaint and after a lot of efforts we managed to get him behind the bars. But he was later released on bail. But we did receive even a single penny out of the amount that he fleeced from us. We have to marry off five children of my elder son, but the financial crunch is creating hurdles in the way."

Attempting to pacify her, SSP Ashish Chaudhary assured her of looking into the case.

"Presenting these gifts as a mark of respect is good but it is not enough to help and honour the families of the martyrs. If the department actually wants to help us, it must look into our actual condition. All of us present here have lost our family members in the service of the state. So the authorities must be a bit to help us in our daily lives," rued the elderly father of a martyr.

Later, DIG Jitendra Jain said a lot of efforts had been made to help the families of martyrs by taking up their issues with the senior officials. The DIG, however, regretted that in-built limits within the officialdom prevented them from pursuing the matter beyond a point. 

Mansa, October 21
Tributes were paid to the martyrs of security forces, at a district-level function here today.

On this day, personnel of the security forces who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country are remembered.

Addressing the gathering, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Mansa, Manminder Singh said that the security personnel of our country have always sacrificed lives to maintain unity and integrity of the country.

He further said in the present time, security forces have been playing a crucial role in fighting against terrorist and separatist forces.

On this occasion, the family members of those security personnel, who had lost their lives in fighting against terrorism were also honoured.

It is notable that 32 policemen of Mansa district were killed by the terrorists during the last decades. The problems of these families have been heard and an assurance was given to resolve them by the SSP.

Among others who were present in the function included deputy commissioner Kumar Rahul, district and sessions judge Bhupinder Singh, chief judicial magistrate Jagnahar Singh, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurjeet Singh Pannu, president of municipal council Mansa Atamjit Singh Kala, ex president of MC, Narrotam Singh Chahhal and retired police employees.

Barnala: A two-minute silence was observed to mark the police martyrdom day here today. On the occasion, a function was organised at the local Police Lines. Senior superintendent of police Shiv Kumar Verma presided over the function and paid floral tributes to the police martyrs, who laid down their lives while discharging their duties.

SP (H) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said the families of as many as 32 martyrs were honoured at the function. Meanwhile, a small meeting was also organised to redress the grievances of the martyrs’ families.

Deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta and SDM Pushpinder Singh Kehlay were among those present on the occasion.

Moga, October 21
With the state reeling under severe power crisis, the Dhurhkot Charat Singh village near here has set an example by switching completely to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) to save power and money.

With the joint efforts of the village panchayat and the electricity board as many as 1,520 CFLs had been installed against ordinary bulbs in 177 houses, which would save power by almost 70 per cent.

This village was adopted by the state government under a pilot project to save power through CFLs, said a senior officer of the state electricity board.

Early this month, a seminar was also organised in this village, jointly by the officials of the board and employees of the 'Halonic' company manufacturing CFLs, to bring awareness among the rural folk on power conservation, following which, the people had shown great interest in replacing their ordinary lamps with CFLs.

The residents of this village are now hopeful that by using CFLs their average power bills would come down. "In the day-to-day increase in price rise of essential commodities, it is necessary to save money to manage the household budget", said Ranjit Singh a resident of the village. Ranjit said that he would spend the savings to provide better education to his children.

A spokesman of the district administration said that the administration had already appealed to all the panchayats to come forward and adopt CFLs to save energy and money. The DM was hopeful that in the coming months many more villages would adopt CFLs.

It may be mentioned that power consumption in Punjab was increasing day-by-day with long power cuts becoming a common experience in the urban and rural areas during the summers. The energy conservation efforts by replacing CFLs in 45-lakh households were expected to save more than 600 MW of power across the state.

The union government's new initiative to offer CFLs at low costs to BPL families, with a buyback provision for fused lamps in order to limit environmental hazard arising from negligent disposal comes on the back of CFL promotion drives launched by the states.

Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had already issued directives for mandatory installation of CFLs in the government buildings. Punjab hopes to save additional 150 MW of power through this move.

Bathinda, October 21
A 16-inch water supply pipe leaked once again from the same point at Amreek Singh road opposite a cinema hall, here today.

Due to the broken pipe, water supply to the main reservoir located near the fire brigade complex has been disrupted causing problem to the area it caters.

The pipe was damaged in the morning, which was witnessed by the people of the area, with water flowing on the road. Within minutes, the road was submerged in water.

After the people complained to the Bathinda Municipal Corporation and the water supply department, a team of officials reached the place and ordered that the supply of water in the pipe be stopped.

Later, labourers started digging up the road to repair the pipe which was buried eight feet under the soil.

Shimla Rani, a resident of Arya Nagar, said, "One year hardly passes when the pipe does not burst again. Either the authorities concerned repair the pipe carelessly or they are unable to understand the problem."

When asked about the reason, an official of the water supply department who was inspecting the work, said, "There are several joints in the pipe which have been fixed with a seal. After some time, the seal leaves its place due to heavy pressure. Though it will take at least two days to repair the joint, but this time we will try to solve the problem on a permanent basis."

Executive officer of the BMC, Kamal Kant Garg, could not be contacted for his version.

Barnala, October 21
PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa inaugurated an X-ray plant at the Sanjha Aasra Welfare Club here today.

Lauding the services rendered by the laboratory run by an NGO, which conducts tests at government aproved rates, Dhindsa said while the private laboratories were minting money, the club was doing a great service to the humanity. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh from his father Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s MPLAD fund.

Talking about the overbridge on SD college railway crossing, he said the construction would start shortly. Replying to a query regarding the protest against the construction of the overbridge, Dhindsa said the development would not succumb to criticism. To attain higher objectives, small hurdles needed to be overlooked, he added.

The minister said the land for the expressway would be acquired with the consent of the farmers. So, the farming community need not fret over the same, he added.

The SAD-BJP government is determined to safeguards the interests of the farmers, Dhindsa said.

On the occasion, he also enquired from the deputy commissioner about the progress in paddy procurement. The DC apprised him that the paddy worth Rs 95 crore had already been purchased in the district and 75 per cent payment for the procured paddy had already been made.

Abohar, October 21
The Bharat Vikas Parishad has decided to organise free check-up camp on November 9 at Arorvansh Dharamshala, for the children who suffer from cuts in lips since their birth.

Project in charge, Vikram Garg, informed today that the camp would be held with the help of US-based “The Smile Train” and the patients will be examined by Ravi Mahajan, a specialist in plastic surgery.

Free lodging and boarding arrangements will be made by the Bharat Vikas Parishad.

A team has started visiting villages of this sub-division to conduct a survey to identify the patients.

Ludhiana, October 21
Paddy lies unpicked in mandis all over Punjab because of government apathy and manipulation by certain arhtiyas, backed by the government, in lifting the bumper yield this year, affecting hundreds of hapless farmers, said Capt Amarinder Singh, former CM, while addressing a press conference here today. The paddy, if unpicked for about a week, tends to get spoilt.

Narrating his experience following visits to the Moga, Khanna, Goraya, Malout and Muktsar mandis, Amarinder said the MSP of Rs 850 given to the farmers was far less than the deserved price, including the meagre bonus of Rs 50. “I recently talked to Shivraj Patil, union home minister, regarding the problems of the farmers. Mohinder Kaypee, working PPCC president, called on Sonia Gandhi, party president, and we are hopeful of getting relief at the earliest".

“Over 70 per cent of the poor farmers in the state are hapless onlookers before the arhityas and government agencies for picking their produce and the agencies are not responding adequately. Farmers are facing trying times. 'Rasta roko' by farmers could be an indication of more troubled times ahead for the government in the near future,” the former CM said.

“Dispensing personal favours seems more important for the Badal government rather than looking after the farmers’ interests. The Badal government, during its previous tenure, had managed an increase of only Rs 40 in the MSP of paddy. We got an increase of Rs 290 during four years of power at the Centre,” said Amarinder.

Jodhpur Pakhar (Bathinda), October 21
Jodhpur Pakhar, a dusty village in Bathinda district, once renowned for the making of spinning wheel (charkha) throughout the state is now rapidly losing its sheen with the changing times.

The village, where almost every house was involved in making spinning wheels has now only 78 families, who are still in the profession that too not for love of money but to keep the tradition and custom alive.

During a visit to the village, it was found that the charkha, which was an essential part of the dowry of girls, is now waiting for hands to spin it because of changing lifestyle.

An artist-cum-carpenter Sant Singh, who is in his mid-seventies said his family was in the trade for the last three generations. His son also has some knowledge of the trade. But he mentioned that making charkhas does not fulfill the basic needs of a family. The earning is less than that of a daily wager. “To earn our livelihood, we are dependent on agriculture,” he said.

“Making charkha is a handicraft and the wood used is special in quality, which is named “Rahuda”. When it was needed in bulk, we used to buy it from Sirsa. But now we get it from Abohar, Malout and even at Bathinda,” Sant singh disclosed.

About the price he said, “The big charkha is sold around Rs 1300, but the smaller ones are costlier as people demand fancy ones. Even some show pieces are made, which we sell at Rs 600 only.”

Showing a small spinning wheel, for which the order had been advanced for sending it to Canada, he pointed towards the glasses fitted in it to make it attractive. Making of such charkhas takes five to seven days, he added.

Joginder Singh, another carpenter, said, “Though we earn nothing as the demand for Charkha is almost nil, we have been making it just to keep the popularity of our family alive. I do the work with my own hands but after such hard work, what I receive is very less.”

When asked, whether the department of handicraft or rural development had approached them for the upliftment of the trade, they denied.

“Earlier, people had to wait for the delivery of their ordered charkhas but now we keep waiting for customers. It is all due to the modernisation of society as girls themselves do not want to take charkhas in dowry, terming it useless,” said an elderly carpenter Kulwant Singh, in a choked voice.

The day is not far, when the writers and lyricist will stop mentioning charkhas in their songs which are an inherent part of Punjabi traditions.

Abohar, October 21
Social activist Jagdish Chander Nagpal has been honoured by the Nassau County Government of New York. Ess Enn Creations Inc president, Vineet Nagpal, said in an e-mail late in the evening, “The Indians in New York were proud of it”.

The award was presented to Nagpal on behalf and under the official seal of the county executive Thomas R Suozzi. Mohinder Taneja, county director of Minority Affairs, read the citation, stating that Jagdish has worked diligently and upholds the principles of human decency.  

“Jaycee” (nick name), earlier in India had been honoured with the “Indira Gandhi National Life Time Achievement Award”.

A.M. Gundane was the chief guest on this occasion in New York, deputy consulate general of India.

Shubh Jasuja, national vice-president of the Indian National Overseas Congress, informed that Jaycee had promoted a marriage place for the common people, free homoeopathic dispensary and a public park in Abohar.

He organised many medical camps and arranged for services of the senior doctors from the PGI and other super specialties hospitals to make the camps significant and patient-friendly.

Noted attorney Stanley Kalathara, congratulated the organisers for serving the country through charitable institutions.

Bollywood Awards 2007 winner Budh Parkash Singh regaled the gathering with popular numbers.

Bathinda, October 21
The three-day district primary school games began today at the Senior Secondary School stadium, Nathana, 25 km from here. It was inaugurated by DEO (primary) Gurminder Pal Kaur Dhillon. Schools from Bathinda district are participating in the event and students below 11 years of age are eligible to take part. Around 700 students from eight blocks of Bathinda are participating. Games which will be conducted during the three-day event are kabaddi and kho-kho for boys and girls, athletics and wrestling. Gidha and bhangra competitions will be held on the concluding day to promote the culture of Punjab.

Kabaddi for boys and girls, 100m and 200m semi finals were held today.

Moga, October 21
The district and sessions court today has sentenced a drug peddler to 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs one lakh.

Acknowledging the argument of deputy district attorney K.K. Mittal, the additional district and sessions judge B.S. Sandhu sentenced Bagha Singh, son of Hakam Singh, a resident of Daulewala village, falling under Kot-ise-Khan police station of the district to 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine.

Failing to deposit the fine, the prisoner would have to undergo another one-year term in jail.

It may be mentioned that the said drug peddler was arrested by the police on January 13, 2007 and four bags of poppy husk were recovered from his possession.