Bathinda, November 19
Despite not being an official event, officials are leaving no stone unturned to make the 5th Malwa Heritage Mela a success.

The fair is slated to commence from November 21 to 23, at village Jaipalgarh, adjacent to the sports stadium here.

According to reports available, the officials remained on their toes to finalise details for the heritage fair. Deputy Commissioner Rahul Twari, who has been appointed the honorary president of the Malwa Heritage Foundation, held a series of meetings with the organisers.

SSP Bathinda Ashish Chaudhary too attended a number of meetings and spent time at the sports stadium. He oversaw security arrangements as well.

"We have been performing our duty as the Mela is linked with tradition and interests of the whole region is involved in it," the senior district officials pointed out.

They denied that political pressure was the reason behind their interest in the fair, which is not an official event. When asked about receipts for donations being issued, they said that it was a transparent affair.

"Moreover, special duties have been assigned to maintain the records, and we would always be there to offer clarifications," they added.

Earlier, at the press meet, objections were raised over inviting SAD (B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal as the chief guest at the event.

Giving details about the budget, the DC said that the expenditure would remain between Rs 15-20 lakh and the money had already been collected through donors.

It was also mentioned that this time the prize money for the games had been increased this time.

Just after the meeting, the organisers expressed their resentment saying they could not get even a single penny from the donations announced by previous chief guests.

Bathinda, November 19
The Punjab government had introduced the Own Your Tubewell (OYT) scheme for the farmers. Under the scheme, the farmers were suppose to deposit Rs 26,500 with the government.

The government deducted Rs 1500 as security deposit and returned the balance through cheques to the farmers.

Ordinarily, the procedure for attaining a tubewell connection was time consuming and through this scheme, it became easy and in a shorter period of time.

However, some farmers of Jidda village have accused a local bank of misplacing seven cheques belonging to five farmers.

Gurmail Singh, Harminder Singh, Gurtej Singh, Balkara Singh and Jagdev Singh had deposited cheques given by the government at a bank branch on the Goniana-Baja Khana road near Har Raipur village in June this year.

The bank authorities gave them a receipt for accepting cheques and said the payment would be given in a week's time. It has been six months now and the bank authorities are clueless about the payment.

The farmers were infuriated recently when the bank authorities informed them that their cheques have got misplaced.

The angry farmers approached the Bhartiya Kissan Union (Sidhupura) to protest about the laxity shown by the bank officials.

Kaka Singh Kotra, general secretary of the union, Bathinda, and Jagseer Singh of the Bathinda block with others from the union went to the bank concerned today and asked for an explanation from the manager.

The manager assured the BKU members that he would speak to the electricity board which dealt with the OYT scheme and revert back but BKU members stated that electricity board had nothing to do with the misplaced cheques.

The bank had given receipts after accepting cheques from farmers. The manager then assured them that he would try and get the payment within a week's time.

"The responsibility for the cheques lies with the bank. They are making excuses now. The farmers have already been harassed enough by the bank authorities. If the payment is not made within a week, then we would stage a dharna in front of the bank on December 2 and apart from the payment we would also charge the interest applicable on every misplaced cheque. We would also seek compensation from the bank for the harassment caused to farmers," Kaka Singh told TNS.

Bathinda, November 19
Knitting the primary pre-occupation of women in Punjab is apparently losing its sheen. The drastic change in trend ---people preferring redymade pullovers over sweaters that are knitted--- has been forcing dealers in wool to switch over to some other business.

Gone are the days when one could easily find working women, while commuting in buses, carrying poly bags with wool and knitting needles in it. With the change in trend, girls today are losing interest in knitting woollen sweaters, pullovers, caps and gloves etc. Earlier, girls in villages and in cities used to regard it as an essential pre-requisite.

During a random survey, this correspondent spoke to some dealers in wool who apeared to be worried due to the change in trend. Some were of the view that they would change their business as people rarely come to purchase wool.

"Girls, who used to feel pride in knitting, have now started feeling that it is a task to be performed in old age. Neither do they want to knit nor do they know how to do it. The craze to learn knitting has vanished and everyone goes for the readymade sweaters even though they are priced much higher," said Balwinder Kaur, an elderly housewife, who lives in Paras Ram Nagar.

Shopkeepers also had similar views. When contacted, Durga Dass, owner of Vardhman Sale Centre located at the Mall Road, said, "In the last few years, girls have lost interest in knitting, due to which the business has been affected adversely."

Suresh Goyal of the Punjab Wool and Garment House said, "The craze for knitting has decreased it is only the old elderly customers who come to us to buy wool. Besides them, some Army wives and those who are unable to buy the costly readymade woollen garments also come to purchase knitted stuff."

When asked, Jasmine, a student, said, "I study at Chandigarh where I did not find anyone in my hostel wearing knitted clothes. Moreover, no one in my group talks about knitting and wool. So, I too do not like knitting and wearing woollens garments knitted at home."

And Jasmine is not alone. Pressure of education and occupational mobility along with the changing patterns are leaving youngsters with less and less time to learn knitting at home.

Bathinda, November 19
Almost 2000 clubs run by the Youth Welfare Department have been declared as defunct in the Malwa belt.

Politically motivated is being cited as the main reason why these welfare clubs are being shut down.

Youths working for these clubs are the most affected and they are drifting towards wrong means to earn a living.

The government did not give its sanction to these welfare clubs since 1997. Politically motivated clubs that were formed overnight have excess fund as compared to clubs run by the Youth Welfare Department. Around 300 clubs and societies were registered by the Industries Department.

In 1999, around 2.5 lakh clubs got registered through the Industries Department with a fee of mere Rs 500.

Before 1990, the registration fee was Rs 50. Clubs affiliated to the Youth Welfare Department are in dire need of money for carrying out social work.

Around 2925 clubs were associated with Youth Welfare Department in Malwa. Almost 1291 clubs out of these were declared defunct when they didn't get any sanction.

Around 4000 clubs are associated with the Nehru Yuva Kendra in Malwa and 800 out of these are declared inactive.

These clubs have not received a single penny as sanctions by the government for quite some time.

The last grant to these clubs was of Rs 10 lakh. Clubs formed in schools and colleges have been given a grant of Rs 1.84 lakh in 10 years.

A target used to be formed for these clubs which served as a guideline and it was prepared by the Youth Welfare Department every year.

But this was done only for two years. During the rest of the years, there was no fund to achieve the target.

Politically motivated clubs are not accountable to any organisation or the govt and this is the reason that most of these clubs are not to be found anywhere after they get their grants.

Around 1192 societies were formed on these lines in the last 10 years and these got a total grant of Rs 11.87 crore.

Funds given in discretionary quota were separate from the above stated funds. Taking a certificate showing utilisation of funds from such societies and clubs is almost impossible now.

Around 2186 clubs and societies were formed in Punjab in the last 10 years. The govt gave them grants of Rs 26.67 crore.

These clubs and societies submitted their certificates on their own and these certificates were never checked by concerned officials.

In Patiala 265 clubs have got grants of Rs 4.39 crore, many clubs still long for funds. Around 4796 clubs are affiliated with Youth Welfare Department, out of these clubs 1551 have been declared dead.

Malwa has the highest number of clubs formed. In Bathinda out of 303 clubs, 80 have been declared inactive, in Ferozepur out of 500 clubs, 250 clubs have been declared dead, in Moga 12 clubs out of 56 clubs are not working now, in Muktsar out of 72 clubs, 15 does not exist any longer and in Sangrur out of 346 clubs almost 100 have been declared dead. Patiala houses the maximum number of clubs, around 961 out of which 470 are dead.

The concerned officials stated a way out of this problem. They said the funds should be given to the departments with which these clubs are affiliated.

The sanctioned funds should be utilised under supervision and someone from these clubs should be accountable to the govt for every penny used.

Ferozepur, November 19
More than 600 bags of DAP were reportedly found missing following the physical verification of the fertiliser stock in the Markfed godown here today.

Earlier, the godown had been sealed after the matter regarding blackmarketing of the DAP bags was brought to fore by members of a farmers’ union. Subsequently, an inquiry had been ordered.

Today, a team of officials, including tehsildaar Tej Singh, Balwant Singh, deputy registrar (Cooperative Societies), agriculture officer Satinder Kaur, Surinder Pal Singh and others, conducted a physical count of the fertiliser bags and found 606 bags short.

According to information available, while records of the Markfed showed 7,386 DAP bags, only 6,780 bags were found stocked in the godown when counting was done.

The godown, which belongs to a private concern, is situated on the periphery of the town and had been reportedly hired by the Markfed for storage of the fertiliser bags.

On the condition of anonymity, officials informed that on the basis of today's report, a case would be registered under the Essential Commodities Act and the Fertiliser Control Act against the godown in-charge.

Meanwhile, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union alleged that the missing bags had been sold by the Markfed officials at higher prices.

Ferozepur, November 19
The payment of bonus for wheat crop would be made directly to the farmers through crossed cheques so that no employee or landlord could exploit them, stated deputy commissioner Megh Raj, while talking to farmers at Basti Kartar Singh near village Kulgari here on Wednesday.

He was here to preside over a seminar organised by the dairy development department to spread awareness among the farmers to adopt allied agriculture vocations alongside sowing of traditional crops.

While addressing the farmers, the deputy commissioner exhorted them to start their own dairy-related works and start growing green fodder in their fields.

He said though the farmers of the state were diligent and hardworking little knowledge about latest agricultural techniques was hampering their growth.

Megh Raj asked the officials from agriculture and dairy development department to provide the requisite know-how and guidance to the farmers and also make them aware about the various welfare schemes and policies of the state government for their benefit.

On the occasion, the deputy commissioner also listened to the problems of the village panchayats. He assured them that the labourers, daily wagers and masons would get their full emoluments as per DC rates and anyone found underpaying would be punished. Megh Raj also honoured progressive dairy farmers and distributed free milk kits to them.

Mansa, November 19
“I am ready to contest Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda constituency if the Congress party selects me as a candidate for the seat,” said Raninder Singh, Congress leader and son of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, while talking to this correspondent here today.

He visited the town for a pre-poll ‘mass contact programme’. Talking about his candidature for Bathinda seat, the Congress leader said the party high-command would decide in this regard and that he was ready to contest the elections from the constituency if party decided so.

“However, it would be quite interesting if the Badal family contests election against me from Bathinda,” he said.

Raninder said that some anti-Congress elements were trying to create complications about Patiala and Bathinda seats.

He said that Perneet Kaur was the most suitable candidate for Patiala seat as she had undertaken development work in the area.

When asked about election issues of the Congress, he said law and order problem besides poor economic condition of the state would be main poll planks of his party.

Raninder accused SAD-BJP government of committing atrocities against Congress workers and ‘murder of democracy’ during the panchayat and municipal elections.

He was accompanied by Congress MLA Sher Singh Gagowal, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Mangat Rai Bansal and youth leaders Bikram Moffar and Gurpreet Singh Vicky besides other Congress leaders. Raninder visited Budhlada, Bareta and Mussa for programme.

Abohar, November 19
One person was killed while three others sustained injuries in separate road mishaps here today.

Sources said a Swift car, driven by Baljit Singh, allegedly hit a motorcycle near Dhaani Gurbux Singh on the Abohar-Hindumalkot road resulting in the death of motorcyclist Devinder Kumar, a resident of village Husnar in Gidderbaha sub-division. His pillion rider Jasbir Singh sustained injuries.

The Khuyiansarwar police has registered a case under sections 304 A, 279, 427, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code against Baljit, who too sustained minor injuries as the car overturned after the collision.

In another mishap that occurred on Abohar-Malout road, an oil tanker turned turtle near Dhaani Des Raj outside village Balluana after colliding with a tractor-trailer injuring Chiman Lal, driver of the tanker, and his assistant Sanjiv Kumar.

About 12,000 litres of diesel spilled on to the road and nearby fields, sources said. The tanker was on its way from Bathinda to Usmankhera village located on Abohar-Sriganganagar road. The police investigations were on.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 19
The ongoing ‘war of words’ between the ‘beti and bahu’ in Sangria constituency makes electioneering interesting.

Even voters from the neighbouring areas throng the corner meetings addressed by Congress candidate Dr Param Navdeep, who was born in the segment, and BJP nominee Damyanti Beniwal, who has her in-laws here. However, both looked worried over the challenge thrown by dissidents within the party.

Senior Congress worker Gurdeep Singh ‘Shahpeeni’ and BJP activist Krishan Kumar Jakhar, who were in the race but were denied ticket, throw serious challenge to official nominees.

Earlier, Gurjant Singh Brar had been contesting and winning on the BJP ticket but this time he shifted to Sadulshehar, close to Abohar, believing that a good number of Sikh voters there would help him win. Delimitation had reduced the strength of the community in Sangria.

While Damyanti said in a public meeting that Indian society did not relish interference by daughter (Param) in the affairs of their parental house after marriage, Param retaliated by saying in a meeting that if things worsen in the parental house, it is the moral duty of the daughter to set them in order.

The candidature of Param and Damyanti has created a chaos in both major political parties. Shifting of loyalties has been in full swing since the day their names figured in the respective lists.

All the office-bearers of the city’s Congress committee besides some district-level leaders had resigned and fielded Shahpeeni as an independent.

Today, BJP Yuva Morcha’s rural mandal president Jasbir Singh Brar, general secretary Gurmeet Singh Sarpanch, Yuva Morcha rural wing chief Jagtar Singh Sidhu and some more sarpanches, who were known as loyalists of the BJP, BSP and CPI (M) till last week, decided to quit their respective party to support Param Navdeep.

On the criticism by her BJP rival, Param said during another meeting at her ancestral village Ratanpura, “My bhabhi (Damyanti) is perhaps not aware of the Indian constitution which ensured equality for son and daughter. When my brother (Vikram Singh Beniwal) and his wife were unable to make strides for development of this segment, I decided to contest and address the grievances of the electorates.” In Sangaria, 18 candidates are in the fray so far.

Sriganganagar/Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 19
Political activists from neighbouring areas of Punjab and Haryana are vitiating the election environment in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh district by violating the model code of conduct, official sources said today.

Some of the vehicles used by such workers, including brother of a Punjab cabinet member, were intercepted during the past three days for carrying red beacons atop their vehicles besides party flags and stickers.

They have been warned, the sources confirmed. Kulwant Rai Sharma, returning officer of Sangaria, today took a serious notice of the vehicles carrying ‘My personal vehicle’ sticker and indulging in political propaganda.

He asked candidates of all political parties to remove such stickers immediately and desist from using them for electioneering, failing which vehicles would be impounded.

Mugdha Sinha, DC Hanumangarh, expressed displeasure over the inadequate arrangements while inspecting some important polling stations in the town today.

During a meeting of the sector in-charges, she asked them to set everything in order. She also visited Government Senior Secondary School at Jhambar village and told the district education officer to correct the arrangements immediately.

Using powers conferred under section 160 of the Peoples Representatives Act, the DC today ordered acquisition of Gur Har Kishan Public School in Hanumangarh Junction from November 30 to December 4 besides NMPG College and NM Law College, Hanumangarh town, from December 1 to 10 for election purpose.

Bathinda, November 19
Crores are being spent on books and creating infrastructure for the state libraries but due to the shortage of qualified staff, the exercise has become a sheer wastage of money and government resources.

Fifty posts of college cadre librarians are vacant in Punjab. There are a total of 98 such posts in the state.

Seven librarians filling up these posts are going to retire next year. In the next six years, around 25 more posts would be vacant as those filling the posts would retire.

College cadre librarian is a gazetted class I post and they are recruited by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

The minimum qualification for applying for this post is a master's degree in library science and UGC's NET also has to be cleared but due to the prevailing circumstances, class IV employees are managing many government libraries throughout the state.

As a result, the condition of many libraries is degrading with every passing day. Members are decreasing eventually and many libraries have no visitors at all.

The work of a college cadre librarian is to purchase books and related reading material according to the requirement of the readers but unfortunately, due to the shortage of librarians, no books are being added to many libraries.

Class IV employees managing libraries are limited to issuing books and maintaining records. In addition to the government libraries, there are 14 government district libraries in Punjab controlled by the department of higher education. Ten out of these 14 libraries are without any librarian.

The drawing and disbursing powers for the salary of class IV employees working in various libraries and utilisation of budget or grants are given to librarians working in government colleges.

According to the latest orders of the Punjab government, if any post lies vacant for more than six months, then it gets abolished. A library can not survive without a qualified librarian and this is the reason why most state libraries are in a state of neglect.

The Punjab Government College Librarians' Association has sent many memorandums to the government regarding the shortage of librarians in the state but they have not received a reply yet. The government has not recruited librarians since 1998 and there is no provision for filling up the vacant posts on an ad-hoc basis or contract basis.

M.S. Dhillon, president of Punjab College Librarians' Association and librarian at the Government Rajindra College in the city said, "The association has been pressing the government to pass the Public Library Act ever since Beant Singh government was in power.

But every time, the authorities discuss it and the papers get buried under a heap of files. If this Act is adopted, then there will be a separate provision of funds that would be collected through cess or direct taxes. A separate directorate, minister and secretary would come into existence which would enable the opening up of libraries even at village level. Haryana had passed this Act in 1989."

The government should make an effort to save the state libraries before they become extinct because of non-availability of capable staff.

Bathinda, November 19
To mark the observance of the Punjabi Week, the language department and the district administration today held a discussion where eminent thinkers expressed their views on promoting the language.

Speaking at the meeting, Jeet Singh Jogi and Boota Singh Brar, professors at the regional centre of the Punjabi University, Bathinda, said, "It is a reality that mother tongue plays a significant role in communicating our feelings and no other language can replace it." They also appealed that one should willingly adopt Punjabi as a medium of communication.

"Though one should know other languages as well but we should feel proud to speak Punjabi, our mother tongue. Even the educated families should motivate children to learn Punjabi, who sometimes do not think it necessary," they added.

Upjeet Singh Brar, ADC, Bathinda, said, "Everybody should contribute his best to promote Punjabi. The state government has already declared Punjabi as an official language which would certainly give boost to the promotion of this language."

SDM Bathinda, KPS Mahi and SDM Talwandi Sabo Anil Garg were also present at the meeting.

Bathinda, November 19
The district volleyball championship in the boys and girls senior category, will be held at the Government Rajindra College on November 25. The teams concerned should report at 9 am.

The event will be inaugurated by Sardar Inderjit Singh Sidhu while the prize distribution will be done by Sardar Bidhi Singh UK in the afternoon at 4 pm.

In another development, Gurpreet Singh Maluka has been chosen as the president of district lawn tennis association. A meeting of the members of this association was conducted at Circuit House here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bidhi Singh UK has been chosen as the president of the district soft tennis association.

This information was given by Surjeet Singh, secretary of the district soft tennis association here on Wednesday.

Abohar, November 19
Tenacious efforts made by a former municipal engineer, Jagir Singh Bawa, headmaster Gurcharan Singh Sidhu, IAS officer Kulbir Singh Kang and Punjab police officer Surjit Singh Grewal had made the lads of this town excel in volleyball, hockey, football, basketball and later archery in national events.

Now the martial art of karate is the next target, it appears. The seven-member team, which participated in the International Shotokan Karate Seminar, organised recently by the International Shotokan Karate Federation of India at Gurgaon received a warm welcome on return to their hometown with many medals today.

The participants had gone to Gurgaon under the banner of the Ilaiyaraaja Art and Cultural Society, affiliated to the Chandigarh-based Pracheen Kala Kendra.

In national junior, Praveen Kumar bagged gold, Rajesh Gedhar and Bandhu Rau silver and Jatinder won a bronze medal.

In the senior category, Tek Chand won gold while Sangeeta Rani bagged a bronze medal. Sheenam got an appreciation certificate and badge by Canada-based international examiner, Shihan Larry Loerth and Sensei Shiv Panchal, president of the International Shotokan Karate Federation of India.

The 7th Dan Canada Loerth also issued certificate to Illah Raja, leader of the team on the completion of the training.

Abohar, November 19
The City Congress Committee and the Congress Sewa Dal observed the 91st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi here on Wednesday.

They garlanded her portrait during a meeting held at the residence of Inder Mohan Verma, son of veteran freedom fighter Chandi Ram Verma.

City unit president B.L. Nagpal presided over the meeting and spoke about her fight against militancy besides progressive steps like nationalisation of banks.