Sriganganagar/Hanumangarh/Abohar, December 3
More than one thousand female employees who had not been able to exercise their franchise through postal ballots due to delayed receipt of election duty letters would be allowed to cast their votes tomorrow before leaving for their respective place of duty at 9.30 am, additional district magistrate S.S. Panwar said in Sriganganagar today.

The authorities had come under fire over this issue as the letters were delivered to these women employees after the last date for submitting postal ballots that had been fixed as November 30. The postal authorities had refused to shoulder the responsibility arguing that the election office had not posted the letters well in time.

Meanwhile, the security forces took out flag march in all of the six Assembly segments in selective areas. Official sources confirmed that the march covered 30 wards in Suratgarh besides some sensitive villages in Anoopgarh, Sadulshehar, Lalgarh, Mateeli, Chunavadh, Hindumalkot, Raisinghnagar, Muklawa, Srikaranpur and Ghamurwali to instill confidence in the electorates over the law and order situation.

During joint patrolling by a tehsildar and police in Hanumangarh three persons were arrested for selling liquor during the dry day. Neki Ram, Kulwant Nath and Harish Kumar were nabbed in Sureshia area, sources said.

Election observer V. Umesh and DC Mugdha Sinha addressed polling staff in Guru Hari Kishan Public School at Hanumangarh before dispatching the polling parties to their destination along with EVMs and poll material bags. They asked the staff to ensure fairness and cautioned against accepting any kind of hospitality from the candidates or their supporters. Adequate arrangements for providing food etc would be made, they assured.

Sriganganagar DC Bhawani Singh Detha supervised despatch of polling parties in SD College and Government College where separate counters were opened for different segments.

The candidates were today found knocking at many houses besides visiting shops of some potential traders as last minute attempt to win support.

Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje who had yesterday evening reached her constituency Jhalawar issued an appeal to the electorate on Wednesday exhorting them to vote for continuing the development of Rajasthan which had come out of ‘sickness’ under her regime.

Bathinda, December 3
With parliamentary elections drawing closer, political parties have started flexing their muscles to grab the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, expected to be among the most happening constituencies during the forthcoming polls.

The reason for this is not far to seek with a member of the Badal family and former CM Captain Amarinder Singh's son Raninder Singh expected to throw their hat in the poll ring. The report about Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the SAD (A), also expressing his wish to contest the seat, promises to make it an interesting fight.

As reported on many occasions, the ruling SAD (B) has been pushing development works in the constituency to turn the tide in their favour after the drubbing in assembly elections. But the pull of the Congress among the voters, especially in rural areas, promises to make the contest a closely fought one.

Now, SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal is to come to Bathinda on December 6 to attend the concluding ceremony of three-day animal fair.

He would also hold a series of meetings of party workers to boost their morale and chalk out strategy.

According to sources, Sukhbir Badal, to leave no stone unturned, called Deputy Commissioner Bathinda, Rahul Tewari and BMC Commissioner K.K. Yadav to Chandigarh on Wednesday along with all reports of ongoing projects and also of those which are still in the pipeline.

Captain Amarinder Singh, the chairman of Congress election campaign committee, who took on CM Parkash Singh Badal on his home turf Lambi, by holding a rally, has now chalked out a plan to galvanise party workers from Bathinda on December 8, which also happens to be the birthday of his bete noire, the CM himself.

Giving details of Amarinder's visit, Narender Bhaleria, district president of Congress (rural), said he would hold a meeting at the Kohinoor Palace in Bathinda, where all nine MLAs of Bathinda and Mansa districts would be present.

Interestingly, if we talk about the poll related efforts, the in-fighting at the constituency level between the leaders of both parties can not be ruled out.

Though the high command of the Congress is serious over the issue, uniting leaders of all factions of the party is expected to be a tall order as the urban and rural units of the Congress have always come out in the open regarding their differences.

In the same way, SAD (B) is also facing infighting among candidates who were defeated in the assembly polls and those who could not get the ticket.

According to information available, both the major parties have been holding closed door meetings with the Dera Sacha Sauda followers, as none of them wants to lose the votes of the Dera followers.

Bathinda, December 3
Despite lengthy surveys and tall claims made by the authorities, as many as 6,552 physically disabled persons in the district are awaiting artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other equipment they were assured of a couple of months back.

According to information received from the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) here, a survey of 288 villages in the district was conducted with the support of an NGO and block-level government machinery in July this year. The survey reported 6,552 persons as physically disabled, including deaf, dumb, polio patient and paralytic.

Interestingly, the officers concerned in the administration had recommended an estimated grant of Rs 25 lakh, which is still awaited. No official has a reason for the delay. After going through the functioning of the DDRC, it is apparent that financial crunch has been restraining the centre from functioning properly.

The local DDRC functions under the Red Cross Society. The centre is well-equipped but it is facing staff shortage, reason being the low salaries.

When asked, DC Rahul Tewari, who is also the chairman of the Society, said, "The Red Cross has been losing its sources of income. How can we think about the betterment of the centre?"

Manas Ranjan Sethi, senior physiotherapist of the DDRC, informed that in January 2006, a survey of five districts, namely Bathinda, Ferozepur, Moga, Kapurthala and Faridkot, was conducted. Nearly 8,000 disabled persons were identified and around 6,000 of them were issued aid in December 2006. In March 2007, in association with Bharat Vikas Parishad, Ludhiana, a survey was conducted, in which the disabled persons in Ludhiana, Patiala and Mansa were identified and equipment were allotted to them in August 2007. But for the survey of 2008, no order has been issued from the higher authorities.

Speaking about funds, he said they received Rs 10.73 lakh in March 2008, which was immediately disbursed. Since then, they had been awaiting funds.

Further, he expressed regret over the lack of proper awareness campaigning and the cooperation of the Civil Hospital to make the DDRC a successful institution saying that doctors rarely referred cases to the centre.

When contacted, assistant project officer Sadhu Ram Kusla said, "We had sent a demand for Rs 25 lakh to the department concerned for raw material. However, we are awaiting a response till date."

Mansa, December 3
The save energy campaign of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has received a good response. The PSEB, with the efforts of its employees and people alike, has been able to ensure hundred per cent use of the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) at 40 places in Punjab.

According to information made available by the PSEB, incandescent lamp made way for CFL at these places.

The places covered under the scheme are Dhoorkot Chart Singh Wala (Moga), Ahata Badni Singh Wala (Moga), Darbar Sahib, Muktsar, Ghudani Kalan, Doraha (Ludhiana), Sunam (Sangrur), Jagatpura Fatehpur and Jasowal (Patiala), Jeeta Singh Wala (MOGA), Khamano and Mohali (Ropar), Sahnewal (Ludhiana), Badal (Muktsar), Malerkotla (Sangrur), Kiratpur Sahib (Ropar), Zirakpur (Ropar), Santemajra (Ropar), Jahangir (Doraha), Fatti (Kartarpur-1), Mari-Harnian (Kartarpur-II), Murar (Hamira), Joginder Nagar (Bholath), Daulewal (Begowal), Golden Temple in Amritsar, Kahlawan (Kartarpur), Khadoor Sahib Gurudwara, Pindi (Tarn Taran), Hukran (Hoshiarpur), Indra Colony (Hoshiarpur), Gopalpura (Rajpura), Nihal Garh (Patran), Barbala (Ludhiana), Shahpur (Ludhiana), Bija Pur Kotha (Khanna), Kot-agan (Ludhiana), Chak Kalan (Ludhiana), Ruppa Patti (Ludhiana), Kadian (Ludhiana), Narangwal Khurd (Ludhiana) and Semay Nag in Tarn-Taran.

Abohar, December 3
Shraddha Bakshi, president of the Amogh AWWA and wife of Maj Gen A.K. Bakshi, visited Abohar Military Station on Wednesday. She had recently taken over and this was her first visit as such to the military station here.

She was warmly received by Paramjit Kaur, president of the AWWA Stallion Brigade. Women in traditional regional attire welcomed her by applying vermillion on her forehead.

Amogh AWWA chief visited Shaurya Army Primary School, where she interacted with the children and watched the activities being conducted by the school. She specially appreciated creation of the Science Park and the Herbal garden.

Shraddha also visited Vocational Training Centre (VTC), where she was briefed by the Gitika Lidder on AWWA activities. She showcased keen interest in the exhibition, where interesting display of items manufactured locally by army personnel families, was arranged under the banners "Himachali aan, Gorkhali shaan" and "padharo mahare desh". She appreciated the wide range of activities being conducted at VTC with the aim to improve the personality and empower women to meet the challenges of the modern world. She particularly liked the ambience, which generated positively.

Amogh AWWA chief spent some minutes in the meeting of special children and gave important tips to their mothers on how to nourish and treat them. While going through their documents, she assured all possible help.

She later, interacted with the women and exhorted them to develop personality full of positivity, dedication, love and affection. Our concern for social cause and humanity is more rewarding than any certificate of appreciation, she observed.

Bathinda, December 3
The attraction for special breed of various animals has made the venue of the three-day animal fair "Khetari Pashudhan show-2008" come alive with activity, a day before the fair is scheduled to start.

The fair would start on Friday at Goniana Road near village Gillpatti. Today, animal rearers were witnessed busy getting their animals registered and occupying the allotted tents at the venue this evening.

According to information received, around 1000 animals of various categories are expected to reach the fair. The authorities have been allotting one tent to accommodate three to four animals.

During a visit to the venue, the TNS team observed that the 'Nukra', 'Marwari' breed of horses as well mares were catching the eyes of the people. Being a fair for the commoners, Murrah and Neeli Ravi breed of buffaloes and bulls were also found in huge numbers and are sure to attract people.

Various qualities of cows like HF, HF cross, Jarsi, Jarsi cross, Sahiwal, among others were seen arriving in trucks and utility vehicles. Among other local breed, Burbury and Beetel breeds of goats and locally bred sheep are also coming to take part in the contest.

Large white Yorkshire pig, Aseel breed cock, duck, turkey, donkeys and pony were also expected at the show.

Two stalls for articles to decorate the animals had also been set up. Vijay Kumar, owner of the stall, said the authorities did not take anything from it. "Though the articles would be sold at cheap rates, seeing the craze for the fair, it is expected that we would do brisk business."

Interactions with cattle rearers revealed that most of them were full of enthusiasm and had confidence in the quality of their animals.

Balwinder Singh of village Daur (Bajakhana), who had come with his 'Nukra' horse, was confident of winning the title in the championship. "Generally, a horse is of 62 inches but my horse is just 32 months old but has a height of 67 inches. Besides, its body structure enables it to shine out even in a group," he said.

Lakhwinder Singh of village Kadma in Ferozepur district was also all praise for his Neeli Ravi breed of buffalo. He said that even at the age of two and a half years, it gave birth to a calf. He added that in the championship for milch cattle, his buffalo would win.

The department of animal husbandry has arranged the fair for five district of this region and the total amount of cash prizes has been fixed at Rs 10 lakh which would be distributed by SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Badal and animal husbandry minister Gulzar Singh Ranike.