Bathinda, December 21
The ETT Teachers' Union, Punjab, is planning a protest rally on December 25 in Bathinda, where according to sources, 12000 teachers would voice their concern. Stating this at a press conference in the city today, members of the union said they would protest about the way the government has chosen to ignore their demands. A video would be shown to the media on the occasion about the promises made.

The union stated that the previous government had segregated 5000 schools and had put them under Zila Parishads in which 12,000 teachers were absorbed. These teachers are getting salary through grants-in-aid. The government is now planning to give the responsibility of paying salary to these teachers to the panchayats. The panchayats would be responsible for paying salary to these teachers from their own resources and the union members feel that the panchayats would not be able to do so because they do not have much resources.

The union wants that they should come directly under the education department of Punjab and not under the Zila Parishads. "We were promised by the SAD government that they would discuss our demand in the cabinet meeting but at the last meeting on December 2, nothing was discussed and we are feeling cheated. The future of 12,000 teachers is in the dark and we would not let this happen. We are taking out a rally against the government for not living upto its promise made to us," said Swaranjit Singh Bhagta, senior vice-president of the ETT Teachers' Union of Punjab, who is also responsible for the rally, along with Jagseer Singh Sahota. The union members said they have chosen Bathinda for the rally because in the forthcoming elections, a member of the Badal family is expected to contest from here.

"We have a video CD that shows the promises Badal made when he was to come to power. He had promised that he would discuss our problem in the first meeting that took place after he formed his government but nothing was discussed in that meeting or in any meeting after that," said Jaswinder Singh Sidhu, state president of the union, in a press conference today.

The members said they would show the CD in all villages and towns and would intensify their stir against the government. "Badal said that if the cabinet ministers agree to our demands then he would do the needful. We have met all the ministers since then and they have told us that they have no problems but Badal is still not giving his nod," said a member.

The members alleged that plans are on to privatise education which meant that education would become a distant dream for the poor. According to the union members, privatisation was in government's favour as it would benefit from the scheme.

The union also alleged that the electronic media in the state was in government domain. Everything shown on cable TV was in favour of the government and the union stated that they would fight for the freedom of the press. "We would give a memorandum in this regard to the DCs in Moga, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Ludhiana on December 23," a member added.

Bathinda, December 21
After a period of two-and-a-half months, the councillors of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) have arranged for a general house meeting on Monday.

The meeting is expected to be stormy as councillors are believed to have a lot of grudges. It is learnt that the councillors are not happy over the huge gap between the meetings. Secondly, many of them are not happy with the pace of developmental work going on in the city. Finally, the long lasting complaints about disrespect shown to elected representatives is also expected to figure in the open house.

As many as 21 agendas have been listed for the meeting including some individual cases and matters related to tax collection. Following a decision taken at a meeting convened by the chief secretary, Punjab, in June, the BMC officials are now all set to install boards and hoardings related to the Kuka movement, throughout the city.

In the agenda, it has been prominently mentioned about roads and roundabouts that would be named after Satguru Ram Singh Ji and other Kuka martyrs. Further, the number of permanent hoardings that would be installed at public places like railway station, park, government offices, courts complex will also be discussed. The cost of a board has been shown to be Rs 20,000 each.

Another issue expected to be discussed is the mentioning by the executive officer about the storm water system. It has been stated that storm and sewage water are currently being diverted into sludge carrier, whose capacity has been increased to 60 cusecs. So, it has been flowing at its full capacity. Now it is proposed to install a new pipe and due to this, the capacity of the sludge carrier is required to be increased with an additional 30 acres of land. Its purchase would figure in the meeting.

Further, with concern being voiced over water bills, the BMC officials want to follow in the steps of other Municipal Corporations in Punjab. If it takes place, then water bills would come with a 10 per cent surcharge. But BMC wants to invite objections from the public before this. To get the nod of the councillors, the matter would be placed before the house.

To check dirt and filth in the streets, the BMC wants to increase the security deposit by an additional Rs 1,000 before giving permission for any construction/reconstruction. Earlier, Rs 1,000 was deposited as security along with the map and it used to be refunded at the time of completing the construction so that debris and other waste did not get littered.

The sanitary inspector had to issue a report. Only then did the depositor get the refund. It would also be discussed at the meeting. Expansion of the computerised single window system with the purchase of hardware at a cost of Rs 13.65 lakh from the reserved amount of Rs 47.7 lakh received under the grants-in-aid to local bodies for maintenance of civic services recommended by the 12th Finance Commission has also been added to the list for approval. The committee formed by the BMC commissioner wants to place the investigation report in a case related to allegations against octroi clerks, declaring them to be innocent.

It may be mentioned that the SSP (VB) has sought permission from the BMC to issue challan against the Octroi clerks booked under section 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and 13 (1) (D) and 13 (2) of the PC Act on March 27, 2006.

The post of the joint commissioner, recently created, did not have any head in the 2008-09 budget. Now with the proposal of the commissioner, the expenses of the officer manning the post would be decided in the house.

Bathinda, December 21
The approval for the multi storey parking project hanging fire so far seems far from getting the nod in the fourth general house meeting of BMC, slated for Monday.

The reason is that senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal, who had first objected to the contract in the last meeting, is still adamant over his stand.

The so called dream project for which the administration had selected the site that houses the Fire Brigade, had been much discussed but failed to get the approval. The matter was deferred with the constitution of a sub-committee headed by Mayor Baljeet Singh Bir Behman. It was supposed to come out with a report within seven days but it did not happen.

Agenda number 15 of the last meeting mentioned that the already existing fire brigade complex would be shifted to some other place and the land would be given to some private company. It was mentioned that the land measuring 3207 square yards would be given on a 90 years lease on design, build, operate and transfer policy. There, a facility for parking 250 cars would be provided. Moreover, 1000 square feet of ground floor area would be given to the BMC where the existing shopkeepers would be adjusted on some terms.

BMC commissioner K.K. Yadav had explained that the project would be economically beneficially as the upfront amount would be Rs 5,21,00,000 and the BMC would get an annual concession fee as 10 per cent of the amount. It had also been mentioned that after every three years, it would be increased to 15 per cent. Yadav had mentioned that the bids were invited on an international level.

Goyal had proposed that the lease time should be around 30 years. Goyal told TNS about the "unsatisfactory answers" received over the queries made about the consultants of the project. "I asked them in writing and as well as verbally but they could not answer even half the queries. The answers the consultants gave were not satisfactory."

"After the discussion, I came to know that the builder has no experience of executing similar parking project, whereas the house was told that the company is of international standards in executing similar projects," Goyal said.

He alleged that no negotiation had been held with the lowest bidder. Moreover, the authorities had settled for a term in which the amount is variable but the long time of 90 years, which was the most irritating part, was fixed. "We have been elected for five years. So, it seems unethical.”

Sources said the sub-committee has now prepared the report but still it is not certain whether it would be tabled.

Mansa, December 21
Over 450 debt-ridden farmers in Malwa region had committed suicide during the last decade. Leaders of farmers claim that reasons behind the farmers taking this extreme step include stress due to debt, low income from farming and increasing cost of agricultural activities.

A sample survey conducted by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) in 50 villages of Mansa district reveals that nearly 460 farmers committed suicide in these villages between 1997 to 2004.

The villages of Mansa where large number of farmers committed suicide include Akalian where 38 farmers ended their lives. Eighteen farmers committed suicide in village Tamkot while six cases of suicide were reported from the village Atalakalan. Five farmers committed suicide in village Burjhari, 10 in village Khokahar Kalan, 11 in village Musa, six in village Khara Barnala, 16 in village Jatana, 15 in village Mirpur Khurd, 10 in village Mirpur Kalan, six in village Tiby Hari Singh, 11 in Ranjit Garh Bander, six in Matti, 6 in Atala Khurd, 4 in Jhabbar and 12 in the village Alisher Khurd.

District secretary of BKU Mahinder Singh Romana said that increasing input costs of agriculture and decreasing income from farming had forced the farmers to take the extreme step.

District president of BKU Ram Singh Bhaini Bagha added that along with suicides, about 673 farmers had lost their land holding due to loans and low income from farming.

The survey says that most farmers committed suicide by consuming spray pesticides and jumping into canals.

Farmer leaders alleged that the government did not provide any help to the families of farmers who committed suicides. They also blamed the wrong policies of the government for the poor condition of the farmers.

The deputy commissioner of Mansa, Kumar Rahul, could not provide any information regarding the help rendered to the families of farmers who took this extreme step due to debt.

Ferozepur, December 21
In a landmark decision, the District Consumers Disputes and Redressal Forum has penalised the railway for its inability to prevent smoking at the railway platform. The forum has also directed the Northern Railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the complainant for the inconvenience, harassment and mental agony and loss of health suffered by him.

According to the information, a local resident, Yashwant Rai Puri had lodged a complaint with the railways against one of its employees identified as Amar Nath working in the office of Senior Sectional Engineer/Works who was allegedly smoking in the presence of complainant at the station, and notwithstanding several requests by him to stop smoking, he continued doing so.

The complainant had later sought details of what action is being taken by the department to prevent people from smoking on its premises including platforms and trains. Later, when the complainant did not get a satisfactory reply from railways, he took up the matter with the forum. Although, in its reply, the railways contended that it has taken action against several people and even imposed penalty on them for smoking at railway stations, the forum said that by merely imposing the penalty, the duty of the railway does not cease. In fact, the railways should evolve a mechanism to ensure that the smoking does not take place at all at public places in its purview.

In his orders, Sanjay Garg, president of the forum, said that fine imposed on the railways was also an award for the courageous step of the complainant who fought against the infringement of rights of the common man. The forum also directed the Northern Railways to take appropriate steps to prevent smoking at all the railway stations, platforms as well as in the trains under its control and to appoint adequate men from RPF at these places who should be there on full-time basis so that such type of activities like smoking could be prevented.

The Forum stated that the maintenance of the platforms and other facilities provided at railway stations comes under the definition of 'service' and by not making arrangements to prevent smoking is definitely a deficiency in service on the part of the railways. Garg said that Consumer Forum under the Act has jurisdiction to give certain directions keeping in view the interest of the consumers, who approach the forum and also that of those numerous consumers, who have not approached the forum. He further held that statutory bodies, like the railways, are amenable to the jurisdiction of this forum and it is no excuse that the statutory bodies are bound to perform their duties under their respective statutes and not under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

He said that it is generally observed in day to day life that the common man does not show the courage to take action against government departments for such dereliction of duties and deficiency of service.

Bathinda, December 21
More than one lakh children below the age of five years were administered polio drops in the first phase of the campaign here today. Following the trend of the previous campaigns, the response this time was more enthusiastic today as compared to the previous campaigns, informed health officials.

According to health department officials, the city was divided into three zones and 742 stationary booths were set up. In all 40 mobile vans were used to cover the migratory population.

In addition to 33 transit booths, 20 posts were also set up at bus stand and railway station.

All those children who were not covered today would be given polio drops on December 22 and 23. More than 3,000 health workers from all government hospitals were engaged in the campaign, informed Dr Ajit Pal Singh, district immunization officer.

He added that the number of children who had been administered polio drops had not differed from the previous year.

"While the polio drops have been administered in the camps today, on Monday and Tuesday, the health workers will go to houses in the door-to-door campaign so that the maximum number of children are given the polio drops," said the immunization officer.

Members of the Rotary Club, Bathinda Cantonment, also manned two booths for the polio immunization campaign at Bal Bhavan in Ganesha Basti.

Abohar, December 21
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has identified 137 private institutions, which are reportedly running technical programmes, without AICTE approval.

As per information provided to the village Amarpura resident Prem Singh Bhati in this sub-division under the RTI Act by the AICTE, the Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidya Peeth Deemed University, Udaipur, is also among the unapproved institutions.

Bhati has now in a letter addressed to Union Minister for HRD Arjun Singh regretted that his requests to the Punjab and the Rajasthan governments for taking action against unapproved universities/institutions remained unattended. Some universities based at Udaipur, Saradarshehar, Pachiri etc in Rajasthan are allegedly running diploma courses in various disciplines through distance education mode without the approval of the AICTE. Hundred of candidates have been getting jobs in Punjab also by producing degrees issued by such institutions. Their appointment in polytechnic and engineering colleges would hamper quality of education besides overruling the AICTE norms, Bhati said.

As per list notified on the AICTE website the unapproved institutes include ACTH Management Chandigarh, Bells Education & Research Society, Shimla and Chandigarh, GCS Computer, Chandigarh, GSC Patiala, ICEI — Chandigarh, ICFAI Business School, Gurgaon & Chandigarh, IILM for Higher Education Gurgaon, International Institute of Hotel Management, Gurgaon, Regional Study Centre Directorate of Distance Education Chandigarh, Aravali Institute of Management, Jodhpur. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, December 21
Two persons were killed while nearly 12 others sustained injuries in two separate mishaps in Sriganganagar district on Sunday.

Official sources said in the evening that a bus fell down in a pond allegedly due to negligent driving on the outskirts of Suratgarh resulting in the death of Kundan Lal while over ten passengers received injuries.

Help of the army was sought by the local police to fish out the ill-fated bus. Some of the passengers including a woman were in critical condition, emergency attendant at the civil hospital said.

A case has been registered under sections 279, 337 and 304A of the IPC against the bus driver Shyam Lal as the affected passengers accused him of rash driving.

According to another case registered by police station at Ghamurwali today, Devi Singh of village 31LNP alleged that an unidentified vehicle crushed his son to death. The driver escaped along with the vehicle, the report said.

Another case under sections 279 and 337 of the IPC was registered by Srikaranpur police in the district today. One Shiv Kumar alleged that a speedy tractor-trailer hit the car that he was driving and sped away. The registration number of the tractor could not be noted.

Bathinda, December 21
With Christmas around the corner, the city is already dipped in festive spirit. Christmas trees are in demand and so are decorative items like bells, boxes and Santa Claus made in various forms. People were of the view that Christmas celebrations would not witness much enthusiasm in this part of the region, but it has been the opposite with people preparing for December 25 with gaiety and fervour.

Archie's gallery at the Mall road in the city is flooded with gifts for the season. One can find much for doing up a house for Christmas in reds, whites and greens.

Sanjay Bindal, who runs the gallery, said, "I thought people would not be that interested in Christmas here and did not order much. But I had to re-order because my stock is almost sold out. The most sold out items are Christmas cards, caps and chocolates.”

Dhobi Bazaar looks green and red as most of the shops are having Christmas items for sale outside their shops. People are picking up Christmas trees for their homes. Gone are the days when people used original trees or branches for decoration. Now, trees in paper, plastics and other material are also readily available in the market.

"I have sold out some Christmas trees as Archies is offering it for Rs 99 only. Some people have also asked me to decorate a Christmas tree and give it to them," Bindal added. So, if you want to get a readymade Christmas tree, then you know where to head for.

How can someone celebrate the festival of cakes and ginger wine without trying a hand at a variety of cakes and cookies available in the market. Christmas reminds of dark plum cake, which is mostly made during this season. "Black forest cake, butterscotch and plum cakes are the most preferred flavours of the season. We have dark plum cakes, which we bake only during the Christmas season, and fruit cakes too are a craze here," said Baldev Puri of National Bakery.

Kanwal Gupta from the Pizzano said, "We have something different for our customers for Christmas. Imported flavours like blackcurrant, strawberry and blueberry can be tried this season. We are flooded with orders for Christmas cakes and the most sold out flavour as of now is pineapple, an all-time favourite for many. Cream, walnut and plum cakes are a must try this season.”

Bathinda, December 21
Delhi Public School celebrated its annual winter carnival, DPS Chillout 2008, on Sunday. Amit Dhaka, IAS, was the chief guest. He formally inaugurated the carnival that was followed by song, dance and carol singing. Ramesh Talwar, pro vice-chairman was also present on the occasion.

It was a fun-filled day in which both children and their parents participated with equal enthusiasm. The students enthralled the gathering by presenting many attractive programmes. There were about 20 stalls catering to eatables, games, camel and horse rides and others. The special arrangement for games and ride stalls was a special hit with people. Reena Gupta, principal, Blooming Buds, gave away the prizes to the winners. She appreciated their performance and exhorted them to keep it up.

Bathinda, December 21
The Bhog of Akhand Path that was organised by a group of radical Sikhs in the Gurdwara at Dayalpura to finalise the strategy for closure of the controversial dera of Sacha Sauda sect remained incident free.

Only a handful residents of the Dayalpura village participated in the Bhog as outsiders were not allowed to cross the barricades that were put up by the police on all roads leading to the village.

The concern of the police was to protect the headquarters of the Dera nearby and maintaining peace was a challenge for them. The deputy inspector general of the Faridkot range, Jitendera Jain, personally supervised the law and order situation in the area and succeeded in making it an incident-free affair.

Police personnel and commandos were deployed in strength in a radius of about 10 kms. Women police personnel were also deployed at strategic points.

The Akhand Path was organised by the Amritsar Panch Pardhani group. Jathedar Labh Singh of the Dayalpura Gurdwara said that everything remained under control and local residents attended the Bhog ceremony.

He said those trying to shatter peace in Punjab were enemy of the society and people were not with them.

Bathinda, December 21
As many as 27,000 cases were settled at a two-day Mega Lok Adalat held at the district court complex here today. Compensation worth Rs 18 crore was awarded to the litigants. Justice Ajay Lamba of Punjab and Haryana High Court along with Kuldip Singh, Sessions Judge, Bathinda, supervised the working of the Lok Adalat, stating that the system was gaining popularity with each passing day as it provided easy, economical and speedy justice to the litigants. He urged the lawyers to come forward and provide their services to help the needy persons to solve the cases through lok adalats.

Kuldip Singh, Sessions Judge, said that steps were also taken to persuade the parties to resolve the disputes and work out modalities during the Lok Adalat. There was no provision of appealing against the decision of Lok Adalat, he added.

Fazilka, December 21
Dr Sumit Sharma (28), a local rural veterinary officer, has got two national awards. The Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction (ISSAR) at its national symposium held at Karnatka Veterinary Animal Fishery Science University, Banglore has conferred the best Paper Presentation Award under young scientist category. ISSAR is one of the biggest society registered with the Government of India. More than two thousand veterinarians and scientists from different fields from across the country participated in the symposium. Dr Sharma, who completed his masters in veterinary gynecology from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana in 2005 was also adjudged the best field veterinarian. He was honoured by Dr Manmohan Singh, IAS president, ISSAR and Prof. Suresh S Honnappagol, vice-chancellor of KVAFSU Banglore.

It is for the first time that a young Punjab veterinarian has bagged these two prestigious awards. Dr Parikshit Sharma, a local psychiatrist, who is elder brother of Dr Sumit Sharma,

while talking to The Tribune said that research papers of his brother have been published in several national and international scientific general.

Dr Sumit Sharma is presently posted in veterinary hospital at the border village of Mahatam Nagar in the Fazilka sub-division.

Abohar, December 21
The Northern Railway Passenger Association has brought to the notice of the chairman of the Railway Board that suspension of 9771/9772 Amritsar-Jaipur express train reportedly due to foggy weather has caused inconvenience to the passengers on Sriganganagar-Bathinda and Ferozepur-Bathinda section.

The NGO suggested that instead of keeping the train under suspension till January 31 it should be re-scheduled to leave Bathinda at 12 hours for Jaipur instead of existing time 10 pm so as to facilitate passengers from Sriganganagar and other towns to catch it after reaching Bathinda by Udyan Abha and Punjab Mail trains. The track has not got any train during night hours at present, the NGO maintained in its fax message to the chairman on Saturday.

Abohar, December 21
Hundred of devotees who traversed from far off places bid tearful adieu to Bool Chand Sama, caretaker of the historic Panjpeer Dargah here, during his cremation at Shivpuri.

Sama died due to cardiac arrest late last evening. He along with his family had migrated from Pakpattan, the sacred land of Baba Farid in the West Punjab province, had been in lawful possession of the Dargah and took all pains in its development. The mazaars are located on sandy deserts.

Mansa, December 21
Rich tributes were paid to lecturer Raj Kumar in Mansa today. Raj Kumar had died of jaundice a few days back.

Paying homage, principal of the Government Senior Secondary (Boys) School, Mansa, Kulwant Singh, said that Raj Kumar was very hardworking and an ideal teacher of the school. "There was a need for his services to the school but death has stolen him from us very early," he added.

Local MLA Sher Singh Gagowal, ex-MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, district project director of Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, Darshan Singh Dhillon, said Raj Kumar’s contribution to education was immense. He said that Mansa had lost a skilled academician.