Bathinda, December 23
The historical Methodist Church on the railway road here is being decked up for the X-Mas. There was enthusiasm among the Christian community that has organised several programmes to celebrate the day. Young boys and girls were engaged in decorating the church under the supervision of Father George C. Masih. The building has been whitewashed inside and outside and decorative lights were being fitted for celebration.

A special Christmas worship service will be held at 10.30 am on Thursday. This will be preceded with midnight worship service with candlelights tomorrow.

The celebrations that started on Sunday with a procession by members of the community would culminate on January 4 with Holy Communion. Five carol rounds in various parts of the city were organised by the Church. Other churches in the town have also been decorated for the occasion.

Bathinda, December 23
Weathermen have good news for X-mas revellers — bright and sunny days are ahead with nip in the air.

After the passing of the western disturbances, the weather is likely to be conducive for Christmas celebrations in Bathinda and the adjoining areas as the conditions is likely to remain dry and clear in next two to three days, weathermen predicted on Tuesday. But one should not keep winter clothes aside because the temperature may witness fall during this period, they added, and highlighted the possibility of foggy conditions in some areas. According to the weather forecast made by the IMD, Chandigarh, for Bathinda region and received by the Agro-met advisory services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda, dry and clear weather is likely to be experienced during the next two to three days. Weather is likely to remain dry and night temperature is expected to decline. There is a possibility of foggy condition in some pockets of the region during the period, the weathermen predicted.

As far as the weather conditions during the last two to three days are concerned, the region experienced maximum temperature around 18 to 23 degree Celsius while minimum ranged from 6.8 to 15.5 degree in the period. The humidity was 89-54 per cent. 

Bathinda, December 23
With the twin aim of promoting rural tourism along with providing a business alternative to farmers of the state, the Directorate of Tourism, Punjab has come up with the Punjab Farm Tourism Scheme. The scheme, in fact, was launched a couple of moths back but due to a number of reasons, it had failed to take up. Now, the tourism department has sent the performa and the guidelines along with enrollment forms to all districts with instructions to implement the scheme successfully this time.

Under the scheme, in addition to each farmer's own promotional activity, Punjab Tourism Department will act as promoter of farm tourism as a major attraction in India's agricultural state. It will promote farm accommodation and activities in partnership with private sector providers. The quality of services offered by the farm houses is to be verified by the department.

After enrolling them, the state tourism department will provide mandatory training as well as development and operational advice and undertake promotional activity of farm tourism via internet, publications and media relations.

The officers will select the farms according to clear guidelines on the basis of required facilities and also benchmark the farms and monitor the delivery of services rendered by them. Farm house owners will have to provide home cooked food, comfortable accommodation and show the visitors local agricultural practices such as floriculture, harvesting, bee keeping, dairying etc. They will act as both host and guide to the visiting tourist. The farm house will provide a clean, hygienic environment with modern facilities to the visitors.

The scheme mentions that community participation is an integral part of it. The farmer will be expected to solicit and engage community involvement for his guests.

A registration certificate will be issued to the selected ones which they will have to display at the entrance of the farm house. Approved farmers may use the term "Member, Punjab Farm Tourism Scheme" on their signboards and other printed material along with the scheme logo.

With the proper implementation of the scheme, it is expected to have multiple effect as the spending of tourists will make a significant contribution to rural economy and improve the quality of life of the farmers and the communities involved. Besides being a source of income, it will enable villagers to attract various kinds of tourists and also enrich their lives.

Confirming the facts, Sibin C., ADC (D), Bathinda, said, "Earlier, when the scheme was launched in April, as many as 12 farmers had applied. Despite sending their forms to the Secretary, Tourism, we did not get any response. Following the orders of the Tourism Department, we have again invited applications, which will be entertained till December 25." Though the scheme is lucrative, the department too should respond positively, he added. 

Moga, December 23
The agriculture department held a workshop-cum-exhibition on farming techniques and practices here, today.

Inaugurating the workshop, agriculture minister Sucha Singh Langah said that there was a need to adopt allied professions of agriculture so as to improve socio-economic conditions of marginal farmers.

He announced to increase the subsidy from the existing 75 per cent to 90 per cent on setting up of drip-irrigation system in the fields, which helps to check wastage of water.

Reacting to the demand of environmentalists to formulate a law for banning burning of paddy-straw, he said that there was no alternative technique presently available as a practicable solution to this problem. "I have personally used rotavator to crush the standing dry stems but it has not helped me much in smooth ploughing of the fields", he said. He called upon the farm technicians to work for making a better technique for this purpose so that the farmers could avoid burning of paddy-straw.

He asked the farmers to cultivate fruits and vegetables for their own consumption and stop the practice of purchasing these essential items from the market.

Lambi (Muktsar),  December 23
Panchayat Secretaries, who have been on strike for 21 days, today said that if the state government failed to fulfil their demands with immediate effect, all the 909 panchayat secretaries in the state would observe the first day of the next year as a black day.

Meanwhile, five more organisations related to Panchayat Raj have reportedly, assured to extend cooperation to the agitators by announcing the "pen down strike."

About the demand, protesters said that they had placed a request in front of various officials that the ruling SAD dignitaries should fulfil the promises made to the panchayat secretaries and their service should be regularised.

Speaking about the issue, Gurjeewan Singh Brar, president, Punjab Secretary Union 909, said, "The demand is not big that the state government can not accept."

Rajinder Singh, press secretary of the union, informed that five other organisations related to Panchayat Raj have assured Sukhdev Singh, convener of the union to lend their cooperation in the move.

Bathinda, December 23
The employees of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India under the banner of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association held a demonstration in front of the LIC's regional office here today.

They were protesting against the decision of the Central Government to raise the ceiling for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent. The All-India Insurance Employees Association had given the call for the strike.

The protesters raised slogans disapproving the policy of liberalisation and FDI. They also staged a dharna at which the speakers condemned the management for its negative attitude towards the demand for wage revision. Regional secretary of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association K.K. Sharma said the twin policies were neither in the favour of the country nor the employees.

Association members said though the finance minister had recently stated that the government would not interfere with administrative jobs of the LIC management, it was creating hurdles in the settlement of wage revision. They said though employees had been contributing to the stupendous growth of the corporation, they were being deprived of even wage revision and other benefits. 

Bathinda, December 23
Resentment prevailed among the inmates of the Parmanand Dham Kusht Ashram here as they complained of indifferent attitude of the Wakf Board authorities. They alleged that they had been living there for the last 40 years but now the Wakf Board authorities had asked them to deposit Rs 2000 per month as rent.

Suresh Kumar, an inmate, said that most of the lepers earned their living by begging, selling balloons or plying rickshaws.

Some donors and social organizations provide them with aid in kind, and they are not in condition to pay rent, said Suresh. Around 25 families were living at the ashram. A delegation of lepers under the leadership of Chiranji Lal Garg, former cabinet minister, met Rahul Tiwari, DC, and submitted a memorandum urging him to interfere in the matter.

The DC assured them of looking into the matter.

Bathinda, December 23
The State Election Commission has issued notification for holding elections for all vacant seats of Panch in 17 panchayats of Bathinda district on January 18, 2009.

The schedule states that nominations can be filed from January 1 to 6. On January 7, nominations will be scrutinised, January 8 has been declared as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. The elections have been fixed for January 18 from 8 am to 4 pm. On January 21, the elections would be completed with results being declared.

In the list attached, it has been mentioned that Gehri Devi Nagar has two vacancies, Kothe Phulla Singh and Chak Ram Singh wala have one seat each, Burj Dhalla has four vacancies, Lehra Dhurkot has three, Bajak has two seats, Bandi has three vacancies, Chak Attar Singh Wala has one, Gurthari has two, Kutti has one, Sangat Kalan has all the nine seats vacant as the state government had established a nw gram panchayat there. Sangat Khurd has two seats vacant, Kamaloo panchayat has one seat, Bagher Charat Singh has one seat, Gosan pura has one seat and Sandhu Khurd has one vacancy.

Besides, Mannuana panchayat under Talwandi Sabo block, where the elections were declared void, has also been added to the list. According to information available, in that gram panchayat, there would be five members, two each from the general and women's category and one from the SC category.

Zira/Makhu (Ferozepur), December 23
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has called upon the people to oust Congress-led UPA government and pave the way for NDA to form new government at the Centre during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He was addressing two separate public rallies on the second day of his development tour in these two towns of this border district on Tuesday, which turned out more a political show to oppose the Congress party.

Playing the religious card to lash out at the Congress, he said that nobody could forget the incidents of attack on Golden Temple and the anti-Sikh riots that had exposed its secular image. He said Congress was also responsible for interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs. He said that Congress was solely responsible for disturbing peace in Punjab as it had always indulged in divisive politics.

He said that the Union government led by Congress at times had always ignored the legitimate rights of the people of Punjab and therefore it was necessary to bring in a change of guard in the Centre so that the long pending demands of Punjab related to agricultural and economic issues could be solved in the interest of the public.

He said that Punjab was ignored in the Centre's debt waiver scheme of Rs 71,000 crore for the farming community, wherein, the state got just one per cent share in waive-off of farm loans. Similarly, hardly one per cent share was allotted to the state out of Central grant of Rs 3,125 crore earmarked for the development of agriculture in all the states.

The CM was of the view that the Centre should evolve a permanent solution of the prices of agriculture produces either linking it with the consumer price index or MSP should be equal to the cost of production plus 50 per cent as recommended by Dr MS Swaminathan.

He said that Captain Amarinder Singh and CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal should desist from cheap politics of the confrontation and first look at their house that was disintegrated and then talk of the ruling party and its leaders.

Badal announced development grants worth Rs 104 crore for the execution of various projects and schemes in Zira and Makhu areas. including Rs 3.50 crore for 30-bed community health centre and Rs 25 lakh for the construction of sub-tehsil at Makhu. He disbursed a cheque for Rs 2 crore and Rs 1 crore each for the development of Zira and Makhu towns on the occasion.

Later, he laid the foundation stone of a bridge on Makhu-Lohian-Jalandhar road at Gidderwindi to be built at the cost of Rs 67 crore. This bridge would link the Malwa with Doaba region reducing the distance by about 40 kilometres.

Irrigation Minister Janmejha Singh Sekhon said that the progress made by SAD-BJP government had resulted into frustration among the Congress party as it was bereft of any political agenda for the ensuing parliamentary elections.

Prominent amongst others who addressed the rallies include Lok Sabha member Rattan Singh Ajnala, vice-president of SAD Hari Singh Zira, MLAs Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Amarpal Singh Bonni, Inderpal Singh Bolaria and local office-bearers of the SAD and SGPC. 

Abohar, December 23
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has accused SAD (B) of giving step-
motherly treatment to it.

During a meeting of the Balluana unit here today, president Vikram Beniwal and general secretary Rajeev Godara regretted that the Morcha workers had not so far been taken into confidence regarding arrangements being made for the Balluana rally  to be addressed by CM Parkash Singh Badal on December 30.

Beniwal said he spoke to the BJP circle president Kulbhushan Bhuddi on the phone but the latter reportedly said he too had been meted out the same treatment. The SAD leaders were having exclusive meetings in the rural areas and none of the BJP office-bearers had so far been officially informed of the CM's visit. — OC

Mansa, December 23
The Democratic Employees front (DEF) has decided to hold a district-level convention of employees at Mansa on December 26.

The decision of this effect was taken at a meeting of employees held at Baba Bujha Singh Bhawan, Mansa.

State general secretary of DEF Sukhdarshan Singh Natt and district secretary Jaspal Kokar said that demands of the employee would be considered at the convention to start an agitation against the privatisation policy of the state government.

The recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission would also be considered, they added.

Some other demands would be raised like regularisation of part-time and daily wage employees and all department should be brought under the direct control of the government which were earlier given to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

Ferozepur, December 23
In contrast to common public perception about government officials being indifferent to their problems, the local district administration has taken up the cudgels itself and contributed an amount of Rs 30 lakh for the welfare of flood victims and cancer affected patients by contributing a day’s salary.

DC Megh Raj said all the employees of various government departments, including police had contributed a day's salary for the noble cause.

The DC said that out of the total amount collected by the employees, 5,000 blankets and woollen shawls were purchased for the flood affected families. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Makhu distributed these today. He further said that another Rs 2 lakh has been contributed by the government employees for construction of water works of 5,000 gallon capacity at three villages under Zira sub-division for which Rs 10 lakh was provided by the CM also.

The employee's contribution has also gone to the Asafwala War Memorial, Fazilka for the development and beautification of the martyrs' memorial.

The Deputy Commissioner said that with the assistance of the Red Cross and the Baba Sher Shahwali Trust, an amount of Rs 20,000 each shall be given to the cancer patients for medicines and treatment.

The DC said that he was thankful to all fellow officers, including SSP Dinesh Pratap Singh, ADC Jaskiran Singh and SDM M.P. Singh.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, December 23
Workers deployed under the NREGA scheme to desilt the TLW sub-canal in the Talwara Jheel area are scared over finding snakes in bulk during last two days, sources said.

As per information, one Puran Ram Bawri had a miraculous escape after snake biting as he was cured by an expert in the rural area. As many as 86 snakes had so far been found and all had to be killed. This consumed much of our time, a worker said. The workers, however, regretted that the authorities had not so far initiated steps to provide medical-aid since no dispensary was available in the Jheel area. People keep on thronging the sub-canal on getting information regarding finding of the snakes of different breed.

Abohar, December 23
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has asked the local Bar association president Devi Lal Bishnoi to affix a copy of the petition (regarding elections) filed by the members (of the association) in the Bar Council on the notice board of the association here.

He has been further directed to supply a copy of the petitions to the persons concerned/specifically named.

The council through a fax message received here late in the evening has also directed the parties concerned to file their reply (if any) by December 27, otherwise, the matter will be decided in absence. — OC