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Dists to be interlinked soon
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 1
In the year 2009, all 20 districts of the state are going to be equipped with intra-government network with e-enabling facility for anytime-anywhere service delivery under the name of the Punjab State Wide Area Network (PAWAN) in public, private partnership (PPP).
As per the details received from sources in the information and technology department, the department is now not far from starting the service. As many as 15 districts have already been equipped with videoconferencing gadgets, while the remaining five too will get the equipment very soon. According to a document received, as part of the national strategy, the department of information technology is developing service delivery infrastructure to enable the back-end computerisation of various departments. The scheme envisages establishment of an intra-government network with a minimum of 2 Mbps connectivity from the state to block headquarters through district headquarters. As per the claims of the authorities, the PAWAN vertical backbone will cover all the districts, sub-divisions and blocks from where other offices would be connected by use of horizontal links. The project provides connectivity to facilitate the rolling out of citizen centric services under various mission mode projects (MMPs). Under this project, services like wide area network (WAN) connectivity, internet, email, videoconferencing (VC) and voice services will be available for delivery of improved services to the citizens as well as intra-communication traffic: data, voice, video or images at different levels. Out of the 196 points of presence (POPs) identified to interconnect the three vertical layers for communication purposes. Of these, 193 have been set up. The network operator HCL, a private company, is preparing the sites for implementing the project. The necessary site preparations, equipment installation, configuration etc is being done by HCL. In this process, all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) were asked to lend their support and assistance, wherever required, to the network operator in implementing the project. Further, they were asked to identify the services to ride on PAWAN and provide the list of the offices to be connected. When contacted, Seema
Jain, the director of information and technology department, Punjab, confirmed the details over
the phone and said, "PAWAN project is at an advanced stage of implementation and it is expected to become operational shortly.
We have been personally demonstrating the facilities provided by the system and cross-checking is also going on."
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SAD gears up for Maghi Mela
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 1
Buoyed by the "favourable" response to Nanhi Chaan, a venture to save the girl child and preserve trees at three places in Punjab, Amritsar, Talwandi Sabo and Fatehgarh Sahib, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, has now chalked out her next move to launch it in Muktsar at the Maghi fair on January 11.
The campaign of Harsimrat has now been reportedly serving the dual purpose of spreading the message to eradicate social evil and also to strengthen the party by holding massive rallies. Though Harsimrat has been claiming that she has got nothing to do with politics but she is putting her bestb foot forward when it comes to supporting her family in the elections. Speculations are also rife about her potential claim to the Bathinda parliamentary seat but none of the ruling family members is still ready to announce the name of the candidate. Moreover, Muktsar, where she is now going to launch the Nanhi Chaan campaign is not a new area for her as she had earlier performed the responsibility of election campaign for her husband in the last parliamentary elections there. According to party sources, the ruling family has been eyeing the Maghi fair as a major occasion to launch the election campaign. To give it a nationwide colour, senior leaders of the ally BJP and all top brass have been invited to be present and address the crowd. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal have ordered all district units of the party to arrange meetings and ensure a handsome turnout at the political conference which will be held during the fair. Following the order, presidents of all district units of the ruling party have started holding meetings at their level. At such meetings, workers of the SAD (B) and BJP are all being invited and are being asked to inform people about the activities, vision and prospects of the alliance as part of poll canvassing. Under such a move, the Bathinda unit of the AD (B), under the leadership of Sikander Singh Maluka, district president of SAD (B), held a meeting of SAD-BJP workers at Gurudwara Hazi Rattan, here today. Speaking on the occasion, Maluka said the SAD (B) would hold a massive rally, where thousands of party workers would be present to listen to their leaders.
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City soaks in celebrations
Anjali Singh Deswal
Tribune News Service
Youngsters in the mood to celebrate on the eve of New Year in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh |
Bathinda, January 1
New Year's eve began on a chilling note as thick fog enveloped the city but it did not dampen the spirit of those who wanted to welcome 2009 amidst drinks and dance at various spots in the city.
There were parties, music, drinks, fun games, prizes to be won, dance and food organised by various hotels, resorts and restaurants in the city. A majority of people preferred to stay indoors to welcome the new year in the cozy and comfortable environs of their homes but there were many who braved the freezing cold and derived warmth on a chilly evening by dancing and drinking. As the clock struck twelve crackers burst with colourful sparks that illuminated the sky and people wished each other another promising year. Although, the economic slowdown around the world might have affected many but it seemed that Bathinda's spirit came alive on the night of December 31 and remained unaffected. The police force made it sure that no untoward incident happened in the city. SSP Ashish Chaudhary said, "The New Year began on a peaceful note and there were no cases of eve teasing registered in the city. We had made elaborate arrangements and my men were on a constant vigil to ensure the safety of the city." However, the situation seemed a bit unrestricted at some places where people were seen drinking while driving and there were liquor bottles kept atop cars and people were seen dancing in public spaces late in the night. The city woke up to year 2009 with brilliant sunshine bathing the city driving away the fog that had enveloped it for the last few days rekindling the hope that the New Year proves to be positive for them.
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Kiwi national lends a helping hand to poor in Moga
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service
Moga, January 1
Patricia Steinkamp, a self-effacing woman, who has been living here for over six years, has made her presence felt in the hearts of the poor, the destitute and the sick in this town.
Hailing from New Zealand, the 60-year-old woman lives with her husband who is a factory manager in Nestle's local industrial unit. She is not running any Non-Governmental Organisation or any other social help group nor does she operate from any fixed premises but whenever she comes out of her home she looks around with a humane heart to help the poor people- the rickshaw pullers, the beggars, the orphans. She is simple, passionate, progressive, secular and tough human being with the fire and zeal to serve the poor and the destitute people. With limited financial resources, she takes out even the last rupee from her pocket left from her monthly savings given by her husband for the cause
of the poor. And, sometimes, she knocks the doors of officials of the local administration to get help for
the helpless people. She often takes poor patients to the civil hospital for treatment, regularly organise Xmas party for the poor and orphan children for the past six years, provide sewing machines to the helpless women, distribute clothes among the poor children, pay school fees for the needy poor children and a lot more. Keen to serve the society, she says, "More than doing something for them, what is important is to make them feel wanted and cared for". According to her, if there is an orphanage, the children would be called orphans and society would see them differently. What they require is to help the family of, say, a widow who agrees to take care of a couple of orphans, she feels. Four years back, when she walked into the civil hospital along with some poor patients, she was shocked to see the messy state of affairs on the hospital premises - no cleanliness and soggy walls of the wards. "I met the then district magistrate and took him along with me to show him the hospital, who, launched a drive to clean and white-wash the whole hospital", she says. She has got donated many tri-cycles for the disabled persons from Nestle through her husband, wheel chairs for the needy people and funds for other social works. Much to acknowledge, Patricia has also provided water tanks for stray cattle in few cow-sheds, offers medical care to the stray cattle and plant trees in the town to give a message to the public to preserve the ecology.
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Is railway more sinned against?
Sudhanshu Verma
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 1
Winter has always been too harsh on Railways!
Because it not only pushes the department to take several measures to keep the trains on track, but also, the inclement weather makes the rail staff 'guilty' in the eyes of the passengers for the 'offence' which they have not committed. Sounds strange but it is true. Everyday, scores of passengers, could be found cursing the railway and its personnel for the late running of trains. They charged the officials with complacency and deliberately running the trains behind schedules, causing great inconvenience to them in the unpleasant weather. Another allegations levelled on railways is that the announcements made at the station to inform commuters about the arrival of trains always go wrong as the staff do not take proper care to find out the exact location of trains. The reality is somewhat contrary. Sources in the railways, while talking to The Tribune, said that in winter, when the dense fog engulfs the entire region and paralyses life, the train tariff also becames a victim. "The railways always accords top priority to the safety of passengers over all other things," sources said, adding that when the movement becomes impossible in foggy condition due to poor visibility, drivers are strictly instructed to run the train at a low speed to avoid mishap. Sources also informed that the department followed a mechanism to run trains in foggy weather. "When the visibility beyond 120 metres becomes impossible, it is considered foggy by the railways," sources informed and said that in the condition of nil-visibility, trains are halted. Talking about the allegation concerning 'incorrect' announcement, a senior railway official said that in foggy weather, drivers are instructed to run trains between 10 and 60 km per hour. "We calculate the distance and the time normally taken by a train between two stations and make the announcement accordingly," sources said. "However, the driver can use his discretion anytime for the safety of passengers. In other words, considering the circumstances, he could run the train at a speed of 10 km per hour or 40 km per hour or even stop the train," the official explained and said that in these circumstances, the announcement sometimes goes wrong. Talking about other reasons for the late movement of trains, the official said that the speed of trains is also lessen at unmanned level crossings, on rivers and canals. Trains are also
run at a low speed where in populated areas along the both sides of tracks - this is a normal feature near almost all railway stations in the
country. Railway sources said that for the safety of the passengers, there was an unwritten rule: better late than never.
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Midnight’s children add to New Year joy
Anjali Singh Deswal
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 1
The New Year spelt happiness for some lucky women of the city who gave birth as 2009 began. The city got its share of 'lucky kids' because they were born on January 1. Some believed a child born on this day brings luck and prosperity. Dr Parampreet Singh Nagpal, a resident of this city who was also born on January 1 feels he is lucky.
His father Dr Nagpal said, "Parampreet has been very lucky for us. He is well placed and I do think that children born on January 1 are lucky." Parampreet's brother Dr Tarwinder Singh Nagpal said, "He is a special boy and there are two celebrations on January 1 every year. We welcome the New Year and celebrate his birthday." There were three deliveries in the civil hospital. It was a matter of just five minutes for Baby, who gave birth to a boy at five minutes past midnight. She felt that it was a blessing in disguise. Simranjit Kaur gave birth to a baby girl at 12:25 at night and her husband Bhupinder Singh was elated and felt that the New Year has brought happiness in the best form. Anita who delivered a baby girl at 1:55 in the night already has a daughter and her husband Shiv Kumar felt that girls represent goddess Lakshmi in our country and bring wealth, luck and prosperity for all. "I already have a daughter and we wanted another daughter. It is a blessing for us and the best New Year gift we could ever have." The wife of Gyan Singh of Gurunanakpura Mohalla in the city, also called Baby, delivered a child at 3:01 am at a private hospital in the city. One thing was clear after talking to these couples that whether it is a boy or a girl, a child means happiness for parents and these couples feel immensely lucky that their children were born on January 1.
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College team back after tour
Bathinda, January 1
An educational tour of the History Association of the Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, has returned on December 30. The team had left on December 27. The students visited Dalhousi, Jallianwala Bagh, Kala Top and Chamba state museum. There were many students who had visited these places for the first time. Students liked the Chamba state museum as it reflected historical facts. The tour was taken by the head of the department, History, Sukhdev Singh, professor Neelam Rani and physical education department's head Surjeet Singh and Balbir Kaur.
— TNS
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