Bathinda, January 20
The Bathinda canal that is the main drinking water source here has turned into a virtual sewer, not by anyone else but the residents of the town. All this has been done despite the fact that the Malwa belt of Punjab has high incidence of cancer and other diseases.

The water body has become a dumping place for all sorts of filth and garbage although the people are well aware that the same water is pumped into the taps at their households.

The officers and engineers of the irrigation department are equally responsible for the unhygienic conditions as they have not cleaned the silt and garbage accumulated on the bed of the canal for the past several years.

An engineer said he does not remember if the canal was ever cleaned.

During a visit to the barrage today, this correspondent saw that the canal was nothing short of a sewer. Household refuse was lying embedded in the silt and womenfolk were washing clothes with detergents there.

Neither the government nor any NGO has come forward to clean the canal and educate people about the hazards of polluting the water.

Irrigation department officials say they were helpless as residents of the localities, through which the canal flows, were adamant to throw garbage into the water.

A large number of water samples collected recently from various localities of the city have failed the test as it contained a high degree of contamination. National level health organisations from time to time had also expressed concern about the poor quality of drinking water being supplied in the Malwa belt.

A senior engineer claimed there was no need to clean the canal as the garbage flows down when water is released in substantial quantity.

Instead of taking some initiative to keep the water body clean, the irrigation department is waiting for implementation of the Bathinda development plan that envisages erecting fencing around the barrage. However, this would not solve the purpose as rest of the canal flows through populated areas of the town and many other villages right from Ropar to this place. 

Bathinda, January 20
Students from government schools in the city rue that while the teachers are busy holding rallies and meetings during the school hours, it is their studies that is getting hampered. Exams are near and the holding of these rallies are disturbing the students no end.

Sources stated that these rallies are of state-level and students all over the state are being affected because teachers are busy voicing their demands instead of teaching.

Harwinder, a class VIII student from a government school in the city, said, “Administrative jobs were given to teachers who also used to attend to their personal chores at times. Now, these rallies conducted by the teachers are troubling us. Our syllabus is not being completed and we fear that the curriculum would be left incomplete if teachers keep holding their anti-government protests.”

Sources added that factors such as these were responsible for the poor result in government schools. Most of the time, students were not interested in studies and for the rest of the time, teachers feel burdened teaching the students.

Shelly, a student, said, “I have seen teachers passing the students without their doing well in the exams. Teachers do so to get promoted. Many a time, teachers don’t even bother to know how children are doing in studies and then they ask for a raise. Teachers in government schools are not very qualified, then how can they compare themselves to private school teachers. Our English teacher cannot even speak English properly.”

Sources felt that the government should at least think of the students because when teachers protest and don’t teach, students are the ones who are the most affected.

“The government should pay attention to protesting teachers because we are much affected by the rallies and dharnas. Even if teachers come to school, they don’t teach, they only discuss their next course of action,” a student said.

EGS teachers, on the other hand, stated that their protest was not affecting any student because they did not have any students to teach. The government has left them jobless.

DTF teachers said they do meetings and rallies when it is a non-working day and if it was a working day then they take their leaves, which were authorised to them.

The ETT teachers said they had no choice except conducting meetings and rallies even if it was a working day because the government policies had forced them to do so.

Bathinda, January 20
After a long struggle, the DC raised a hope among EGS teachers when he called them in the morning and spoke to director (SCRT) and DPI (Elementary). The DC has fixed up their meeting with the authorities in Chandigarh.

Prithpal Singh of the EGS Teachers’ Union said, “The DC spoke to higher authorities in Chandigarh and they have asked us to meet them tomorrow.”

The secretary (Education) would be meeting the EGS teachers tomorrow. The teachers, who were on strike for long, had warned the present government that they would not let the government win the forthcoming elections. Some teachers felt that the government has agreed to their demands after the warning only.

EGS teachers had, however, started a hunger strike from yesterday and said, “We would be on hunger strike till the government gives a satisfactory response. It has been really long since we have been sitting on a dharna but no official turned up to help us. Finally, the DC has agreed to help us. We hope that the meeting at Chandigarh yields positive result and the government agrees to admit us for the D.Ed course that it had promised,” Kulbeer from the union said.

Meanwhile, in support of their demands, members of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) have decided to stage a dharna in front of the DEO (Elementary) office on January 23.

Resham of the DTF said, “Our promotions are pending. Besides, during a tournament at Nathana in October, the block officer of Nathana had collected Rs 200 from every teacher involved in the tournament, which is wrong. The money is not being returned to the teachers.”

Bathinda, January 20
Sarup Chand Singla, vice-president of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said that Sukhbir Singh Badal would continue to take interest in development of Bathinda even after becoming deputy chief minister of Punjab.

Singla, who was talking to media persons here, said that a number of development projects including face-lift of the city, international stadium, hospitals and up-gradation of public services were taken in hand due to the initiative of Sukhbir Singh Badal. These projects would be completed within the stipulated period.

He said that Sukhbir Singh Badal has yet to decide about the assembly seat that he would contest after becoming the deputy chief minister.

He said that at least 25 busloads of people and 1000 cars carrying supporters from here would go to Amritsar tomorrow to witness the swearing ceremony of Sukhbir Singh.

Bathinda, January 20
Following in the footsteps of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the opposition Congress today launched a ward-to-ward contact campaign here today.

The local MLA Harmandir Singh Jassi started the campaign by visiting the ward one covering the NFL and Adarsh Nagar localities. He also went to ward number two and three.

Interestingly, no other MLA accompanied Jassi who belongs to the Rajinder Kaur Bhattal group. His visit to these areas comes close on the heels of Harsimrat Kaur, wife of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh, who drew crowds to her ward-wise meetings.

Jassi said that he would cover two to three wards every day and listen to the problems of the people.

He said that he delayed the campaign because Harsimrat Kaur had been touring the municipal corporation wards.

Jassi said that feeling politically insecure in the Malwa region, Sukhbir Singh Badal has “fled” to the Majha area. He should contest the election from here in case he wanted to prove his leadership, Jassi added.

Bathinda, January 20
Setting an example of service to humanity, Parsin Kaur donated around 1000 yards of land near an elementary school at Amarpura Basti to the school. The land is worth lakhs but Parsin donated it to the school with the condition that the school should be named after her husband.

“Though it was difficult to name a government school after Parsin’s husband, but seeing the noble idea behind the cause, the authorities agreed to change the school’s name from Government Elementary School to Sardar Darbara Singh Elementary School,” said Veena Rani, a teacher at the school.

Sources said it took at least three months in getting the paper work done for renaming the school and registering the land in the school’s name. Today, the foundation stone for new classrooms to be constructed on the land was laid and the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan issued a grant of Rs 2.5 lakh for the same.

Veena Rani and Jasvir Kaur, who joined the school as teachers around six months back, have helped in making the noble gesture fructify. They along with some other members did all the legwork for getting the idea implemented.

According to sources, Parsin had shown interest in donating the land earlier also but the staff in the school did not show any interest.

Mansa, January 20
Even 15 years after it became a district, Mansa does not have adequate facilities for sports.

The students of this district, especially those who have won medals and positions at national and international games, have been feeling the lack of facilities like stadium, grounds, coaches and other infrastructure related to games.

Kiranjeet Chauhan of the Dashmesh Public School, Nangal Kalan, had won gold medal in National Junior Boxing Championship, which was held at Patiala in 2007. She got a gold medal in the 57 kg category of boxing.

These games were organised by the Sports Authority of India. The school principal informed that the girl would go abroad (America, Canada, Italy, Germany and Spain) for dancing shows.

This tour would be organised by the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Another girl student, Sukhjeet Kaur of Government High School, Kotdharmu, got the first position in national wrestling championship, which was held at Gurdaspur on December 21, 2008. Om Parkash Middha, head teacher of the school, rued that the students have interest in wrestling and boxing but no proper facilities such as grounds or coaches are available for them.

Veer Pal Kaur, student of Government Girls High school, Jogga, had played in the football team at Bhubaneshwar in Orissa and at an international level in Vietnam. The father of the girl Rajwinder Das said they had formed a football team of girl students, which had played in various competitions at the national level. He said there is no coach and ground for the team's training.

He said if proper facilities are provided to the team, it could shine. Though the students have the talent but for want of facilities they are unable to turn their potential into performance.

Meanwhile, District Sports Officer Avdesh Sharma also admitted the lack of infrastructure. He informed that there are only seven coaches in the whole district and there is no stadium as of now.

Bathinda, January 20
An initiative of SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to give all BMC councillors Rs 10 lakh each for the development of the city has become inextricably intertwined with the much-controversial Rs 40-crore beautification project.

According to the agenda number 2 of the fifth general house meeting of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC), all councillors have submitted their demands for the development of their particular wards.

As per BMC sources, earlier, commissioner K.K. Yadav had told the councillors about the surplus Rs 8 lakh from the total budget of Rs 40 crore, sanctioned for the development of the city. Then, it was said they would get Rs 15 lakh for the development of their wards irrespective of the political party they belonged to. The authorities backtracked later.

The disappointed councillors urged Mayor Baljeet Singh Bir Behman, who after discussing the matter with CM Parkash Singh Badal and SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Badal got their nod.

During his recent visit, Sukhbir ordered the BMC Commissioner to allot funds. The BMC Commissioner then put up a proposal to take up the matter on the regular agenda and pass a resolution in the coming general house meeting. He assured that though the BMC does not have such funds, he would make arrangement from other departments that he has been holding charge of.

When contacted, K.K. Yadav said, “The BMC does not have funds but as the general house approved the matter, we will write to the department of the local bodies and after getting nod, funds can be arranged from the Bathinda Development Authority or other such department.”

Bathinda, January 20
Facing the allegation of tampering in the fourth general house meeting, the BMC officials had decided to capture all the proceedings of the fifth general house meeting today visually, but sensing the gravity of the issue, the BMC officials had to backtrack.

Bathinda, January 20
The state government has issued Rs 4.14 crore to clear the pension cases pending from October and November of the last year.

This was disclosed by the district social security officer in the meeting of the district development committee, which was held here today under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner, Bathinda.

During the meeting, the social welfare officer said that for the 614 beneficiaries of the Shagun scheme financial aid of Rs 92.10 lakh is also going to be released.

Further, the District Education Officer said that after a thorough survey, all the schools in the district would be equipped with kitchen sheds.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, January 20
Tears rolling on the wrinkled faces spoke volumes of the pain that the inmates of Sri Narayan Vridh Ashram, located in the village 2-DD of Padampur Tehsil in Sriganganagar district, were putting up with after their kin deserted them.

For the visiting members of Amogh AWWA, it became difficult to control their emotions as the helpless elders narrated their touching stories. The social activists, who escorted the AWWA members and some senior Army officers from the divisional headquarters felt that the Rajasthan government should follow the other northern states in enforcing the Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.

In fact, Col B.S. Rana, who happened to visit Sri Krishan Sudama Gaushala a few days back apprised Maj Gen A K Bakshi of the laudable efforts being made by the villagers in looking after about 650 cattle besides running the old age home.

Gen Bakshi could not make it due to some preoccupation but his wife and the chairperson of the Amogh AWWA, Shraddha Bakshi, along with Mohini Sharma, Maj Seema Singh, Col P.K. Kapur and Col B.S. Rana not only planned the visit but also arranged for the installation of idols of Ganesh and Lakshmi in the Gaushala temple.

Those present during the worship included Meenu Shekhar, Tara Hundal, Sunita, Anjali, Hema and Arpita besides the members of the managing committees of the Gaushala and ashram.

The AAWA members distributed woollen clothes, shawls and essential commodities among the 11 elders and discussed future plans with Col Agya Pal Singh Sandhu (retd).

Shiv Darshan Goyal and Kartar Singh Makkar, presidents of the Gaushala and ashram managing committees, respectively, while expressing gratitude to the AWWA group said the region was proud of the sons of the soil, who sacrificed their lives while defending the border and fighting militancy. There has never been a dearth of warriors and philanthropists in this district.

Its residents, even after migrating far off, keep on contributing to the social welfare projects launched by the NGOs. But the AWWA and Army officers, by involving them in service to the Gaushala and the ashram, have infused a new spirit.

Moga, January 20
The animal husbandry department of the state government, with the help of the local administration, has today begun a 15-day exercise to catch stray cattle freely roaming on the roads and streets of this town.

Revealing this to The Tribune, Dr. P.C. Mittal, deputy director of the department, said that he has called a special animal catching squad comprising 10 members from Patiala to do the job.

Adding that this campaign would continue for a fortnight, he said that on the first day, the team had managed to catch 29 bulls. These bulls had been sent to a local cow-shed and would be kept there. The team had been called by the department in wake of a big hue and cry raised by the local public with regard to the problem of stray cattle in the town, which had in the past three years claimed many lives.

As per the official figures available, the population of stray cattle freely roaming in the district number about 6,256 animals, out of which, 961 animals roam on the streets in the district headquarters alone.

There were 27 cow sheds in the district in which 8,894 stray animals had already been kept and taken care by the local animal welfare associations. In Moga town, there were seven cow sheds housing 1,365 animals.

Mittal revealed that some cattle were seen ambling across the township's open spaces at night. They were neither unproductive nor stray but were being deliberately driven into the township by their owners to graze.

While most of these cattle go back to their homes by dawn, some wander off and remain in the city permanently.

Adding that most of these animals were not stray and belong to those residing in the outer areas of the town and the nearby villages, he was hopeful that in the next couple of days, the owners of such animals would keep their animals safely at home fearing being caught by the animal catching squad. Dr Mittal further revealed that they had also planned to sterilise the stray dogs in the town for which funds had already been sanctioned by the state government.

Barjinder Singh Brar, president of the local municipal council, while talking to The Tribune, said he was aware of this problem and every effort would be made to drive the stray cattle out of the town by transporting them to cowsheds in the adjoining areas.

Abohar, January 20
The teachers of 170 non-government and 54 government colleges will observe strike for two hours and stage dharnas, organise rallies and demonstrations in their respective campus on January 22, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) president Iqbal Singh Sandhu said here today.

He said the Central government had agreed to provide financial assistance to the extent of 80 per cent of the financial burden arising out of pay-scale revision for the period January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010. It should not be difficult for the state government to implement the scheme, as approved by the UGC, in total, he said.

The PCCTU president urged the Chief Minister and Education Minister to accept the genuine demands of the teachers to ensure a smooth environment in the campus. He said that all the teachers would proceed on mass casual leave on January 28 and hold a rally at Chandigarh, under the banner of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Federation to apply pressure on the state government to implement the new pay-scales. The Chief Ministers of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan besides the southern states had already consented to the implementation of the new pay-scales, Sandhu claimed. — OC

Bathinda, January 20
Harbhajan Institute would organise a mock test on February 8 from 10 am to 1 pm.

Harbhajan Singh, director of the institute, said the aim of the test was to prepare the students for the forthcoming competitions.

He further said about 4000 students took part in the mock test last year.

Jaydeep Sayal, director, said that in this test, prizes would also be given away to the students depending upon their rank. Rs 15000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 would be given to the students obtaining first, second and third rank, respectively. Besides, Rs 3,000 would be given to each 20 students who got the fourth rank.

Amlok Singh Sekhon, director, informed that in addition to Bathinda, the test would be held at Malout, Abohar, Faridkot, Kotakpura, Jangrao, Dabwali.

Abohar, January 20
A farm worker, Rajesh Kumar, was crushed to death by a tractor-trailer near village Kular of this sub-division on Tuesday. The driver fled leaving behind the vehicle, the police said. The body was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem. A case has been registered after taking the vehicle in police custody.