Bathinda, January 29
In a fresh development in the female foeticide case, the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) cell, Bathinda and the Beti Bachao Manch, an NGO, have accused the civil surgeon, Muktsar, of callous attitude while saving the foetus and trying to save the culprits.

Sadhu Ram Kusla, project officer of the PNDT cell, Bansi Lal Sachdeva and Ranbir Brar, conveners of the NGO, have made a written complaint in this regard to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the deputy chief minister of the state, the chief secretary of Punjab, the State Family Welfare Department and the deputy commissioner, Muktsar.

In the complaint, they have accused Jaswant Rai Chauhan, civil surgeon, Muktsar, of taking the case lightly.

They said that the civil surgeon was informed about the couple's plan to abort the foetus at a private hospital in Muktsar on Tuesday, adding that Chauhan was asked to conduct immediate raids and spot the vehicle in which the couple was moving.

However, they alleged, due to the carelessness on the part of the civil surgeon, the couple after determining the sex of the foetus, got it aborted and started moving towards Bathinda. Even then, the civil surgeon did not take any action.

While talking to TNS, Kusla said, "Our volunteers spent whole night to keep an eye over the movement of the couple. The civil surgeon took all the information but was non-serious in acting upon it, which is enough to prove his intentions."

On his part, Chauhan said, "We received the information very late. Even then, I took quick measures. A case has been prepared and will be submitted to the court tomorrow. As far as allegations are concerned, I will file reply if I am asked for it."

Bathinda, January 29
Following a centre-sponsored ‘scheme for livestock insurance’, the Punjab livestock development board has fixed a target to cover one lakh cattle in six districts of the state. In contrast, the officials concerned have been finding it tough to meet the target in the stipulated time.

The chief executive officer of the board has vide the letter number 2218-23 stated the target for the current financial year. However, the letters have been issued in November and December. District-wise targets are 20658 for Gurdaspur, 16590 for Jalandhar, 18152 for Hoshiarpur, 16997 for Bathinda and 11756 for Mansa. The scheme is reportedly being implemented in alliance with three renowned insurance companies.

As per the officials of the department, objective of the scheme is to provide protection to the farmers and those rearing cattle against any eventual loss of their animals.

Implementation of the scheme is being coordinated and monitored by the animal husbandry statistic division of the department of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, government of India.

The scheme envisages payments from central funds as grants-in-aid under the heads of 50 per cent of premium as subsidy, payment of honorarium to veterinary practitioners and publicity expenses. The beneficiary will have to incur only the balance of the 50 percent premium.

Significantly, the insurance policy covers only death and does not cover the theft of the insured animal and pleuropneumonia. Besides, injury or death due to transportation, due to disease contracted within 15 days of the policy or due to accident within three days is not covered under the policy.

When contacted, Baljeet Singh Sidhu, director animal husbandry, said, “No doubt, the scheme is beneficial. But we were intimated very late and the delay is on the part of the union government. Further, we have been trying to impress upon the union government to cover the whole state under this scheme.” 

Bathinda, January 29
Members of the United Welfare Society and the Pearls Group rued the laxity of the health department as despite being informed it failed to send a medical team at a blood donation camp, which was to be organised in the city today.

According to sources, a letter was sent to the health department around five days back, informing it about the camp to be organised. When the Society members asked the SMO, Bathinda, about why the team had not reached, he told them that it would reach there soon. However, the team reached the camp site after all the donors had left.

“We waited for about three hours but no one turned up to collect the blood. Donors were made to wait for long. The health officials concerned kept assuring us that some one would come to assist us. But no one turned up. We later came to know that the team arrived after we all had left,” Vijay Bhatt, president of the Society, said.

“The field staff of the Pearls Group and other donors were mostly from outside. While we had planned to collect 25 units of blood, the donors that turned up at the camp were more. However, not a single unit of blood could be collected,” added Bhatt.

The donors, who had come from outside, raised slogans against the health department and boycotted the camp later.

“We had been number one in Punjab for arranging maximum number of blood donations and it has been our constant endeavour to meet the shortage in blood banks. But considering the attitude of health officials, I think it would be difficult,” said Bhatt.

Bathinda, January 29
The 27th battalion of the Indo-Tibbetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a detailed demonstration on disaster management at the Silver Oaks School here today. Students from all the classes attended the demonstration where ITBP officials showed them techniques to be followed in case of earthquake, flood rescue operation or fire fighting.

A senior official from the ITBP, R.K. Verma, informed the students about what one can do to save his and someone else’s life during earthquake, flood or fire accident.

He said: “A majority of people do not know what disaster management is and how to tackle situations when hit by a natural disaster. Due to ignorance, many people had lost their lives in Gujarat earthquake and other natural calamities that took place. It is important to know how to protect yourself when such incidents happen.”

Later, inspector Dheeraj elaborated the students on what the earthquake is and how it takes place.

He also detailed about the preventive measures to be taken in case of an earthquake. Free fall, rappelling, rescue with the help of a rope or a ladder were also demonstrated.

The addressees were shown the equipment to fight fire.

They were also informed about how and why fire accidents take place and how they can fight fire.

The children were then shown two inflatable rescue boats, with the help of which flood victims could be rescued.

Children were made to sit on the two boats while the senior students rehearsed an emergency call.

Measures to be taken in case of snakebite were also shown and how to treat a patient who might suffer profuse bleeding or loss of heartbeat.

The students said the demonstration was very interesting and useful.

Bathinda, January 29
Two girls, Ramdeep Kaur and Palak, students of the school for deaf and dumb here, are centre of attraction for their schoolmates, as they possess a rare phenomenon of two different coloured eyes.

While nine-year-old Ramdeep’s right eye is blue and the left brown, Palak’s one eye is black and the other bluish. The former is a student of class III while the latter studies in class I.

Ironically, both were born deaf and dumb and have been admitted to the Mahant Gurbanta Dass School for Deaf, Dumb and Blind here.

Interestingly, Ramdeep’s father Rajinder Singh has brown eyes while her mother Birpal Kaur’s eyes are blue.

Dr M.R. Dogra, professor of ophthalmology in the PGI, when contacted over telephone, described it as a “very rare phenomenon”. A person having different colour irises was not common, he added.

Ramdeep’s parents, who reside at Laliana village near Talwandi Sabo, were initially taken aback when they saw their daughter having eyes of two different colours. They were unable to believe it.

Palak is a day scholar while Ramdeep lives in the school hostel.

Experts say the chance of children with such different physical characteristics is one in more than a million. She must have inherited the blue iris from her mother and the brown one from her father.

Bathinda, January 29
The Dasmesh Girls College of Education, Badal organised an inter-school competition on Wednesday to mark the 300 years of Gurta Gaddi Diwas.

The competitions included poem recitation, speech, kawishri and poster making. Fourteen teams from nearby schools participated in these competitions. On this occasion, Alok Nath, retired professor from Government College, Muktsar, was the chief guest. Principal Dr S.S. Sangha welcomed the chief guest and all other guests and school teachers, who were present.

On this occasion Dr Kulwant Kaur from Dasmesh Girls College, Badal and Balwant Singh from Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle were the judges.

The winners of the contest are:

Poem recitation:

1. Pardeep Kaur, Adarsh School, Nandgarh 2. Amanpreet Kaur, Guru Dasmesh Academy, Bhagu 3. Kamaldeep and Amandeep (joint winners), Dashmesh School Badal and Government School, Lambi.

Speech contest:

1. Gursmeet, Dasmesh Academy, Bhagu 2. Mandeep, Dasmesh School Badal 3. Parveen, Government School, Lambi.

Kavishari:

1.Guru Dasmesh Academy, Bhagu 2. Dasmesh Senior Secondary School Lambi 3. Government School, Badal.

Poster making:

1. Ramandeep, Aadarsh School, Bhagu 2. Gurpreet Singh, Aadarsh School, Bhagu 3. Amandeep, Dasmesh School, Badal. 

Hanumangarh/Abohar, January 29
Colonel Raj Singh, commanding officer of the Rajputana Rifles, was among those present when the Camel Safari organised by the Elite Ekkis unit moved from Bikaner on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people greeted the officers and jawans by raising slogans like "Rajputana ki jai" as the safari reached village Nagasar and Gairsar. Captain Pardeep Sheyokand interacted with elders and also distributed medicines among them. The safari was accorded warm welcome as it entered Malasar in the evening. Scores of villagers had gathered at the Chaupal to greet the adventurous Army men.

The team members interacted with the locals, including young children, ex-servicemen besides other dignitaries. The youth particularly enjoyed their interaction with the team members. The team also distributed leaflets among the locals thereby creating awareness amongst them on child marriage, AIDS, health, drug abuse and women empowerment. The event gave an opportunity for the valuable civil, military and paramilitary force interaction and was also successful in highlighting important social issues, Captian Sheyokand said.

The team positively responded to the request made by dozens of youths to deliver a lecture at the Government Senior Secondary School in the village Jamsar on Friday on possibilities of joining the Army. — OC

Mansa, January 29
The Communist Party of India (CPI) would contest the coming Lok Sabha elections on the basis of pro-people programme, which would include alternative economic programme, state secretary of CPI stated while addressing a public meeting at Budhlada here on Thursday.

He further said that Punjab was considered backward in comparison to other states of North India due to the wrong policies of ruling parties. Commoners were deprived of education, health facilities; industry and agriculture sectors were in crisis and the development of basic infrastructure had taken backseat, he added.

Former MLA and Hardev Arsi criticised CM Parkash Singh Badal for being more concerned about his family members than state affairs. He criticised state government also for not forming the grievances committee till now.— OC