Bathinda, March 5
After a sustained struggle of over a year against the “anti-farmer” policies of the state government, thousands of farmers, farm labourers, women and children from various districts, including Ludhiana, Sangrur, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur and Barnala, carrying placards, organised a 'victory rally' to celebrate their achievements here today.

The rally was organised under the aegis of the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, which played a pivotal role in getting justice for the farmers and farm labourers.

The farmer union's president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, said the victory rally would encourage the farming community across the state to fight for their rights, adding that the sustained struggle by the farming community had proved that "if we are determined to face any pressure, no one can stop us from emerging victorious."

They informed that the union's next agenda was to fight for their leftover demands. They would initiate a mass movement to fight the anti-farmer policies of the government.

Addressing the gathering, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, general secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, said that as most of the schemes launched or promised for the betterment of farmers were not serving their purpose, the main motive of the politicians was just to lure them for votes.

"The entry of multinational companies (MNCs) and the encouragement given to them by the government to attract investment has totally broken the backbone of the poor peasants," he alleged.

Speaking about the financial aid, he said the government's decision to give financial aid of Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the families of the peasants who lost their lives due to the debt burden was a welcome step but they would also press for their left-over demands like plots for the poor and homeless peasants and facilities regarding power, education and health services to them.

However, Tarsem Singh, a farmer from Sangrur, said, "It may be political compulsion of the state government to announce financial assistance for the kin of the debt-ridden farmers ahead of parliamentary elections, but some farmer unions termed it a mere eyewash."

Jasbir Kaur and Charan Kaur, farm labourers from Balldiana village of Muktsar, said: "They are fed up with announcements and want assistance to reach them, only then they will be satisfied." Nachhattar Singh, a farmer from Dharamgarh village of Sangrur, said if the government keeps its word then they would welcome the step. Meanwhile, the farmer leaders said it was a victory of the people. 

Bathinda, March 5
Upjit Singh Brar, Additonal Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, today laid stress on strict implementation of the Tobacco Act in Bathinda. He said that if effective steps are not taken, the number of cancer cases could rise further.

Neelam Bajaj, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, cautioned that tobacco caused ulcers in mouth, throat and the larynx. Cancer in these parts was more common among tobacco users. She called upon the people to shed the use of tobacco in any form as the non-user (passive smoker) was equally affected. She demanded a complete ban on such industries and on tobacco advertisements.

"There is need to initiate the tobacco control programme, strengthen capacity building efforts and make the public, especially the vulnerable groups, aware about the ill-effects of smoking," Bajaj said. She felt that in case the government agencies as well as the NGOs work sincerely towards making the city smoke-free, the target is very much achievable in a year's time.

Dr Indu Bhushan Aggarwal, Assistant Civil Surgeon, stressed the need for creating an environment where the community is made aware of the ill effects of tobacco use so that penal action and coercion work better. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 5
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's anticipatory bail stands confirmed. After the State of Punjab informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the Dera chief was no longer required for further investigation of the case registered against him in 2007 at Bathinda, Justice Harbans Lal passed the orders.

The Dera chief is facing allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs community by wearing a dress associated with, and similar, to Guru Gobind Singh. Prior to the passing of orders, the Dera chief was on interim anticipatory bail in the case registered on the complaint of a Bathinda resident.

Previously, the State of Punjab was opposing the grant of bail to the Dera chief on the ground of lack of cooperation in investigation of the case registered on May 20, 2007, at Kotwali police station in Bathinda. He was, in fact, questioned on different occasions at Chandigarh and Sirsa.

Seeking the grant of bail, counsel S.K. Garg Narwana had contended the action of registering the case was politically motivated.

Narwana had asserted the belief that Dera followers supported the Congress party in February 2007 Vidhan Sabha elections led to the registration of the cases.

Bathinda, March 5
Parho Punjab was a project which started with the cooperation of an NGO, Pratham, in the state in August last year. It aimed at children who could not read and write. Under the project, the teachers received coaching to upgrade the results of the children.

Mathematics and language, which did not include English, were taught to primary school children all over Punjab. According to sources, during a recent meeting of the education department in Chandigarh, it was decided that English too would be a part of the Parho Punjab project from the coming session.

Before the project began, almost 50 per cent children in primary schools were unable to read a single story and 25 per cent children were unable to write and around 60 per cent students could not subtract and divide. A survey was conducted in almost 11,000 primary schools in the state before starting this project.

Pratham had conducted a survey which revealed shocking facts. Its findings stated that the percentage of students who could read letters was around 36 per cent. The number of children who could not divide was 33.8 per cent.

Post tests to assess the success of this project is going on. Keeping in view the importance of English, the plan for the next session is already prepared, sources said. "Material for the next session would be given to us in April and English has been made an important part of it. The material is almost ready. Training of Block Master Trainers (BMT) would start from March 26 and would end on April 2. Around 75 per cent teachers would get training on how to teach English to little kids. The key resource persons in the state would train the BMTs. There are 40 BMTs in Bathinda and 20 BMTs in Mansa," Harpal Singh, district coordinator with Parho Punjab, said.

The step has been taken to attract children to government schools. "These days, English has become important for success. Children studying in government schools fear English. We want to remove this and make them comfortable with the English language," a teacher said. 

Ferozepur, March 5
Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj today convened a special meeting of representatives of all the political parties to apprise them about the model code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of India. 

In the meeting, Dinesh Pratap SSP, Kamal Kishore Yadav ADC (D), Mohan Lal ADC (General), Surjit Singh SP Headquarters besides returning officers of various assembly segments participated.The DC exhorted all the political parties to adhere to the code of conduct. He said that the canvassing should be done in such a way so that the religious sentiments of any person or belief should not be hurt.

The DC told them to give details about their scheduled meetings or rallies to the police department in advance so that proper security arrangements could be made.