Mansa, March 31
In the Malwa region, notorious for female foeticide, seven villages of Mansa district have shown the way as far as tackling the imbalance in sex ratio is concerned.

In these seven villages, the number of girl child is higher as compared to boys. Though the overall sex ratio in the district is 836 women for every 1000 men, but in these seven villages, the number of girl child in the 0-6 year age-group has crossed the 1000 mark.

According to a survey conducted by the health department, in village Chahor, the number of girl child in the 0-6 year age-group is 1160 for every 1000 boys.

In village Reond Khurd, this figure is 1132, in village Kahnewal 1050, in village Kahnia 1038, in village Makha Chehlan 1028, in Narinderpura 1016 and in Alisher Khurd, it is 1000.

It is notable that in the district, the sex ratio was adverse being 784 women for every 1000 male earlier.

Kashmira Singh, Jagtar Singh and Ashwani Kumar, residents of these villages, said people were gradually becoming aware of the imbalance in sex ratio and the need to protect and nurture the girl child.

Strict laws and high charges for conducting abortions also played a role in the rise in girl child ratio in the above villages, they added.

Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Rupinder Kumar Singla said that awareness among the people was the main reason behind improvement in girl child ratio in the above villages. These villages would get honour and financial help from the government, he informed.

Meanwhile, Mazdoor Mukti Morcha leader Bhagwant Singh Sammaon said the girl child ratio is better among the Dalit families because they are not in a position to afford the charges for abortion.

Along with awareness, financial help to girls should be provided through a transparent system which would be helpful in bringing about a balance in sex ratio, Sammaon said and demanded that the villages where the ratio of the girl child had improved should be honoured so that the fight against female foeticide gets a further boost.

Ferozepur, March 31
Congress workers assured the party nominee, Jagmeet Brar, of victory at a meeting of workers held at village Dulchi Kee in the district.

The enthusiasm among the border villagers was visible with Brar being accorded a warm welcome that included dance presentation by mares.

PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh Pinki raised the issue of the proprietary rights on land in the border areas and claimed that it was a gimmick initiated by the SAD-BJP regime to garner the votes of the border farmers.

If voted to Parliament, the Congress would ensure that the border land being tilled by the farmers would be given at Re one on a lease for 99 years to whosoever could afford to get its ownership at this nominal rate, he added.

The Badals have failed on all fronts, be it the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations or providing potable water and electricity, alleged Pinki.

If the Congress comes to power at the Centre, pensions for poor and senior citizens would be raised to Rs 700 while the ruling state government is giving a meagre pension of Rs 250, the Congress leaders said.

Pinki also called upon the electorate to vote for the Congress so that a Sikh could continue to remain the Prime Minister.

If Jagmeet Brar iselected, he is likely to be included in the Union Cabinet because the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi has special feelings for Punjabis and Sikh even when they numbered only about two per cent of the country's population, the Congrees leaders told their audience.

Meanwhile, a representation of the Rai Sikhs led by Karnail Singh of Kothe Kli Wala, Resham Singh, Mota Singh Namabardar and Harbans Singh also apprised Brar of their wholehearted support.

In his speech, Jagmeet Singh Brar, assured the gathering to get the Hussiniawala border opened for trade and traffic besides solving other problems of the natives of this border area.

Brar also offered special thanks to Pinki, who had organised the function which witnessed an impressive gathering.

He also gave his credit for getting him the Congress party ticket for Lok Sabha from Ferozepur.

Mansa, March 31
“The political affairs committee of SAD would decide after the Lok Sabha elections as to who would be the party candidate from the Banur Assembly constituency which had fallen vacant after the death of cooperation minister Captain Kanwaljeet Singh," said the SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, while talking to the media at Mansa today.

He said that every decision was taken by the political affair committee so this issue too would be resolved by this body after the parliamentary elections. Blaming the Congress for the absence of all basic amenities, the SAD leader alleged that most of the time, Congress had ruled the country, so this party is to be blamed for all the problems.

He promised the people that if SAD candidate was voted to power, the state would witness a remarkable change regarding development works. He addressed public meetings in different parts of Mansa city.

Addressing the meetings, he said the Badal family has come to serve the people of this area so they should use this opportunity. Meanwhile, two Congress leaders Parkash Chand Badal, former vice-chairman, market committee, Mansa, and Darshan Kotra, former chairman of market committee, Bhikhi, joined the SAD in the presence of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Among others who addressed public meetings included SAD general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder, ex-MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Paramjeet Singh Sandhhwa and the youth leader Gurpreet Singh Banawali.

Mansa, March 31
The CPI (ML) held a rally at Kishangarh village against the alleged boycott of Dalits by village landlords and demanded action against those who boycotted Dalits.

Addressing the rally, the party candidate from Bathinda constituency, Bhagwant Singh Sammaon said that labourers of the village demanded 1.60 quintal wheat for harvesting one acre area of wheat or Rs 200 but the landlords did not accept it and gave a call to boycott them.

He said the administration should take action in this regard and labourers should be provided with genuine rate for harvesting wheat. Sammaon alleged that other parties seeking the vote of Dalits have remained silent on this issue. He threatened dharna at the Bareta police station if the issue remained unresolved.

Mansa, March 31
The Congress party today held rallies in different villages. The rallies were held at Khialakalan, Khiala Malakpur and Khiala Khurd. Addressing the rallies, Congress MLA, Sher Singh Gagowal alleged that the SAD-BJP was only trying to get votes by making false promises. Ramesh Khiala member Block Samiti, Mahinder Singh sarpanch, Karnail Singh Khiala and Nirmal Singh also spoke at the rallies.

Bathinda, March 31
With the arrest of four local youths, including two working with a private company, the Cash Management Service (CMS), the police exposed the fake loot of Rs 4.88 lakh, which was allegedly carried out this morning. The amount has been recovered from the arrested youths.

As per the details available, one Amandeep Singh of Vishal Nagar informed the PCR that he was going on his motorcycle to deposit Rs 4.88 lakh in a bank.

Near the Government Elementary School on the 100-feet road, two motorcycle-borne youth sprayed something in his eyes and fled with the money bag.

Receiving the information, a police team, including SP, DSP and SHOs, reached the spot and began investigations. They doubted the complainant's statement and took him to the office of the Tata Indicom and the Reliance Life Insurance Company from where he had received the amount for depositing in their bank accounts.

Later, the complainant was taken to the CIA staff police station where he was interrogated. Finding himself trapped, the complainant confessed to the crime saying he was the mastermind behind the plan. He also named his accomplices.

In the evening, after recovering the whole amount and arresting the four persons in the case, SP (D) Ajay Maluja along with his subordinates narrated the sequence of events to media persons. He said the story of the accused had loose ends.

"First of all, Amandeep said one of his two mobile phones, which had outgoing facility only, was snatched. No chemical was found in his eye. There was no eyewitness to the robbery. Moreover, as per the direction of the company, for cash above Rs 4 lakh, he was supposed to use a security van," said Maluja.

Further, the SP (D) said, "In the looting plan, Ravi Sharma of Ganesha Basti, another employee of the CMS, was also involved. Two of their unemployed friends, Yogesh alias Sunny of Partap Nagar and Raj Kumar alias Raja of Balla Ram Nagar, performed the drama of looting the bag.”

He added, “Interestingly, Rs one lakh was recovered from the tool box of the same motorcycle, which Amandeep was riding upon. A case of loot was registered immediately after his complaint but now after solving the case, various sections of the IPC will be mentioned in the FIR."

About the reason behind the crime, the police said the youth were in need of Rs 50,000 to deposit in the bank account, which they had used for their own purpose.

The police officials said the senior officers of the company were also called in for their statements.

Bathinda, March 31
The policies of the Akali- BJP government are pushing the rural health infrastructure towards the brink of collapse.

Rural medical officers (RMO) are maintaining their respective dispensaries/subsidiary health centre’s (SHC) out of a meagre sum of Rs 30,000. Each SHC caters to the health needs of about 10,000 people.

Out of the amount received, the doctors have to pay for the salaries of paramedical staff and helpers, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation of the premises, electricity bills and water supply bills.

Apart from this, RMOs have no medical leave, no earned leave, no PG quota on completion of three years of rural service and no TA/DA to cover the National Health Programmes in five to six villages under their supervision or attend camps, meetings and extra duties.

Doctors informed TNS that about 400 regular PCMS doctors have already applied for premature retirement.

About 100 PCMS doctors retire every year. Moreover, a batch of about 1,000 PCMS doctors selected in 1978 is due to retire in 2011.

State president of the Rural Medical Service Association Dr Aslam Parvez informed that out of 1193 doctors initially appointed by Zila Parishads in June 2006, 450 have already left the job within a span of two years due to the policies of the present government.

He added that out of 93 specialists appointed by health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, less than half have joined the service in the Malwa region.

“A recent case of Dr Deepak Goel, who was posted as RMO at Khemuana village, is an example of doctors leaving their jobs in Punjab and joining Haryana Civil Medical Service,” Dr Aslam added.

Dr Deepak, when contacted, said, “I left the job because there was no job satisfaction.”

Sources said that the government had recently advertised about 325 seats of regular PCMS doctors and the selection would consist of only an interview, which lacks transparency.

Bathinda, March 31
The Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), has opened a representative office in Dubai on Monday. It was inaugurated by Arun Ramanathan, Union Finance Secretary, in the presence of India’s ambassador to UAE Talmiz Ahmed, and senior executive director, Central Bank of UAE, Saeed Abdullah Al-Hamiz.

Alok K. Mishra, chairman of the bank, said it was the bank’s first overseas establishment. The bank is ranked 348th among the top 1000 banks by “The Banker”, a London-based international journal.

Bathinda, March 31
The last day of the financial year turned out to be a boon for liquor lovers, as all vendors due to change of their contractual licences, sold the merchandise at around half of its regular price.

The liquor lovers started making a beeline at vends since Monday morning, when most of them preferred bottles in shipper packs. However, those who were left behind on Monday returned to liquor vends in the morning today.

The crowd gathered at all vends proved that none of them wanted to skip the ‘concessional’ liquor. Carrying bottles in hands, polybags and cartons booze lovers could be seen across the city. Interestingly, arranging bottles in trouser waists made a funny scene at shops near the bus stand and Rose Garden roundabout, this evening. “Es din da taan har saal intzar rehenda rah, bai,” were the common words heard at every liquor shop.

Observing heavy rush at all vends, staff of the liquor barons were also prepared to manage any untoward situation. At some places, the staff was observed hurling abuses at the unruly crowd.

An employee of a liquor vend located outside the railway station said, “Now, we are used to such things. As usual, last day of the financial year remains hectic for us, as neither the employers nor the customers want to get the shop closed until stock clearance”.

During a random survey of some vends, variation of prices was observed among the same brand of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

As per the recorded prices, among Punjab Made Liquor (PML) called ‘desi’, a brand Motta Santra was being sold at around Rs 50 per bottle. A bottle of beer was sold at Rs 35-40, Blenders Pride at Rs 250-275, Bagpiper at Rs 90-100, Green Label at Rs 110-125, McDowell at Rs 150-175, Antiquity at Rs 500 and Royal Challenge at Rs 250-275.

Though the prices were quite low than on the other days, attractive offers at shipper packs were still available.

It may be mentioned that from tomorrow morning, the new contractors, who recently got the allotment of vends through a draw, will start running the vends with new stock. This time, all vends of the district have been allotted at a fixed price of Rs 64.25 crore to various groups.

Lehra Mohabbat (Bathinda), March 31
After facing a seven-hour-long gherao of general manager and “total tool down” protest of labourers, the authorities concerned of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), today accepted their demands.

It has been alleged that the management had to accept the demand after the work suspension by contractual labourers started affecting the generation capacity of the plant.

According to the details available, the GHTP Contractor Worker Union and the GHTP Mazdoor Union had been lodging their protest for the past couple of days.

They lodged a symbolic tool down protest on March 26, gate block on March 27. Leaving next two days for authorities to take action, they held a rally on March 30.

Finding that all was in vain, today, they gave a call for indefinite tool down strike and gheraoed the general manager (operation & maintenance).

In protest, they demanded the reinstatement of eight of their colleagues, who were allegedly expelled by a contract company for raising voice against the alleged scam of six years’ pending provident fund.

Among other demands, they asked for the implementation of the deputy commissioner’s rates fixed for minimum wages, ordered a month back and also the arrears.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, labour department officers, a team of the PSEB from its headquarters in Patiala and various other senior officials intervened in the matter.

Later, with written assurances from the PSEB authorities and representatives of 22 contractual companies, the protesters returned to work.

After the agreement, Yadvinder Singh and Balwinder Singh, presidents of the GHTP Contractor Worker Union and the GHTP Mazdoor Union, respectively, told the TNS that the authorities had accepted some of the demands with immediate effect while for others, they have asked for some time to examine the issue from all angles.

“They had to relent, when the production of units decreased to even less than half of the capacity,” they alleged.

Muktsar, March 31
In an alleged case of blackmailing, the Sadar police arrested two media persons while an accomplice of there is still at large. They have been accused of extorting Rs one lakh from a farmer of village Bhagsar in the district.

According to police sources, Angrej Singh of village Bhagsar, in a complaint to the police, alleged that the three journalists had duped him by threatening to telecast and publish a false story, in which he was accused of molesting a 65-year-old woman.

About that incident, Angrej Singh had stated that around 10 days back, a case of molestation was lodged by Manga Singh, whom he had contractually employed for agricultural work at Rs 30,000 per annum. After receiving an amount of Rs 20,000, he gave an affidavit indicating the acceptance of money. Later, he did not turn up. When he asked him to return the money, Manga reportedly threatened him with dire consequences unless he coughed up more, which Angrej Singh refused.

After being refused, Manga Singh charged Angrej Singh with molesting his 65-year-old mother at his own house. But later during the investigations, the allegation could not be substantiated.

Receiving the information about the incident, the three accused reportedly reached the house of Angrej Singh, and threatened to publish and telecast the story of molestation, if he failed to fulfill their demand of paying Rs one lakh to them.

Fearing an awkward situation, the father of Angrej Singh paid the amount to them and after calling Manga Singh and his mother to the court, a bogus compromise was reached between the two parties and the affidavit of Rs 20,000 given by Manga Singh was also torn apart.

Acting upon the written complaint and after preliminary investigation in the matter, Sadar police booked the three accused under sections 384, 386 and 34 of the IPC.

Confirming the details, DSP Muktsar, Baljeet Singh said, "The duo, Rajesh Garg and Surinder Kumar are in police remand while we are trying to nab Vicky Jhamb. After extorting money from the farmer, they distributed the money equally and also bought new gadgets."

Abohar, March 31
A quiz competition was organised in Sardar Patel Medical Institute here today. Wide range of questions related to religious education, Indian heritage, science and information technology and general knowledge touching the latest events were put by Puneet Bajaj and Rachna Soni.

Chairman Sita Ram Sharma gave away prizes to Sardar Patel team, Shaheed Udham Singh team and Subhash Chander Bose team for getting top positions. Devinder Sharma, Jasjit Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Ashok Kumar, Harjinder and Ramandeep enthralled the gathering with poems and songs. — OC