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Farm labourers up in arms against state govt
Agitated labourers court arrest, demand plots
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BJP puts up united show in councillor’s defence
Govt schools get little share of grants
Forum tells Maruti Suzuki to compensate consumer
Colleges offer bouquet of courses to students
Change of guard at Adesh Instt
4 killed in mishaps
BSF seizes drugs near Pak border
Fresh hope for farmers
Summer vacation
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Farm labourers up in arms against state govt
Bathinda, June 1 They said the state government had persistently neglected the problems of farm workers and other weaker sections of the society. They alleged that the Atta-Dal scheme, laws to regulate limits of farming land and the Shagun scheme had failed to improve the lot of the poor and had only benefited the upper crust of society. They said the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had turned out to be a farce. “There are no job cards, no unemployment allowance, no development works and the funds received from the Central government on this account remained unspent, which show the gross carelessness on the part of the government.” It may be mentioned that the labourers had earlier held rallies and staged dharnas at Kothagarh, Gill, Kotra Khera, Chak Fateh Singh Wala and Khemuana villages to get the plots as their share in panchayat lands in over 20 villages of Bathinda, Mansa and Barnala districts. They also demanded a right to construct their houses on these plots. They said there was no uniformity in the distribution of the state wealth or resources as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his coterie were on the spree of “politically blackmailing” the citizens in the name of delivering grants. They flayed the government for its indifferent attitude towards farm workers saying their debts were not being waived off or wages remained low. Criticising the bureaucracy, BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) leaders said the voice of deprived sections, including the poor farmers and the landless peasants, were falling on the deaf ears of civil servants, who were busy “pleasing the ministers at the cost of the people’s interests”. The union leaders made a fervent plea with the government to formulate effective policies for rural employment, affordable housing, and free education, insurance and health care for the poor failing which the people would have to come out on the streets to seek their legitimate rights of social security. |
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Agitated labourers court arrest, demand plots
Mansa, June 1 Leader of Radical Peoples Forum, Jaspal Khokhar and labourer leader Nikka Singh Bhadurpur, pointing out that the administration had registered a false criminal case against the leaders of the labourers, demanded that the case be dismissed and the arrested leaders be freed. As demands of the struggling labourers are genuine so these should be accepted as early as possible, they added. Democratic Employees Front leader Amarjit Shastri, who went to meet the leaders at Gurdaspur jail said that all the leaders including state secretary of CPI (ML) Rajwinder Singh Rana, employees leader Sukhdarshan Natt, Sukhcharan Singh Danewalia staged a hunger strike in the jail yesterday against shifting of Bhagwant Singh
Sammaon, state secretary of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha to a separate place. He said that the labourers are being released on bail. Nearly 17 persons belonging to Khiala Kalan village were freed yesterday and about seven persons were freed today on the bail. The freed labourers, Jagga Singh, Baldev Singh, Parkash Singh and Kaka Singh said that they have no money for travelling and jail officials had written on some slips asking for free
travelling. |
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BJP puts up united show in councillor’s defence
Abohar, June 1 While performing "syapa" inside the sub-divisional complex, the BJP leaders alleged that the administration was playing into the hands of the "liquor mafia" who virtually rule the roost. No action to prevent apprehended blood-bath originating from tussle over fixing unauthorised wine sale outlets near the city bypass had so far been taken, they rued. The demonstration was led by the district BJP president Mohinder Partap Dhingra. He was joined by former legislator Dr Ram Kumar Goyal, Dhanpat Rai Siyag chairman of the market committee, Kaushal Pihwal senior vice-president of the municipal council, Ravi Setia and Geeta Chaudhary presidents of the city units of the party, vice-president Ashok Chhabra, councillors Thakur Dass Siwan, Ravi Makkar, Surinder Vij, Suversha Narang, Sonu Phutela president of Yuva Morcha, husbands of three councillors and others. They submitted a memorandum to the tehsildar as SDM was not available. District BJP president Mohinder Partap Dhingra while addressing the gathering said that councillor Ravi Makkar had been allotted wine shop in accordance with the policy of the coalition government in the state. He could not be dictated terms by his rivals (wine syndicate). We have sent a detail report to the party high command over the excesses being done by the police here on BJP workers. Without referring to the reports appearing in a section of the press indicating that the chief of the wine syndicate shared dais with the newly-elected Akali MP at his "Dhanyavad rally" here, Dhingra said some "vested interests" unfortunately enjoy proximity with our coalition partners but they will not be allowed to encroach upon the right of others. City unit president Ravi Setia said none would be allowed to harm workers of our party irrespective of the links he enjoyed at the top level. Former MLA Dr Ram Kumar Goyal warned that agitation might be launched against the administration if false case was not withdrawn. He condemned the authorities for not registering the case against syndicate group members under adequate sections of the IPC. Meanwhile the SAD during an emergency meeting presided over by Sukhwinder Singh Nambardar, president of the local unit, took a section of the local media to task for projecting the liquor licensees' dispute with relations of the coalition partners. In a signed statement, the SAD leaders said workers should not get misled by unfound reports. We urge the administration to take legal action against the culprits, they said. |
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Govt schools get little share of grants
Bathinda, June 1 According to information sought under the RTI Act about how much grant was given to schools in 2007-08, some shocking facts surfaced. The Chief Minister and cabinet ministers have a discretionary grant, out of which money is being given to private institutions, which derive enough money by charging exorbitant fee. But government schools, that need financial aid, get a very little share. It was found that a grant of Rs 4,28,22,680 was given to schools out of which 66 per cent went to private schools. The Chief Minister, along with 17 ministers and 14 Parliament secretaries, disbursed this money at different intervals. A total of 371 schools were given grants, out of which 252 were private institutions. The Chief Minister distributed a grant of Rs 11,20,190 to four schools out of which three were private schools. Rupees 10,69,190 was given to private schools and a mere Rs 51,000 went to a government school. Finance Minister Manpreet Badal gave Rs 18 lakh in all, out of which Rs 11 lakh went to private schools. Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla gave a total of Rs 36,02,000 and out of this Rs 34,02,000 went to 22 private schools and the balance was given to one government school. Cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia gave Rs 16 lakh to private schools. Education Minister Upinderjeet Kaur seems to understand the declining status of government schools and she gave a grant to 23 schools, out of which 17 were government schools. While Gulzar Singh Ranike sanctioned Rs 23 lakh to private schools, nothing went to government schools. The BJP has four cabinet ministers and they granted aid to 117 schools and colleges, out of which only 15 were government schools. |
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Forum tells Maruti Suzuki to compensate consumer
Muktsar/Bathinda, June 1 As per the details of the case, complainant Varinder Verma of Malout had booked a Swift Dezire VDI car through some agent of the company by depositing a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh. The agent gave him a fax copy of the receipt issued by the authorised dealer of Agra. Thereafter, the dealer demanded full and final payment, which the complainant deposited by borrowing a loan of Rs 3.5 lakh from the Sundram Finance, Bathinda. However, the car was not delivered. Following repeated requests to either deliver the car or refund the money by the complainant, the company issued a cheque of Rs 3.5 lakh to the finance company, which was dishonoured. Buckling under the continuous pressure, the accused retuned the financer’s share but not that of the complainant. During the case proceeding at the Consumer Forum, the accused party denied the charges saying they did not receive any such amount from the complainant and levelled a cross-allegation of preparing forged documents. After taking into consideration the documents submitted from both the sides, the Forum found the Maruti Suzuki India Limited and its authorised dealer the Kavisha Motors Private limited, Agra, deficient in providing service and also for causing mental tension and harassment and loss thereof to the complainant. The agent was, however, spared. The quorum of the Forum comprised of Dharam Singh, president, Jaskartar Singh Dhillon and Meenakshi, members, also stated that the dealer had prepared a duplicate receipt to avoid the late payment of the amount in question to the complainant. Pronouncing the verdict, the quorum directed the accused to refund Rs 2.5 lakh to the complainant along with a compensation of Rs 50,000, failing which the complainant would receive the same under sections 25-27 of the Consumer Protection Act. |
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Blessings Boomerang
Bathinda, June 1 Accusing Dr Ashok Jadeja and his wife of having cheated them, protesters approached the SSP, Bathinda, and lodged a protest outside the mini-secretariat today, but the SSP claimed that the case was outside his jurisdiction. In the application, these families stated that in February 2009, an agent of Jadeja visited them in Amarpura Basti and asked them to get their money trebled within a fortnight. Claiming that Jadeja had been bestowed special blessings by a goddess, he urged all to deposit their money and take the benefit of divine blessings. Many of the victims deposited money with him and some even went to Ahmedabad to get a first-hand account of the situation. They deposited their money with Jadeja’s agent there. In the initial days, they all got their money trebled and gaining faith, started depositing money in huge amounts. Narrating their plight, victims said, “Many of us even mortgaged our house, shops, clothes, utensils and ornaments and deposited the money in the hands of Jadeja’s agents. Some of them even took loan in cash in the haste of earning easy money in a short time.” “Then the agent in Bathinda asked us to come after a month and receive the amount in treble. But after a month, when we visited him, he kept dilly-dallying, saying the blessings of the goddess was yet to be received. Later, the agent fled with the huge amount of money collected,” the protesters added. Demanding help from the Bathinda police, they said, “We want the SSP to intervene. Being poor people, we are unable to approach the Ahmedabad administration frequently.” When contacted, SSP Bathinda, Ashish Chaudhary said, “I did not receive the application as I made them agree that they should approach the Gujarat police as they have been investigating the matter and are the competent authority in this case.” |
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Colleges offer bouquet of courses to students
Bathinda, June 1 Along with B.Sc, B A and B.Com, Swami Vivekanand College offers M. Sc and B. Sc in fashion technology. Apart from fashion technology, there are one-year diploma courses offered by the college in computer application, library science and stitching and tailoring, which can be done after class XII. After graduation, one can do a bachelor’s degree in library and information science, postgraduate (PG) diploma in dress designing and tailoring and PG diploma in computer application (PGDCA). The college also offers BCA, BSC (IT) and BA courses; some of which are affiliated to the GNDU and some to the Punjab Technical University. SSD Girls’ College offers BA, BBA, MCA, MBA, MCA and PGDCA and these courses are affiliated to the Punjabi University, Patiala. In DAV College, vocational courses are offered. The most popular courses are BCA and PGDCA. The college also offers post-graduation in dress designing, risk and insurance management, office management and secretarial practice. BA, B.Com, B.Sc is also on offer with an option for computer as a subject. For those who want to learn something after class VIII, the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) near Dabwali Chowk, has a variety of courses to offer. Girls and boys can apply for welder, wireman, tractor mechanic and carpenter courses. Other courses include electrician, draftsman (mechanical) and draftsman (civil), fitter, turner, machinist (composite), grinder machinist, motor mechanic, refrigerator and airconditioning that can be applied for. The institute’s centre of excellence teaches electrical courses, module and advanced training courses. Those who have passed class X can apply for these courses. There are short-term evening courses also, classes of which are held between 4 pm to 6 pm. For these courses, only primary qualification is required. At ITI, there are some courses only for Scheduled Caste students like electrician, instrument mechanist and refrigerator and airconditioning. The ITI also offers courses for girls like cutting and tailoring, embroidery, teachers’ training, electronics, draftsman (civil), mechanical, and information technology course which is for two years. Qualification needed for these courses is class VIII and for teachers’ training, it is class X. The advertisement for admission to the ITI appears in newspapers in June. |
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Change of guard at Adesh Instt
Bathinda, June 1 Dr G.P.I. Singh joined the institute after a career in the armed forces. He served as a professor and head of the department of community medicine at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, for nine years before joining this institution. Dr. G.P.I. Singh completed his schooling in MHR Higher Secondary School, Bathinda, and joined Government Rajendra College, Bathinda, before joining the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, to complete his MBBS, M.D. and Industrial Health Programme. He served as a faculty in AFMC for several years before joining DMCH in the year 2000. Dr Singh is associated with a numerous NGOs and academic bodies. |
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4 killed in mishaps
Hanumangarh/Abohar, June 1 A housewife Bhuri Devi (35), wife of Subhash Jat, succumbed to her burns at the civil hospital at Rawatsar today. In her statement recorded before death by executive magistrate Ram Kishan Meena, the victim, mother of four children, said she inadvertently used diesel instead of kerosene while cooking food in her house in village Topria last night. One Dana Ram of village Bukalsar died after consuming insecticide during brief stay in his in-laws' house in Dhaani Bijrania today. The police handed over the body to the parents after post-mortem. Ram Narain Bhat (40) of the same village was found dead in sewerage water channel in ward number 19 of Rawatsar. A cash memo that was
recovered from his pocket indicated he had purchased insecticide on Sunday from a local dealer. Raju, assistant driver of a truck was killed while driver Bhagwan Singh was injured seriously as their vehicle reportedly collided with a turbo truck during rain late last night near Pallu town on the Sardarshehar mega highway, sources in the Rawatsar hospital said. The driver was referred to Bikaner due to his critical condition. |
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BSF seizes drugs near Pak border
Ferozepur, June 1 BSF sources said that the cross-border drug peddlers from Pakistani side had probably concealed this consignment of four kg heroin under "Conceal and Clear" method. However, alert BSF troops recovered the same before the Indian smugglers could clear it from that location.
— OC |
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Fresh hope for farmers
Ferozepur, June 1 Sekhon said that all major canals, distributaries, service channels were being cleaned and remodelled under the said plan. He said that the work on the same shall be completed before the onset of the paddy season. He also assured the farmers that eight hours of uninterrupted power supply would be provided to them through out the season. During the Sangat Darshan, 160 village panchayats participated and shared their grievances with the minister. While listening to their problems, Sekhon said that due to the model code of conduct, the development work had taken a backseat. However, the same have been initiated. Sekhon said that the state government was also mooting a lot of welfare measures for the poor and the downtrodden. He added that Rs 20 crores has been earmarked for the Ashirwaad Scheme. Sekhon handed over cheques for Rs 15,000 each to 104 families under this scheme on the occasion. |
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Summer vacation
Abohar, June 1 The department had initially scheduled summer vacations from June 1-30. Later, it was revised by flashing a message to the newspapers that all the schools will remain closed from May 30 to July 7. But the circular bearing serial number 16946-17501, dated May 29 that was handed over to Hargobind Kaur, national president of the Anganwari Workers Union today by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, says summer vacations in the Anganwari Centres will be observed only from June 16 to 30. The in-charge of each centre has been directed to make packed food available to the children in advance for a fortnight as the Supreme Court had issued directions for ensuring the supply of food to them. Lambasting the state government over the step- motherly treatment given to the Anganwari children and staff, Hargobind Kaur questioned why food for one month could not be made available to the children? The mercury soars equally for the schools and Anganwari centres, she contended. |
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