Bathinda, August 31
To give a boost to Punjabi language in the state and to ensure that Punjabi is the working language of all government departments in the state, the members of the newly constituted District Language Review committee held a meeting in Bathinda today.

The committee comprises MLA Harminder Singh Jassi as the chairman, Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda Rahul Tewari as the secretary and District Language Officer Baljinder Joshi. Its non-official members are senior journalists Charanjit Bhullar, Narpinder Dhaliwal, Hukumchand Sharma and Dr Jeet Singh Joshi.

Around 11 points were included in the agenda during the introductory meeting of the committee which was formed a month-and-a-half ago. During the meeting, which took place at 11 in the morning, the chairman told the District Language Officer to identify at least 10 government departments and determine whether their working is in Punjabi or not. The follow-up of whether the points included in the committee's agenda are being followed or not would be done after two months, a committee member informed.

Baljinder Joshi told this correspondent, "Heads of all government departments in Bathinda were present in the meeting today who were told by Jassi to inform all officials working under them to ensure that verbal and written communication during office hours is in Punjabi. The committee members are not allowed to take any decisions but only give suggestions and any official found violating this might face action as decided by the committee later. Formation of language committees was passed unanimously by the Vidhan Sabha on October 27 last year and notification about this was sent to all departments on November 5."

Name plates kept on the tables of members during the meeting also had several linguistic flaws and members said that they should become examples themselves first by including Punjabi language in their daily dealings.

A technical word booklet which is already being used was discussed and the committee decided to recreate the booklet as the members unanimously agreed that due to technical and cultural developments, the terminology had changed to an extent. It was also decided that all government orders and decisions would be written in Punjabi from now.

The members told the DC about languages other than Punjabi being used at the Suvidha Centre here and that it should be made Punjabi. Answering to this, the DC said that people from all states, especially Army personnel, came to Suvidha Centre and that it was not possible to change the software being used at the centre to Punjabi from the current English. However, he stated that steps would be taken to make create bilingual set up at the centre.

Bathinda, August 31
The meeting decided that all incumbency boards and the name plates of government officials, along with all milestones, all information over the public transport buses and bus stands, would be translated into Punjabi, the official language of the state.

Further, it was decided that a specially constituted team of the language department would approach all convent and CBSE affiliated school in the district to implement Punjabi as an academic subject in them.

During the meeting, it was announced that District Language Officer, Baljinder Kaur Joshi, would conduct surprise raids at around 10-12 offices, to check the status of implementation of the policy, till the next meeting and submit the report.

However, sources attending the meeting informed that the official concerned was posted at Patiala and rarely visited Bathinda, because of which all departmental work moves at a snail’s pace.

In the meeting, the members accused some officials of implementing the Punjab State Language Act in a half hearted manner. They demanded that officials found to be indifferent in the implementation of matters decided at the meeting should be punished sternly.

During the proceedings, when some decision was being taken about the public transport system, the general manager of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Bathinda depot, Iqbal Singh, was found to be absent. He was issued a show-cause notice.

Taking exception to the mistakes in the name plates placed in front of the members, a journalist asked the district administration to first practise itself what it wanted to preach.

Bathinda, August 31
Taking serious note of the alleged irregularities in the single ‘batti’ connections, an inquiry has been marked to a specially constituted panel of four officials. The decision of this effect was taken at the meeting of the district planning committee, held at the DC meeting hall, here today.

Sikander Singh Maluka, chairman of the committee, constituted the panel comprising deputy director, local bodies and executive engineer of the PWD (central works) along with BDPO and each member of the committee belonging to the concerned areas.

The team would probe into the alleged irregularities concerning meters of the single ‘batti’ connections as there were complaints that the meters were not installed at Zero. Further, there were allegations that officials assigned to install the meters used to take “bribe” from poor Dalit beneficiaries of the scheme.

In another case of use of degraded quality of materials in carpeting the roads Gehari Buttar-Sangat, Maluka-Dod and all roads falling within the jurisdiction of Maur Municipal Council limits, the committee marked a detailed inquiry.

In the much controversial case of Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in the rural area, members of the district planning committee decided to give an extension of a month to replace all water storage tanks with ISI mark. It was also decided that if the company running the project, fails to do the same within the prescribed period, the payment to the company would be withheld and the public health department would do the job.

The sewerage project of Rampura Phul also came up in the meeting due to its slow pace. It was decided to register a formal complaint to the secretary local bodies. Before concluding the meeting, all were urged to keep a check over all departments of district to get the works completed within the prescribed period.

Abohar, August 31
The Abohar sub-division, hitherto known as the California of Punjab, owing to the good quality citrus fruit grown here, has got the first ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) 9001:2008 certified Suvidha Centre of the state at the tastefully renovated administrative complex.

ISO 9001:2008 is the latest revised version issued on November 15, 2008. Interestingly, Abohar was the first sub-division to get administrative complex in district Ferozepur.

While inaugurating the centre, Deputy Chief Minster Sukhbir Singh Badal complimented the administration and desired to equip all the sub-divisions with such facility as part of the administrative reforms to reduce the grievances of the public. He said Suvidha Centers should be opened in each development block to put an end to red-tape.

The Deputy CM was told by SDM Amit Dhaka, a young IAS officer of Rajasthan origin, that by opening the Suvidha Center, the administration intends to instill confidence among the people and ensure their satisfaction, ensure on time delivery of quality services through available resources, provide internal training to staff through external agencies for skill upgradation, reduce, control and eliminate corruption from present level, try to minimize complaints from citizens in the area with a well defined grievance redressal mechanism, update all the established records by 100 per cent at least each month, maintain 100 per cent quality in daily routine activities like quality behaviour with visitors, time-bound individual attendance of staff, on time deliveries of quality services, undertake and arrange social awareness activities including plantation, female foeticide, cleanliness and hygiene, old age care and de-addiction besides establishing a healthy and happy work environment among colleagues along with keeping workplace and its surroundings clean and tidy.

"To achieve this, the staff had resolved to adopt a planned and defined strategy in all parameters of good governance. We intend to lay particular emphasis on eliminating corruption at all levels and follow the rules and norms of Punjab government in letter and spirit," he explained.

Except for the office of the SDM himself, the rest of the office rooms and premises were in bad shape with broken furniture, poor condition of walls and doors and totally damaged electricity wiring.

Now, the office building, furniture and fixtures have been repaired, CCTV cameras and intercom system installed to put proper surveillance, signboards carrying social awareness messages fixed, proper marking and display of office information ensured besides having a colour theme of brown and light yellow in the premises.

A green zone is being developed in front of the office premises that had been lying vacant with a lot of trash. Proper parking facility has also been developed. Amenities too have been improved for the public.

Dhaka explained that Suvidha Centre will now have 31 facilities relating to the tehsil and SDM office. Any one who walks in the air-conditioned Centre will be assisted in filling up the form.

Your token number will be displayed as you watch TV for the latest news, deposit the form, get receipt number; you will receive an SMS on your cell phone before the date of delivery of required document.

Charges and deadline for each facility is displayed at the Centre. A doctor will be arranged at the centre for blood group and medical check-up for issuing driving licences. "We propose to introduce home delivery of documents so that the applicant need not visit the Centre again.

This may take a month. We are also looking to launch our website to keep customers informed with full transparency. Special efforts will be made to keep agents/middle men away from routine services by putting check through CCTV cameras and private security guards," he said.

The Centre will ensure attestation of affidavits, indemnity bonds, surety bonds, registration of marriage on the same day while it will take seven days for copies of judgments, certificates regarding caste, backward class, residence, OBC/SC, income, border/rural area, permanent driving licence and verification of driving licence. New registration of vehicles is to be expedited within five days. 

Faridkot, August 31
Rejecting the plea of the police to close down the case of sexual assault on a minor Dalit girl of the nearby Chameli village, a local court has on Monday ordered a re-investigation into the incident, to be conducted by a DSP-rank official.

The minor Dalit girl of Chameli village was sexually assaulted by a youth of the same village on December 2, 2008. When the parents of the victim approached the police station (rural) to lodge a case, the police instead of reacting to their complaint booked one of their relatives on the charges of raping their daughter. The poor parents met many senior police officials but to no avail. At last, the disturbed father of the girl knocked the doors of a local court. The court of Amarinder Pal Singh ordered the police to register a criminal case against one Jagga Singh and inform about it to the court.

No matter, the police registered a criminal case against Jagga Singh. However, the alleged culprit was not arrested by the police. Instead, an application was filed by the police before the court to close down the proceedings in this case. The police had stated that a DNA test of the victim was conducted and the alleged culprit did not match it. Therefore, they had field an application before the court to close down the case. However, the counsel for the petitioners raised doubts on credibility of the blood samples collected by the police arguing that they were not taken in the presence of any senior authorities of the administration.

The chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Faridkot, DP Singla, while rejecting the plea of the police, ordered a re-investigation into the incident, which has to be conducted by a DSP-rank official. It may be mentioned that the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes had also taken up the matter reacting to protests made by many labour organisations in the area from time to time seeking justice for the victim and her family. Dalip Singh Pandhi, a member of the commission also visited the Chameli village last month and recorded statements of the girl, her parents and other people of their village. 

Fazilka, August 31
The 14th martyrdom day of Beant Singh, ex- chief minister of Punjab, was observed at the Congress office of three-time municipal councillor, Davinder Sachdeva, in the Grain Market here on Monday.

The senior Congress leaders including councillor Dharmpal Gandhi, Atul Nagpal, joint secretary PPCC Narinder Sachdeva, Uttam Sain, Ashok Sharma, Baldev Singh, Charan Singh, Prem Singh, Mohidder Singh Azamwala, Makhar Singh, youth Congress leader Ashok Soni and others reached the tributes paying venue and offered flowers on the portrait of Beant Singh.

Remembering the supreme sacrifice of Beant Singh, Davinder Sachdeva said that it was due to 
the efforts of Beant Singh that Punjab got rid of terrorism. Beant had once said, "I may or may not be living in this world but terrorism would not survive in Punjab," recalled Sachdeva.

Addressing the youths, Congress leader Ashok Soni said that it was a matter of great concern that the monument being raised in Chandigarh in the memory of Beant Singh is still incomplete even after 14 years after his martyrdom. He demanded it be completed soon.

Tributes were also paid to Beant Singh in another programme, organised at 'The Success English Academy'.

The director of the Academy Vinit Arora said that Beant Sing was brave, bold and man of masses, who fought for secularism. 

Hanumangarh/Abohar, August 31
Heavy showers that lashed parts of Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar districts in Rajasthan along with neighboring Abohar sub-division were widely welcomed by the farming community since supply of water in most of the sub-canals was lying suspended on rotation basis. However, in some of the villages near Rawatsar, rain damaged even pucca houses.

As per the information, Dhannasar village was worst-hit. One Bhupinder Asija informed that rain water damaged wheat stock in the house of farmer Devi Lal besides resulting in damage to the houses of many other farmers.

Efforts were being made to divert the accumulating water to an abandoned well. In Abohar, normal life was affected as most of the localities had knee-deep water in the streets. Business activities remained suspended after 2 pm. 

Ferozepur, August 31
In his complaint to the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, an ex-army officer Captain AS Sodhi has alleged that several acres of land owned by ‘jumla mustarka malkan’ in Guruharsahai, in which, he and his family members also had a share has been fraudulently sold by certain people in connivance with the revenue officials.

Sodhi has levelled charges against one Harjinder Singh, whom he said had allegedly hatched the entire conspiracy along with some other co- owners in the said piece of land and siphoned off huge lumps of money in the bargain.

Sodhi alleged that Harjinder Singh procured sale deeds comprising specific khasra numbers out of land owned by ‘jumla mushtarka malkan’ without partition and further transferred the same in contravention of the government orders.

Sodhi said that the state government has issued a notification that the said land cannot even be partitioned among its owners, however, Harjinder, allegedly in connivance with the revenue officials purportedly sold the same, in which, crores of rupees had allegedly exchanged hands causing a colossal loss to the state exchequer, besides financial loss to him and his family members and other jumla mushtarka malkan.

Sodhi said that he has brought the entire matter to the notice of police officials and even lodged a complaint to the SSP a few months back requesting for immediate action.

However the outcome of the same is awaited till today, he rued, adding that as a last resort, he has now written to the CM, a letter dated 10-06-09, the copy of which is available with The Tribune, in which he has demanded that a enquiry be constituted to look into the said land deal, and a case should be registered against all those involved in this alleged brazen act of violation of law.

Sodhi further urged that the land in question be reverted back to Gram Panchayat till the final disposition of the case. When contacted, Harjinder Singh said that there was no element of illegality in the said deal, adding that the entire transaction has been done within the framework of law.

While refuting the charges, he said that the complainant has already sold his share of the land, and now he was expecting a share out of the said deal. When contacted, SSP SPS Parmar said that he was not aware of the matter; however he will certainly look into it. 

Bathinda, August 31
A seminar was organised on vocational guidance at the Dasmesh Girls College of Education, Badal, in association with the district education department as per the instructions of the deputy commissioner, Muktsar.

In this seminar, principal Dr SS Sangha welcomed Dr Gulshan Sharma, Balwinder Singh DSS Muktsar, Shavinder Batra assistant DSS Muktsar, S. Harpal Singh deputy director, Employment Exchange, S. Harjeet Singh counsellor DEO. Dr SS Sangha said that this type of career guidance is necessary for the rural area students and appreciated the effort of the DC. Dr Gulshan Sharma, director, ITFT Chandigarh provided information on various vocations including fashion designing, hotel management, film industry, airlines, hospitality, media and entertainment, information technology, defence welfare, NRI services and others.

The main motive of the seminar was to make the students aware about various job opportunities. Nearly 600 students from different schools participated in the seminar. At the end, principal Dr SS Sangha thanked and honoured the guests. 

Bathinda, August 31
Animal health check-up camp was organised by the 'Punjab National Bank Farmer Training Centre Mehraj' at village Bhairupa recently. About 300 cattle were examined and treated free of cost.

Dr Gagandeep Singh, vetenary officer and village panchyat thanked the centre director SL Beniwal for his effort. Beniwal also lectured on the package of practice-cum-protection measures for better yield of paddy and cotton.

He also focused on various Centre activities which meant for rural uplift. Nearly 50 farmers participated in the training. Puran Singh Brar, centre coordinater, was also present there.