Bathinda, October 22
Amidst high voltage drama, members of the EGS Teachers’ Union today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda.

Veerpal Kaur from the union said the members went to the DC office for submitting the memorandum but they were stopped at the gate and were not allowed entry. Then the gates were closed. Seeing this, the members gave a 15-minute ultimatum to the authorities at the DC office to accept the memorandum or they would block the roads. When none came out to accept the memorandum, the members sat on the road near bus stand and blocked the traffic.

Meanwhile, some mediapersons alleged that they were pushed aside by the cops.

“Every one has a right to submit a memorandum but the officials refused to accept it. We were doing it peacefully but the administration forced us to protest. Finally, a DSP took us to the DC, to whom we submitted the memorandum,” Veerpal said.

The union alleged that the state government deceived the EGS teachers by setting criteria one day prior to the counselling when the forms for the ETT course were already filled up.

“Teachers with one year experience are already doing the ETT course whereas around 350 teachers, who had as much as six years of experience, are sitting idle. The criteria set by the government prevented us from getting admission to the ETT course. It said only those with 45 per cent marks and 50 per cent in Class XII for SC and general category, respectively, were eligible for admissions. This was not declared when the forms were being filled,” members of the union added.

Bathinda, October 22
Despite being politically adopted by the ruling Badal family, this district is still awaiting sufficient funds through the District Planning Committee (DPC) this financial year for various development and social welfare works.

As compared to the last financial year, the district has received only 23.57 per cent funds during the current financial year from the government till now.

The DPC had received Rs 14 crore during the last financial year for development and other social welfare works whereas it has received only Rs 3.30 crore during the first six and half months of this financial year.

During the last meeting of the DPC, held some days ago, a sum of Rs 2.26 crore was approved for installation of reverse osmosis (RO) system and distribution of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension in the district. Out of it, Rs 1.90 crore was released for RO systems and Rs 36.89 lakh for old age pension.

However, a sum of Rs 1.04 crore had been released during two earlier meetings of the DPC, held since April this year. Out of Rs 1.04 crore, Rs 85 lakh had been released under nutrition scheme and Rs 18 lakh under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension scheme.

Interestingly, the installation of RO systems scheme is the only state-sponsored scheme while the remaining schemes are sponsored by the Centre, in which state contributes 50 per cent share.

The state has not released funds so far to the Bathinda DPC even for some important schemes, like awards to SC sports students, houses to homeless SCs in rural and urban areas, Indira Awas Yojna, Swaran Jayanti Swey Rojgar Yojna.

It may be recalled that during the last financial year, funds had been provided by the government for all these schemes. Besides, the state government had also provided funds during the last financial year from the Chief Minister’s united funds for various purposes, like construction of “Shamshan ghat”, boundary wall of an animal dispensary, repair of roads, cleanliness of ponds and development of infrastructure. But during this financial year, no such funds have been released to the DPC till now. 

Bathinda, October 22
The arrival of the controversial PAU 201 variety of paddy in mandis has put the administration in a spot as the rice millers of the district have clearly refused to accept it for milling purposes.

The paddy glut has choked most of the mandis in the district. As on Wednesday, out of the total 2.93 lakh metric tonnes of arrival, about one lakh MT was still lying.

Though the administration today did its best to convince the rice millers to receive the procured paddy, they agreed merely to store the crop and refused to process it for milling.

Sources informed that out of the total paddy arrival in Bathinda, about 80 per cent is of the controversial PAU 201 variety. The position is somewhat similar in Faridkot and Mansa districts but Bathinda tops the list.

On the one hand, farmers were happy to see the appreciable yield of the variety and on the other, rice millers have refused to accept it for milling purposes. Terming the milling of PAU 201 as a loss making exercise, various rice millers yesterday even refused to store the procured paddy in their shellers.

As a result, the mandis started witnessing a glut and were choked leaving no scope for unloading fresh arrival. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, procurement agencies too hinted at stopping the purchase till the issue gets resolved.

As per the details collected, Gobindpura, Balluana, Behman Diwana, Balianwali, Dhadde, Such, Karadwala, Ballo, Bhunder, Jeond, Kaloke, Ghuman Kalan, Rai Khana, Rajgarh Kubbe, Peerkot, Ubha Burj Dhilwan, Bhai Desa, Singo, Daan Singh Wala, Pakka Kalan and Jai Singh Wala are among those mandis where not even a grain of paddy was procured on Wednesday.

Though various reasons are being floated for this like strike by millers, lack of availability of gunny bags, problem of lifting, absence of purchase inspectors, high level of moisture content—the main reason is said to be the arrival of PAU 201 variety, which makes the sheller owners incur losses as after the milling of this variety, the millers fail to meet the specifications of the Food Corporation of India.

During a visit to main yard in Bathinda, it was observed that witnessing the space crunch, farmers were unloading their trolleys on ‘kutcha’ ground outside the mandi. When asked, they said they were helpless as there was no space left due to poor pace of lifting.

On his part, District Mandi Officer Narender Singh said, “We are aware of the problem and are trying to sort out the matter.”

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said, “Witnessing the position in all mandis, rice millers have been convinced to store the crop at their shellers till the government decides on the issue. Now, they have started receiving the controversial variety of paddy but with the condition that they will not process it.”

“If the issue is not sorted out soon, the situation may become grave,” Tewari added.

Bathinda, October 22
After onions, it is potatoes the price of which is pinching people. Not a long ago, potatoes were sold at Rs 10 per kg, which has now risen to Rs 20-25 per kg. Owe it to the unfavourable weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh and potatoes infected in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Bihar, from where almost 90 per cent supply is generated.

Mahinder Kumar, a trader at the vegetable market in Bathinda, said the price of potato hiked almost two months back. Reason was less supply. Fresh stock was not coming because the recently released stock from Uttar Pradesh limited itself to Delhi where people were ready to buy potatoes at a rate higher than Rs 25 a kg.

“Here people do not bother about taste. They are money conscious. No retailer would risk getting expensive potatoes from Delhi as he knows he would not find buyers here,” he added.

Unconfirmed sources stated that fresh stock of potatoes had lower sugar content as compared to the potatoes already in stock. The old stock that reached in June was also affected with ammonia, a gas used for cold storage. Another reason for lower production of potatoes in Himachal Pradesh this year was less snowfall that reduced the moisture content during the sowing season and high temperature in summers affected the propagation of the crop.

To add to the woes of consumers, potato chips manufacturers are purchasing the fresh potato that has arrived in the market. “Himachal Pradesh stock that is expected to arrive in the markets soon would be purchased by chips manufacturers because the taste of these potatoes is much better than what we are consuming now. Fresh stock would have less moisture level making potatoes just perfect for making chips which means a commoner would have to be satisfied with piled up potatoes of cold storages being sold at exorbitant prices,” Mahinder said. 

Bathinda, October 22
With ‘Chhath puja’ just around the corner, administration is gearing up for the event when people would gather to perform the ‘puja’.

At such gatherings, where women and children are more in number, security becomes a concern and unscrupulous elements have to be kept at bay. Around 100 cops would be deployed to avoid any mishap during the ‘puja’. To avoid clogging of roads, traffic might be diverted if needed.

“A recce has been done of the area where the ‘puja’ would take place to ascertain the security arrangements required. Security programme has already been chalked out,” said Aashish Chaudhary, SSP, Bathinda.

‘Chhath puja’ is the only event where setting sun is worshipped against the general belief of saluting the rising sun. Usually, the ‘puja’ is done on the banks of the Ganges but here it would be done on the banks of the Sirhind canal as a fresh water body is preferred if it was not possible to offer prayers near the Ganges.

People would start gathering at the Sirhind canal on October 24 evening and start performing the ‘puja’ that would continue till next morning. Folk songs fill up the atmosphere while the ‘puja’ is being performed. Men and women offer ‘jal’ to the Sun and other offerings like coconut etc.

It is a major festival in Bihar and is also celebrated in some parts of Uttar Pradesh.

With migrant population in great numbers in Bathinda, ‘Chhath puja’ holds a great importance here too. Women fast on the occasion and pray all day long for the good of their families. 

Abohar, October 22
Despite the assurance given to the paddy growers and commission agents for quick purchase, lifting and payment for the produce by Darbara Singh Guru, principal secretary to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, during a visit to the district last week, some farmers had on Thursday started loading paddy back to sell it in the neighbouring markets of Rajasthan and Haryana. These farmers have been left with no other option after a wait for the buyers for the last fortnight that proved to be futile, said one Sukhwinder Singh.

The commission agents told the district manager of the Markfed yesterday that no space was left in the yards here for further stacking. Kulwinder Singh of Kundal, Harbir Singh of Muradwala Dal Singh, Rajvinder of Bahawalbassi had sleepless nights as they were on vigil for more than 12 days. Interestingly, the DM expressed satisfaction over the arrangements arguing that more than 7,520 metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased here.

While joining the issue, legislator Sunil Jakhar on Thursday lambasted the SAD-BJP alliance government in the state for its anti-farmer policies alleging that Punjab government had failed in advocating the case for getting 1,121 variety of paddy included in Basmati range. Basmati was fetching Rs 7,600 in the international market but the Punjab farmers were vying to get Rs 1,600 per quintal, he said.

Taking the state government to task for complete collapse in purchase, lifting and payment mechanism, Jakhar said the FCI had declared 271 rice shelling owners as defaulters. The SAD-BJP led government had not taken interest in getting the dispute solved. This had resulted in fortnight-delay in lifting of paddy from the markets.

The state government falsely boasted of being farmer-friendly and tried to blame the UPA but by enhancing sugarcane price only by Rs 20 per quintal, the cat has come out of the bag. Sugar mills were already falling short of sugarcane supply. The meager increase in rate will further discourage the farmers from growing sugarcane, he observed. Meanwhile, farmers held demonstration against the state government over failure in purchase and lifting of paddy in the new grain market here.

Moga, October 22
Actor-turned politician, Baldev Khosa, hailing from Jhandeana, a small village of the Moga district, has on Thursday won the Maharashtra Assembly election for the 4th consecutive term on the Congress ticket from Ambola (Andheri West, Mumbai), the richest assembly constituency of the country.

He has defeated his nearest rival Shailesh Phanse of the Shiv Sena-BJP combine by a margin of more than 14,000 votes. He earns the reputation of being an honest politician in Mumbai. He left his native village in his 20s in 1967 to try his luck in the film industry.

He was a successful actor but unexpectedly landed in politics. Some of his popular Punjabi films include Mahi Munda and Put Jattan De. He himself produced the film Put Jattan De and also played the role of a hero in the film.

He was a close confidant of late Sunil Dutt, a Hindi film star and entered politics along with him for the first time in 1984 when Sunil Dutt was elected to the Lok Sabha in the parliamentary elections. Baldev Khosa was fielded from the Amboli constituency to fight the state assembly elections in February 1985. He won this election.

In 1991, neither Sunil Dutt nor Baldev Khosa contested the elections. In the next elections of the years 1999 and 2004, he was consecutively elected to the state assembly and now enjoys a good reputation among the masses in the richest assembly constituency of the country.

Speaking to The Tribune from Mumbai, Baldev Khosa, delighted over his win, claimed that he was a contender for the ministerial berth in the new government to be formed by his Congress party, which has won majority in the elections.

“I am continuously working for the people of Mumbai for the past over 20 years and had never demanded any ministerial berth in my previous terms as MLA. However, this time, surely, I am in the seniority list and will stake claim for a ministerial berth,” he added.

Fazilka, October 22
A fire broke out in the PWD godown on the Abohar road here on Thursday evening. About 10 quintals of wooden logs lying in the godown were gutted. As a fire tender immediately reached the site and extinguished it, a major loss was averted.

According to the watchman of the godown, Bittu, a piece of some cracker burst in the air fell on the stocked log in the godown. The wooden log caught fire. He stated that he was sitting at the main gate of the godown and noticed smoke emanating from the depot premises. He immediately informed the PWD officers. The officials summoned a fire tender.

Had the fire not been controlled on time, it could have spread to the nearby houses and shops, he said. 

Mansa, October 22
State information commissioner, Chandigarh, has imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 upon the public information officer, care of District Transport Officer, Mansa, for not providing information to an applicant on time and being absent in the court during the hearing of the case.

Issuing the order, state information commissioner Ravi Singh has directed the public information officer to deposit Rs 25,000 in the state treasury within 10 days of the receipt these orders.

In case, the PIO fails to deposit the fine, principal secretary of the transport department, Punjab, has been directed to ensure that Rs 25,000 is recovered from his salary.

The information commissioner had issued these orders under the RTI Act 2005 and on the basis of a complaint filed by Kuljit Singh, son of Balwant Singh, a resident of Mansa.

In the case, an application seeking information was made by the complainant to respondent DTO on December 17, 2008. After receiving no reply within 30 days, Kuljit Singh filed a complaint on March 12, 2009. During the hearing of the case, none appeared on behalf of the respondent.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, October 22
Tragedies have struck Abohar and the neighbouring district Sriganganagar. A young computer engineer from Gurgaon, Ravinder Batra, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday night while his NRI father Shiv Chand Batra, renowned educationist and philanthropist, continued to be in a critical condition at a hospital in Sriganganagar.

They were seriously injured as their Ford car jumped due to the damaged road and hit a road-side tree near village Sardarpura of Abohar sub-division on Wednesday evening. They were brought to a private hospital here but the doctor referred them to Sriganganagar. Ravinder's body was cremated today at Sriganganagar.

Meanwhile, in the border area of Anoopgarh, Saroj Rani (24), her husband Jaidev and brother-in-law Pawan Kumar drowned in a water tank at village Chak 17-A, on Wednesday. As per the details, Saroj had slipped into the tank while fetching water. The rest of the family members were drowned while attempting to save her.

In yet another incident, police sources said one Mahabir Meghwal of village Kanore near Raziasar and Bhagwana Ram of Gharsana reportedly committed suicide by tightening the noose round their neck.

One Devinder Singh of village Kalia near Sriganganagar was run over by a train on Sriganganagar-Abohar section today. A report from Rawatsar said, Priyanka (16) of Chak 4-CYM, who got burnt while cooking meals on Tuesday morning and was rushed to the BMB Hospital, Bikaner has succumbed to her burns on Thursday. 

Mansa, October 22
The mother of former district president of the Sikh Student Federation has blamed the Mansa police for illegal detention of her husband and son for more than a week. The police have denied the allegation.

As per the details, Ranjeet Kaur, a resident of village Jhanduke in Mansa district, alleged that her husband Gurbachan Singh (70) and son Avtar Singh (26) were picked up by Jhuneer SHO Jasvir Singh on October 14 around 9.45 am. The SHO had assured that they would be released in the evening after some inquiry but were not released till date.

Amritpal Kaur, Ranjeet Kaur's daughter, stated that her father and brother were in police custody without any warrant or case. Ranjeet Kaur informed that her elder son Jagtar Singh worked as district president of the Sikh Students’ Federation during his student days for about two years and had resigned after completion of his studies about a year ago.

She informed that the police was inquiring about Jagtar Singh and now the SHO said he was going to keep her husband and son in detention until Jagtar Singh appeared before him for some inquiry.

Meanwhile, advocate Ajit Singh Bangu, ex-president of the Bar Association, Mansa informed that there are no legal allegations or charge against Jagtar Singh or his father and brother and even the police is denying to tender any information as to why they want Jagtar Singh to appear. He informed that the Human Rights Commission had been informed about the matter.

On the other hand, SSP Mansa, Hardyal Singh Mann and SHO Jhuneer, Jasvir Singh expressed ignorance about the matter. The family members of the disappeared persons on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the SDM Sardulgarh regarding the case. 

Muktsar, October 22
The BEd Teachers Front has decided to organise a massive rally at Lambi, the hometown of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, on October 25 to protest against the state government's indecisiveness on increasing their pay scales.

Sandeep Sharma, a spokesman of the Front, said as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission, the Punjab government should have enhanced their pay scales by now. “However, despite repeated assurances by the officials, nothing has been done till now. We had met the Education Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur, who said she had cleared the file and the same had been sent to the Finance ministry for final approval. However, despite the fact that so many months have elapsed, the bureaucrats in the finance ministry are still sitting over the file.”

“Nearly 14,000 teachers had been recruited in October last year and these teachers were assured that their pay scales would be revised. However, nothing concrete had been done. We have been forced to hold a rally,” added Sharma. — OC

Muktsar, October 22
The Muktsar-based Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) has criticised the manner in which the much hyped Padho Punjab scheme was being run in the government primary schools in thedistrict.

Mahinder Singh Bariwala and Lakhbir Singh Harike, district president and secretary of the Front respectively, in a statement said, “children were being taught under tremendous stress and strain.”

They claimed that in an attempt to supervise the activities of the teachers, centre master trainers (CMT), block master trainers (BMT) and district master trainers (DMT) had been appointed. This development had instilled a fear psychosis among both the teachers and the kids, they added. — OC