Bathinda, November 14
It was an unusual way to celebrate Children’s Day for thousands of schoolgoing children, roped in by the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) to launch an anti-polythene drive today—the first of its kind in Punjab.

Amid a mixed response — of criticism and appreciation— from people in the city, the BMC authorities today involved about 8200 students of 30 schools to collect waste polythene after visiting various localities in the city. After the four-hour drive, children collected about 1500 kilogram of polythene.

The idea, behind the move, is to generate awareness to make people stop using polythene. To make the drive a success, the BMC authorities were chalking out all details for the past couple of weeks.

The drive was launched by the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari, who was accompanied by the BMC Commissioner Ravi Bhagat, whose brainchild it was.

Besides the students, about 250 teachers, 300 jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 1000 BMC employees, 100 employees of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and a large number of social volunteers, also participated in the drive.

The BMC officials set up two control rooms and a medical assistance centre, where all details of the movement were continuously coming in. To keep surveillance, the BMC commissioner and members of his team kept moving from one corner to the other of the city.

Taking into account the hygiene aspect, authorities of a bank had sponsored gloves for the children. Further, the BMC authorities had arranged sweets for the kids to mark Children’s Day in collaboration with some real estate investors.

It is learnt that taking the drive in a positive way, some schools had even arranged competitions between the sub-teams of their schoolchildren.

The unusual drive could not attract people on a large-scale for the social cause. As per reports from various localities, people did not even bother to place their waste polythene outside their houses but kept making fun of the volunteers.

It was irritating for some students as well as their their teachers, who informed this correspondent that the efforts of their students were proving to be futile as shopkeepers kept using polythene even when children were picking up their used polythene lying outside their premises.

“Children were so excited that they did not even mind picking up polythene from manholes, open sewer and drains bare handed. The teachers, whose duty was to restrain them from doing the unhygienic job, too had no answer. Besides, the children were seen sometimes moving on the main road on their own which was risky,” said a transporter, Barinder Singh Mann.

Some parents and intelligentsia of the city objected to this activity of the BMC authorities saying, “Besides this publicity stunt, they should nab the polythene manufacturers, who care two hoots for the rules and earn money at the cost of environment.”

“I threw a polybag on the street and immediately a group of school boys pounced upon it. Before I could understand, what was happening, they said, “Uncle, stop using polythene. The words were so inspiring that perhaps I will not be able to forget it,” Parkash Chand, a karyana store owner at Naamdev Nagar said.

“No doubt, it felt bad, when my son went to pick up polythene waste from people’s houses, but I have made a commitment to myself to not use polythene, at least while going to the vegetable market,” said Samita Goyal of Aggarwal Colony.

Bathinda, November 14
It is a common belief that leprosy is not a disease of Punjab state as everyone knows that a big number of leprosy patients, being treated in the hospitals of the state, are from other states, like Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa. This is also evident from the data of Bathinda district's leprosy patients for the last two financial years and the nine months of the current financial year.

During this period, a total of 66 cases of leprosy disease were diagnosed in the district by the hospital doctors while only five persons, out of 66, were from Punjab. Thus the remaining 61 persons were from other states, like UP and Bihar. Most of them have reportedly come to Punjab from their respective states as migrant labourers. It appears that the migrant labourers are the carriers of leprosy disease to the state. In these 66 cases, there were 51 men and 15 women.

During the financial year 2007-08, as many as 27 leprosy patients (19 men, eight women) were treated in the district while during 2008-09, 23 patients (19 men, four women) were treated. During the first nine months of the current financial year, 16 patients (13 men and three women) were diagnosed for the disease while some of them are still being treated in the district. These patients were between 20 years and 50 years of age.

Among the total 66 patients, 34 patients were found suffering from multi-bacillary leprosy while remaining 32 from pauci-bacillary leprosy. The multi-bacillary leprosy patients are given medicines for one year while pauci-bacillary leprosy patients for six months that are provided free of cost by the government.

Talking to The Tribune, District Leprosy Officer Dr B.S. Gill said the leprosy was a totally curable disease if treatment to the patient was given at an early stage. He said this disease mainly affected skin, nerves, eyes, nasal mucosa, hands and feet. He also said that it was not a disease of Punjab as the migrant labourers who worked in rice mills, brick kilns and industrial units etc., carried it here.

Dr Gill also said that there were about 80 leprosy-affected patients in the local lepers' colony, but all of them were actually cured. Despite this, they were being given supportive medicines free of cost every month, he added.

Bathinda, November 14
More than 200 cases were settled during the quarterly Lok Adalat held at District courts complex here today.

Kuldip Singh, district and sessions judge-cum-chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Bathinda, presided over the Lok Adalat while Justice SD Anand, administrative judge of the Sessions division, Bathinda, inspected the proceedings.

According to information gathered from the district courts, as many as 13 benches were set up to settle the disputes, which included two benches each at Phul and Talwandi Sabo sub-divisions. At each bench, an advocate and a social worker were appointed as members. Out of about 360 cases taken up today, over 200 were settled amicably.

Terming it the best way to settle the disputes, district and sessions judge Kuldip Singh said, “The decision of Lok Adalat cannot be appealed. No court fee is required in a Lok Adalat. Moreover, the court fee already paid is refunded to the parties as per law.”

Bathinda, November 14
Although the direction of mercury has changed – from southward to northward - due to the overcast conditions prevailing in the region during the last two days, the nip in the air has become more perceptible nowadays.

The mercury which had gained momentum in its downward trend and even settled at 7.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, as recorded by agro-Met advisory services, PAU regional station Bathinda, has climbed up 5 degrees Celsius at the minimum level on Friday.

Saturday’s low was 12.5 degrees Celsius while the maximum was 20 degrees, around 4 degrees less than yesterday.

The region has been witnessing fall in day temperature while rise in the night temperature due to cloudy weather conditions continues.

The region has been experiencing cloudy weather conditions coupled with light drizzle in isolated pockets for the last two days due to the western disturbances prevailing over the Jammu and Kashmir region. The weather is likely to start improving from Sunday afterwards, sources in the weather department said.

The IMD, Chandigarh had on Friday predicted that Bathinda region would experience cloudy weather conditions in the next two to three days. The humidity is also likely to touch 100 per cent during the period, weatherman said.

Bathinda, November 14
The Lord Rama Public School and the MSD Public School here organised contests, including fancy dress, musical chair, dance, chart and greeting card making, and quiz on Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, to mark the Children’s Day today.

Students from class X to XII of the MSD School also participated in the cleanliness-cum-anti polythene drive organised on the occasion in the city to create awareness on the ill-effects of polybags on ecology. Teachers of the school, including Saroj Garg, Gurpreet Dhillon, Seema Garg and Amita Rajput, led by principal Suraj Setia encouraged the students in their effort.

Bathinda, November 14
In the peak sowing season, the shortage of wheat seeds at the government seed sale counters has irked farmers.

The farmers, who have made their fields ready for sowing the next wheat crop, have been blaming the agricultural department for its laidback attitude in ensuring sufficient availability of wheat seeds at the counters.

In frustration, some farmers today had a verbal duel with the employees of Punseed, a seed counter at the grain market in Bathinda.

They accused the employees of distributing the seeds in a discriminatory way, adding that despite standing in long queues for the whole day, they had to return empty-handed.

Later, the issue snowballed into a controversy and the farmers approached ADC (D) Shruti Singh and narrated their plight.

Among others, Jasveer Singh of Kot Shamir and Piara Singh of Gehari village alleged that for the past two days, they had been queuing up at Punseed counter but before their turn came, the employees started claiming that the counter had run out of seed stock.

The ADC (D) assured them of an early solution to the problem.

When contacted, the seed supervisor of Punseed, Manjeet Singh, said, "Farmers approach the counter due to cheaper availability of seed. We have been facing a problem as the supply of seeds is less as compared to the immediate demand of farmers."

According to details collected, Punseed has sold about 35000 quintals of variety named 343 and 8300 quintals of variety named 502. For the Bathinda counter, the department has set a target to sell 10000 quintals of seed but till today, it had sold just about 4000 quintals.

Abohar, Novomber 14
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar has said that so far there has been no progress in the proposed formation of the Rajasthan Sikh Prachar Mission.

Interestingly, senior representatives of some Sikh organisations from Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts had met the SGPC chief at Ludhiana early this year to apprise him of the resurging activities of Dera Sacha Sauda after the formation of Congress-led government in Rajasthan.

The deputation had agreed to defer the demand for a separate Rajasthan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee upon assurance reportedly given by Makkar to form Rajasthan Sikh Prachar Mission.

It was agreed upon that the Mission will have its headquarters at Sriganganagar and sub-office at Gurdwara Buddha Johad, the birth place of late Sant Fateh Singh who had sacrificed his life for the creation of Punjabi Suba.

Ragis, Dhadis and Kavishars were to be provided at the Mission office to spearhead the campaign for brining more Sikhs to the Panthic fold.

The leaders from Rajasthan had also claimed that the proposals would be vetted during the next SGPC meeting. But nothing has been done.

During an interaction with news persons on the sidelines of a social function here on Saturday, Makkar also confirmed that the grant worth Rs 10 lakh that had been promised for raising a school in village Budhranwali, a stronghold of Dera followers, was yet to be released as the leaders from Rajasthan had not so far been able to provide land for the institution.

Asked whether the SGPC proposed to sanction any project for the welfare of Sikh community in Abohar sub-division, he quipped, "None has invited me on any occasion to this area during the past four years. How can any proposal be offered voluntarily?"

Abohar, November 14
Border Security Force (BSF) DIG VK Sharma who had some time back been transferred from sector headquarter Abohar to Chandigarh has been promoted as Inspector General.

Known in the BSF circles as field commander, the 1971 batch officer Sharma has also served as DIG at Gurdaspur, Faridkot, Nagaland, Manipur and West Garo Hills (Meghalaya). Considered to be an expert on border management, he had led major initiatives to strengthen the vigil especially on western and eastern borders. He had been instrumental in checking infiltration and smuggling of narcotics and fake currency besides redressing the problems of the farmers of border belt.

During his posting here, for more than two years, he acclaimed appreciation for multifaceted development of the sector headquarters. His endeavours included large-scale afforestation in the region, creation of children's park by getting sandy heaps levelled, construction of barracks besides launching projects aimed at brining a sea-change in the working conditions of the officers and jawans posted at the border. He was also associated with promotion of sports and social activities here.

Abohar, November 14
The Abohar Bar Association today made a strong plea to the state government to reorganize Ferozepore district, lengthiest in the state, and create another district with headquarters at Abohar.

A meeting of the general house presided over by the Bar president Sukhpal Singh Sidhu reiterated the demand for establishing courts of the additional deputy commissioner to hear appellant revenue cases, Consumer Court, Permanent Lok Adalat, Deputy Director Panchayats, District Revenue Officer, Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies besides posting a SP of the Punjab Police here immediately as stop-gap arrangement.

The members said the sub-division had got perfect infrastructure befitting district headquarters besides the best of road and transport facilities and communication network.

Abohar, November 14
Even when most schools observed holiday on Saturday, the 120th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India, was celebrated with fervor as Children's Day at St. Alphonsa Convent School here. Children were taken out in the city in a fully decorated vehicle as part of the celebrations. A child, Yashwardhan Singh, dressed up as Nehru, attracted the attention of all. Principal Jijoe Augustian spoke about the vision of Nehru.

Senior councillor Sanjeev Chahar was the chief guest for the Bal Diwas function at the New Anmol High School in Nai Abadi. Lions Club president Manpreet Singh Brar presided over the function. Similar functions were held in some other schools.

Punjab Congress Seva Dal chief Rajinder Rasrania flagged off a children's rally and distributed stationery among the students during a function that was organised by the district unit here. Rasrania informed that Rajinder Kumar Chauhan has been appointed as district organising secretary.

The city Congress committee organised a function at the residence of president BL Nagpal. Former president of Mahila Congress Veer Bala Nagpal and youth Congress president Varun Verma were also present.

Raman Mandi: The birth anniversary of Chacha Nehru was celebrated at the school campus . A fancy dress competition among kids was organised on the occasion. Kids donned the look of Chacha Nehru, Bhagat Sinhg, Indira Gandhi, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Sukhbir Badal and Mahatma Gandhi.

An athletic meet, musical chair, race, song and other games was also organised. School principal Anita Periwal, Ashu Jain, principal English wing, Vishal Goyal and Jaswinder Singh distributed sweets among the students. A message of national dedication and peace was to the kids by the principal. — TNS

Ferozepur, November 14
The 50th Punjab State Open and Inter District Table Tennis Championship is being held in Ferozepur from November 18-22 at Shahid Bhagat Singh indoor stadium.

Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav, while presiding over a meeting held to take stock of the preparations for the championship, said that more than 400 players from all districts of the state besides teams from Punjab State Electricity Board, State Bank of Patiala will participate in the event. He said that besides the team championship, the players will also compete in various individual events.

SDM GS Pannu said that the renovation of the stadium and the Red Cross Bhawan has been completed and boarding arrangements have also been made. The DC said that Nirmaljit Singh Kalsi, Joint Secretary (Home), Government of India, will preside over the five-day championship. Officials from various government departments besides members of the organizing committee were also present on the occasion.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 14
Reflective of good civil-military cooperation, the students of Shri Jagdamba Andh Vidyalya cheerfully waved off the cycle expedition that was flagged off at the Military Station at Lalgarh Jattan in Sriganganagar district on Saturday. While heralding the motto 'Towards light and melody, Paramhans Swami Brahm Dev, the octogenarian founder of the Vidyalaya, spoke of the spirit of the army.

The expedition has been organised by the Raghunath Battalion to keep up the spirit of adventure that embodies the Indian Army.

It will cover about 700 km distance along Suratgarh-Bikaner-Pallu and Bathinda before being flagged-in at Lalgarh on November 22. Senior officers led by the commander of the military station felicitated the religious leader and his institution with gifts for special children.