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‘Drive on baby care needed’
Shagun Scheme
Radio programme for schools to be relaunched
Health insurance cover for BPL families
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Grenades, cartridges found in Muktsar village
5 booked under property Act
‘Fake’ certificate submitted for job
Foundation stones
Concern for ecology marks annual day celebrations
Students performing during the annual day function of Delhi Public School in Bathinda on Friday.
Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Misbehaviour slur on MP’s driver
Principal accused of having ‘fake’ degree
Seminar on quality education
NCC Week celebrations
DRDA staff to stage dharna
Punseed staff among 5 booked for black marketing seeds
RO plants serving their purpose: Study
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‘Drive on baby care needed’
Faridkot, November 20 The vice-chancellor of the university, Dr SS Gill, who presided over a health teaching programme on the eve of the newborn baby week today said that the children were foundation stones of any family, society or the nation. Therefore, every parent should take healthy care of their children as per the advice of the medical experts. Expressing concern that access to medical care to pregnant women was not available in the far flung remote areas, the VC said that there were millions of families in the country who do not bother to consult a doctor at the time of delivery of a baby. He appealed to the pregnant women and their families to always consult a doctor, if possible a specialist, during the time of pregnancy and delivery to ensure the safety of both the mother and the child. Gill said that the state government was providing free delivery facility to the pregnant women in all the government hospitals but a large section of the people were ignorant about the policies and programmes of the government. There was a great need of educating the masses on free health facilities being provided by the government in the hospitals, he said. He said that the state government would soon provide better modern facilities in the gynaecology and paediatrics wings at the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital for extending better health care services. Dr Raj Rani, principal of the College of Nursing stressed upon the need to minimise the death rate of newborn babies by controlling the diseases and said that in order to achieve this goal there was a need of cooperation from the common masses. She said that they were celebrating the newborn baby week to educate the masses on baby care. Darshan Singh, registrar of the university, Dr PS Sandhu, principal of the medical college, Jaspal Kaur, superintendent (nursing), Dr Kajal, Dr Gurmit Sethi and Dr HCL Rawat also addressed the gathering. The students of nursing also organised a poster exhibition and played skits to educate the people on baby care, besides, a documentary film was also shown on this occasion. |
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Payments elude beneficiaries
Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service
Bathinda, November 20 The government has not released funds under the scheme for the current financial year (2009-10) as well as of five months of the financial year 2006-07 of this district so far. According to information available, an amount of Rs 3.58 crore is yet to be paid by the Department of Welfare, Punjab, to about 2,390 beneficiaries of the “Shagun scheme” in three sub-divisions, namely Bathinda, Phul and Talwandi Sabo, of this district. Interestingly, among them are 1,243 beneficiaries have been awaiting the amount for the months of November and December 2006 along with January, February and March 2007. It is learnt that the SAD-BJP alliance, which came into power in March 2007, had allegedly declined to release funds for the pending cases of the “Shagun scheme” as these cases belonged to Amarinder government’s regime. The Bathinda district welfare office awaits an amount of Rs 1.86 crore for clearing 1,243 cases of 2006-07 and Rs 1.72 crore for clearing 1,147 cases of current financial year. Sources in the department told this reporter that the district welfare offices had regularly sent the lists of pending cases under the scheme to the office of Director, Welfare, Punjab, for releasing funds. Despite that, the funds were not being released, the sources added. The “Shagun scheme” is applicable to members of the scheduled caste (SC) communities, daughters of widows of all castes and the Christians. The successive governments have announced several times to cover the Muslims under the scheme, but a notification to this effect is reportedly yet to be issued by the state government. It may be recalled that the “Shagun scheme” was introduced by the Badal government during its previous term (1997-2002) with a “Shagun” of Rs 5,100, which was later enhanced to Rs 6,100. However, the Amarinder-led government raised it further to Rs 15,000.
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Radio programme for schools to be relaunched
Bathinda, November 20 Director General of school education Krishan Kumar hopes that this year the project would be successful as attempts have been made to rectify last year’s mistakes. Giving details on what hampered the scheme, an official who handled the project last year, stated the shortcomings that led to its failure. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said CDs of lessons that were aired proved to be poorly drafted radio lectures. Teachers had sent a positive feedback regarding the project allegedly under DGSE’s pressure, the official added. Jasdeep Singh Jass, a lecturer involved with the project, said, “The duration was too long and made the programme monotonous. They were beyond the comprehension of children at primary level.” Jass also added that he was paid only Rs 750 for writing two scripts, whereas radio paid Rs 1200-1300 per script of less than 10 minutes. The education department failed to pool in good script writers and the programme was bound to fail. Officials from AIR Jalandhar informed that the contract was signed only for broadcast. They were not paid any studio charges. Teachers involved in the project alleged they ended up paying extra than they got for the recordings. When contacted, the DGSE agreed that the quality of the radio programme last year was not up to the mark. For upgrading the programmes, PSEB planned to take guidance from IGNOU and Doordarshan. With changes like presentation of lessons in the form of a skit would make the programme interesting, Neeru Jindal, programme coordinator stated. The duration of the programmes have also been reduced and last year there were complaints of programmes not being aired clearly as these were not on FM frequency. This year, these programmes would be aired on AIR-FM frequency to ensure clarity. |
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Health insurance cover for BPL families
Mansa, November 20 At the time of need, the insured BPL families would be able to get medical treatment to the tune of Rs 30,000 during one year from the government and some selected private hospitals. For the purpose of identification, smart cards would be provided to these BPL families. Health department officials said that card making work would be completed between November 20-28 by private company on contract basis. Every BPL family for getting insured under the scheme would have to pay Rs 30 for one year as fee for the smart card. In this regard, a meeting of district officials was held in Mansa today which was presided over over by ADC Development Baljit Singh Sandhu. Civil surgeon Dr Pritpal Singh, Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Rupinder Kumar Singhla, and other officials of the health departments besides a representative of the Oriental Insurance Company participated in the meeting. The company would provide insurance money to the health department which would come from the Central government. Medical treatment under the scheme in Mansa district would be available in the hospitals of Mansa, Bhikhi, Khiala, Budhlada and Sardulgarh and six private hospitals. |
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Grenades, cartridges found in Muktsar village
Muktsar, November 20 Villagers went into a tizzy after they found two heavily rusted handgrenades and 48 cartridges when they were digging earth on the outskirts of this village. The police immediately cordoned off the area, an act which drove excited villagers to the spot in droves to see for themselves what exactly was going on. Once the cops threw a ring around the spot, the Muktsar SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill quickly formed a team which reached the village and started investigations. The ammunition was found from the fields of one Jagroop Singh, who with the help of two of his accomplices was uprooting a dead sheesham tree just to stumble upon the grenades and cartridges. The SSP said that a case under sections 4/5 of the Indian Explosives Act and Arms Act had been registered against unknown persons at Kotbhai police station. The SSP disclosed that the cartridges were found in an earthen pot and added that the grenades and the cartridges would be sent to a forensic lab. |
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5 booked under property Act
Fazilka, November 20 It may be recalled that additional chief administrator PUDA, Bathinda office, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, took cognigence of creating an unauthorised colony on the prime private land without the approval of PUDA. The office of ACA PUDA reported the matter to the SSP Ferozepur for initiating a legal action against the colonisers. Following receipt of legal opinion, the SSP directed Fazilka police to book all the five unauthorised colonizers, who are the owners of the land. All the five have been booked under section 36 (1) of Apartment and Property Regulation Act, Punjab.
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‘Fake’ certificate submitted for job
Abohar, November 20 The district marketing officer while responding to an application filed under the RTI Act, has stated in his letter that departmental proceedings against the retired supervisor Krishan Kumar and clerk Suraj Bhan are still going on. Krishan Kumar has been charge sheeted and his retirement benefits have been withheld. The allegations against him reportedly stood proved in the preliminary inquiry conducted by the district marketing officer while the inquiry, based on similar ground against Suraj Bhan, is still in the pipeline. As per the details, Krishan Kumar was appointed vide resolution number 5 of the market committee on August 31, 1974, under the SC category. He retired on superannuating of services on August 31, 2009. Contrary to his claim that he belonged to the SC category, the inquiry asserted that he belongs to the Mochi caste that was notified in the SC category only when the state government issued notification number 10-9-96-2 SC-1173 on May 27, 2002. At the time of appointment, he hailed in the BC category. The Board had directed the local market committee to take action against him. Chairman Dhanpat Siyag has sought his explanation within 21 days and withheld retirement benefits, sources said. — OC
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Work on projects yet to take off
Rajay Deep Tribune News Service
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), November 20 In one such instance, the present government, had laid a number of foundation stones for various projects in Talwandi Sabo for beautification and development on September 26, 2008, after the union government sanctioned around Rs 100 crore to mark the Gurutta Gaddi Divas celebrations. Among others, foundations stones were laid for a sports academy with hockey turf, cultural and heritage complex, canal rest house and science and technology complex. However, till date, all the projects are waiting to see the light of day as not even a single brick could be laid, except for the foundation stones, that carry the names of CM Parkash Singh Badal and deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. The abandoned stones are now surrounded by weeds and crops. The state government had also announced the setting up of a flying academy at Talwandi Sabo. But even after more than a year has passed, not much progress is evident there. When contacted, SDM Talwandi Sabo Anil Garg said, “We started some of the projects but there are some others that are lying untouched because of financial crisis. As soon as funds are made available, all such projects would be started.” It may be mentioned that during a recent interaction, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal had also cited the paucity of funds as the only reason why projects could not be started. “We have been continuously urging the union government to release the funds but the officials there are treating us in a step-motherly way,” she had remarked.
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Concern for ecology marks annual day celebrations
Bathinda, November 20 In keeping with contemporary problems staring the world in its face, the theme was conservation of environment. In an endearing fashion, small children brought alive the threats to Mother Earth that are not only making the world unsafe for the present generation but also for posterity. The programme began with a welcome song and then revolved around a narrative on the Sun, moon, stars, seasons and planets. It was informative and educative while seeking to create awareness on the environmental concerns. Chief guest SC Das of the Bathinda refinery lauded the teachers for their painstaking efforts in ensuring the success of the programme. He cited film ‘Taare Zameen Par’ to drive home the point that it was a teacher who helped a child realise its potential as an individual. Principal Arun Jee said the theme of the programme had been devised keeping in view the Copenhagen summit on climate change to create awareness on the issue. In-charge of the junior wing of DPS Anju Moga proposed the vote of thanks. — TNS
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Misbehaviour slur on MP’s driver
Bathinda, November 20 The complainant blamed the driver for misusing the official vehicle
(PB 46 G 0472), bearing a red beacon atop, for his personal purposes. Showing some pictures of the incident,
Sukhwinder, in a written complaint, also accused the canal colony police of shielding the accused due to his political link. Narrating the incident, he said, “The vehicle hit my father’s bicycle from the rear in the evening of November 16. When he reacted, the driver started using derogatory language and also pulled out a lathi from the vehicle to threaten my father.” He alleged, “We called the cops standing nearby, who expressed their inability to do anything. Despite receiving our written complaint, police did not take any action in this regard.” When contacted, officiating in-charge Canal Colony post, Baldev Singh said, “I have no such information about the incident as on the day of the incident, I was not on duty.” Meanwhile, reader of the police post said the complainant did not sustain any injury so police could not initiate any action. |
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Principal accused of having ‘fake’ degree
Bathinda, November 20 Sandhu informed that the orders for dismissing Joginder Singh had come from the Secretary, School Education, Punjab. “We verify degrees of the teaching fraternity on a regular basis and Joginder’s degree from the Poornanand University situated in South India was found to be bogus. He has been working as principal since 2001,” Sandhu said. When contacted, Joginder claimed that he had already moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court after receiving a show-cause notice regarding the fake degree and the court had stayed the matter. — TNS
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Seminar on quality education
Muktsar, November 20 Prominent among those who took part in the proceedings were Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh former vice-chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Dr S.S Gill, VC, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Dr H.S. Gill , Chairman Adesh Foundation, Muktsar and Dr DS Grewal, Director Principal, Bhai Maha Singh College of Engineering. Dr DS Grewal welcomed the guests. Dr K.S Aulakh spoke on his experience in education management and stressed that "effective learning can be ensured through proper management only. Many educational institutions have failed due to lack of availability of good quality education managers." Dr SS Gill stressed upon the need to set up of regular education management institutions for training of education managers. There were five technical sessions in the seminar but the most educative was the fourth technical session which was chaired by Dr S.S. Bhatti, Director, Adesh Institute of Engineering and Technology, Faridkot.
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NCC Week celebrations
Abohar, November 20 Commanding officer Colonel Dilbagh Singh informed that the team from the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital that was led by Dr Shweta collected 40 units of blood during the special camp organised in the campus today. Earlier, the cadets interacted with the inmates of an old-age home in Jammu Basti here.
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Bathinda, November 20 They are opposed to the “intentions” of the Union Rural Development Ministry with regard to winding up of the DRDAs. Giving this information here, president and general secretary of the association Sadhu Ram Kusla and Darshan Lal Sharma, respectively, said that thousands of employees were facing retrenchment nowadays. — TNS
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Punseed staff among 5 booked for black marketing seeds
Mansa, November 20 Nearly 268 bags of wheat seeds have been recovered which was sold by some Punseed employees during the raid. As per the information available, SHO, Mansa, Sulakhan Singh, on the basis of secret information, raided a tractor and a jeep, which were loaded with wheat of Punseed. Senior assistant of Punseed Karnail Kaur and Ashwani Kumar, employees of same department, sold the wheat to some private persons. — OC
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RO plants serving their purpose: Study
Muktsar, November 20 A study conducted by Shoubhick Kaushal, a spine and replacement surgeon who works in Adesh Institute of Health Sciences here, revealed that water in this district was heavily fluoride laden and the RO plants have managed to decrease the fluoride content in water.
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Arrested
Mansa: Mansa police on Friday arrested three persons who were allegedly planning to loot banks and petrol pumps. SHO Mansa Sadar police station Harpal Singh said police had arrested three persons and recovered a 32 bore revolver and five live cartridges from their possession.
— OC |
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Bathinda, November 20
