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New midday meal norms
Rajasthan Sikh panel move Cong game
plan: CM
PIMS Issue |
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SC panel pulls up DGP
Op Bluestar: Missing articles from Golden Temple
Sidhu fires fresh salvo at DC
Bridge opens but bus fare not cut
AISSF set-up dissolved
Patiala to wear clean look
Test for steno-typists
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New midday meal norms
Chandigarh, November 26 The government has revised the food norms for upper primary children by increasing the quantity of pulses from 25 gm to 30 gm, vegetables from 65 gm to 75 gm and by decreasing the quantity of oil and fat from 10 gm to 7.5 gm. Besides, the upper primary students will continue to get 150 gm per day of foodgrains. The cooking costs excluding labour and administrative charges for cooking the midday meal in primary schools has been increased from Rs 2.08 to Rs 2.50 and from Rs 2.60 for upper primary schools to Rs 3.75. Now, the cooking costs will include the cost of pulses, vegetables, oil and fats, salt and condiments and fuel. The cooking costs will be shared between the Centre and Punjab on a 75:25 basis. The note sent by the Government of India to the state government further states that the cooking costs will be further revised by 7.5 per cent on 1.4.2010 and again on 1.4.2011. The
Government of India has made a separate provision for the payment of
honorarium to cooks-cum-helpers at the rate of Rs 1,000 per month. “One
cook-cum-helper may be engaged in a school having up to 25 students,
two cooks-cum-helpers for schools having 26 to 100 students, and one
additional cook-cum-helper for every addition of up to 100 students,”
states the note. The expenditure towards the honorarium of
cooks-cum-helpers will also be shared between the Centre and Punjab on
a 75:25 basis. Director-General, School Education, Punjab, Krishan
Kumar said the state government was gearing up for the implementation
of the new norms. “The note was issued on November 24 and we are
ready with the revised proposal and will be sending it tomorrow,”
said Krishan Kumar.
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Rajasthan Sikh panel move Cong game
plan: CM
Abohar, November 26 Reacting
to the information that Sikh leaders of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh
districts have convened a meeting of the ad hoc committee for
constituting Rajasthan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee at
Sriganganagar on November 29, Badal said the Congress had earlier
abetted such move in Haryana also. The SGPC had been formed by the
veteran Panthic workers, who had sacrificed a lot. It was not the job
of amateurs to proceed with the agenda. Separate committees in states
couldn’t be appreciated, he asserted. Sikh leaders from Rajasthan had met SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar at Ludhiana a few months back to convey their concern over the resurgence of Dera Sacha Sauda activities in the state. They resented that the SGPC had not done anything for the upliftment of gurdwaras in Rajasthan and the Dera chief was emerging stronger after the formation of the Congress government in the state. Meanwhile, the CM sanctioned Rs 1.35 crore for various development schemes in 13 villages, besides announcing the upgradation of govt middle school in Bahavwala village and 5-km road to link the village with Khatwan.
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PIMS Issue
Chandigarh, November 26 Bhattal, in the legal notice filed by Nasib Singh Gill, has also demanded that the government issue a fresh expression of interest on the same terms and conditions as were fixed earlier during the Congress regime to transfer the PIMS only to a party which had the experience to run a medical institute. The
CLP leader also demanded that the government ask the CBI to inquire
into the “scam” and that the land should be handed back to PAU to
start a sugarcane research farm as per the original mandate. The legal notice claims that the SAD-BJP government issued an amended expression of interest in 2007 diluting the minimum eligibility criteria. It said 170 acres with a market value of Rs 2,000 crore was given to the NRI consortium for Rs 131 crore. It said the consortium was also allowed to use 5 acres for commercial use which would enable it to earn Rs 300 crore per year. The
notice, while alleging that embezzlement of thousands of crores had
taken place in the “shady deal”, claimed the interests of farmers
of the state had also been affected, as the promised sugarcane
research institute never came up.
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Nitrate in groundwater ‘above safety
limit’
Bathinda, November 26 Dr Reyes said during the study, she had collected 50 samples of groundwater from wells and farms of 20 villages of Bathinda, Muktsar and Ludhiana. Of these samples, 20 per cent samples taken from wells had been found with having nitrate level above the safety limit of 50 mg per litre for drinking water, established by the World Health Organisation. She said higher urea application had resulted in
higher nitrate pollution in the groundwater. The report, which has been prepared by the Greenpeace Society India, was today released by the Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Punjab, (Bathinda) Jai Rup Singh. On the occasion, Director-Principal of Adesh Medical College GPI Singh, a representative of the Kheti Virasat Mission Umendra Dutt and president of the local unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Shiv Dutt Gupta and Dr Vitull Gupta were also present. She said it was possible for farmers to produce foodgrains without using chemical fertilisers. She told the government to create an alternative subsidy system to promote eco-friendly farming. She also asked the government to shift the irrational subsidy policy for synthetic fertilisers to sustainable ecological practices in agriculture. Dr Jai Rup Singh said the report was asking the Punjabis to stop using chemical fertilisers in
a big way. Dr Vitull Gupta spoke on “Health impacts of nitrate in
ground water”. He said excess nitrate in drinking water was putting an
adverse effect on the lives of Punjabis, especially the infants and the
pregnant woman.
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SC panel pulls up DGP
Chandigarh, November 26 At the same time, the commission has summoned officials of the Department of Panchayats of Kapurthala to Delhi to appear before the commission and explain why the court orders were not implemented to let Joga Singh of Mansurwal village in Kapurthala district continue working as sarpanch. Bolath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has submitted three complaints of atrocities on the Dalits to the commission. The chairman, who was on his second visit to Chandigarh recently, summoned the DGP and the secretary, Panchayat, to reply to the complaints. One of the complaints was that a Dalit family of Bijli Nangal village in Kapurthala district was beaten up for putting up loud music at a wedding in their family by workers of the Akali Dal. In another case, the complaint was that a drunken Akali Dal worker fired at a Dalit Congress worker. But since the police was made to register a case against the Akali worker, it also registered a false case against Congress worker for snatching the gun. The state DGP had assured the commission that he would investigate the two cases and report to the commission. Buta
Singh said that he would summon the entire district administration in
the case of Joga Singh to Delhi sometime in the first week of
December. “I will give the exact date when I get back”, he said. Lashing
out at the Punjab government, Buta Singh said during his last visit to
Punjab, he had asked the state government to reply to 79 questions
within 15 days. “But I have so far not received a reply to even a
single question. I will bring this to the notice of Parliament”, he
added.
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Weather delays migration of birds
Jalandhar, November 26 While Himachal Pradesh has four main wetlands, including Pong Dam in Kangra district, Renuka Lake in Sirmour district, Chander Tal Lake in Lauhal and Spiti district and Rewalsar Lake in Mandi district, Punjab is left with Harike Lake in Ferozepur district, Nangal and Ropar in Ropar district and Keshopur Chhamb in Gurdaspur district where the migratory birds arrive in large numbers. Chief wildlife warden, Punjab, RK Luna claimed that the arrival of migratory birds in Punjab had been delayed by almost 15 days. He said 40,000 birds had arrived in Harike Lake, the largest wetland in the state, 25,000 birds at Keshopur Chhamb and 10,000 in Nangal till November 25. The Ropar wetland has received few migratory birds as of now. Luna, however, claimed that red-crested pochard, a migratory bird from Tibet, has arrived in large numbers. Earlier their population used to be 10-15 but now their population is in dozens, claimed Luna. Meanwhile, Pong Dam, the biggest wetland in Himachal Pradesh, has recorded an arrival of 40,000 birds approximately of 50 species. Migratory birds of nearly 95 species visit the dam every year. The divisional forest and wildlife officer (DFWO), Hamirpur, SK Guleria, however, claimed that the arrival of migratory birds at Pong Dam was in good time. Only two dozen migratory
birds have descended on Renuka Lake, claimed Nagesh Guleria, DFO, Shimla. The department has no count of winged guests in Chander Tal Lake as the area is under the cover of snow. The Rewalsar Lake, too, has welcomed few migratory birds as yet.
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Op Bluestar: Missing articles from Golden Temple
Doraha, November 26 Dissatisfied by the “half-baked”
reply of the SGPC to his application filed under the RTI Act in this
regard, he now wishes a judicial commission to initiate an independent
probe. As ex-serviceman Joginder Singh Goraya tried to gather
information under the RTI Act from the SGPC in June this year
regarding the “status of recovery” of each and every item,
including gold and gold ornaments, silver and silver ornaments,
precious stones, semi-precious stones and pearls, government currency
notes, coins, FDRs, paintings, photos, manuscripts, documents,
articles, books, files, photographs, etc taken into custody by the
Army at the time of Operation Bluestar, the SGPC replied that the
books related to Sikh history of Research Board Amritsar and the
handwritten manuscripts had not been recovered as yet and that
attempts were being made to get them back, specifying at the same time
that the ones recovered had been kept with the Sikh History Research
Board. Further the reply stated that as per the information gathered
from the Golden Temple, Amritsar, the list of articles recovered after
military action through district administration has been prepared and
kept. Also, that the record of the things before the military action
has been completely destroyed and that there is no record left any
more. As the applicant was left craving for more by the SGPC
regarding the position of the “recovery” of the “missing
specified” articles, records and valuables during Operation Bluestar,
he now wants the government or the judicial commission to undertake
the probe at the earliest. Goraya alleged that while the Union
Ministry of Home Affairs gave him an exact and detailed report of the
articles and valuables “returned” to the SGPC when demanded
through the RTI, the SGPC on the other hand failed to do so.
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Sidhu fires fresh salvo at DC
Amritsar, November 26 Earlier, Sidhu had moved a privilege motion against Pannu accusing him of obstructing an MP in the discharge of duties. Addressing mediapersons here today after chairing a meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, Sidhu claimed that so far only Rs 5 crore had been spent out of Rs 7 crore released by the Centre this year. He said NREGA was a demand-driven scheme in which the Centre government contributed 62 per cent for employment generation. He said only 5,774 persons were given employment out of 45,000 job cards prepared in the district. He claimed that the district could have received over Rs 200 crore from the Union government had the district administration provided employment to all card holders. However, Pannu said the district administration was expected to spend over Rs 20 crore under the Central scheme in this financial year. He said labourers preferred to work in farms during April to November for higher wages and the maximum work was done during December to March. The entire state had spent only Rs 70 crore under NREGA fund last year. Sidhu said Rs 10 crore had been approved by the Centre for skill development in rural constituencies of the district.
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Bridge opens but bus fare not cut
Jalandhar, November 26 Sources said even the Punjab Roadways charged Rs 90 from Jalandhar to Chandigarh instead of Rs 85 that used to be charged earlier. As the work on the bridge was taken up a few weeks ago, heavy traffic was diverted from Chandigarh to Jalandhar via Samrala-Machhiwara- Rahon and Nawanshar. As buses had to cover additional distance on the diverted route, the fare was enhanced for those travelling from Jalandhar to Chandigarh. A senior official of the Punjab Roadways said the fare should not have been enhanced, as buses plying on the diverted route need not to pay toll tax.
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Army man from Ropar killed at Kupwara
Anandpur Sahib, November 26 Waiting for their son’s body at Nangli today, his family members said Kulbir has a five years old son and a two-and-a-half years old daughter. 32-years-old Kulbir has come home on leave few months ago only. As per the reports Kulbir Singh was deployed in 6 RR Battalion in Belgam area of Kupwara, which falls under Handwara tehsil of Jammu. As per the Army officials, a jawan was reportedly cleaning his rifle near the barracks, when accidentally it went off killing two jawans who were declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. Another deceased has been identified as Havildar Vikram Singh. However, unconfirmed reports said that bullets were fired by a colleague of deceased who fired gunshots after some heated argument with a havildar. He also tried to fire gunshot at himself but was overpowered by other Army men deployed in the area. Till filing of this report, Kulbir’s body had not reached Nangli.
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AISSF set-up dissolved
Moga, November 26 After dissolving the central executive committee, he said all state, district and lower-level office-bearers had been removed from
their posts. Adding that the new setup would be announced in January, 2010, Peer Mohammad claimed that he would welcome the entry of youngsters in the organisation and launch a statewide drive to attract the youth into the body. He further said the main policy and programme of the organisation would be to groom the younger generation to lead a life free of drugs, corruption and all kinds of social evils. “In
the new setup, we will chalk out a programme to organise seminars,
hold discussions at high schools and colleges across the state to
teach them the preachings of the Sikh gurus”, he said. Lashing out at various Sikh organisations, he said these organisations had deviated from the policies and programmes of their organisations for vested interests.
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Patiala to wear clean look
Patiala, November 26 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the board here today. To give the city a clean look, the board has decided to clear the city of encroachments. Further, rehris without a valid licence will not be allowed to move about in the city. Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli said action would be taken against the violators. He also said four-wheelers would not be allowed to ply in market places. Kohli sought the cooperation of the police and public to carry out such operations to improve life in Patiala.
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Test for steno-typists
Patiala, November 26 The roll numbers have already been dispatched. Those who have not received these so far can obtain duplicate roll numbers from the recruitment cell, New Administration Block, Punjabi University, Patiala, by presenting original certificates from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow. The candidates can also contact for any information on telephone number 0175-3046394.
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