The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Illegal hutments demolished in city, Faridkot SP Sharma Tribune News Service Bathinda/Faridkot, December 1 In a major action against illegal occupants of government lands, the district authorities demolished about 700 hutments in two localities of Faridkot town today. Migrant labourers occupied the land belonging to the Mandi Board for the past several years. They refused to vacate the valuable land despite repeated pleadings by the authorities concerned. These lands were in the Indira Colony and Kapoor Basti. Children and womenfolk cried as their hutments were razed to the ground. Bulldozers were deployed this morning to demolish the hutments after giving ample time to the occupants to remove their belongings. The sub-divisional magistrate and superintendent of police accompanied by police personnel in strength were present during the demolition operation. Vijay Sharma, superintendent of police, said that there was no resistance from the illegal occupants and the demolition was peaceful. Meanwhile, in another demolition operation, the authorities demolished a couple of hutments on the Goniana Road in Bathinda also.
	World AIDS Day Awareness rallies carried out, seminars held Tribune News Service Bathinda, December 1 Rallies, seminars, discussions and quiz competitions were organised in the city today to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS on the occasion of the World AIDS Day. Under the aegis of civil surgeon Neelam Bajaj and leadership of district health officer Dharampal Sekhon, an AIDS awareness rally was carried out in the city. Deputy commissioner Rahul Tiwari flagged off the rally at the Fire Brigade chowk after releasing balloons bearing AIDS awareness slogans. Students from various schools and colleges of the city and members of local NGOs participated in the rally. They carried banners and placards that read messages to prevent the spread of HIV. The participants shouted slogans on the way as the rally passed through Arya Samaj Chowk, Dhobi Bazaar, Sadbhawna Chowk, Post Office Bazaar, Railway station, Gol Diggi and Mall road to culminate at Hanuman Chowk here. A tableaux calling for prevention against the disease was also organised. Earlier at the Civil Hospital, the civil surgeon inaugurated hoardings bearing a message on AIDS awareness by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Community AIDS educator appointed by the UNAIDS Narinder Kumar Bassi had arranged the hoardings. Bassi said his day started with sensitising railway staff and passengers to the deadly disease. He distributed them cards reading 'AIDS nu naa, Zindgai nu haan'. Later during the day, he held awareness talks with ITBP personnel and truckers besides school and college students, Bassi said. In the evening, a rally was organised from the Fire Brigade chowk to railway station. It saw as many as 150 participants. Highlight of the rally was a 22-metre tall red ribbon (international symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness). SAD (B) area in-charge Sarup Chand Singla received the rally at the railway station and inaugurated a candle light programme where participants lit candles before the giant red ribbon. "Though the march has concluded but efforts would to sensitise people about the dreaded disease would continue," said Bassi. To mark the day, Baba Farid Institute of Highter and Foreign Studies organised a seminar on AIDS awareness, where a lecture on the subject was delivered to the students and faculty members. A quiz was also organised on the occasion and prizes were awarded to winners. Led by principal JS Anand and vice-principal NK Gosain, students and teachers of DAV College here carried out a candle-light march to spread AIDS awareness among masses. A UN documentary on AIDS was also screened for the staff and students, a press release issued here said. The Himbeer Wives Welfare Association, under the headship of chief patron Shipra Verma, held an AIDS awareness programme at the ITBP campus here, which saw an awareness rally, lectures and screening of a film on AIDS. Family members of the ITBP personnel, kids and ITBP jawans took part in the programme, said RK Verma, second-in-command, ITBP, 27th Battalion (NDRF). Meanwhile, a workshop on HIV/AIDS and safe blood was organised at the Swami Vivekananda Girls College. Speaking on the occasion, principal Raj Gupta informed the students about how the HIV spreads and how can one prevent contacting it. She also exhorted the students to donate blood as safe blood was the need of the hour. She replied the queries related to HIV/AIDS that were put by students during the workshop. Clarification The blurb in the report “Put stigma aside, help HIV+ person lead normal life” (Page 3, December 1) carried an inadvertent error under heading ‘Myths’. The prevailing myths are that “HIV/AIDS spreads by shaking hands…” and not that “HIV/AIDS does not spread by…” as published.
	Abohar MC fee collections rise Our Correspondent Abohar, December 1 Fall in production and subsequent arrival of raw cotton notwithstanding, the collection of market fee by the Market Committee here has gone up by 31 per cent, thanks to rise in prices. Market Committee secretary, Harpal Singh Behal, said this evening that arrival of Narma cotton was recorded today at 3,500 quintals and the private traders offered Rs 3,480 as the highest price. The farmers unions have not to shout slogans this time due to poor arrivals and quick purchase. Last year the arrival was recorded at 15,000 quintals till this day and the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) was the major buyer offering Rs 2,850 per quintal. As per official records, a total arrival of Narma cotton in the local cotton yard till today is 4,45,800 quintal against last year's figure of 4, 65,000 quintals. The arrival of Desi cotton till today is 4,075 quintal whereas it was 4,470 quintals last year on the same day. The CCI had to come to the rescue of the farmers, though a bit late, as the latter alleged that private traders were exploiting the community by offering low price under the pretext of high moisture content in the raw cotton that had been sown early. However, steep rise in the prices forced the Central government agency to keep hands off after purchasing 1,01,400 quintals here while during last year, the agency had purchased 8,80,000 quintals on Narma cotton here. Interestingly, Abohar had been nicknamed as Manchester of Punjab for producing maximum Desi cotton till 1980 but the farmers gradually switched over to LSS Narma cotton variety later and now 85 per cent of the total area here was under Bt cotton. Giving details, Behal said the market committee has so far earned revenue of Rs 9.62 crore as market fee on cotton while the receipts during the last year till date were put at Rs 7.36 crore. As unprecedented upward trend in prices of vegetables remains unabated revenue from the market fee has also jumped to 37.72 lakh while it was 31.12 lakh till today last year. Prices of Kinnow fruit too have increased by 25 per cent this year, he said.
	World AIDS Day observed Fight against AIDS: ‘Global commitment need of the hour’ Tribune Reporters Sriganganagar/Abohar, December 1 While observing the ‘World AIDS Day’ in the district Sriganganagar on Tuesday, most of the experts explained this year's theme ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. The discussions were initiated by principal RK Wadhwa during a seminar that was organised by the Good Shepherd Public School. Speaking on the occasion, deputy medical and health officer of the district, Dr BS Brar said global leaders had pledged to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care, recognising these as fundamental human rights. Valuable progress has been made in increasing access to HIV and AIDS services, yet greater commitment is needed around the world, if the goal of universal access is to be achieved, he said. Dr Monika spoke about the possible causes, symptoms and misconceptions about AIDS. The students of senior secondary classes were made aware of the “Red Ribbon Express”. The students vowed to spread the awareness about AIDS. Senior journalist Kirti Rana exhorted the students, teachers and media persons to participate in the awareness campaign against the deadly disease. Several employees of the school also donated blood during the special camp that was organised with the help of the Purohit Charitable Trust pathological lab. In Suratgarh, MC president engineer Banwari Lal Meghwal flagged off the rally that was organised by Marudhar Nursing School. The students passed through the main roads while teachers addressed the well-attended corner meetings on the way to bring awareness among the citizens. Fazilka: On the ‘World Aids Day’, a series of programmes were organised by the health department today at different levels to create awareness to fight the deadly disease AIDS. An Aids awareness rally was flagged off from the civil hospital premises by the senior medical officer Dr YK Gupta. All the medical officers, paramedics, staff members and NSS volunteers of the Government Senior Secondary School for Boys led by their lecturer Ashwani Ahuja, participated in the rally. Students carrying banners and placards for creating awareness against AIDS, marched through the town. Thereafter, a seminar was held at the civil hospital premises in which Dr YK Gupta, AIDS Integrated Testing and Councilling Centre (ICTC) in-charge Dr Renu Dhuria and councillor Harmandeep Kaur, chief pharmacist Shashi Kant addressed the seminar and highlighted the causes of AIDS and strategy to prevent AIDS. According to the directive of civil surgeon Ferozepur, Dr Dalip Kumar, a similar AIDS awareness camp was held in the premises of the Truck Operators' Union here today. In the afternoon besides Dr YK Gupta, Dr Narinder Sethi and other paramedics addressed the gathering. They apprised the members of truck operators, drivers and conductors about the preventive measurers and steps to fight AIDS.
	Dera followers bury body on MC land EO approaches law enforcing authorities Our Correspondent Fazilka, December 1 Tension mounted between the municipal council authorities and the members of so-called religious Dera Balwant Giri on the premises of municipal land opposite Sidh Hanuman Mandir in the town. According to the details available, a member of the Dera Balwant Giri Shardhanand died today. About a score Dera followers, who are allegedly in illegal possession of the piece of land of the MC wanted to bury the body of the deceased and wanted to raise a memorial there. They had dug a pit for the purpose on part of a plot auctioned by the council on June 17, 2009. As the council authorities got information of their plan, civic body executive officer reached the site with the enforcement staff and persuaded the Dera followers not to bury the deceased there. The followers had reportedly agreed to comply and the pit was filled. However, as soon as the executive officer and enforcement staff left the venue, scores of the Dera members again suddenly dug up loose earth of the filled pit and buried the deceased hastily. As the EO again got information of this action, he took up the matter with the local law enforcing authorities. It is pertinent to mention here that there is an old row over the piece of possession of this prime land. There was litigation between the Dera members and MC for the last more than four years. The Punjab and Haryana High Court vide its decision dated October 6 2009, had rejected the petition of the Dera members regarding auction of the Council on this piece of land. The court had held that the Dera place could be evacuated in due course of law.