Abohar, December 6
With a view to provide good quality kinnow to consumers in the far-off states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, a number of grading, waxing and packing units in private sector have sprung up in this belt that has emerged as the hub of the citrus fruit.

As many as 25 units are working round the clock and three more are in the pipeline. Each unit is handling about 600 quintals of kinnow every day for being exported to Bangladesh and consumption in various markets, including Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.

The orchardists, who were earlier dependant only on cotton and other crops, have now switched to kinnow cultivation that was a lucrative business.

Madan Lal, sarpanch of Sappanwali, said that more than 90 per cent farmers in his area had switched to kinnow and about 3000 hectares were under cultivation of the fruit. Abohar and areas in its vicinity have kinnow cultivation in an area of 37,000 hectares.

Surinder Kumar, whose waxing and grading unit was inaugurated on last Wednesday, said that three such units had been established in the Badal village and two in Hoshiarpur. Besides, 10 were in the neighbouring Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan.

Surinder Kumar said consumers have now become quality conscious, as a result of which proper grading, waxing and packing of the fruit was necessary. Waxing increases the shelf life of the fruit that is transported all the way to Chennai and Karnataka where it takes six days to reach.

He said that with the increasing production, 25 more waxing and packing units would be viable in the area.

Grower Raj Pal said he was harvesting a bumper crop of kinnow this time. However, lesser flow of irrigation water in the canals has led to delay in ripening of fruit.

Surinder Kumar, who has himself acquired a couple of orchards on contract, said that kinnow was available at Rs 12 per kg at the orchard and a carton containing 10 kg of graded and waxed fruit was fetching anything between Rs 280 and Rs 300.

About 50 trained packers from UP and Bihar were among the nearly 110 workforce that he has employed for the kinnow season.

Phool Chand has come with a group of 32 trained packers from Bihar for handling the operation in a local unit. They will camp here for four months.

He said he had been coming here regularly for the past 10 years for working in different fruit-packing units.

Kinnow cultivation has grown tremendously in Punjab during the past 16 years. The three grading and waxing houses established by the Punjab Agro in 1993 were then sufficient to handle the entire production of the state.

However, need for setting up more and more such units was now being felt.

Phool Chand said the grading and waxing house in which he was working was packing 6,000 cartons of kinnow everyday. 

Bathinda, December 6
The sixth Virasat Mela of Malwa concluded with a remarkable performance by Punjabi singers and comedians here on late Sunday evening.

Noted Punjabi singers Amarinder Gill and Parminder Sandhu performed on the final day of the three-day event and audience could not resist shaking their legs to the dhol beats. They were followed by Masha Ali, Bathinda-based singer, who enthralled the crowd with his collection of songs on youth-related themes. Besides, laughter champion Bhotu Shah and his co-artist Kaka with their rhetoric tickled the funny bone of all.

Compared to previous fairs held to showcase the rich culture and heritage of Malwa belt, this evening was observed to be the most-awaited as the sports stadium was jam-packed.

While crowd cheered all through the event, it could not resist giving a rousing welcome to Amarinder Gill as he stepped on the stage. Before he could utter a word, his fans were already dancing on their seats. Gill began with 'Tu hi tu…', one of his hit songs, and entertained the crowd by dishing out songs one after another keeping the audience on their feet all through his performance.

'Kadi saddi vi gali ch gerha maar…', 'Daaru Naa peenda hove…', 'Dildariyan...', 'Sohneya dil milyan de mele…' et al cast a spell on the huge assemblage.

Security personnel had a tough time managing the crowd as Amarinder sang 'Aiven hass ke na langya kar…', the song that had catapulted him to fame.

Through their giggles, Bhotu Shah and Kaka targeted the problem of power cut. Further, they aimed at Punjab Police for its ‘image’ in public.

The fair ended with splendid fireworks that followed the special item of the fair, a bhangra performance by a group of physically-challenged youth.

Bathinda, December 6
The concluding day of the sixth Virasat Mela remained a mismanaged affair for various reasons, including security lapse, failure of sound system and the police-media tiff.

The fair was going on in a smooth way till Amarinder Gill stepped on the stage. Over-enthusiastic fans could not resist shaking legs to his performance. However, the situation took an ugly turn when an inebriated cop hurled abuses at some lensmen, who were clicking photographs of a youth nabbed for brandishing an air rifle. Situation grew tense after the cop hit the cameraman of a national Hindi daily with his stick.

Taking a serious note of the incident, mediapersons raised anti-police slogans from the stage. The event remained suspended for more than half an hour. Normalcy returned only after senior police officials assured the agitating mediapersons of suspending the cop.

Earlier, the police and organisers remained unsuccessful in manning the entry gates. As the security system went unmanageable, the cops deputed at the entrances for a VIP lounge and the media gallery gave up frisking the visitors.

The invitation passes for VIP entrances failed to serve the purpose and cops kept on allowing their known ones, without even seeing passes, gain entry to the stadium.

When asked, a head constable burst out, “The organisers treat us like servants. Not a single cup of tea has been offered to us. Then why should we care for their system?”

Besides, the failure of sound system irked the performers and the gathering, for instance, the shrilling sound from the loudspeakers while Amarinder Gill was singing ‘Sohni Kudi de naal’.

Muktsar, December 6
This is a pointer to the fact that the booming IT revolution has reached kids of government schools in Punjab.

Now, it has become mandatory for students of government schools, for long considered to be poor cousins of students studying in high profile IT savvy Convent schools, to create and maintain their E-mail Identities (IDs).

The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has asked teachers and students of senior secondary classes to create their E-mail IDs, apparently to ensure that they are in touch with the internet revolution, by the end of this month.

Sources reveal that this is the first step the government has taken to ensure that school children studying in government schools get well versed with the IT revolution. “The government wants that these kids do not remain confined to books and laboratories. That's why the government is changing things for these kids by making them more IT friendly. Earlier, the same kids had to go to the library to get information about a particular thing. However, now we want to ensure that they get every bit of information from the school computers and creating E-mail IDs for themselves is the first step," disclosed Dhiraj Singh Gill, Principal of Khalsa secondary school, Muktsar.

Likewise, the education board has also asked teachers to get their respective E-mail IDs prepared at the earliest. In this way the board authorities can stay in touch with the teachers directly and necessary instructions can be passed on to them with paperwork being consigned to the backburner.

Instructions to this effect have been sent by the Director General (School Education), Krishan Kumar to all District Education Officers (Senior Secondary) of the state. The DG has asked these DEO's to ensure that all government schools take the help of their respective computer teachers to see to it that senior secondary students get their ID's prepared well before December 31.

Said Sumanpreet Kaur Brar, Assistant Project Co-ordinator, Sarv Shikhya Abhayan, Muktsar, “IT can help children develop their understanding of cause and effect, higher order problem solving, procedural thinking and creative expression. IT offers substantial benefits to children and their development. For children studying in senior secondary classes a computer is a very educative thing and the creation of IDs is a big step forward.”

Said a retired Government school Principal, “Students who will benefit the most will be rural kids. Now sitting in remote areas they will be able to get guidance from teachers through E-mails. Studying will become a new experience for them. We just hope that their interest in getting guidance through mails does not wane with time.”

The Government Senior Secondary School for Boys established in 1925 has been considered as a pioneer in education development in Fazilka area for several decades.The school has established an old structure reminiscent of its beginning days when students were taught in the hexagonal structure. With passage of time more classrooms were added and the structure virtually remained in disused.

However, following the initiative of school principal Ram Sharan Sharma, teacher Pammi Singh and some other teachers, it was decided to convert the oldest part of this school complex into heritage building.

It was recently inaugurated as Virasat Bhawan (Heritage Building) by local MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani with the motive to revive its importance and commemorate its use.

Some of the old trophies and achievements of pre-partition days have been displayed in the building. These include Volley Ball Challenge Cup of 1939 which was presented by the Muslim League leader Mohammad Sarvar, Armstrong Hockey Challenge Cup of 1940. Others awards include Javelin Challenge Cup presented by late Seth Shopat Raj Periwal of Fazilka, an earstwhile philanthropist and former president of Municipal Committee, Recruiting Hockey Cup of 1943-44, Municipal Kettle Air Tournament Cup of 1950 are some of the other achievements of the school in those days.

Along-with these trophies and cups Charkha (Spinning wheel) of 1926, wall clock of 1941, a lock of 1936, models of school, clock tower and goal kothi (hexagonal structure) are other antique pieces displayed in the heritage building.

"The motive behind setting up of the Virasat Bhawan is to bridge the gap between old and new generation and acquaint the present generation to the importance of rich ancient cultural heritage," says principal of the school. — Praful Chander Nagpal

The number of beneficiaries that had been around 60 during past twelve years, went up to 90 during the 13th Free Surgery and Laparoscopic operation camp organised recently by the Sathya Sai Seva Sangathan in Abohar as part of three month long celebrations commemorating 84th birth day of Sri Sathya Sai Baba who always exhorts people to take to the path of selfless service.

The camp was preceded by 84 hour Akhand bhajan in which Sai devotees from the neighbouring states also participated. Besides, 84 units of blood were collected.

A team of senior surgeons headed by Dr Kailash Falor, eminent urologist from Sriganganagar, performed 90 major surgeries including one on cancer affected tumour. Free of cost service providers included anaesthesia specialists Dr Upasana Bansal and retired SMO Dr K N Babbar, ultra sound expert Dr C L Bhargava, heart specialist Dr Naveen Sethi, child specialist Dr Satish Jain while lab tests were conducted under personal supervision of Dr Swaran Singh Gagneja. Ranbaxy, Neon, Arvind, Novartis and Krishna Keshav laboratories provided medicines. The organisers had made free lodging boarding arrangements besides serving food to family attendants of the patients.

Kamlesh Dawar district president of the organisation also honoured at the concluding function veteran para medico Santosh Bajaj, Kusumlata, Barjinder Kaur, Gurdeep Kaur, Roma, Jasbir Kaur and Ajay etc for having served the patients affectionately round the clock for a week.

Local unit president Rajneesh Middha informed that a special survey was conducted before the camp to ascertain the economic conditions of the applicants for operations. The volunteers silently visited each locality to enlist really needy and genuine patients.

— Raj Sadosh

Bathinda, December 6
In yet another instance, the Right to Information (RTI) Act has now exposed an “ongoing malpractice” of entering the items in back dates in official registers at the Civil Hospital, Maur.

Lodging a complaint with the Vigilance Bureau, Bathinda, two RTI activists Ajay Kumar and Vijay Kumar of Maur accused the hospital staff of running the hospital impishly.

They mentioned that suspecting over some anomalies of the hospital, like fake bill entries in back dates, they had sought the inspection of the hospital record under a particular section of the RTI Act. Apparently, fearing the exposure of mischief, initially the staff denied permission, floating an excuse of non-payment of “prescribed” fee.

The matter reached the appellate authority - the state Information Commission, from where the hospital authorities were directed to let them inspect the record without any fee, in accordance with the rules mentioned in the Act.

“During the inspection, we noticed that the hospital authorities had mentioned two postal entries in our name, showing two-month old date, which had actually reached us just a few days back. Getting suspicious, when we raised question, the staff was observed without any answer,” alleged the complainants.

After the inspection, the complainants got attested copies of the hospital records and found that the authorities had kept the space of five more entries blank (620-624).

Giving information, Vijay Kumar said, “We had received a tip-off that the staff of the civil hospital, Maur, was indulged in misdeeds like corruption and entering fake bills. To check the malpractices we had applied for inspection of the record. Taking note of the malpractice, we have complained to the Vigilance Bureau, Bathinda, as well as senior authorities of the state health department.”

Civil hospital officiating SMO Raghbir Singh Randhawa, who is also the district family planning officer, said, “Having burden of dual charge, I do not get time to check the hospital records, so it is possible that junior staff would have been indulged in malpractice. As the matter has now come to my notice, I will call an explanation from the officials concerned.”

Bathinda Vigilance Bureau SSP Chaman Lal said, “We have not received the complaint but soon after getting it, proper inspection would be initiated and any body found guilty would be brought to the book.”

Mansa, December 6
Nearly 1,058 patients of cancer were found in Mansa by the heath department during a survey conducted recently.

As per the survey, nearly 695 cancer patients had died between 2001 and 2009. The deceased were suffering from various type of cancer including chest cancer, breast cancer, uterus cancer, mouth cancer and blood cancer.

During the survey, data from 2001 to 2009 was collected from all villages of this district. The Mansa city has not been included in the survey.

In Budhlada, out of 305 cancer patients, 228 had died between 2001 and 2009 while in Sardulgarh out of 438 patients, 279 had died during the period. As far as the Khiala block is concerned, 315 persons found suffering from the ailment and out of them 188 had died.

According to survey, some villages have large number of cancer patients as 18 in Nangal Kalan, 20 in Khiala, 17 in Gurne, 15 in Ralla, 17 in Bhadurpur, 14 in Renud, 15 in Chak Bhaike, 12 in Beeroke Kalan, 19 in Nandgarh, 13 in Kotdharmo and 17 in Sardulgarh.

Experts attributed contaminated ground water and excessive use of pesticides on cotton crops to the high incidences of cancer in Malwa. Besides, some metals were also found in the ground water in Malwa region which is being considered as one of the reasons for the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, a NGO - Cancer Roko Organization- had held camps in Mansa to identify breast cancer among women. These camps were held under the "Nanhi Chaan" programme of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Famous playwright Ajmer Singh Aulakh who has been suffering from the disease said that government and Non Government Organisations, interested in serving the cancer patients, should provide treatment facilities in this region where poor could get treatment at cheaper rates.

Mansa Civil Surgeon Dr Pritpal Singh said that government was considering some proposals concerning treatment to cancer patients of this region. 

Abohar, December 6
Representatives of different trade associations who thronged the Arorvansh Dharamshala here last night blamed the state government for not simplifying the taxation structure.

VAT was aimed at introducing uniform tax chart in all the states but it appears to be a distant dream, they regretted.

While sharing their woes with legislator Sunil Jakhar during the meeting that was organised by the city Congress committee, the traders said Punjab Small Traders Board chairman Madan Lal Kapoor, who had been heading the Beopar Mandal also for last many years, had promised to bring down the tax on pulses at par with the neighboring states but the taxation department in Punjab continues to levy 2 per cent tax more than Rajasthan and Haryana. There has been disparity in tax over cotton and sugar also. This may force the wholesalers to migrate to other states. Intriguingly, the government had re-enforced inter-state barriers that had been dens of corruption in the past besides threatening to register criminal cases against businessmen. The state government has formed a sub-committee comprising the deputy CM and the local bodies minister to impose surcharge on VAT, the traders resented describing it another bid to crush trade community in Punjab. 

Abohar, December 6
Hundreds of citizens joined legislator Sunil Jakhar in a walk today on the railway over bridge (RoB) that was being given a final coat of paint expecting that the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister may inaugurate it during next week. Upset over the move, the ruling alliance leaders reportedly prompted the city police to rush in to thwart the show, but the half an hour walk had concluded by then.

Buoyed over the completion of his "dream project" the legislator said that like Navjot Singh Sidhu MP, he too may not be invited, fearing stealing of credit, at the inauguration ceremony but over 1.5 lakh citizens would remember that the long-awaited Rs 8.16 crore RoB project had been added by the then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to the list of 27 RoBs approved by the State Infrastructure Development Board on equal participation basis with the Central government.

Captain had laid the foundation of the RoB here on December 31, 2006.

Alleging that the SAD-BJP alliance govt had not sanctioned even a single project for Abohar during past 33 months, Jakhar said the CM or his son must be accompanied by the local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia while coming here to inaugurate the RoB and sanction funds for another RoB or under-bridge for Sriganganagar road or Thakur Abadi road to give more relief to the people.

Recalling that CM Parkash Singh Badal had re-inaugurated the 34-crore Kinnow and vegetable processing plant to claim false credit while it had already been inaugurated by his predecessor Captain Amarinder Singh, the MLA resented that the state-of-the-art technology plant was yet to be made functional. 

Bathinda, December 6
One person was killed after a train hit the tractor he was driving on the unmanned railway crossing at Katar Singh Wala village of this district on Sunday evening.

Giving the details, Vijay Goyal, president of the Sahara Jan Seva, said Karamjeet Singh (40), the driver, was crossing the railway track when the Delhi-Ferozepur passenger train hit the vehicle.

The driver succumbed to his injuries within few minutes of the accident. Volunteers of the NGO shifted the body to the Civil Hospital while the GRP staff has initiated the inquest proceedings. — TNS

Abohar, December 6
The state government had sanctioned Rs 38 lakh for the villages of Balluana Assembly segment as grant-in aid for enabling BPL families to construct own houses, informed MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana.

The legislator gave away cheques to the beneficiaries who attended a small function at his residence here on Sunday. They belonged to Rajpura, Bahavwala, Dodewala, Kular, Sherewala, Burjmuhar, Balluana and Seetogunno village. Panchayat samiti chairman Vipan Neol was among those present. — OC

Bathinda, December 6
‘Winter Carnival’ was organised in the Saint Paul's High School, Bathinda, today.The highlights of the function were colourful dance items presented by the tiny tots of Radiant Kids Playway School, Playway and KG Wing of the school. A fancy dress contest was also held on the occasion.

Colourfully decorated games and food stalls entertained parents and guests the whole day during the carnival.

Deputy mayor of Bathinda Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat was the chief guest at the function.

Principal of the school, A.K. Lawrence, emphasised the need of holding such cultural functions. — TNS

Bathinda, December 6
The Lord Rama Public School, Bathinda, celebrated its annual function 'Merry Evening -2009' with joy and enthusiasm. School president Chiranji Lal Garg and the school secretary K.K. Garg were present to motivate, encourage and bless the students.Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Bathinda Military Station, T.D. Garg was guest of honour.

The function began with Ganesh Vandana and followed by cultural programmes with variety of entertaining, amusing and inspiring items. Dance Goro Gori, Coko, Jumbo, Satrangi Peengh imbibing rich Punjabi culture and Haryanvi dance (thhumka) by UKG kids won the hearts of all. Bharat & group dance based on theme of love, comedy by Mukul and group and the play pied piper of Hamelin cheered one and all.

School president gave away prizes to students who excelled in various fields. Principal Suraj Setia thanked all. — TNS