Bathinda, January 10
In an SOS to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has sought his intervention for making the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to lift 35 lakh tonnes of the PAU 201 variety of paddy produced in Punjab.

In a letter to Mukherjee, she pointed out that about two lakh farmers were involved in production of this variety of paddy this time but the FCI was reluctant to lift it.

She has warned that indecisiveness of the Centre was exposing these farmers to the risk of falling into vicious debt trap and subsequent suicides. Despite being a drought year, the farmers toiled to produce the crop. Ironically, the huge quantity of 35 lakh tonnes of paddy was being allowed to rot.

The MP also warned that the situation was “grim” as the shellers were not milling the produce due to the FCI’s reluctance in lifting it.Harsimrat has pointed out that she had already written a letter to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in this regard on November 7 last. However, no action has so far been taken.

She has urged Mukherjee to intervene and instruct the FCI to lift this variety at the earliest.

She pointed out that the cabinet committee of economic affairs that reviewed the drought situation had formulated “drought mitigation” and “maximising production” as two thrust areas. The strategy, which the committee focussed on the agriculture front, was first, to provide power and diesel to save standing crop and second, to shift to an alternative, a crop needing lesser water.

Keeping this in view, the progressive farmers in Punjab planted the PAU 201 variety of paddy that is high yielding and consumes less water.

As much as six lakh hectares of area was planted under this crop and out of total production of 45 lakh tonnes, 35 lakh tonnes yield was available for lifting, but the FCI has refused to lift it.

According to the FCI, the variety has up to 10 per cent grain as against 7 per cent of other varieties, and the percentage of broken grain in PAU 201 is up to 50 per cent as against 40 per cent in other varieties.

Harsimrat sought that the specifications regarding damaged contents be relaxed to ensure that the variety is lifted by the FCI and immediate instructions be sent to the agency to lift the crop without further delay. The PAU 201 has more iron content and it carries extra health benefits, she added.

In her earlier letter to Pawar, she had pointed out that the farmers had to raise loans to deepen their bore wells, purchase submersible pumps and diesel generators to plant paddy.

In addition, they had also spent Rs 2,500 per acre.

Gidderbaha, January 10
Hundreds of unemployed ETT teachers received batons and water lashes from cops, when they, in a ‘pre-planned’ move, tried to break the police cordon outside the finance minister Manpreet Badal’s residence, here today.

A few of the agitators sustained minor injuries, while three of them lost their turbans, during the incident.

According to information available, about 250 ETT teachers, including girls, hailing from Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Faridkot districts assembled at Bharu Chowk, here and then held a protest march in the city markets. Demanding assurance for jobs, they all reached outside the residence of finance minister and staged dharna there.

The two-hour long negotiation exercise with the administration went futile, as the protesters remained determined to submit the memorandum to the finance minister, in person. They demanded the FM to come to spot as he was reportedly in the constituency today.

The situation took ugly turn, when at about 4 pm, the agitators attempted to break the police cordon, following which, the administration resorted to mild lathi charge and opened water canons to disperse them.

During the incident, Harpreet Singh of Patiala and Sukhdev Singh of Jalandhar lost their turbans and Rakesh Kumar of Faridkot sustained injury on face.

Accusing the state government, Jagtar Singh, state president of the unemployed ETT teachers union claimed that they had visited the FM residence just to lodge their peaceful protest and submit a memorandum to him but the administration put its best to foil our attempt. They lashed batons and waster canons, which left many of us injured.

He added, “Total number of unemployed ETT teachers was 2,200, while the state government has 32,000 vacancies, despite, the government was not paying heed to their demand.”

On the other hand, SDM Gidderbaha, BM Singh said, “We did not use lathis but used water canons that too only to disperse them, when they broke the police cordon to enter the FM residence. We persuaded them to have table talks but they were determined to create lawlessness, which could not be allowed.” Soon after the incidents various associations of farmers, teachers and social activities condemned the incident.

 Luxmi Bai had spared some money from the payments received against the NREGA job, to provide stationary to her son Gabdu but she could not arrange sweater for him.Her worries were over as an NGO Mahavir International resolved to distribute woollens in the rural schools.“We were told that the government schools in some villages witnessed thin attendance due to cold wave as the parents could not take the risk of sending their wards since they did not have sweaters even,” said Sanjay Vaid, president of the NGO.

The NGO had been distributing uniforms and stationery during summers as well as winters in the urban schools, informed Narinder Chahar, secretary of Mahavir International.

The colleges and secondary schools of the region appreciated social activists Manoj Swami and Naval Bhojak to organise NSS camps in the rural schools. — Raj Sadosh

Concerned over disappearing traditional Punjabi culture, Ashok Bansal of Mansa is busy in collecting and presenting old culture before people.

During the deliberation, he informed that he collected Punjabi music as songs of Punjabi singers, who were famous in the era of 1922 to 1950 and 1960. Songs of famous old Punjabi singers arranged by him include Chandi Ram, Amar Singh Shounki, Surinder Kaur, Fazal Tunda and Narinder Biba.

All collected material of Punjabi culture was presented to an international company HMV. ‘Tawas’ that was the source of listening songs during that time was collected by him and lateral CDs were made in computer.

Among old songs which he collected from various sources include ‘Do tara vajda veh’, ‘Ranjhna noor mahal di noori’ of Amar Singh Sounki and Leja challian bhuna lavin mittra door diya chandi ram.

For promoting Punjabi culture, he was honoured by various organisations as he received Punjab award 2008 from Punjabi Award Management Board America in New York in 2008 and he had also been honoured by Punjabi Arts Association Toranto.

Along with promoting traditional Punjabi culture, he was promoting modern Punjabi singers as Manjit Sandhu, Sudesh Kumari and Gurdeep Singh. Ashok Bansal said he had succeeded in providing old Punjabi songs to new generation.

— Parmod Mehta 

Moga, January 10
A man and his two sisters were allegdly duped of Rs 28 lakh by a family known to them in pretext of send them to London and making them settle there by providing jobs.

Instead of London, they landed at Bangkok airport and returned home. On their complaint, the police had registered a criminal case against four persons, who allegdly cheated them.

As per the complaint lodged before the police, Nachattar Singh, son of Maghar Singh, a resident of Lopo village stated that a few months back, he went to attend a marriage ceremony of their relatives at Dera Kot village where he met an NRI Rajwinder Kaur, daughter of Karam Singh, presently settled at London in the UK.

A few of his relatives Gurdial Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bachitter Singh, who introduced him to her told him that she had taken many people to London and got them settled there by providing jobs.

They convinced him to get his son Gaganpreet Singh engaged to Rajwinder Kaur and then she would take him and his two daughters to London.

After engagement, Nachattar Singh gave a sum of Rs 28 lakh, passports and other relevant papers to her.

After a few weeks, Rajwinder took Ganganpreet and two sisters Rajinder and Kuldip to New Delhi airport and made them board an aircraft, which landed them at Bangkok instead of London.

Somehow, they managed to return. Nachattar approached Ashok Bath, SSP of Moga and lodged a complaint. The SSP referred the complaint to the SHO of Badhni Kalan police station for inquiry.

After conducting an inquiry, a criminal case under sections 420, 419 and 406 of the IPC was registered against Rajwinder Kaur, Gurdial Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bachitter Singh on Saturday evening.

However, they were yet to be arrested at the time of writing the news report, said an official of the police. 

Abohar, January 10
The resentment prevailing among the residents of this cotton rich town bordering Haryana and Rajasthan states seems to have yielded desirable results as Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal would formally inaugurate the railway overbridge here on January 12.

As the construction of the bridge took more than two years despite the fact it was supposed to be completed within 15 months, the residents were disappointed over the inordinate delay.

A few days ago, a section of residents threatened that if the bridge was not inaugurated formally by any VVVIP by January 12, they would start plying vehicles on their own.

The authorities concerned sealed the bridge by raising temporary walls on its both sides apart from putting four persons on duty round-the-clock to stop anyone to use it.

Satish Kumar Gupta, Superintendent Engineer, PWD, when contacted, said a small function would be organised at the site of the bridge after its inauguration was done by Sukhbir Badal. He said that Punjab PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhinda was also expected to preside over the inauguration ceremony.

He said the construction of 823 metre long and 9.5 metre wide bridge was started in 2007 and its foundation stone was laid by the former CM Capt Amarinder Singh. The bridge was to be completed within the period of 15 months at the cost of Rs 12 crores.

Mansa, January 10
The Lohri Mela in Mansa, which was celebrated as Dhian di Lohri concluded here on Saturday night. The fifth Lohri mela was organised by the Sabhyachark Chetna Manch to set a positive mind-set of people for girls.On the occasion, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, ignited the lohri and called upon the people to fight against social evils. She honoured the girls who had got considerable achievements at the national and the international level in different fields.

Manch had honoured the girls of the district who obtained high positions. Dr Harsinder Kaur, deputy medical superintendent, who has written for the rights of girls, was honoured by the Manch.

Kamaljit Malwa, president of the manch said the it would continue its move for social services. Parminder Sandhu, comedian Bhotu Sah and Kake Sah and Manpreet Akhtar presented their cultural items. Former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulkh, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul and SSP Hardyal Singh Maan were also present in the mela.

Fazilka:Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Fazilka MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani honoured 151 newly born baby girls at a programme organised by the Sarhad Social Welfare Society, Fazilka, here today. It was the third annual Lohri programme wherein the girls have been honoured in a novel manner.

Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, KK Yadav, civil surgeon, Ferozepur Dr Dalip Kumar, Mohinder Pratap Dhingra, chairman, Improvement Trust, Anil Sethi, president, Municipal Council, Ashok Jairath, chairman, Market Committee, more than 24 eminent socialite were present. 

Abohar, January 10
Concerned over the recent reports of rampant corruption in the political circles, former Governor Bal Ram Jakhar today sought to remind the elected representatives that the electorates had posed faith in them to provide a platform to serve the nation fairly and not for piling up immovable and movable wealth disproportionate to known sources of income.

While presiding over the Virat Arya Sammelan that was organised as a part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the DAV College here on Sunday, he warned the leaders as well as government officials that they would be held responsible for shattering the democracy in India and would finally face the consequences for malpractices/misdeeds.

Jakhar exhorted heads of the educational institutions to inculcate values in the present young generation and develop patriotism among them.

He paid tributes to the Swami Keshwa Nand former MP and former presidents of the local municipal council including Kundan Lal Ahuja, Dr Shri Ram and Bhagwan Dass Jain who had cooperated with visionary principal Narayan Dass Grover in developing the DAV campus here 50 years back.

Chief guest Punam Suri, national convener of the Arya Yuvak Samaj, Swami Surya Dev and Acharya Dev Vrat said Swami Dayanand Saraswati was one of the greatest religious leaders ever born in India.

Hundreds of principals and teachers from all over the state and students of the DAV institutions of the region attended the function that was conducted by Prof Gaurav Vij. Later convener principal Dr BB Sharma welcomed the veteran guests.

Local legislator Sunil Jakhar regretted that education had become a franchise business and most of the colleges of education had emerged as teaching shops that sell degrees.

Those present on the dais included former minister Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, IFFCO chairman Surinder Kumar Jakhar, Dr B C Josan regional director and Dev Mittar Ahuja chairman of the local managing committee.

Sewing machines, tri-cycles, blankets etc were distributed to needy persons on the occasion besides organising 51 kundiya havan Yagya. 

Fazilka, January 10
Health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla today inaugurated the newly-constructed building of the Community Health Centre (CHC) at village Khui Khera of this sub-division. MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani was present there.

The CHC has been constructed at a cost of Rs one crore. Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, KK Yadav, civil surgeon Dr Dalip Kumar, assistant civil surgeon Dr DP Godara, former Akali Dal minister Ch. Radha Krishan were also present on the occasion.

Launching tirade against addiction, Chawla said that ever since she has assumed the charge of the department, banned medicines worth Rs eight crores had been seized which during the five years of previous Congress regime such medicines worth Rs 58 lakhs only were seized.

She called upon the people to launch a mass movement against female foeticide, addiction and sub-standard food articles as their involvement is required to make such programmes a success.

Dr Dalip Kumar, civil surgeon, Ferozepur, highlighted various schemes and projects of the health department. He said that the CHC Khui Khera is well-equipped for conducting delivery round-the-clock.

MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani said that in view of dire necessity of the health centre located in middle of Fazilka and Abohar towns on NH 10, it has been upgraded and equipped with all modern treatment facilities available in the hospitals.

Former minister Radha Krishan welcomed Laxmi Kant Chawla and said that she was the first health minister to visit Khui Khera since 50 years after 1960.