Muktsar, January 16
Taking a serious note of the “non-responsive” behaviour of the state government officials in the implementation of the MPLAD schemes, the government of India came down heavily on all the deputy commissioners of the state, warning them to mend 
their ways.

In a letter issued from the department of personnel and training, government of India, its secretary clearly mentioned that during a recent review meeting, the committee concerned observed that in various cases due to violation of the MPLAD guidelines and non-responsive behavior of the state government officials, the project/works under the MPLAD scheme got delayed.

The letter also mentions that delay in submitting audit reports and other prescribed returns resulted in delay in the releases of further installments.

Meanwhile, the department concerned of the union government gave it to understand that prompt action had not been taken on the complaints referred to the state governments.

Taking serious note of the flaws, the secretary, warned that action could be taken against the DCs, collectors and district magistrates, who were the All India Services (AIS) officers and failed to perform duties assigned to them in executing the MPLAD schemes.

Issuing warning, the secretary lashed upon the officials stating that as per the rule 3 of the AIS (conduct) Rules 1968, habitual failure to perform a task and the quality of performance displayed lack in devotion to duty, for what action would be initiated against the officials concerned.

Directing the chief secretary of the state, the GoI mentioned that all the AIS officers involved in implementation of the MPLAD scheme might be advised to ensure speedy execution of the works and timely submission of reports and returns.

Meanwhile, prompt action upon the complaints and ensured replies to the letters of the MPs have also been sought, failing which, action might be initiated against the erring officials.As per the sources in the state administration, the chief secretary, SG Aggarwal, has forwarded the letter to all the DCs of the state along with order to strictly comply with the directions.

Fazilka, January 16
Following deadlock between lawyers, document writers stamp paper vendors and draftsmen over allotment of space for chambers and shops in the newly-constructed mini-secretariat, the scheduled allotment was postponed by the tehsildar, Fazilka, Amarjit Singh this week.

The document writers and stamp vendors demanded the allotment of space on a priority basis as they maintained that no official work was possible without setting up their establishment in the newly-constructed complex.

Deed and Document Writers Association president Arjun Dev Loona said that a separate block for document writers be allotted to them on a priority basis.

He said that the deed writers are paying monthly rent in lieu of the space allotted to them. Some other sections do not pay anything for the space, added Loona.

Members of the draftsmen body maintain they should be allotted the space on a priority basis.

On the other hand, the lawyers maintain that they had been summoned for the allocation of the lawyers’ chambers in the afternoon but they were not allotted space for their chambers.

Umesh Chander Kukkar, former president of the Bar Association, demanded that the space for every section should be allotted at the same time to avoid any differences.

Tehsildar Amarjit Singh admitted that since there was a deadlock, hence, the allocation of space has been postponed for an indefinite period. Moreover, he has sent the report to the SDM and Deputy Commissioner for taking an appropriate decision.

Fazilka SDM Rajiv Prashar while commenting on the issue of deadlock said that for the time being, 72 cabins are to be allotted to the deed and document writers and stamp vendors.

The lawyers would be allotted their chambers only after shifting of the judicial offices. There is provision for lawyers’ chambers in the site plan of the judicial offices.

Arjun Dev Loona, president of the Deed and Document Writers Association, has strongly resented the proposal of allotment of small space for the purpose of cabin to them. 

Bathinda, January 16
Under a Centre-sponsored “Nutrition (Kishori Shakti Yojna)” for adolescent girls, the Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 116.67 lakh for the 20 districts of the state. The Bathinda district has got Rs 6.05 lakh for implementation of the scheme.

The main objective of the NT (D) 2 Nutrition (Kishori Shakti Yojna), under which the funds have been released, is to prepare adolescent girls for understanding and learning significance of personal hygiene environment, health and nutrition, first aid, sanitation, family life, child care and education etc.

One of the components of this scheme is to impart training to adolescent girls while the other component is providing supplementary nutrition to them.

The state planning department, which has released this amount to the districts, has imposed some conditions for withdrawing and spending the amount sent. As per a condition, the districts have been asked to withdraw the amount from the treasury according to requirement and distribute the same among the beneficiaries immediately.

It has also been told to the districts to ensure that the amount spent under the scheme is reconciled with the office of the Accountant General, Punjab.

As per information, out of total Rs 116.67 lakh, the Gurdaspur district has got the major share of Rs 12.58 lakh while Ludhiana district got Rs 10.50 lakh, Ferozepur (Rs 9.44 lakh), Sangrur (Rs 8.34 lakh), Hoshiarpur (Rs 8.20 lakh), Amritsar (Rs 8.07 lakh), Patiala (Rs 8 lakh), Jalandhar (Rs 7.22 lakh), Bathinda (Rs 6.05 lakh), Tarn Taran (Rs 4.90 lakh), Moga (Rs 4.26 lakh), Kapurthala (Rs 3.85 lakh), Roop Nagar (Rs 3.75 lakh), Muktsar (Rs 3.68 lakh), Mansa (Rs 3.48 lakh), Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Rs 3.40 lakh), Fatehgarh Sahib (Rs 3.03 lakh), Barnala (Rs 2.90 lakh), SAS Nagar (Rs 2.66 lakh) and Faridkot district (Rs 2.36 lakh).

Out of Rs 116.67 lakh, an amount of Rs 111.82 lakh has been given for rural areas and Rs 4.85 lakh for urban areas.

Sources said that after the approval of district planning committees, these funds would be released to the district programme officers (Social security, women and child development) of the respective districts.

Mansa, January 16
Sarv Siksha Abhiyan Authority, Punjab, has decided to launch a community training programme for the members of village education development committees during the months of January and February this year.

As per the information, there are nearly 18,000 village development committees in Punjab and every committee has seven members. This programme would continue from January 1 to February 28 and one lakh members would get training. District project coordinator, Darshan Singh Dhillon, said that Rs 59 lakh and 43 thousand had been provided for this purpose. In Mansa, 3,276 members of these committees would get training regarding education, he added.

A sum of Rs one lakh 35 thousand was provided in the accounts of the committees of the Mansa district for the purpose of training. The issues to be discussed during the training program include discussion on quality education, education for girls, improving of school buildings, social issues, mid-day meal scheme and education of handicapped and the SC children.

Training would be supervised by the district and block project coordinator of the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan and the district and block education officers at the block and district level.

Moga, January 16
A young advocate of Moga has come up with an idea of cycling at least twice a week to work as a New Year resolution to save fuel and spread the message among the residents of the town to save the Mother Earth.

Ajay Gulati, the advocate, has fixed a plate by writing ‘save mother earth’ on the front of his cycle so as to spread his message among the people to save fuel and environment.

Initially, he did not know whether his idea would carry on but after months of practice in the year 2009, he has now pledged to go on for the rest of his life. “It is uncomfortable to go on work in the courts on cycle,” he said.

Talking to The Tribune he said that cycling helps to reduce traffic on the busy roads of the town, saves fuel, money, helps avoid accidents and above all maintains good health.

He finds cycling as a stress buster and the best exercise to get rid of extra fat from the body, which also helps boost up stamina.

While sharing his experience on few months of cycling, he said that the people were generally sympathetic towards cyclists in the main market and other busy roads. “I have never been harassed by a traffic policeman unlike the experiences of the car and motorbike riders,” he added.

It may be mentioned that this town also has a living legend, a veteran journalist and advocate Amar Singh, an octogenarian, who never drove scooter or car in his life and throughout his career as a lawyer, he used a cycle to go to the courts.

Ajay, following in his footsteps, has stepped ahead to spread the message among the public to switch over to cycling not just for a sustainable mode of transport but for economic and health gains.

In reply to a question, he said that it was correct that our ego does not allow us to adopt cycle in the society but one needs to destroy ego and take up the challenge to adopt cycling as the best mode of transportation in a small town to protect the environment. 

Bathinda, January 16
The Kaypee loyalists are upbeat over the appreciation that he has received from the Congress high command for enrolling the highest ever number of 32 lakh members of the party in Punjab.

Although enrolment of these members was a collective effort of party activists, but being the PPCC chief, Mohinder Singh Kaypee was being given the credit by his supporters as the membership drive concluded smoothly despite the ruling SAD-BJP combine targeting Congress activists.

PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh Pinki today said Kaypee received appreciation from the central leadership of the party, including union ministers, for the membership going beyond the fixed target. This was possible due to Kaypee’s acceptability to all sections of party in state as well as grass-root level activists.

Pinki said the membership drive was an acid test for Kaypee who successfully met the challenge by carrying all factions along.

It was during Kaypee’s leadership that the Congress succeeded in giving a set back to the BSP in Punjab by causing a dent in its vote bank during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Several prominent persons belonging to weaker sections returned to the Congress fold, he said.

Moreover, Congress candidates snatched many Lok Sabha seats from the SAD and the BJP. The BJP was big sufferer as it was trounced by the Congress in 19 of the 21 assembly segments that its members were representing.

Pinki said Kaypee also proved his acceptability among the NRIs, mostly belonging to the ‘Doaba’ region. Prominent NRIs, including Dr Joginder Singh from Los Angeles, Varinder Singh from Vancouver and Ravi Dhillon from Toronto, have backed Kaypee and assured him support for bringing the Congress back to power in the state.

The PPCC general secretary said with his acumen, Kaypee crossed hurdles and handled properly the warring factions of the party without making any hue and cry.

Kaypee, while talking to TNS, congratulated the party rank and file for surpassing some bigger states in the number of members enrolled.

He said the Congress would not remain a mute spectator to the “harassment” of its activists by the SAD-BJP government.

Mansa, January 16
The Communist party of India (CPI) has decided to stage protests against inflation in Mansa.

The district secretary of the party Buta Singh informed that the CPI would hold dharnas at all the three sub-divisions to mark protest against the rise in prices of essential commodities.

The decision was taken in the district executive committee meeting. The party would hold dharnas at Budhlada on January21, at Mansa on January 22 and at Sardulgarh on January 25, he added.

Meanwhile, the party's Khet Mazdoor Wing would also hold dharna at Mansa on January 18 to support their demand for the proper implementation of the NREGA scheme.

State leaders of the CPI would also address the dharnas.

It is notable that the party was going to hold protests against inflation across the state from January 18-22. 

Mansa, January 16
The CPI (ML) and Radical Peoples Forum have alleged that poor quality of material was being used in the construction of walls near the railway platform, Mansa.

District secretary of the CPI(ML), Bhagwant Singh Sammaon and Radical Peoples Forum leader, Jaspal kokhar, stated that though walls near the railway platform were being constructed for protection but poor quality bricks and other material would not serve the purpose. It was an example of misusing the railway department funds, they added.

They demanded a high-level inquiry of all the construction work near the railway platform, Mansa. Meanwhile, inspector of work, BK Misra, said that poor quality material was not being used and the contractors concerned have been asked to use the best quality material for the construction of the protection walls. — OC

Bathinda, January 16
Once again the in-fighting among members turned the Mahabir Ashram of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Mahabir Dal, Bathinda, into a battleground.

Members of the society, including some elderly, not only indulged in mudslinging but also attacked each other using abusive language. There was so much show of aggression that the district administration had to deploy heavy force to control the situation.

After a long verbal duel, one faction of the society led by KK Garg, claiming to be office- bearers, passed a resolution against seven persons including former SAD minister Charanji Lal Garg for the suspension of their primary membership from society.

Later, claiming that 21 members were in their group, they submitted an application to the DC Rahul Tewari to check the ‘illegal’ intervention of Garg in the affairs of the Dal.

Referring to the election of the Dal, that took place in February last year, they claimed their right to governance over the society and accused Garg and his fellows of adopting non-democratic ways to capture the office from them.

On the other hand, Garg and his supporters flatly denied to abide by the suspension orders and claimed that the rival group had no right to pass such a resolution as many of them did not even possess the membership of the society.

They alleged that one Banarsi Dass Goyal, who was leading the rival group, and was claiming to be the general secretary of the Dal, had already been expelled from the Dal on charges of corruption.

Meanwhile, speaking in favour of Charanji Lal Garg, his councillor son, Rajan Garg claimed his father was the elected president of the Dal and added that the election was authenticated by the state committee of the Dal.

Targeting his rivals, Rajan said the committee, formed under the leadership of his father, had initiated various development works in a transparent way, which was irritating their rivals.

Sources in the Dal informed that the tussle over the leadership was a matter of prestige in the city as properties and institutions (worth crores) were managed under the banner of Sanatan Dharam Mahavir Dal.

Meanwhile, sources informed that Charanji Lal Garg was being indirectly targeted by his rivals in his party, SAD, who allegedly back the other group in the Mahavir Dal to throw him out of the Dal.

When contacted, DC Rahul Tewari expressed his inability to personally intervene in the affairs of the society but maintained, “Wherever a question of law and order would arise, there would be no compromise.”

Bathinda, January 16
The Bathinda and Talwandi Sabo units of the Tarksheel Society, Punjab, today asked the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister to initiate a legal action under the Cable Television Network Regulation Act, 1995, against the TV channels that were telecasting programmes like “Raj Pichhle Janam Ka” and spreading superstitions in the society.

Both units have asked the minister to impose ban on such programmes immediately in the larger interests of the society.

In support of their demand, the society units also submitted a memorandum to the Bathinda deputy commissioner-cum-chairman of the District Cable Network Monitoring Committee today. The members also asked the deputy commissioner to give the Tarksheels representation in the District Cable Network Monitoring Committee so that they could also present their views at the meetings of the committee.

Organisation head of the Bathinda unit of the society Baljinder Singh also demanded ban on the advertisements being shown through Cable TV regarding palmists and tantriks (wizards).

Leaders of the society said under the Act, a person could be awarded two years of imprisonment for telecasting programmes promoting superstitions. The society members said the programme “Raj Pichhle Janam Ka” was totally unscientific. 

Chandigarh, January 16
In the year gone by, Ludhiana topped the list of districts for the highest number of fatal road accidents followed by Patiala. On the other hand, Muktsar recorded the least number of road accidents in 2009 followed by Faridkot.

Contrary to popular belief that almost every district in Punjab was equally unsafe, the latest report of the Punjab Governance Reform Commission (PGRC) has suggested a huge variation in road traffic across the state with districts like Ludhiana recording almost seven times more fatal accidents as compared to Muktsar.

According to the report, five districts of Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar, Patiala and Barnala were highly prone to fatal accidents.

Incidentally, Kapurthala topped the “road accident per one lakh population”, only to be followed by Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib - otherwise known to be small and peaceful districts. Traffic management has been put as one of the major challenges before the government as the “existing infrastructure has become dysfunctional leading to the widespread violation of traffic rules”.

According to the data provided by the PGRC of the first three quarters (from January 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009), Ludhiana recorded 604 fatal accidents in 2009, followed by Patiala that had 500, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur reported 347 and 304 accidents. In all, the state had 4,652 cases of fatal accidents till the end of September, which would had further gone up by another 25 per cent by the end of the fourth quarter i.e. December 31.

The PGRC Chairman, Dr Parmod Kumar, said the main reason for the high rate of accidents was due to “increased reliance of the people on personalised transport modes such as cars, two-wheelers and non-motorised transport modes such as bicycles. Along with this, there has been a preponderance of the private transport modes such as tricycles, auto-rickshaws, tempos, and negligible presence of public transport within the cities”.

A large number of drivers of motorised vehicles are untrained. This gets compounded by the large number of illiterate drivers.

All this produces anarchy on the roads, the report reads.

Further, the high accidental casualties have been attributed to driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol and drugs, rash driving and the lack of medical facilities along the highways.

The report mentions that enforcement of traffic rules and road-safety norms were compromised. These include not wearing seat belts, violation of traffic signals etc.

With increased mobility, road users like cyclists, motorcyclists were compromised. Also, pedestrians proved to be more prone to injuries as compared to four-wheeler owners.

Bathinda, January 16
The Technical Services Union (TSU) on Friday provided financial aid to the families of all four volunteers of the labour and farmers' unions, who allegedly lost their lives during protest against PSEB unbundling lodged at Chandigarh on September 8 last year.

Giving details, district president of the BKU (Ekta) Shingara Singh Mann said the TSU leaders handed over Rs 40,000 in cash to each of the bereaved families during a joint rally of the BKU (Ekta) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor union at Chanarthal village. — TNS

Abohar, January 16
The Dahiya Sports Club, Sonepat, studded with international cricketer Joginder Sharma, has entered the final of the IFFCO Cup Twenty-20 National Cricket tournament.

The city police had a tough time in controlling the crowd as the cricket lovers struggled to have a close glimpse of Joginder Sharma at the Nehru Stadium here.

Batting first, Shah Satnam Academy, Sirsa, scored 127 for loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Sonepat achieved the given target at loss of five wickets with Sunny contributing 54.

He was declared man of the match. Earlier, in the quarter-final match, Baba Deep Singh Club, Patiala, defeated the REC Chandigarh by seven wickets. REC was all out for 117 even as Hari Kishan Kali contributed 54 runs.