Bathinda, January 29
The staff of district rural development agencies (DRDAs) has accused the Planning Commission of India of not releasing adequate funds under 
the DRDA administration scheme to the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) for running the DRDAs in a smooth manner through out the country.

The All India DRDA Staff Welfare Association also alleged that the Planning Commission was putting pressure on the MoRD to wind up the DRDAs as well as the DRDA administration scheme which was completely against the Union Cabinet's decision and assurance given by the Central government in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha in the past.

According to the data, made available by the association, the Central allocation of funds as per entitlement (guidelines) was more as compared to the released amount to the MoRD for the DRDAs.

In the year 2005-06, the Central allocation of funds as per entitlement (guidelines) was more than Rs 337 crore while a sum of only Rs 235 crore was released to the MoRD.

Likewise in the year 2006-07, the Central allocation as per entitlement was more than Rs 356 crore but only Rs 240 crore was released. In 2007-08, an amount of Rs 250 crore was released against entitlement of about Rs 375 crore and in 2008-09 a sum of Rs 292 crore was released against entitlement of Rs 402 crore. However, during 2009-10 against entitlement of about Rs 435 crore, the Central allocation (budget estimate) is only Rs 250 crore.

National president of the All India DRDA Staff Welfare Association Sadhu Ram Kusla said here today that due to non-release of adequate funds the salaries had not been paid for several months to the employees of the DRDAs in a large number of DRDAs in various parts of the country.

He said in such circumstances, how they could expect the payment of the revised 
payscales and the retirement benefits.

Kusla said there were about 20,000 employees, working in the DRDAs through out the country, and had been implementing centrally sponsored schemes for the upliftment of poor rural people and generating employment for them for the past four decades.

He said in protest against the attitude of the Planning Commission towards the DRDAs, a large number of employees of the DRDAs from across the country would stage a mass dharna and relay fast from March 16 to March 20 at Parliament Street in New Delhi. 

Bathinda, January 29
Dayal Dass Sodhi was unanimously elected district president (Bathinda rural) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a meeting held at Bhucho Kalan village today.

State president of the BJP Yuva Morcha Vivek Maudgil, who conducted the election as district returning officer, declared Sodhi elected.

Talking to this reporter Maudgil said he had received only one nomination form for the election to the post of district president (Bathinda rural) while all the persons, present at the meeting, gave their consent in one voice in favour of Sodhi.

At the time of election the presidents of all eight blocks, eight district delegates, members of the core committee and a large number of party workers were present, he added.

Sodhi become the district president (rural) for the second consecutive term. — TNS

Bathinda, January 29
Local Lehri Nagrik Welfare Club organised a seminar on “The role of media to stop female foeticide” on the premises of Khalsa Girls College here yesterday.

Renowned author Dr Harshinder Kaur was the key-note speaker while Dr Joram Beda, assistant commissioner (under training) was the chief guest at the seminar.

Dr Harshinder Kaur lauded the role of media in drawing attention of the people towards the social evil of female foeticide at the national level as well as the international level. She also said that in place of giving coverage to the achievements of the girls on district-level local pages of newspapers, the achievements of the girls should be highlighted at the Punjab as well as national pages.

Dr Harshinder also asked the girls to become brave instead of becoming poor girls, so that no body could exploit them by considering them as weak.

Dr Joram Beda appealed to the people to eradicate the social evil of female foeticide from the society. He also termed the killing of girls in wombs as a shameful act and a blot on the society.

Principal of the college Dr Devinder Kaur Mann, senior vice president of the club Harbans Singh Lehri and others also spoke on the occasion. 

Bathinda, January 29
Gurpreet Singh Maluka, Managing Director, Central Cooperative Bank Limited, Bathinda, on Friday honoured management committee and staff of the Bhai Rupa Patti Kangar Agriculture Cooperative Society Limited, Bhai Rupa, as this society has secured first position in the state for giving better services to the people.

On the occasion, Maluka said the society had provided employment to 20 persons directly or indirectly so far. He further said the society had also set an example for other agriculture cooperative societies of the district on giving better services to the people . — TNS