Chandigarh, March 3
The Punjab Budget session will start tomorrow afternoon with Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil highlighting the agenda of the SAD-BJP government in its fourth year.

Hectic political activity is on in the ruling camp as well as the Opposition to chalk out a strategy for participation in the session that will go on till March 24. Half way through the session, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal will present the state’s annual Budget on March 16.

It is expected that the Budget deficit for 2009-10 pegged at Rs 4,233.92 crore may come down on account of the resource mobilisation of Rs 4,000 crore as suggested by the Kali-Sukhbir Committee.

Besides the state’s fiscal health, the recent abrasions in the law and order situation and increasing fault lines in the state’s social fabric will be highlighted by the Opposition.

Besides, the House could also see the tabling of the report of the Privilege Committee that inquired into the role of leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal into an incident of vandalism during the last session.

Sources in both parties suggested that besides the issue of “Dera violence,” the Congress was also aiming to target the Speaker of the House, Nirmal Singh Kahlon, for what the Congress perceives to be a “biased” role.

The Congress has summoned a meeting of the members of its legislative party prior to the session to work out a detailed strategy, while the SAD-BJP legislators will meet after the session.

Sources inside the Congress said, there was a difference of opinion over the strategy of agitating in houses versus taking the ruling alliance head-on various issues facing the state. The major issues that are likely to be taken up during the session include allocation of funds for education and health of the poor, neglect of urban infrastructure during the past three years by the ruling alliance, menace of drugs, etc.

The government could also bring in legislation for punishing those indulging in violence with a provision to recover the loss from those found guilty and convicted by courts to prevent damage to public and private property. The draft of the legislation is yet to be given a final shape.

On the other hand, the SAD-BJP alliance is working out a strategy to raise the issue of price rise and increase in the prices of petrol and diesel to embarrass the Congress. And to appease the masses, the SAD-BJP Budget is likely to target Dalits, women, education and health sectors. It is now to be seen what kind of a balancing act is performed by the Finance Minister to present a people’s Budget after the Kalia-Sukhbir report has already announced many measures for revenue collection.

The forthcoming Budget session is also likely to see a Bill that will increase the salaries and perks of legislators. The Bill has been pending since the last two sessions.

It was introduced in the last session and then suddenly withdrawn at the last moment.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tikshan Sud is keen to bring in a legislation that makes it mandatory for a legislator who has asked a question to be present in the House when the question is taken up.

The logic behind this is that it costs the government huge amount of money to prepare a question and if the legislator is not present in the House to ask the question, the entire effort of preparing the reply and the money spent in terms of human resource is wasted. But it will only be clear in the coming days if such legislation is possible in this Vidhan Sabha session.

Chandigarh, March 3
Rattled by successive law and order situations which have resulted in a political battering, the SAD-BJP government has decided to wield the stick against religious bodies which take law in their hands and as well as those who strike to blackmail the government into accepting their demands.

The first to face the heat will be followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda with the state police arresting over 100 persons accused of indulging in organised rioting.

An intelligence department official said all these persons had been booked and that the law would take its own course in their case.

Intelligence sources are clear that the reaction of dera followers was not simultaneous. In fact, the intelligence wing was taken off guard as the case against the dera head was registered on April 22 while the violence “erupted” on April 28. The decisive action taken by the government now clearly points out to a change in tactics indicating that no one rioting in the name of religion will be let off in the future.

DGP PS Gill has passed orders to all district police chiefs to take stern action wherever necessary on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In this case, separate associations demanding jobs in the Education Department had also been targeted. These include self-styled associations that have collected together demanding government jobs.

The Punjab Police has struck decisively against such associations, including the Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) certificate holders, Substitute Computer Teachers and dismissed ETT teachers.

Tents put up by these associations in Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur’s constituency in Kapurthala have been removed and the government has decided not to allow them to agitate in this manner.

It has taken this stand against these associations after all talks held with them by Upinderjit Kaur as well as CM Parkash Singh Badal failed.

ETT certificate holders from Punjab and Jammu, who have formed separate associations, were demanding that the government recruit all 15,000 of them. The government has only 3,425 vacancies.

In case of substitute computer teachers as well as dismissed teachers, both have been clearly told that they will not be recruited under any circumstances. Computer teachers failed to improve their qualifications despite four chances while ETT teachers were dismissed for submitted fake experience certificates.

Sources said the manner in which the state police would react in case of disturbances would depend on the issue involved but what was clear was that none would be allowed to blackmail the government.

The government has also received flak for “giving in” to certain groups and the police has now been directed to ensure firm and quick action in case of any group clash.

Chandigarh, March 3
The Punjab Law Commission has recommended the abolition of the system of stamp papers in the state, advising the state to evolve alternative methods of payment of court fee and stamp duty.

In a report submitted by the commission Chairman Justice Amarbir Singh Gill to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Law Minister, the commission has observed, “In order to save the government of huge costs on printed judicial and non-judicial stamps and commission to vendors and to prevent unnecessary wastage of time of the public on purchasing and affixation of stamp papers, the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and the Court Fee Act, 1870, be suitably amended as State Amendment for payment of stamp duty on instruments and court fee on documents to be filed in Courts by alternative modes of payment, namely demand drafts, banker’s cheques, pay orders, postal orders, treasury challans or in cash. The stamp duty and court fee amounts should also be in round figures.”

“These amendments will go a long way in minimising the unnecessary hardship being faced by the litigants in Courts and would also check black-marketing and the superficial shortage created by unscrupulous stamp vendors. It shall considerably reduce the expenditure of the state,” adds the report.

At present, court fee is required to be paid at the rate of 15 paise on certain instruments. The procedure of affixation and cancellation of adhesive stamps on documents is quite obsolete and time consuming. “When the state government is looking forward to have e-governance in its day-to-day business, such outdated modes of payment of court fees and duty on instruments, like stamp papers, need to be replaced,” observes Justice Gill in his report.

The commission has also acknowledged the contribution of advocate HC Arora of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the subject. “Keeping in view your valuable suggestions, the Punjab Law Commission has finalised its report on the subject.”

Chandigarh, March 3
Big investments and mega projects were on the SAD-BJP government agenda in its three-year rule in the state, but it has been found wanting in managing finances, wasted time in finding a real-time solution to the issue of subsidies, failed to take a decision on unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and has not been able to make its party cadre understand that governance is not about distributing loaves of the office.

In fact, governance did take a beating for a large part of this three-year term, which has also been marked by the emergence of Sukhbir Singh Badal as the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the heir apparent to CM Parkash Singh Badal. His entry has infused dynamism in both the party and the government.

The SAD-BJP government planned big with senior Badal allowing his son Sukhbir to give it direction. Junior Badal chose to go with mega projects in an attempt to leave his stamp on the state. He almost lost the plot midway with recession hitting mega projects and even burying a few of them. However, the state has ridden over the rough patch now and the SAD-BJP combine is again banking upon these projects to score at the hustings.

A major victory has been the revival of the Bathinda refinery project likely to be completed in one year. Besides, power projects at Talwandi Sabo and Goindwal Sahib, which had been delayed for long, are firming up. The government has recently even been able to give a third project at Rajpura to Larsen and Toubro. Major bus terminal projects at Mohali and Bathinda have got off to a start. Similarly, the government has met with success with its civil aviation projects as well as in the setting up of an IIT in Ropar.

On the negative side has been the government’s indecisiveness on subsidies as well as delay in unbundling the PSEB. This had led the PSEB into a debt trap. The government has also taken very long to mop up needed funds and the Sukhbir-Kalia panel suggested some measures that have already been recommended by the Centre and have been implemented in other states.

The state is still showing no inclination to mobilise resources in a serious manner, as it is afraid of upsetting various sections of society. It is only left with falling back on excise and revenue collections that are likely to peak soon. There is a serious rethink on in the SAD-BJP combine as to what is the model for success. Whether mega projects will take the combine through in the next elections or better governance. 

Bathinda, March 3
In protest against the non-implementation of the agreement, reached between the Punjab Agriculture Minister and the farmers on July 20 last in connection with paddy planters, members and activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) led by district president Baldev Singh Sandoha started an indefinite dharna at the office of the Chief Agriculture Officer here today.

Talking to the TNS, Sandoha said according to the agreement, the state government had to pay Rs 1 lakh each as subsidy on paddy planters, Rs 50,000 as compensation to farmers for the damaged crop due to use of faulty paddy planters, and return of excess payment, worth Rs 50,000, which had been taken from the farmers by the sellers of paddy planters.

Sandoha said talks had been held between the union and the Chief Agricultural Officer here today to resolve the matter but to no avail, as the officer could not give any assurance to them regarding the implementation of the agreement.

Chandigarh, March 3
The Punjab Government today notified an “affidavit-free regime” announcing the replacement of affidavits with a self-attested declaration for all need-based services, purposes of admission to educational institutions and for all areas where a legal document is not essential. This marks the beginning of the implementation of the first phase of the recommendations of the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission.

As per the three-page notification issued to all deputy commissioners and heads of institutions by Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal, a clear directive has been issued to ensure compliance with the orders for all requirements after April 1, 2010, and preferably to ensure a complete switchover by April 30, but in no case beyond three months.

The notification reads that at present affidavits of the applicants / guardians are required for various need-based certificates relating to residence/domicile/kandi/SCs /BCs, etc. In some cases, affidavits are prescribed under the statutory rules and Acts. In some cases, public notaries are allowed to attest the same whereas in the case of others, only executive magistrates are empowered. The government has decided to do away with all affidavits, except where required under the law.

As a substitute, the government has introduced a self-attesting form that will contain a self-declaration by the submitting person after affixing his / her photograph. This form will be available from all Suvidha Kendras and the deputy commissioners have been asked to ensure the availability of such a form by April 1.

In cases where the statutory rules provide for affidavits (eg by law for the approval of new construction / water supply connection in municipal areas), the bylaws may be amended.

Chairman of the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission Parmod Kumar said the commission had submitted its recommendations to the government.

Patiala, March 3
Buckling under the pressure of officials and employees of the Punjab Forest Department, the state government has decided to maintain a status quo on the decision pertaining to the termination/demotion of officials/employees, who were associated with the Japan Bank of International Co-operation Scheme (JBICS). Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal convened a meeting in this regard with senior officials of the Forest Department and Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Punjab, Tikshan Sud this evening.

It was announced that the government had decided to put the matter on hold and now the matter would be tabled before the Punjab cabinet.

With an assistance of Rs 408 crore from the Japan bank, the Punjab government had launched JBICS in 1997. Under the said scheme, the state government had made an agreement to bear the expenditures, including salaries of the employees and administrative expenses. But, as the scheme ended on February 28, future of about 300 employees/officials of the forest department became bleak.

The government yesterday decided that officials, who were given a one-up promotion, would be reverted to their previous posts and employees appointed on contract would be axed.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Forests Coordination Committee (PFCC) convened a meeting today and decided to go on strike tomorrow, if the government fails to withdraw the said orders. 

Patiala, March 3
The recent advertisement campaign of the Punjab government “Modernising Roads, Modernising Punjab” today came under criticism with senior Congress leaders accusing the SAD-BJP government of taking credit of the projects, which in reality had been initiated by the Congress-led UPA government.

Accusing the state government of misleading people of Punjab by issuing factually wrong advertisements, the Congress has sought an explanation from it during the State Assembly session, scheduled to start from tomorrow.

AICC member and Samana MLA Brahm Mohindra has also written a letter in this regard to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

To mark the completion of three years of the SAD-BJP government, full-page advertisements were published in various newspapers, in which the government had taken credit of kicking off about seven mega projects pertaining to the Expressways and Highways in the state.

Some projects include Rs 1500 crore Shambhu-Jalandhar Highway, Rs 298 crore Zirakpur-Ambala Highway, Rs 468 crore four laning of Dhilwan-Amritsar and Amritsar-Attari Highway.

Reacting sharply to these, Brahm Mohindra said: “Except for the Rs 225 crore four laning of Ludhiana-Malerkotla Highway project and Rs 124 crore Landran-Kharar and Kharar-Desu Majra Highway project, rest are being undertaken by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and credit goes to the UPA government.”

The letter addressed to Badal, a copy of which is with The Tribune further mentions: “By issuing misleading advertisements, the state government had wasted funds from the public exchequer.”

Meanwhile, director Public Relations, Punjab, Gagandeep Singh Brar admitted that some projects mentioned in the advertisement were being undertaken by the NHAI. He, however, justified the advertisements stating that all projects pertaining to the state would obviously be considered as the state government’s projects. 

Chandigarh, March 3
Rich tributes were paid to the doyen of the Punjabi culture, visionary litterateur, scientist and above all a great son of the soil Dr MS Randhawa at the Randhawa auditorium by his family members, members and office-bearers of the newly constituted Punjab Arts Council here today.

The occasion was graced by Iqbal Kaur, wife of the legend, daughter Asha from Canada, and other members of the family Ranjit Singh, Satinder and Jatinder S Randhawa. Veteran HS Bhattey, Harjinder Kaur, Rajpal Singh, Ranjodh Singh and others shared their lively moments spent with Dr Randhawa.

Two busts, in bronze and in fibre, of the legend originally created by the invincible painting maestro Sardar Sobha Singh were installed at the Punjab arts council building. Gurcharan Kaur Andhretta, daughter of Sobha Singh, too graced the moment.

Of late, after a hiatus of over an year, the 29-member body of the council has been finally constituted and notified. As declared earlier, Sardarni Harjinder Kaur is the chairperson, while S Harvinder Singh Khalsa ( Bathinda) and S Hardip Singh are the vice-chairman and secretary general, respectively.

Sufi maestro Hans Raj Hans ( Jalandhar), artist Ranjodh Singh (Ludhiana) and Prof Rajpal Singh (Mohali) are respective presidents of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademy, Punjab Lailt Kala Akademy and Punjab Sahit Akademy.

Former Secretary-General of the council for two terms and newly nominated president of the Punjab Sahit Akademy, however, expressed more surprise than gratitude for his nomination.

Rajpal Singh, though a life-long student of literature admiring the indelible contribution of literary stalwarts Surjit Patar, Dalip Kaur Tiwana and indomitable Gurdial Singh to Punjabi literature, said: “I am too small a person to be considered for the post.

Mahuana (Muktsar), March 3
If Punjabi taxi drivers are a universal community, it is not just because of their passion for driving but it also stems from their inherent quality of independent lifestyle.

Using these traits to improve employability of the Punjabi youth, the state government in collaboration with Tata Motors has come out with a unique school, the first of its type in the region and fourth in the country, where driving as well as automotive trade skills are honed under observant eyes of experts.

“Even those aspiring to go abroad can benefit a lot by completing one of the eight courses the school offer. From driving heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, to earth movers, excavators and loaders, they can gain expertise in electrical and electronic mechanics and welding, besides other areas,” says Iqbal Singh, an alumnus of Thapar Institute of Engineering, who looks after the school in the absence of Director-Principal RS Aulakh.

Spread over 14 acres of land on the Malout-Dabwali Road, this self sufficient institute has a modern workshop complex, testing track, computerised driving test and hostel. The training track has not only four-lane driving tracks, but also hilly terrain, blind curves, filing station sidings and traffic lights. While the government has spent Rs 15 crore towards creation of infrastructure, TATA motors have chipped in with inputs for designing the course content, technical assistance and know-how, guidance, vehicles, including truck, bus and earth movers both with right hand and left hand driving, training aggregates and teaching aids.

“The basic philosophy of the school is to train drivers and automotive experts by developing in them the right attitude for safe driving. The courses are recognised by the Directorate of Technical Education. A pass out from the school in driving course gets driving licence straightway,” Iqbal said.

“All courses designed for the institute enhance employability of all students. It has the latest equipment, including computers, cut outs of automotive engines, gearboxes, besides a chassis for the benefit of students, he said.

The school charges Rs 18,000 a year as fee and provides a room at Rs 200 per month with messing charges extra. Classrooms, seminar rooms and a library are all part of the main administrative complex.

“For the time being, we do not have any girl students. Local girls are welcome to join the courses as we have no hostel facilities for them,” says Iqbal, adding that a majority of students from one of the trades have already been employed while they are about to finish their course.

Jalandhar, March 3
Employees of the government-recognised aided schools have not received their salaries for the past five months. “We have not got our salaries after September last year,” said a teacher employed in an aided school. There are about 7,500 teaching and non-teaching employees in the aided schools for which 95 per cent grant-in-aid is given by the state government.

As the new academic session is about to start in a few weeks, employees say they need money to pay the admission fee and other charges of their wards to admit them in educational institutions. Moreover, money is also required to apply for appearing in the various entrance tests on the basis of which admission is made in the engineering, medical and other professional colleges. While the state was spending lakhs of rupees to celebrate the completion of its three years, it had failed to give even salary to the employees of aided schools in time. “There is no use of basking in the fake glory when it is not even able to discharge its basic job of giving salaries,” said the teacher. 

Chandigarh, March 3
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a news item “Getting drugs easier in jail” published in these columns on February 26 and has called for a report from the state government through the DGP (Jails), Punjab, Chandigarh , by April 16, 2010.

It was reported that there is a well-oiled system of peddling drugs inside the Central Jail, Amritsar. Some of the inmates are involved in it. It also stated that the system might be working well within the knowledge of the authorities or with their connivance or even involvement. It is stated that jails are a haven for the drug addicts. It had also pointed out that even cellphones are being freely used by the inmates.

Commission members added in their orders that earlier also, such complaints had been received and referred to the Jail Department for reports, but every time the allegations were refuted.