Moga, March 10
Exposing the functioning of the Social Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat departments, a criminal case has been registered against Jaswant Kaur Bhatti, woman Sarpanch of Kot-ise-Khan village of Moga, on the charges of alleged irregularities in the release of old-age and widow pensions in the name of dead and missing persons by ignoring the actual beneficiaries.

The scam was highlighted by The Tribune in a report, “Fraud in pension scheme comes to light in Moga village” on July 28 last year.

Talking to The Tribune, SSP of Moga Ashok Bath said the case had been registered against her in the Kot-ise-Khan police station under Section 409, IPC, on Wednesday evening on a complaint filed by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. However, no arrest was made when the report was last filed.

As per the details available, Pushpa Rani, a resident of the village, died on December 21, 2007, but the village panchayat continued to release her pension till March 2009. Similarly, Kartar Kaur died on May 28, 2008, Mahinder Kaur on November 10, 2008, Harbans Kaur on October 20, 2008, Munshi Ram on January 6, 2009, and Janki Dass on February 15, 2009, but the panchayat continued to release their pensions even after their death by fraudulent means.

As many as three women identified as Sumitra Devi, Roop Rani and Shanti Devi of Kot-ise-Khan village had been missing for the past many months but the pensions were being released against their names by the village sarpanch in manipulation with some panchayat members.

In an inquiry conducted by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, in some cases, the panchayat had also denied pension to eligible persons. One Baljit Kaur said she had received her pension only once in the year 2008-2009. And, there were many people like her, who did not get pension on time.

When the scam came to light, the names of beneficiaries were not displayed on the gram panchayat notice board even as it was mandatory as per the government guidelines. Four panchayat members of the village, Harmel Singh, Balram Sharma, Asha Rani and Gurveer Kaur, in a written complaint to the department had earlier alleged that the woman Sarpanch of the village, Jaswant Kaur, had taken the pension money by putting fake thumb impressions of the dead and missing persons on papers.

As per the government guidelines, the pensions should be released in the presence of the members of the seven-member sub-committee constituted by the gram panchayat but this mandatory provision had hardly been practised at the ground level by the Sarpanch, alleged these panchayat members. 

Patiala, March 10
It would be a tough summer season ahead for the people of Punjab, if the present power scenario in the state is any indication. The imposition of 3 to 4 hour power cuts in the state today has given a clear indication that power situation in the state would worsen in coming days.

Though the PSEB authorities had been maintaining that it would ensure an uninterrupted power supply, the latest demand and supply figures of power shows that people would have to sweat out in the summer season.

All districts of the state today experienced two- three hour power cuts. The duration of power cuts in some districts was 3.5 hours, whereas nearly six districts, including Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, witnessed 4.5-hour cut.

As per data available, against the demand of 1,095 lakh units, the availability is 990 lakh units. Out of the available 990 lakh units, the PSEB is giving 90 lakh units towards the banking, which means a shortfall of almost 200 lakh units.

PSEB officials said because of the shortfall of 200 lakh units, power cuts varying from 3.5-4 hours were imposed in the state today. They further informed that two thermal units - one at Bathinda and other at Ropar, are currently not operational, which had led to a shortfall of 100 lakh units. “One unit of the Bathinda thermal plant is closed for maintenance and will take another two-three days to start functioning. One unit of the Ropar thermal plant has developed a technical snag and take time to become operational,” said a PSEB spokesman.

The maximum demand of power had touched the figure of 2,300 lakh units last year. According to PSEB functionaries, this time demand may witness an increase. “Considering the present power situation in the state, it is unlikely to meet the power demand in the summer season,” said a senior PSEB official.

Jalandhar, March 10
The Punjab Civil Medical Service-Class I (PCMS-I) Association has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to order a time-bound inquiry into the alleged PCMS doctors recruitment scam reported by The Tribune.

Rejecting the Chief Secretary-level Inquiry, the association general secretary DC Sharma said it would serve no useful purpose. Keeping in view the magnitude of the scam, at least a CBI inquiry should be ordered. As well connected and powerful men were involved in the scam, the CBI would be the right agency to deal with such persons.

Terming this scam as a big shame, the association has demanded that till the completion of this inquiry, recruitment of all 312 doctors, recently recommended by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), should be held in abeyance. Their joining reports should be withheld, since a large number of selected doctors were allegedly academically much below average and a vast majority of the meritorious and deserving candidates had been rejected.

“Moreover, some doctors, who had been allegedly selected, even before the interviews, were wards or close relatives of powerful elite, including bureaucrats, former judges and other well-connected people. There were allegations of exchange of huge amounts of money for these jobs. Any inquiry by the Chief Secretary of the state government may prove to be a mere eye wash rather than un-covering the truth,” said Sharma.

The association has also questioned the demand for recruitment of 312 doctors in two batches of 100 and 212, especially when about 480 posts of PCMS-I doctors out of a total sanctioned strength of 3,561, were still vacant even after the recruitment of these 312 doctors.

The government should have gone for the recruitment of at least 750 doctors in one go as had been done in the 1970s and later several times. It would have given wider chances of selections to the applicants and possibly reduced the chances of corruption.

Dr DC Sharma said the PCMS-I Association was not in favour of selection of doctors through a departmental selection committee as the PPSC, which was a constitutional body, not only selected doctors but also a large number of other officers. “If the credibility of the commission has reached such a low ebb, then it needs a major surgery rather than a temporary palliative treatment,” said Sharma. Till the completion of the inquiry, all work from the PPSC should be withdrawn.

For future recruitment of doctors, it should be merit alone which should be the sole criteria of selection. Though the screening test was also not foolproof keeping in view the paper leaks even in the PMET, yet the online screening test should be introduced on the pattern of ECFMG ( US entry test). There should be no marks for the interview and even for extra-curricular activities with chances of certificates being bogus many a time. The selection criteria should be based on marks in academics with equal weightage to marks in the screening test and the MBBS and a disincentive for each attempt beyond three in passing the MBBS course.

Chandigarh, March 10
Continuing with a strong anti-Centre tirade, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today defended the Governor’s address and blamed many of the state’s ills on discriminatory and anti-federal policies of the union. Concluding the debate on the Governor’s address on behalf of the leader of the House, Sukhbir performed well in blunting the tirade of a surcharged Opposition.

Concluding the debate on the thanks motion to the Governor’s address, in which policies and programmes of the SAD-BJP government had been highlighted, Sukhbir made a passionate and fervent speech touching various issues that are perceived as “injustice done to Punjab”.

Starting with the Centre going back on the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab to backtracking on riparian principles, he highlighted the achievements of his government in comparison to the long Congress rule.

Unfazed by interruptions caused by the Opposition by raising repeated “point of orders”, a smiling Sukhbir simply responded by saying, “If you exercise some patience, all your queries will be answered.”

Showing maturity like his father, he refused to be proved or drawn into any argument, forcing Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira to comment: “We must appreciate the smile he has maintained. SAD-BJP legislators at least learn to smile from their leader”.

Sukhbir adopted a strategy of remaining confined to highlighting the achievements of the SAD-BJP government during its current term starting three years ago. “Out of the taxes collected by the Centre, only 30 per cent are returned to the states, out of which Punjab receives only 1.34 per cent for development. Yet, Punjab has done exceedingly well in terms of development of infrastructure, roads - after the functioning of the Mohali and Bathinda airports, three of the 16 international airports in the country will be in Punjab, boosting development further in this land-locked state,” he told the House.

Making an emotional appeal to the Opposition, Sukhbir asked them to join all Punjabis to seek justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “The Congress says forget the past. How can a child who saw his father being burnt alive or a husband who saw his wife raped forget that the killers in the carnage are still moving about freely. Punjab will not forget till the criminals are brought to justice,” he said, promising to support the cause of such victims till a logical conclusion.

Sending a strong message about his government’s commitment to maintain law and order in the state, the Deputy CM, who is also heads the Home Department said, “The government has already indicated that it will soon bring in legislation where those indulging in arson and destruction will have to pay for the damage.” He said the state intelligence was being revamped and the police was being modernised to have special security guards (SSG) on the pattern of the NSG to deal with emergency security situations.

Sukhbir sought a genuine federal structure in the country where states had greater political and fiscal autonomy. He pointed out that during the current year, Punjab would go all out for governance reforms making at least 324 services easier and less cumbersome for the people.

Later, the House passed with voice vote the motion of thanks to the Governors address that was proposed by Bikram Singh Majithia, a SAD MLA, and seconded by Surjit Kumar Jyani of the BJP.

Chandigarh, March 10
The Punjab Congress staged a walkout from the Vidhan Sabha during the zero hour today to protest against the “illegal” manner in which government properties worth thousands of crores were being disposed off and the government’s refusal to order an inquiry into the issue.

The zero hour also saw Amarjit Singh Shahi of the SAD raising the issue of increase of salary of legislators, saying a resolution in this regard had been passed in the last Assembly session.

Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon assured the member that he had spoken to the Chief Minister on the issue and that the latter had committed to increase the salaries of the legislators.

However, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal while saying that he will “obey the command” of the Speaker asked members to remember that they were in politics for public service and not for salaries.

The Speaker also intervened after Balbir Singh Baht of the SAD claimed that the unfair selection of doctors by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) recently was a shame. He demanded that an inquiry be held into the entire issue and the guilty be punished.

The Speaker said since the PPSC was a constitutional authority, he would call the Advocate-General to the Assembly tomorrow and inquire what could be done in the case.

Later, Congress legislator and former minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi while raising the issue of the sale of government properties claimed that various government properties were being sold and the money collected was not being deposited in the consolidated fund.

Giving details of the properties, Rana Sodhi said 40 acres of land in Rajpura had been transferred to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) with an intention of being sold to private parties.

He said similarly, hotels and shopping malls were being planned on 65 acres of land at the Burlton Park in Jalandhar, which was being used as a playground.

The legislator demanded that the government should hold an inquiry into the entire gamut of sale of government properties by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court or from the CBI.

He said the sale of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences at Jalandhar should also be covered under this inquiry.

With no response from the treasury Benches on the issue, Congress legislators led by their leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal marched to the Well of the House and started raising slogans against the government.

Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon tried to pacify them but to no failing any response from the government they staged a walkout.

Chandigarh, March 10
One inquiry request required just a suggestion in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today. The other required intense persuasion. Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sood readily agreed to inquire into the causes for spread of cancer in the state. Agriculture Minister Suchha Singh Langah required persuasion to agree to an inquiry into a road project being undertaken in Mansa district. Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon was behind both interventions during question hour.

The Speaker intervened on the issue of cancer that was raised jointly by Sukhpal Khaira and Charanjit Singh Channi following which other members also expressed the need for a survey on the spread of the disease as well as better means to fight it.

Earlier Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, while detailing the steps taken to fight cancer, said a mammography unit had been installed at the Bathinda civil hospital. She said similarly super specialty hospitals for cancer and trauma care were being established on the premises of the Mohali Civil Hospital.

Chawla said a regional cancer centre was under construction at Guru Nanak Hospital at Amritsar and that a brachytherapy machine had been installed at Patiala. She said similarly cobalt source for treatment of cancer patients had been installed at Amritsar.

Tikshan Sood while speaking about the work done in the medical colleges of the state, said radiotherapy and chemeotherapy were being conducted at Patiala and would be operational at Amritsar and Patiala very soon.

Members, however, expressed the need for more in this regard. Sunil Jakhar of the Congress urged that the Fortis hospital at Mohali, which had the required infrastructure to attend to cancer patients, should be again brought under the ambit of the Bhai Kanhaiya insurance scheme.

Charanjit Singh Channy said around 6,000 people were suffering from the disease in the state and that the government should provide free treatment for them. He said use of pesticides and polluted water could also be the cause for the spread of the disease and should be investigated. Following this, the Speaker urged for the conduct of a study to find out the causes for the spread of the disease as well as preventive steps which could be taken to halt it.

In case of another question, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar of the Congress claimed that the work of the Jhunir - Ahulpur road had been allocated in an unfair manner and that the contractor was not following quality specifications. Agriculture Minister Suchha Singh Langah refused to accept Mofar’s argument and said three separate authorities including the Mandi Board, PWD Department and a central agency had checked the works and found them satisfactory.

Legislator Ajaib Singh Bhatti also spoke about the present-day poor quality specifications of link roads following which the Speaker requested Langah to order an inquiry into the issue. Langah said all possible inquiries had been held following which the Speaker asked him to look into the issue again. A senior officer from another department will now hold an inquiry into Mofar’s allegations. 

Ludhiana, March 10
The survey in connection with the suicide committed by farmers and farm labourers has not yet taken off in the state.

Three universities of the state, namely Punjab Agricultural University, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University were asked by the state government to conduct a survey on the suicide committed by farmers and farm workers.

Inquiries today revealed State Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal had convened a meeting of officials of the three universities in September last and discussed the possibility of conducting a survey on the issue. The districts were allotted to the universities and PAU was to act as a coordinator.

Punjabi University, Patiala, was asked to conduct a survey in the districts of Patiala, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Muktsar, Faridkot and Nawanshahr while GNDU was allotted the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Tarn, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur. PAU was allotted Mansa, Barnala, Moga and Ludhiana.

Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University and PAU had asked for funds worth Rs 80 lakh, Rs 30 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, respectively. The state had not released the funds hitherto, thus, the survey had not yet been started.

The survey conducted in Sangrur and Bathinda districts revealed nearly 2,890 suicides were committed in these districts, of which 1,757 were farmers and 1,133 were agricultural labourers. In case of farmers, 1,288 suicides were committed due to indebtedness while 469 were committed for other reasons. While 671 farm labourers committed suicide due to indebtedness, the remaining 462 did for other reasons.

The survey further revealed the average size of debt was relatively higher in debt-related suicides compared to other suicides.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced on the eve of Lok Sabha polls last year that the state government would give a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to families of those who had committed suicide but no compensation had been given so far.

SC Aggarwal said he had convened the meeting on behalf of the Revenue Department and he could not comment on why the survey had not been started yet as his job had ended with the meeting. 

Abohar, March 10
The BSF authorities have increased vigil alongside the Indo-Pak border throughout Punjab to prevent anti-social elements to take an advantage of increase in the height of various crops sown in the border areas.

The height of wheat, sarson and other crops has been increasing due to start of their ripening period and farmers have increased their movements to their respective farms situated on both side of cobra fence.

In the past few months, the BSF authorities have been witnessing an increase in number of incidents related to the pushing of heroin and fake Indian currency towards the Indian side. The authorities have been using high-class electronic gadgets to check any mischief.

“Numbers of observation towers, kisan guards and security personnel at gates of cobra fencing have been increased so that an effective watch on movements of those who have been frequenting their farms can be ensured,” said Vimal Satyarthi, DIG(BSF) Abohar sector.

He said the height of various crops, which had started ripening now, had gone up to 3-4 ft and it could provide good hideout to anti-national elements.

The number of women constables at the gates of cobra fencing had also increased. The intelligence network to develop inputs in connection with anti-national elements had also been strengthened.

Amritsar, March 10
The SGPC authorities will plant over one lakh saplings of shady, ornamental and trees of other genres in and around its 54 gurdwaras and educational institutes across Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh on March 14 to commemorate Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Har Rai.

The seventh guru of the Sikhs was passionate about greenery and was the force behind a number of gardens. “We are celebrating the day as environment conservation day. All managers of SGPC-run gurdwaras and institutes have been asked to plant saplings on March 14. They have been informed through a circular issued by the SGPC head office,” said SGPC chief Avtar Singh.

He said the SGPC was keen to spread awareness among people, particularly Sikhs, about the importance of preservation of environment and role of trees.

Besides the managers of gurdwaras, the Jathedars of Takhts will also take part in the “go green” drive of the SGPC and will planting saplings along with office-bearers of different committees in their respective areas. “The SGPC is concerned over increasing pollution and its adverse affect on environment. We appeal people, particularly Sikhs, to make the drive a big success by planting more and more trees in and around their homes,” said Avtar Singh.

Patiala, March 10
Accusing the authorities of a reputed school of cutting down the number of days for the recital of the National Anthem and Punjabi prayers during morning assembly prayer, the Shiv Sena (Hindustan) has submitted a complaint in this regard to the district administration and the police. According to the complainant, the school authorities are forcing the students to recite an English prayer instead.

Shiv Sena (Hindustan) president Pawan Kumar Gupta has alleged that as per the orders of principal of Yadavindra Public School Stanley Vinod, the practice of reciting the National Anthem and Punjabi prayers has been reduced to just once in a week. “Instead, the principal has now introduced an English prayer during the morning assembly. This is nothing but disrespect to the National Anthem and would have a bad effect on the minds of the students,” mentions the complaint, a copy of which was released to media as well.

While demanding action against the school authorities, the Shiv Sena (Hindustan) has threatened to launch an agitation in case the administration fails to take suitable action.

However, principal Stanley Vinod has defended his move saying the students were facing problem in reciting the National Anthem and hence the decision to restrict the recital to one day in a week was taken. “I do not see a reason to promote Punjabi in an English medium school as students face problems in reciting Hindi and Punjabi verses in the assembly,” he stated, while justifying the recital of the English prayer in the morning assembly.

Meanwhile, IG (Patiala Range) Paramjeet Singh Gill confirmed that he had receive the complaint but added that the same has been forwarded to Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khattra for further action. Khattra, however, has claimed that he has yet not seen the complaint. “We would see to it that issue is resolved,” he added.