Chandigarh, March 26
Anganwaris, daily crèche to over 10 lakh children in the state, is no one’s baby.While state Minister for Women and Child Development Choudhry Swarna Ram, who is responsible for implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), squarely blames the workers and helpers of the anganwaris for the pitiable state of these centres, the workers on other hand alleged that it is the minister, who was responsible for the debacle of the scheme.

President of the Anaganwari Mulazim Union Hargobind Kaur alleged that the minister had given a free hand to the child development project officers (CDPOs) in the district, who in connivance with some workers were involved in the systematic pilfering of the feed meant for the children.

“Some workers in border districts are paying Rs 1,000 per centre per month to the officials in charge. Everyone knows about what is going on, but the minister chooses to turn a blind eye. Why?” she asked.

“The anganwari committee chaired by the ADC (development) in each district is responsible for the buying and distribution of food stocks. However, the zila parishad member and other representatives are never taken into confidence. At places, the food does not even reach the centre. It simply vanishes en route,” she pointed out.

“The centres in Muktsar did not get a grain of food for at least four months last year. It is the Chief Minister’s district. Did the minister bother to find out where the food went and who is responsible for thousands of children going hungry from the centers?” she said, adding that there was no monitoring anywhere.

“Over 400 posts of supervisors are lying vacant across the state. Why are these not being filled? A single superviser is responsible for over 50 anganwaris. Is it possible for her to do justice to her work?” asked Hargobind Kaur.

The minister, however, said he was doing his best to improve the situation. “Till the time the workers and helpers realise that they are doing social work and not the paid jobs, the anganwari system cannot improve. They are daughters of the village, who are being given honourarium to do this work. They should care for these children as their own,” said the minister.

A close aide of the minister added that the minister routinely got complaints of absenteeism among workers and also allegations that in many areas in the state, the workers were selling the feed meant for the children in the open market. “They don’t do any work. They are happiest if the number of children in the anganwari falls. They have lesser work to do and more food to pilfer,” he said.

“There are over 50,000 workers and helpers in Punjab. They have a strong union and in no time thousands gather to protest if any one of them is reprimanded for anything,” added the aide.

Amritsar March 26
Two Pakistani intruders were shot dead by BSF troops on the international border near Naushehra Dhalla village and fake Indian currency worth Rs 65 lakh was seized today, officials said.

The duo infiltrated into Indian territory and reached near the barbed wire fencing at around midnight last night, they said. The troops asked them to surrender but they tried to flee, following which they were shot dead. The BSF personnel later carried a search operation in the area that led to the recovery of the fake currency notes in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. The recovery of fake currency has been made barely a day after the BSF had lodged its strong protest with the Pakistan Rangers over increased incidence of smuggling of narcotics and other contrabands from across the border during a joint meeting at Wagha in Pakistan.

The BSF authorities, the IG said, were already flooded with intelligence reports that some smugglers were preparing for an attempt to smuggle some contrabands in the area from across the border.

Amritsar, March 26
India today released 17 Pakistani prisoners, who were serving their terms in New Delhi-based Tihar Jail and certain Rajasthan jails for past two to 15 years.

While most of the Pakistani prisoners hailed their release and expressed hope that such a step could boost bilateral ties, some disgruntled ones alleged that they were implicated in “false cases” and consequently, they had to undergo imprisonment for longer periods after having been booked twice.

The 17 Pakistani prisoners crossed over to Pakistan through the Attari border post at around 2 pm. “I appreciate the Government of India step, which facilitated our journey to our motherland. It was a different matter that the role of certain Indian agencies was wrong and I was forced to undergo imprisonment for 14-15 years since my arrival in India in 1997. Originally, I was sentenced to one and half years’ imprisonment, but as soon as I came out of jail, I was again booked in some case and was forced to remain behind bars for another more than a decade,” said a released prisoners, MS Khan. He, however, was visibly elated over his release like most of the other prisoners aged between 35 and 50 years.

Moved over his release, Usmaan, another Lahore-based prisoner, who remained lodged in Tihar Jail since 1999, alleged that he was picked up from Kathmandu in Nepal and was booked under the NDPS after having been brought up from the Himalayan Kingdom. He alleged that the prisoners were not even extended food by the Indian authorities since last night.

However, Delhi Police Inspector Sanjay Singh, who accompanied the prisoners from Delhi to Attari, denied the allegations of lack of amenities like food to Pakistani prisoners.

He asserted the prisoners were served proper food and tea several times.

Chandigarh, March 26
Now, prisoners in Punjab want freedom to lead conjugal life in jails. Their argument for intimacy in severance is not so hard to comprehend - sex life is part of the right to life. If the Punjab and Haryana High Court allows their plea, couples in both states and Chandigarh may very well find themselves sharing the same cell in prison premises.

Going by the court’s initial reaction to the plea, the matter may soon culminate into a law governing the connubial rights of captives with limited rights. Justice K. Kannan has already put the state of Punjab, the state DGP and a central jail superintendent on notice.

The extraordinary request came from a couple lodged in Patiala central jail. Husband Jasvir Singh is facing the gallows, and wife Sonia is serving a life sentence in a kidnapping and criminal conspiracy case. Separated by legal bars, the two wish to be united “for the sole purpose of getting a progeny”.

In an apparent attempt to clear any doubts, their counsel Gursharan K Mann says, “In their case, the demand is not personal sexual gratification”. Going into the circumstances leading to the demand, she says, “the husband is the only son of his parents and just after eight months of their marriage, the couple was involved in the case. Now his parents, he himself and his wife wish to have a child so that the lineage may continue”.

Interpreting right to life as allowing individuals to achieve rational objectives, Mann quotes the law to insist: “The right to life has been interpreted by the courts to mean reasonably good life so that all reasonable aspirations of a citizen are achieved. The two most basic ingredients of right to life are preservation of cell and propagation of species. As such, sex life is a part of right to life.”

Referring to apex court judgments to substantiate the plea, Mann says: “Even when lodged in jail, a prisoner continues to enjoy all his fundamental rights, including the right to life guaranteed to him under the Constitution. On being convicted and deprived of their liberty in the accordance with the procedure established by law, prisoners still retain the residue of constitutional rights”.

Chandigarh, March 26
The much-hyped bonhomie between the Treasury Benches and the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha faltered at the first hurdle. It ended even before the Assembly was adjourned sine die after approving the 2010-11 budget of Rs 43925.21 crore here this afternoon.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, while summing up the debate on budgetary demands, also announced a new Government College for Boys and additional allocation for the sewerage scheme under Japan project for Amritsar. The government, he said, was convinced of the need for restructuring all departments.

Fresh recruitments in the Police Department will continue even though Punjab had the highest ratio of policeman to population in the country. Increase in grants to Guru Nanak Dev University by 33 per cent, he said, was perhaps not enough but still the government was focused on improving the quality of education and health care in the state.

He also took notice of the demands raised by some members of the treasury benches. While A. Joshi wanted a stadium and a government college for boys in Amritsar, Mohinder Kaur Josh wanted bus stands in her constituency. Jagdish Sawhney wanted the government to make allocation for the disposal of solid waste from the cities. Other members also made similar demands. G.S. Babbehali wanted water channels to be cleaned.

It was left to the Treasury Benches to go through the ritual of approving the estimates of various departments and the Appropriation Bill as Opposition, irritated at the rejection of its demand of getting a Station House Officer (SHO) for his alleged misconduct at Martyrdom Day function suspended, decided to boycott the remaining part of the session. This afternoon when Manpreet Badal hosted lunch for all members of the Assembly, Congress men stayed away thus brining to a naught a new beginning that had been made earlier during the session.

All legislators had also put behind their party affiliations when they responded well to the lunch invitation of the Speaker a few days ago. But atmosphere of goodwill could not last the full session.

Before adjourning the House at the end of the session this afternoon, the Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon appreciated both the Treasury Benches and the Opposition for creating an atmosphere of goodwill.

Chandigarh, March 26
Following return of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Assembly after a bout of sickness, it was “business as usual” in the House today with the Congress staging two walkouts. The walkouts, in separate sittings in the morning and evening sessions, were staged over a Station House Officer (SHO).

Congress legislator Avtar Singh Brar got up during zero hour in the morning to claim that he had been insulted by the Faridkot city SHO, who had also insulted martyr Bhagat Singh. While admitting that youth, who had organised a drama to commemorate the memory of Bhagat Singh had not taken permission to use loudspeakers, he said this could have been waived off for a noble cause.

Brar said he tried to intervene in the matter and even rung up the SHO, but the latter did not pick up the phone. Claiming that this was an insult to an elected representative, he demanded the Chief Minister suspend the officer immediately. The CM, while reacting to the issue said he would order an inquiry into the entire episode.

The Opposition benches refused to accept this explanation and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal insisted that the SHO should be suspended immediately. Brar also made an emotive appeal saying he was looking for yesterday’s Badal, who would have been moved by his “dard bhari kahani”. However, with the CM not reacting, the Congress staged a walkout shouting anti-Punjab police slogans.

Later, the Opposition staged another walkout on the same issue when the Assembly reconvened after lunch. The CLP leader insisted that the CM take action against the SHO to send a signal to officers that they could not take elected representatives for granted. 

Chandigarh, March 26
His tryst with the Army lasted for just about two years, but the battle he waged for pension stretched for 49 long years.Almost five decades after Balbir Singh, a resident of Moga, was invalided out of service on medical grounds, the Armed Forces Tribunal today allowed his writ petition, entitling him pension. The Bench, comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen NS Brar also ordered that he be given arrears of pension for the past three years along with 10 per cent interest.

Balbir had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.

He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960, even though a review of his disability percentage remained static and there was no change in his condition. No reasons for discontinuing his pension were conveyed to him.

Balbir had contended that ignoring the settled position of law and instructions on the subject, the Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) rejected the claim of the petitioner presumably on the grounds that the disability percentage assessed by the invaliding medical board was below 20 per cent. This decision, he claimed, was never received by him.

He approached the authorities concerned to get his pension restored, but in the meantime, inadvertently lost the entire correspondence relating to the matter. He had thereafter been making representations to all concerned, but there was no reply or restoration of pension by the authorities.

Finally, he sent a notice through his counsel in September 2008, in response to which he received a copy of letter dated October 31, 1960, that had declined his claim on the ground that his disability had fallen below 20 per cent. And he was, therefore, not entitled to any pension. Thereafter, he sought judicial redressal for his grievance.

Balbir Singh had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960.

Chandigarh, March 26
Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, who is much pilloried in the Vidhan Sabha by both her own as well as coalition partner, Akali legislators, today chose the Vidhan Sabha to announce that journalism would be her next vocation after she relinquishes her seat in two years’ time.

Chawla was reacting to a retort made by SAD legislator Gurbachan Singh Babehali, who pointed out to an interview given by her to The Tribune around three months back in which she had announced that she would quit active politics after her present term.

Babehali, while referring to the interview, said “you may take ‘sanyas’ but we have to serve the people”. He did not stop at this, adding “if you have to take sanyas, do it now”. The SAD leader was apparently in a bitter mood after the minister, while replying to his question, said there was no need to restart the tuberculosis hospital that had been closed down in Gurdaspur.

“I can only hope for a no from you,” the SAD leader said while comparing Laxmi Kanta’s apparent “non- cooperation” with the positive response shown by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to issues put up by legislators.

Chawla, who claimed that patients did not need to be treated in hospital for TB any longer, told the legislator that he should not worry about her retirement. She went on to say that she would use the pen to express her views after retiring from active politics. “I want to show people that one can leave a seat and not stick to it”.

If Chawla was put into an awkward position by a legislator from the ruling combine, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura was put on the mat by Congress legislator Makhan Singh who again asked a question concerning Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon.

The Congress legislator asked what had happened to a foundation stone of the Vikas Bhawan in Mohali that had been laid by the Speaker during his previous term as minister. Brahmpura claimed that it had got uprooted and had been found in a store and that it had now been put up again. The Congress man expressed his unhappiness over the reply following which the minister agreed to form a two-member committee to look into the issue.

The Speaker on another question also corrected Brahmpura when he claimed that new blocks for which staff had not been sanctioned had come up during Congress time. The Speaker while correcting the minister said, “your information is incorrect. These blocks were created during our rule only”. Later the Chief Minister intervened to say irrespective of when the blocks were created they should be sanctioned staff and that this would be done soon. 

Nabha, March 26
Senior Medical Officer (Nabha) Dr Ravinder Kohli was suspended this morning through a communiqué from the Patiala Civil Surgeon.Dr Kohli was arrested by the Patiala Vigilance Bureau on March 16 on a corruption charge. He was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Dr Devinder Kaur, a gynecologist at the Civil Hospital here.

Nine days after he was arrested, he had rejoined yesterday and that, too, without informing senior officials of the Health Department. However, someone called up mediapersons and when they reached there to clarify the matter, Dr Kohli allegedly misbehaved with them. When mediapersons contacted the Patiala Civil Surgeon, he said he was neither informed about his suspension nor rejoining. However, when acting SMO Dr Surinder reached the SMO office, Dr Kohli hurriedly left.

Service rules say that in case a person stays in police custody for 48 hours, he or she should be suspended. But these rules were not “followed” by the Health Department in case of Dr Kohli. But Secretary, Health, Dr Satish Chandra, said Dr Kohli had prepared his joining report himself.

Chandra said when he came to know about this, he ordered the Patiala Civil Surgeon to issue a suspension letter to Dr Kohli.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress leader Parmjit Singh Khatra, along with party workers, held a dharna outside the SMO office today. He alleged that on the one side, state Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla spoke of her honesty, while on the other side, she was delaying taking action against corrupt officials of her department.

Patiala, March 26
A two-day international conference on “Women and Development: Issues and Initiatives”, being organised by the Punjabi University’s Women’s Studies Centre (WSC), got underway in university’s senate hall here today. Experts expressed concern over vast gaps in theory, practice and implementation of policies regarding gender inequality and empowerment of women. Dealing with issues and initiatives related to socio-cultural and economic parameters were of greater importance as compared to the legal considerations, they observed.

In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh expressed shock at the alarmingly dismal socio-economic condition of women not only in India but at the global level. Quoting gloomy data, he said according to projections of international agencies regarding status and condition of women at the global level with regard to income factor, 50 per cent of women population was sharing just 10 per cent of the total income, while their share was just one per cent as far as issue of property ownership was concerned.

As far as their participation in political affairs was concerned, their share was just 10 per cent, while the scene was even more depressing in case of executive sphere where their representation was less than four per cent. While the situation was worse in India, it was worst in Punjab, which once boasted of supremacy in social and spiritual respects, now having emerged as a champion in the field of female foeticide, Dr Singh said. He called upon both men and women to collectively fight for the cause of uplift and empowerment of women and to ensure their substantial participation in all spheres of life.

In her inaugural address, political scientist Dr Manorama Kohli said rearing up of women in our traditional society exposed them to inbuilt inhibitions causing their stunted growth. This resulted in their instinctive dependency, making them feel insecure, inadequate and inferior to their male counterparts. Feminism and equality, she said, however, should not be confused with imitating men but should be directed towards maintaining their distinctiveness and existential identity.

Chandigarh, March 26
Africa could well be the next El Dorado for Punjab farmers with ambassadors of several countries gathering here today to appeal for investment in the agriculture sector in the African continent.The ambassadors, who are here on the invitation of Minister for State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, will also participate in a conference at Patiala on this issue tomorrow. Preneet Kaur also released a copy of the booklet “Opportunities for Agriculture in Africa” brought out by the Assocham.

The opportunities are mind boggling with Ethiopian Ambassador Gennet Zewide saying land was available for the picking in packets of 25,000 to 50,000 hectares.

Uganda High Commissioner Nimisha Madhvani said fertile land was available along with a safe and secure environment. “The days of Idi Amin are long over”, she said.

Preneet Kaur while speaking on the occasion said the process of engaging Africa had started in 2008 and that now farmers and entrepreneurs were being encouraged to take land on lease in Africa for cultivation.

Chandigarh, March 26
Political rivalry between senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Congress MLA Ajit Inder Singh Moffer is once again in the legal arena. Moffer has filed a petition against the election of Bhunder’s son Dilraj Singh as chairman of the Mansa zila parishad on the ground of political consideration.

The petition comes just about a week after Justice Mahesh Grover of the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Bhunder for not pursuing an election petition he filed against Moffer after his victory from Sardulgarh constituency in February 2007.

Moffer had initially challenged the move to de-reserve the post meant for woman. But after the subsequent appointment of Dilraj Singh as the chairman, he has filed an amended petition. It is scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday.

Ferozepur, March 26
A teenager, Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja, who has been smuggling in narcotics, fake Indian currency and weapons in India from Pakistan, has fallen into police net. A .30 bore pistol of Pakistan, 10 cartridges, a magazine, FIC of Rs 1.76 lakh, a mobile and a sim card (Pakistan made) were also seized when a party, led by in charge, CIA, police station, Sarbjit Singh arrested him.

“The involvement of a teenager, is worrisome and needs serious thinking,” said SP (detective), Ferozepur, Harjit Singh Pannu. Police sources said Bheja, who belonged to Machhiwara village, had brought four consignments of narcotics weapons and FIC from across the border from the Mamdot sector of this district in past eight months.

Sources added that Bheja, a plus two student, took over this profession from his father Sukhpal Singh, who had been undergoing imprisonment in local central jail, after he was convicted in narcotics smuggling case about two years ago. SHO said Bheja was sharp in his illegal business and was dealing with his contacts in Pakistan and buyers in India in coded language. He had been using Pakistani mobile and a sim card to get in touch with his Pakistani and Indian contacts.

The accused had engaged few people, who used to pick up packets of heroin, FIC and weapons from a point located in vicinity of the border after the same were dumped by his Pakistani contacts in Indian territory. These contacts would bring consignments to Bheja, who had been running his operations from a safe place. He added that a police party had been keeping a watch on the activities of Bheja for the past many months. The police party managed to arrest Bheja only after his mobile phone was put under surveillance. A case has been registered in the Sadar police station. .Bheja had been remanded to police custody for two days.