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Left-led protest against price rise fails to evoke response in city
Bathinda, April 27
The all-India call for strike by the Left-led 13 parties’ front failed to muster support in Bathinda even as dozens of agitators carried out a protest march through the city streets, but failed to get the shops to roll down their shutters.

In response to a nationwide call given by the Left parties against the price rise, activists of various organisations carried out a protest march in Bathinda on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

This IIT prof pedals hard to save ecology
Fazilka, April 27
Being a septuagenarian does not diminish his spirit to go pedalling to inspire others to prevent environmental pollution, global warming and saving fuel to conserve energy. Fazilka-born Prof Bhupinder Singh, honoured with Urja Purush award by the Uttrakhand government, is virtually the epicentre for the youth whom he delights in guiding on their career path besides imbibing in them moral values.

Water crisis
Twin dists look to old wells for succour in summer
Sriganganagar, April 27
Revival of scores of abandoned wells in some parts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, which reel under water crisis, is now being examined by the water resources department.

Water crisis: Hundreds of NREGA workers have been deployed to construct water storage tanks in the deserts of Sriganganagar district. Photo by writer

National Youth Corps to engage rural BPL family volunteers
Bathinda, April 27
The Department of Youth Affairs, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is introducing a new scheme, the National Youth Corps (NYC), to enable young men and women (18-25 years) to serve upto two years in nation building activities. Under the scheme, 20,000 volunteers will be enrolled.

Fighting AIDS
‘Need to re-orient policy on HIV’
Abohar, April 27
“Despite a large number of youths getting infected with HIV, their needs are often overlooked during the development of the national HIV strategies, policies and allocation of budgets,” said Narinder Kumar Bassi, eminent community AIDS educator, who had been honoured thrice by the UN. Bassi has so far addressed more than six lakh people in various seminars.

Expert group to focus on strengthening DRDAs
Bathinda, April 27
Succumbing to the pressure of the All India DRDA Staff Welfare Association that a member of the association be included in the list of ‘Expert Group on DRDA’, the Union Ministry of Rural Development (DRDA Administration) has co-opted the secretary general of the association as a member of the ‘Expert Group on DRDA, constituted to work out a strategy for strengthening the district rural development agencies (DRDAs).

Protesters block traffic outside Fazilka bus stand
Fazilka, April 27
Hundreds of members of the CPI, CPI-M, NREGA Rozgar Mazdoor Union, Sarv Bharat Nauzwan Sabha and the Istri Sabha took out a procession in the town and staged a dharna outside the local bus stand against inflation. They closed the main gate of the bus stand and also blocked the traffic there. Most of the buses had to ply from a distance away from the bus stand. The passengers remained stranded there.

Workshop on respiratory therapy organised at Adesh Inst
Bathinda, April 27
A two-day workshop on ‘Respiratory therapy—an integrated approach in ICU’, which was organised by the College of Physiotherapy at the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, concluded here on Sunday.

Woman, brother-in-law commit suicide
Fazilka, April 27
One Mamta (20), a resident of the local Radha Swami Colony and her brother-in-law allegedly committed suicide on Monday. A dispute between the two families over dowry is believed to be the reason behind the tragedy.

Horticulture funds
SAD leader alleges misuse, seeks probe
Abohar, April 27
Alleging that the funds received from the Central government under the National Horticulture Mission to rehabilitate old fruit orchards in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts, had been misused, Surinder Saluja, member of the SAD general council and district general secretary of the ruling party today demanded a high-level probe in the whole episode.

Sibling rivalry
Three hurt in scuffle over land
Ferozepur, April 27
Three persons including two women were injured following a scuffle over land. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to one of the injured, Kashmir Singh, he had a share of one acre of land in village Machiwara out of the ten acres of ancestral land.

Train cancelled due to bandh

	Civil Hospital not in pink of health Shortage of staff and increase in number of patients hampering medical care Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 27 Even as thousands of patients visit the local 100-bed Civil Hospital every month, healthcare for them is getting adversely affected as there has been no increase in the number of sanctioned posts in various categories for over three decades. Also, the population of the city has increased at least two-fold during this period. Due to shortage of staff, patients face many problems in getting themselves treated in a smooth manner. There are times when on reaching the hospital they come to know that the doctor is on VIP duty or has gone to appear in a court for recording evidence. Elderly patients or attendants face problems while standing in long queues to receive the registration slip for Rs 2. One of the three counters issuing the slips is not working due to some glitch in the computer Some patients even sit on the ground while their attendants stand in the queue to get the slip. Due to the rush, patients are sometimes left with no other option but to return the next day to get ultrasound and X-ray done. In the 100-bed hospital, one staff nurse each in every shift in the medical ward and the surgery ward is also insufficient as she cannot pay attention towards the patients in her ward. Besides, there is a shortage of class IV employees. Just one such employee works in the emergency ward in each shift whereas at least two are required. Senior medical officer of the Civil Hospital Dr Vinod Kumar Garg confirmed the shortage of doctors, staff nurses and class IV employees in the light of the increasing number of patients during the past several years. He said the hospital had 20 sanctioned posts of doctors. Though all were filled up, more doctors were required, the SMO added. Out of the 29 sanctioned posts of staff nurse, 13 were vacant. All 35 sanctioned posts of class IV employees were also filled up but 28 more were required for smooth functioning, Garg said. It is also learnt that the contract for the sanitation of ground floor of the hospital expired in February, but the hospital authorities are awaiting renewal of the same from the Punjab Health Systems Corporation so far. The hospital has 19 sweepers but requires another six. The hospital has four ambulances, one of which is non-functional for want of repair. As the hospital has only four drivers for these ambulances, the authorities have to face problems when some one goes on leave. To avoid problems the authorities want that one or two more drivers should be posted here.
	Left-led protest against price rise fails to evoke response in city Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 27 The all-India call for strike by the Left-led 13 parties’ front failed to muster support in Bathinda even as dozens of agitators carried out a protest march through the city streets, but failed to get the shops to roll down their shutters. Accusing the UPA government of encouraging price rise, the agitators, a majority of whom belonged to the Lok Janshakti Party, the Communist Party of India and the Lok Bhalai Party, began the march with the beating of drums from the Arya Samaj chowk but could not sustain the march for long. During the march, the agitators demanded immediate control on spiralling prices, rollback in customs duty on crude oil and excise tax on petroleum products. To protest against the hike in fuel price, they dragged a bicycle throughout the march and raised slogans like “Petrol diesel ne chak te fatte, murh lokan ne cycle chakke”. Before the march ended at around 2.30 pm, the agitators staged a dharna at the Hanuman Chowk and blocked the road leading to the Fauji Chowk. However, the administration ensured the smooth flow of traffic and diverted the route. During the dharna, the protesters not only raised anti-government slogans but also threatened to intensify the stir if their demands were not met. Taking all preventive measures, a large number of cops, including a DSP, inspectors and sub-inspectors, escorted the agitators throughout their march. To infuse confidence among shopkeepers, anti-riot vehicles, including water cannon, were also seen moving along the protesters. When questioned about the ‘poor’ response to the bandh call, state president of the Lok Janshakti party Kiranjeet Singh Gehari, who led the march, said, “We had urged the shopkeepers to keep their establishments closed but if they are willing to put up with the rising prices, what can we do?”
	This IIT prof pedals hard to save ecology Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, April 27 Being a septuagenarian does not diminish his spirit to go pedalling to inspire others to prevent environmental pollution, global warming and saving fuel to conserve energy. Fazilka-born Prof Bhupinder Singh, honoured with Urja Purush award by the Uttrakhand government, is virtually the epicentre for the youth whom he delights in guiding on their career path besides imbibing in them moral values. Singh, a retired professor from IIT Roorkee, got the teaching job at the department of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Roorkee. He got his doctorate in energy management and pollution control. In his pursuit for application of solar energy, he developed a solar refrigerator, besides other solar devices which though not economical right now, should be ready for usage in another few years when the shortage of synthetic energy would require such devices. Though the solar refrigerator developed by him is not economical yet the solar dryer, solar assistant and solar water heater are becoming popular in Uttarakhand. In Punjab, he is working to popularise the use of solar energy in the border region of Fazilka. Besides the solar devices, his research has entailed the development of projects related to pedal power, biogas generators, hydropower and biomass related equipment. A multi-dimensional personality, he is fond of photography and writing books. Dr Singh has written two technical booklets on solar mechanics and solar refrigeration which highlight the use of solar energy for various purposes. While serving as a professor at the IIT Roorkee, Singh refused to accept the post of the head of the department of energy merely because he feared being losing his zeal to teach and carry on research and development. Whether he has his camp office at Roorkee or Fazilka, it is immaterial for Singh who uses his bicycle to move around. His routine pedalling for 8-16 kilometres daily has become an integral part of his life. To pusue his passion, Singh has acquired a folding cycle which he carries along with him happily everywhere. Singh has been using this bicycle for nearly six decades now. If he comes across traffic snarls, he folds his bicycle and starts walking while carrying it on his shoulder. Dr Singh delivers lectures and attends seminars with energy conservation as the theme organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
	Water crisis Twin dists look to old wells for succour in summer Raj Sadosh Sriganganagar, April 27 Revival of scores of abandoned wells in some parts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, which reel under water crisis, is now being examined by the water resources department. Rawatsar Municipal Council chairperson Santosh Saharan confirmed having discussed the issue with Hanumangarh Deputy Commissioner Dr Ravi Kumar Surpur. Saharan suggested that by making hundred-year-old wells functional in ward 1, 2, and 9 in the ancient town, problem related to drinking water could be resolved. People in west Rajasthan, that is prone to high velocity dust-storms had survived only due to centuries old wells when canal system had not expanded. Rajasthan agricultural marketing minister Gurmeet Singh Kunnar recently discussed preparations made to tackle water crisis during a high-level meeting held at Sriganganagar. Sriganganagar DC Ashutosh AT Pednekar claimed that all reservoirs had been filled to capacity, sufficient stock of bleaching powder had been arranged and auto solution test-tubes distributed in each block for quick testing of drinking water. Anganwari workers and para medicos have been deployed to distribute pamphlets in each village to bring awareness on hygiene. Chlorine tablet packs too have been arranged in sufficient quantity. Meanwhile, special teams have fanned out to prevent farmers from siphoning off water for irrigation since it had been released only for drinking water reservoirs and ponds. An official in Sangria, Ashok Kumar, confirmed that a case under various sections of the IPC has been registered at Sadulshehar police station against some people for stealing water to irrigate their fields.
	National Youth Corps to engage rural BPL family volunteers Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 27 The Department of Youth Affairs, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is introducing a new scheme, the National Youth Corps (NYC), to enable young men and women (18-25 years) to serve upto two years in nation building activities. Under the scheme, 20,000 volunteers will be enrolled. In a letter sent to the additional deputy commissioners (Development) of the state about a week ago, the Joint Development Commissioner, NREGA, Punjab, has asked them to initiate necessary proceedings on the instructions sent by the deputy secretary (SGSY-1), Union Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi. The deputy secretary has asked the secretary, Department of Rural Development of all states/union territories, to issue necessary directions to the district rural development agencies (DRDAs) to make optimal use of the scheme to benefit the rural below poverty line (BPL) youths. The volunteers, who will be registered by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) throughout the country, will be awarded an honorarium of Rs 2,500 per month. The scheme will be implemented in two phases. Out of the 20,000 volunteers, 8,000 will be deployed in Jammu & Kashmir while and the remaining 12,000 in other parts of the country. In Jammu & Kashmir, volunteers will work as tourist volunteers and help pilgrims going to Amarnath and Mata Vashno Devi. Besides, they will also clean and maintain Dal lake and Nagin lake, and participate in national female literacy mission and health and sanitation programmes. In other parts of the country, the volunteers will be deployed in the programmes of the Youth Affairs Department.
	Fighting AIDS ‘Need to re-orient policy on HIV’ Our Correspondent Abohar, April 27 “Despite a large number of youths getting infected with HIV, their needs are often overlooked during the development of the national HIV strategies, policies and allocation of budgets,” said Narinder Kumar Bassi, eminent community AIDS educator, who had been honoured thrice by the UN. Bassi has so far addressed more than six lakh people in various seminars. Addressing a programme organised by the NSS officials of the region and attended by hundreds of volunteers in the Scout Hall of the Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) here on Tuesday, he said an estimated 5.4 million youth are living with HIV and about 59 per cent of them are women. Asserting that illicit relationship has by and large been responsible for HIV infections, Bassi cautioned against consulting quacks, unqualified dentists, ear cleaners and hand engraving agents as none of them use sterilised instruments or needles. Earlier, Dr Kamaljeet Singh Sidhu, joint director, youth services, said the NSS has taken up the ‘Healthy Youth: Healthy India’ programme this year besides taking care of environment. Sidhu was joined by principal Gurmail Singh and NSS official Parwinder Singh in honouring Bassi. Students responded well as the key speaker conducted a quiz on HIV.
	Expert group to focus on strengthening DRDAs Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 27 Succumbing to the pressure of the All India DRDA Staff Welfare Association that a member of the association be included in the list of ‘Expert Group on DRDA’, the Union Ministry of Rural Development (DRDA Administration) has co-opted the secretary general of the association as a member of the ‘Expert Group on DRDA, constituted to work out a strategy for strengthening the district rural development agencies (DRDAs). National president of the association Sadhu Ram Kusla said here that due to the pressure maintained by the association, the Rural Development Ministry had made Darshan Lal Sharma, secretary general of the association, a member of the ‘Expert Group on DRDA’. He said the association’s representative would now submit his suggestions to strengthen the DRDAs on a practical basis. The term of the group had been extended upto May 15 for submitting final report, he added.
	Protesters block traffic outside Fazilka bus stand Our Correspondent Fazilka, April 27 Hundreds of members of the CPI, CPI-M, NREGA Rozgar Mazdoor Union, Sarv Bharat Nauzwan Sabha and the Istri Sabha took out a procession in the town and staged a dharna outside the local bus stand against inflation. They closed the main gate of the bus stand and also blocked the traffic there. Most of the buses had to ply from a distance away from the bus stand. The passengers remained stranded there. While addressing the gathering, left leaders Diwan Chand, Tek Chand, Bimla Rani lamented that the price of petrol, diesel, fertilisers, oils and other essential commodities have skyrocketed as a result of which it has become very difficult for the poor to make their both ends meet. Every class of society except for the affluent has been badly affected due to the rising prices, they alleged.
	Workshop on respiratory therapy organised at Adesh Inst Tribune News Service Bathinda, April 27 A two-day workshop on ‘Respiratory therapy—an integrated approach in ICU’, which was organised by the College of Physiotherapy at the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, concluded here on Sunday. During the workshop, resource person Dr Rajeev Aggarwal shared his knowledge about the latest physiotherapy techniques and emphasised the role of physiotherapy in managing critically ill patients. Presenting the vote of thanks, principal of the college Dr Kavita Kaushal motivated the students to attend such workshops.

	Woman, brother-in-law commit suicide Our Correspondent Fazilka, April 27 One Mamta (20), a resident of the local Radha Swami Colony and her brother-in-law allegedly committed suicide on Monday. A dispute between the two families over dowry is believed to be the reason behind the tragedy. As per the FIR registered with city police, Fazilka, by Mamta’s father Ram Avtar, a resident of village Mansora near Chandigarh, his daughter got married to Ramveer last year. Mamta’s in-laws used to torture her to bring more dowry. Ram Avtar and his brother-in-law Ramu had met Mamta on Sunday. However, on Monday Ram Avtar came to know that his daughter had committed suicide. Her body was found hanging from the lintel bar of her room. Police have registered a case against Ramveer and Bimla Rani. The body of Sukhbir, the 19-year-old brother of Ramveer, was also found hanging from a tree near the local grain market here today. As per te statement of Amar Singh, father of Sukhbir, he was a bachelor and was a drug addict. Police have registered a case and a probe is on.
	Horticulture funds SAD leader alleges misuse, seeks probe Abohar, April 27 Alleging that the funds received from the Central government under the National Horticulture Mission to rehabilitate old fruit orchards in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts, had been misused, Surinder Saluja, member of the SAD general council and district general secretary of the ruling party today demanded a high-level probe in the whole episode. Speaking to the media here, Saluja displayed bills issued by an MNC from its Khanpur (Kharar) depot and regional dealers of some MNCs confirming the sale of specific insecticides. “It seems that most state government departments were involved in siphoning off subsidies released by the Central government,” he said adding that it has adversely affected the farming community in the fruit growing region of the state. — OC
	Sibling rivalry Three hurt in scuffle over land Our Correspondent Ferozepur, April 27 Three persons including two women were injured following a scuffle over land. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to one of the injured, Kashmir Singh, he had a share of one acre of land in village Machiwara out of the ten acres of ancestral land. However, his brothers Goma Singh and Mukhtiar Singh allegedly sold off his share of land deceitfully to one Gurbachan Singh of village Madhre. Following this, he had a dispute over this one acre of land with Gurbachan and the matter was now pending before the court.
	Train cancelled due to bandh Abohar, April 27 The departure of 3007 Howrah-Sriganganagar (Udyan Abha Toofan Express) had to be cancelled on Tuesday from Howrah due to the Left-sponsored bandh, Lalit Bohra, chief PRO, North-Western Railway, informed. Subsequently, 3008 Udyan Abha Toofan Express would remain cancelled from Sriganganagar on April 29. — OC