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50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

CPRF jawan killed in Maoist attack
Cong leader visits bereaved family
Fazilka, July 4
Jagmeet Brar, senior Congress leader and former MP, while accusing the SAD-BJP combine government of harassing all sections of society due to various acts of omission and commission of its functionaries, claimed that people of Punjab had been eagerly waiting for the next assembly elections to oust them out of power.

Showing scant regard for traffic rules, four persons ride a bike on the Mall Road in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Capt slams Badal on water row
Moga, July 4
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday suggested that the present CM Parkash Singh Badal should apply his mind before making any statements on the river water issue.

Bhog ceremony of Zora Singh Mann
Thousands turn up Chak Suhelewala
(Ferozepur), July 4
Thousands of people attended the Bhog ceremony of three times Member of Parliament (MP) of the SAD (B) from Ferozepur, Zora Singh Mann, at his native village here today.

Mini-secretariat
Document writers seek space allocation
Fazilka, July 4
About five dozen odd document writers, typists, stamp vendors and others are compelled to run their establishments in tents temporarily at the sub-divisional administrative complex (mini-secretariat) here. They have not been allotted space for their shops so far.

Karate, bicycles figure in SSA plan to boost female literacy in state
Bathinda, July 4
To improve the female literacy rate and instill a sense of confidence among womenfolk, the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Authority (SSAA), Punjab, has come up with a multifaceted girls’ education component plan for 2010-11.

Rural docs may say no to national health programmes
Bathinda, July 4
The Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, today warned the Punjab government that the rural medical officers (RMOs), who were working in about 1,100 rural dispensaries under Zila Parishads in the state, will boycott the national programmes of the Health Department like school health, TB control and immunisation, in case the government failed in accepting their long-pending demands soon.

Varsity’s Neighbourhood Campus a boon for rural students
Bathinda, July 4
A view of the Punjabi University neighbourhood campus at Maur (Bathinda). The Punjabi University Neighbourhood Campus situated on the Bathinda-Mansa road, about 34 km from here at Maur Mandi in this district, has been proving to be a boon for the students of rural areas of this backward region.

A view of the Punjabi University neighbourhood campus at Maur (Bathinda).

Postal staff to go on nationwide strike
Bathinda, July 4
To chalk out strategy for ensuring “success” of the proposed indefinite strike beginning from July 13, postal staff of Bathinda and Mansa districts, held a meeting under the banner of All India Postal Employees’ Union, (Group C), at Teachers’ Home, here on Sunday.

48th Raising Day of Golden Arrow Div
Bathinda, July 4
To chalk out strategy for ensuring “success” of the proposed indefinite strike beginning from July 13, postal staff of Bathinda and Mansa districts, held a meeting under the banner of All India Postal Employees’ Union, (Group C), at Teachers’ Home, here on Sunday.

With 7 students in IIT, Fazilka lives up to its name
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Fazilka, July 4
Known for Asia’s biggest wool market in pre-partition days and Fazilka jutti (footwear) and its five Padma awardees in the post-partition days, this border town has also made a mark in the field of education.

Seven students of this one of the oldest towns of the country have been selected for different courses in different colleges being run under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) this year.

“Producing seven candidates for various courses being run by the IITs from this border town, having a a population of about 70,000 is a rare achievement,” claimed a section of residents while talking to the TNS. The residents also demanded that the town must be equipped with all the facilities by the state government after taking its potential into consideration as four students made it to various IIT last year also, they added.

Information gathered by the TNS revealed that those students, who were likely to get admissions in various IITs as per their all India ranking included Sumay Gupta, Karan Singh, Rajan Verma, Agam Kalra, Kuldeep Uttam and Gaurav Gulbadhear. One local girl, who did not wish to be named, had been selected for a doctorate course in the IIT.

Information revealed that most of the students, who had made it to the prestigious institutions this year, did not take special coaching from the coaching centres being run in different parts of the country as they preferred to prepare in their hometown only.

Information revealed that about five students of this town are likely to get admission in the MBBS in different medical colleges of Punjab as they had cleared the PMET test conducted by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) this year. One other student had cleared all-India medical entrance test.

“Persian meaning of “Fazil” is “learned person” and Fazilka is a town of learned people. Young ones, who hail from Fazilka, are trying their level best to maintain the sanctity of the meaning of name of their town,” said Bhupinder Singh, patron, Graduate Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF). Fazilka, which can boast of having witnessed a revolution in the field of education in 1904 when the first primary school, namely, Arya Kanya Putri Pathshala, was set up here at the time when education for girls was looked down upon, got its first degree college in 1940 and it was set up in the memory of a philanthropist Munshi Ram by his kin.

Though the town faced perpetual neglect by the successive governments of Punjab, its residents kept making a mark in various field by braving all odds and the town managed to earn a niche for itself at the national level in various spheres. “Though the GWAF has not played any role in the achievement made by the students of Fazilka this year in academic fields, we are planning to do something, which can help in producing more doctors, engineers, army personnel and scientist,”said Navdeep Asija, secretary (administration), GWAF.

Ex-MLA’s power supply disconnected
Tribune News Service

Abohar, July 4
The power supply to the house owned by Harjit Kaur, wife of former Congress MLA, Parkash Singh Bhatti, located in this town, was recently disconnected by the operation wing of the Punjab Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) for her failure to deposit the bill of connection installed in her old house and sold in 2003.

“The power supply has been disconnected to Bhatti’s house this week. The electricity metre, which was installed on the front wall of his house, has been removed,” confirmed Radhe Sham, junior engineer, Powercom.

Bhatti said he was not aware that power supply to the house owned by his wife had been disconnected. He said it was still continuing. He alleged that ever since the SAD-BJP combine had come to power, he along with his wife was being harassed by his political opponents on flimsy grounds.

Bhagwant Mann for saving environment
Tribune News Service

A view of the Chetna Rally organised at Faridkot on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Faridkot, July 4
Comedian-turned environmental activist Bhagwant Mann has called upon the Punjab government to wake up and take care of the state’s environment, which was fast being ruined due to the insensitive approach of the policy makers.

Mann along with other environmental activists like Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal and Umendra Dutt was in this town on Sunday evening to participate in a Chetna Rally organized to create awareness among the people on environmental degradation in the state, particularly in the Malwa belt.

CPRF jawan killed in Maoist attack
Cong leader visits bereaved family
Chander Parkash/ TNS

Fazilka, July 4
Jagmeet Brar, senior Congress leader and former MP, while accusing the SAD-BJP combine government of harassing all sections of society due to various acts of omission and commission of its functionaries, claimed that people of Punjab had been eagerly waiting for the next assembly elections to oust them out of power. Brar, who visited the bereaved family of Jarnail Singh, a resident of village Badha and Jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who laid down his life while fighting maoists in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, today said, that fiscal condition and the law and order situation of Punjab had deteriorated and the people had started feeling the pinch.

Talking to the TNS, he said the time had come when right thinking people of Punjab must come on a common platform to create an atmosphere where the ruling politicians could be made to answer for not fulfilling their responsibilities towards Punjab and its residents.

“Can Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal tell the people as to why his government has failed to supply them potable water and why the people are being forced to consume polluted water and risk their lives,” asked Brar, adding that the polluted Sutlej is harmful for the people of Ferozepur district.

Capt slams Badal on water row
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, July 4
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday suggested that the present CM Parkash Singh Badal should apply his mind before making any statements on the river water issue.

Referring to the Badal’s statement demanding that Haryana pay royalty to the state for using its river water, the former CM said, “Badal should apply his mind before putting his foot in his mouth.”

In a press release e-mailed to The Tribune through Karanpal Singh Sekhon, his officer on special duty, Captain Amarinder Singh stated that before making such statements, Badal should think of the consequences such a statement would have on the future of the state.

“If we (Punjab) claim royalty from Haryana, has he (Badal) thought as to what can prevent Himachal Pradesh from claiming royalty for the rivers Ravi and Beas used by us,” he asked.

He further asked, “As to Sutlej, which originates in Tibet, what can prevent China from claiming royalty on its water used by India?”

Captain Amarinder Singh also attacked at Badal on his visit to Mumbai to find lawyers to defend Punjab’s case in the Supreme Court.

“The Chief Minister is perhaps unaware of the fact that Punjab’s team has already been duly consulted, which comprises Fali Nariman, Harish Salve and Rajiv Dhawan. Our standing counsel is Rupinder Suri. All four are based at Delhi and are today 4 present in the national capital. As the SC opens on Monday, somebody on his staff should advise him accordingly to prevent him from the needless visit to Mumbai.”

	Mini-secretariat Document writers seek space allocation Our Correspondent Fazilka, July 4 About five dozen odd document writers, typists, stamp vendors and others are compelled to run their establishments in tents temporarily at the sub-divisional administrative complex (mini-secretariat) here. They have not been allotted space for their shops so far. There is a piquant situation as the revenue courts and document writers, typists and others have been now shifted to the mini-secretariat, but judicial courts and advocates are still working in a part of the old tehsil complex. Due to this, the advocates have to shuttle between the judicial and executive magistrate (Tehsildar) courts. Similarly, the document writers also have to shuttle between the two courts. Patron of Document Writers Union, Inder Singh Saini, has demanded that they should be allotted adequate space immediately. SDM Ajay Sood assured that the administration would allot space to document writers shortly.
	Karate, bicycles figure in SSA plan to boost female literacy in state Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 4 To improve the female literacy rate and instill a sense of confidence among womenfolk, the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Authority (SSAA), Punjab, has come up with a multifaceted girls’ education component plan for 2010-11. For the proper implementation of the plan in Punjab, the union government has already sanctioned a grant of Rs 3 crore to be divided as Rs 15 lakh per district. According to a letter issued by the state project director of the SSA authority, a copy of which is with The Tribune, four activities have been planned under the component, like, providing bicycles, imparting karate training, facilitating exposure visits and awarding cash prizes. Observing the seven districts of the state, namely Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa. Muktsar, Sangrur and Tarn Taran to be suffering from low female literacy rate (LFLR), the SSA Authority has planned to make the girls feel comfortable in reaching schools. For this, all girl students of class VI, who come from a distance of 2.5 kms or beyond, will be provided with bicycles. Further, Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Moga, Mohali, Nawanshahr, Patiala and Ropar districts have been opted for providing karate training to the girl students of class VI, VII and VIII. The training would be imparted through an expert, who will get Rs 100 per day as allowance. The training camp will be carried out for 30 days in a school, where refreshments will also be arranged for the students. Chalking out details about the exposure visit, the authorities have selected September and October as the months, when girl students will be taken to nearby educational as well as historical places. Besides allocating the transportation charges, the SSA Authority has agreed to bear the students’ refreshment expenses also. Among the short-listed spots for the exposure visits, the state project director mentions the names of Kapurthala Science City, Jalianwala Bagh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Wagah border, Golden Temple, Trident factory, Thermal Plant in Bathinda, Punjab Agriculture University, Lovely Professional University, Bhakhra Dam, Beas Dam, Nangal Dam, The Tribune press at Chandigarh, Punjab State Education Board, Chhatbir zoo, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sheesh Mahal and Rang Mahal (Patiala), Hussainiwala border, Radio Station, Bathinda, Gurudwara Mastuana Sahib and Sant Longowal Institute of Technology (Sangrur). Besides, the plan mentions a statewide competitive test activity for girls studying in class V, VI, VII and VIII. The test will be held on February 12, 2011, which will be based upon the academic syllabus of Science, Maths, Social Studies and English. The topper will get a cash prize of Rs 2,000, the girl achieving the second position will get Rs 1,500 and the girl coming third in the test, will get Rs 1,000 as cash award.
	Rural docs may say no to national health programmes Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 4 The Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, today warned the Punjab government that the rural medical officers (RMOs), who were working in about 1,100 rural dispensaries under Zila Parishads in the state, will boycott the national programmes of the Health Department like school health, TB control and immunisation, in case the government failed in accepting their long-pending demands soon. Talking to TNS, state president of the Association Dr Aslam Parvez said a meeting of the state body of the Association had been convened at Ludhiana on July 11 to chalk out a detailed action programme for boycotting the national programmes in one go. He said the main demand of the Association was regularisation of services of RMOs, who had been working on contract basis for the past three to four years. Dr Parvez said with the boycott of national programmes, the RMOs would also stop sending monthly reports of their respective dispensaries to the Health Department, which would prove as hindrance in meeting the targets of various health programmes. Dr Parvez said besides the regularisation of services, they were demanding 60 per cent post-graduate (PG) quota for doing the MS and the MD courses in state medical colleges. He alleged that the state government had been giving them a step-motherly treatment, as they were being given less salaries as compared to the regular government doctors. Dr Parvez said a newly-appointed regular doctor was now getting Rs 39,000 per month whereas an RMO appointed on contract basis gets just Rs 27,500. He said in 2006, the RMOs had been given Rs 21,000 per month which was more than the salary of a regular government doctor at that time. He said if the government did not take steps to check this anomaly, it would have to face the wrath of the RMOs in near future.
	Varsity’s Neighbourhood Campus a boon for rural students Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 4 The Punjabi University Neighbourhood Campus situated on the Bathinda-Mansa road, about 34 km from here at Maur Mandi in this district, has been proving to be a boon for the students of rural areas of this backward region. The campus, which is spread over 11.2 acres, completed one year of its academic functioning on June 30. It was established by the Punjabi University, Patiala, on February 13, 2009. During the previous academic session, it started courses in MBA, MCA, M.Sc. (IT), PGDCA, BCA and MBA (Integrated) and it managed to attract only 147 students perhaps due to the first academic session. According to information, the results of MBA, MCA, M. Sc. (IT) and MBA (Integrated) courses have remained 100 per cent while the results of PGDCA and BCA courses are awaited. Talking to TNS, principal of the campus Dr DK Madaan said the response of the students for admission to PGDCA, BCA and MBA (Integrated) courses was good this year as against 140 total seats, they had received 100 admission forms so far, even as counselling for admission to these courses was yet to be held on July 12. He expressed hope that the total strength of the students in all the courses during the current academic session would cross 400. Madaan further said a thin client computer laboratory, library with e-journals and databases, and a big seminar hall would be developed on the campus during the current academic year (2010-11) as the university’s main aim was to uplift the education standards and benefit the rural students in this backward region in a big way. He said the university had already established a high-tech computer laboratory with 31 computers, library and seminar hall with modern facilities, like laptop and the LCD projector. It is learnt that in December 2009, the university established its permanent examination centre on the campus at Maur to benefit the students of this region while the website of the campus (www.punjabiuniversity.ac.in/maur) was also launched in December 2009 by Vice-chancellor of the university Dr Jaspal Singh. The campus has also been providing various other facilities to the students. Financial assistance is provided to poor students by the university. In order to promote and develop professional culture, an active interaction with industry is also encouraged by organising extension lectures, seminar/workshops, and visits to industries etc.
	Postal staff to go on nationwide strike Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 4 To chalk out strategy for ensuring “success” of the proposed indefinite strike beginning from July 13, postal staff of Bathinda and Mansa districts, held a meeting under the banner of All India Postal Employees’ Union, (Group C), at Teachers’ Home, here on Sunday. They also constituted a Joint Action Committee (JAC) for the purpose, said Makhan Lal Mangal, who has been made convenor of the committee. Makhan Lal said that Faquir Chand has been elected as chairperson while Pursottam Das has been made treasurer of the committee. Calling upon members of union to present a united face during the strike, speakers claimed that all federations of the postal staff would take part in the country-wide strike in protest against what they called “outsourcing of work, victimisation of staff under the name of Project Arrow, work or training on holidays and Sundays etc”. Other members of the union, including Hardeep Singh, Nachatar Singh, were present at the meeting.
	48th Raising Day of Golden Arrow Div Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 4 To chalk out strategy for ensuring “success” of the proposed indefinite strike beginning from July 13, postal staff of Bathinda and Mansa districts, held a meeting under the banner of All India Postal Employees’ Union, (Group C), at Teachers’ Home, here on Sunday. They also constituted a Joint Action Committee (JAC) for the purpose, said Makhan Lal Mangal, who has been made convenor of the committee. Makhan Lal said that Faquir Chand has been elected as chairperson while Pursottam Das has been made treasurer of the committee. Calling upon members of union to present a united face during the strike, speakers claimed that all federations of the postal staff would take part in the country-wide strike in protest against what they called “outsourcing of work, victimisation of staff under the name of Project Arrow, work or training on holidays and Sundays etc”. Other members of the union, including Hardeep Singh, Nachatar Singh, were present at the meeting.