Bathinda, August 19
To provide 15 types of services to the rural folk at their doorsteps, the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited (Punjab Infotech) has extended its assistance to the Gurgaon-based GNG Group in setting up ‘Suvidha centres’ in all villages in the state. In the first phase, the centres will reportedly start functioning in nine villages of the Barnala district.

The services to be provided by these centres include insurance of life, livestock and crops; first-hand information about agricultural research; knowledge about information technology; computer education with certification; e-mail sending facility; availability of ‘Fard’ (land document) and receiving payment of electricity bills.

Talking to The Tribune here today, chairman of the Punjab Infotech Harjit Singh Grewal said the main aim of setting up such ‘Suvidha centres’ was to provide benefits of the information technology (IT) and other services to the common masses residing in villages. He said as per the plan, these centres would be set up in all 12,800 villages of the state by the end of next year. When the rural folk would start getting IT facilities at their doorsteps, the migration of villagers to urban areas would automatically come down, he added.

Grewal said in the first phase, these centres would be set up in nine villages of the Barnala district in a week or so. He said for starting these centres in these villages, training was being imparted to youths. These centres would also provide employment to four to five youths in each village, he added.

When asked about the earmarking of funds for the ‘Suvidha centres’, Grewal said there was no need to earmark the funds for the same as nominal charges would be received from the villagers for the services rendered to them. He said as per an estimate, every centre would earn about Rs 50,000 a month, which would be sufficient to run its affairs, including salaries of the employees.

Grewal also said the Punjab Infotech had taken the services of Gurgaon-based GNG Group for setting up these centres in the villages. He said the GNG Group was already running such centres in 1,500 villages of Himachal Pradesh for the past three years.

Bathinda, August 19
Poor drainage system in Bathinda city was exposed once again on Thursday afternoon when almost all the major roads and low-lying localities in the city were inundated following intermittent rains that remained a feature throughout the second half of the day.

Though the region has been experiencing rains around noon for the last several days, the nature and quantum of today’s downpour took all by surprise.

The intermittent rains that started around 1 pm, however, made the weather pleasant making mercury plummet. But it hit normal life as vehicular movement was disrupted due to waterlogging and residents remained stranded at their houses, shops and other places for hours.

The city’s main roads, including Mall Road, Amrik Singh Road, Mehna chowk, district court road and others witnessed drivers struggling to find ways on the waterlogged roads.

Interestingly, in the month of July and so far in August, Bathinda received rains below normal. The area recorded 101 mm rain in July against the normal 114.2 mm, around 10 per cent below the normal, as per the agro-met advisory services, PAU regional station, Bathinda. Till August 18, the area received rains less than 50 mm whereas the normal is 120.6 mm. For the urban residents, the rains made the weather relatively pleasant but it also gave some frustrating moments to them by causing waterlogging.

As far as the effect of rains on crops is concerned, director of PAU regional station, Bathinda, Dr GS Buttar said that the nature of rains the region had been witnessing till date has been beneficial for crops, including cotton and paddy. He, however, said heavy rain is not needed at this time, particularly for cotton crops.

Dr Buttar further said that the rain might wash out the pupa and nymph of whitefly but the humidity level which increases after the rains help in the multiplication of white fly.

Bathinda, August 19
Faced with financial hardship, a farmer Jagjit Singh, has committed suicide here and his body was found near the thermal station last evening. The 48-year-old farmer belonging to the nearby Bir Behman village was reportedly facing financial hardship as a result of which he committed suicide.

A suicide note recovered from the pocket of his shirt stated that he was taking the extreme step because of financial problem that has upset his domestic life.

According to Sanjeev Mittal, SHO of the thermal police station, Jagjit Singh had committed suicide about two days ago and volunteers of a non-government organisation (NGO) found his body lying in the shrubs.

His son Manjeet Singh identified his body.

Mittal said that Jagjit Singh had been upset since the past 15 years when he fell down from a running train. His body was handed over to his kin after conducting postmortem in the civil hospital.

Bathinda, August 19
Expressing concern over the existence of educational institutions (colleges and centres) in two or three-room accommodation in the streets and localities and downfall in the educational standards, chairman of the SD Mahavir Dal Education Board, Bathinda, Chiranji Lal Garg today urged the chairman of Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited (Punjab Infotech) Harjit Singh Grewal to raise voice against such education centres and downfall in educational standards at the government level in the larger interests of the student community and society.

Garg also emphasised on character building of the children by saying that some TV channels were showing such programmes which could not be seen along with family. He said such programmes were spoiling the life and character of the children, due to which their future seemed to be in dark.

Garg was speaking at a function, organised at the MSD Senior Secondary School here by the local unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to honour 120 meritorious students of local 35 schools. Harjit Singh Grewal was the chief guest at the function. He along with Chiranji Lal Garg distributed mementoes and medals among the meritorious students who had obtained first or second positions in their respective schools in the matriculation and 10 plus two examinations.

On the occasion, Grewal appreciated the ABVP for inculcating the spirit of patriotism and nationalism among the students. He said the students and the youths could play a vital role in removing social evils from the society. He also emphasised on maintaining tolerance in life. He also said that today no one had been thinking about the education so there was a need to pay more attention towards the education system for the welfare of the student community.

Grewal also asked the students to play a big role in tackling the menace of drug abuse in society. He said if the students raised voice against drugs and intoxicants sincerely then nobody would be able to spoil the life of the youths.

Among others who were present or addressed the function included state joint secretary of the ABVP Ashutosh Tiwari, city president of the ABVP Neeraj Setia, chairman of Bathinda Improvement Trust Ashok Bharti, district president of the BJP (Urban) Sham Lal Bansal, district president of the BJP (Rural) Dayal Dass Sodhi, a businessman Rajinder Raju and an ABVP leader Parteek Sharma.

Bathinda, August 19
The Mittals City Mall in Bathinda will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on August 21.

The mall houses four-screen multiplex of the Fun Cinemas, which is operating since July 29. The mall is spread over nearly two acres and comprises food court and Big Bazaar.

It has two basements exclusively for parking. The lower ground has a Big Bazaar. The first and second floor will house showrooms. Brands like Woodland, Provogue, Cantabil, Liliput and Dominos will start their operation in a few days. The third floor will have a food court.

A 100-room star category hotel with a swimming pool and a banquet hall, restaurant, kitty hall have also come up at the mall. — TNS

Bathinda, August 19
Gursewak Singh, a resident of Chughe village in Barnala district, reportedly sustained a bullet injury last evening when his cousin Jarnail Singh allegedly opened fire at him at Selbra village (near Phul).

The SHO Phul police station said today that Gursewak Singh had come to Selbra village to meet his relatives where an altercation took place between Gursewak and Jarnail (both cousins). He said Jarnail opened fire on Gursewak due to which Gursewak sustained an injury. Later, he was taken to Rampura hospital. Doctors there referred him to a hospital in Ludhiana. He said Gursewak was now recovering there. The SHO said the police had registered a case against Jarnail Singh under section 307 of the IPC. — TNS

Ferozepur, August 19
A gang of members led by Paramjit Singh Pamma, involved in selling stolen vehicles of fake documents, for the past many years got busted last evening. The police arrested one of the gang member as well.

As per details, three stolen vehicles including special utility vehicles (SUVs) have been recovered from the possession of a member of the gang. However, Pamma is still at large. Two other members of the gang, Balwinder Singh and Rakesh Kumar, who had already been arrested by the police, had disclosed the involvement of Yadwinder Singh, who is politically well-connected, in the crime.

In-charge, CIA police station, Sarbjit Singh, said the accused had been following a unique modus operandi to hoodwink the unsuspecting and innocent customers.

Poice sources said Yadwinder Singh, who was arrested along with a stolen car on the Ferozepur-Moga road yesterday revealed that he had kept two other SUVs in his house located at village Bhamba Singh. Both the SUVs were recovered subsequently.

A case in this connection had already been registered at the Sadar police station under various sections of the IPC.

Fazilka, August 19
Three members of a family including two women of the ruling BJP municipal councilor Neena Ram were allegedly assaulted by three persons last night.

As per an FIR registered with the city police, Fazilka, Neena, Shanti Devi, wife and mother respectively of MC Neena Ram, were asleep in the street outside their residence in Jattian Mohalla locality last night. Three motorcycle-borne persons including Sanjay, Sanju and an unidentified person reached there and allegedly assaulted them. The city police, Fazilka, has registered a case under section 452, 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC, against the accused. — OC