Fazilka, September 5
A problematic situation has arisen for the ruling SAD-led government as a section of the Shiromani Akali Dal workers sat on dharna at the Clock Tower chowk in favour of their demand to raise Fazilka’s status and make it district headquarters. The dharna, which was initiated by the Joint Action Committee, has entered 20th day today.

The SAD leaders including circle president, Fazilka, and former chairman of the market committee Charan Singh, senior vice-president Mahal Singh, general secretary Baldev Singh, office secretary Bachittar Singh Virk and president depot holder union Arniwala Balbir Singh Sewak sat on dharna.

While addressing the gathering, SAD president Charan Singh said the party leaders joined the agitation as it was in the larger interests of the area and is also above the party ranks.

He warned that the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders are also ready to sit on fast-unto-death to support their demand, if need be.

Joint Action Committee president Sushil Gumber, Zila Banao Sangharsh Committee chairman Rajesh Angi and spokesman Raj Kishore Kalra said the committee would continue the agitation till its logical end.

Besides, representatives of other associations including Joginder Singh, Jaswant Singh, former president of the Bar Association Anil Jain, advocates Farangi Lal Hari Chand Makkar and Mohinder Loona also joined the dharna.

Educationist and writer Gurmeet Singh Fazilka, an MA in Punjabi and a science graduate, has a sharp knack of writing Punjabi literature on varying subjects.

His third book titled ‘Odarian’, a book of essays relating to different subjects relevant in day-to-day life has been released recently by Jagmohan Singh, nephew of martyr Bhagat Singh and comrade Mangat Ram Pasla in a proramme convened to commemorate first MLA of Fazilka Wadhwa Ram recently.

Gurmeet Singh has the credit of writing and getting three Punjabi books published. He is in the process of completing half a dozen more books and novels.

His first book ‘Laparvahi Zindabad’, a Punjabi satire won much accolades.

His second book that comprises stories titled ‘Tangewala Khair Mangda’ was released in the year 2009.

Gurmeet Singh has been honoured on over 30 occasions starting from his days as a college student in 1971 for his literary activities and furtherance of the Punjabi language and culture.

Prominent amongst these include Antarashtriya Mini Kahani Manch Moga, Mini Kahani Lekhak Manch Amritsar, Pandit Indersain Brahmanand Memorial Trust Roopnagar, Sahtiya Sabha Talwandi, Kesh Sambhal Parchar Sanstha Amritsar, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle Ludhiana and scores of local and nearby literary and social organisations.

— Praful C Nagpal

The inaugural function of the four-day 55th district Sriganganagar sports meet on Sunday for U-17 and 19 boys / girls badminton, lawn tennis and table tennis events was a spectacular show.

The district sports officer Mohinder Singh Brar, a reputed national hockey player and alumni of the Government Sports College Jalandhar, lauded the efforts made by the hosts — Good Shepherd Public School.

He said the challenge before the management and teachers is to involve each student in extra-curricular activities that include sports and culture since this seems to be the most potent mode to combat the high incidence of drug abuse and other negative forces.

The students enthralled the gathering by presenting patriotic, regional songs and dances. Mansi Setia virtually mesmerised the viewers with her solo dance performance.

Director of the host school Manav Chimni greeted the dignitaries including educationists Satpal Charaya, Vijay Sharma and Harpal Singh, who had been appointed as observers by the education department.

The scouts and guides of the Good Shepherd Public School not only led the guests to the ground but also played band as MS Brar took salute from an impressive march past.

The gathering greeted the player who carried the torch. Teacher Vineeta Mittal was assisted by the student’s leaders Rima Grover and Anantpratap Singh in conducting the function.

Principal RK Wadhwa won applause as he spoke about the multifaceted achievements of the host institution.

— Raj Sadosh

Tapa (Barnala), Sept 5
The construction of the SDM office complex has been delayed for the last several years as the two groups, predominantly of the ruling SAD-BJP coalition and opposition Congress, are batting for its construction at different locations.

Sources said during the previous Congress regime, the then Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on December 3, 2006, had laid the foundation stone of the SDM office complex at the Guru Namdev road. They added that the land where the foundation stone was laid is that of a chappar (pond) and had already given ample opportunities to the SAD leaders to raise the point that it is not fit for the construction of the SDM office complex.

Sources added that after the SAD-BJP coalition came into power in the state, a group of leaders belonging to the ruling coalition want that the SDM office complex should be built at the Kadayali road. They added that this group claims that since the land belongs to the government, it would be easier for the government to construct the complex here.

Prem Kumar Bhoot, a Congress leader, said he wants the complex to come up near the Gurudwara Namdev road since it is in the heart of the city. He added that people will find it near because of its location.

A SAD leader asking not to be named said the SDM complex should be built at the site and they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that it is built there only.

As the political wrangling over the site for the SDM complex goes on, there are allegations against the authorities that they have encroached on the new grain market building of the market committee.

“Since the SDM office complex is running in the new grain market building of market committee, the market committee office is running from the old grain market complex. The market committee authorities had to shift to the new grain market building but they cannot since the building is allegedly encroached upon by the SDM office,” a source said.

DC Barnala, Arshdeep Singh Thind, revealed to The Tribune that they have sent a proposal seeking administrative approval and funds for the construction of the SDM office complex at Tappa at the Kadayali road. “We are waiting for the approval and funds. Once we get it, the work will be started,” the DC said.

However, he refuted the allegations that the SDM office authorities have encroached upon the new grain market building saying, “We are working in public interest and there is no encroachment of any office.” The DC added that the SDM office complex would have the SDM office, Tehsildar’s office, workstation for patwaris and other offices.

Abohar, September 5
The increasing unemployment among the B.Ed teachers during the last few years has made the aspirants turn towards the ETT course now. A large rush could be seen for seeking admission in the ETT even on Sunday. The applicants included graduates, post-graduates though the requisite qualification was class XII only. Some of the applicants had qualified the NET as well, it is learnt.

As per the information gathered by this correspondent, about 197 colleges, affiliated to the Panjab University, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University have got about 25,800 seats for the B.Ed course this year.

Hardly 10 per cent of the fresh B.Ed teachers were able to get a suitable job during the past four years. Even when the entrance test had been bid an adieu this year, more than 20 per cent of the seats in the B.Ed course were lying vacant even after three rounds of counselling in these colleges, sources said.

Notably, the admission process had undergone a sea- change as some of the private colleges approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court last year to get the vacant seats filled exploring the management quota that reportedly facilitated them to get fee of their choice. The aspirants were inclined to get admission in the ETT course last year but the number of seats was limited to 2500 only. The government aided colleges which opted to offer ETT course were permitted to charge a sum of Rs 4,000 per annum, much below than the actual expanses incurred on salaries of the staff besides other infrastructure, sources said.

Private colleges had aired their grievances through a writ petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the alleged irrational control on the fee structure by the state government. Now, 45 colleges are in a position to offer admission for the ETT course. Each college will have 50 students. It is gathered that 85 per cent of the seats are to be filled on the basis of merit-list maintained in each college.

The selected students might have to pay Rs 35,000 or even more as annual charges to the government aided colleges. However, the amount may go up in case of un-aided colleges.

Abohar, September 5
The local Bar Association on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in connection with according the status of district to this sub-division bordering Haryana and Rajasthan. The memorandum was submitted by a delegation of the Bar Association, which included Narinder Garg, president, Rajneet Singh Phore, secretary, Gurpreet pal Singh Sidhu, Tajinder Randhawa and Mahinder Kumar (advocates), at village Middu Khera where Badal held a Sangat Darshan programme.

In the memorandum, Garg claimed that for the litigants of this sub-division, it was difficult to travel about 320 kilometres in a day to attend the court proceedings at Ferozepur and to get other administrative works done from that district headquarter town.

He claimed that the last village of the Abohar sub-division, Gumjal, was located at a distance of about 160 kilometres from Ferozepur and the people had to spend a lot of money on travelling to reach Ferozepur, which was one of the biggest districts of Punjab.

He said in all other districts, the people did not cover a distance of more than 40 kilometres to reach the district headquarter from any point.

Talking to the TNS, he said all other administrative offices could get good accommodation in this town and hence, there was no problem which could stop the state government from according the status of a district to this sub-divisional town.

Abohar, September 5
The teachers of this sub-division today warned during the Teacher’s Day celebrations that any attempt to acquire the educational complex land near the Rani Jhansi market for another shopping mall will be opposed.

Captain (retd) SK Dutta, former district education officer, chairman of the Teachers Club, said the Improvement Trust was wrongly claiming its right to possess the piece of land measuring 1.56 kanal that was used for decades for the boys hostel-cum-residence of the principal of the Government Model Senior Secondary School for Boys.

The meeting unanimously urged the CM Parkash Singh Badal to get the objectionable proposal dropped and sanction funds for the reconstruction of the hostel, sports room and the principal’s residence. The teachers pledged to fight for it by all means. — OC

Fazilka, September 5
Lions Club (Border), Fazilka, organised a camp to detect breast cancer among women and chest diseases at the local Civil Hospital here on Saturday. The specialists of the Roko Cancer Charitable Trust, England, being run by an NRI Ajinderpal Singh Chawla examined the women free of cost. Dr Kavita Singh and Dr Daya Bhukkar examined more than 100 patients.

The co-coordinator of the trust Dharminder Dhillon said following ignorance about the disease, more than 80,000 women suffer from breast cancer and of these, around 30,000 lose their lives every year in India.

Lions Club president Satish Kataria said the club decided to organise the camp in this remote area as there is no facility in the nearby towns to conduct mammography.

DC Gurkirat Kirpal Singh at the launch of Greenathon in Bathinda on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Bathinda, September 5
People from all walks of life, including tiny-tots, participated in the Greenathon, a run for environment, organised by the Millenium School here this morning. The Greenathon aimed at creating awareness on environmental issues and to cultivate the spirit of social responsibility for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

DC Gurkirat Kirpal Singh flagged off the Greenathon. He advised students, “Don’t just sit back and watch the world die! Help your mother earth.” Earlier, the students staged a street play, ‘Say no to polythene’, which was appreciated by all.

The Greenathon started from the Sports Stadium and headed towards Hanuman Chowk. After covering the Mall Road, it took a U-turn from the Fire Brigade Chowk and culminated at the Sports Stadium.

Officers and jawans of the Army and the ITBP, teachers, parents and students took part in the Greenathon.

A number of social organisations like the Art of Living, Sahara Jan Seva, Naujwan Welfare Society, Asra Welfare Society and United Welfare Society, took a pledge for lending support to the noble cause.

Urging all to join the campaign, principal of the school Beena Rao said, “Most of the damage we have caused to the environment is reversible. We can restore habitats, clean rivers, renovate buildings, replenish the top soil and replant forests.” She added, “It was a great day, as residents of Bathinda gathered and took up the responsibility to work together to make the earth a village of happiness.”

Bathinda, September 5
Girls of the Malwa College of Physical Education here won the silver in the inter-college netball contest organised by the Punjabi University, Patiala, at the SKRC College Physical Education, Bhago Bajra Khara, from August 30 to September 1. Four girls of the college, namely, Amandeep Kaur, Lakhwinder Kaur, Amandeep Kaur and Arti have been selected to represent the university in the inter-university competition. — TNS

Jalalabad (Ferozepur), September 5
Ranjit Singh, a truck driver died after he was electrocuted when his vehicle came into contact with a high voltage wire while he was opening the rear stopper to unload stone rubbles here today. Amar Singh, cleaner of the truck, was referred to a Faridkot-based hospital for treatment of his burn injuries. Probe is on in the case. — TNS