Amritsar, October 5
The Punjab government’s ambitious Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan (SSA) received a jolt as irregularities were confirmed in the appointment of SSA volunteers in the district.

Authoritative sources, on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the inquiry conducted by Jalandhar-based circle education officer found the allegations true and recommended disciplinary action against an official tasked with the responsibility for appointing the volunteers.

This newspaper, in its columns on September 17, had reported that “irregularities” were committed in the appointment of educational volunteers and a departmental inquiry was being conducted by Jalandhar-based circle education officer, Adarsh Kaur. When contacted, Adarsh Kaur declined to share the results of the inquiry and added that she had forwarded the findings to Director General School Education, Krishan Kumar.

Sources said 45 surplus SSA volunteers were appointed against the approved strength of 480 in the district. They feared that the malaise could be spreading in other districts of the state and demanded a thorough inquiry.

Besides, fake addresses were given to get the job, on political interference. They divulged that the guilty official had hired his wife and other relatives. As per norms, graduate volunteers are paid a monthly salary of Rs 4,500, while BEd volunteers were to be given Rs 5,200 and MA plus BEd Rs 6,000.

In order to efficiently run the affairs of school education, the education department has clubbed various districts under three circle education officers at Nabha, Faridkot and Jalandhar in the state.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, literally meaning education for all, was chalked out as a flagship programme by the NDA government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001 for achievement of universalisation of elementary education in a time bound manner.

The 86th amendment to the Constitution mandated to education free and compulsory for children of ages 6-14. With a view to fill vacancies and provide impetus to rural education, a decision was taken to hire three education volunteers in place of Block Resource Persons (BRPs).

However, the norm, that natives of the villages would be preferred for appointment in the schools of their areas, was also flouted by furnishing fake addresses and bending rules. It was also decided to hire three education volunteers for a primary school being run by one teacher. With a view to give impetus to elementary education, to remote rural pockets, the education department had sent on deputation 160 BRPs and district resource persons (DRPs) to the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan in the state.

Repeated calls to contact DGSE Krishan Kumar on his cell phone remained unanswered.

Amritsar, October 5
In absence of any economically viable alternative, the burning of paddy waste is rampant, despite the ban imposed by the district administration.

The district authorities had initiated a number of steps to stem problem of this environmentally and health hazardous method of disposing the agricultural waste, but it is hardly bearing any fruit.

Ironically, the act proposed by Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu in order to curb the problem has been shot down by the state government saying it doesn’t have any other suitable alternatives to dispose off the paddy and wheat straw, confirmed the sources in the Agriculture Department.

The administration had also launched baler machine which was imported from America to manage paddy residue by recycling it into fuel generation and animal feed last year, but it could not prove to be cost effective. Moreover it is very less in number.

Punjab has about 35 lakh hectare of land under wheat cultivation and 26 lakh hectare under paddy production while the Amritsar district has 1.87 lakh and 1.85 lakh hectare of land under wheat and paddy crops.

Huge amount of waste is produced due to arrival of combine machines which was earlier used to be rooted out of the agriculture land.

“A baler machine costs about Rs 1 lakh while it took just a match stick (for burning the straw) for the farmer to dispose off the whole agricultural waste,” said a farmer Harjit Singh.

Even though the administration rents out the machine but then the number of balers are too less and it is very time consuming also, he pointed out.

The agriculture experts had also suggested sowing the wheat seeds in paddy straws itself without hampering the yield which the expert claimed could automatically mange the paddy waste that got mixed with the soil after few time.

“But then, there is about one and half months gap between sowing and reaping of two crops and if a farmer wants to plant another crop like vegetables (which they usually do) they have to uproot and destroy the paddy residue and that is very time consuming and expansive,” an agriculture officer pointed out while preferring anonymity. Moreover, farmers knew the environmental and health hazards of burning crop residue but they don’t have any viable alternative, he added. Several, paper mills and industries are using the agriculture waste for various purpose, again the number is too small, he said.

Meanwhile, in another initiative the district administration has chalked out a plan under which the students and children of rural areas would be included and motivated to pursue their parents not to burn the crop waste besides involving religious organizations. The administration has planned to distribute pamphlets to informing about the dangers of the problem.

These pamphlets would be pasted on the walls of the schools besides distributing it to the children who would also be made aware about the hazards of this mode of crops residue disposal.

According to various studies, farmers in the state are losing about Rs 200 crores every year in the form of fertilisers by burning crop waste. If a farmer burns paddy in one acre of land, he loses land fertility which is equal to 32 kg of urea, 5.5 kg of DAP and 51 kg of potassium.

Amritsar, October 5
Even as the Tarn Taran-based 12-member Bir Khalsa Gatka Dal has returned with the second runners-up trophy in the reality TV show “India’s Got Talent”, the controversy refuses to die down over the show.

Questions are being raised over the manipulations of the final results and the All-India Gatka Federation has decided to obtain the information about the scoring pattern of the show while exercising their Right to Information Act (RTI).

Nevertheless, the Secretary, Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Adliwal honoured the team on its arrival in the city.

While felicitating the team for its brilliant Gatka performance in the show by presenting with the portrait of the Golden Temple and saropa, he expressed that the participants have explored this traditional Sikh martial art, the kirpan and the turban, on global map.

“Unlike other games which were recently in news for bringing disgrace to the nation by its players indulging in match fixing and betting, this art form has brought laurels not only to the community but to the whole Punjab. By bagging a prominent place in the show, Gatka and the Sikhi swaroop has caught the fancy of the public in general and youth in particular. The Shiromani committee would also plan to hold special function to honour the team”, he said.

Meanwhile, the president of All-India Gatka Federation Gurtej Singh Khalsa and general secretary Manmohan Singh Bhagowalia alleged that Joginder Singh said the organisers had manipulated with the final scores by concealing the exact number of SMSes received from the public. “We have engaged judicial assistance in the matter and would also approach other nine teams which participated in the show”, they said.

It is evident to mention that the Gatka event was recently in news when during preliminary rounds, one of the judges of the show, Bollywood filmmaker Sajid Khan has walked out of the judgment panel in protest against the participation of seven-year-old boy in the show, by terming it as an act “too violent for his age”.

Later, SGPC along with the Gatka Federation of India (GFI) and Punjab Gatka Association (PGA) had stressed that this art form happened to be the tradition of Sikhism which signifies the self defence techniques for which there was no age bar to practice.

Ultimately, Sajid Khan had to apologise on the TV show and the team was re-invited to take part in the show.

Amritsar, October 5
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Amritsar would have its share of participation in the Commonwealth Games’ celebrations, co-ordinated by the Punjabi Academy, New Delhi.

Baljeet Kaur Johal

For, Baljeet Kaur Johal, a city-based actor and model, has been chosen to compere two programmes of Bollywood nights, scheduled to be held on October 8 and 9 at Kutub Minaar, one of venues of the CWG celebrations.

Seemingly excited Baljeet, before leaving for New Delhi, had a tete-a-tete with The Tribune. “It was an exciting moment when I got a call from the organisers for hosting the Bollywood show. Equally was it a proud moment for me because I was being associated indirectly with the Games representing my city,” she said.

Known for her astute presence of mind, subtle humour and the apt anecdotes, Baljeet is a known face on the television. Recently, she has submitted her profile and achievements in the field of art and culture for the national award.

Having an instinct for preservation of rich Punjabi art and heritage, this former “Miss Fresher” of BBK DAV College, Amritsar, has to her credit a long list of accomplishments. Baljeet does not miss a single chance to act in a play or host a live show.

“I had liking for classical dance and I got an opportunity to attend one-week workshop of kathak under the supervision of Pandit Birju Maharaj in SPICMACAY’s convention held at Jammu in 2007. It all started when I underwent a one-month National School of Drama workshop in 2008, which was inaugurated by Bollywood star Raj Babbar in Amritsar. Thereafter, I participated in many plays and shows conducted under the banner of the Punjab Naatshala,” she said.

“I got an opportunity to direct a play ‘Pratibha Di Pehchaan’, written by Jasbir Jass in 2008. I also received an ‘Award of Honour’ on promoting Punjabi art and culture by the Rotary Club (Amritsar South and Civil Lines). Then there was no looking back and I started participating in live shows and talk shows, she added.

She never forgets to do something good for the society. Being a coordinator of the Punarjot Eye Bank Society, she has been actively involved in motivating people to donate eyes post death.

She has also been hosting number of events on Independence Day organised by BSF jawans on the Attari Wagah joint check post and programmes organised by the Pingalwara Society free of charge. “I feel it my earnest duty to give back what I have earned from the society. I have been associated with philanthropic projects for Punarjot and Cititzen Forum Vidya Mandir, Maqboolpura, and for destitute children under the programme Umeed,” she said.

Amritsar, October 5
With the rise in the input cost, organisers have cut down on the height and number of effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnath.

The families of artisans residing outside Lohgarh Gate, who prepare the most amount of effigies in the city, said the order placed for the highest effigy was of 80-foot height. Previously, a couple of 100-foot high effigies were made, to be lit on the Dushera.

Citing the reasons, Harbans Lal said the cost of bamboo jacked up from Rs 110 last year to Rs 150 for per 24-foot high log.

Similarly, prices of rope, jute string, rose to Rs 60 from Rs 48 per kg. These two articles are primarily and excessively used to make effigies and rise in their prices have automatically escalated the cost of an effigy by at least 25 per cent from the previous year.

Lal said they were yet to procure paper and cloth, which are used in the later stages for preparation of effigies, and feared that paper costs must have increased too.

The view of making of effigies on roadside signals has marked the beginning of the festival season.

Effigies are also made at Kasereyan Wala Bazar, Passiyan Wala Bazar, Maha Singh Gate and Shivala Bhaiyan. These traditional bazaars, located inside the walled city are agog with activities, especially children, coming throughout the day to witness making of larger than life effigies of the epic villain, from heaps of canvass, bamboo sticks tied with rope.

Unlike other districts of Punjab, the master craftsmen involved in the preparation are locals keeping the age-old art alive and passing it on from one generation to another.

Harbans Lal, his son Shyam Lal and grandson Sonu could be seen collectively working along with their extended families to make base structures of the effigies.

Shyam said so far the entire locality had received orders for preparing nearly 100 effigies in large and small sizes. He rued that gradually, the interest of people was declining with the rise in investment costs and advent of more electronic devices.

Majority of the artisans do other kind of works like selling vegetable and fruits round the year. Close to Dushera, these skilled workers adopt this job to earn a fortune.

Amritsar, October 5
With a view to establish better industry and academic interaction, B.Tech students of Global Institutes were taken to attend a one-day workshop at Infosys Technology Ltd. Mohali.

Amritsar, October 5
Amritsar-based Dr Charanjeet Singh has received a Young Scientist award given by the International Asia-Pacific Radio Science Conference at Toyama in Japan.

He was also given a cash prize of one lakh yen. He was among the 22 scientists given Young Scientist awards. Out of them five were Indians.

He emphasised in his paper that microwave absorption could be varied with the substitution ratio while keeping the content fixed in ferrite. This also attributes to synthesise more economical microwave absorbers in comparison to conventional methods. He added that it was more economical as well.

Microwave absorbers were used in stealth technology and electro magnetic interference or electro magnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) applications. In stealth technology, these materials are coated in the form of paint over the aircraft. Radar transmits microwave frequencies to detect flying aircraft. However, these materials absorb transmitted microwave signals and deny aircraft to be detected.

Microwave oven utilises microwave signal to heat up the eatables at home. These microwave signals (wireless) get leaked to surrounding the microwave oven and interfere with electrical signals flowing in wires producing electromagnetic interference (EMI). These microwave absorbers serve as electromagnetic compatibility device (EMC) by absorbing the unwanted microwave signals produced by microwave oven, he added.

In face of limited laboratory facilities available in the north India, he performs basic synthesis and experiments at Microwave Materials Lab in GNDU.

After obtaining BTech and PhD in electronics from Guru Nanak Dev University, he did Masters in Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.

Currently employed with a private engineering institute at Hoshiarpur, he is also engaged in research on microwave absorbers at GND University. Besides, he has collaborated with Dr Marina Koledinstseva of Missouri University Rolla USA, Dr Yang Bai, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, Dr K.N. Rozanov of Russian Academy of Science, Russia for carrying out research.

Amritsar, October 5
That the 21-day camp of the BCCI’s Specialist Pace Bowler Academy under progress at Gandhi Ground is a great opportunity for budding cricketers especially aspiring fast bowlers to have an exposure.

The pace bowling camp was shifted to the local Ground from Mohali due to the ongoing India-Australia Test match.

Coach for BCCI’s Specialist Pace Bowler Academy, Karsan Ghavri, former Test player, talking to The Amritsar Plus, said he had recommended names of 11 pacers of the academy to the BCCI for special attention as they could be future of the Indian pace attack.

Ghavri, a former left arm medium bowler known for clever use of nippy bouncer, said the BCCI established separate academies for batting, spin and fast bowling at Mumbai, Chennai and Mohali. These academies were carved out to cater all categories of players from teenagers to those trying to stage a comeback to the Indian team.

He informed that it was the sixth and last camp of the year before the start of the cricketing season. As many as 55 bowlers participated in these camps and hoped that 11 out of them would be playing high grade cricket in the coming years.

Tarn Taran, October 5
M.P. Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development)-cum-Chief Executive Officer of the local Zila Parishad has countered the allegations leveled against him and other officials by Ranjit Singh Mianwind, the Chairman Zila Parishad for committing lapses in releasing grants worth Rs 5.71 crore.

The grants were allotted by the Union Government under Indira Avas Yojna for constructing new houses or repairing old house of the members of the schedule castes or minority communities.

The chairman had alleged that the grants were released by the ADC, Secretary Zila Parishad, Accountant and the district social welfare officer without taking his approval.

The ADC in a one page press release said by the letter issued by the Additional Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, he was competent to release the grants.

Moreover, he said he sent the file for the approval of the Chairman who denied signing it as he had done many times before. The ADC said that as all the grants have been given to the beneficiaries through cheques so there was no possibility of any embezzlement in allotting the grants.

Amritsar, October 5
The commendable initiative like Nanhi Chhaan would be of no use if we fail in preserving age old trees, said Gurbhej Singh of Mission Aagaaz.

He said the government should also spare a thought for saving the old trees which are clandestinely being chopped off.

He said in recent past, the people had witnessed slaughtering of several old trees, including peepal, sheesham, mango, neem etc some of which were later shifted to Ajnala after the intervention of NGOs. But only few of them survived, he added.

He urged the officials associated with the Nanhi Chhan Foundation to take cognizance of cutting of old trees and took up the matter with the government declaring the peepal and banyan trees as heritage trees.

The association also appealed the government and said instead of wasting crores of rupees on advertisements, various NGOs which are fighting for environmental cause should be supported.

Amritsar, October 5
A delegation of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, led by its state president Satnam Singh Pannu, today met Chief Engineer, Border Range of Powercom, and sought a change in the inquiry officer probing into the allegations (leveled by a farmer) against a sub-divisional officer, of accepting bribe.

The farmer leader alleged that the inquiry officer Amrik Singh, executive engineer (west zone, Chheharta), tried to threaten and pressurise the aggrieved farmer to drop the charges.

Sandeep Singh Sandhu, the chief engineer, immediately ordered the superintending engineer, Amritsar, to change the inquiry officer and initiate necessary action against Amrik Singh, claimed the organisation.

Pannu also threatened to launch an agitation against the accused SDO (sub division Chogwan), Paramjit Singh if the Powercom officials showed any leniency towards him.

According to details, Balwant Singh, a resident of Kotla Doom village, had applied for a 24-hour power supply in September 2007, for which the SDO took Rs 32,000, while a receipt of only Rs 21,756 had been handed over.

When the farmer asked the SDO to return the remaining amount, he denied doing so. On September 2010, the farmer filed a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Kahan Singh Pannu, who asked the chief engineer to hold an enquiry in this regard.

Sandhu appointed Amrik Singh to probe into the allegations. However, Satnam Singh Pannu alleged on September 21, the officer went to the house of Balwant Singh and threatened him of dire consequences.