Bathinda, October 11
The entry of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in the market has brought a smile on the faces of cotton growers as they are assuming it to be a sign of accelerating competition among the purchasers.

Notably, finding the prices of white gold (cotton) to be much higher than the minimum support price (MSP), the CCI has entered at the commercial level, which means its officials would also purchase the crop competing with the private buyers.

The CCI has shortlisted 22 purchase centres throughout the state. It is worth mentioning that all the 22 purchase centres are in the Malwa belt.

Seeking anonymity, an official posted at the state office of the CCI in Bathinda, informed that Bathinda, Goniana, Bhuccho, Sangat, Rama Mandi, Maur, Rampura, Mansa, Sardulgarh, Budhladha, Bareta, Barnala, Tapa, Lehragaga, Sunam, Kotkapura, Jaitu, Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha, Fazilka and Abohar are the purchase centres, which have been selected for the purpose.

However, the official mentioned that the CCI had just planned and not finalized whether it would purchase from all centres or not, as all would depend upon the economic viability.

According to details collected, the CCI officials had started purchase from the Maur purchase centre of Bathinda district, where they bought about 500 quintals of cotton on Saturday and about 400 quintals on Monday.

Being one of the competitors, the CCI has purchased the crop on prices varying from Rs 3600-Rs 4310 per quintal and the officials calculate an average of about Rs 4310 per quintal.

When asked about the ceiling level of price and quantity of the purchase, the CCI officials said it would keep varying everyday and they would just implement the decision coming from the national headquarters at Mumbai.

During a visit to various cotton markets of the district, The Tribune today observed that the private buyers were purchasing the crop at prices varying from Rs 4100-Rs 4360 per quintal.

However, sources in the Mandi Board informed that an unusual jump in the price was recorded on Saturday, when some buyer purchased a heap of white gold (cotton) at the rate of Rs 4560 per quintal, which had surprised all.

Ferozepur, October 11
The demand to get district status for Fazilka being raised by various organisations including the Bar Association has started getting stiff opposition from various quarters as members of the district Bar Association (Ferozepur) and representatives of various business bodies today dubbed the same as unjust.

Besides, a few weeks ago, the members of Bar Association (Abohar), which is located at a distance of 30 kilometres from Fazilka, also raised the demand that their town, which was equipped with all facilities and infrastructure, must be given the district status. The Bar had also sent a resolution in this connection to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

On the other hand, the activists of different farmers, business, employees, educational organisations, industrial organisations, voluntary and social organisation along with Fazilka Bar Association have been observing continuous hunger strike for the past 56 days to press the government to accord district status to Fazilka, which was a divisional town during the pre-partition days.

On Sunday, leaders of various political parties, leaving aside their respective agenda, participated in the bandh, which was observed in the town completely. They also staged a dharna on the NH-10 for hours.

Today, Kanwardeep Singh Syal, president, district Bar Association, Ferozepur, said demand of Fazilka Bar Association to make Fazilka a district was illegal, without any base and necessity and was against the interest of people of the district Ferozepur.

He added that members of the Bar had unanimously condemned the demand connected with the district status 
for Fazilka.

He claimed that the Beopar Mandal (Ferozepur) and its associate agencies had also dubbed the demand for district status to Fazilka as unjust.

Syal said that the district Bar Association would work out the further course of action in this regard by consulting various civic bodies tomorrow by holding a meeting. 

Bathinda, October 11
The insect collectors of the Health Department today found dengue larva from the desert cooler of a government office here today. Besides, the insect collectors also checked houses on the Ajit road here to find larva of dengue in the area.

The District Malaria Officer Dr Malkiat Singh Gill said here this evening that the insect collectors today found dengue larva from a desert cooler on the premises of District Sainik Welfare Office here.

He said they destroyed the larva and created awareness among the staff there.

Besides, the health staff also distributed pamphlets among the people for creating awareness against the dengue larva.

Bathinda, October 11
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has been in the eye of a storm following his stance over the Centre’s offer for debt waiver. The issue which has threatened to tug at the very fabric of the ruling Akali Dal in general and the Badal family in particular has also found an echo in the cyber world with geeks posting their views on Manpreet’s page in the social networking site Facebook.

While the district presidents of SAD have rallied around party president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, indirectly targeting Manpreet by seeking “penal action against anyone who violates party discipline,” the Finance Minister’s fans have come to his support in the virtual world.

The Facebook account of Manpreet is now flooded with posts—encouraging him to move ahead and relieve the state from a huge debt burden, which is seen to be creating a hurdle in the state’s growth.

With over 4,000 friends on Facebook, Manpreet finds it to be an easy and straight way to ascertain the public opinion about his moves.

A majority of his friends are full of appreciation for his speech stating that it has ignited a positive debate on the issue, which is related to the welfare of the whole state. A number of “emotional” well-wishers are also there, who finding that his ‘enemies’ have become quite vocal against him, have urged him to leave the party.

One of his well-wishers, Peter Bassi writes: “Manpreet, we all know you take stand on what is best for state of Punjab. We need people like you to understand the long-term economic growth rather than short political gain.”

Further, one Jasdeep Grewal says: “You have the support of millions of overseas Punjabis, who want welfare of Punjab. Carry on the good work.”

Another of his Facebook friend Kumar Karun Krant went ahead saying, “Andhera lakh raushan ho, Ujala phir ujala hai” (However much be the depth of the darkness, light shines through).

Punjab is the birth place of the greatest philosophy on earth, ‘Mat uchi, sir neeva” but in the past few decades ‘Mat neechi par sir uccha’ has become the truth. You are the only hope.”

Meanwhile, some people like Rabinder Cheema and Karambir Hundal state, “It’s time to say bye-bye to Akali Dal.”

The different suggestions or posts have started an intra-account (Facebook) debate over the issue Taking all this in a positive way, Manpreet posted his comments on Facebook on Sunday: “Thank you all for your support. It truly means a lot to me. Your faith is what gives me the strength, courage and resolve to keep going.”

Bathinda, October 11
With the continuous increase in the number of educated women and the desire to be self-reliant, a number of women, besides taking up jobs in public and private sectors, have also started taking part in the business-related activities.

Their desire to actively participate in the business activities also emerged here today when it was found after an interview, conducted by a district-level committee, that there were about 47 per cent loan seeking women (44 women out of 94 persons) for starting their own ventures under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). However, all the women succeeded in getting their cases accepted by the committee for advancing loans to them.

According to information, the district-level committee, under the chairmanship of additional deputy commissioner (Development) C. Sibin, here today accepted loan cases of 50 men and 44 women (about 47 per cent) while one case was rejected as the candidate had applied for starting business of sale-purchase of the garments.

These accepted cases will now be sent to the banks for sanctioning loans. The loan cases were received from the applicants by the district industry centre (DIC) and the district unit of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

The loan's maximum limit is Rs 25 lakh for starting a venture. The loan-seekers have reportedly sought loans for starting employment generation ventures, like cooler kits, camper unit, steel furniture, embroidery work, cattle feed, boutique, computer assembling, coal crushing.

The general manager (GM) of the DIC, Bathinda Chaman Lal told this reporter that the committee today accepted the loan cases of 94 applicants for about Rs 10 crore.

He said subsidy of about Rs 2 crore on the loans would be given to them after the disbursement of loans by the banks. He also said that with the starting of ventures by these persons, about 1,000 persons would get employment directly or indirectly.

Among others who interviewed the applicants, included C. Sibin, Chaman Lal, district in-charge of the KVIC A.S. Malik, district manager of the Khadi and Village Industries Board Bharpur Singh Dulat and Lead Bank Manager Mehar Singh.

Makhu (Ferozepur), October 11
Two motorcycle-borne youths today snatched a bag containing Rs three lakh from Vipin Kumar, an accounts clerk of a local business firm, dealing in foodgrain procurement in broad daylight when he was going to the shop from the bank in this town.

Police sources said Vipin withdrew Rs three lakh from a local branch of the state bank of Patiala (SBOP). DSP, Zira, Balwinder Singh Bhikhi said Vipin had withdrawn the money for making payment to the farmers in lieu of paddy procured by the firm of Sukhminder Singh. He added that special check-points had been set up to nab the accused and a case had been registered. — TNS

Abohar, October 11
Manohar Lal Nagpal, who had served as president of the local municipal council for two terms, died following brief illness on Sunday. Hundreds of people attended the cremation at Shivpuri here on Monday.

MLA Sunil Jakhar was joined by former legislators Dr Ram Kumar Goyal (BJP), Dr Mohinder Rinwa and Parkash Singh Bhatti (Congress), Sandeep Rinwa and Gurdas Girdhar, state secretaries of the BJP and Congress respectively, Arun Narang, district president BJP, city Congress president BL Nagpal, Beopar Mandal president Suresh Phutela and Arorvansh Sabha chief Mohinder Bathla. — OC