Bhagwangarh (Bathinda), October 26
In a first of its kind, a Jan Sunwayi (public hearing) was organized here today by the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) and Greenpeace as part of its ‘Living Soils’ campaign—to demand a support system for eco-friendly fertilisers.

At the public hearing, farmers trashed the Central Government’s strategy to tackle soil degradation through the new nutrient based subsidy system (NBS).

“Healthy soil holds the key to sustainable farming. The soil has to be rejuvenated if we are to safeguard our lives and livelihoods from near collapse. It is high time the government comes to the rescue of farmers,” said Shingara Singh Mann, the district president of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Urgrah), while inaugurating the Jan Sunwayi.

“The social audit in Bathinda proves that the Centre’s schemes are not capable of solving the problem of soil degradation,” said Umendra Dutt, executive director of the Kheti Virasat Mission.

Dutt, who was the moderator at the public hearing.

“It is the responsibility of those in power to launch appropriate policies which will give a new life to the dying soil. It is also the duty of all to support eco-friendly fertilizers,” he added.

Sunil Prabhakar, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India, said, “This nutrient based subsidy is clearly a case of old wine in a new bottle and the benefits of this scheme will continue to be reaped by the chemical fertilizer companies.”

“It is time for the government to stop taking refuge behind a few schemes which are scattered and counterproductive and come up with a real, workable and mainstream eco-friendly solution, which would address the soil health crisis.”

“We have observed that the farmers are being given subsidies on tools and chemical fertilizers but not for motivating them to join hands for organic methods of agriculture, which in itself is evidence of how much the government is serious towards preventing the degradation of soil,” said the farmers attending the event.

“Punjab has been in the grip of a crisis and it has suffered the consequences of excessive chemical fertilizer usage. The response of additional fertilizer application to foodgrain production has shown a distinct declining trend,” they added.

“The verdict of state farmers acquires significance in the context of the Centre’s acceptance of intensive chemical fertilizer usage as cause for the soil degradation and initiating a reform in its fertilizer subsidy policy by introducing nutrient based subsidy (NBS) from April 1, 2010,” they added.

Living Soils survey reveals that farmers are not even aware of schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Project on Organic Production (NPOP) etc. that raise questions about the sanctity of such schemes in agricultural states like Punjab.

During the hours-long public hearing, besides putting forth queries, some of the farmers also shared their personal experiences about organic farming and motivated others to shun the use of chemicals on their crops. 

Ferozepur, October 26
The members of Zila Bachao Sangharsh Committee today took out a march in the cantonment area of this town to make it clear to the state government that it would not allow it to bifurcate Ferozepur district.

The committee has started a move for stalling any bifurcation of Ferozepur district as different organisations of Fazilka sub-division and its neighbouring villages and some of the towns, have been observing a strike continuously for the past more than 70 days to press the Punjab government to accord it a district level status.

Even the Beopar Mandal, Fazilka has given a call of 72 hours long bandh of the town on November 12, 13 and 14 to put pressure on the SAD-BJP combine government so that they could get district level status for the town bordering Pakistan.

Interestingly, the Punjab government has initiated no move either to bifurcate Ferozepur district or to accord district level status to Fazilka so far.

But the agitation launched by Fazilka-based organisations has also activated different organisations in Abohar town also, which have also started district level status for that town also.

Kanwardeep Singh Syal, president, District Bar Association, said that members of the committee had also staged a dharna and categorically conveyed a message to Punjab government that any bifurcation of Ferozepur district would not be tolerated at any cost. He said that people of Ferozepur could make any sacrifice to stall its bifurcation.

He said that a meeting of committee would be held on October 27 to chalk out future course of action.

The others who participated in the march included Subash Tulli, Ashwani Mehta, Puran Singh Joshan, Surinder Bajaj, Manmohan Handa, T. S. Gill, Prince Mahaindru, Harish Chawla, Gaurav Nandrajog, Gulshan Monga, Raj Kumar Kakkar, Surjit Singh Sandhu, Sat pal, Kartar Singh Bhullar, Jasdeep Singh Kamboj, Pankaj Rampal, Rajesh Mehta, Munish Khera, Roshan Lal Sethi, DR Goyal, Raj Kumar Phool, Budh Ram, Malkit Singh, Hari Ram Khindri, Surjit Baht and Satpal Bajaj. 

Bathinda, October 26
The district health authorities here today received a report from the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, regarding detection of nine new dengue positive cases from the Bathinda city. With these nine new cases, the total number of dengue positive cases in Bathinda district has risen to 66. These new dengue cases belong to different localities of the city, including Lal Singh Basti, Model Town Phase 1, Civil Line, Nai Basti, Thakur Colony and Dhobiana road.

However, no Mac Elisa test (a confirmatory test for dengue) could be conducted at the sentinel surveillance hospital (SSH), situated on the Civil Hospital here, as the district health authorities could not get a Mac Elisa test kit for conducting dengue tests from the Patiala district health authorities, despite the fact that the district health authorities here had received an e-mail message from the state health authorities to collect a Mac Elisa test kit from Patiala.

Sources said the Bathinda health authorities today in the morning sent a staff member to Patiala to collect the kit, but he failed to get the same till afternoon, and then came back to Bathinda empty-handed.

It is learnt that the local SSH has in its possession 30 blood samples till this evening to conduct Mac Elisa test on the same. Out of these 30 samples, Mac Elisa test will be conducted on 10 samples tomorrow as the SSH has arrangement to conduct 10 samples with it while the remaining 20 samples will be conducted on the arrival of a new Mac Elisa kit here.

Bathinda, October 26
In the wake of dengue cases reported in various parts of the state, Ayurvedic doctors have exhorted people to adopt the Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine, to keep the disease at bay.

The doctors advise people to place Ayurvedic medicated (guggal) incense (dhoop) on smouldering cow dung cakes to make their houses and surroundings free of mosquitoes. People should boil leaves of ‘tulsi’ (basil) plant in tea or chew five leaves of ‘tulsi’ along with four-five grains of black pepper twice a day to protect themselves from dengue.

Besides, it has been suggested that people should grind a stem of the ‘giloya’ plant and take a spoonful of it in morning as well as in evening. The Ayurvedic doctors are of a view that it would help prevention of dengue.

Ayurvedic medical officer Dr Sanjiv Pathak said here today that besides shops and houses, the medicated ‘guggal’ dhoop should be placed on smouldering cow dung cakes at cross-roads in localities to prevent the disease.

He said the incense could be prepared by crushing ‘neem’ leaves, deodar’s bark, ‘bach’, ‘giloya’, mustard, ‘ajobian’, turmeric, ‘viavidang’, ‘jatta massi’, ‘khursayn ajobian’ and camphor with pestle in a mortar and then mix the same with ‘guggal’ dhoop.

He also said treatment of dengue with Ayurvedic medicines was possible even at advanced stage as these medicines were effective in curing dengue fever and increasing platelet count. However, in case of emergency, they referrred patients to the Civil Hospital for treatment, he added.

He also said the ‘giloya’ plant prevented fever while ‘tulsi’ prevents malaria and dengue. Both the plants increased platelet count and immunity in the body.

Officiating district Ayurvedic officer Dr HS Dhaliwal said there were medicines in the Ayurvedic system that cured dengue patients. He added that people were so scared of dengue fever that they preferred the allopathic system of medicines thinking that these would cure them immediately while the Ayurvedic medicines would take time.

Bathinda, October 26
After the announcement that Capt Amarinder Singh has been made president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Congress workers, led by district president (Rural) of the party Narinder Singh Bhuleria, celebrated the occasion here today.

Ladoos were distributed among the workers and crackers were burst to mark the occasion.

Among several Congress leaders present on the occasion were Inder Singh Sahni, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha and Rupinder Singh Bindra besides Bhuleria.

Ferozepur: Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, former congress MLA from Fazilka alongwith party leaders including Des Raj and Surinder Kalra distributed sweets and burst crackers in Fazilka town.  He dubbed the decision of Congress high command to make Capt Amarinder Singh as president of state unit as pro-Punjab and pro-party.

Dharminder Sapolia, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), said that AICC president Sonia Gandhi had extended a lot of respect to the sentiments of Punjabis by making Capt Amarinder Singh as president of the state Congress unit.

Fazilka, October 26
The members of the ETT Teachers Union, Fazilka, have decided to boycott the seminars to be organised by the education department under the Parho Punjab scheme from October 28.

It was unanimously decided at the ETT Teachers Union meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Malwa zone president Sanjiv Narang and Block president Amandeep Singh Brar. The ETT teachers have been demanding that the teachers appointed under Zila Parishad should be merged with the education department.

All 121 teachers working in Fazilka block would boycott the seminars, claimed Sanjeev Narang. — OC

Sriganganagar, October 26
The area around the BoP Hindumalkot and Shivpur head works will be developed as tourist complexes, said District Collector Subeer Kumar.

An ADGP of the Border Security Force had already visited Hindumalkot along with senior civil and police officials to discuss comprehensive plan to attract visitors. The plan included construction of visitors' gallery, camel-ride facility and snacks bar.

So far, the tourists have been thronging BoP Sadiqi in Fazilka sector. The DC informed that Rs 10 lakh had been released for the Shivpur complex and more funds would be made available. Notably, the distance of Hindumalkot from Abohar is also less than Fazilka.

Speaking during the day-long Sriganganagar 84th founder’s day celebrations, he said visionary Maharaja Ganga Singh had this day laid the foundation of Gang (Bikaner) canal in 1927 and ploughed the fields amidst chanting of sermons by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

The DC Subeer Kumar was earlier joined by ADCs Hanuman Dass Bithu and Rattan Singh Lamba, SDM Narinder Singh Purohit, Irrigation superintending engineer Amarjit Singh Meharada, Prem Chaudhary of Lila Charitable Trust and Krishan Siyag in performing rituals at the Shivpur head works.

The all-religion prayer meeting was conducted by Krishan Kumar Tiwari of Shri Sanatan Dharam Mandir, Haji Lal Mohammad of Jama Masjid, Kuldeep Singh head granthi of Gurdwara Singh Sabha and Father John of the Sacred Heart Church.

The dignitaries then moved to garland the life-size statue of Maharaja Ganga Singh. SP Rupinder Singh, former Urban Improvement Trust chairman Raj Kumar Gaur, Municipal Council president Jagdish Jandu and Zila Parishad chairperson Shanti Devi Poonia said the deserts of the border region had ushered a new era in agriculture only because of the Bikaner canal that was founded by the great Maharaja to draw surplus water from Ferozepur head works.

Students of different educational institutions participated in the rally that culminated at Maharaja Ganga Singh Chowk. Volley ball match for boys and hockey match for girls were also organised. Gifts were also distributed by the District Collector during the function.

Sriganganagar, Oct 26
A woman municipal councilor of the ruling Congress along with a tantrik (witchdoctor) has been arrested in connection with the case involving kidnapping and murder of a 10 months old child.

Raisinghnagar police said the case was registered on October 17, 1996. A court had issued standing warrants against the tantrik identified as Arjun Singh Kapdia three years back while the warrants for arresting Amarjit Kaur, a councillor in Anoopgarh and formerly vice-president of the District Women Congress, were issued recently. One of their accomplices Balbir Singh had already been arrested while one Mukhtiar Singh was still at large.

As per the police file, 10-month-old child of Santosh and Gurmeet Singh was allegedly kidnapped from their field in village Chak 15NP. The body was later recovered from a water course. Amarjit Kaur then resided in Jaitsar area and her father was working in the railways. Her name figured along with tantrik Gurdev Singh as suspects. Both in the meanwhile shifted to Anoopgarh and developed a small shrine in their residence in ward number 6. She was, however, elected a member of the local municipal council with the support of persons who kept visiting the tantrik to get their problems solved.

Amarjit (40) and Gurdev (45) were produced in the court of judicial magistrate at Raisinghnagar who remanded them in judicial custody. Both refuted the allegations levelled against them. 

Faridkot, October 26
The additional district and sessions judge of Faridkot, Ramesh Kumari, on Tuesday, acquitted three members of a family from the charges of allegedly murdering a married NRI woman about fours years back.

A criminal case in this sensational murder case was registered on a complaint written to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Faridkot, by senior authorities of the Canadian High Commission.

As per the case file, the deceased Baldip Kaur and her husband Charanjit Singh came from Canada to visit their family members at Araianwala village in the year 2006.

Unfortunately, Baldip died on January 26, 2006 under mysterious circumstances while in the bathroom during her visit here.

A few days after her death, the mother of the deceased woman, Gurcharan Kaur, alleged that her daughter had not died of natural cause.

She requested the Punjab police authorities to set up a special investigation team for investigating her daughters death, besides, writing to the Canadian government.

Under pressure, a criminal case was registered against Charanjit and two of his family members even as various investigations suggested that it was a natural death.

Today, the court of the additional district and sessions judge Ramesh Kumari while agreeing to investigation reports and arguments put forth by the defence counsel has acquitted all the three alleged accused in this case. 

Bathinda, October 26
Members of the cooperative agriculture service societies should rise above factionalism so as to contribute a lot in the business of societies and their successful functioning, stated managing director of the PUNCOFED Muneshwar Chander while addressing a seminar organised by the District Cooperative Union here today.

He also asked the members to work in a united manner for the welfare of their respective societies. Director of the PUNCOFED Paramjit Singh Dhunike, deputy registrar, Cooperative Societies, Bathinda, Harbant Singh Jatana, Dalip Kumar, Santosh Kumar, Baldev Krishan Goyal, Harbans Singh Brar, Harmail Singh and Mohinder Singh Bandi were present. — TNS

Abohar, October 26
During the Netaji Subhash Cup inter-school football tournament, theme song ‘Duniya ki ek bhasha football’ composed by Dr N C Chatterji was played throughout the day to give a boost to the sports.

The tournament was also inaugurated by Dr Chatterji, who is the chairman of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Charitable Trust.

The Genius International School trounced Saraswati Shiksha Sadan 6-0 in the opening match.

In the other matches, Guru Nanak AV Senior Secondary School defeated Divine Light Public School 2-0 while SD Girls High School defeated New Light Public School 2-1.