Bathinda, October 29
Movement of trains on the four out of six rail sections, connecting Asia’s biggest railway junction, Bathinda, remained standstill since 12 noon on Friday as hundreds of farmers and farm workers owing commitment to 17 organisations blocked rail and road traffic in several places in Punjab to protest against the allegedly indifferent attitude of both the union and the state government towards their long pending demands.

Sources in the railway at Bathinda junction told The Tribune in the evening that train movement on four sections connecting Bathinda, namely Bathinda-Sriganganagar, Bathinda-Ferozepur, Bathinda-Ambala and Bathinda-New Delhi, came to a complete halt. No train touching Bathinda ran on those sections, since noon, sources added.

Sources said however, two sections connecting Bathinda station, namely, Bathinda-Hisar, Rewari and Bathinda-Bikaner remained unaffected.

According to information collected from Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts, following the pre-announced programme of 24-hour rail and road roko agitation, hundreds of farmers and farm workers assembled on the railway crossings at about 12 noon and blocked both the road and rail movement.

Raising anti-government slogans, aggressive leaders announced, “If the governments did not redress our grievances, the proposed 24-hour rail and road roko agitation will be extended to an indefinite period.”

Accusing the procurement agencies of being hand-in-glove with private rice millers and traders, the leaders alleged that by floating an excuse of standards of procurement—maximum 17 per cent moisture and five per cent broken grains—they were looting the farmers.

Speaking about their demands, farmers said they wanted relaxations in procurement standards, which meant the moisture limit should be raised to 22 per cent and damaged and discoloured grains limit be extended to 12 per cent.

Meanwhile, they demanded the government should compensate the farmers, who fell victim of untimely rains and also hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat for the next crop season by centre government.

Ferozepur: Hundreds of farmers and farm labourers belonging to different organisations blocked road and rail traffic at different places in this district to lodge their protest.

Due to traffic jam on the Abohar-Fazilka national highway and blockade of rail traffic on the Ferozepur-Fazilka rail section near Guru Harsahai, the commuters faced a number of problems and some of them could not reach their respective destinations.

The protesters demanded that the farmers should not be harassed by not procuring their produce on the pretext of high moisture contents.

Moga: Many factions of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) and landless labour organisations blocked the rail traffic at Moga besides halting the road traffic.

Talking to The Tribune, Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary of the BKU (Ekta), who led the agitation at Moga, announced that the blockade would continue till their demands were met by the union and state governments.

Kokri alleged that the Central team’s visit to Punjab to assess the loss of paddy was just eyewash to overlook the real problems being faced by the farming community.

The rail traffic at Moga was blocked on the Moga-Ludhiana rail line at Bughipura on the outskirts of the town, Ajit Gill village in Faridkot district, Rampura Phul in Bathinda district, Khudi Kalan in Barnala district, Mansa, Nabha in Patiala district, Chajli in Sangrur district, Gidderbaha in Muktsar district, Guru Har Sahai in Ferozepur district, Jagraon in Ludhiana district and Beas in Amritsar district.

Ferozepur DRM Neeraj Sahay said the traffic at some places was regulated and some local trains were cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Among the organisations that participated in the protest include BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), BKU (Krantikari), Punjab Kisan Sabha, Kirti Kisan Sabha, Kisan Sangrash Samiti, Kirti Kisan Samiti and many other labour organisations.

(With inputs from Sudhanshu Verma, Rajay Deep, Chander Parkash and Kulwinder Sandhu)

Fazilka, October 29
The SAD-BJP combined government of Punjab seems to have started becoming sensitive towards the demands of residents of this town, which was set up by the British, as chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has invited representatives of Sanjha Morcha for holding talks on November 3 in connection with giving district-level status to this sub-division.

Surjit Jiyani, local BJP MLA, who is instrumental in arranging a meeting of Badal with the representatives of Sanjha Morcha, which has been observing a continuous strike for the past about 74 days in connection with their demand of getting district status for this town, said about 50 dignitaries cutting across the party lines were expected to participate in that meeting, which would be held at the official residence of Badal in the noon.

He said he could not predict the outcome of the meeting. He added that Badal had been made aware of the situation and genuine demand of residents of Fazilka, which deserved district status and which had been denied the same by the previous state governments.

Sushil Gumber, president, Bar Association, Fazilka and convener, Sanjha Morcha, while disclosing that Jiyani had conveyed him about the proposed meeting with Badal, said their hunger strike would continue till the Punjab government accepted their demand and issued a notification that Fazilka had been accorded status of district.

“We will not withdraw our agitation of any promise, if made by Badal even in writing. We are determined enough that Sanjha Morcha would be able to get district status for Fazilka as sentiments of lakhs of people are attached to it,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Ashok Gulbadhear, president, Beopar Mandal (Fazilka) said the Beopar Mandal had decided to postpone the proposed 72 hours long complete bandh in this town from November 12 to lodge their protest against denial of district status to this sub-division by the Punjab government.

He said a fresh decision in connection with bandh would be taken after examining the outcome of meeting of Sanjha Morcha with Badal on November 3.

On the other hand, different organisations, including District Bar association (Ferozepur) have formed a Zila Bachao Sangarash Committee to make efforts to stall any move of the state government to bifurcate the border district Ferozepur. 

Bathinda, October 29
In protest against the management and the state bureaucracy for not fulfilling the assurances made to them by the chief minister, while unbundling the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), engineers of the West Zone, the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda and the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabat staged a joint dharna, here today.

The protesters said last year, the state government issued a written directive to the PSEB management to maintain existing differential in pay scales but when the engineers were demanding the revised pay scales and allowances, the bureaucrats started creating hurdles to deny legitimate revision of salary and allowances by using the alibi that financial health of the corporations are in bad shape.

Further, condemning the decision of the government to hand over all new identified thermal projects to private firms and Gidderbaha plant to the NTPC, the agitators rued the excellent track record of not only completing the construction of thermal plants at Bathinda, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat in record time but the performance of these plants had won many awards at the national level. It was completely against the opinion of technocrats and power sector experts to execute at least one thermal project under state sector, they alleged.

“After 560 MW Goindwal and 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo thermal plants were awarded to private players, the then three technical members of PSEB in an unprecedented manner, wrote a joint note for taking up the Rajpura thermal project under state sector listing out pitfalls in handing over control of state's generation to private players. But paying no heed to the opinion, the Rajpura plant was awarded to private company,” said the president of the PSEB Engineers' Association, HS Bedi.

Speaking further, he said, “The management then recommended to the state government that Gidderbaha project be executed under state sector. However, state government awarded the project to the NTPC through Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) route ignoring the fact that NTPC is backing out from the commitments to supply power from its cheaper power projects at various places.” "Moreover, the NTPC has not committed any timelines for completion of this project in the MOU,” he asserted.

Among others, H.S.Bedi (President), KSMann (Vice President) and Bhupinder Singh (General Secretary), Baldev Singh (Executive Member) of the Association, addressed the protesters.

Bathinda, October 29
From the relief, worth Rs 300 crore, announced by CM Parkash Singh Badal on September 24 last to compensate the farmers for the diesel, which was used by them to grow paddy last year in the near-drought conditions, cheques of relief amounts are being distributed among the beneficiaries in various villages of the district nowadays.

As part of the programme, the district social security officer (DSSO), Bathinda Rajwinder Singh Gill today handed over the cheques, worth hundreds and thousands of rupees, to the farmers at Gehri Bhagi village (20 cheques) , Jassi Pau Wali village (21cheques) and Naruana village (119 cheques).

Chief Agriculture officer, Bathinda Paramjit Singh Sandhu said today the government had provided funds to the state agriculture department for distributing the same among the farmers.

An amount of Rs 3.64 crore had been given to the Bathinda district for relief among about 22000 (farmers) whose lists had been made available by the electricity department for the purpose. Sandhu also said the SDMs had been made nodal officers while after every five villages an officer had been deputed to distribute the relief among beneficiaries. He said the SDMs had been provided funds to distribute the same in their respective areas. 

Chand Purana (Moga), October 29
Women in Punjab were willing to come out of their homes to give their valuable suggestions in rural and community development works, provided they were given a chance to speak out at common socio-political platforms.

This was quite evident from the enthusiasm shown by the rural women who participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Chand Purana, a dusty village, about 15-km from the district headquarters of Moga. It was organised under social mobilisation programme by Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab.

The village has a population of 2,350 people with 1,650 voters. It is dominated by lower castes downtrodden people who comprise 70 per cent of the total population.

The most interesting part of this meeting was that the women outnumbered men proving themselves as prime movers to bring behavioural changes in the orthodox mindset of male-dominated Punjabi society.

Bhajan Kaur, a 70-year-old woman, who came to this village as a newly-wed bride 50 years back, while talking to The Tribune revealed that it was for the first time that she had witnessed and participated in the gram sabha meeting of her village.

“The sarpanches from time to time have organised gram sabhas on papers only and no government official or social worker has educated us on our constitutional rights to participate in the gram sabha meetings,” she said.

The grim picture of grassroots democracy portrayed by this old woman was supported by almost all the women present in the meeting who demanded that such meetings should be organised at regular intervals.

The women raised their hands and even gave suggestions for all the agendas proposed by the panchayat put before them for approval and consideration.

A woman stood up and gave a suggestion to make 5-year perspective plan for the NREGA, which was unanimously accepted by the villagers. They also agreed to mobilise people to get more job cards. Presently, only 137 people have made their job cards, out of which, 85 have so far got the work.

The resolutions of other major demands passed by the villagers include installing solar streetlights, exemption from toll tax, set up health sub-centre, conduct fresh BPL survey, proper disposal of household waste, new pipelines for potable water supply, provide wheat to poor on subsidised rates, release funds for upgraded school, release their share of income from auction of liquor vends and buildings for anganwari centre, community centre, patwarkhana, besides, various other sanitation and construction projects. A committee was also set up to write a book on village history.

The village sarpanch Buta Singh presided over the meeting, which was attended by all the eight panches including three women and 332 villagers. Jaswinder Kaur (BDPO) and regional coordinator of the institute of public administration Gyan Singh were also present in the meeting.

Bathinda, October 29
Twelve more persons from the city have been found suffering from dengue.

Out of 20 blood samples sent to the Civil Hospital, Mohali, on Wednesday by the Bathinda district health authorities, 14 tested positive. While nine belonged to Bathinda city, two were from Muktsar district and one from Mansa district.

The results of these samples were received by the district health authorities here today.

Meanwhile, Mac Elisa test was conducted on 24 blood samples at the Sentinel Surveillance Hospital (SSH) situated on the premises of the Civil Hospital here today. Of these, six tested positive for dengue. Of these, four belonged to Bathinda district, including three from the city, while one each was from Faridkot and Mansa districts.

District malaria officer Dr Malkiat Singh Gill said with the reports of blood samples received from Mohali and the local SSH today, the total number of dengue positive cases in the Bathinda district had risen to 98, including 85 from only Bathinda city. However, he made it clear that it did not mean that at present, 85 persons were suffering from dengue in the city as majority of the affected persons had been treated and were in good health now.

Ferozepur, October 29
District magistrate KK Yadav today imposed a ban on the sale of crackers in the interior parts of cities and towns falling in this border district to avoid any untoward incident on the eve of Diwali.

District magistrate in his orders issued here said the businessmen concerned would be allowed to sell crackers in open space, which had been earmarked in every town of the district. The sub-divisional magistrates and executive officials of municipal councils concerned would ensure the implementation of orders in letter and spirit. No one would be allowed to park vehicles near the venue of sale of crackers, he ordered. — TNS

Moga, October 29
Moga administration has earmarked areas for sale of crackers on Diwali. District magistrate Dr Vijay N Zade said, “The administration has identified three places at DM college ground, Godhewala Stadium and Municipal Committee Stadium.” He said setting up of cracker stalls in these areas would be allowed only after getting permission from the administration. Fire brigade and police would be posted in these areas. No one would be allowed to sell crackers from any other place in the town, he said.

In a meeting held here today, the District Magistrate also constituted a three-member committee headed by the ADC Moga and to keep a check on chemists selling psychotropic drugs. — TNS 

Abohar, October 29
Students of local colleges have bagged the first as well as third prizes in three of the five theatrical competitions during the Panjab University Inter-zone Youth and Heritage Festival that was recently held at Doraha. This ensures entry of the toppers in the North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival. The winners were today felicitated in their respective institutions.

Principal Dr B B Sharma of the DAV College informed that the team based on Neeraj Sachdeva, Aastha, Rosal, Gagan, Mayank and Parminder topped in mime while Neeraj also bagged first prize in mimicry. Manjit Singh got third prize in individual category in general dance. Dr Sharma complimented EMA dean Prof BS Bhullar and eminent stage director Prof Gaurav Vij for bringing the laurels.

Principal Dr Venita Singh, DAV College of Education, felicitated those who had won third prizes in skit, mime and mimicry (Anuj Gupta). Priyanka was adjudged the second best actress in skit while Mamta got second prize in dasuti work; third prize in still life drawing was also won by the college. Gopichand Arya Mahila College principal Dr Neelam Arun Mittu honoured Prachi Priyanka for winning second prize in debate.

The skit presented by Devinder Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Kiranpal, Ram Pyari, Manjinder Kaur and Ramandeep Kaur of Bhag Singh Hayer College for Women was adjudged the best. Devinder alsowon second prize in individual category.

Seema Rani and Sukhbans Kaur of this college bagged first prizes in pakhi making and knitting while Sushama Rani and Sunaina bagged third prize in cross stitch and rangoli respectively. The winners were honoured in college campus by principal Dr Parminder Sharma and secretary Gurcharan Singh Sran at a function. 

Bathinda, October 29
The Delhi Public School (Bathinda) organised a function ‘BACHPAN’ on Friday.

Tiny tots enthralled all by their spectacular performance.

SC Das, GM (HMEL) was the chief guest on the occasion. He was accorded a warm welcome by Ramesh Talwar, pro vice-chairman, Vandana Talwar, member, Managing Committee, DPS Bathinda and Dr Arun Jee, principal of the school.

The chief guest lighted the lamp to commence the function.

The dance performance given by the students of class II was lauded by all.

The stage came alive with the colourful ‘Krishan Leela’presented by the students class I. ‘Rock dance’ presented by kids of class nursery and II. The glory of the whole programme lay in two plays ‘Tare Zameen Par’ and ‘Child labour’.

The programme culminated with a vote of thanks by Mona Chauhan, the convenor of the event.

Das lauded the commendable efforts of the principal, staff and the students.