Natheha (Bathinda), Feb 13
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today announced that the state was in the process of setting up a textile park in Bathinda district so that cotton growers of the region could avail of the gains of value addition.

Among other major projects coming up in the state, Sukhbir mentioned an IT park in Rajpura and a hand tool industry park in Kapurthala, adding that all the three parks would be marketed as power cut-free zones. For the purpose, the Powercom could be a signatory to the agreement to assure 24-hour power supply with a penal clause.

Sukhbir was here to attend a rally against drugs, organised by the residents of Natheha village in the honour of DIG (Ferozepur Range), Harinder Singh Chahal.

Sukhbir lauded Chahal for his efforts against drugs. He said the government was committed to check the drugs menace in the state and following the instructions, the state police had confiscated drugs in huge quantity during the last few months.

Replying to a query about the district rallies of former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir said, “He is trying to distract people by raising non-issues everyday. Accusing the SAD-BJP combine of not running the government in a healthy way is a mere ploy on Amarinder’s part to gain media attention.”

“Development of the state is my priority; not vendetta or criticism. Moreover, I do not want to waste my time and energy in useless debates with the former CM. If he has any doubts about the development in the state, I have offered him to travel across Punjab on our expenses and get the facts ascertained for himself,” asserted Sukhbir, adding, “it is the public that will judge me and not Amarinder Singh, who had disappeared for the last four years.”

When asked about the controversy around the recruitment of medical officers, which is being termed as the PPSC scam, Sukhbir parried the query saying that the matter was sub-judice and he would not like to comment on the issue.

Sukhbir also evaded the question about the tussle between Director General of School Education Krishan Kumar and Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan. “Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is seized of this matter, so it will be better if he is asked about it,” he said.

Later, Sukhbir visited Muktsar district, where he laid the foundation stones for the Rs 33-crore irrigation rehabilitation projects and a 66-KV sub-station grid at Malan village besides inaugurating the Doda sub-tehsil complex.

Fazilka, February 13
Lieutenant General Sanjiv Chachra, Corps Commander would inaugurate the bust of Lance Naik Drigpal Singh (Mahaveer Chakra winner) set up at the memorial of the 1971 Indo-Pak war heroes at the border village Asafwala in Fazilka sector on February 18. Major General KJS Thind, GOC, and senior Army officials would also lay wreaths in the tribute paying ceremony to commemorate the martyrs.

The bust has been set up in the museum of the war memorial jointly by the Army formations and members of the war memorial committee which has been organising the affairs properly, said Sandeep Gilhotra, president of the committee. The tales of bravery of the war heroes in whose memory the war memorial has been raised, are spine-chilling.

The acts of gallantry of some of these include Lance Naik Drigpal Singh who was decorated with Mahaveer Chakra posthumously for showing rare courage in the war. During the fierce 14- day battle in 1971 between India and Pakistan, 197 Indian Armymen attained martyrdom in the Fazilka sector. On the intervening night of December 13-14, Lance Naik Drigpal Singh was commanding a section of the Charlie Company of 15 Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army. This non-commissioned officer was given the task of clearing two medium gun bunkers of the enemy which were firing and hindering the progress of the Indian soldiers. Lance Naik Drigpal Singh took two jawans of his section. He crawled up to the bunkers and lobbed a grenade in one bunker and destroyed it.

He was about to lob a grenade in the second bunker when he received bullets fired by the enemy in his left shoulder. Unmindful of his injuries, he inched forward and destroyed the second enemy bunker as well. His daring act resulted in withdrawal by the enemy. Indian soldiers captured both the machine guns and a large quantity of ammunition from the enemy.

Drigpal Singh made the supreme sacrifice of his life by showing rare courage and devotion during the war. Hence, he was decorated with Mahaveer Chakra posthumously.

Amritsar, February 13
To protest against the laxity of the government, several midday meal cooks assembled at the Company Bagh, and formed a district-level body under the banner of the Midday Meal Workers Union, Punjab, today. There are scores of government and aided schools in Punjab where the midday meal cooks have not been paid remunerations for the past several months. They alleged that the school managements did not pay them as the food was not being prepared in some schools because the ration (raw food stock) was short, apparently, for want of grant-in-aid.

There are around 2,500 midday meal cooks in the district, who prepare food for 1 lakh students of 865 primary and 55,000 students of 414 upper primary (upto Class VIII) schools. Each cook is paid only Rs 1,000 per month, with no entitlement for Provident Fund or subsidised medical aid.

Babli, who prepares midday meals at Government Primary School, Mahna Singh road, was injured while performing her duties and the school management terminated her services. “Against Rs 1,000, I was being paid just Rs 700 per month. My arm was injured while I was on duty. The management, instead of arranging medical aid for me, discontinued my services,” she claimed.

Gayatri Devi, state president of the union, said with no regular supply of LPG cylinders, the cooks prepare the mass meals using stoves.

District midday meal manager Santokh Singh Sewak admitted that less ration was received this time in some rural schools, but denied any miss in the midday meal schedule.

“Some schools under the zila parishad can not send their students’ attendance on time. Consequently, the food stock falls short. Against the required 295 MT of food stock, only 132 MT was received. We have instructed the school heads to make arrangements at their own through other schools which have excess stock,” he said.

About the remuneration, we transfer the payments through banks and school heads are supposed to pay the cooks through cheques only. If this norm is not being followed, I will look into the matter,” he said.

Bathinda, February 13
Renowned Punjabi singer-cum-actor Harbhajan Mann today demanded that the government constitute a separate authority (Censor) to check the lyrics of songs.

“It is unfortunate that the standard of Punjabi music is on the decline these days. No doubt, there is still a class of singers, lyricists and directors, that is particular about each and every word but a new section has emerged in the industry, which is least bothered about the meaning of the songs but is focused more on minting money,” lamented the singer.

“The poor quality of lyrics, which have no meaning but encourage people to brandish weapons and indulge in criminal activities, should be banned and there should be a proper authority to check the songs before being released,” Mann demanded.

Expressing his worries, Mann said, “The cinema is also playing a negative role as a number of movies being released these days are laced with vulgarity that is ruining the name of the industry.”

“But behind all bad things, including piracy, it is not only the producers, singers, lyricists, director and actors who are responsible, the audience/viewers are also playing a role in the decline of the system. If people reject such things, why will one release such cassettes or albums in the market?” he said.

Speaking to The Tribune, the star of the Punjabi music and cinema, who was a new face in the music industry in 1992, informed that he had given 15 cassettes and seven films to Punjabi society and maintained the standard in each and every genre. Thanking his fans, Mann added that his eighth movie—Yaara O Dildara—would be ready by summer.

When asked about the financial returns on his films, Mann said after Punjab, he had always received a favourable response from Canada and it is probably because in many of his movies, he had tried to portray emigration as a theme.

Abohar, February 13
Six girl hostels in the district will be upgraded during the coming financial year, said sources in the education department.

The Central government had desired that hostel facilities should be provided to promote education among girls under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

Accordingly, 50-bedded hostels were raised at village Nihalkhera and Dharampura in the sub-division while similar facilities were also offered in Fazilka, Jalalabad, Mamdot and Ferozepur.

Now, funds have been earmarked for adding 50-bed complex each to the existing hostels in the sub-division.

The work is expected to be started by April 1 and completed within the next six months, sources added. 

Ferozepur, February 13
Bhajan Singh, a young boy of village Piarana of this district, associated with Congress party, whose engagement ceremony was to take place on Friday, had a different experience. A police party descended at his house in the wee hours.

He was allegedly picked up by the police, bundled into a vehicle and taken to the police station. Bhajan was formally taken into custody for his alleged involvement in possessing poppy husk.

However, he was released within a few hours after he was taken into custody after Parminder Singh, general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), intervened and reported the matter to the district police chief Kaustab Sharma that poppy husk was being planted on Bhajan Singh by policemen under pressure from the political opponents of Bhajan Singh.

Talking to TNS Parminder alleged that Bhajan was taken into custody by police on the pretext that poppy husk was recovered from his house. He said before picking up Bhajan, the police must have verified his credential with the prominent residents of that village.

Bhajan alleged that someone opposed to them politically, had placed ten packets of poppy husk at a place in a street near his house, where he used to keep fodder stock for his cattle.

The police party led by a sub-inspector rank officer from Kulgadi police station took him into custody by claiming that he Bhajan had been smuggling it.

He said he was freed from the police station when Parminder Singh, Congress leaders and other residents of village intervened in the matter. He added that he was not subjected to any kind of maltreatment at the police station.

SSP Kaustab Sharma said a case in this connection was registered and probe was on to find out the persons involved in smuggling of poppy husk that had been recovered from the premises of Bhajan.

On being asked as to why Bhajan was released from the police custody, he refused to make any comment beyond what he had already stated on the issue.

Sarbjit Singh, SHO, police station, Kulgadi, said a case in this connection would be registered and it was being verified whether Bhajan was involved in the crime or not.

He also failed to clarify as to why Bhajan was picked up first and then released from the police station.

Meanwhile, Parminder Singh demanded that action must be taken against those policemen and other private persons, who were trying to plant poppy husk on Bhajan.

Chandigarh, February 13
In a major relief to basmati rice exporters, CM Parkash Singh Badal today restored the exemption from payment of Rural Development Fund (RDF) on the export of basmati rice.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister at a meeting with a delegation of the Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association led by its president, Rajeev Setia, here. Thanking the CM on behalf of the rice- exporting industry, Setia expressed gratitude to him for conceding their long-pending demand.

At another meeting with the delegation of the Punjab Agricultural University Students Association, the Chief Minister said nearly 300 posts of Agriculture Development Officer and Horticulture Development Officers would be filled soon in a phased manner. — TNS 

Abohar, February 13
Oil, foil, screen, nib, fabric and emboss paintings besides ice stick models, dry flower arrangement, crochet work, collage, phulkari, sparkle pieces and best out of waste creations were displayed during an exhibition at the DAV College of Education here today.

The exhibition showcased the high grade of talent that the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) course students had acquired. Dr Parminder Sharma, principal, Bhag Singh Hayer College of Women, was the chief guest on the occasion.

He pointed out that the aesthetic excellence depicted through the creations speak volumes of the capability of the would-be-teachers.

Sharma added that it is also a healthy sign when the nation is gearing up to introduce the Right to Education Act. Dr Venita Singh, principal of the host institutions, said the students have prompted one to revisit the rich cultural and ancient heritage that India enjoyed for centuries. This aspect was reflected here amply, she said.

Bathinda, February 13
A two-day annual sports meet of the State Bank of Patiala (SBoP), Bathinda Zone, concluded here today. Following were the winners.

Table Tennis Men’s singles (up to 35 years): Munish Sinha; men’s singles (35 to 45 years): Dheeraj Dabra; men’s singles (over 45 years): Rajinder Garg; and men’s doubles (above 45 years): Rajinder Garg and RL Wadhwa.

Badminton: Men’s singles (up to 35 years): Dheeraj Dabra; men’s singles (35 to 45 years): Pankaj; men’s singles (over 45 years): Sunil Jain; men’s doubles (over 45 years): Dinesh Sharma and Prem Garg; women’s singles (35 to 45 years): Indu Bala; women’s singles (over 45 years): Anu Sachdeva; and women’s doubles (35 to 45 years): Vandana Narula and Karan Singla.

Carrom Board: Men’s singles: Kulbhushan Bansal; men’s doubles: Narendra Sharma and Prem Garg; women’s singles: Vandna Narula; and women’s doubles: Trishla Jain and Sunita Ahuja. — TNS

Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has transferred Krishan Kumar as Special Secretary (Department of Health and Family Welfare). In addition, he will also hold charge of Project Director (National Rural Health Mission). At the same time, Baldeo Purushartha has been made Special Secretary-cum-Director-General of School Education in place of Krishan Kumar. In addition, Purushartha will also be associated with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration. — TNS

BATHINDA: The Millennium School on Sunday held a brain-storming session with parents of children. They were taken through a journey of self-discovery. Principal Beena Rao highlighted the fact that teachers can become facilitators and parents friendly guides instead of being stern or developing a ‘touch-me-not’ relationship with kids. — TNS

Bathinda, February 13
The eighth delegate convention of the Punjab Pradesh Dhanak Samaj will be held on February 20 at the Dhanak Dharamshala, situated in Kanhaiya Nagar here.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the 11-member committee of the Dhanak Samaj held here recently. The meeting was presided over by state president of the community DR Bagri. Leaders of the Dhanak Samaj from villages, towns and cities of the state will participate in the convention.

According to joint secretary of the organisation Piara Lal Nagar, mandi-level and city-level committees of the Samaj would be formed on February 20. District presidents will also be appointed and a 51-member committee of the Samaj will also be announced on the occasion. — TNS