Bathinda, August 16
Independence Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and fervor at various places in the district.

Punjab Minister for Transport, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Surjit Jyani hoisted the national flag at the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal stadium. As many as 1600 school students performed PT show and laserium. Senior class students presented choreography marking the patriotic spirit.

Jyani distributed 65 tricycles to the physically challenged and honoured people who have done well in various fields. Those honoured included Dewan Chand Sharma, Gopal Singh, Satpal Jindal, Bikker Singh, Gurpreet Singh, PK Uppal, Sangat Singh, Darshan Singh, Gurdas Singh, Krishan Kumar, Khem Raj, ASI Balwant Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Victor Masih, Mehma Singh, Ranjan Kumar and others. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav, DIG Paramjit Grewal and SSP Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill accompanied him.

Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman hoisted the national flag at the office of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation and inspected the parade of the fire brigade department. At Satpal Azad Memorial Public Library, president Bhagat Singh Dhaliwal hoisted the Tricolor. District Congress too celebrated the Independence Day wherein Congress leader Kulwant Rai Aggarwal hoisted the flag.

Transport Minister Surjeet Jyani takes the salute in Bathinda. Tribune photographs

The urban unit of the district Congress also held a function to mark the day. Goodwill Society celebrated the day at Goodwill Public School. President of the society Vijay Bareja unfurled The Tricolor.

Central University, Bathinda, celebrated the Independence Day on its city campus. Vice-Chancellor Dr Jai Rup Singh hoisted the National Flag. He called upon the younger generation to be aware of their responsibilities to the nation and to society along with their rights and freedom.

P. Rama Rao, the Dean for Academic Affairs, recollected the efforts being made by the university to make its presence felt as an institution of high standing not only in the region but also in the entire country.

Guru Ram Dass Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lehra Bega, celebrated

Independence Day by planting trees in the campus. An NSS camp was held and over 200 saplings were planted to make the campus green and beautiful. Chairman Prof. Harbhajan Singh address the students on the need for planting trees and the effects of global warming. Vice-Chairman Chinderpal Singh, coordinator Prof. Daljit Singh and PRO Gaurav Makkar were present on the occasion.

Independence Day was also observed at Playway School Bachpan by holding a medical check up camp. Dr A K Maheshwary and Dr Jatinder Singh examined the school children. Government Senior Secondary School Maisarkhana too celebrated the day. Principal Varinderpal Kaur unfurled the national flag.

Blooming Buds play school celebrated Independence Day with zest. Children were informed about the importance of the day. Kids came to school dressed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mother India. The school was decked up in white for the occasion.

Students of Orchid Playway School organized a rally in Vishal Nagar. Principal Divya Jain headed the rally.

Delhi International School Faridkot too celebrated the I-Day. Principal Navneet Thakur unfurled the National Flag and paid tributes to Mahatama Gandhi. A play on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Bhagat Singh's prosecution was also presented on the occasion. 

St. Xavier’s kids visit old age home

Bathinda: Students and teachers of St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School celebrated the Independence Day with the inmates of the old age home on Amrik Singh road.

Trust Mandir Shri Ramchandra Ji runs this home for the elderly. The students presented a colourful programme and spoke to the senior citizens. Children presented them with sweets and bouquets as well as holy scriptures like Geeta and Bible. At the school premises, principal father Ivo Dias unfurled the Tricolour and paid homage to the martyrs. Addressing the students, he urged them to understand the real worth of freedom. — TNS

State-level award for Mittal, Bassi

Ferozepur, August 16
While the nation celebrated the 64th Independence Day, the residents of this historic town do not have much to cheer about.

Even after six decades, they are still deprived of basic amenities such as potable water, proper sewerage system and proper infrastructure. Over and above, lack of industrialisation and poor economy has not only broken the socio-economic fabric of the town, but also dented the entrepreneurial spirit of the people belonging to the ‘City of Martyrs’ as most of the industrialists based here have either shifted their base or were struggling to survive.

In some villages, there is still no access to roads. Besides, education and healthcare are far distant dreams. After independence and subsequent partition, the erstwhile flourishing town of Ferozepur became a border with usual handicaps of a sensitive border area.

The two Indo-Pakistan conflicts of 1965 and 1971, and frequent floods by the furious Sutlej, which meanders along the Indo-Pak border in this area, also wreaked havoc in the economy.

In the aftermath of 1971 conflict, the closure of the Hussainiwala border for trade and transit, which was the lifeline for the local traders, proved as proverbial last straw.

Around 100 trucks loaded with grapes, dry fruits used to enter India fromAfghanistan and Pakistan through this border, and nearly 400 porters used to work here earning Rs 8 to Rs 10 per day.

Following its closure, the entire trade disappeared. And as if this was not enough, Ferozepur was divided several times due to vested political interests. The place which used to be the biggest district has now been reduced to just three sub-divisions with just a dozen odd police stations.

Most of the prominent families, who had a strong industrial base here have already migrated to bigger towns and those present here are planning to move out.

The list includes the Modi family who had established ‘Modi Mills’, Sethi family who owned the Sethi Ice Factory and Cold Storage, the Maria family, who had set up porcelain ware and vitreous unit besides renowned industrialists like Madan Lal Sareen, AB Khosla, Tek Chand Ansal, Madan Lal Monga, all of whom have shifted bases elsewhere.

“Notwithstanding rich historic legacy and immense political importance, the town has always been ignored when it comes to allocation of any industry or projects,” said Sanjay Ahuja, a local businessman.

He added that the successive governments have devastated Ferozepur and its economy was dying every passing day. Out of four cinema halls, three have already closed with the exception of Amar Talkies, which is also in the red. The Bawa family which owned this theatre has also migrated to Delhi. Most of the popular shops like Hind Cloth House, Kaka Stores, Imperial Book Depot, English Book Store have also closed.

The local industrial area wears a deserted look with most of the small scale units lying closed. Most of the restaurants which had come up here have winded up. “There are no shopping malls, branded showrooms or any places of entertainment,” rued Siddhanth, college student.

“Probably, we need to start a public movement like one launched by Anna Hazare to seek freedom from the apathy that hampers development of this historic town,” said Ranjan Sharma, another resident.

Ferozepur, August 16
The Independence Day function was organised here at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium amidst heavy downpour. Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon took the salute from the smartly dressed contingents drawn from the BSF, Punjab Police, NCC cadets and Home Guard jawans.

Notwithstanding the accumulation of rain water in the stadium following incessant downpour for two consecutive days in the run-up to the function, the minister took the salute and inspected the guard of honour in the stadium itself. However, for the rest of the function including cultural programme and investiture ceremony, the venue was shifted to the adjacent badminton hall.

Sekhon honoured those who had achieved laurels in the fields of education, sports, social service. Government employees were also awarded for their meritorious services.

On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju, DIG Paramraj Singh, SSP Surjit Singh besides SAD-BJP leaders and officials from various government departments were also present.

Earlier, Sekhon along with district officials and the SAD-BJP leaders paid floral tributes at the memorial of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala.

He said the people of Ferozepur have always remained in the forefront when it came to defending the nation, while referring to the battle of Saragarhi, Anglo-Sikh wars and the Indo-Pakistan conflicts of 1965 and 1971.

Bathinda, August 16
The District Bar Association, Bathinda today declared its support for Anna Hazare in his fight against corruption. A press released issued here today informed that the support was extended in a meeting presided over by Association president Rajan Garg. The lawyers criticised the UPA Government for arresting Anna Hazare.

In Mansa, Nagar Sudhar Sabha, an NGO staged a dharna in protest against the arrest of Anna Hazare in front of the Mansa railway station. Volunteers of the NGO pasted around 100 posters on which they had pledged their support for Anna Hazare.

Bharat Vikas and other NGOs of Bathinda have also announced their support Anna Hazare. These NGOs said they would intensify their agitation against corruption if no action is initiated by the UPA government.

Reports from Fazilka suggested that the heat of the movement initiated by Anna Hazare against corruption has touched this border district. Representatives of NGOs here have started a relay hunger strike at the historic clock tower from today to protest against the arrest of Hazare and in favour of introduction of a strong Lokpal Bill.

The chain hunger strike was organised by NGOs Social Welfare Society, Border Area Vikas Front, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sarhad Social Welfare Society, Consumer Association, Pensioners Association and other social organizations.

In Abohar too, people from different walks of life have come forward

to extend moral support to Anna Hazare and criticize the Central Government for trying to thwarts his campaign. Abohar Civil Society convener Pradeep Garg, spoke to Hazare over the phone and assured support from this remote area located on the Indo-Pak border. He along with Pramil Kalani, president of the Arhtia Association, led the human chain by involving workers of a dozen NGOs besides employees of the state and Central governments on the Circular Road here last evening. Lights were switched off for an hour in thousands of houses here. Over 300 teachers, writers, theatre artists and advocates participated in the march against corruption. Some NGOs today staged sit-in at Nehru Park and shouted slogans condemning Anna's detention by the Delhi Police.

In Ferozepur, members of social welfare organisations, shopkeepers, municipal councillors and college students raised slogans like "Vande Mataram" and "Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain"

Subhash Tuli, Chairman, Beopar Mandal, Ferozepur said people have lost faith in the government. "We could have blocked traffic but we are resorting to peaceful demonstration following Anna's advice," he said.

In the cantonment also, residents organized a candle march to express solidarity with Hazare. The march started from Azad Chowk and passed through various markets.

(With inputs from Tribune reporters in Fazilka, Abohar and Ferozepur)

Abohar, August 16
Malaria is suspected to have gripped the residents at village Kerakhera of Balluana segment in the sub-division owing to the supply of impure drinking water for the past few weeks.

Earlier, the local Municipal Council had confessed in the monthly meeting that it had no stock of alum and bleaching powder for the last two months and the water had been supplied from both the waterworks without following the prescribed cleansing system.

Responding to the complaints pouring in from different social activists, a team of the Health Department led by SMO Dr Rakesh Arora, in-charge of the Seetogunno-based Community Health Centre today visited village Kerakhera.

It was found that 65 persons had been suffering from fever for the past few weeks. Suspecting malaria, their blood samples have been taken and sent to the Chandigarh-based state government lab for testing.

The department has released Rs 10,000 for purchasing alum to purify the water. Sarpanch Krishna Devi and panches Sohan Lal, Asa Ramand Hakam Rai were advised to create awareness among the villagers. — OC

Muktsar, August 16
The body of a youth reached his ancestral village Banwali from Dubai today. Twenty-four-year-old Jaswinder Singh, a resident of village Banwali, had gone to Habir city of Dubai on May 13. Thereafter, he had been staying in a building with 90 other people.

His uncle Gurjant Singh said that on August 31, the building Jaswinder was living in, caught fire due to short circuit.

"Jaswinder sustained burns and remained admitted in hospital for four days. Therafter, he succumbed to the burns," he added. Jaswinder's body reached his native village near Lambi wherein his cremation would be conducted tomorrow.

Gurjant said that Jaswinder had gone to work as a driver and had been on training for past three months. — TNS