B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Punjab has no ‘precise’ data of female sex workers
Faridkot, December 8
Four month after Punjab Government gave an undertaking in the Supreme Court, acknowledging the presence of 20,253 female sex workers (FSW), now the information procured under the RTI revealed that state has no such ‘precise’ data about FSW in the state.

Fazilka-Abohar rail link likely to be operational
Fazilka, December 8
The Fazilka-Abohar rail link is likely to be operational as running of train on the newly laid track shall soon become a reality. Senior Divisional Operation Manager, in a letter issued to the in-charge of seven railway stations enroute 42 kilometer rail track, said that the competent authority has accorded the administrative approval for opening of Abohar-Fazilka new railway section.

SAD finalises venue for Dec 18 Moga rally
Moga, December 8
Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party has today finalised the venue for holding December 18 public rally at Kili Chahal village near Ajitwal on the Moga-Ludhiana national highway.

Army adopts primary school in border village
Bathinda, December 8
Taking an initiative the Indian Army has adopted a government primary school in a backward village, Old Binjore, situated near the border. A unit of the Indian Army, that is posted in the Anupgarh area, after adopting the school distributed school uniforms, books, exercise books and pens etc free of cost among the 46 students of fifth class.
Students receiving educational kits.
A Tribune photo

EGS teachers withdraw plan of mass suicide
Gidderbaha, December 8
In what could be termed as a major relief for the state government, the protesting Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) teachers, who were manhandled yesterday, withdrew their plan to commit mass suicide today, after the Chief Minister gave them an appointment for December 11.

44 farmers arrested
Moga, December 8
As many as 44 farmers and farm labourers were taken into custody by the Moga police at Ajitwal on Thursday. These farmers and farm labourers reached Ajitwal railway station to stop the rail traffic, this afternoon. The ‘rail roko’ was a part of the protest launched by the 17 farmers' unions.

Punjab has no ‘precise’ data of female sex workers
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, December 8
Four month after Punjab Government gave an undertaking in the Supreme Court, acknowledging the presence of 20,253 female sex workers (FSW), now the information procured under the RTI revealed that state has no such ‘precise’ data about FSW in the state.

Rather the state government’s statement before the Apex Court about the exact number of FSW in Punjab was without any convincing available data, revealed RTI.

On August 2, during the hearing of - Budhadev Karmaskar versus State of West Bengal - a case about the plight of FSWs and plans to rehabilitate them in the country, the Punjab Government submitted in the Supreme Court that the total number of FSWs was 20,253 in Punjab and there was no red light areas in the state.

But in reply to an RTI application about the basis of this exact number of FSWs in the state, the Punjab State AIDS Control Society and Punjab Health System Corporation said the figures were based on a mapping study conducted by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the total FSWs number were an estimated figure.

It was an NGO which conducted the mapping study and contract to conduct the study to this NGO was given by the NACO, claimed Punjab Health Department and State AIDS control society in reply to the RTI application. Mangat Arora, an advocate in Faridkot has sought the information under RTI.

Days after the Punjab Government submitted a statement in the SC about the presence of 20,253 FSWs, a clear-cut figure, Bharti Dey representing Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), an NGO, had questioned the basis of calculation of the figures given by the government representative during the hearing of the case in the SC.

She also questioned as to where and how the sex workers have been rehabilitated in the state.

In answer to a query under RTI about the efforts being made by the state government for protecting these FSWs from sex related diseases and their rehabilitation, the State Health Department claimed that there were targeted intervention programmes for FSWs. The programs are implemented by NGOs and these are funded by the Punjab State AIDs Control Society.

Fazilka-Abohar rail link likely to be operational
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, December 8
The Fazilka-Abohar rail link is likely to be operational as running of train on the newly laid track shall soon become a reality. Senior Divisional Operation Manager, in a letter issued to the in-charge of seven railway stations enroute 42 kilometer rail track, said that the competent authority has accorded the administrative approval for opening of Abohar-Fazilka new railway section.

In this letter the Manager has mentioned the codes of the stations, distance between the stations, alpha codes and fare tariff.

Northern Railway Passengers Samiti, president Amar Lal Baghla, quoting the Northern Railway Baroda House New Delhi sources point out that Chief Engineer from Baroda House New Delhi shall visit for inspection of the track on December 12. There after in a week or so Commissioner Railway Safety Lucknow shall also conduct the final inspection and grant formal approval.

The Railway safety commissioner is likely to give the final green signal after which the train shall run on the track.

SAD finalises venue for Dec 18 Moga rally
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, December 8
Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party has today finalised the venue for holding December 18 public rally at Kili Chahal village near Ajitwal on the Moga-Ludhiana national highway.

The senior SAD leader Jathedar Tota Singh, president of the youth wing of the SAD Bikramjit Singh Majithia, political advisor to the CM Daljit Singh Cheema, irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon and other local leaders of the party held a meeting on the spot along with officials of the district administration to finalise the venue.

Talking to The Tribune after the meeting Tota Singh said that a total of 225 acres of land is being taken on lease from the farmers for the rally, in which, proper arrangements would be made for parking of vehicles, landing of helicopters, arrangement of ‘langar’, besides, the mega ‘pandal’ with sitting arrangements for the gathering.

He said that the farmers whose land is being taken on lease would be given adequate compensation as per the market rates by the party, which would be finalised by the local farmers and the revenue authorities.

While claiming that it would be different kind of public rally ever held in the history of the state, Bikramjit Majithia said that the party is setting-up various committees for organizing the rally.

Army adopts primary school in border village

Bathinda, December 8
Taking an initiative the Indian Army has adopted a government primary school in a backward village, Old Binjore, situated near the border. A unit of the Indian Army, that is posted in the Anupgarh area, after adopting the school distributed school uniforms, books, exercise books and pens etc free of cost among the 46 students of fifth class.

EGS teachers withdraw plan of mass suicide
Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, December 8
In what could be termed as a major relief for the state government, the protesting Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) teachers, who were manhandled yesterday, withdrew their plan to commit mass suicide today, after the Chief Minister gave them an appointment for December 11.

Earlier, the protesters had threatened to commit mass suicide outside the Chief Minister's residence in Chandigarh, on the latter's birthday today. But, in the early hours this morning, they changed their plan from Chandigarh to Gidderbaha.

44 farmers arrested

Moga, December 8
As many as 44 farmers and farm labourers were taken into custody by the Moga police at Ajitwal on Thursday. These farmers and farm labourers reached Ajitwal railway station to stop the rail traffic, this afternoon. The ‘rail roko’ was a part of the protest launched by the 17 farmers' unions.