Bathinda, December 19
As if the cold wave conditions prevailing in the area for the last seven days were not enough, fog today made a comeback to disrupt the normal life besides adding to the winter blues of the residents here. Though the mercury climbed up a little in the morning due to the cloudy conditions witnessed in some parts of the area, the considerable drop at the maximum level contributed in intensifying the cold wave conditions.

The mercury that had been in a southward mode on Monday, rose a bit to register 3.4 degrees Celsius, as per the agro-met department of the PAU regional station, Bathinda. The day's high was 20.2 degree Celsius.

The area which had witnessed temperature as low as 2.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday, has been experiencing mercury below the normal at the minimum level for the last several days. However, the day's highest temperature had been near the normal.

The area today saw a sudden dip in the maximum temperature which recorded 20.2 degrees Celsius, around four degrees lower then yesterday.

It may be mentioned that the cold starts wreaking havoc by worsening the conditions when the maximum temperature also begins to drop.

Weathermen though did not predict foggy conditions in coming days but they even did not rule out the possibility.

Residents today got up to an almost clear start to their day but around 7.30 am, fog started engulfing the areas, bringing poor visibility and disrupting traffic on the roads. The condition, however, improved after an hour when visibility improved.

Though the road traffic was hit by the morning fog, trains passing through Bathinda station remained almost unaffected by the fog, railway sources said, adding that most of the trains reaching or departing from Bathinda in the morning ran before the development of the foggy conditions.

The biting cold wave conditions in the region has aggravated winter woes being faced by the residents, forcing them to remain indoors while many resorted to lighting up a bonfire to keep themselves warm.

Bathinda, Decem0ber 19
The future of the students, who had re-appeared for the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) senior secondary examinations in September this year, is hanging in balance. The result for the compartment examination is usually declared within a month of the exam. But this year, the result is yet to be declared.

These students, however, had been given provisional certificates by their respective schools, on the basis of which they were given admission in various colleges across the city. As per the rule, without passing the compartment exam, the students can't appear for their first year college exams.

"The last date for the colleges to send the lists of students appearing for first year exams was to be submitted by October 21. But when we got to know that the results for the re-examination were yet to be declared, I extended the date to November. It is December already and the result is yet to be out," said Dr Pawan Kumar Singla, Controller of Examination, Punjabi University.

Students failing to secure pass marks in the compartment exam not only stand to lose the admission fee submitted in the college, but also the entire year.

"Keeping the interests of the students in mind and to save them from paying late fee, we have asked the colleges to attach affidavits with the forms of such students. The affidavit will say that the student takes full responsibility in case s/he fails to clear the re-examination and is not eligible to give the first year university exam," added Dr Singla.

"Due to the laxity of the Punjab School Education Board in declaring the results, the students are suffering. In case they fail in the re-examination, the colleges will not return their admission fee. Also, they will have to appear for the compartment exam again in April. Parents are also very worried about the future of their wards," said Dr NK Gosain, Dean of Malwa College.

While colleges refuse admission to students appearing for compartment exams, others take a written undertaking at the time of the admission.

"We have more than 20 students in our college who are awaiting the results of the re-exam. At the time of admission itself, we had taken from them an undertaking that they will give the university exam only if they pass the compartment exam.

“While many students have submitted their examination forms along with affidavits, many are yet to do so. We are forwarding all the forms and as and when the results will be declared. Their forms will be accepted or rejected by the university," said Dr Parminder Kaur Sanghi, principal of SSD Girls College.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune about the issue, Balwinder Kaur, principal of Khalsa Girls College, said, "We have about seven such students. We have taken affidavits from them. If we don't send their forms to the university by December 21, they will have to pay the late fee. Apart from this, there is nothing much that we can do in this case.”

Keeping the interests of the students and to save them from paying the late fee, we have asked the colleges to attach affidavits with the forms of such students. The affidavit will say that the student takes full responsibility in case s/he fails to clear the re-examination and is not eligible to appear in the the first year university exam. — Dr Pawan Kumar Singla, Controller of examination, PBI varsity

Bathinda, December 19
After observing pen-down strike in support of their demands for six consecutive days, from December 12 to December 17, the medical laboratory technicians have resumed their duties. With this, the medical laboratories today started functioning normally in the civil hospitals, including the one at Bathinda and the health centres of the district.

With the starting of functioning in the laboratories, the patients, especially the poor, today heaved a sigh of relief as they had been paying more money for the tests to the private laboratories as compared to the charges at the government hospital. Besides, they had been visiting private laboratories, even after covering long distance in some cases, in different parts of the city due to the pen-down strike by the laboratory technicians.

During the six days of stir, the biochemistry laboratory and haematology laboratory, situated in the new OPD block of the Civil Hospital here, had remained locked as there was no one to conduct the tests of the patients. However, the district health authorities had arranged for laboratory technicians from a private hospital for running the blood bank at the Civil Hospital here round-the-clock.

Talking to TNS over the phone today, district general secretary of the Medical Laboratory Technicians Association, Punjab, Resham Singh Jalal said that more than 235 tests of blood and urine had been conducted at the biochemistry and haematology laboratories of the local Civil Hospital today. However, about 70 tests had been conducted at the TB centre of the hospital here, he added.

Jalal said after six days of pen-down strike, the striking employees had joined their duties only today. So only 300 tests had been conducted as the patients were not aware that the laboratories had resumed their functioning today. He said the association did not want to prevent the laboratories from functioning but it was the government that had compelled it to do so by doing 'injustice' to them.

Jalal said they would hold state-level rally now on December 25 at Gidderbaha. In case the government did not accept their demands, regarding a hike in the grade pay of laboratory technicians and re-designation of posts for them, then they would stop emergency services in the hospitals and health centres again after December 25. He also said they would also go to the SAD-BJP election rallies to expose them before the public.

Meanwhile, the mass leave by the pharmacists today continued in the hospitals and health centers, affecting dispensary-related work adversely.

The pharmacists are on mass leave since December 12 in support of their demands. They also staged a dharna at the Civil Hospital here under the leadership of district president Ravinder Goyal. He said as the government was not hiking their grade pay and granting them the status of an officer, their mass leave would continue till December 24 to force the acceptance of their demands.

Bathinda, December 19
The chill is in the air and the children are eagerly awaiting a visit by Santa Claus. To add to their excitement and cater to an increasing demand, the city's markets have everything on offer — from Christmas trees, to Santa masks and caps, to stars, bells and mistletoes.

Narain Dass Kansal, the owner of a shop in Dhobi Bazar, told Bathinda Tribune, "We have stars, bells, Christmas trees, balls, Santa stickers and posters, and many other items for decoration. The demand for Christmas goods is rising, thanks to the celebration of the festival in the city schools."

Another shopkeeper in the market, Prem Kumar, agreed, "The sale of Christmas items has risen and is expected to rise even more in the coming days. The items are priced between Rs 40 to Rs 700. The money doesn't matter anymore; it is spirit of the festival that has taken over in the city."

Children are especially being charmed by these items. "I have bought a Christmas tree and a Santa cap for my son. Though the festival is not celebrated in his school many if his friends were buying Christmas trees. So, he also demanded one. We had to give it. We will keep it in our house and decorate it; my son will be happy," said Gurwinder Singh, one of the customers at a shop.

Sukhbir Singh, the owner of a shop in Mittal Mall, said, "The demand for Christmas goods is increasing like never before. In the past two-three days only, I have sold almost 12-13 trees, priced at Rs 450 onwards."

Some apparel stores in Mall Road, Dhobi Bazar and Mittal Mall have not only decorated their stores with Christmas trees, but are offering special Christmas discounts as well.

"Till last year, we were offering only Diwali, New Year and the end of season discounts. This year, we have started offering Christmas discount as well. The customers are happy," said the owner of one of the apparel stores on the Mall Road.

So, what are you waiting for? Put on your Santa cap and soak in the festive fervour for Christmas is no longer a humbug as Uncle Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” had us believe. It is real and fun with the yuletide spirit transcending geographical, ethnic and religious divide.

Bathinda, December 19
Big may not be the best! This may aptly applicable with the Bathinda railway station which boasts the status of Asia’s biggest railway junction. On the parameters of users’ friendliness, the station may not come closer to the top, particularly for senior citizens, physically challenged and women.

Though the station sends and receives trains from altogether six directions and over 60 trains, including super fast, carry at least 20,000 passengers daily, direct approach to platforms here is impossible as the station is an island one and there is no escape from stairs.

As stairs are almost unavoidable, using over 200 stairs and covering around 400 meters to board train would not leave much for anyone to imagine the torture any elderly experiences at the Bathinda station.

The things gets worst when one happens to carry luggage. “The situation turned worst for the senior citizens in 2008 when porters became gangmen. Only three porters left to cater to the need of 20,000 passengers,” admitted a railway official and added, “If senior citizens or women carry luggage, boarding trains can not be a pleasant experience to them.” The station has nine platforms and all is almost half-an-kilometre long. Covering the long platforms in absence of porter is itself a nightmare,” said the rail official.

It may be mentioned that at present only five porters are serving the passengers at the station.

It is not that the senior rail authorities even at the divisional or region level are not aware of the problem.

The divisional railway managers of the Ambala division during their visits to the station had been made aware of the problems being faced by the passengers but nothing concrete has so far been made to address the passengers’ inconvenience.

One DRM even said that the ramp, underground bridge or even escalator could be constructed at the railway station.

In absence of ramp or escalator, the beginning of journey is tortuous not only for the senior citizens but also for physically challenged persons. The way which is said to be meant also for the physical challenged persons is far from the main gate, almost half of kilometres, at the parcel office, discourages the senior citizens and physically challenged to use the same.

Advisor of the Railway Passengers Welfare Association, Rajinder Garg, while emphasising the need of escalator at Bathinda station, demanded that the railway should construct at least a ramp at station.

Moreover, the absence of separate ticket counter for senior citizens and women also eludes the station to get the tag of ‘passengers’ friendly’ status.

Senior citizens could be seen jostling with others at the ticket counters which also meant for general passengers.

Vice-president of the northern zone, railway passengers’ association, Hanuman Dass Goyal said that considering the inconveniences being faced by the senior citizens in absence of a separate ticket counter, the railway should provide the facility immediately as it had the infrastructure for the purpose.

A ticket counter meant for the physical-challenged was found lying non-operational on Saturday afternoon.

Bathinda, December 19
An election meeting of the Bathinda branch of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) was held today. At the meeting, the new executive committee for the year 2012 was elected unanimously. Dr Munish Singla was elected president for the year 2012. Dr BD Puri was elected general secretary for the second term consecutively while Dr Rajneesh Kansal was elected the treasurer and Dr Jatinder Singh as the president-elect for the year 2013.

Dr Anu Shahi Puri was elected representative to Punjab state.

Dr Padmanabhan, principal of the Adesh Dental College, expressed his views.

Dr BD Puri, general secretary informed that the Punjab state conference would be organised at Bathinda this year and free dental check-up camps and school dental check-up camps will be organised throughout the year.

Also present on the occasion were eminent dentists like Dr JL Singla, Dr BP Bansal, Dr Nidhi Verma, Dr Parwinder Kaur, Dr Naresh Gupta, Dr Sushil Jindal, Dr Amandeep, Dr Sherry, Dr Puneet Gopal, Dr Deepak Singla and Dr Rahul Sharma.

Bathinda, December 19
A six-day-long exhibition of imitation jewellery is on at Mittal Mall. The jewellery items, priced between Rs 20 and Rs 150 are quite in demand it seems.

“Today is the fifth day and the crowd has been only increasing all these days. Since the articles have been nominally priced, everyone coming here buys something or the other,” said Rajendra Kumar, one of the members of the group that has brought the exhibition from Rajasthan to Bathinda.

“I got to know about the exhibition when I came to the mall with my friends. Every item here is very reasonably priced,” said Sonam Pahuja. The exhibition has bangles, earrings, anklets and other knick-knacks for children. — TNS

Bathinda, December 19
A function was held on the premises of Pyare Lal Karnail Singh Charitable Trust, Bathinda, on Monday, wherein vocational training certificates were presented to 35 successful candidates.

On the occasion, an exhibition of  tailored, painted and embroidery work was also held.

Area in-charge of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Sarup Chand Singla congratulated all the trainees and motivated them to achieve success in their different courses. — TNS