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Pension disbursal: Govt takes up system that Haryana discarded
Won’t back move seeking pardon for Rajoana: Cong
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SAD meeting today, BJP ‘not
keen’ on Assembly resolution
Fire claims sports goods worth crores
Doing all possible, says CM
Prolonged cold weather: Wheat harvesting likely to be delayed
Army to get land for selection centre
Beant’s assassin turns down Akal Takht title
Cong men being harassed, says MLA
PSPCL notice to heavy industry
Staff shortage hits cyber crime cell working
Axing of a tree on officer's 'order'
Here, childless couples offer liquor to seek blessings
4-year jail for ETO in graft case
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Pension disbursal: Govt takes up system that Haryana discarded
Chandigarh, March 24 For the job, the government would be roping in private banks, which would be paid around Rs 12.5 crore a year. As part of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system, the banks will appoint business correspondents, who would enroll beneficiaries, open their accounts, capture their fingerprints and issue smart cards. The correspondents would go to villages and distribute cash among the beneficiaries after making them swap the smart cards on a hand-held machine. So far, the pension amount was transferred to the account of the village sarpanch concerned who used to distribute it among the beneficiaries. Every village had a proper committee in place for the task. Though the Cabinet claimed that opting for the EBT system was a landmark decision, two pilot projects started under the scheme in Mansa and Samrala earlier have met with little success. Sources said the project at Mansa was discontinued following the intervention of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. It is even believed that the SAD lost the Samrala seat in the recent Assembly elections because of complaints that pensions were not distributed in time. The neighbouring state of Haryana had also discontinued the EBT system apparently due to some technical glitches. However, a government release, which said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chaired the meeting, claimed the EBT system would streamline the disbursal of pension under various schemes. The government claimed it would ensure prompt, hassle-free and foolproof disbursement of pension to the genuine beneficiaries. The Cabinet also issued directions to the Welfare Department to device a methodology so that 'shagun' for the marriage of daughters of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Christians, economically weaker sections and daughters of widows and divorcees reach on or before the wedding day. About the plan n The government will rope in private banks, which will appoint business correspondents to enroll beneficiaries, open their accounts, capture their fingerprints and issue smart cards n
The correspondents will visit the villages and distribute cash among the beneficiaries after making them swap the smart cards on a hand-held machine n
For the task, the banks will be paid around Rs 12.5 crore a year Earlier system n
So far, the pension amount was transferred to the account of the village sarpanch concerned, who would then distribute it among the beneficiaries n
Every village had a proper committee in place for the task n
However, several cases surfaced where the grants failed to reach the actual beneficiaries Past Imperfect n
Though the Cabinet claims the EBT system will prove to be a landmark decision, two pilot projects started under the scheme in Mansa and Samrala earlier have met with little success n
Sources said the project at Mansa was discontinued following the intervention of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal n
In Samrala, the SAD is believed to have lost the seat because of complaints that pensions were not distributed in time
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Won’t back move seeking pardon for Rajoana: Cong
Chandigarh, March 24 Jakhar's comment assumes significance in the light of Beant Singh's grandson and Congress MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli's statement that he had no objection in case the government decided to give clemency to Rajoana. However, Jakhar said, he would speak to the family again and take their opinion on the issue. "But, as the CLP leader, I am clear that the law of the land is supreme." He also said that the Akalis should answer what they considered as "disturbing peace" in the state. "Is going beyond the law protecting the peace of the state," he asked. "The Congress will not support any resolution, which stood for bypassing the established laws." On the issue, Kotli said the family stood for peace and did not want the atmosphere of the state to be vitiated on any account. He said the family did not want hardliners to exploit the situation and had, therefore, come out with a statement that it did not have any objection to Rajoana being granted clemency. He said the statement was made keeping in mind that every action in the case would be taken within the ambit of the law of the land.
How things unfolded
Jan 14, 1996: Balwant arrested by the CBI Jan 22: Balwant produced before Delhi Metropolitan Magistrate to record judicial confession Feb 20: Balwant and accused Shamsher Singh move application, denying earlier confessional statement before the magistrate Dec 24, 1997: Balwant files application narrating in detail the commission of offence; says earlier confession was correct and withdraws his application dated Feb 20, 1996 March 12, 1998: Balwant moves an application saying he does not want to contest the case March 16: Amicus curiae SK Chopra discharged by the court and told not to represent Balwant Aug 10, 2009: Balwant writes to the Chief Justice from the Burail Jail in Chandigarh
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SAD meeting today, BJP ‘not
keen’ on Assembly resolution
The dominant view emerging is that the state should try its utmost to ensure that Rajoana is not hanged in Punjab, as directed by the courts. This could involve contesting the jurisdiction of the case, which the SAD says is Chandigarh and not Punjab, and waiting for a decision on the pleas of the case co-accused. Rajoana’s family could also be involved to find a solution. The family has said it respects the Akal Takth, indicating it stands by clemency for Rajoana. A last option would be bringing in a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha urging the Centre to grant clemency. The government is also chalking out a strategy to counter hardliners who say that Rajoana be allowed to become a martyr as per his wishes. It also wants to ensure the situation does not get out of hand and is expected to ensure the March 28 bandh does not lead to any law and order problem. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the state had sought legal opinion and would deliberate on the Akal Takth’s directive in its core committee meeting tomorrow. He said the government would attempt to ensure peace at all costs. He also praised Beant Singh’s family for saying that it did not have any objection to clemency for Rajoana and termed it a positive development. Sources said the SAD was in a Catch-22 situation. It wanted to steer clear of the issue and had expected the Akal Takth to persuade Rajoana to seek clemency. With this option having failed, the state is now expected to tell the Centre that hanging Rajoana would create a law and order problem as the matter had acquired emotional overtones. Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Bikram Majithia and former hardliner-turned moderate Virsa Singh Valtoha have set the tone for tomorrow’s core committee meeting by urging Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not to give a tool to the hardliners to exploit the situation. Meanwhile, the BJP has also called a meeting of its core committee to discuss the Rajoana issue on Sunday. The BJP is said to be uncomfortable in passing a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha urging clemency for Rajoana and, therefore, wanted to take the views of its party legislators. The meeting would be presided over by senior Central leader Shanta Kumar. Exploring the options n Legal experts being roped in, could contest the case jurisdiction n
Resolution in Vidhan Sabha also under consideration What lies ahead n
The dominant view emerging is that the state should try its utmost to ensure that Rajoana is not hanged in Punjab, as directed by the courts n
This could involve contesting the case jurisdiction, which the SAD says is Chandigarh and not Punjab, and waiting for a decision on the pleas of the case co-accused n
Rajoana’s family could also be involved as it has said that it respects the Akal Takth, indicating that it stands by clemency for Rajoana n
A last option would be bringing in a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha urging the Centre to grant clemency
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Fire claims sports goods worth crores
Jalandhar, March 24 Sports material in a triple-storey building of the factory was reduced to ashes while the roof of the first floor of the building caved in. The factory is situated over 5,000 sq yds on the Jalandhar-Kapurthala road. As many as six fire tenders and a crane were pressed into service. It took more than six hours for the firemen to douse the flames. Factory workers also remained on their toes to help the firemen in controlling the fire. Though the exact cause of fire could not be ascertained, eyewitnesses said the incident came to the fore at 6.30 am when security guards saw smoke emanating from the factory. Before they could inform anyone, a major part of the factory was already gutted. While some workers claimed that the fire broke out due to a short circuit, others maintained that it could be due to a human error. Rajesh Kharabanda, Managing Director, Freewill Sports, said: "For the time being, we have sealed the AIVIN division of Freewill Sports. Insurance surveyors will ascertain the extent of loss. The employees of this division would now work at our parent factory, NIVIA sports". About AIVIN Sports AIVIN Sports remained in the news last year when its FIFA-approved Simbolo football under the brand name of NIVIA was declared the official match ball for a friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkatta. Another major brand of this factory NIVIA shining star football, a popular rubberised ball, has the approval under the International Match Standard (IMF) certification. The company also make equipment for international brands of professional games like squash, tennis, table tennis, skating, besides machine-stitched footballs.
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Doing all possible, says CM
Badal, who was in the city today to inaugurate some medical equipments at Government Rajindra Hospital, said, "Akal Takht da hukumnama sar mathe, par sadhi wi kuch dutian han (We respect the directions of the Akal Takht, but the state government has its own duties as well. We are making all efforts." Perturbed over the volley of queries on the issue, the otherwise cool and calm CM appeared a bit irritated. Asked what the state government would do as only six days were to go for the hanging (on March 31), Badal said, "I know better than you. We are doing whatever is required." On the Akal Takht's directive declaring Dilawar Singh, the human bomb who blew himself with Beant Singh as "Kaumi Shaheed" (national martyr of Sikhs), the CM said, "It’s better to ask this question to those, who have announced this." Evading another media query that Akal Takht has declared Balwant Singh Rajoana as "Zinda Shaheed" (living martyr), the reply of Badal was the same. Meanwhile, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, who was also in Patiala, said the SGPC would certainly follow the directive of the Akal Takht and would leave no stone unturned to save
Rajoana. Policemen misbehave with mediapersons Lower-rank policemen, inside and outside the Government Medical College and at the venue of the press conference of the Chief Minister, misbehaved with several mediapersons who were requesting to get inside the conference room. Apart from indulging in unparliamentary language, policemen hard-pushed a couple of reporters near the college gate. "While the state government sticks to the logo "Raaj Nahi Sewa", here the mediapersons are being meted out such treatment, what to talk about commoners", was what street vendors outside the college were discussing, after reporters were pushed out of the venue by policemen.
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Prolonged cold weather: Wheat harvesting likely to be delayed
Chandigarh, March 24 "Compared to previous years, the first fortnight of March remained relatively cool this year, which proved good for the crop," said a senior official of the Agriculture Department. However, for the crop to mature sunny weather will be required henceforth, he added. "We expect the arrival of wheat to pick up pace from the second week of the next month. It will be just a trickle in the first week," said DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies, Punjab. However, the state government has made arrangements for wheat procurement from April 1 till June 30. The government agencies have been given the target to procure 92 lakh tonnes of wheat. The remaining stock will be purchased by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). "We have made arrangements to procure 115 lakh tonnes of wheat this year. However, initial estimates indicate the arrival will be to the tune of 108 lakh tonnes," said Grewal. A cash credit limit worth Rs 1,4720 crore is available to the state government from a consortium of banks to procure wheat in about 1,770 procurement centres all over the state. Owing to lack of space to stack the wheat, there will be unscientific storage of about 30 lakh tonnes. At present, about 65 lakh tonnes of wheat is lying with the state from the old stock. "We will press the FCI to first move out the existing stock to avoid any damage to it," said a senior government official. He said space would be available to stack additional 42 lakh tonnes of food grains by the end of the current year.
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Army to get land for selection centre
Chandigarh, March 24 The GOC-in-C (West) had earlier approved a proposal to establish the service selection centre with a view to boosting recruitment of youth from this part of the country in the Army and giving a chance to those who cannot afford costly training for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview-cum-psychological and physical fitness tests. The Cabinet also gave its nod to the policy for setting up of institutes offering diploma courses in elementary teaching and approved a six-member committee under the chairmanship of Director-General School Education (DGSE) for the implementation of the said policy. The move would now pave the way for the affiliation of private unaided self-financed elementary teachers training (ETT) colleges, besides ensuring fair and transparent admission process in these affiliated institutes. The Cabinet approved restructuring of the Housing and Urban Development Department. It approved the creation of 173 posts and abolition of 190 non-functional posts. In order to expedite infrastructure projects and to cope with the shortage of junior engineers in the PWD (B&R), the Cabinet approved to take out 272 posts of junior engineers from the purview of the Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board. The Cabinet also gave approval to fill 50 vacant posts of group C&D expeditiously on regular basis in NCC Academy (Boys), Rupnagar; NCC Academy (Girls), Malout; 2 Punjab R&V Squadron NCC, Ghuda; and 3 Punjab Naval Unit NCC, Bathinda; directly by the State NCC Directorate after taking these posts out of the purview of Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board. The Cabinet also unanimously passed a resolution to place on record its “immense appreciation of the outstanding services” by the outgoing Chief Secretary SC Agrawal who has sought voluntary retirement to join the new assignment as Chief Commissioner of the Punjab Right to Service Commission. Cabinet also approves… n
Setting up of institutes offering diploma course in elementary teaching n
Restructuring of the Housing and Urban Development Department n
Taking out 272 posts of junior engineer from the purview of the Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board to cope with shortage of JEs n
Filling 50 vacant posts of group C&D expeditiously on regular basis in NCC academies
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Beant’s assassin turns down Akal Takht title
Patiala, March 24 But, he appreciated the decision of honouring Dilawar Singh as 'Kaumi Shaheed'. Also, Rajoana's foster sister Kamaldeep Kaur alleged that a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) employee approached her claiming that if she agreed, the Jails Department would not hang her brother. The claim, however, has been denied as "baseless" by both the Jails Department and the SGPC. Kamaldeep claimed a Sikh who identified himself as head priest at the Golden Temple in Amritsar visited her house yesterday. "The priest named a senior jail official and said if I agree, the Jails Department will not hang Balwant….But, my brother is firm. He does not want anybody to make efforts to save him from the gallows." The priest said the SGPC will convey this to the official when he visits the Golden Temple on March 30," she said. She also said that Balwant had, in a letter to her (The Tribune has a copy), refused to accept the title. Sources said the meeting between Kamaldeep and Balwant lasted around 10 minutes inside the Patiala Central Jail. The duo, said sources, whispered to each other and Balwant later handed over a two-page letter to her. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar has denied any such meeting by an SGPC employee.
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Cong men being harassed, says MLA
"The Akalis are targeting our supporters. One such incident occured yesterday, when acting on a local Akali leader's directions, policemen from the Sadar police station detained Congress worker Angrez Singh of Barkandi village," alleged Karan Kaur
Brar. She added: "This was the fourth incident after the poll results. Similar incidents have taken place in Roranwala and Mothlewala villages". About yesterday's incident, she said when she came to know about the case, she called up the SHO concerned, who denied it. "Later, I called up the SSP who assured to look into the matter, but did nothing. Finally, I personally went to the police station and found Angrez Singh inside the lock-up. When I asked about his offence, the ASI on duty failed to give a satisfactory reply. Later, I managed to get him released,” claimed Karan
Kaur. “I will highlight the issue in the assembly on Monday and hand over a list of such cases to Sukhbir
Badal,” said the MLA, adding that she would also seek transfer of some officers. When contacted, DSP Gurdeep Singh denied being aware of the incident, saying, "The SHO did not inform me what happened yesterday."
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PSPCL notice to heavy industry
Patiala, March 24 The notice issued by the PSPCL, a copy of which is with The Tribune, states that now whatever is the power requirement, the industries across the state, having the load 1-MW and above will get it from the PSPCL only after the consumers confirm it in writing, at least a month in advance. Besides, the industries have to furnish the details about the quantum of power required, along with the daily/monthly requirement and will also have to execute a bi-lateral agreement with the PSPCL. On the other hand, the industry has condemned the move of the PSPCL. With a view to meet the power demands of the large-scale industrial units in the state, the provision of drawing power through OA was started a few years back. The OA system enables the consumer to purchase power from the source other than PSPCL. As per the previous system, the industries were to take permission for opting for the OA. However, now all the consumers having 1-MW and above load would be in the OA category and they would have to follow the fresh guidelines mentioned in the notice. "In the absence of the bi-lateral agreement, any drawl of the PSPCL power after May 1, by such consumer will be considered as unauthorised use of electricity. "In case you want to receive power from any other source other then the PSPCL with effect from May 1, 2012, then you are requested to intimate the PSPCL the need for using the PSPCL network for Open Access, as per the standing instructions and will have to bear all related charges/expenses, as per the rules," reads the notice issued to a Ludhiana-based industrialist. President of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association, Badish K Jindal said that if the PSPCL will be under no obligation to provide power to the industry, the industry in the state would vanish. "The consumers with a load of 1-MW and above are industrial only. Out of this, 90 per cent industry is of steel. It would be bleak scenario for the industrial sector, particularly the steel," he claimed. Reacting sharply, President, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Punjab, PD Sharma said that the decision has caused panic among all the consumers who come under this new category. "Firstly, the Open Access market is yet not fully developed and the market is at the moment evolving. On the other hand, there is acute shortage of power in the country. Moreover, bulk of power requirement goes to agriculture sector in a cyclic manner and the quantum of power for industrial sector remains uncertain. In such a scenario, individual consumers will not be able to negotiate with producers of the power," he asserted.
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Staff shortage hits cyber crime cell working
Mohali, March 24 The cell receives three to four complaints every month, but due to shortage of staff, most of the complaints are reportedly not even marked for months. There are just three inspectors, who have to do all kinds of jobs, from receiving complaints to investigation. Forget about having cyber crime experts, the department is yet to have the skeletal staff, including constables, head constables, peons and sweepers. Even the software being used in the cell's laboratory is reportedly outdated and all the phone lines have been snapped for the past more than a month due to non-payment of bills. "See our success rate, we have solved all the 19 cases received last year by arresting 26 accused, while this year, we have solved four cases out of the total six received so far," said an official at the cell, while admitting that shortage of staff was affecting the working of the cell. "We try to do our level best. Even this year, we have solved four cases by arresting five accused," said the official. The cell was established on April 9 last year to deal with the complaints related to data theft, extortion and cheating through Internet, bank and credit card frauds, hacking, fishing etc.
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Axing of a tree on officer's 'order'
Patiala, March 24 Reacting to The Tribune report, the Minister said that he would personally look into the issue, as the act was uncalled for from the officers, who instead of protecting the green cover, ordered cutting of a tree from the protected forest area. "I will ask a senior officer to look into the matter as it is a shameful act," he stated. Seechewal, who was in the city to take part in an Interfaith National Conference on Environment Management, visited the spot where the tree was cut and expressed his anguish over non-sensitivity of the two forest officers. "If forest officials themselves flout norms and then claim that they were unaware, how could such officers protect other trees in the district," he said. The Tribune had yesterday reported how senior forest officers, including Conservator of Forests SS Bhatti and Divisional Forest Officer S Sagar, had allegedly ordered their junior officials to axe a fully-grown green tree without following any prescribed procedure from the protected forest area. The tree was on the outer boundary of their government residences. However, following inquiries by The Tribune, forest officials left the work in between and were yet to uproot the tree. "The tree will be permanently uprooted once the matter is closed," said a forest official. Rules stipulate that any green tree cannot be axed without valid permission, which has to be sanctioned by top brass of the forest department. In the city for a seminar, environmentalist Swami Prem Parivartan, also known as Peepal Baba, said, "Punjab already has a diminishing forest cover and axing a banyan tree by the ones, who are deputed to protect it, is astonishing." Baba has been instrumental in planting lakhs of trees in the country and abroad.
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Here, childless couples offer liquor to seek blessings
Bhoma Wadala (Fatehgarh Churian), March 24 This non-descript township on the Fatehgarh Churian-Majhita road remains quiet throughout the year except for three days when the hamlet throbs with life on the occasion of Baba Rode Shah mela. Today was the last day of this popular fair and besides childless couple, there were others, including NRIs, who paid obeisance at the shrine to get their wishes fulfilled. Sikandar Kaur (31), who had come from a village 90 km away from the shrine, said she had come to thank the baba as she was able to conceive after six years of her marriage”. “I have been paying obeisance here for the last five years. The tomb indeed has supernatural powers,” she said. If scores of poor people descended at the venue, so did affluent NRIs. “I have come from New York. My wish of owing a parking lot near Manhattan has been fulfilled,” said Sukhdarshan Singh, who had brought a carton of Scotch whisky as an offering. Principal SS Randhawa, a regular at the mela, disclosed, “This is the only shrine in the country where liquor is offered and later distributed among devotees who get to enjoy some of the choicest delicacies like tandoori chicken, Amritsari fish and mutton tikka at stalls dotting the road. Here, people who believe in logic and rationality are often proved wrong”. What history says
It is believed that Baba Rode Shah, who hailed from Dhiman village in Gurdaspur, moved to Bhoma village in 1896 where his sister was married. He underwent austere penance following which he was endowed with mystical powers and started helping people. Once, with his blessings, a child was born to a couple, who brought a bottle of liquor for the baba to express their gratitude. Baba distributed the liquor among his followers. Some others believe that Baba Rode Shah gave shelter to Sundar Singh, a bootlegger, during the British regime. Miraculously, the police failed to trace Sundar despite making all-out efforts. Happy with the way the Baba treated him, Sundar Singh offered a liquor bottle to him who, in turn, distributed it among his devotees.
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4-year jail for ETO in graft case
Faridkot, March 24 Additional District and Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumari also impose a fine of Rs 25,000 on ETO Inderjit Singh Bhuttar for accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had registered a case of corruption against the ETO on January 3, 2008. In the case, the Vigilance Department not only nailed a Class-1 Gazetted officer for amassing disproportionate assets, but also proved the charges in the court, which led to his
conviction. After an inquiry into the moveable and immovable assets of the ETO posted at Jaitu town of the district, the Vigilance Department claimed that the ETO had acquired over Rs 17 lakh between March 31, 2002 to April 1, 2007 during his posting at Jaitu by misusing his official position.
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Jalandhar, March 24
Chandigarh, March 24
The CLP leader claimed the Beant Singh family had indicated to him at a recent meeting that they were also in favour of the law taking its own course in the matter. "They have not indicated their clemency stance, if any, to me even now," he said. 
Chandigarh, March 24
Patiala, March 24
Muktsar, March 24