B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Agri Minister reviews arrangements in Moga
Moga, April 2
Preparations for wheat procurement are in full swing these days with wheat expected to arrive in the grain markets by the end of this week in Moga district.

Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh reviews wheat procurement arrangements in Moga on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Seating troubles for officials of new-born dist
Fazilka, April 2        
The district level officers posted in the newly carved Fazilka district are facing inconvenience due to lack of space for housing their offices. Even the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Fazilka is housed in the Sub-Divisional Administrative Complex (Mini-secretariat) which had been constructed for the office of the SDM. This space is proving to be inadequate for the entire establishment of the Deputy Commissioner’s office which has to provide space for two additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioner and hundreds of officials for about three dozen sub-branches of the DC office.

Jakhar accorded warm welcome in home segment
Abohar, April 2
Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar received a warm welcome by thousands of his supporters besides friends and foes as he visited his home segment for the first time after his elevation. He first stopped at Balaji Dhaam (Lord Hanuman temple) to pay obeisance and express gratitude for the victory in the recent Assembly polls. He had visited the holy place before kicking off his election campaign and after winning the Assembly seat for the third consecutive term.
CLP leader Sunil Jakhar acknowledges greetings on reaching Abohar on Monday evening. Photo: Raj Sadosh 

BSF sleuths, cops felicitated for nabbing drug peddlers
Ferozepur, April 2
Lauding the efforts of the policemen and BSF sleuths who were part of the joint operation squad which, over a period of three months, busted an international drug  peddling racket in the area, the Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) Rohit Chowdhry today felicitated them with commendation certificates on behalf of the DGP, Punjab.

Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) Rohit Chowdhry felicitates the policemen at the CPRC Centre in Ferozepur. A Tribune photograph

CM’s home dist faces doc deficit
Muktsar, April 2
Health centres in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district, Muktsar, are facing shortage of doctors. There is only one ultrasound specialist (sonologist) in the entire district, which has four hospitals at Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha and Badal. The lone sonologist is posted at the Civil Hospital, Malout.

Demand goes up as camel milk proves useful for autistic kids
Faridkot, April 2
After reports emerging that the integration of raw camel milk into the diet of mentally abnormal children brings considerable improvement in their condition, it is in high demand in the area, these days.

Singer performs on concluding day of edu meet
Abohar, April 2
Punjabi movie star and singer Gippy Grewal enthralled his thousands of fans at the concluding session of the three-day educational and cultural summit organised by the Radiant Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal performing at Abohar. Photo: Raj Sadosh

 

After a debacle in the recent held assembly elections, while some senior Congress leaders are indulging in mud-slinging to damage the reputation of their opponents in the party, some local Congress leaders in Faridkot on Monday went to the extent of blackening the poster of PPCC chief Amarinder Singh in the main chowk of the town, blaming him for the party’s defeat in the polls. Photo: Balwant Garg

 Wheat Procurement
Agri Minister reviews arrangements in Moga
Kulwinder Sandhu 
Tribune News Service 

Moga, April 2
Preparations for wheat procurement are in full swing these days with wheat expected to arrive in the grain markets by the end of this week in Moga district.

Agriculture Minister of Punjab, Jathedar Tota Singh, held a meeting with the officials of the district administration here to review the arrangements made for the procurement.

District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) Dr Sona Thind brought to the knowledge of the minister that adequate arrangements have been made for the procurement process. Adding that 6.75 lakh MT of wheat is expected to arrive in the district, she said 103 procurement centres have been set up at various locations in the district and inspectors of the department and other procurement agencies have been assigned their respective duties.

She revealed that the state procurement agencies, Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup and central agency FCI, will procure 20 per cent each of the total wheat arrival while Punjab Warehousing Corporation and Punjab Agro Corporation will procure 11 per cent and 9 per cent wheat, respectively.

Officiating district magistrate Chander Gaind said, “We expect the arrival of wheat in the mandis within 3-4 days as farmers are all set to start harvesting. The space has been arranged. Besides, gunny bags have been kept in sufficient numbers for the convenience of the farmers. The mandi officials have been asked to ensure safe drinking water and regular power supply.”

“The District Transport Officer has been asked by the administration to arrange maximum trucks throughout this month so that the procurement process is not hampered,” Gaind added. 

While reviewing the procurement process, Tota Singh said wheat is expected to come in huge quantities from April 10 to 20 keeping in view the late maturity and prevailing weather conditions. Therefore, the official machinery should be well prepared to handle the glut.

The officials revealed that there is a little problem of storage in the Baghapurana and Nihalsinghwala sub-divisions but alternate arrangements have been made by the administration. 

 Seating troubles for officials of new-born dist
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, April 2        
The district level officers posted in the newly carved Fazilka district are facing inconvenience due to lack of space for housing their offices. Even the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Fazilka is housed in the Sub-Divisional Administrative Complex (Mini-secretariat) which had been constructed for the office of the SDM. This space is proving to be inadequate for the entire establishment of the Deputy Commissioner’s office which has to provide space for two additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioner and hundreds of officials for about three dozen sub-branches of the DC office.

The space for Suvidha Centre in the present DC office is also inadequate. The very purpose of providing different services to the common man under the Right to Service Act (RSA) is being affected adversely.

Now, as the record of the DC office for the sub-divisions of Fazilka, Abohar and Jalalabad is being shifted from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, there is acute shortage of space for housing it. This is giving a tough time to the officials while dealing with the common man.

Notably, after completing the election process, the officials of different departments have been joining here regularly. “I have been virtually running from pillar to post for accommodation to set up my office,” said a senior district level official, pleading anonymity.

The District Food and Supply Controller in Fazilka have been camping in Ferozepur instead of Fazilka for the last few months on the pretext of non- availability of space.

Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, Dr Basant Garg, disclosed that his office has “moved a proposal for constructing a new District Administrative Complex (DAC) adjacent to the existing Mini Secretariat on a piece of land measuring about 3.5 acres.”

“A proposal for the expansion of the existing canal rest-house and the construction of a circuit house adjoining the canal rest-house has been worked out. Besides, the plan for the construction of officers’ colony and the Police Lines has also been sent to the government,” the DC said.

According to available information, the Chief Architect, Punjab, and the executive engineer, PWD, have reportedly conducted a survey and approved the blueprint for constructing the DAC. It is learnt that the final map of the building is also ready. A nod from the state finance department is awaited.

“Immediate approval for the construction of the DAC should be granted by the Punjab government for its smooth functioning,” demanded Sushil Gumber, former president of the Bar Association.

When the DAC shall start functioning, about three dozen offices would be housed in the complex. The residents of the area would be able to avail of the facilities available at these offices under one roof.

Nearly 51 district-level offices shall be housed at Fazilka in due course. Building and space for these offices shall also be required.

 Jakhar accorded warm welcome in home segment
Our Correspondent

Abohar, April 2
Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar received a warm welcome by thousands of his supporters besides friends and foes as he visited his home segment for the first time after his elevation.

He first stopped at Balaji Dhaam (Lord Hanuman temple) to pay obeisance and express gratitude for the victory in the recent Assembly polls. He had visited the holy place before kicking off his election campaign and after winning the Assembly seat for the third consecutive term.

City Congress president and veteran Gandhian BL Nagpal and senior councillor Vimal Thatai accompanied him.

People struggled hard in garlanding the Leader of the Opposition as he stepped out of the temple to board his official car.

Over 500 Congress flags were put up on the poles dotting the three-km route. Stalls and flex hoardings were raised on the way to greet him.

Some of the crossings, including Dr BR Ambedkar Chowk, were tastefully decorated with multi-color buntings.

Scores of NGOs besides educational institutions had erected arches to welcome the three-time legislator.

 BSF sleuths, cops felicitated for nabbing drug peddlers
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, April 2
Lauding the efforts of the policemen and BSF sleuths who were part of the joint operation squad which, over a period of three months, busted an international drug 
peddling racket in the area, the Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) Rohit Chowdhry today felicitated them with commendation certificates on behalf of the DGP, Punjab.

IG Chowdhry, who was specially sent by the DGP here today, while talking to the media persons, said the idea was to encourage the policemen so that they can perform their duties with dedication and zeal to wipe out the drug trade from the area.

Paramraj Singh, DIG, Ferozepur Range, HS Mann, SSP, besides senior officials from the BSF and police were also present.

Giving details about the operation, the SSP said the police had achieved its first success in early January this year when two inter-state drug peddlers, identified as Chowdhry Ghulam Rasool and Mehmood Ahmed, were arrested along with 5 kg of heroin.

Thereafter, the police started working on various leads which they got during the interrogation and subsequently apprehended another drug smuggler, identified as Puran Singh, who had handed over the consignment of the contraband of these Jammu-based drug couriers, he said.

The SSP further said during the operation, which took place yesterday, another three drug smugglers were arrested along with a huge consignment of heroin. “One of the arrested drug peddlers, Bikramjit Singh alias Vicky, was an associate of Puran Singh, who had given him a Pakistani SIM card to contact agents across the border,” he added.

The IG said the police have launched an all-out war against drugs and more recoveries were will follow soon for which sustained efforts will be made.

The policemen honoured today included Kikkar Singh, SI, Avtar Singh, SI, Buta Singh, Hardev Singh, Gurinder Singh, Jaspal Singh, Balwinder Kumar, Pippal Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, Surinderpal Singh, Baljit Singh, Baldev Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Pritpal Singh, Raj Singh, Shalvinder Singh, Satnam Singh, Pritam Singh, Ranbir Singh, Sukhwinder Singh and others.

Besides the men from the police, the IG also appreciated the efforts of Jasmit Singh and Phonish Kumar, both posted as Inspector (G), BSF, at the sector headquarters. 

 CM’s home dist faces doc deficit
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, April 2
Health centres in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district, Muktsar, are facing shortage of doctors. There is only one ultrasound specialist (sonologist) in the entire district, which has four hospitals at Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha and Badal. The lone sonologist is posted at the Civil Hospital, Malout.

In absence of any specialist at the civil hospitals, patients have to go to private hospitals/laboratories to get the ultrasound done and have to shell out fees more than what is charged by a government health facility. 

Besides, there is no child specialist, ophthalmologist or gyanecologist at the Civil Hospital, Muktsar.

Situation is almost similar at the Civil Hospital, Malout, where four out of the total 12 sanctioned posts of medical officer are lying vacant for the past six years. Not only doctors, there is a shortage of paramedical staff too; affecting the functioning of hospitals.

Muktsar Civil Surgeon Dr Gurdeep Singh Bhullar said, “We have just one doctor for ultrasound testing and he is posted at Malout. The machines in other civil hospitals in the district are lying unused,” adding: “We have informed the higher-ups and they have assured that the vacancies will be filled soon.”

 Autism awareness
Demand goes up as camel milk proves useful for autistic kids
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, April 2
After reports emerging that the integration of raw camel milk into the diet of mentally abnormal children brings considerable improvement in their condition, it is in high demand in the area, these days.

Though camel milk, per se, is not medically prescribed by the doctors but as the integration of this raw milk into the diet of some children with symptoms of autism offered evidence of improving their immunity, so this unconventional delicacy holds some promise in treating mental abnormality.

Autism is a disorder with a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.

Over two years back, after a German laboratory confirmed the discovery of high level of uranium and other heavy metals in hair samples of 80 per cent of 149 neurologically-disabled children of a health centre for special children in Faridkot, now over one year of use of raw camel milk in the diet of these children has brought a lot of improvement in their health status.

Baba Farid Centre for Special Children is sourcing 30 kg of camel milk daily from the National Camel Research Institute, located about 8 km from Bikaner city in Rajasthan. The Bikaner institute is selling the camel milk at select milk parlours in Jaipur, Bikaner and New Delhi for its high therapeutic value. But in Faridkot, Baba Farid Centre for Special Children is taking the supply on a daily basis in an ice-box. This milk reaches Faridkot in a passenger bus.

"Though camel milk is known for healing the effect of various diseases but its use at our centre resulted in improving human abilities and the quality of life of many children with mental abnormalities," said Pritpal Singh, the president of this centre for special children, a non-profit organization, to improve the condition of mentally abnormal kids.

The integration of camel milk in the diet of the children appears to aggressively mitigate the symptoms of inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders, said Dr Amar Singh Azad, a paediatrician working on neurological disorders among children at Baba Farid Centre.

As camel milk does not contain casein or lactoglobulin, two allergenic components found in other forms of milk, so it is not problematic for autistic children, nor does it exacerbate their condition in any way.

On the contrary, camel milk's unique composition of vitamins and minerals, protective proteins, and immunoglobulins appears to aggressively mitigate the symptoms of autism, said Dr Pritpal Singh. 

  Singer performs on concluding day of edu meet

Abohar, April 2
Punjabi movie star and singer Gippy Grewal enthralled his thousands of fans at the concluding session of the three-day educational and cultural summit organised by the Radiant Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Border Security Force DIG Vimal Satyarthi, “Urja Purush” award recipient Prof Bhupinder Singh from IIT (Roorkee), Sant Inderjit Singh “Sewapanthi” and chairman of the institute Tara Singh Ahuja had inaugurated the summit. On the occasion, Dr Neelam Arun Mittu said: “The world economy transforms itself. It has become apparent that education is the most essential ingredient for our economic security.”

While discussing the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission, Dr Venita Singh said the two-third of the total engineering colleges were located in the South, that has one-third of the country’s population. The unemployment graph shot up with opening of engineering colleges in the North India.

Dr SK Gupta (Jodhpur), Prof JL Aggarwal, Rajinder Bhandari, Dr Rakesh Sehgal and Principal Dr TS Kamal were among other speakers. — OC