 |
|
|
25-bed de-addiction centre reeling under space crunch
Admn agrees to release 59 Teachers
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lack of donors endangers Golden Heart Scheme
Mystery shrouds teenager’s death
Two women booked for demanding dowry
Bathinda take 140-run lead over Barnala in U-22 tourney
|
|
25-bed de-addiction centre reeling under space crunch
Bathinda, June 14 Most of the time, the centre’s beds remain occupied. Under such circumstances, sometimes, the drug addicts have to wait for their turn to get admission to the centre. When contacted, the project coordinator of the centre, Roop Singh Mann, said the centre had faced such difficulties in accomodation several times in the past as the drug addicts, not only from this belt but also from across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan visit the centre to get treatment. He said in the second/third week of May this year, the number of drug addicts, seeking admission to the centre, increased as compared to the capacity of the centre. So, the authorities there had to give future dates to them for admission. He said, as of today, the number of patients admitted to the centre was 22. Three patients were discharged today while three new patients were admitted for treatment. He also said most of the drug addicts, who come to the centre for treatment, belonged to the age-group of 20-50 years. From January 2012 till today, as many as 366 drug addicts have been admitted to the centre for treatment. Of these, the maximum number of addicts, as many as 83, were admitted in March this year. The minimum number of addicts, 47, were admitted to the centre in January this year. Besides the admitted cases, a number of addicts are being treated every month by Dr Nidhi Gupta, a psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital here, in the OPD. According to information, the centre started functioning in the month of October 2002. During the year 2002, only 67 drug addicts were admitted to the centre while in the year 2003, the number rose to 447. In the year 2004, the number of admitted patients was 532. In the year 2005, it was 611, in 2006 (701), in 2007 (678), in 2008 (784), in 2009 (787), in 2010 (816) and in 2011 (773). Fact file
In the year 2002, 67 drug addicts were admitted to the centre. In the year 2003, the number rose to 447. In the year 2004, the number was 532, in the year 2005 it was 611, in 2006 (701), in 2007 (678), in 2008 (784), in 2009 (787), in 2010 (816) and in 2011 (773). From January 2012 till today, as many as 366 drug addicts have been admitted to the centre for treatment. |
|
Admn agrees to release 59 Teachers
Bathinda, June 14 The decision came after the teachers, recruited under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) and Centre Sponsored Scheme (CSS), blocked the road in front of the Bathinda bus stand for almost two hours this afternoon. The teachers had announced a couple of days in advance that they would be holding a rally in front outside the Mini-secretariat in favour of their demands. They have been demanding regularisation of jobs, fixing of a higher pay-scale for them and also the unconditional release of the 59 teachers who were arrested after the lathicharge at village Kotha Guru on June 8. Members of the SSA, RMSA, CSS Teachers' Union from Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Mohali, Moga, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Saheb, Fazilka Pathankot and other districts took part in the rally. Maximum participation was registered from Fazilka, followed closely by Moga. Teachers had started gathering outside the Mini-secretariat starting 10 am and the gathering reached its maximum strength at around 1 pm. “We waited for the administration to come and speak to us till 3 pm but all in vain. We had to resort to blocking the road outside the bus stand to gain the administration's attention,” said state committee members, Harjeet Jidda. “We are not in favour of blocking roads or climbing atop the water tanks, but the administration doesn't heed our demands till the time someone does so,” he added. Amandeep Phul of the TET Pass Union, Shingara Singh Mann of the Bhartiya Kisan Union Ugraha, Zora Singh Nasrali of the Khet Mazdoor Union, Manpreet Singh of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Paramjeet Singh of the Democratic Teachers Front and Shapinder Singh Brar of the 7654 Sanjha Front were among those who addressed the gathering during the rally. “Shingara Singh Mann and Zora Singh Nasrali also acted as the mediators between the administration and the protesting teachers. Finally, ASP Kuldeep Singh Chahal called Naib Tehsildar Subhash Mittal who announced that the arrested teachers would be released by Friday and the cases registered against them would be cancelled,” said Jidda. Talking to Tribune News Service, ASP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, "The teachers were booked under the Sections 353, 186 of the IPC which are bailable. We assured the agitating teachers that we would help them with their legitimate demands.” Other unions which participated in the rally included the Medical Practitioners Union, Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugraha, BKU Ekta Sidhupur, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, TET Pass Union, STR Union, ETT Sikhyarthi Union, ETT Teachers Union, Berozgaar Linemen Union, Punjab Roadways Employees Union Azad, Berozgaar B.Ed Adhyapak Front, Computer Teachers Union, Government Teachers Union, Lokmorcha Punjab, Khet Mazdoor Union, SSA RMSA Daftari Karamchari Union and 7654 Sanjha Front. Fact file
|
|||
|
Lack of donors endangers Golden Heart Scheme
Bathinda, June 14 Former vice-chancellor of the varsity, Swarn Singh Boparai had started this scheme wherein students were taught with the help of donors and sponsors. Funds were even collected from the NRIs who donated liberally for the rural students. As per rules, the beneficiary students are supposed to pay back the fees as interest free loan in 24 equal quarterly installments starting after one year of completion of studies. 180 students are admitted each year in class XI, of the six-year B.Tech integrated course. Deserving candidates are given an interest-free loan to cover their tuition fees and other charges. Started in 2004, two batches, including 360 students have availed of the benefits under the scheme, while the third one has appeared for final exams. However, none of the student has ever paid back. “Consequently, the pool of funds collected has now dried up. There is no money left to run the fourth batch under the scheme. Ultimately, the varsity will have to close down this scheme, which would mean a great loss to the poor students,” said officials at the college. There are no funds to start the fourth batch under the scheme. `4-5 crore is spent on every batch and the future of the new students now depends on the alumni. Later, the varsity rules were changed and the students were made to enter into agreements stating that after completing their degrees, they would start paying `8,000 per month as varsity had been spending donations on these children in the form of interest-free loan. In the month of May, the students of the third batch were directed to give 18 blank cheques each. “The students were told that they won’t be allowed to appear for viva unless and until they don’t pledge the required number of cheques,” added the students. Many students were left in a fix as the agreement they had signed before joining the institute was silent on this issue. “Most of us are from economically weak and rural backgrounds. If we had enough money, why would we come to this rural institute?” asked the students. Fact file
|
|
world blood donors’ day observed Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service
Bathinda, June 14 The MLA donated blood at the camp, organised by the BANGO at the local Gurukul College while the deputy commissioner donated blood at the camp, organised by the health authorities at the Blood Bank, on the premises of the Civil Hospital here. At the BANGO camp as many as 121 donors donated blood. The blood units were collected by an eight-member team of the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, while at the Civil Hospital camp as many as 30 persons donated the blood which was collected by the local Blood Bank team. Another blood donation camp was organised by the NCC Battalion at the local Government ITI on its premises where 45 blood units were collected. A team of the local Blood Bank collected the blood units from there. A blood donation was camp organised at the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, Phulokhari (Bathinda), yesterday. At this camp, a team of the local Blood Bank collected 71 units. Addressing the gathering at the Blood Donors’ Day function, organised by the BANGO, MLA Kotfatta urged the students to donate blood as it could help in saving many life. Among others who were present or spoke included Mayor of Bathinda Municipal Corporation Baljit Singh Beer Behman, Om Parkash Sharma (SAD), Prof NK Gosain, chief manager of the State Bank of India, Kikkar Bazar, Vinod Singla, Narinder Bassi, Ramesh Mehta (Aasra Welfare Society), Sonu Maheshwari (Naujwan Welfare Society), Rakesh Narula (Bathinda Vikas Manch), Ramneek Walia and Principal of the college Dr Ranjit Kaur. The district health authorities observed the World Blood Donors’ Day at the Blood Bank. The DC presided over the function. Among others who were present at the function included Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni, blood transfusion officer (BTO) of the Blood Bank Dr Inderdeep Singh Sra, secretary of District Red Cross Society J.R. Goyal, the SMO of local Civil Hospital Dr Satish Goyal and Vijay Bareja.
|
|
Mystery shrouds teenager’s death
Bathinda, June 14 In a press release issued by NGO Sahara Jan Sewa, it was stated that the body bore injury marks probably caused by stone or brick. A name, Raju, was tattooed on one of his arms while on the other arm, the picture of a Hindu diety was tattooed. Vijay Goyal, president of the NGO, said the boy was a ragpicker and was identified as the son of a rickshawpuller. His father identified the dead body at the local Civil Hospital. It is a mystery how the boy reached near the langar hall and under what circumstances was he murdered, he said. Kotwali SHO, Jaspal Singh, reached the spot and tried to enquire into the incident. A case under various sections of the IPC has been registered against unidentified persons at Kotwali police station. Volunteers of the NGO said the murder seemed to have taken place late at night.
|
|
Two women booked for demanding dowry
Bathinda, June 14 The father of the deceased, Jagjeet Singh, said his 23-year-old daughter died after consuming some poisonous substance, which was offered by Shindo Kaur of Kothe Kaur Singh Wale and Paramjit Kaur of Bohara village. The father said that the two women had been demanding dowry from his daughter and had been harassing her since her marriage. A case under sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the duo at the Nehianwala police station. In a similar case registered at the women police station, a father and his son have been booked by the police for demanding dowry and harassing a woman married in their house at Guru Nanakpura Mohalla. Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Parasram Nagar, lodged a complaint with the police wherein she accused her husband and father-in-law of harassing her on the pretext of demanding more dowry. The accused, Harjit Singh and his father Gulzar Singh, have been booked by the police under sections 498-A and 406 of the IPC at the women police station. Three arrested for gambling
The Canal Colony police has arrested three persons for gambling and cheating people. Those arrested are accused of pocketing money by gambling over cricket matches. One television set, five mobile phones and Rs 5,050 in cash have been recovered from the possession of the accused. They were arrested following a tip-off given to ASI Jaswant Singh who found the accused gambling in the city. A case under sections 420 of the IPC and 13-A, 3, 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered against the accused at the Canal Colony police station. Sirsa resident arrested with one kg opium
A resident of Sirsa has been found travelling with one kilogram of opium near the Multania flyover. He was caught carrying the drugs during a naka laid by the policemen from the Canal Colony police station. The accused has been identified as Jagsir Singh, who was travelling in a Ford Figo car, bearing the registration number of Haryana. A case under sections 18, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered in this connection against the accused at the Canal Colony police station. In a similar incident, Civil Lines police arrested one person for carrying ten gram of smack. He was caught carrying smack during a naka laid near the 100 feet road. The accused has been identified as Mandeep Singh of Chandsar Basti. He is booked under sections 21, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act at the Civil Lines police station. Maruti car stolen
A Maruti car was stolen from a house in Model Town Phase-II. The complainant, Prem Rattan, said the car was parked outside his residence and some unidentified person had stolen it. He said the cost of the car is nearly Rs 37,000. A case under section 379 of the IPC has been registered in this connection at the Cantonment police station. Farmer booked for beating brick kiln worker
Police has booked a farmer for beating up the worker of a brick kiln. In a complaint to the police, Suresh Kumar of Mandi Kalan village, said he works as a munshi at a brick kiln. The brick kiln owner had refused to take the land of a farmer, whose agricultural land was adjacent to the kiln. Irate over not his land not being taken on lease, the farmer beat up the munshi of the brick kiln using an iron rod and sharp-edged weapons. A case under sections 324, 323 and 427 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Balianwali police station. Moga resident arrested with 250-gram opium
Police have arrested one person with 250 grams of opium. The accused was carrying the contraband near Pucca Kalan. The accused, Satnam Singh of Bhairupa Dharamkot, Moga, has been booked under sections 18, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act at the Maur Mandi police station. Villager booked for attempt to rape
A resident of Kotshamir has been booked by the police for attempting to rape a woman of his village. The accused, Naib Singh, was booked on the complaint of a woman of his village who accused him of attempting to rape her in her house. A case under sections 376, 451, 333 and 511 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Kotfatta police station. |
|
Bathinda take 140-run lead over Barnala in U-22 tourney
Bathinda, June 14
Earlier, on the opening day of the two-day match that began at the Police Public School here on Thursday, Barnala, electing to bat first, managed to score only 107 for the loss of ten wickets. For Bathinda, Sukhmander took three wickets while Sukhminder Junior and Kamal two wickets each. In reply, Bathinda scored 247 runs. Manil scored 94 runs while Dhruv Garg, Manoj Kumar and Gurjant Singh scored 50, 39 and 35 runs, respectively. At the end of the first day's play, Barnala was 19 for one in the second innings.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
The administration finally agreed to the unconditional release of the 59 teachers lodged in Bathinda Central Jail, by tomorrow.
