B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Staff shortage hits Moga schools
Moga, July 21
Shortage of teachers in hundreds of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools in Moga district presents a gloomy picture of the state's education sector. The shortage of teachers could pose obstacles in attaining the objective of 'Education for all' envisaged by the Union government under the 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act' making the states responsible for ensuring the education of all children between 6 and 14 years of age.

Cancer camps on July 26, 27
Moga, July 21
The Roko Cancer, a London-based charitable trust, has announced to organise two cancer check-up camps at Baghapurana on July 26 and Sukhanand village on July 27. Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, the global ambassador of the trust, said stress would be on detecting cancer at an early stage so that it could be treated in time. “Early detection of the disease can make its cure possible,” he said.

Wheat stock left to rot in the open
Abohar, July 21
Thousands of wheat bags that had been stacked by the government agencies in the open and not covered by polythene sheets were affected by the rain that lashed the region for the second consecutive day on Friday night.

19 Muktsar schools fail to collect DMCs
Muktsar, July 21
It was two weeks ago that the Punjab School Education Board had directed them to immediately collect the detailed marks certificates (DMCs) of class X and XII students, but 19 schools in Muktsar are yet to follow the order. The DMCs of nearly 700 students, who had appeared in examination in the 2011-12 academic session, were still lying with the PSEB officials here. Accusing the school staff of negligence, an official said, “The Board had directed all schools to collect DMCs from respective district offices, but certificates of 19 schools are still lying with us.”

Packets containing detailed marks certificates (DMCs)

Mystery shrouds doctor’s death
Muktsar, July 21
The in-charge of the Government Dispensary at Madhir village was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his rented accommodation here late last night. The police said Dr Kamal Deep (40), a native of Amritsar district, was posted at Madhir village in Gidderbaha and was staying here at the Adesh Hospital’s flat number 14 where he had earlier worked for some time.

Youth shot dead in tavern
Moga, July 21
A youth was shot dead during a clash between two groups at a tavern in Moga town on Friday evening.

Former village head’s house burgled
Muktsar, July 21
Thieves decamped with valuables worth about `13 lakh and `25,000 in cash from the house of a former Sarpanch of Jahbelwali village on the intervening night of July 19 and 20.

Intervening to settle a fight costs neighbour his life
Faridkot, July 21
A youth lost his life when he was shot at while trying to pacify the members of a family in his neighbourhood, who were fighting over an issue, at Hardialeana village of Faridkot today.

Conductor of pvt bus thrashed
Abohar, July 21
Three bikers thrashed the conductor of a private luxury bus and snatched a bag containing Rs 18,000 on the account of sale of tickets.

Staff shortage hits Moga schools
District sans DEO (Elementary) for 17 years
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, July 21
Shortage of teachers in hundreds of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools in Moga district presents a gloomy picture of the state's education sector. The shortage of teachers could pose obstacles in attaining the objective of 'Education for all' envisaged by the Union government under the 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act' making the states responsible for ensuring the education of all children between 6 and 14 years of age.

A senior official of the education department revealed that more than 100 schools were upgraded to high and higher secondary schools in the district during the past one decade. However, the government failed to provide not only the required teaching staff but also administrative officials.

Even after 17 years of the formation of the district, there is no sanctioned post of the District Education Officer (Elementary). Over these years, the Deputy DEOs have been officiating as DEOs.

Apart from this, there are six posts of block primary education officers (BPEOs), out of which five are vacant. The lone regular BPEO is posted at the Baghapurana block. As a stop-gap arrangement, the education department has deputed centre head teachers at the remaining five blocks so as to carry out the routine work.

The officiating BPEO of Nihalsinghwala Nirbhai Singh is retiring on coming July 31 while the officiating BPEO of two blocks of Dharamkot, Gurdev Kaur, is retiring from the service on September 30 this year. There is also a shortage of ministerial staff in the DEO (Elementary) office.

As much as 35 per cent of the posts of centre head teachers, 36 per cent of the posts of head teachers and 18 per cent posts of JBT teachers are also vacant in the primary schools of the district. Further, 22 per cent of the master-cadre posts in middle and high schools are also vacant thereby hampering the education system.

As per the details available, 117 out of 555 sanctioned posts of social science masters, 98 out of 368 science teachers, 46 out of 246 mathematics teachers, 24 out of 48 English teachers, eight out of 254 Punjabi teachers, 50 out of 222 Hindi teachers, 31 out of 78 physical education teachers, the two posts of music teachers, 24 out of 40 vocational subject teachers and one out of the two sanctioned posts of home science teachers were vacant before the beginning of the summer vacations.

Notably, 58 per cent of the posts of lecturer are yet to be filled up in high and senior secondary schools. As many as 44 out of the total of 67 sanctioned posts of the principals and 39 out of 76 posts of head teachers are also vacant in government senior secondary schools.

Cancer camps on July 26, 27
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, July 21
The Roko Cancer, a London-based charitable trust, has announced to organise two cancer check-up camps at Baghapurana on July 26 and Sukhanand village on July 27. Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, the global ambassador of the trust, said stress would be on detecting cancer at an early stage so that it could be treated in time. “Early detection of the disease can make its cure possible,” he said.

Further, he said a special awareness drive to educate people about getting their medical check-ups done on regular basis, would begin on July 31, the death anniversary of Shaheed Udham Singh. The sixth mobile unit to detect cancer cases would be introduced. A mega camp would also be organised on the occasion.

“We have also got printed 16 lakh pamphlets, which would be distributed among people in remote rural areas. The pamphlets will educate them about the cancer diseases, in simple words and in the local language,” he said.

Besides, the Roko Cancer is also coming out with audio-visual documentary films that would show various aspects of the cancer ailments and some simple ways to diagnose the disease, particularly the breast cancer, at home.

Expressing his concern over the high level of uranium found in the groundwater in many districts of the Malwa belt, Dhaliwal asked the union as well as the state governments to come out with strict laws to protect and preserve the waters in the state, which is the food basket of the country. “Merely detecting and making efforts to cure this disease is not enough. The prevailing situation rather demands that preventive measures be taken to protect the environment. Stringent laws should be enacted for this purpose,” Dhaliwal added.

Wheat stock left to rot in the open
Raj Sadosh

Wheat bags stacked in the open by government agencies were affected by the showers that lashed Abohar on Friday night. Photo by writer

Abohar, July 21
Thousands of wheat bags that had been stacked by the government agencies in the open and not covered by polythene sheets were affected by the rain that lashed the region for the second consecutive day on Friday night.

Intriguingly, the officials concerned had not cared to get the stacks covered even after the first downpour that hit the sub-division early this month.

Well-placed sources said about 20 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and paddy were directly exposed to downpour in Abohar, Fazilka and Jalalabad areas. The grains were purchased and stacked by the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and the Punsup.

The condition was similar in regular storage complexes that had no space under sheds as well as plinths rented by private players.

Most of the stocks on the Abohar-Seetogunno road and the Abohar-Sriganganagar road besides the National Highway-10 were found uncovered when a media team toured the areas.

Pleading anonymity, some of the persons guarding the stocks disclosed that the exposure to rain was considered necessary to cover the gap in the underweight bags.

Wet wheat finally stinks due to moisture and becomes unfit for human consumption, food experts observed.

Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued directions to the central and state government agencies to remove the hurdles in shifting the wheat stocks to godowns as millions of tonnes of foodgrain are rotting in the open.

The agencies have only got a few godowns on the National Highways 10 and 15 besides the Indira Nagari road here that remains flooded with overflowing sewage.

The old stocks are yet to be shifted for want of special goods trains, besides procedural delays.

Criminal neglect

• About 20 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and paddy are exposed to the vagaries of weather in Abohar, Fazilka and Jalalabad areas
• Officials concerned fail to cover the stacks even after the first rainfall of the season early this month
• Sources say the foodgrain has been deliberately exposed to rain to cover a shortfall in the stock
• Wet wheat finally stinks due to moisture and becomes unfit for human consumption, food experts observed

19 Muktsar schools fail to collect DMCs
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 21
It was two weeks ago that the Punjab School Education Board had directed them to immediately collect the detailed marks certificates (DMCs) of class X and XII students, but 19 schools in Muktsar are yet to follow the order. The DMCs of nearly 700 students, who had appeared in examination in the 2011-12 academic session, were still lying with the PSEB officials here.

Accusing the school staff of negligence, an official said, “The Board had directed all schools to collect DMCs from respective district offices, but certificates of 19 schools are still lying with us.”

The maximum 85 DMCs were of Government Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Seerewali Bhangewala, followed by 69 of Government High School, Husnar.

The other defaulters include GSSS, Panniwla Fatta (43); Sada Ram Bansal School, Sarainaga (43); GSSS, Gurusar (40+29); Government High School, Marar (36); GHS, Mann Singh Wala (34); Everest Public School, Muktsar (32+53); GSSS, Bhullar (31); GHS, Khuddian Gulab Singh (27); GSS, Bhundar (26); Guru Gobind Singh High School, Muktsar (26); Shubh Karman Convent School, Tarmala (24); Guru Nanak High School, Killianwali (22) and 16 each of Alfonsa High School, Sikhwala, and Sohan Lal Memorial Public School, Muktsar.

District Education Officer Gurinder Kaur said, “The delay in collecting DMCs by some schools is surprising. It is their duty to immediately collect them DMCs from the Board’s office.”

Mystery shrouds doctor’s death
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 21
The in-charge of the Government Dispensary at Madhir village was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his rented accommodation here late last night. The police said Dr Kamal Deep (40), a native of Amritsar district, was posted at Madhir village in Gidderbaha and was staying here at the Adesh Hospital’s flat number 14 where he had earlier worked for some time.

It appeared that intake of some poisonous substance or overconsumption of liquor resulted in his death.

Investigating officer Surinder Singh said, “We have initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC. After completing legal formalities, the body has been handed over to the deceased’s kin.”

Sources said that the deceased had some dispute with his wife.

Youth shot dead in tavern
Tribune News Service

Moga, July 21
A youth was shot dead during a clash between two groups at a tavern in Moga town on Friday evening.

The incident was the fallout of a quarrel over some issue when one of those present at the tavern took out a revolver and fired shots at the youth. Traffic cops standing outside the tavern rushed the youth to the district hospital. However, the youth was declared brought dead by the doctors there.

The deceased has been identified as Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Goluwala village of Ferozepur district.

The police has taken into custody one person who allegedly killed the youth, and recovered a revolver from his possession.

A criminal case of murder has been registered against him, said ASI Jaswinder Singh, who is investigating this case.

Former village head’s house burgled

Muktsar, July 21
Thieves decamped with valuables worth about `13 lakh and `25,000 in cash from the house of a former Sarpanch of Jahbelwali village on the intervening night of July 19 and 20.

Ram Narain, the victim, has lodged a complaint with the Bariwala police claiming that when he and his family members woke up on Friday morning, they found things scattered in their house and the locks of cupboards broken. “Gold ornaments worth nearly `13 lakh and `25,000 in cash were missing,” stated the complaint.

Investigating officer Balkar Singh said, “A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered and the investigations are on to trace the perpetrators.” — TNS

Intervening to settle a fight costs neighbour his life
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, July 21
A youth lost his life when he was shot at while trying to pacify the members of a family in his neighbourhood, who were fighting over an issue, at Hardialeana village of Faridkot today.

According to police sources, Jagdip Singh alias Jaggu and his family members were quarreling and a youth from their neighbourhood, Nikka Singh, intervened to pacify them. But in a fit of rage, Jaggu allegedly shot at Nikka, killing him on the spot.

The police has registered a case and investigating the incident, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurmeet Singh.

Conductor of pvt bus thrashed
Our Correspondent

Abohar, July 21
Three bikers thrashed the conductor of a private luxury bus and snatched a bag containing Rs 18,000 on the account of sale of tickets.

Devinder Singh, who is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital here, said while returning from Jalandhar at 10 pm, he called up his brother from village Bahawalbassi to escort him.

As he was waiting for his brother, three persons on a bike tried to snatch the bag containing cash. When he resisted, they started thrashing him with baseball bats and fled with the bag. An FIR has been registered at the Sadar police station.