Bathinda, February 13
The two-day athletic meet of the Government Rajindra College, which started here today, laid bare the chinks in the preparations — track events being conducted on a shorter and uneven track and the sports ground being cleared and made ready for the meet by the students themselves.

Till two days before the meet, the ground where the athletic events were to take place, was not ready.

"The college had put to work all the class IV employees to prepare the ground for the athletic meet. But since it's a government institute, there aren't many class IV employees. The students, under the leadership of their physical education teacher, Prof Surjit Singh, volunteered to help in preparing the ground," said Vijay Goyal, the principal of the college.

This is not surprising, considering that the students haven't had any sports ground for more than a year now, ever since the only sports ground on the college premises was turned into a hockey stadium after the laying of astro turf (synthetic field grass) in 2011.

This is the second consecutive year when the college is hosting its athletic meet at the sports ground near the Sabzi Mandi. Although track events such as 400m, 800m and 1000m races are part of the meet, the track that could be laid in the ground is 150 meters long.

While the athletic meet continues to be held at the makeshift ground, the college authorities and the district administration keep passing the buck.

The college has as many as 450 students pursuing a course in physical education and many other students from other departments who take part in various sporting activities.

The principal had also told Bathinda Tribune that the project of developing a new sports ground had been in a limbo since there's confusion over who is responsible for developing it.

Although the college authorities were sounded off by the administration that the parking area and the area covered by the stairs could be used to develop a new ground, it was yet to demarcate the area for the ground, the principal had said. The authorities concerned, however, said the college was yet to contact the district administration in case it needed funds to develop the ground.

Bathinda, February 13
Eighty per cent of work on the Sixth Socio-Economic Census has been completed in the district. ADC (Development) Mohammad Tayyab said this while presiding over a meeting of officials convened to discuss the census exercise.

He advised the enumerators not to use fluid for over-writing on data already entered in the records. He took the overview of work done so far and said while 80 per cent of the work had been completed, the rest too would be done soon.

Enumerators were told to ensure that not even a single house is left out while conducting the suvey. Charge officers were told to complete work by February 16 and that three per cent of data collected from the survey in block, municipal council and municipal corporation be randomaly checked by them and supervisors should check 100 per cent data.

Economic and statistical advisor Paramjit Singh, District Statistical Officer Gurdeep Singh, assistant research officer Harmander Singh Dhillon and other officials were also present. — TNS

Bathinda, February 13
From your roadside florist, to the malls, the restaurants offering special discount, heart-shaped balloons and gifts staring at you from every shop, there’s little else that one can think about than being or not being in love.

The marketing strategies adopted by the companies to hike their sales during the Valentine Week and peer pressure forces the singles to feel lonely.

Doctors in the city also agree that the much-hyped Valentine’s Day makes the singles feel alienated. Dr Indiver Kalra, a psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital, said, “When everybody around you is celebrating the day and receiving gifts and flowers, it obviously creates a feeling of alienation amongst those who are single.”

“Those who have recently broken up with their partners feel sad when they see their friends celebrating the day with passion. A sense of loneliness and failure overpowers them," he added.

"I would like to tell all the youngsters that although being in relationship is a beautiful feeling, but there is a life beyond that as well. Being with someone is just a part of our life, but life has many more beautiful things to offer,” he said.

Dr Nidhi Gupta, another psychiatrist at Civil Hospital, said, "Valentine’s Day is a Western concept. Youngsters don’t know that they can celebrate the day with their family and friends as well. The idea of celebrating it with someone special only is just a marketing gimmick. I celebrate it with my kids and husband. Singles should not feel sad on this day.”

She added that the youngsters feel depressed and anxious after their break-ups. "Every week, I come across at least one youngster who is suffering from depression or has started consuming drugs because of either being jilted or because of unrequited love."

Lakhveer Khan (22) started taking drugs after he broke up with his partner a few months back. He said, "A few years back I met a girl. She was from Canada and we were in a long-distance relationship. We used to talk for hours and we had decided to get married. When she refused to marry me, I could not bear the news and started taking drugs."

Twenty-six-year-old Arsh Ranbir Dhillon said, "My life was ruined after my partner left me. I could not forget her and started consuming habit-forming substances to overcome the grief.”

Suggesting how singles can enjoy the day, Dr Gupta said, "They can pamper their family members with gifts and make them feel special. After all, it is a day to celebrate love, which can be for anyone."

Dr Indiver says singles should be more focussed on their career and be in love with themselves. "Do not feel that you are lacking something if you don’t have a partner. You will get one sooner or later.”

Bathinda, February 13
A resident of Chandsar Basti was killed in an accident near Hazura Kapura colony.

In his complaint to the Civil Lines police, Arjan Das, a resident of Chandsar Basti, stated that on February 11, he was coming from the thermal plant with his wife Shakuntala Devi on a rickshaw.

As they reached near Hazura Kapura colony, an unknown motorcyclist hit the rickshaw. Shakuntala Devi, who sustained serious injuries, later died at the Civil Hospital. Police has registered a case in this regard.

Bathinda, February 13
Sixty children with congenital heart problems were examined at a camp held at Bajaj Children Hospital today as a part of the ongoing World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.

The Bathinda chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) had held the camp in collaboration with Medanta -The Medicity, Gurgaon, a multi super-specialty hospital of the world famous cardiac surgeon Dr Naresh Terhan.

Paediatric cardiologist Dr Sushil Azad provided free check-up, consultation and free cardiac test to the children. The paediatricians of Malwa region has been informed about the camp. Paediatricians from Kotkapura, Dabwali, Malout, Muktsar, Rampura and Gidderbaha referred the children to the camp.

Children and new-born babies with problems like growth disorder, breathlessness, blue baby symptoms or repeated cough and cold were examined at the camp.

The IAP members said since the examined patients will need follow-ups, emphasis will be laid on holding similar camps in future.

Fact file 60 children with congenital heart problems were examined at the camp as part of the ongoing World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Paediatricians from Kotkapura, Dabwali, Malout, Muktsar, Rampura and Gidderbaha referred the children to the camp. Children and new-born babies with problems like growth disorder, breathlessness, blue baby symptoms or repeated cough and cold were examined at the camp.

Bathinda, February 13
The 17th National Open Karate Championship was held from February 9-11 at Dahod district in Gujarat. Contestants from 21 states participated in the competition.

The participants from Punjab won six medals. Palwinder Singh bagged a bronze in the 36 kg weight category. Sahil Kumar won a silver medal in the 46 kg category while Dipanshu Chopra won the gold.

Among the girls, Arshdeep Kaur bagged silver and Monika Singla and Uma Rai won gold medals in their respective categories.

To celebrate the victory, assistant education officer Pavittar Kaur, physical training instructors Jasvir Singh and Navsangeet, Gurjit Singh Lahira, Najar Singh, principal, Lord Rama Public School, Suraj Setiya, councillor Vijay Kumar Sharma, along with the parents, of reached the station to receive the victorious kids. The winners were welcomed with garlands of flower, sweets and dhol beats.

Sunil Sharma, coach in black belt karate, said the winners will participate in the 11th international karate competition, to be held in Sri Lanka on May 19 this year. 

Bathinda, February 13
The education department will hold a camp at the Teachers' Home at 3:30 pm on February 14 to address the pending issues of government teachers.

Additional state project director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), Parampal Kaur, will listen to the grievances of the employees. Aggrieved education department employees can give a representation at the camp. — TNS

Bathinda, February 13
As part of Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary celebrations, a mass Suryanamaskar will be conducted across the country on February 18 from 9 am to 11 am.

In Bathinda, private and government schools have been contacted to bring the students, of class VIII to class XII to the sports stadium to celebrate the day.

The deputy commissioner has also given his approval for organising the event at the multi-purpose sports stadium in the city.

The idea behind organising the Suryanamaskar event is to make the students aware of the benefits of yoga to help them lead a healthy life.

The aim is also to take the teachings of Swami Vivekananda out of the ambit of books and popularise them among the masses so that its relevance can be realised by them.

Bathinda, February 13
A resident of Raman Mandi strangulated his wife to death and then tried to electrocute himself.

The accused, identified as Ram Kumar alias Raju, a native of Bihar, strangulated his wife Aarti alias Rabo Devi to death over an illicit affair.

Rabo Devi had an illicit relationship with a man named Goli from the same area. Police has booked Raju as well as Goli under various sections of the IPC.

Investigating officer Jagdev Singh said Raju and Rabo had come to work as labourers at Ganpati rice mills, which was later closed down. After the mill was closed, they were given a room to live inside the mill. However, the couple used to fight over Rabo's illicit affair with Goli. Enraged over this, on February 11, Raju killed Rabo and then tried to commit suicide. Police has booked both Raju and Goli.

No arrests have been made so far.