Bathinda, March 1
The District Education Office today issued the list of defaulter schools, which failed to submit their statement of expenditure for the month of January.

The schools were told to submit their statements by February 22.

However, as many as 102 schools failed to submit the same. Considering the delay in getting the information, the education department extended the date to February 28 and instructed the District Education Officer to take strict action against the defaulters after that.

In a fresh list of defaulters issued here today, as many as 20 government high schools and 24 government senior secondary schools have been named as defaulters.

The list includes government high schools at Burj Mehma, Bajjak, Bhagwangarh, Bhaini Mehraj, Bhaini Chuhad, Chak Ram Singh Wala, Saan Singh Wala, Giana, Gumti Kalan, Jeeda, Jajjal, Kotha Guru (girls), Kamalu Swaich, Khayali Wala, Malkana, Maur Khurd, Sekhu, Sandhoha and Teona.

The government senior secondary schools, which failed to submit their statements, included those at Dyalpura Mirza, Ghudda, Jodhpur Romana, Aklia Jalal, Behman Diwana, Balianwali (boys), Bhucho Mandi (boys), Bhagta, Bhodipura, Dhadde, Goniana Mandi (boys), Jodhpur Pakhad, Kots Shamir, Killi Nihal Singh Wala, Lehra Mohabbat, Mehraj (girls), Maur Mandi (girls), Maiserkhana, Multania, Mehta, Maluka (boys), Nathana (boys) and Rampura Mandi (girls).

Besides the statement of expenditure, the schools were also asked to submit the details regarding use of information and computer technology (ICT) funds. As many as 60 schools, including 40 middle schools, 12 high schools and eight secondary schools, were named in the list of defaulters.

Meanwhile, the office of the Deputy Commissioner issued a circular in the morning today asking schools to submit the details for nine kinds of scholarship schemes.

Bathinda, March 1
It is that time of the year when students appearing in board examination and their parents are equally worried. Last minute preparations, burning the midnight oil and dreaming of forgetting everything while appearing in the examination - these are some of the common features of the examination season.

The experts, however, advise the students and the parents to remain calm and avoid anxiety.

The principal of the Delhi Public School, Dr Arunjee, says the adage 'Do your best and forget the rest' works best during the exam season. "Students should avoid last minute preparations as it may leave them confused. Parents need to understand that board exams are not the only exam in one's life. In fact, board exams prepare one to face bigger exams that one would face in life."

Working hard throughout the year is the way to combat exam stress, says the principal of the Police Public School, Monica Singh. "Only those students who don't study the entire year and open their books just before the exams fret the most. The preparation before the examination should only be a recapitulation of whatever has been read earlier. It is better to stress on the key points of chapters than indulging in a comprehensive study."

The principal of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School here, Mandeep Kaur, opines, "During examination days, students should revise what they have already studied rather than trying to comprehend new concepts. Going for the latter will only foster confusion and there are chances of the child forgetting what he/she had learnt earlier."

Parents play the most important role in reducing stress among their children during the examination days, says psychiatrist Dr Nidhi Gupta.

"To begin with, parents should not reinforce the stress. They should avoid comparing their children with others and also ensure that the child sleeps and eats well. To battle the examination fever, students should be confident about themselves and believe that they can perform well. They ought to be focussed and go through the main points of the subject."

Bathinda, March 1
Withdrawal of the night post services from the city post office at Sirki Bazar and the head post office in the civil station area is proving beneficial for private courier companies situated near the railway station.

The night speed post service was launched to compete with courier companies that offer facilities till late in the evening.

While the facility at the city post office was withdrawn in September 2011, the head post office discontinued the facility since January this year.

Earlier, two counters at the city post office used to deal with speed post and operated from 12 noon to 8 pm. However, these were closed citing inadequate business.

"Even today, we refused offering speed post to around 10 to 12 persons, though the service has been suspended since 2011. People are harassed and repeatedly demand that the services be resumed. However, we are helpless as the decision has been taken by the authorities at top level," said an official at the city post office, pleading anonymity.

Harmeet Singh, a resident of Patel Nagar, said besides the city post office, even the counter at the railway station offering rail mail services (RMS) do not offer speed post as they do not have computers. "In such a situation, private courier companies are doing brisk business while consumers are shelling out more. We have no option but to rely on private companies even as their credibility, at times, is doubtful," he said.

At the head post office, the speed post service is available till 6 pm only. It was available till 7 pm before.

The postal authorities refused to comment stating that the decision has been taken by the higher-ups.

A senior citizen Jagdish Ghai decried the withdrawal of service at Sirki Bazar post office and claimed that it had around 10,000 saving accounts along with postal stationery service to this business pocket. He demanded that the service be re-introduced.

Bathinda, March 1
“In an ideal situation, the private sector should have no interference in the field of education till at least class X. Education should be provided at schools run under the aegis of the government,” said Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab Prof SS Johl. He was speaking on the occasion of the fourth Foundation Day celebrations organised at the university.

Elaborating on the ideal educational system, he said the government should provide free education till class X and the children of both rich and poor should study in the same schools.

Emphasising that private schools were playing an instrumental role in widening the divide between the rich and the poor, he said, “Before admission, school authorities ask the child's parents about their occupation and education, whether the child has any sibling in the same school, the distance between the school and their residence and many more details. In the given situation, rich people monopolise good schools and it is not possible to ensure equal opportunities for all.”

Throwing light on the popular perception that government schools don't do very well, he said, “That was the case because private schools have monopolised the ‘market’. Well-off parents are not inclined towards sending their wards to government schools.”

Citing a study conducted by the Punjabi University, Patiala, a few years ago, he said only six per cent of the students in the university had rural background.

“The picture was dismal in the Panjab University at Chandigarh where students with rural background comprised only two per cent of the total strength. In the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, only 3.75 per cent of the students came from rural areas while it was 4 per cent in the case of the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar,” Prof Johl said.

He pointed out that owing to the rat race in the educational system, the country is producing unemployable youngsters. Many corporate houses fail to hire employees for their top-level posts since they were fishing in shallow waters, he said.

Johl concluded by saying that the government was imposing silent death on the society by gradually cutting down the budget for education.

Bathinda, March 1
In the absence of special incentives for the specialized work, specialist doctors in government jobs are becoming disenchanted and opting to join the private sector.

In the last 30 days, a gynaecologist from the Government Hospital, Ghudda and a paediatrician from the Women and Children Hospital, Bathinda, have resigned from government jobs. Both the doctors have got better opportunities in the private sector.

"The main reason behind quitting is the burden in the government set-up. Ideally, a specialist should be spared the burden of performing the duties of an emergency medical officer, attending court hearings, performing VIP duties, among others. On top of it all, we are being asked to meet the benchmarks of specialized work, no matter what happens," said one of the doctors.

Specialists said that in the state medical service, they have to perform the task of a general duty medical officer as well as that of a specialist. But the emoluments they are being paid is that of graduate PCMS officers.

Even within the specialist doctors, there is disparity in the salaries given. The specialists, who have done their post-graduation before 2001, are not being given the PG allowance. These doctors were given economic benefit equal to five annual increments.

But now, those who have done their PG after the year 2000 and have less experience are being granted this allowance.

"The doctors with PG degrees after the year 2000 are earning more than us, whereas we have more experience," said another senior specialist.

District president of the PCMS Specialist Doctors' Association, Ramesh Maheshwari said the need of the hour was to create a cadre on the lines of states like Delhi and Rajasthan that have specialist cadres.

It may be mentioned that with the gynaecologist at the Ghudda government hospital leaving, there is no gynaecologist at the hospital. The district is facing a shortage of specialists. Already, there was controversy over a six-year- old rape victim not being attended to due to lack of a gynaecologist at the Raman Mandi government hospital.

With the government laying major emphasis on women and child health care, the number of these patients visiting government hospitals has increased but not enough staff has been recruited to meet the increased requirements.

Bathinda, March 1
The court of Additional Sessions' Judge DS Johal awarded seven years of imprisonment to a Bathinda resident for raping a minor girl from Raman Mandi.

Harbhajan Singh, around 45 years old, who was handed down the sentence, is already lodged in the Bathinda Central Jail for the past around one and a half years.

The victim's father had lodged a complaint about his missing daughter in August last year following which a case under Sections 363, 366-A and 34 of the IPC was registered at the Raman police station.

The complainant stated that the accused raped his daughter and forcefully detained her at various places. He also stated that his daughter was threatened with dire consequences if she revealed about it to anyone.

The police recovered the girl and during investigation, she alleged that Harbhajan repeatedly raped her and forced her to stay in his house and at different other places.

The girl's counsel, Puneet Garg, said initially, three residents of Bhagwangarh village near Maur Mandi were booked for the crime. Harbhajan’s name was added to the case later. However, they were acquitted by the court during the course of hearings.

Harbhajan is also accused of selling poppy husk and is facing charges under various sections of the NDPS Act.

Bathinda, March 1
The additional district magistrate, Rajiv Prashar, has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in the district making it mandatory to seek permission for holding public congregations.

No public meeting or public function can be held without obtaining prior permission from the ADC. The orders are applicable from February 28 to April 30.

Similarly, use of olive green military dress, jeeps, motorcycles and other vehicles is also prohibited from February 20 to April 27.

Also, draw systems, wherein people pool in money and then declare prizes, have been prohibited. People crowd the place where draws are declared, which may lead to a stampede-like situation. The orders are applicable from March 1 to April 30.

Bathinda, March 1
The state-level youth fest of the inter-polytechnic colleges (boys) concluded at the Government Polytechnic College here today. The team from the host college secured the first position in choreography and fancy dress.

Punjab Technical Institutions Sports (PTIS) had organized the fest in which around 500 students from 25 institutes participated. College principal Yadwinder Singh welcomed the guests on the occasion.

In the morning session today, fancy dress competitions were held in which the choreographer Gill Surjit, Satwant Kaur and Kumar Jagdev were the judges. A student of Government Polytechnic College, Mohit, depicted the effects of malnutrition in the fancy dress competition.

Abhishek from Sai Polytechnic College, Badhni, and Anil Kumar from Government Polytechnic College, Khunimajra (Kharar), shared the second place while Gurjinder Singh from Government Polytechnic College, Batala and Maninder Singh from Malwa Polytechnic College, Faridkot, shared the third position.

The chief guest on the occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Sarup Chand Singla, distributed prizes to the winners.

In the choreography competition held on Thursday, the teams of Government Polytechnic, Bathinda, and St. Soldier's Polytechnic College, Jalandhar, secured the first place, Malwa Polytechnic College Faridkot and Government Polytechnic College, Batala, bagged the second place while the

Ramgarhia Polytechnic College, Phagwara, and GTB Khalsa Polytechnic College, Chhappianwali, secured the third place. Principal Yadwiner Singh and president, PTIS, Narinder Singh distributed the prizes together.

In the evening session, Gill Surjit, Major Singh and Manjit Singh were the judges at the bhangra event. At the concluding function, the chief guest was the principal director of PTU Giani Zail Singh campus Dr Jasvir Singh Hundal.

Prominent among those present at the concluding function were the principals of various colleges, including Ajay Kumar Arora, Darshan Singh Sidhu, Gurlabh Singh, Iqbal Singh Romana, Jagsir Singh, Alwinder Dhillon, Sarabjit Kaur and Navdeep Singh.

Bathinda, March 1
Chairman, Association of Physicians of India, Malwa branch, Dr Vitull Gupta has welcomed the notice issued to the state by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the issue of cost of cancer drugs. The court notice has come in the wake of a a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO in Faridkot.

In a press statement issued here today, Dr Gupta stated that all essential as well as non- essential drugs were being sold with a high difference in the original price and the maximum retail price.

"I strongly feel that the court should issue notices to the principal regulatory bodies entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the approval, production and marketing of quality drugs in India at reasonable prices which include the Central Drug Standards and Control Organization and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, which fix or revise the prices of decontrolled bulk drugs,” he said. — TNS

Bathinda, March 1
Tech-Fest 2013 was organised by the Computer Science and Management Department of Malwa College, Bathinda, today. In this programme, as many as 45 teams from various colleges of Bathinda and its adjoining areas participated.

The programme started with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. SK Mittal, joint commissioner, Income Tax, Bathinda, was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing the students, he advised them to focus on studies and also to take part in extra-curricular activities.

Dean of the college, Prof NK Gosain, welcomed the guests. Dr Shardev Singh Gill, director of the college, motivated the students to actively participate in such activities so that they can face this competitive world.

Also present on the occasion were the president of the District Athletic Association, KPS Brar, members of the college management, Raman Singla and Rakesh Goyal, 
principal of the Malwa College of Physical Education, Darshan Singh, college dean RC Sharma, head of the department of computer science, PTUGZS and others.

In the IT quiz competition, the first, second and third positions went to SSDWIT (Bathinda), Aryabhatta College (Barnala) and Baba Farid College (Deon), respectively. In the management quiz contest, the top places went to the Punjab University Regional Centre (Muktsar), SSDWIT and Baba Farid College, respectively.

In the IT rangoli competition, Baba Farid College, Mata Sundri Girls College (Rampura) and SSDWIT colleges won the first, second and third positions, respectively. Punjab University Regional Centre, Baba Farid College and SSD Girls Colleges won the top three positions in the Ad-mad show.

Bathinda, March 1
Baba Farid College of Engineering and Technology (BFCET) organised its fifth annual athletic meet over two days. On the first day of the athletic meet, chairman of the Baba Farid Group of Institutions, Gurmeet Dhaliwal was the chief guest.

While addressing the students, he stressed upon the importance of team spirit and meticulous planning in any endeavour. He remarked that being involved in sporting activities was the best way of keeping fit.

Appreciating the athletes, he asked them to show similar zeal in social welfare as shown in sporting activities. The event began with the unfurling of the college flag, release of balloons followed by a march past.

More than 300 students from different departments of engineering participated in various track and field events such as 100m, 400m, 1500m and 5000m track race, shotput, discus throw, long jump and javelin throw etc.

Congratulating the participants for taking part in a tough and healthy competition, Dhaliwal said, "To achieve in sports, you first have to have a dream, and then you must act on that dream. The best athletes are those who truly enjoy what they are doing and display a tremendous amount of work ethics and never lose sight of their ultimate goal."

On the concluding day of the meet, BFCET principal Manish Goyal, gave away the prizes to the best female athlete, Amandeep Kaur (ECE 4th semester) and the best male athlete award to Tirth Singh (ECE 6th semester).

The best march past trophy also went to the civil engineering branch. The overall trophy of the athletic meet was grabbed by the ECE branch.