J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Teacher unions to launch agitation
Nawanshahr, July 30
The teachers unions in the state are up in arms against the delay in disbursing salaries to the teachers. They have been awaiting their salaries for the past two months. Besides, the arrear bills of DA instalments have been piling up at the treasuries for the want of government’s nod. The state government is yet to announce the two DA Instalments on the pattern of the Centre.

1,385 villages get safe drinking water
Hoshiarpur, July 30
The Punjab Government has provided safe drinking water in 1,385 villages out of 1,387 in Hoshiarpur district. Work in the remaining two villages is going on at full swing.

Direct benefit transfer scheme
Officials told to mobilise LPG consumers
Nawanshahr, July 30
The grace period for linking LPG connections with the Aadhaar Card-linked bank accounts for obtaining the Direct Benefit Transfer of the subsidy is going to expire on August 31.

Teacher unions to launch agitation
Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, July 30
The teachers unions in the state are up in arms against the delay in disbursing salaries to the teachers. They have been awaiting their salaries for the past two months. Besides, the arrear bills of DA instalments have been piling up at the treasuries for the want of government’s nod. The state government is yet to announce the two DA Instalments on the pattern of the Centre.

The Master Cadre Union (MCU) and the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) are gearing up for launching stir to press the state government for immediate steps for ensuring regular salaries as well as to bring in improvement in the functioning of the education department to ensure better academic environment in schools. Harminder Singh Uppal, Senior Vice- President, Master Cadre Union, said in a statement that the MCU had decided to hold a protest in front of the residence of the Finance Minister, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, at Sangrur on August 10.

On the other hand, Balvir Kumar, district president, DTF said they were going to hold a convention on July 31 here at JSFH Khalsa Senior Secondary School to discuss the various problems being faced by the teachers.

"Though the state government has been clamouring administrative reforms by introducing Integrated Financial Management System for hassle-free online delivery of various services at the treasuries, but the procedure of issuance of sanctions has still been taking two months' time. Besides, in the absence of proper infrastructure as well as training and scarcity of clerical staff, the online submission of bills in the treasuries have not only become a cumbersome affair but has virtually doubled the work load as the bills have to be submitted manually also", said Balvir Kumar. On the other hand, while the different subject teachers had been loaded with much non-teaching assignments, the government had been issuing instructions not to take any clerical work from the computer teachers.

Balvir Kumar and Harminder Singh Uppal said not computer teachers, but all the teachers should be exempted from clerical as well as non academic assignments. The government should fill the vacant posts of the clerk. The scholarship schemes should be simplified and the convention of taking cases for ACP, probation period, confirmation of services and promotions etc. should be stopped and procedure for clearing these cases should be simplified to ensure administrative reforms in its true spirit.

1,385 villages get safe drinking water
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, July 30
The Punjab Government has provided safe drinking water in 1,385 villages out of 1,387 in Hoshiarpur district. Work in the remaining two villages is going on at full swing. After the completion of the work in the two villages, target of providing safe drinking water to the whole district would be achieved in this financial year.

Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, said after spending Rs 1,034 lakh, safe clean drinking water facility was provided in 17 per cent villages in 2012-13. Likewise the state government had fixed a target to increase the drinking water facility in 48 villages in 2013-14 of the district with 2 NC, 39 PC and 5 other habitations. This project would cost Rs 2531.96 lakh. Out of these villages water supply had been connected with one village and work in 19 villages was at full swing, said Deputy Commissioner.

Mr Roojam said the government would spend Rs 543 lakh for providing urban facilities to four villages, including Badial, Tanuli and Badewal, of the Dasuya block . Sewerage work for these villages had been allotted and work of sewerage in Nurpur Jattan of Garshankar block would soon be allotted.

After the success of these projects more villages would be brought under this scheme. Public Health Department would build latrines in 220 villages for 1,830 APL and BPL card holders at a of cost of Rs 268 lakh. This facility had been already provided to 768 families in 30 villages at a cost of Rs 91 lakh.

Direct benefit transfer scheme
Officials told to mobilise LPG consumers

Nawanshahr, July 30
The grace period for linking LPG connections with the Aadhaar Card-linked bank accounts for obtaining the Direct Benefit Transfer of the subsidy is going to expire on August 31. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tanu Kashyap has directed the officials of the different departments and banks to bring all the LPG consumers in the district under the scheme by mobilising them to get their bank accounts linked with Aadhaar Cards by August 31. The district has been selected among the 20 districts in the country for providing Direct Benefit Transfer of subsidy into the Aadhaar linked bank accounts of the consumers.

The DC has chalked out a campaign for the purpose. Under it, the LPG distributors will collect the data regarding bank accounts and Aadhaar Cards from the consumers on special slips while supplying them LPG cylinders. The consumers will also be made aware that from September 1, they would get the cylinders on subsidised rates only if they have Aadhaar linked bank accounts. Besides, a special camp will be organised here at Baradari Garden on August 7 where distributors will collect the requisite copies of the bank accounts and Aadhaar cards from the consumers. The facility of opening bank accounts will also be made available at the camp for the convenience of the consumers, added the DC. — OC

Woman commits suicide, 3 booked
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, July 30
Rani (25), a newly married woman committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at her in-law's house yesterday. The Goindwal Sahib police has registered a case under Sections 304 B, 506 of the IPC, against three members of her in-laws, including her husband.

The accused have been identified as Khazan Singh, husband of the deceased, besides his father Sardool Singh and mother, Sukhwinder Kaur.

Rani was married to Khazan Singh three months ago who was an Army personnel.

Deceased's father, Hardev Singh, a resident of Goindwal Sahib, in his complaint to the police alleged that the accused had been harassing his daughter for dowry.