Bathinda, September 29
As many as 930 suspected cancer patients were examined during the two-day screening camp held at the Civil Hospital. The camp was held as a part of the campaign being run in the state.

The cases that came to the fore during the door-to-door symptom-based cancer survey but did not turn up for further diagnosis or treatment were examined at the two-day camp.

Since as many 1,211 persons suspected to be cancer patients had not reported for follow-up, the health department deputed ASHA workers to trace these people and bring them to the camp. Of the 1,211, 930 reported at the camps, including 460 patients who had reported on Saturday. The suspected patients underwent different diagnostic tests such as fine needle biopsy, ultrasound, mammography, PAP smear and X-rays.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni said, “We will ensure follow-up of cancer cases. After getting results of diagnostic tests, patients would be given the course of treatment. The patients needing financial assistance will be helped through the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund.”

While patients from Nathana, Goniana, Sangat and half of the urban area were examined today, patients from blocks of Bhagta, Ballianwali, Talwandi Sabo and half of the urban block were examined on Saturday.

A total of 119 patients each underwent ultrasound and fine needle biopsy, 42 mammography tests were conducted, 65 underwent PAP smear tests and more than 40 were examined for blood cancer and anemia.

Four oncologists from the Max Superspeciality Hospital, 20 medical officers, 15 staff nurses, five lab technicians and equal number of pharmacists and data entry operators, seven counsellors and several nursing staff students were deputed to make the camp a success.

Meanwhile, Bathinda had been formed as the hub for three other districts, including Mansa, Fazilka and Barnala.

Bathinda, September 29
The declaration of installing a statue of the first Mughal woman emperor, Razia Sultan, at Bibiwala Chowk has attracted sharp criticism from historians in the city, who claim that the lady made no contribution in the history of either Bathinda or Punjab.

Historian Dr Subhash Parihar, the curator at a museum set up in the Central University of Punjab (CUP), said, "Razia Sultan was just imprisoned at the Gobindgarh Fort in Bathinda. Beyond that, her role in the history of the district or even the state is close to nothing."

Historian Harvinder Singh Khalsa, the chief organiser of Malwa Heritage Foundation, added, "Razia Sultan was imprisoned here. She had a torrid love affair and was killed by her enemies. She did nothing for the people of Punjab."

Khalsa suggested that if someone from the history of Bathinda deserved to be cast into mortar, it was Raja Jaipal, who was the only Punjabi ruler to counter the attack of invader Mahmud Ghazani.

He also raised objections to the signages installed in the city marking the fort as Razia Sultan Fort, which the department of tourism has put up. He added that the fort was earlier known as Bikramgarh Fort when it was ruled by Raja Vinaypal and Raja Jaipal. "Later, when Guru Gobind Singh is believed to have visited the fort, Baba Ala Singh renamed it as Gobindgarh Fort," he said.

Khalsa has decided to register his opinion with the state tourism department as well as the office of the Punjab Chief Minister through a letter.

He added that the state government was playing in the hands of the hospitality industry lobby, which was trying to attract eyeballs by installing a statue of Razia Sultan on one of the entrances to the city.

Meanwhile, Colonel Kuldip Singh (retd) added that by installing a statue of Razia Sultan, the state government wanted to glorify a woman, who has practically done nothing for the people of Punjab. "The ownership of the Bathinda fort has changed hands with the passage of time. No one person can stake claim on it. The name of Razia Sultan does not even figure on the list of rulers under whose reign the fort fell," he said.

Col Singh suggested that if the government wanted to put up a statue, it should be that of a gallantry award winner. "It will at least help motivate young generation to do something for the country."

Bathinda, September 29
The state government's move to set up cinema halls in all villages has drawn criticism from a city health and human rights activist.

Dr Vitull K Gupta today flayed the announcement that cinema halls with a capacity of 100 seats will be set up in each village to provide its dwellers an entertainment facility. "Instead of opening cinemas, the Punjab Government should improve health, education and sports infrastructure which is at present non-existent in many villages," he said. Dr Gupta added that the primary health centres were understaffed and ill-equipped, and affording treatment in private hospitals was quite expensive for a common man.

It is really surprising that the government was planning to open up cinemas at places where schools are in a shambles as far as basic amenities of toilets and drinking water was concerned; where the majority of population does not have access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation, qualified health services. Dr Gupta believed the villages needed sports infrastructure, education and health facilities rather than cinema halls. He demanded scrapping of the plan in the larger interest of people. — TNS

Bathinda, September 29
As many as 54 colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala and falling in the Bathinda-Faridkot Zone will be participate in the university's Zonal Youth Festival to be held at Malwa College in Bathinda on October 1-3.

All the colleges affiliated to the university have been divided into six zones, Bathinda-Faridkot being one of them. The three-day festival will have at least 30 competitions in which teams from various colleges will participate.

Surprisingly, till Sunday, only three colleges out of a total of 54 had sent their entries for the most popular cultural item - bhangra competition. The hosts have received three entries for the orchestra competition and seven and 14 entries for the play and giddha competitions, respectively,

"With every passing year, the competition in these events is decreasing. The escalating cost of preparation for these items is a cause of worry for colleges and a reason behind the less number of participants. A bhangra coach in Bathinda charges anywhere between Rs 30,000-Rs 75,000. Add to that the cost of dholi, props and costumes. Preparing a good bhangra item can cost a college Rs 50,000- Rs1,00,000," said Prof NK Gosain, dean of Malwa College.

Youth Coordinator of Government Rajindra College, Prof Gurjeet Singh Mann, said, "Such is the demand for a dholi that sometimes it gets difficult to find one. At times, the same dholi beats the dhol for 2-3 teams for the youth festival on the university campus."

Eco warrior Balbir Singh Seechewal addresses the youth convention

Bathinda, September 29
Swami Vivekananda and Shaheed Bhagat Singh were fondly remembered at the youth convention held at MSD School today to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

The function started with a choreography on the famous patriotic song "Jahan Daal, Daal Par Sone Ki Chidiya…" by the students of Different Convent School. Students of Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir, Mansa, presented a choreography on Bhagat Singh.

Retired SSP Naresh Kumar presented a poem highlighting the present day challenges of inflation and corruption.

Seven youngsters were also honoured at the event. These included singer Jazim Sharma, gold medalist in physics Sumedha Garg, freelance photographer Nirvair Singh, boxer Deeksha, Sumit Bansal who had developed a game that IT giant Apple has taken over, recipient of President's medal for boys' scout Himanshu Bhakti and handball coach Chiranjeev Michael.

An exhibition was put up by the Brahmkumaris on the occasion

Two Punjabi books including "Bachceyan De Swami Ji" and "Vivekananda Da Bharat Nu Sadda" were also reviewed. All the participants took an oath to root out evils from society and work towards the betterment of the nation. The audience sang together "Mera Rangh De Basanti Chola" creating a patriotic ambience.

Earlier, speaking at the event, state convener Vijay Singh Nadda said that the youth from Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Faridkot districts participated in the event the aim of which was to sensitise youngsters on the lessons of Bhagat Singh and Swami Vivekananda.

National spokesperson of the RSS Ram Madhav and environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal also addressed the gathering calling upon the youngsters to be the flag-bearers of the nation. Dr Vinay Sofat, who has done his Ph D on Swami Vivekananda, said that Bhagat Singh proved that an iron will can move even the mountains.

Bathinda, September 29
Members of the Mid-day Meal Cook Front, Punjab, have announced that they would organise a protest against the state government at Rampura Phul on October 12. The decision was taken during a meeting held in Bathinda today. The meeting was presided over by the state vice-president of the union, Jal Kaur.

The meeting was organised to discuss the state government's decision to hand over the project of providing meals to the students to Bishalakshmi Club of West Bengal, starting October 1.

During the meeting, the union accused the state government of being indifferent towards the mid-day meal scheme under which students are provided free lunch in government schools. It also stated that despite the fact that 75 per cent of the expenditure was being borne by the Central Government, Punjab Government had always shied away from bearing its 25 per cent share.

It also demanded that the state government roll back its decision to hand over the scheme to a private firm which would be responsible for providing food to the students in the schools of the district starting October 1.

Calling Education Minister of Punjab, Sikander Singh Maluka a "tainted" minister, the union stated that after making money through sale of books, the minister now aimed to make money from the mid-day meal scheme by giving the contract to a private firm from West Bengal.

Bathinda, September 29
A seminar on Malwai literature, survey and analysis was held today. The Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Bathinda, held a seminar wherein around 150 authors and literature lovers participated.

Literary stalwarts including Gurdayal Singh, Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Surinder Kailey, Prem Singh Bajaj, Dr Labh Singh Khiwa and Gurdev Khokhar were present.

Jaspal Mankhera was the convener of the event. During the discussion, the fine features of Malwai literature were deliberated upon.

Speakers said that in the past few years, literary activities in Malwai circle have increased. Malwa has a stronger theatre tradition than the other parts of the state and hence, more spectators are pouring in for the same. Three research papers were also presented at the event. Dr Baldev Singh Dhaliwal presented a paper on stories, Dr Bheeminder Singh talked about novels and Pali Bhupinder Singh presented his paper on theatre.

Bathinda, September 29
Three farmers from Phul village would get free power supply after directions in this regard were issued by the District Consumer Forum to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

The farmers were denied free power supply on the pretext that they their power connection is from the urban feeder and not from the rural feeder.

The farmers, however, pleaded their case in the Forum and stated that they got the connections changed from the urban feeder to the rural feeder with the consent and signature on files of the Powercom officials.

Counsel for the farmers Ashok Gupta said the documents pertaining to the shifting of power connection from urban feeder to rural has been submitted before the Forum along with other supporting documents. Gupta said the farmers were denied free power despite announcement by the state government in this regard.

Gurdev Singh, Surinder Kumar and Pritam Singh, all farmers who have agricultural land near Phul were barred from free power supply and declared defaulters by the Powercom. In their separate applications moved before the Forum, they decried the PSPCL for sending electricity bills despite the announcement of free power supply for agricultural purposes by the state government.

Advocate Gupta pleaded that as per the commercial circular, the AP (agriculture purpose) bills are exempt from charging anything. Moreover, the farmers, like many others, have got their connections converted from commercial to rural after getting it duly signed by the Powercom officials concerned.

The farmers said that they had been knocking at the doors of the corporation for the last 15 years but to no avail. They finally moved applications in the Forum seeking justice.

The Forum, however, observed that the farmers failed to prove on record any written complaint sent to the Powercom about their plea against the sending of electricity bills. It also observed that the farmers stopped paying the power bills on their own and hence, became defaulters.

The Forum, after the scrutiny of the documents and pleas by the complainants, found that the farmers were supposed to get free power supply without any cost or compensation against the opposite party.

PSPCL officials, in their reply, pleaded that an inquiry has been initiated against the Powercom officials who had signed the farmers' files for changing the urban feeder into rural feeder and that action will be taken against the officials concerned.

The Forum, after listening to the arguments of both the parties, ordered that the farmers be allowed free power supply but only from the day when they lodged a complaint in this regard before the Forum.

PSPCL has been directed to give free power supply to the farmers without any cost or compensation and the compliance of the order has to be ensured within 45 days from the date of receipt of the copy of the order.

Bathinda, September 29
The Physical Education Department of Guru Kashi University (GKU) organised a yoga camp in which around 200 students participated.

Dr NS Malhi, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Kashi University stated that mental fitness is also required along with the physical fitness which can be attained by meditation. It also helps to strengthen concentration in studies, he added.

Prof Satpal Singh was the activity in-charge at the camp and gave yoga demonstration.

Dr Tarlok Singh Sandhu, Director (Sports) of the Guru Kashi University, appreciated the efforts made by the department for the students.

Bathinda, September 29
Central University of Punjab (CUP) will host a programme on Monday to mark the conclusion of Hindi Pakhwara celebrations. The programme will be presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr (Prof) Jai Rup Singh.

While Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Sardar Anjum would be present as the chief guest, Prof Mahendra Nath Rai of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will present the keynote address. This will be followed by a cultural programme wherein Dr Tejinder Gulati of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and Praduman Narang of the Hansraj Women's University will present ghazals.

The programme is being organised to mark the conclusion of Hindi Pakhwara, which began in the university on September 16 with the celebration of World Hindi Day. During the fortnight, Hindi poetry, story writing, essay writing, poetry recitation, declamation, elocution and translation competitions were held. During Monday's programme, the students who won the first three positions in the competitions will also be honoured. — TNS