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Now, Badal’s photo on health insurance card
Water recedes, but life far from
normal in Muktsar villages
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No complaint against CPS Sharma: CM
GMADA okays 15 acres for
animation centre in Mohali
Let down by govt, village to run its primary school
Memorial row: Sikh clergy may summon Sayali
Rajoana to field sister from Patiala
Moga MLA Jain, family may get relief in illegal colony case
Amritsar shootout leaves five injured
Man arrested for attempt to sell son
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Now, Badal’s photo on health insurance card
Muktsar, October 19 Like other welfare schemes in the past, this time too the
state authorities have kept a slot on the top of the health insurance
cards for the picture of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Though the scheme
has been named after Bhagat Puran Singh, the founder of Pingalwara who
worked selflessly all his life for the cause of mentally and
terminally ill patients, his photograph has failed to find any space
on the smart card to be issued among beneficiaries. Hussan Lal,
Managing Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, said, “The
scheme will be started across the state on November 11. Two insurance
companies have been engaged to cover all blue card holders… As the
scheme is entirely state sponsored, the cards will carry the Chief
Minister’s photograph.” The Health Department has even uploaded
the final design of the card on its official website. Earlier, the
state government had put Badal’s photos on ‘108’ ambulance vans,
bicycles distributed among girl students under Mai Bhago Vidya scheme,
ration cards and portal of Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. The Chief
Minister’s pictures on the ambulances — the scheme was partially
funded by the Centre — had led to a war of words between the Akalis
and the Congress leaders. A senior official said there was nothing
wrong in using Badal’s pictures on any state government-funded
welfare scheme but these would have to be removed once the election
code of conduct came into force. Even during the 2012 assembly
elections, the pictures had to be removed from the ambulances.
Thrown out of frame
* Bhagat Puran Singh,
founder of Pingalwara, worked selflessly all his life for the cause of
mentally and terminally ill patients * The scheme entails Rs 30,000
health insurance to 15.4 lakh people enrolled under atta-dal scheme *
Badal's picture already appears on '108' ambulance vans, bicycles
distributed among girl students under Mai Bhago Vidya scheme and
ration cards
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Water recedes, but life far from
normal in Muktsar villages
Muktsar, October 19 For Balraj Singh and his family members, this festival season holds no significance. He is busy these days in repairing his house, which he had built just about two months ago. But, the recent rain has left them shattered. Balraj owns three acres of land. He has taken a debt of Rs 1.5 lakh from his relatives to repair his house. "I had built this house with all my savings. But, it got damaged again. Household articles like television and refrigerator have also gone out of order," said Balraj showing big cracks on the walls of his house. "We are in dire straits. The government must give us compensation," he added. Like Balraj many others in this village, which is worst-affected by waterlogging, were seen reconstructing their houses. Some of them were even found living under canopies as they were awaiting compensation to start reconstruction. Jagmeet Singh, whose house is located on the village's periphery, said: "I returned to my village today. When we left the village, the area was under 4-feet water, which has now receded. But, our house has been badly damaged. It is stinking. It will be very difficult for us to repair the house on our own". A labourer, Jaspal Kaur, who along with five members of her family is living in a canopy, said: "Crops have been damaged and there is no work in the fields. My husband is working as a mason, but I am still struggling to get work". Village residents have demanded the construction of a drain. They said in case of more rain, their survival would be in peril. They are wary of bringing their livestock back from safer places due to the fear of outbreak of some disease. Dr Sanpreet Kaur, who is medically examining villagers, said: "A number of those who turned up for a medical check-up were suffering from various skin infections". Power bills despite promise
Villages said the Chief Minister had assured them of free power supply for the next six months, but they were still getting the bills. "Our paddy and cotton crops have damaged. We are even unable to sow wheat since the fields are still wet," said Bohar Singh. Drainage work halted
Even after two months of rains, the fields at Khokhar village are still waterlogged. Sukhdeep Singh, a village resident, said: "Residents of the nearby Bhuttiwala village have created a bundh on the water channel. We have approached local MLA Karan Kaur Brar who has assured us to take up the issue with senior officials in Chandigarh". Fresh trouble *
In flood-hit villages, life had just started becoming normal, but the recent rain has created more trouble for villagers *
They have sought immediate release of compensation to rebuild their houses and drain their fields *
The possibility of disease outbreak and more rain is giving them sleepless nights
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No complaint against CPS Sharma: CM
Anandpur Sahib, October 19 When asked that the Punjab Pollution Control Board has filed a criminal complaint in this regard, he said the information was confined only to the media. "Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had levelled similar allegations against me, which were later proved false," Badal said while interacting with mediapersons before inaugurating Art of Living's campaign "Volunteer for Better Punjab". The Chief Minister said the Centre had formally approved setting up a cancer hospital at a cost of Rs 450 crore at Mullanpur. The work on it would start soon, he said, adding that he had already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to lay the foundation stone of the hospital. Badal alleged the Centre was responsible for illegal mining in the state since permissions for mining operations were being delayed by the central agencies. The work on the road from Anandpur Sahib to Chandigarh would be started soon, he said. Badal called upon the Centre to take measures to seal the international border with Pakistan to keep a check on drug smuggling. "Poppy husk in the state is being smuggled from Rajasthan where it is sold in the open market. The centre should ban it," he said. Badal offered Sri Sri Ravishankar to adopt some villages in the state to be developed as model villages. The state would extend all help and cooperation in this regard, he added.
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GMADA okays 15 acres for
animation centre in Mohali
Chandigarh, October 19 The institute will be set up under the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Additional Director (Technical Education) Mohanbir Singh said: "The Director (Films) in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has already approved the institute. A sum of Rs 52 crore has been allocated for the same. The state government has waived the external development charges". Talking about the proposal, Secretary (Higher Education and Languages) Dr Roshan Sankaria said RUSA aimed at increasing the institutional base of higher education by increasing capacity in the existing institutions and establishing new ones. RUSA aims at increasing enrolments in higher education institutions to 30 per cent by 2020 as against the current enrolments of less than 15 per cent.
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Let down by govt, village to run its primary school
Jalandhar, October 19 The panchayat headed by sarpanch Jaswinder Kaur took the decision to ensure the education of 30-odd tiny tots does not suffer. The Punjab Government had closed the six-decade old school and merged it with another school in Dhanal Kalan village, stating the number of students at the school was low. “While the students’ parents were too poor to arrange transportation for them to Dhanal Kalan School, located at a distance of 2 km, the children were too small to go on their own,” said social worker Des Raj. Jaswinder Kaur said, “We wanted the government to continue running the school but sadly that was not to be. Now we passed the resolution with the future of the children in mind.” Hailing the decision of the Phoolpur Panchayat, former MLA Jagbir Brar said, “The SAD-BJP Government should reconsider its policy of merging schools. Instead of opening new liquor vends, the government should set up new schools.” Built on six kanals of panchayat land, Phoolpur School boasts of a two acre playground for its students. The school has seven rooms, two bathrooms, a submersible motor for potable water and a kitchen for preparing midday meals. Jaswinder said, “We have appointed two well-qualified teachers, Kanta Rani and Jaswant Dimpi.” The school was formally inaugurated on Thursday by former MLA Jagbir Brar. Several local leaders were present on the occasion. DEO (Primary) Kuldeep Sharma said he would bring the matter to the notice of his seniors and act accordingly. Jalandhar Block Education Officer (BEO) Kuldeep Singh said the panchayat should have contacted the Education Minister before taking the step.
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Memorial row: Sikh clergy may summon Sayali
Amritsar, October 19 Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said all the documents pertaining to the case were being studied. The issue would be discussed tomorrow, he said. Sources said the Sikh high priests might summon Sayali for his move, besides summoning the "forces" behind it.
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Rajoana to field sister from Patiala
Patiala, October 19
Kamaldeep would fight the election as an independent candidate against the three-time Congress MP, Rajoana said in a letter written from the Central Jail here where he is lodged. Rajoana, in his letter released to media by his sister today, has blamed national leaders for ignoring real issues, including increasing corruption and criminalisation of politics. — PTI
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Moga MLA Jain, family may get relief in illegal colony case
Moga, October 19 The case was registered against him, his wife, two sons and a daughter on August 26, 2007, under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995, at Mehna police station in the district. The case is pending before the court of Suman Agnihotri, JMIC, here. Additional Chief Administrator of Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), a subsidiary of PUDA, has moved an application before a local court demanding suspension of legal proceedings against Jain and his family. The court after receiving the application a few days ago has decided to hear arguments on October 22. If considered, it would be a big relief for the legislator. Policy to the rescue *
A case was registered against the MLA and his family in 2007 for raising an illegal colony *
GLADA has sought suspension of the proceedings citing the new regularisation policy *
Jain has deposited 25% compounding fee to get his colony authorised
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Amritsar shootout leaves five injured
Amritsar, October 19 One of the injured, Harpreet Singh Bholi, sustained serious injuries and is under-treatment at a private hospital. Among the other injured are Gurmit Singh, Sajjan Singh, Jagdeep Singh and Sarabjit Singh. Incidentally, all the injured belonged to the same group. Trouble reportedly began when the Raju Kothi Wala group allegedly attacked a Kot Harnam Dass resident, Jatinder Singh Raju, at the latter’s house. Jatinder’s mother Harjit Kaur alleged that a religious ceremony was underway at their house when her son was attacked by a group led by Raju Kothi Wala. “Raju Kothi Wala and his supporters, including one Sajjan Singh, opened indiscriminate firing at our residence with their pistols,” she said. Jatinder, who is absconding, too is learnt to have retaliated with his .12 bore rifle. Incidentally, all the injured persons belonged to the Raju Kothi Wala group. Harjit Kaur, however, refuted that her son had opened fired. Following the incident, senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Kaustubh Sharma, rushed to the spot. Confirming that the violence occurred over a property dispute, Sharma said police investigations were on. “We are recording the statements and action will be taken accordingly,” he said.
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Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today defended Chief Parliamentary Secretary and real estate developer NK Sharma over the alleged violation of rules for his mega housing projects in
Zirakpur. "The government has not received any complaint in this regard," he said.
Five persons were injured in firing between two groups reportedly over a property dispute in Kot Harnam Dass area here today.
One of the injured, Harpreet Singh Bholi, sustained serious injuries and is under-treatment at a private hospital. Among the other injured are Gurmit Singh, Sajjan Singh, Jagdeep Singh and Sarabjit Singh.
The
scheme entails Rs 30,000 health insurance to 15.4 lakh people enrolled
under the state government’s atta-dal scheme. 
* The Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana was
part of the SAD’s assembly poll manifesto