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Protest to ‘save’ aided schools
From national front to backseat, ‘khadi’ saw it all
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Woman among two arrested with narcotics worth
Rs 7 lakh
Prof Mohan Singh Mela ends on a starry note
Annual functions held at schools
Kabaddi Cup troubles morning walkers
Very few people were seen taking a walk at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium despite resistance by the authorities on Sunday evening. Photo: Bhupinder Dhillon
A milk product that quenches your thirst
DPS celebrates 10 years of its existence
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Protest to ‘save’ aided schools
Bathinda, November 24 He added that since the administration did not fulfil its promise, the union had no option but to stage a protest again in favour of its demands. He accused the state government of turning a blind eye towards the development of the aided schools. Gill said the government was trying its best to either shut these schools or merge them with government schools. Denouncing the state government’s decision to rope in Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra for a performance at the opening ceremony of the 4th World Cup Kabaddi in Bathinda, Gill said, “The government is ready to cough up Rs 6.5 crore to bring an actress to Bathinda but it doesn’t have money to pay salaries of teachers in the state.” The union members also stated that the employees had to struggle to get their due financial benefits like salaries, grants, dearness allowance, revised pay grades and arrears among others. They alleged that the government was turning a blind eye to the aided schools as it had to bear 95 per cent of the expenditure of these schools. They added that the government’s order of freezing recruitment of teachers for these schools in 2003 was a clear indication of its lack of interest in these schools. LEADER SPEAK
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From national front to backseat, ‘khadi’ saw it all
Bathinda, November 24
Things have never been the same for the centre ever since it shifted from the rented accommodation at the city's busiest market in 2004 to move into its own building near the railway station. The centre used to boast of being the most sought-after in the times when people valued handmade cloth and other products. Khadi silk, cotton, woollens, poly khadi, phulkari, cushions, bags, 'kurtas', shampoos, henna and most importantly, the National Flag, were some of the most sought-after products sold by the centre. Till 2000, the collection of Bathinda, Mansa, Rampura, Faridkot and Budhlada centres was more than Rs 2.5 crore a month. The Bathinda centre alone used to earn Rs 22 lakh, which has now fallen to thousands. Jaipal Singh, who worked at the centre till 2006, feels that khadi was paying the price of being tagged as a product brought out by the Congress and associated with the national party. "Khadi is not limited to the Congress or a political leader. It is a way of leading a simple life. People wore clothes made of khadi, which suited the Indian climate," he added. The District Khadi Board also took up the task of rehabilitating weavers who were losing out in the market for want of raw material. In 1960, the district administration provided 2000 sq yards of land at Khaddar Bhandar Wali Gali near Bibiwala Road to the board. Giving subsidy and some financial help, four weavers were rehabilitated. However, these weavers sold the land wiping away khadi's presence in the city, said the chairman of District Khadi Board, Beena Sharma. Jaipal believed that to make the modest khadi bounce back, the state government would have to take an initiative akin to the one taken by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, who made it mandatory for government employees to wear khadi. Also, Punjab should follow the states of Haryana and Rajasthan that give 15 per cent and 10 per cent subsidy, respectively, on khadi products made available in the market. "When consumers will get fine khadi products at a lesser price in the market, why would they buy expensive products? We also need a showroom like the one at Sector 17 in Chandigarh to display our products," he added.
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Woman among two arrested with narcotics worth Rs 7 lakh
Bathinda, November 24 The police recovered 8 kg of opium and similar quantity of poppy husk from Harbans Singh of Ghal Kalan village and Kulwinder Kaur, who have been arrested. The woman’s husband Shamsher Singh and brother-in-law Binder, both residents of Aklia village, fled from the spot. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at Dyalpura police station. The police said the accused were travelling in a Mahindra Xylo on the Aklia road where a police party led by Sub Inspector Jarnail Singh, in-charge of Dyalpura police station had set up a naka. Shamsher and Binder, who were sitting on the front seats, managed to escape after spotting the barrier. However, Harbans and Kulwinder Kaur were nabbed by the police. The police recovered the packets of poppy husk and opium, reportedly smuggled from Rajasthan. The accused reportedly confessed to have purchased the contraband for Rs 50,000 per kg from Rajasthan to sell it in Punjab at Rs 70,000 a kg. — TNS
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Prof Mohan Singh Mela ends on a starry note
Bathinda, November 24 The concluding day of the two-day event also saw several folk singers and artistes from the state entertaining the visitors in the evening. Artistes Harjeet Harman, Surinder Shinda, Ravinder Grewal, Ranjeet Kaur, Sukhwinder Sukhi and Jatinder entertained the audience till late in the night. The audience sang along as Harman rendered some of his popular numbers like ‘Langhdi Panjeba Chhankave Jaan Ke’ and ‘Jehde Hunde Si Awaaza Dooron Maarde’. Shinda belted out ‘Yaari Jatt Di’ and “Putt Jattan De’ among several other songs. Earlier during the day, the chairman of the Prof Mohan Singh International Memorial Foundation, Jagdev Singh Jassowal, stated that the foundation was established 35 years ago and had been successfully conducting the annual fair across the state. The fair aimed at spreading the culture of the state. Jassowal also took the opportunity to state that the time had come to hand over the reins of the foundation to the younger lot. He appreciated the dedication with which Jasveer Singh Grewal had been contributing towards furthering the cause of the foundation. Jassowal announced that Grewal would fit the bill for the foundation’s new chairman. Grewal along with members of the foundation Pargat Singh Grewal, Gurbhajan Singh, Gurbhajan Singh, KK Bawa, Hardayal Aman, Ravinder Grewal and several others were honoured on the occasion.
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Annual functions held at schools
Bathinda, November 24
After the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, the students of the school presented a cultural extravaganza which included dance and musical performances. A play which focused on female foeticide sensitised the audience towards the menace. Also present during the function were Partap Singh, JS Nand, Sunita Singla, Ravindra Kumar, Ashok Shastri, Naresh Kumar, Vinod Singla and others. SSD Public Senior Secondary School also organised its bi-annual prize distribution and cultural programme at the SSD Girls College. Avtar Singh Smadh Bhai, chief executive, PACL and chairman Lal Singh Dhillon Memorial Society, was the chief guest on the occasion. President of the SSD Sabha, Parmod Mittal, was the guest of honour. The programme began with the lighting of the lamp and was followed by Saraswati Vandana. Close to 400 students participated in various cultural and religious items. Principal of the school, Sharda Bansal, presented the annual report of the school highlighting the achievements of the school. President of the school, OD Sharma, shared that the school authorities were working towards taking the institution to newer heights.
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Kabaddi Cup troubles morning walkers
Bathinda, November 24 With reports of rising number of theft cases in the stadium, the authorities have told the 'unwanted' people to keep away from the playground. Round-the-clock preparations have been undertaken by the district administration under the supervision of the sports officials, police and the workers of private agencies. The preparations prove detrimental for those who try to keep themselves fit by practicing in the stadium. At present, a 100-feet long stage with a similar width and eight feet in height, is under construction in the middle of the stadium. Its construction is being supervised by the officials of the Punjab Mandi Board. "The theft of chokes costing more than Rs 2 lakhs came to light when we asked the stadium authorities to light the high intensity floodlights to carry on the work at night," said the worker of a private firm pleading anonymity. "The preparations have led to the decline of footfall. Theft cases have increased because of the attitude of the authorities concerned who force people like us to keep away from the stadium," said Sukhdarshan Bagga, a retired professor residing in Aggarwal Colony. The officials initially asked the people to keep away from the stadium a week earlier in view of the ceremony when VVIPs and Bollywood actors are supposed to grace the ceremony in the presence of heavy police force and the members of the public. "But there is no other place left for us to walk. It is only the Government Rajindra College and the stadium situated within a walking distance of the city area," said Gursewak Sidhu, who resides on Bibiwala road. Sidhu said a group of seven elderly used go for morning walk in Government Rajindra College but due to the construction of a hockey stadium, they were forced to come at the stadium. But here too, they faced resistance. Apart from the theft of chokes, sanitary material is also missing from the toilets and the bathrooms in the stadium have been damaged. "The government must change its name from Multipurpose Stadium as it is used for various other purposes, including holding of fests and the inaugural function of the kabaddi cup," said Joginder Singh. District Sports Officer (DSO) Karam Singh, while admitting a sharp decline in the number of morning walkers, said the footfall would increase after the completion of the games. He added that there is only one watchman-cum-sweeper in the stadium who is unable to look after the huge area. Admitting theft of chokes, he added that some of the high intensity discharge lamps were also repaired today and the matter would be brought to the notice of the police tomorrow. Expressing his views in this regard, a city resident Yadvinder Singh said, “The government not only drives away the morning and evening walkers but also the football players who have nowhere else to go as there is only one stadium in the city". Echoing similar sentiments, Arshdeep Singh, another resident of the city said, “We had a tiff with the authorities who refused us entry in the stadium two days ago. Apart from damaging the playground, the players who practice on the ground after the ceremony also received injuries as the workers who set up the stage and iron barricades left behind nails and other iron material which will take time to remove." "We are a group of five women who had been making a round of the stadium in the evening. But the function has now forced us to remain inside our houses,” said Kamal who leaves in an adjacent area. Gagandeep Singh, who used to go for practice sessions to the stadium, said, “Despite resistance by the authorities last week, we continued to practice for a few days. But now, they have flatly refused to allow the walkers inside the stadium during the morning or evening." "The government should not disturb the schedule of those trying to keep themselves fit with exercises and should make alternate arrangements,” said Reema, a housewife. Joginder Singh, who also lives in the city, said, “Though there are other places to walk and run, the stadium is the only place where there is a proper atmosphere and even the laziest person would try to make a round or two after reaching the ground.”
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A milk product that quenches your thirst
Bathinda, November 24
Located on 100-feet road near Ghode Wala Chowk, the Khalsa Milk Badam centre is run by 59-year-old Balwant Singh, who migrated from Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan to Bathinda around 11 years ago. He mixes milk, milk cake and plenty of dry fruits in the right proportion to create one of the yummiest milk badam, the favourite beverage of Punjabis. "We do not compromise on the quality of milk and milk cake used in the product. We add dry fruits generously to the milk so that anyone drinking it will have to stir the bottle twice or thrice to eat it. It is the dry fruits that add taste to the beverage," he says. Balwant Singh begins the day by boiling 30 kg of milk on low flame over a period of two hours. Bringing its temperature down to normal and then cooling it takes another two hours. The milk is then poured into bottles with dry fruits added to each bottle. His wife Surinder Kaur assists him in pouring the contents and refrigerating them. The season from April to September sees a roaring sale of up to 110 bottles per day priced at Rs 20 each. Balwant Singh has put up a small table outside his house on 100-feet road selling the milk badam. It is the passersby, especially the pedestrians and the two-wheeler drivers, that pour in. The beverage is instant energy drink and satiating. "With the onset of winter, the number of customers has lessened, but not the response. We have a dedicated brigade of the elderly who drop by every second day for a chit chat over a bottle of milk badam," adds Balwant. It is the scarcity of water for irrigation that forced Balwant to shift from Rajasthan to Bathinda. He first ran a dairy churning out ghee and milk cream from the milk bought from the dairies. Over the years, he found that the quality of milk was depreciating. Balwant then gave up the dairy business. He learnt making milk badam from a friend who had started a shop on Power House Road. Though his friend soon wound up the business, Balwant Singh continued to grow. He started the milk badam business in May 2012. Now, he has got elaborate plans to start a "healthy" beverage for the winters too. "I want to start with chana (black gram) soup. However, the only problem I face is the lack of availability of labour as a helping hand," he says. Till the time Balwant finalises his chana soup, we are happy gulping down the milk badam.
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DPS celebrates 10 years of its existence
Bathinda, November 24 Dr Zeenat Khadar, joint secretary, DPS Society, New Delhi and Dr JS Hundal, Director, Punjab Technical University Giani Zail Singh Campus, Bathinda, were the guests of honour. The august gathering was welcomed by Ramesh Talwar, the pro vice-chairman of the school. The school showcased its growth through a cultural show titled 'I am school'. The pro vice-chairman expressed his satisfaction at the growth of the school and noted that the institution is rendering quality education in the Malwa region of Punjab. Principal Dr Arun Jee, proposed a vote of thanks. The parents present appreciated the thought provoking yet entertaining programme put up by the students of DPS.
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The Bathinda unit of the Unaided Staff (Aided School) Front, Punjab, took out a protest march in the city today.
Addressing the protesters, Jaspal Singh Gill, the state president of the union, stated that the last time members of the union had taken out a protest march, it was assured that their meeting would be arranged with the Education Minister of Punjab, Sikander Singh
Maluka.
The much-hyped opening ceremony of the World Kabaddi Cup to be held at the Multipurpose Sports Stadium in Bathinda has haunted the morning and evening walkers who have been told to keep away from the stadium in view of the preparations for the gala event to be held on November 30.
Bathinda, November 24
