Bathinda, January 14
The persistent issue raised by the students of government schools of non-availability of books in the new academic session is soon going to be addressed to a certain level as the Punjab School Education Board is all set to launch e-books for various subjects for Class XII at the beginning of the academic session 2014-15.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, chairperson of the PSEB, Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal said, “By February end, the PSEB will upload portable document format (PDF) files of as many as 68 books on its official website. A couple of books are under review and the PDF files of those books will be uploaded only after the procedure is complete and the books are approved as a part of the syllabus.”

She also said the board had conceptualised the plan for the academic session 2013-14 but it couldn’t materialise since the board didn’t get approval for doing so in time and uploading books in the mid-session would have made little sense.

Options galore

Once the PDF files of these books are uploaded on the PSEB website, the students will have the option of either buying the books from the market or accessing them through the internet. In case the books are in short supply in the market, the students will have the option of downloading the books and taking printouts of the same.

District Education Officer (secondary) Harkanwaljeet Kaur said, “The PDF files would mean that the students will not need to carry their books along if they are travelling. They will be able to download the books and read them on their mobile phones, laptops and computers.

Minor glitches

Although, the idea of uploading e-books is a novel one, teachers of the government schools believe that access to books depends on access to internet, which is a problem in the schools located in villages. “The board is moving with the times and is preparing e-books to make sure that the students of senior secondary classes don’t face the problem of non-availability of books. But the board should also consider the fact that a majority of students of government schools don’t have internet-enabled mobile phones, laptops or computers,” said a teacher.

Updated books

The board has not left any stone unturned to make its students fit for appearing for various competitive and entrance examinations. To make sure that the students of the PSEB don’t lag behind, the board is updating the syllabus of the books which have not been reviewed in the last 25 years.

Dhaliwal said the PSEB was under the process to update books for Classes XI and XII. “We are reviewing and updating the books for Classes XI and XII. The PSEB science books will be adapted from the NCERT science books to keep the students of the state board abreast with those of the national board and make them ready for the competitive examinations,” Dhaliwal added.

She added books for English, history, political science, sociology and constituent subjects of commerce were also being updated before being printed and turned into PDF format to be uploaded on the website.

“The e-books will be launched in phases. If the review of some of the books takes longer, then e-versions of those books may be uploaded in the next year. The same procedure will be undertaken for the books of Class XI as well,” Dhaliwal said.

Relieved of responsibility?

Under the Right to Education Act (RTE), books of all subjects are provided free-of-cost to all the students of Classes VI-VII. For Classes IX-XII, books are given free-of-cost to the students belonging to the Scheduled caste, Scheduled tribe and other reserved categories.

With the e-books uploaded on its website, the PSEB will be, to an extent, relieved of its responsibility of providing books to the students in the first month of the academic session. 

Bathinda, January 14
The Bathinda district has added 28,108 voters in its electoral roll since October 2012. Registering a 3 per cent increase in its population, the district now has total 9.63 lakh voters. This includes 4,480 service voters, who work with armed and paramilitary forces and are enrolled as voters at respective native places.

Till October 2012, 9,35,748 people were enrolled as voters.

Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda (rural) have witnessed the highest and second highest increase in the percentage of voters’ population by 3.59% and 3.57% respectively.

Maximum numbers of voters are enrolled in Bathinda (urban) constituency: 1,95,365, followed by Bhucho Mandi — 1,71,602. Bathinda (urban) has the highest number of female voters (92,219) and male voters (1,03,146).

Despite having the highest population of voters in the district, the Bathinda (urban) constituency has the least number of service voters enrolled -356. It also has second least growth rate of number of voters at mere 2.45 per cent from amongst all the six constituencies.

Experts say it implies that lesser number of people have moved in the district and lesser children have attained the age of voting.

Interestingly, Maur constituency has the highest number of service voters -1,081, despite the thin voter enrollment of total 1,52,720 voters, including 81,377 men and 71,343 women.

Till December 2013, Maur constituency got maximum service voters enrolled as new entries. The Maur area has 37 new entries, while Rampura Phul had second highest - 35 and Bathinda (rural) had third highest - 31. Bathinda (urban) had the least addition of total eight votes in the corresponding time period.

Explaining this trend, the district election tehsildar, Bharat Bhushan Bansal said, “The urban population always has lesser number of service voters enrolled in it. It is not just in Bathinda, but in other parts of the state as well. Since more people get recruited in the armed forces from rural areas such as small towns and villages, the service voters’ enrollment is more.”

Meanwhile, the district administration will observe National Voters’ Awareness Day on January 25 to motivate voters. ADC Sonali Giri presided over a meeting of various government officials, NGOs and other people convened here today.

On January 25, the city will be divided into four sectors from where rallies will be flagged off. 50 students in each sector will come on cycles, followed by those walking to create awareness. A special tableaux creating voters’ awareness will also be displayed.

All the rallies will culminate at the multipurpose stadium where the function will be held from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Bathinda, January 14
A 32-year-old HIV positive frail patient Rajesh (name changed) is unable to stand for long durations, so he squats on the floor of the Anti Retroviral Treatment (AR) Centre at the Bathinda Civil Hospital.

Coming all the way from Kotkapura after every 15 days has started taking a toll on his health. “Earlier, I was given batch of medicines that lasted over a month. For the past four months, I am getting medicines for just 15 days. Whenever I ask for more medicines, I am told that the stock is not sufficient,” he says. Rajesh is among the 1,135 undergoing treatment at the ART Centre here.

For the past four months, the centre has not been receiving enough medicines. Since most of the medicines are given in combinations, doctors and pharmacists lament that the lack of drugs has become a bane.

“We don’t know how to convince patients to take only 15-day medicine. We have patients coming from as far as Ganganagar. It is very difficult for them to come all the way to Bathinda for medicines after every 15 days,” said one of the officials at the centre pleading anonymity.

The centre currently has 1,135 patients undergoing the ART treatment. These include 697 males and 394 females. There are also 27 males and 17 females each below the age of 15 years.

The youngest children undergoing the ART treatment are 11 and 12 years old who are thalassemic. “Thalassemia requires blood transfusion at regular intervals. These children were transfused HIV positive blood that led to AIDS. They are already stricken by thalassemia and the AIDS has worsened their nightmare. Moreover, the non-availability of enough drugs has added to their woes,” said attendant of one of the children.

Meanwhile, Dr SK Devgan, the nodal officer of project at state level said that the state has received a batch of new medicines which would be provided to the ART centres within the next few days. He refused to comment on the shortage of drugs saying that he was not aware of the reasons.

The ART centre, Bathinda, is one of the three centres in the Malwa region. The other two are stationed at Ferozepur and Patiala. It has a huge rush of patients coming from Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot, Fazilka, Abohar and also parts of Ganganagar.

Besides, the ART centre has currently 2004 people living with HIV enlisted with it. These include 1,117 males, 773 females and eight others. It also has 66 males and 40 females below the age of 15 years.

Bathinda, January 14
Upset over the VIP culture, exploitation of common man, road blockades during VIP visits and lack of basic facilities, former district vice-president of the Congress party Balraj Singh Pakka today joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The former Congress leader, after joining the new party, however, criticised the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and held the top leadership including the Badal family responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Punjab.

Balraj had been associated with the Congress for the past 10 years and his late grandson too was an active member of the Congress party.

Pakka is grandson of late veteran Congress leader Karnail Singh Pakka. Karnail Singh had been the member of the SGPC for 25 years, was also the chairman of Cooperative Bank and MLA in 1965.

The local leader along with his supporters today said the siphoning of money to the tune of crores was not the AAP’s ideology. “They really wish to change the present poor and corrupt status of the country for which every Indian should support them,” said the former Congress leader.

“I left the Congress after I got immensely impressed with the ideology of AAP head and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal,” Pakka said.

He added the AAP was a hot discussion in every nook and corner these days and everyone wished to support this party. “But somehow, the political leaders are not coming up openly to join the party due to fear of the ruling Punjab Government. I want to set a precedence by joining AAP,” Pakka added.

Pakka along with 30 others today announced to leave the Congress and to come in the fold of the AAP. He joined the new party in the presence of AAP district general secretary Bilas Chand Gupta.

Gupta welcomed the new entrant and assured him all possible help and coordination to bring justice and fight for the Aam Admi (common man).

The former Congress leader pointed out that the first thing the people of Bathinda would get rid of with the support of the AAP was the VIP culture.

It is pertinent to mention here that the AAP workers have continuously been canvassing for the coming general elections with extensive registration of people at public places, including religious places and markets.

Meanwhile, former Congress MLA Harminder Jassi terming Balraj a good worker said he got carried away with the wave of the new party. "Such parties fail to change the system and it takes a lot of time to bring reforms for a common man. AAP is showing dreams which are quite difficult to fulfill," Jassi said.

Bathinda, January 14
The Aanganwari workers, working under the office of additional deputy commissioner (Development), today alleged following of ‘wrong’ norms to fill the posts of around 286 Aanganwari supervisors on promotional basis.

In a representation to ADC (D) Sonali Giri, the Aanganwari workers stated that the ad hoc merit list had not been created properly.

The government had invited applications from the Aanganwari workers to apply for promotion to the post of supervisor. While an Aanganwari worker is paid Rs 1,200, a supervisor is paid Rs 500.

“The government had sought one year computer diploma without specifying the kind of educational institute for the same. While ISO certified institutes’ diploma certificates are being refused, certificates of just any other institute are being accepted,” the candidates said.

They added there was no clarity of rules as to the way a candidate with double master’s degree, would be awarded marks. “There are cases wherein candidates are being given marks for PGDCA as well as MCA, despite the fact that with the former one gets lateral entry in MCA. Technically it is calculated as one degree, but marks of two degrees are being awarded,” added another candidate pleading anonymity.

Similarly, while the rules allow 10 per cent addition in total marks for the candidate with one MA degree and further 5 per cent with second MA degree, it is silent over multiple masters’ degrees. There are candidates who have got more than two masters’ degrees.

The candidates who have cleared teachers’ eligibility test (TET) and University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) said the marks of these qualifications should also be counted.

The same objections have also been forwarded to the directorate, Social Service and Women and Child Development, which had advertised around 286 posts of supervisors. 50 per cent graduates and 50 per cent matriculate people from amongst the Aanganwari workers have to be selected for these posts.

Meanwhile, Sonali Giri said the objections had come up from the Bathinda urban block of the eight blocks working in the Bathinda district. "The urban block falls under the child development project officer (CDPO). We have forwarded the objections to the CDPO," she added.

Bathinda, January 14
Eminent Punjabi writer and former head of the department of journalism and mass communications of Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Narinder Singh Kapoor today delivered an extension lecture at the Guru Kashi University (GKU).

During his address, he stated that change in the source of energy leads to change in an era. He said after hunting, agriculture and science, now technology is the biggest asset in today's world. He added that the biggest discovery made by mankind was of fire followed by the invention of the wheel and discovery of groundwater.

Speaking on the occasion, former head of the Department of English from Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Ranjit Kaur said a few more institutions for higher education should be established in the countryside for the overall development of the rural areas.

Dr Gurbhajan Singh Gill, director (planning & development), said because of his rich thoughts and writings, Dr Kapoor secured a place in the hearts of the people.

While presiding over the function, Dr NS Malhi stated that GKU was established with the objective of imparting quality education. He further added that Dr Atamjeet Singh, Prof Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Dr Varyam Singh Sandhu and Dr Dharam Singh Amritsar had agreed to coordinate the functions of the GKU which will lead to the promotion of literary and academic pursuits of the university.

Bathinda, January 14
Abhilasha Foundation, an NGO, celebrated the Lohri festival honouring the mothers of girl children at Bhai Vir Singh Sainik School, Dhobiana Basti.

The chief guest on the occasion was municipal commissioner Vipul Ujwal. He honoured five mothers of girl children. Students of Bhai Vir Singh Sainik School, who have excelled in various spheres, were also honoured. The students presented cultural events at the programme.

President of the NGO, Kuldeep Gandhi said the mothers of girl children, who are less than a year old, were honoured on the occasion. NRI Ramandeep Singh Sidhu, patron DR Gandhi, advocate Gurwinder Singh Maan, vice-president Deepak Jindal, president of the school management Inderjit Kaur and Jit Singh Mann were also present on the occasion. 

Bathinda, January 14
Ultra Tech Cement Limited (UTCL) distributed 225 blankets to the poor and needy in villages of the district like Pipli, Bhat, Talwali and two slum areas in Rampura and Bathinda.

Among the beneficiaries were 105 women and 120 men. The head of the cement unit Tilak Babel, Dinesh Pandey and social worker Baljit Singh distributed the blankets commemorating the 93rd birthday of Basant Kumar Birla.

Blankets were distributed to those homeless people who did not have anything to wrap themselves in, said Babel.

Bathinda, January 14
The College of Physiotherapy, Adesh University, organised a two-day national level workshop in collaboration with the physiotherapy department of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, on cancer rehabilitation.

The resource person for the workshop was the officer in-charge, physiotherapy department, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Anuradha Dapatadar and Paramanandam, physiotherapist at TMH. Dr Vincent Singh elaborated on topics like acute care following breast surgery, lymphedema management, rehabilitation in cancer of the head and neck as well as soft tissue cancers.

Radiation oncology expert at Max Superspecialty Hospital, Bathinda, Dr Manjinder Singh Sidhu, brain and spine surgeon Badyal Hospital, Bathinda, Dr Ronyl Kaushal, oncologist and haematologist, Punjab Cancer Care, Bathinda Dr Anuj Kumar Bansal, and oncologist at Punjab Cancer Care, Dr Parbhat Kumar, elaborated on the various aspects of cancer rehabilitation. Almost 100 students and physiotherapists attended the workshop.

The chief guest was Dr Harkiran Kaur, principal, Adesh Institute of Medical Science and Research. Members of the organising committee were the principal, College of Physiotherapy, Dr Kavita Kaushal and assistant professors at the college of physiotherapy, Dr Sumit Gahlot and Dr Sadbhawna.

Chancellor Dr HS Gill, VC Dr GPI Singh and registrar Dr Paramjit Singh lauded the organisers. — TNS