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9 kids down with diarrhoea, admitted to hospital
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Govt schools fail to form SMCs
Government apathy towards aided institutes continues
WASPS fails to check crime against women in city
Better jalandhar: water woes-I
Govt may shut four Punjab Roadways depots
‘Drunk’ PSPCL employee misbehaves with residents
Kalianwala Khoo martyrs honoured
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9 kids down with diarrhoea, admitted to hospital
Jalandhar, July 13 “Mukesh was very serious and was suffering from acute dehydration when he arrived. We had to give him nine bottles of IV fluid to stabilise his condition that was fast deteorating,” said Dr SS Nangal, paediatrician, Civil Hospital. He also said that since the cases had not come from a particular area and were scattered, the chances of water contamination in these areas was very low. The other cases were reported from Model House (one), Sansarpur (one), Shastri Nagar (one), Noorpur Colony (one), Nakodar Chowk (one), Gandhi Camp (one), Krishna Nagar (one) and Bhargo Camp (two). “If we get more cases in the coming days, then only we would be able to confirm of a possible water contamination in the specific area,” said Dr Nangal. Meanwhile, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Member Parliament from Jalandhar Lok Sabha Constituency visited the affected areas and slammed the state government for letting the people live in such unhygienic conditions. “These people are living in hell. It is a clear violation of their human rights to live a quality life they deserve as human beings,” Said Chaudhary Santokh Singh. He has also offered to grant funds from his MPLAD fund to the MC to repair the water supply and sanitation network in these areas. |
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Govt schools fail to form SMCs
Jalandhar, July 13 While schools missed the original deadline – with the Education Department citing the model code of conduct as the reason – over three months have passed since then, but the SMCs are yet to be constituted. Of the 1,427 schools in the district, the SMCs of only 100 schools have been constituted while the rest are yet to be constituted. Before the vacations, the Education Department officials had said till the month of July, a majority of the SMCs would have been constituted by June-end, with just a small number remaining to be made in July and August. But even in the mid of July, the formation of a meagre 100 SMCs has taken place. While the entire student population and parents of the students of a school have to be brought together for the constitution of an SMC, the formation of the new committee isn’t possible without the nod of the parents as well as students. But both sources in the Education Department and parents at a number of schools said that the politicisation of the SMCs at various schools has subverted the democratic process through which an SMC should be constituted. Even the department officials themselves maintain that the SMC formation process was subject to various factions at many villages, causing delays and problems. While the Right to Education Act, 2009, says that the chairperson of an SMC has to be a parent, a letter released by the DGSE to schools last year has given the schools freedom to appoint councillors or panchayat members as SMC chairpersons, irking some of the school staff, who say this had opened the way for political interference in the SMCs. As many as 20 per cent of the SMCs already formed, have panchayat heads or councillors as members, sources say. “Panchayats in a number of villages want to be SMC chiefs. While at some, their intentions are noble, at others it’s primarily about money or prestige issue. Complaints on the SMC formation and infighting among groups on the issue has been reported from various villages. The formation of an SMC is a democratic process. An SMC formulated through hooliganism won’t function well,” a department source said. The lack of interest among parents in some schools is also a key problem in some villages. “We have made repeated announcements at our village. Through loudspeakers, by informing parents, by making announcements through the local gurdwara, but on the day the SMC
was to be formed, not a single parents turned up. Surprisingly, even the lure of free food to be offered during the event did not manage to make villagers volunteer for the SMC formulation. The process is incomplete if parents are not willing to participate,” said a teacher at a village school. DEO (Primary) Anil Awasthi said, “While it is true that opposing bodies of various schools have been fighting over the SMC formation, they come to us and we guide them about the right process. It is gradually happening in all schools and we are getting letters from more schools each day about the process having been completed. There is no delay in the formation of an SMC. It happens as per the school formulates them. All schools are aware of the
process.” “As far as delays are concerned, many schools are happy with panchayat members and councillors as chairperson. It is only for the students’ betterment,” he added. Directions for SMC formation as per DGSE letter
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Government apathy towards aided institutes continues
Jalandhar, July 13 With schools swearing to move the HC, aided colleges have already expressed their disappointment over the government’s various moves this year. But with private institutions mushrooming and aided ones walking an even tighter rope than they previously were, big names in the education sector openly allege that the government is robbing the state’s students of quality education and expert staff. While many colleges are already without their grants for the past three quarters, the grant share of private aided colleges has been reduced to 80:20 (80 per cent by government and 20 by managements, to be ultimately brought to 75:25) from 95:5; and that of aided schools to 70: 30 from 95: 5. Even the basis for provision posts to private aided colleges and schools is similar. While colleges will get only 25 per cent of the total 1925 empty posts (no new recruitments made since 2004) of professors filled in the first session this year, that, too, on a contractual basis, in schools also contractual RMSA recruitment of 25 per cent year will be made to fill the 4,445 posts (no new recruitment made since 1967). Fifteen aided schools of the state have closed down in the past some time due to the alleged government apathy. On the other hand, left in the lurch due to the non-receipt of salary grants for the past many years, private aided colleges - 58 grant-in-aid colleges under the GND varsity and (136 total grant-in-aid colleges in the state) are also awaiting grants already. While some of them recently received quarterly grants, most are yet to get their quarterly grants for the past three quarters. In the district, there are 23 government-aided colleges in the district, out of which a number of them (especially rural ones) say their funds will end in a month or two and after that even managements will be without money to pay to staff. Many have said they will close down if the pending grants don’t arrive soon. Meanwhile, the 61 aided schools in the district also face a crisis due to the move. Three primary aided schools have already closed in the district and others like SD Phularwal Government Senior Secondary School (has only one teacher teaching students and officiating as principal) and MD Victor Senior Secondary School (where the physical training instructor plays principal) stare at a serious crisis. Both in aided schools and colleges, even the recent grants received have been through a number of court cases. Expertspeak
Sarita Verma, principal, BD Arya Girls College, Jalandhar, and general secretary of the Principals Association of Non-Government Affiliated Colleges (GNDU), says, “All colleges await grants for the last three quarters. If the grants don’t arrive soon, many will be out of money. Some are already running on loaned funds. While on one hand, the new appointments will be on a contractual basis, on the other, the government is also reducing grant share of the old ones. Contractual appointment and reduction of grant share will cause good teachers to stop opting for aided colleges. There will be great instability in the education system. Reduced fee and expert staff was our forte, the government policy is attempting to reverse that. No teachers will come for salary of only Rs 21,000. We are extremely unhappy with contractual recruitment. By 2018, a majority of teachers on covered posts will be retiring, 50 per cent already have. The quality of higher education is set to plummet in such circumstances.” Gursharan Singh Chahal, president, Punjab State Aided Teachers and Other Employees Union, said, “The government is non-serious about education. The state has as many as 484 government-aided schools. Fifteen have closed in the past some time. Of the about 9,500 posts of teachers in the state, half have become empty over the years, with teachers retiring and the government is now saying it will fill these posts from RMSA teachers. What will happen to the 4,000 to 5,000 unaided staff working at the government schools for the past so many years. These people will be rendered jobless. This is a great injustice to the
people of the state and to education.” |
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WASPS fails to check crime against women in city
Jalandhar, July 13 Aimed at checking incidents of eve-teasing and chain snatching and providing security to women, WASPS, comprising 30 freshly recruited women constables riding 15 Activa scooters, was launched on April 23. Almost a year has passed, but there is not single report that actually proves its worth in the city. The flashy scooters, which they ride, have a toll-free women helpline 1091 boldly flashed on them. The squad has been provided with wireless sets and remains on patrol duty from 8 am to 7 pm, moving around schools, colleges and women working places. Any call received on the helpline or control room related to help sought by women is diverted to the respective team of constables on duty in the area. In the past three months, over 50 cases of snatching were reported in the city and in every case, women remained the main target of the snatchers. In April this year, around 16 cases of snatching were registered at various police stations, while in May as many as 21 incidents of snatchings were reported in various areas of the city. The number of snatching cases increased in June, as around 23 cases were reported. As many as188 cases were registered in 2012. There was a marginal decline in such incidents in 2013 since 141 cases were registered. Not even in a single case, these newly recruited constables has managed to nab a snatcher. In the last 15 days, WASPS visibility in the city has reportedly declined. Reason: They have been sent for training. “Out of 15 WASPS, only 10 are patrolling on road for the past over two weeks, while the remaining five have been sent for training. In place of those on training, the police has not made any alternative arrangement,” a police source said. In many snatching cases, women victims also sustained serious injuries. On May 19, an elderly woman Madhu Vasudev of Gobindgarh sustained a fracture in her shoulder after some unidentified snatchers pounced on her and snatched her purse containing Rs 8,000 and some valuables. Similarly, on June 8 this year, Sunita Nayyar, a teacher at Parvaj Vocational Training School at Mota Singh Nagar, sustained serious injuries when two motorcycle-borne snatchers pounced on her in the Garha area. The woman, while resisting them, sustained serious injuries in her arms, head and face. “We used to go for a walk in the evening, but we never noticed WASPS. If any such squad exists, its visibility is a must to prevent snatching,” Bhavna Sharma, a local resident said. Another woman Sunita Sama, said, WASPS, instead of doing patrolling on road, must patrol in streets and mohallas, where most often women were made target by the snatchers. Parveen Kumari, the official who was relieved of the charge of WASPS a few days ago, when asked about the less number of Activa-borne force in the field, reiterated that some girls had been sent for training and alternative arrangements were being made.
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Better
jalandhar: water woes-I Rachna Khaira Tribune News Service The city is witnessing the deadly outbreak of water-borne diseases caused due to contamination. The Health Department had identified 32 areas with potential for disease outbreak a month ago, but the Municipal Corporation failed to act on time resulting in four deaths. Jalandhar Tribune takes stock of the situation and the quality of potable water supplied in the city. Jalandhar, July 13
Water-borne diseases
With garbage and debris choking the city's sewerage and the fresh water supply network, it has come under the attack of deadly water-borne diseases that have so far claimed four lives in the last three days. Around 70 people are reported to have been taken ill, of which the condition of eight is said to be critical. While cholera and diarrhoea have been reported from the Gandhi camp and Bhargo camp areas, seven people from Guru Ravidass Welfare Colony in the Bhagatpura area were diagnosed with jaundice. Ironically, it is not the first time that these areas have witnessed an outbreak of water-borne diseases. In fact, it is happening for the last many years. Still, the district administration fails to prevent it. Let us take a look as to what are the factors that lead to water contamination in the city and why the district administration fails to prevent it every year. Potable water supply network
The Municipal Corporation has installed around 440 tube wells in the city to supply around 250 million litres of water daily to a population of 8 lakh. Though the corporation has given the charge of these tube wells to private contractors, it has also deputed one official per four tube wells to check the proper supply of water through them. As per the sewerage layout plan, domestic waste from the households and the toxic waste from leather tanneries and other industries flows down the Kala Sanghian drain from where it moves to Chitti Bein. From here, it moves to the Sutlej and finally reaches the Harike from where it is supplied back as drinking water to the entire Malwa and Doaba regions. Old ruptured sewerage system
According to Satish Sood, District Epidemiologist, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Government of India, the main cause of contamination is the shortage of water supply in the city. "Due to repeated power cuts, enough water pressure is not generated in the supply lines forcing people to opt for measures like the use of hand pumps, electric motors and even illegal connections directly from the main line making it porous in addition to the already ruptured old sewerage line running parallel to it." Sood informed that due to an underground leakage in both the lines, the contents mix and enter the main supply causing contamination in the potable water. The areas in the city with potential threat of sewerage contamination according to the MC's own records include Saidan Gate, Gandhi camp, Indira Colony, Santokhpura, Abadpura, Lamma Pind, Bhargo Camp, Industrial Area, Basti Danishmandan, Basti Peerdaad, Basti Bawa Khel, Guru Ramdass Nagar, Sant Nagar, New Raj Nagar, Amrik Nagar, Ranjit Nagar, Baldev Nagar, Babu Labh Singh Mohalla, Kot Mohalla, Lahorian Mohalla and Lasuri Mohalla. Most of these areas do not receive enough water throughout the year. Also, the sewerage lines in the city, which were laid long ago, have not been upgraded. Due to this, the trunk sewers are heavily silted while the peripheral ones are mostly damaged and inadequate of coping with the increasing load. According to a rough estimate, almost 45 per cent of the city is not linked to the drainage network since its installation. Illegal water connections
Recently, the Municipal Corporation got a survey conducted by the 'Map My India' company to find the exact number of illegal water connections in the city. The company recently prepared a report after visiting each and every single house in the areas specified by the MC. According to PS Jaggi, Superintending Engineer, Operations and Maintenance wing of the MC, "Due to illegal connections, we were not able to find out the exact requirement for water consumption in the city." He also informed that they now have to dig around 600 feet to install a tube well in the city. Inadequate sewerage treatment plants (STPs)
The city presently uses around 250 million litres of water every day. Of this, only 125 million litres get treated at the two sewerage treatment plants (STPs) at Pholriwal village. Jalandhar needs to have STPs with a combined capacity of 260 million litres per day (MLD). This estimate given by the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Board excludes the water used through illegal connections. Till date, only two STPs (of 100 MLD and 25 MLD capacity) are functional at Pholriwal. No water testing facility
Although the Municipal Corporation has a water testing laboratory in the city, it does not facilitate the people directly. The laboratory only tests samples collected by the Municipal Corporation. According to Keshorani from Gandhi camp whose son died two days ago due to water contamination, there is no place where the people can test the quality of potable water supplied by the MC. "We could not find a place to get the water tested and kept drinking it. The MC will not open the laboratory to the public as they know that instead of water, they are supplying liquid poison through the pipes. All the samples would fail the test and there would be a lot of hue and cry over the quality of water being supplied by them." Keshorani also informed that the lab can be equipped well to cater to public queries with user charges taken from them to test water samples. No advance checking of water contamination
Some residents from the Bhargo camp area have also complained that until contamination gets reported, neither the Health Department nor the MC swings into action. "They should consistently check the quality of potable water at regular intervals from the areas prone to contamination," said Vasu from the Bhargo camp area. How serious is the situation?
According to RL Bassan, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar, although the situation above the ground is still under control, the situation under the ground is actually alarming. "There should be a proper garbage disposal system in the city and the sewerage system network should be thoroughly repaired and cleaned on a regular basis. Most slum areas in the city still have lines choked by plastic and other material thrown freely by the people in the open drains." Precautions
City at a glance 1. Total population: Approximately 8 lakh 2. Blocks: 10 (Adampur, Bhogpur, Goraya, Jalandhar East and Jalandhar West, Lohian, Nakodar, Nurmahal, Phillaur and Shahkot) 3. Climatological data : (a) Normal rainfall: 701 mm (b) Monsoon rain: 490 mm (c) Rainy days: 35 days (average) (d) Total tube wells for water supply: 440 (e) Peak hazardous months: April to October (f) Contamination temperature: between 25 degree to 40 degree Celsius
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Govt may shut four Punjab Roadways depots
Jalandhar, July 13 Gill said they got to know from internal sources that the government is going to take this step to encourage private bus transporters in the state. Despite the ban imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on issuing of new permits and making changes in the time-table, Punjab Roadways officials have been changing the time-table at the behest of the state government. Moreover, new permits are also being issued, he alleged. As per the transportation policy, issuing of new permits and providing time to the buses can only be done in the ratio of 60:40 (60 per cent for the Punjab Roadways/PRTC and 40 per cent for the private bus operators). Meanwhile, 85 per cent of the same is being provided to the private bus operators and 15 per cent to the Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation. Gill alleged that private bus operator have hired thugs in the name of crew at many counters and main intersections of the city like the PAP Chowk. These elements force the passengers to board their buses. There have been many quarrelsome incidents between the Punjab Roadways/PRTC crew and the hired thugs. In spite of complaints to the authorities concerned, no action has been taken. |
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‘Drunk’ PSPCL employee misbehaves with residents
Shahkot, July 13 Despite repeated requests by residents to come and sort out the technical snag in a transformer, PSPCL employee Baldev Singh, posted at Shahkot complaint centre situated opposite to the Shahkot police station, told the residents, “Jao jinu marji daso mere seniors nu, main ni darda kiseto, main ni anda complaint sahi karn (Go and complaint to any of my seniors, I don’t fear anybody, and I will not come to resolve your problem.” The residents claimed that when Baldev was requested to sort out the problem, he was sitting at his friend’s place at Gandhi Chowk Mohalla, where he was allegedly enjoying liquor. “Even his official phone was being attended by some other person ,” the said
residents. Kewal, Manniand Kala, residents of Mohalla Purani Gali told The Tribune: “At 10.30 pm last night, when a burst sound was heard from a power transformer, Baldev was called at 9646696271 mobile number. He then assured to come in 10 minutes. When he was called again, he assured to come in 20 minutes and then in half hour. Again, when the irritated residents again requested him to come, he went abusive and misbehaved with complainants. Residents said when they inquired about his (Baldev’s) whereabouts, he was found consuming alcohol at his friend’s place at Gandhi Chowk area. It was only after residents complained to his senior namely SDO Mahinderpal and XEN Kanwar Jaswant, he arrived. “The moment he arrived, he was under the influence of liquor. He was not even able to stand properly and he was faltering either. However, residents helped him in climbing on the transformer and sorted out the issue. There also, he kept on misbehaving with residents and was repeatedly saying, he doesn’t fear from his seniors,” residents alleged. SE Sandeep said, “I have told officials to take action against
Baldev.” |
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Kalianwala Khoo martyrs honoured
Jalandhar, July 13 Speaking on the occasion, Surinder Kochhar said that he had a hard time while researching on the Kalianwala Khooh incident. He said in 1857, around 5,00 soldiers, who raised the banner of revolt at Mian Meer Cantonment, Lahore, and swam across the Ravi to reach Ajnala. As many as 218 were killed by the British at Dadian Sofian village on the bank of the river while remaining 282 were incarcerated in a cage-like room where many of them died, rest were shot dead and their bodies were thrown into the
well. — TNS |
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Jalandhar, July 13
