SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

ANM School building crumbles
Students forced to leave hostel
Bathinda, September 10
Students of ANM Training School in Bathinda are facing a perplexing situation as their school building has been crumbling with each passing day. Many of the students, who were staying in the hostel, have either moved to rented accommodation or are forced to commute every day.

3 killed in road accident on overbridge
Bathinda, September 10
Three persons on a motorcycle, including a woman, died today after being hit by a vehicle on the Bathinda-Mansa overbridge. As per information, 60-year-old Baldev Kaur, a resident of Jassi Pao Wali village, was hospitalised after she fell ill last night.

Soldiers, supplies transported to Srinagar
Bathinda, September 10
Joining ‘Operation Megh Rahat’ to alleviate the disaster caused by floods in Srinagar, two columns of soldiers, totalling approximately 150, have been airlifted from the Bhisiana Air Force Base and transported to the troubled zone in C-130 transport aircrafts.
Soldiers and supplies being airlifted by an aircraft from Bathinda to Srinagar Soldiers and supplies being airlifted by an aircraft from Bathinda to Srinagar.
A Tribune photograph


EARLIER STORIES



Hockey stadium becomes venue for kabaddi matches
Bathinda, September 10
The Punjab Government has turned the incomplete Hockey AstroTurf Stadium into a venue for holding the matches of the World Kabaddi League (WKL), which is scheduled to be held at Government Rajindra College hockey stadium from September 13 to 15.

A view of the hockey astroturf stadium in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
A view of the hockey astroturf stadium in Bathinda

Poor patients suffer as SNCU scheme gets no extension
Bathinda, September 10
A scheme for SNCU (Special Neonatal Care Unit) has come to a halt with the patients in the Bathinda Civil Hospital, which has the highest admission rate of infants in the state, left in difficult situation as the nearest private hospital in Kotkapura is not offering free treatment to children.

Cong leader accuses police of gross misbehaviour
Bathinda, September 10
The District Congress Committee has announced that it would hold a chain of protests outside the Vardhaman Chowki, located on the Bathinda-Badal Road. A meeting was convened by the District Congress Committee president, Mohan Lal Jhumba, who alleged that Rajpal, posted as a reader at a police chowki, used foul language with him when he called at the chowki.

Better bathinda: road accidents
Mishaps show dent in admn’s working
Bathinda, September 10
Despite identifying nearly 30 accident-prone areas in the city and on the adjoining roads connecting important cities, hardly anything has been done by the authorities concerned.

A scooterist without a helmet comes from the wrong side near Fauji Chowk in Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar
A scooterist without a helmet comes from the wrong side near Fauji Chowk in Bathinda
An accident-prone cut on the Bathinda-Goniana Road in Bathinda
An accident-prone cut on the Bathinda-Goniana Road in Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar
A motorcyclist without a helmet comes from the wrong side adjoining the Bathinda-Mansa flyover near Police Public School in Bathinda
A motorcyclist without a helmet comes from the wrong side adjoining the Bathinda-Mansa flyover near Police Public School in Bathinda. Photo: Vijay Kumar

World Kabaddi League
6 matches to be played at Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium
Bathinda, September 10
At least six matches of the ongoing circle-style Wave World Kabaddi League will be held at the Multi Purpose Sports Stadium here from September 13 to 15. The teams in the inaugural series of the kabaddi league included Khalsa Warriors(London), California Eagles (California), Vancouver Lions, Vancouver, Punjab Thunders(Vancouver), Yo Yo Tigers (Toronto), United Singhs (Birmingham), Royal Kings USA(California) and Lahore Lions(Lahore).

Ensure all help to rain affected villagers, Harsimrat tells DCs
Bathinda, September 10
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Wednesday the rain-affected villages of Bathinda and Mansa will not face any problem, instead after conducting the special girdawri, they would soon be given the compensation.

Loan seekers throng Zila Parishad office
Bathinda, September 10
Loan seekers thronged the Zila Parishad office where the interviews for the clearance of loan applications under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Scheme were being held on Wednesday.

Loan seekers outside the Zila Parishad office in Bathinda on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Loan seekers outside the Zila Parishad office in Bathinda on Wednesday

PRTC pensioners association stages protest against govt
Bathinda, September 10
The PRTC Pensioners Association staged a protest against the state government and the PRTC management at the bus stand here on Wednesday for non-release of the arrears. The protesters also raised slogan against the management and government.

Elegant: Students of Baba Farid Group of Institutes perform during a talent hunt programme in Bathinda
Elegant: Students of Baba Farid Group of Institutes perform during a talent hunt programme in Bathinda. A Tribune photograph

Aggarwal Sabha meets DC
Bathinda, September 10
A deputation of the members of Aggarwal Sabha on Wednesday met the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Basant Garg, and submitted a memorandum of demands. The deputation demanded that Aggarwal Sabha be given land for the construction of Aggarwal Bhawan in the city.

Two vehicle lifters arrested in city
Bathinda, September 10
The city police have arrested two members of the vehicle theives gang.The police has failed to arrest other three members of the gang. Assistant SHO of Civil Lines police station Krishan Singh said some persons had made a gang and they use to stole the car or snatch the vehicles.





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ANM School building crumbles
Students forced to leave hostel
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
Students of ANM Training School in Bathinda are facing a perplexing situation as their school building has been crumbling with each passing day. Many of the students, who were staying in the hostel, have either moved to rented accommodation or are forced to commute every day.

The rooms of the building are in a dilapidated condition and the situation is same in the hostel. The condition of rooms has become worst after monsoon. The roofs of some rooms are worst affected.

A student said, “Around 15 students have been declared day scholars and they come to the school every day in buses. Many rooms are in a pitiable condition and plaster from the wall is coming out. The hostlers live in continues fear. The issue was highlighted in newspapers but no action has been taken. We can’t afford to stay in private rented accommodation.”

Another student claimed that rooms in the hostel are facing water seepage. The plaster on the roofs has started developing cracks and it has fallen down a number of times. Some girls have left the hostel and are now facing problems due to daily commuting.”

There are about 80 students in the hostel of the school but many have left the hostel and others have been asked by the school authorities to leave as the building is unsafe.

The unavailability of cooks from the last few weeks has added to the woes of the students and many students have started cooking themselves.

Principal of ANM Training School, Prabhjot Kaur, said, “The building is too old and because of rains, walls and roofs in some of the rooms have soaked a lot of moisture in them. Yes, some students have been declared day scholars but it’s the decision taken by them and not forced by the authorities. The cooks are there but they have gone on leave.”

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3 killed in road accident on overbridge
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
Three persons on a motorcycle, including a woman, died today after being hit by a vehicle on the Bathinda-Mansa overbridge. As per information, 60-year-old Baldev Kaur, a resident of Jassi Pao Wali village, was hospitalised after she fell ill last night.

Today, when Jagroop Singh, the husband of the women, and another person from the same village, 32-year-old Ajaib Singh, were returning back to their village on a motorcycle after her discharge from the hospital, some unidentified vehicle hit them.

People at the spot said an Innova car had hit the motorcycle and fled away after the incident.

According to the police, all the three deceased were travelling on the motorcycle to their village at around 12.30 pm on the Mansa-Bathinda overbridge when the vehicle hit them.

All three persons were seriously injured in the accident after which NGO Sahara Jan Sewa volunteers reached the spot and the injured were immediately taken to the Civil Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital declared Jagroop Singh and his wife Baldev Kaur brought dead while they referred Ajaib Singh to a private hospital, where he died later.

Investigating officer ASI Sukhram Singh of the Cantonment police station said we have registered a case against the unidentified driver of the vehicle under various Sections based on the statement of Gurnaib Singh, brother of Ajaib Singh. He said they had started investigation in the case.

It is worth mentioning that the number of road accidents is not reducing in the city. In most cases, the major reasons have been the bad conditions of the roads and over speeding.

More than 511 persons were killed and 419 were injured in various road mishaps in the city in the past three years. As many as 677 cases pertaining to road accidents have been registered with the city police from 2011 to 2013.

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Soldiers, supplies transported to Srinagar
Bathinda Cantonment fully prepared to rush in more troops, supplies
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
Joining ‘Operation Megh Rahat’ to alleviate the disaster caused by floods in Srinagar, two columns of soldiers, totalling approximately 150, have been airlifted from the Bhisiana Air Force Base and transported to the troubled zone in C-130 transport aircrafts.

In addition, an unspecified but high number of manpower columns have been kept on stand-by at various locations by the Army authorities for a more emergent situation.

Additional supplies of mainly food and water were airlifted from Suratgarh and Bathinda Military Stations today in four AN-32 transport aircrafts before being transported to Srinagar.

Army sources said the teams had been rushed in with urgent requirements of food, water, medicines, life jackets, boats and specialised equipment.

In addition, a number of columns have been kept on stand-by at various locations by the Army authorities.

A senior officer said, “The defence forces have once again proved to be the last bastion standing in our great nation whether it be war or peace, or as in this case — natural calamity. Though the water has receded by one foot, it still remains above the ground floor level making it still serious. The Bathinda cantonment is prepared with full back up action plan to rush in troops or supplies”.

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Hockey stadium becomes venue for kabaddi matches
Sports Dept takes over the incomplete stadium to hold World Kabaddi League matches
Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
The Punjab Government has turned the incomplete Hockey AstroTurf Stadium into a venue for holding the matches of the World Kabaddi League (WKL), which is scheduled to be held at Government Rajindra College hockey stadium from September 13 to 15.

The Sports Department took over the incomplete hockey stadium from the contractors in a hurry just two days ago to organise the matches here.

It was the dream project of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to gift Bathinda an international hockey stadium and organise an international tournament over here. But due to financial crunch that dream couldn’t materialise from the last three years. So, the Punjab Government has now allowed holding of World Kabaddi League matches here by turning the hockey stadium into kabaddi ground.

In March this year, the XEN of the Sports Department visited the hockey stadium and had refused to take over the stadium stating 37 faults in the building. But, suddenly, taking over of the incomplete stadium has raised doubts.

The matches will be played by laying mats on the Astroturf for three days. It can also affect the turf. Technically, in the rule book, there is no provision to lay mats on the astroturf.

District Sports Officer (DSO) Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, who is holding the additional charge of Bathinda, admitted that the department has taken over the stadium despite some fault in it.

He said they had listed the number of faults to the contractors and had got a written assurance from them to correct the faults.

They had been instructed by the government and they were following the instructions to give full cooperation to the World Kabaddi League matches, he added.

So far, WKL officials have not deposited the fee with the Sports Department to use the stadium. While sports officials claim that they will not allow WKL to organise the matches without paying the fee to the department.

Pained to see the players’ plight, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, along with the authorities, had initiated the work on the multi-crore astroturf hockey stadium in 2012, terming it his dream project. He kept a check on the pace of development and the project was to be completed by January 2013, but after a delay of more than a year, many things are still incomplete.

As per the architectural drawing of the state-of-the-art hockey stadium, a parking lot, a boundary wall of the stadium and a mini-astro turf ground for warm-up and practice were also supposed to come up, which are not there in the stadium.

Sources said at first, the government had fixed Rs 11 crore as the budget for the stadium, which has now proved insufficient and requires Rs 3 crore more for completion.

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Poor patients suffer as SNCU scheme gets no extension
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
A scheme for SNCU (Special Neonatal Care Unit) has come to a halt with the patients in the Bathinda Civil Hospital, which has the highest admission rate of infants in the state, left in difficult situation as the nearest private hospital in Kotkapura is not offering free treatment to children.

With no official communication by the state government to extend the scheme that was in a tie up with private hospitals having ventilator facility under the PPP model, the patients are forced to get costlier treatment at private hospitals.

The facility of ventilator in a Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) is still awaiting to reach Bahtinda that has a capacity of twelve patients. The SNCU was incepted in Bathinda in November 2012 and with the efforts of doctors and staff, it has been most successful in the state.

Under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model, the government had initiated and tied up with private hospitals to provide ventilator facility for infants who are born with less than 1,200 gm of weight or suffering with breathing problem.

The facility is provided at CMC Ludhiana and Chandigarh Child Care Hospital in Kotkapura under PPP, besides the facility is available at Government Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot.

Patients, however, are referred from Bathinda to kotkapura that has a capacity of six ventilator beds, whereas the medical college at Faridkot has a capacity of only two ventilator beds.

Out of around 140 admissions of infants every month at the Civil Hospital in Bathinda, there are around 12 patients who are referred to Kotkapura or Faridkot hospitals every month. But due to discontinuing of the scheme by the state government, the private hospitals under the PPP are not giving free of cost treatment with the ventilator facility to children.

The scheme to provide a ventilator under PPP at private hospitals ended on September 6.

Paedetrician Dr Satish Jindal said, “The mortality rate of infants has gone down with the provision of ventilator in private hospital in Kotkapura and government hospital in Faridkot. The scheme was started for six months and now after six months we are yet to receive any official communication regarding the extension of the scheme. The Bathinda hospital is under level 2 and we refer only those infants who are under 1,200 gm of weight. The provision of ventilator in our hospital can overcome all problems and would benefit the patients.”

Fact file

The facility for ventilator in a Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) is still waiting to reach Bathinda that has a capacity for 12 patients. The SNCU was set up in Bathinda in November 2012 and with the efforts of the doctors and staff, it has been most successful in the state.

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Cong leader accuses police of gross misbehaviour
Nikhila Pant Dhawan
Tribune news Service

Mohan Lal JhumbaBathinda, September 10
The District Congress Committee has announced that it would hold a chain of protests outside the Vardhaman Chowki, located on the Bathinda-Badal Road. A meeting was convened by the District Congress Committee president, Mohan Lal Jhumba, who alleged that Rajpal, posted as a reader at a police chowki, used foul language with him when he called at the chowki.

Jhumba said one of the female workers of the party had called him to enquire about a case for which he had called up at the police post but unexpectedly, the reader resorted to saying “bad things about the party and its leaders”.

When he called in-charge Gurmail Singh, Singh also didn’t respond well to his complaint and instead said he was a government employee and not bound to entertain anyone’s phone calls, he added.

“Apparently after being apprised of the situation by the reader, the ASI first didn’t take my calls and once he did, he refused to listen to me,” Jhumba said.

He alleged that he brought the issue to the notice of DSP (City) Gurjit Singh Romana, who promised that he would look into the matter and take action within 24 hours, but nothing has been done so far.

The behaviour of the police towards the Congress party had not gone down well with the party workers and hence, they had decided to stage dharna outside Vardhaman Chowki from September 12 (10 am to 5 pm), he added.

He said the party workers would take turns to sit on the dharna over the days.

Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, ASI Singh said Jhumba wanted a case against one his acquaintances to be closed and when the said person was called to the police chowki for interrogation, Jhumba first called the reader and then the ASI, demanding that the case be closed and the person be released.

“I told the Congress leader that the person had been called for interrogation as part of the standard police procedure and would be released if found innocent. But the Congress leader resorted to throwing his weight around and said his powers were no less than that of an MLA,” said the ASI.

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Better bathinda: road accidents
Mishaps show dent in admn’s working
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
Despite identifying nearly 30 accident-prone areas in the city and on the adjoining roads connecting important cities, hardly anything has been done by the authorities concerned.

The authorities are not concerned about the ever-rising accidents and deaths reported almost every third day in and around the city. Residents falling under the age group between 15 to 35 years are becoming the victims of road accidents.

The accident points have been identified by the traffic police by conducting surveys in the past five years.

“Those places where accidents take place repeatedly—once, twice or even thrice a month—have neen declared accident-prone areas”, said traffic policemen.

“Steps were taken around two years ago to stop the accidents at these points by installing sign-boards, speed breakers and warning signs but due to the lack of maintenance the sign boards got worn out,” they added.

Despite the width of major roads in and around Bathinda remains the same, the number of vehicles registered in Bathinda are increasing with each passing day causing huge traffic jams. Despite widening of the Bathinda-Barnala and some portion of the Bathinda-Muktsar and Bathinda-Dabwali roads, there is no let up in the road accidents.

“With the widening of these roads the high end SUVs and heavy vehicles can increase their speed up to 120 km per hour. On these roads small vehicles are usually hit by the high-speed vehicles without being noticed”, said Pawan Dixit, whose 34 years old son met with an accident on the Bathinda-Mansa road few months ago. The victim has not recovered yet despite spending Rs 20 lakh.

Drunken driving has assumed an alarming proportions in Bathinda as it becomes a common sight even during the morning hours.

The traffic policemen said they laid nakas at various traffic points to check the drunken driving.

“But we lack staff and equipments to check the drunken driving during the late night hours. We skip the checking during Tuesdays and Thursdays, as people usually do not drink on these two days”, said a senior traffic cop.

Apart from human error there are numerous engineering faults on the city roads. For instance the vehicles coming from Bibiwala Road to Power House Road through Ghorewala Chowk usually collide with the other vehicles trying to cross the chowk from Ajit Road. The vehicle coming at a high speed from Bibiwala Road side is usually not seen by the person trying to cross the chowk on Ajit road.

Similar problems have been reported at Fauji Chowk where people from Ajit road always take a wrong turn to reach Bathinda-Goniana or Bibiwala Road. Below the recently-built flyover on Bathinda-Mansa Road near Police Public School where people always take a wrong turn to reach at the flyover.

Hardly anyone bothers to stop at the traffic light points on the Barnala Road, Bibiwala Road, Bhagu-Road Chowk near gurudwara and Bathinda-Goniana Road near Ganesh Nagar as no traffic cop is ever witnessed checking the traffic violators at these light points.

Accident prone areas:

Outskirt areas: Bhokra village curve on Bathinda-Goniana Road, Goniana bypass, turn near Har-Raipur village, bus stand near Romana village, Muktsa- Malout Road Hi-Tech Chowk, Kotshamir Hi-Tech Chowk, curve near Nathana village on Dabwali Road, Kenchiyan near Karamgarh Satran village, Nathana curve on Dabwali Road, Karamgarh Satran Kenchiya, Balluana Kenchiyan, bus stand of Burj Mehma village, Deon Bus Stand, NFL Chowk Light Point, Lehra Mohabbat T-Point near thermal plant, Maur Mandi Main Chowk on Bathinda-Mansa Road, Bhucho Mandi Chowk, Sangat Kenchiyan, Air Force Bhisian Chowk near Gurudwara, T-Point Goniana-Jaitu Road, Sivian T point, Rampura Chowk on Rampura Maur Road, narrow bridge near Jethuke village, T-Point at Ramgarh Bhunder village, Jai Singhwala village T-Point.

City areas: Rose Garden Chowk, Bhatti Road traffic lights, ITI Chowk, near Ganpati Colony flyover and Bhai Ghanaiya Chowk.

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World Kabaddi League
6 matches to be played at Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
At least six matches of the ongoing circle-style Wave World Kabaddi League will be held at the Multi Purpose Sports Stadium here from September 13 to 15. The teams in the inaugural series of the kabaddi league included Khalsa Warriors(London), California Eagles (California), Vancouver Lions, Vancouver, Punjab Thunders(Vancouver), Yo Yo Tigers (Toronto), United Singhs (Birmingham), Royal Kings USA(California) and Lahore Lions(Lahore).

Punjab Thunder will play with Yo Yo Tigers in the first match on September 13.

In the second match, on the first day, figures the teams of Khalsa Warriors and Royal Warriors. The second day fixtures included Punjab Thunder versus Vancouver Lions in one match and California Eagles and Royal Kings in the other.

On the last day the teams of Yo Yo Tigers will face the United Singhs in the first match. The second match will be played between Khalsa Warriors and California Eagles.

Despite tall audience attendance in the Delhi and London editions of the circle kabaddi matches, this season, the audience presence in Ludhiana Guru Nanak Stadium on Saturday(September 6) and Sunday(September 7) has been rather below expectations.

None of high-profile team owners including Bolywood stars Abhiskhek Bachchan, Sonakshi Sinha, Yo Yo Honey Singh or Akshay turned up for the event.

Bathinda crowd will be witnessing the game of the top circle kabaddi raiders including Jasmanpreet Raju( Khalsa Warriors), Ahafiq Ahmed and Akmal Shazad Dogar(Lahore Lions), Manmindr Singh(Yo Yo Singh), Sucha Singh(Vancouver Lions) and Jagmohan Makhi(California Eagles).

The best stoppers included Gurpreet Singh(Khalsa Warriors), Jaskaran Singh(Royal Kings), Sandeep Singh Sandhu(United Singhs), Yadwinder Singh(Punjab Thunder) and BalkarSingh (California Eagles).

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Ensure all help to rain affected villagers, Harsimrat tells DCs
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Wednesday the rain-affected villages of Bathinda and Mansa will not face any problem, instead after conducting the special girdawri, they would soon be given the compensation.

The minister has directed the Deputy Commissioners of Bathinda and Mansa to soon submit reports of special girdawri to the state government so that the affected people could be given a sigh of relief.

In a press statement issued here today the Union Minister for Food Processing stated that due to her prior engagements she could not immediately visit the affected areas of the districts.

She said besides the state government, the Central Government would too support the affected people and has dedicated to compensate farmers for the loss of cotton and other crops. She added that besides crop, the rains have also affected houses, which too would be compensated for the damage.

She directed the Deputy Commissioners of both the districts to ensure that the disaster management teams were well-equipped, arrangements were in place to deal with the exigencies and provide immediate relief. She said besides medical teams, proper arrangements had been made for enough stock of all package food, water and life saving drugs. She also directed the Deputy Commissioners of both the districtrs to personally visit the affected areas and give priority to solving the problems faced by the public.

Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda Dr Basant Garg said some villages of Talwandi Sabo subdivision have been affected due to rains and the district administration would soon send the special girdawri report to the state government. He asserted that the residents of the area need not panic, as the administration had made complete arrangements to deal with the natural calamity.

“A flood control room has also been established in the district from where information can be exchanged round the clock at number 0164-2862100,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Mansa Praveen Kumar Thind said the rain-affected village Jhoreanwali, Raipur, Peron, Chhapianwali, Banawali, Chhapianwali, Beerowal Jatta, Tamkot, Behniwal, Talwandi Aklia and others were provided with 5,000 empty gunny bags, but as the skies have cleared, people need not to worry.

“The administration has set up district-level flood control room, which can be reached at 0165-2229082,” he added.

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Loan seekers throng Zila Parishad office
Nikhila Pant Dhawan
Tribune news Service

Bathinda, September 10
Loan seekers thronged the Zila Parishad office where the interviews for the clearance of loan applications under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Scheme were being held on Wednesday.

As per information, 136 loan seekers had applied and applicants had been called to the Zila Parishad office for the clearance of cases.

During the interview and the verification procedure, applicants were asked to furnish two copies of the application form, no-objection certificate from the gram panchayats, an affidavit, proof of residence, proof of land or building where the proposed unit is to be set up, map of the proposed unit, layout plan with location identification, qualification certificate, experience certificate, caste/category certificate (if applicable), licences (if required), consent letters from the banks concerned, project report, an undertaking regarding own contribution, registration fee and consultancy charges, among other certificates.

Ranjit Kaur from Chanarthal, who accompanied her daughter Veerpal Kaur to the office, said, “She wants to set up a tailoring unit to be self-dependent. We hope we will clear the verification process and my daughter will be able to do something for herself and the family and will be able to set an example for other females of the village.”

Beant Kaur, a resident of Maur Mandi, who had applied for a loan to set up a beauty parlour said, “I have been doing the work in my village but at a very lower level. If my loan application is approved, I would like to set up a beauty parlour of my own in the village and show to everyone that I can earn and help in bettering the financial situation of my family.”

Jagsir Singh from Chauke village was there to apply for a loan to set up an iron railing welding unit. The scheme aims at generating employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas through setting up new self-employment ventures, projects and micro enterprises. The scheme also aims to provide continuous and sustainable employment to a large segment of traditional and prospective artisans and rural and urban unemployed youth in the country.

The maximum cost of the project or unit admissible under the manufacturing sector is Rs 25 lakh,whereas the limit for the cost of the project or unit admissible under business or service sector is Rs 10 lakh. The balance amount of the total project cost will be provided by the banks as term loan.

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PRTC pensioners association stages protest against govt

Bathinda, September 10
The PRTC Pensioners Association staged a protest against the state government and the PRTC management at the bus stand here on Wednesday for non-release of the arrears. The protesters also raised slogan against the management and government.

Addressing the gathering the speakers said the state government and the management of the PRTC had refuse to give the pension for the months of June, July and August.

“Even the old pensioners and widows had to suffer as they had also not received their arrears of medical bill for long. A large number of pensioners are dependent on the pension only.” they added.

“In Bathinda 400 pensioners have not received the pensions, out of which 100 are women. Even medical arrears are outstanding against the government from the past many years. Now the management has released medical arrears for the seven depots, but still Bathinda and Patiala depots have been left out and are waiting for the release the arrears,” said the speakers.

The speakers said on the call of central body they would stage protest from September 10 to 16 at the gate of the depot. If the management failed to accept their demands, then on September 17, they would hold a massive rally at Patiala.

Bali Singh, Bhagat Ram, Ruru Singh Baliawali, Satpal Maur, Balour Singh, president Gurbachan Singh and Sukhdev Sharma addressed the protesters. — TNS

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Aggarwal Sabha meets DC

Bathinda, September 10
A deputation of the members of Aggarwal Sabha on Wednesday met the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Basant Garg, and submitted a memorandum of demands. The deputation demanded that Aggarwal Sabha be given land for the construction of Aggarwal Bhawan in the city.

They also demanded that students be taught about the life and achievements of Maharaja Aggarsen, the way it has been done in Haryana.

The sabha members also demanded that they be given 10 per cent reservation, senior citizen (males) be also included in the 50 per cent fare exemption the way has been extended to the women.

The members also raised the issues of rate of property tax and VAT, construction of a public library and reading room in the Model Town. — TNS

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Two vehicle lifters arrested in city
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 10
The city police have arrested two members of the vehicle theives gang.The police has failed to arrest other three members of the gang. Assistant SHO of Civil Lines police station Krishan Singh said some persons had made a gang and they use to stole the car or snatch the vehicles.

After which they change the original number plate of the vehicle and sell it off further.

The police have also recovered .12 bore country-made pistol and two live cartridges from Baljinder Singh.

Police sources claimed that Baljinder Singh was also involved in kidnapping Pargat Singh of Talwandi Sabo in a Scorpio car and in this incident his three accomplices Amandeep Amana, a resident of Ubhewala, Manpreet Meena,a resident Talwandi Sabo and Gagandeep Badal, a resident of Bathinda were also involved.

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