Bathinda, October 8
A cold storage unit, owned by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee secretary and former municipal councillor Iqbal Singh Dhillon, was today raided by officials of the Health Department. To ascertain the purity of the sweets found stored in the unit, the officials collected 12 samples for examination.

It was found out that the sweets stored in the unit belonged to Bhawani Mishthan Bhandar.

The team, comprising food inspector Amritpal Singh and Sanjay Katyal, said the raid was part of the routine checks being conducted by the Health Department to make sure that the standard of sweets and other food items being sold in the market during the festive season met the norms.

The 200 tins found in the storage unit contained khoya with packing dates of September 17, 19, 23 and 27. Interestingly, the owner of Bhawani Mishthan Bhandar, Rajinder Kumar, said the sweets had been prepared ahead of the Karwachauth festival and were stored in the unit two-three days ago.

District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa said the officials had collected the samples and further action would be taken only after the purity test results are out. Three of the 12 samples have been sent to a laboratory in Chandigarh and the results are expected to be out in a week.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Singh Dhillon said he was not aware about the manufacturing date of the sweets stored in the Babli Cold Store unit. He had allowed the sweetshop owner to use his unit since they are neighbours, he added.

He said he had not charged any rent from Rajinder Kumar.

The degree of seriousness with which the district administration took the task of sending food packets to the Jammu & Kashmir flood victims as part of the state government’s relief work in the state was laid bare during the raid conducted at the cold storage unit.

During the raid, Health Department officials found a large number of packets containing rotis, paranthas and pickles, all prepared for the flood victims stored there.

After Jammu & Kashmir was ravaged by floods in September, the state government had appealed to its people to come forward and extend all possible help. As part of the drive, people had packed food items and deposited the same with the administration, but sadly, the material didn’t reach its destination.

While the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Dr Basant Garg, said he didn’t have any information about the food packets stored in the unit, Dhillon said he had received a call from the DC office asking him if the food packets could be stored.

“A large number of food packets were stored in the unit. Some of the food items were sent but no one came to collect the remaining packets. We also didn’t take stock of the same,” said Dhillon.

Bathinda, October 8
In a bid to mark their protest against the delay in the revision of their pay scales, bank officers will begin their ‘work to rule’ policy from tomorrow. In a meeting convened by the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), which comprises of all the bank unions, it was decided today that the officers would take up the fight for their benefit and see to it that it reaches a conclusion.

As per the message sent out to all the bank officers, the officers would stick to work to rule policy under which they would work only from 10 am to 5 pm and would not spend any extra time in the office to finish the pending work.

The officers stated that they would protest against the delay in the revision of their wages and would wear black badges during working hours on October 10.

While the black badge protest will be observed only on October 10, the work to rule policy will be adopted by the bank officers till their demands are met.

The officers said although, the banks were crucial units of the economical structure of the country, the Central government was not serious towards the demands of the bank employees.

A revision of their pay scales was due for the last two years and the government had adopted a policy of deferring the revision citing several reasons, thereby hurting the interests of bank employees, they said.

This time around, they would not give in to any promises and would stick to their protest till the time the revision is not announced, they added.

Bathinda, October 8
In an effort to provide good health to students of government schools, around 14 students with heart ailments had been treated free of cost in the last few months under the School Health Programme that has now been merged into the RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Surakhya Karyakarm).

The district health authorities, on instructions of the Chief Medical Officer, had gathered momentum in an awareness campaign in schools, for registration and treatment of school children under the programme.

A number of students were examined in the schools, out of which about fourteen students were diagnosed with heart ailments and were treated free of cost.

Under the RBSK, students are treated for thirty identified diseases in the age group 0-18 years. Earlier, the under School Health Programme, the children were given treatment for a few identified diseases, including RHD (rheumatic heart disease) and CHD (congenital heart disease).

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Civil Surgeon Tejwant Singh Randhawa said, “The students have been treated for heart ailments. These heart ailments are worldwide as many children are born with birth abnormalities. The recruitment for the doctors is being done at the state level whereas the site for building has been located and soon the center will come up.”

Under the School Health Programme of the NRHM, only five diseases are covered for treatment whereas under the RBSK, children from 0-18 years could be given treatment for thirty identified diseases.

The DEIC centre under the RBSK was started with a hope to improve the quality of life of children with a focus on early detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies and disabilities (4Ds), where the children 0-18 years of age will have access to public health facilities free of cost.

Two mobile health teams consisting of two AYUSH doctors, including male and female, a staff nurse and a pharmacist, are being recruited in all 118 health blocks of the state.

DEIC staff will include medical professionals (one paediatrician, one medical officer and one dental doctor), a physiotherapist, one audiologist and one speech therapist, a psychologist, an optometrist, a special educator-cum-social worker, two lab-technicians, one dental technician manager and one data entry operator.

DEIC staff are prescribed with a role of providing health services to referred children for confirmation of diagnosis and treatment, screening children at the DEIC, visit all newborns delivered at the district hospital, ensure that every child born sick or preterm or with low birth weight or any birth defect is followed up at the DEIC.

Bathinda, October 8
Member of Parliament from Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann, during a promotional event organised today for his upcoming Punjabi film ‘Police in Pollywood’ said, “The makers of the film had signed an actor, but they now have an MP promoting their film.”

With his tongue firmly in cheek, Mann said all Punjabi films looked the same these days with same faces and same storylines.

“The audience these days is confused as to which films they have seen and which they have missed. This film will be an exception since it sets an example in roping in trained actors or theatre artistes for each and every role. This is also a film which the entire family can sit together and watch without any member feeling the need to get up and leave the room,” he said.

He was excited about the film as he was making a comeback to films after a long time and all the time he was getting mails from his fans asking him if he would leave the entertainment business, Mann added.

“Politics is the priority right now but it is not a source of income for me. Although it commands a lot of my time now, I think I can still take out time to do one good film every year. I certainly don’t have time for live shows now,” he said.

The film also stars Anuj Sachdeva, a popular face on television. After his debut show, Sabki Laadli Bebo, Anuj went on to do ‘Chhanchhan’ and ‘Phir Subah Hogi’.

With a new show ‘Itti Si Khushi’ on air, Punjabi films and a role in Amole Gupte’s ‘Hawaa Hawaai’, Anuj certainly has his kitty full. When asked about what he would choose between television and films if need be, he said, “I enjoy doing both and currently, I am in a happy space dividing my time between the two mediums. As for choosing one, I would choose the one which offers quality work.”
The film is also a debut vehicle for veteran theatre artiste Sunita Dhir as a director. The film also stars Mani Kapoor as the lead opposite Anuj Sachdeva. “The film focuses on comic situations which arise when the Punjab Police are entrusted with the job of making a film. The film also gives out a message against honour killings,” said Dhir. 

Bathinda, October 8
A number of school students were detected with weak eyesight in a survey conducted by the district Health Department but they have been waiting to get spectacles that are to be given to them under the Centre-run NRHM programme.

The fund-starved state government had last year too failed to provide the spectacles to a number of students identified with weak eyesight.

This year, the survey had found about 583 students with weak eyesight, whereas last year, the number was 673.

In 2014, out of 583 students, about 142 students in the Bhagta block, 129 in the Nathana block, 25 students in the Talwandi Sabo block, 231 students in the Bathinda block, 35 students in Baliawali and 39 in the Rampura block have been identified with weak eyesight.

The department had prepared the list of these students a few months ago but it’s facing an acute shortage of funds to provide spectacles.

“We have prepared the list and will soon provide the spectacles to the students. We have almost found out the contractor who would provide us the spectacles. Last year, funds were insufficient to provide spectacles to all the students but we had distributed about half of them,” an official said.

A school teacher, pleading anonymity, said, “The students of government schools, who have been found with weak eyesight, are facing difficulty in while studying. Parents of these students are mostly poor and not in a position to buy them spectacles.”

“Every year, a number of students are not provided with spectacles but the department continues to conduct surveys The funds provided by the Government of India and used by the Health Department should be investigated,” he said.

Bathinda, October 8
Residents of MIG quarters on the Bhagu Road have written to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against the encroachment drive of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) carried out on September 20 in which the BDA officials, along with policemen, demolished the boundary wall of the quarters to widen the road.

Residents stated that BDA officials barged into their houses without any prior information and demolished the boundary wall of their quarters, against the order of the court.

As per the order passed passed by a First Class Judge in the year 1994, it was stated that the space had been left in front of each block for the use and occupation of the allottees or the purchasers.

The court had passed a decree for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from demolishing the boundary wall.

In the letter, they have appealed that the court order should be taken into account and they should be given compensation for the damage or loss that the BDA had done to them during their anti-encroachment drive.

They have also threatened that if any further action is taken that causes loss to their family, then the BDA administrator would be responsible for it and they would be forced to take legal action against him. They have also stated that this should be taken as a legal notice.

Raj Kumar, a resident, said they had informed about the court orders to BDA officials when the demolishing was being carried out but that didn’t deter the officials and they went ahead and demolished the boundary wall.

Bathinda, October 8
Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the North Zone Cotton Corporation and the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) demanding that the purchase of cotton be started as soon as possible.

“The CCI has not started the purchase of cotton crop, due to which the farmers are being harassed and looted by the private buyers as they are purchasing the crop at a low price,” said Mukhtair Singh Mann, secretary, BKU Ekta Sidhupur.

Farmers demanded that the CCI should start the purchase of crop. All arrangements should be made for hassle-free purchase and government employees should reach the grain market to start the purchase.

The CCI which buys the crop from the cotton traders should stop this trend and directly buy it from farmers. “In other states, cotton arrives for purchase a little earlier, so arrangement for the purchase should be made as per the requirement and during the auction, officials should remain present on the spot,” said the farmers.

Bathinda, October 8
ETT teachers organised a function at the Teachers Home here on Wednesday to express their gratitude towards the chairman of the Bathinda Zila Parishad, Gurpreet Singh Maluka, for his role in getting the ETT teachers working under the Zila Parishad shifted to the State Education Department.

Maluka said on the demand of teachers, the state government has shifted all ETT teachers to the State Education Department and asked the teachers to work honestly to improve the status of education in government schools.

Jaswinder Singh Sidhu, state president, ETT Teachers Union, presided over the function and honoured Maluka. He thanked all ETT teachers and other organisations for their help and support.

Jagmohan Kaushal, Darshan Singh Maur, Jagpal Singh, Lachman Singh Maluka from different supportive organisations were also honoured by the ETT Teachers Union. District president Gurjeet Singh Jassi, Rajinder Singh, Arjun Singh Dhillon were also present at the function.

Bathinda, October 8
Teachers recruited under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) burnt an effigy of the state government at the Teachers’ Home on Wednesday as per the directions of the state committee.

Leaders of the union stated that at a meeting held with the state government on September 2, the government had promised them to make a policy to regularise their services. But now the government is not keeping its words. “We have organised the protest against the state government for not keeping its promise,” added the union leaders.

“Till the regularisation of service and enrolment under the Education Department, teachers will continue their stir,” said Didar Singh.

Amarpyar Singh and Beant Singh condemned the government’s attitude towards the teachers. They demanded that the government should fulfill their long-pending demands as soon as possible. 

Bathinda, October 8
In the ongoing District Athletics Meet, being held at Sports School, Ghudda, Senior Akali Dal (Badal) leader, Jaswinder Singh Ghudda was the chief guest.

In long jump (U-19) girls category Ramandeep Kaur of Mandi Kalan village stood the first, while Amandeep Kaur of Bhagta village and Jasvir Kaur remained second and third respectively.

In long jump (boys)- Gurwinder Singh of Sangat village bagged the first position, whereas Ajaypartap Singh of Mandi Kalan and Sarbjeet Singh Bathinda got the second and third positions respectively.

In triple jump (boys)- Gurpreet Singh Mandi Kalan, Arwinder Singh Talwandi Sabo and Suresh Kumar Goniana got the first, second and third positions respectively.

In triple jump (girls)- Harpreet Kaur of Sangat clinched the first position. Rajvir Kaur of Maur and Lakhwinder Kaur of Bhucho bagged the second and third positions respectively.

In 5 km walk (girls)- Gurmit Kaur of Talwandi Sabo bagged the first position, while Ramandeep Kaur of Sangat and Gurpreet Kaur Sangat clinched the second and third positions.

In discuss throw (boys)- Lovejeet Singh of Goniana, Lovejeet Singh of Mandi Phul and Gursimran Singh of Maur mandi got the first, second and third positions respectively.

All the winners were given the medals by the chief guest.

Bathinda, October 8
University College of Physical Education of Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, organised a football tournament here on Wednesday. All students of Bachelor of Physical Education and BSc (Physical Education) participated in the competition.

Dr Narinder Singh, director finance, GKU, inaugurated the tournament.

BPE students won the match by defeating BSc physical education students. Girls also participated in the event. Bhupinder Singh and Veerpal Kaur were declared the best players.

Dr Tarlok Singh Sandhu, director, sports, GKU, appreciated the efforts of Dr Ravinder Sumal head of the department of physical education and the staff members.

Dr NS Malhi, Vice-Chancellor congratulated the winners and Dr Tarlok Singh Sandhu for regularly hosting such activities.

Dr Ravinder Sumal, Prof Satpal Singh, Prof Gurdeep Singh, Prof Surinder Kaur Mahi and Prof KPS Mahi also graced the occasion.

Bathinda, October 8
The police have busted a gang involved in vehicle thefts, making fictitious RCs and numbers plates. The racket came to light with the arrest of five persons from Gomti Kalan village.

The accused have been identified as Gobind Singh, a resident of Sangat Kalan, Mandeep Singh alias Nita, a resident of Rampura, Gurpreet Singh alias Gura, a resident of Gomti Kalan, Manpreet Singh alias Raju, a resident of Rampura and Karamjit Singh a resident of Rampura Mandi.

The police have recovered a Swift Dzire (white colour), a Swift (white colour), a .32 bore country-made revolver, a .315 bore country-made pistol and four live cartridges.

Senior Superitendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said to stop the thefts, a special team under the supervision of SP (D) Swaran Singh Khanna along with DSP (D) Gurmail Singh and CIA in-charge Jagdish Kumar was constituted.

On Tuesday, ASI Sadhu Singh along with the CIA staff got the information that the arrested accused along with Manoj Kumar, Jagtar Singh, Jarnail Singh and Ramandeep Singh had made a gang and would hire a car.

After looting the same at gunpoint and changing the number plates, they would use the car in other crimes in which Karamjit Singh and Jarnail Singh would help them.

After receiving the information, the police registered a case against the these accused under Sections 379, 382, 411, 420, 212, 216 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act.

Manoj, Jagtar Singh, Jarnail Singh and Ramandeep Singh are still at large. — TNS