Tarn Taran Diary: Few takers for official quarters in Powercom colony
The residential quarters of the Powercom colony, situated in the heart of Tarn Taran and established about 45 years back, has few takers. It was once the first choice of the employees of Powercom, also known as the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The Powercom property worth crores has become not only useless but also neglected. The quarters of the colony remain shut as there is no one to get these allotted. The situation has remained so for the last over two decades. The buildings have developed cracks and there has been a growth of elephant grass around the colony and also in the quarters. The quarters have become shelters for snakes also. There was a time when the Powercom employees would try their best to get quarters allotted in the colony as they were not only safe but also had a pollution-free atmosphere. The employees used to put pressure to get the quarters allotted with even ministers recommending the allotting of quarters in the colony to people who were ‘close’ to them. The colony has four bungalows for officials of XEN rank, and for the rank of SDO to Class IV employees, there are 46 residential quarters with type-wise facilities. Out of the four bungalows, one has been occupied forcefully by the district police and another is being used by the Powercom itself. The remaining two are lying vacant, staring at damage. Of the other quarters, five have been taken by the employees on rent. As most quarters have no occupants, the surroundings are lacking in cleanliness. The Powercom has taken no steps to improve its condition so that the quarters could be given on rent to the employees. Even the officials themselves are taking no interest because if their subordinates start living here, then they too would be forced to stay here whereas at present, they are free to stay anywhere with most senior officials preferring to stay in Amritsar. The negligence on the part of officials of the Patiala headquarters has resulted in property worth crores becoming useless when it could have served a better purpose. The surroundings must be sanitised till an alternative comes into force.
Dump garbage wherever you wish to
In the grain market complex of Tarn Taran, heaps of garbage are seen dumped in the middle of the road in the market. As a result, it creates blockage in sewer pipes and other outlets used to drain out water.
Often, stary cattle can be seen feeding opn it. Some of the commission agents said garbage gets dumped as a matter of routine since last year and there is no one to check it.
Empowering poor through education
Jeewan Sharma, a resident of Tarn Taran town, has devoted herself to the cause of educating the kids of downtrodden sections of society, that too free of cost. Being a member of Sewa Bharti, she has been teaching the kids of weaker sections for the last two years for free.
She said that the tiny tots who come to learn from her are from the Muradpur locality of Tarn Taran town where the population mostly belongs to the deprived sections. As many as 20 students from Nursery to Class 8 come to study after their school is over. She teaches them from 4 pm to 6 pm, helping them with their homework. Jeewan Sharma is educated up to Class XII. She was offered jobs by private schools at a handsome salary but she said that she wanted to serve the weaker sections of society free of cost. Besides guiding them to do school homework, she teaches them good habits like helping parents in their work, showing respect to elders and parents etc. She said that all the 20 kids who come to learn from her are like her children and she loves them all.
(Contributed by Gurbaxpuri)
