Come to Malout & drive your dream!

malwa diary
Come to Malout & drive your dream!

Rajay Deep

It is Sunday and a part of the grain market, just opposite the Malout bus stand, is humming with activity. Thousands have thronged the place but not to procure foodgrain. You are actually at Malwa’s biggest market of used cars.
If you want to buy or sell the used cars, you are at the right place where hundreds of secondhand cars from across the Malwa, neighbouring districts of other states, including Rajasthan, Haryana or even Delhi, have been put up for sale.
When you go inside the market, a number of dealers start approaching you. If you could withstand marketing gimmicks like “Don’t buy, just start and listen to the noise of the engine,” or “all parts are original” and also know the art of bargaining, chances are high that you may leave with a good vehicle as this is the best market to buy or sell small cars. However, do not forget the authenticating of the documents.
For many, the entire exercise results in a good package which they get in terms of commission by playing the role of a middle man. While for many, including various well-to-do landlords, it is a hobby which brings them quick bucks. But for some, it is almost like a family business, which involves going to Delhi, buying a car at a cheap rate, bringing the same to Malout and after giving the required facelift putting it up for sale. 

Sale-purchase of old tractors ---Farmers catching up with tricks of the trade

Sale-purchase of old tractors
Farmers catching up with tricks of the trade
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), February 6
Is it the depleting water table, power crisis or the rising debt that farmers of this region are on a tractor selling spree?
This is what all those who visit the second-hand tractor market for the first time want to know. Though of all these three reasons have been there for a long time, a change in the approach of the farmers has set this market abuzz.
Gone are the days when the selling of a tractor was considered as a bad sign in the villages of Malwa. Now, farmers, who were being treated as illiterate and naïve, have also developed a knack for trading (business). They have become so calculative that by sale and purchase of their tractors, they are earning a good income.
Once they feel that the requirement of the vehicle was over in the field, they do not hesitate to bring it to the market and put it on sale with a price tag of their choice. And, after a few months, sensing the requirement for a tractor in the coming season, they again go to the market and purchase one of their choice.
This approach of the farmers has now overshadowed all reasons of the past — payment of the loan to ‘arhtiya’ or the bank, marriage of a daughter or son, financial crisis due to crop damage, emergency domestic expenditure, etc — that used to lead to the sale of tractors.
During a recent visit to the second-hand tractor market at Talwandi Sabo, this reporter observed that every farmer selling his tractor was not a victim of circumstances but a majority of them were those who had either tasted or want to taste the nuances of the sale-purchase cycle.
One Balvir Singh of Sardoolgarh (Mansa), who was sitting on his tractor (Farmtrac), said, “Earlier, one used to love his tractor like a son but with the passage of time, we have understood that it is only a machine that can be purchased any time. So, why block money for no reason? If I get good value for this tractor, I will sell it and purchase another whenever I feel a requirement.”
He was not a lone farmer who had come to the market with such an approach. There were many others, including those who were carrying small bags in their hands and looking for tractors to purchase.
A sexagenarian Narottam Singh of Bajakhana (Faridkot), said, “I had sold my tractor a few weeks ago at a good price. Now, I need it and I have come here to buy one. With my experience of sale-purchase of four tractors, I am sure I will strike a good deal.”
One Pushpinder Singh, who seemed to be literate, said, “Finding farming to be a seasonal trade, I have started this side business and earn a good income by trading a tractor every week.”
According to details collected, there are about 70 groups, which collectively hold the tractor market here every Wednesday. They have hired a plot to set up the market and charge a commission of one per cent on the value of tractor from both the parties (seller as well as buyer).
It may be mentioned that the other three markets dealing in second-hand tractors, set up at Moga, Barnala and Malout, are also famous in the region.
The trend of going for a used tractor has been causing noticeable damage to the entrepreneurs running the showroom or agency of new tractors, as farmers get a variety of tractors at cheaper prices here.

Toxic water used for irrigation

Toxic water used for irrigation
Rajay Deep/TNS

Bathinda, June 29

Even after observing its health hazards, farmers of about 12 villages of this district are still using black smelly and toxic sludge flowing in the Lisada drain to irrigate their agricultural fields.
The absence of canal water and highly fluoride dissolved groundwater has left farmers of villages located along the banks of the Lisada drain, namely Shergarh, Mallawala, Kaile Bandar, Chak Ruldu Singh Wala, Kotbhara, Kot Bakhtu, Kotfatta, Ramgarh Bhunder, Chathewala, Jeewan Singh Wala, Manak Khana, Pathrala and others to irrigate their fields with the black water.
The water is so infected that people, who are consuming the crops irrigated with this toxic waste, are reportedly falling prey to diseases like joint pains and cancer.
Visiting some of the villages, in question, a Tribune team today observed the people were quite aware about the adverse effects of their irrigation practice, but they lamented the waste water irrigation as the sole source to run their livelihood. They said the drain carried sludge and waste of some factories located in Barnala district but after entering Bathinda district, water from an irrigation distributary, near Rampura, get mixed in it.
Villagers said by collecting money most of the farmers had installed motor pumps along the banks of the drain to lift the water.
Showing his paddy field, inundated under the drain water, Gurcharan Singh of Ramgarh Bhunder village said: “It is stinking, which leaves doubt about its harmful effect on crops also.”
“Taking precautions, I use to sell the yield in the market and buy canal-irrigated yield of crops for self consumption. But sometimes I feel it is like cheating the innocent people who consume it, but I have no other option to earn my livelihood,” said Gurcharan Singh.
On his part, Paramjeet Singh Sandhu, Chief Agricultural Officer, Bathinda, said: “The issue is in our notice and a number of times we have requested the Punjab Agricultural University authorities to test the water to ascertain the composition of the black water flowing in the drain, but every time it gets confined to papers only.”

Drain water brings high crop yield, poor health

Drain water brings high crop yield, poor health
Farmers harness toxic sludge in Lisada drain to irrigate fields but queries over public health remain
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 5
Absence of canal water and unsuitability of groundwater have left hundreds farmers of this cancer-prone district with no other option but to irrigate their fields with the toxic sludge flowing in a drain which passes through their villages here.

A farmer irrigates his field with the toxic sludge flowing in the Lisada drain, which passes through the village. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

The effect of crops irrigated with toxic waste can be observed in symptoms like plaque on teeth, joint pain and grey hair in the villagers.
Whether it is wheat, cotton, paddy, vegetables or any other crop, farmers of villages Kotbhara, Kot Bakhtu, Kotfatta, Ramgarh Bhunder, Chathewala, Jeewan Singh Wala, Shergarh, Mallwala, Kaile Bandar, Chak Ruldu Singh Wala, Pathrala, Manak Khana and others, located along the banks of the Lisada drain near Bathinda, have been using this dirty, stinking, toxic black water for about two decades to irrigate their crops.
The drain carries sludge and waste of factories located in Barnala district. Shockingly, while crossing Bathinda district, the drain becomes dry as almost the whole of the water gets used in agricultural fields.
During a recent visit to some such villages, it was observed that despite awareness about the adverse effects of the irrigation practice, the officials were not taking adequate steps to rectify the situation.
The official apathy is evident from the fact that farmers, pooling money, have installed motors pumps along the banks of the drain, from where they lift the water that is supplied through kilometers long steel and cemented pipes buried beneath the earth, to the agricultural fields.
Narrating his plight, Satwant Singh, an elderly farmer of village Kotfatta, said, "This water stinks, so it is obvious that it would be leaving its harmful effect on crops also. Taking precautions, we sell whatever we produce in the market and buy canal irrigated yield of crops for our own consumption."
Showing the carrots sown in his field for self consumption, Balwinder Singh of village Kotbhara said, "The crop will get spoiled if I do not sell it in the market as my grandchildren have clearly refused to consume it as it has been irrigated by this muck." "Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the SAD (B) candidate for Lok Saha elections came to a nearby village but when we were about to inform her about the problem, a leader, who was acting as her guide, flipped the issue saying that it was farmers who use the drain water of their own will due to its high productivity," alleged Jaswant Singh of Kotbhara.
Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, Neelam Bajaj said, "The task to check the water and its effect on crops is to be done by the agriculture department. Moreover, the laboratory tests are very expensive but soon, we will try to get some of the crops examined, considering the public health." Replying to a query, Chief Agricultural Officer, Bathinda, Paramjeet Singh Sandhu said, "To check the menace, we had requested the Punjab Agricultural University authorities. But so far, no response has been received." "When the crop is harvested this time, we will take samples to get it examined," he assured.
DC, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said, "Till now, no formal complaint has come to me regarding this. So I cannot visit and check the crop and the water on my own. But if somebody lodges a complaint, then we will take immediate action.”

Workers from Rajasthan step in as NREGA checks cow belt migration

Workers from Rajasthan step in as NREGA checks cow belt migration
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 5

The harvesting season has begun but the migrant labour from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, unlike in the past years, has not landed for the assistance this time. Till now, only Rajasthani labour has arrived in this district.
During an interaction with a large group of labourers working at village Jeewan Singh Wala, who had come from Pali area in Rajasthan, it was observed that they had come just due to the necessity of wheat, which they cannot get in their region. They said in their area water level was too low to produce wheat. So they had come here bearing huge travelling expenses.
In the previous season, it was observed that due to implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), a small number of labouers from Bihar and UP had come here, as they had got jobs in their own states.
Recalling the past experiences of labour shortage, farmers of the region have already started booking the labourers in advance to avoid such situation.
“We are a total of 26 members in family, who have been reaping the crop here in this 12 acre field. After here, we will move to the adjacent chunk of the field, as ‘Sardarji ’ had already booked us for that,” an elderly labourer Boota Singh said.
Another labourer, Rana Sabu Chaudhary said, “We stay here for a month and after the harvesting season will return to our village in Rajasthan to reap bajra and get other jobs also.”
The farmer, Jagsir Singh of village Jeewan Singh Wala, whose field was being harvested, said, “No labourer is free nearby as most of them are busy in laying road and construction related works. Now labourers from Bihar and UP are not interested in coming here, so we have been finding these Rajasthanis to be the only assistance for us because we alone cannot reap the whole area on our own.”
On being asked about the use of Combine harvester he said, “We never go for that machine considering its demerits, as it spoils much quantity of grains and also leaves stubble in the earth.”
About the charges being paid to them, he said, “Now we cannot negotiate with them much, as understanding the labour pang, they too have started taking stand on their demand. They take 1.2 quintal wheat for reaping one acre. In a day, they all including women collectively reap total three acre of crop. Other than this we have to bear their milk and sugar expenses and also provide shelter at our own house.”

In the twilight of their lives, NREGA offers a helping hand

In the twilight of their lives, NREGA offers a helping hand
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 14
A feeble smile playing on the lips of octogenarian Jasmel Kaur of village Bhalaiana in Muktsar district, who has been forsaken by her family, is her way of appreciating the employment scheme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

Elderly women at village Bhalaiana in Muktsar district work at a pond site under the NREGA scheme. Photo by writer

Jasmel is engaged in digging a common village pond. She is a widow and her seven married children, including five sons, left her to fend for her own, in the twilight of her life.
Though she is disheartened over the behaviour of her children, she terms the NREGA scheme as a boon that keeps her engaged and keeps intact her self-esteem by fetching her meal three times a day.
Like Jasmel, about 55 other Dalit women are engaged in the job at the village. Each of them has her own tale of sorrow to narrate. They have a common thread in their lives — they term the NREGA has helped them overcome the odds in their lives.
Another widow, Harpal Kaur, who was busy shifting sand from one place to another, told this correspondent with her hands trembling, “I lost my son and daughter-in-law in an accident. Since that day, bringing up three grandchildren is my responsibility. It is tough to cope up with circumstances but somehow, I am managing with my earnings from this job. So please do not write anything which can lead to the scheme being discontinued.”
The experience of the elderly Darshan Singh, struck by paralysis, and his wife Baljeet Kaur, who sustained burn injuries, is also touching. They were forsaken by children and are dependent upon NREGA to earn their livelihood. Showing her burnt skin, Baljeet Kaur said, “It is tough to be active in such conditions but when none of our three sons are in a position to bear our expenses, what else can I think of?”
Middle-aged Bhuro Kaur said their voice should be made audible to the politicians. “No doubt the scheme is good but meeting all expenses with such a meagre amount is not possible. We are ready to put in more hard work but the wages, which are about Rs123 now, should be raised. I have to manage my household as my husband is a drug addict. It has been 15 years of marriage but I have no child. So, working here in the company of other women rejuvenates me besides financing my family needs.”
Dependency of the needy upon NREGA gives them a reason to admire it. But one common refrain of the workers was that keeping the liabilities of the employed labourers in mind, the process of payment must be made easier and quicker.

NREGA boon for family-forsaken elderly

NREGA boon for family-forsaken elderly
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 12

The employment guarantee scheme initiated under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is proving to be a boon for those elderly who have been forsaken by their family members and have to eke out a livelihood in the twilight phase of their lives.
During a random visit to village Lehra Dhurkot in the district, located on Bathinda-Chandigarh highway, around 30 elderly persons were witnessed digging a common pond (chhappar) near the cremation ground.
With beads of sweat on their brow, they shared their sorrows and joy with TNS.
“We are employed here under a scheme called NREGA for the past three months. We have dug up a pond in the village. This scheme is quite helpful for us as our kin have refused to give us shelter,” said an elderly woman Som Nath.
“Around 20 years back, my son went his own way and now at the age of 75, the scheme is proving good for me as here we collectively work, enjoy and get the money to eke out a livelihood,” he added.
The others too narrated their tale. Almost all of them were dejected due to family problems as they had been abandoned by their kin or had lost their life partners.
In a choked voice, an elderly couple, Bhura Singh and Daleep Kaur, said, “We have two daughters and two sons, all married. In the last phase of our lives, they have left us in the lurch. Now we are depending on this scheme of employment for our livelihood.”
Darshan Singh, who had lost a hand and Jagsir Singh, who was struck by polio, were also seen working happily there.
Grey-haired Gurmel Singh said, “I have two sons and four daughters, two of whom are married. It was all my ill fate that one of my married daughters, due to some dispute with her in-laws has now come back to sray with us along with her three children.
It is my sheer helplessness because of which I am here but when I join these people for work, I forget all my worries.”
A widow, Harjeet Kaur, said, “I have two sons who are quite young to earn their livelihood. So, I am working here.”
Before leaving the place, they all enthusiastically said, “We are working to earn wages which would guarantee us food and happiness. Every fortnight, we are paid according to the fixed wages. This time, we have been told that the wages have been revised, which is good news for us.”
When asked why they did not go to harvest the wheat crop, they replied, “The scheme guarantees work for only 100 days in a year and we are about to complete that period. We fear that if we leave this project midway, the government may not allow us to rejoin. So, we all are committed and for the moment, do not want to go anywhere else.”

Religious park at Takht Damdama Sahib in the offing

Religious park at Takht Damdama Sahib in the offing
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), March 30
Taking a unique step to add grace to the effulgence of the history of the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, located here, officials of the forest department have carved out a design to set up a religious park—Guru Baag—dedicated to all ten Sikh Gurus.
After conducting a deep research of the religious-cum-historical books, the staff of the divisional forest officer (DFO), Bathinda, observed that different species of trees were associated with almost every Sikh Guru.
Following the findings, forest officials have designed the Guru Baagh with a total of ten trees, each depicting one of the ten Sikh gurus. It will be set up in the Takht Sahib complex, ensuring a peaceful ambience to enable pilgrims spend their time in religious-cum-spiritual activities.
According to the design specifics, the park will be circular in shape, having one tree of Ber (Zizupus Zizuba) in its middle, which would depict Guru Nanak Dev, while the other nine trees, representing the other nine Sikh Gurus, will encircle it at an equal distance.
The findings of the DFO states that Ber (Zizupus Zizuba) depicts Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Khair (Accacia Catechu) represents Guru Angad Dev, Maulsri (Commiphora Wightii) stands for Guru Amar Das, Pipal (Ficus Religiosa) depicts Guru Ram Das, Tahali (Dalbergia sisoo) is for Guru Arjun Dev, Dhak (Butea monosperma) is for Guru Hargobind Rai, Jand (Prosopis spicigera) represents Guru Har Rai, Neem (Azadirectia Indica) shows Guru Teg Bahadur and Impli/Phalai (Tamarindus indicus/acacia modesta) depicts Guru Gobind Singhji.
However, despite the best of efforts, the forest department staff in Bathinda could find only nine trees depicting the nine Sikh Gurus. They could not ascertain the tree depicting the eighth Sikh Guru—Guru Hari Krishan Sahib.
Finally, they have now sought the help of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) in this attempt.
Confirming the facts, DFO, Bathinda, SP Anand Kumar said, “It will be an environmental project which would have great religious importance as well. We have sent the proposal and design to the state government as well as the SGPC in Amritsar. Once the project gets sanction, we will start our work.”
Speaking to The Tribune over the phone, SGPC president Avtar Singh termed the project as appreciable. However, he maintained, “Due to my busy schedule, I could not go through the details of the project. After analyzing the feasibility, I will recommend the case.”

Ill-equipped primary school mocks at RTE Act

Ill-equipped primary school mocks at RTE Act
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Pakki Tibbi (Muktsar), December 19

While the Punjab government makes great claims about the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, students of the Government Primary School at Pakki Tibbi village in the district, are forced to sit on uneven brick floor and bear the shivering cold every morning.
The school, located on the Malout-Abohar road, is running without any infrastructure expect for five rooms of which one is permanently locked and three others are in a dilapidated condition. The classes are sans chair, bench and mattress.
The school is being run by only one Sikhya Karmi recruited under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. He holds all five classes in a single batch.
The boundary wall and the lavatories in the school have already collapsed. After getting a petty grant from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal a couple of months back, the villagers had installed a Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant in one of the classrooms. But ever since, it is non-functional as the school is sans power supply connection.
The education volunteer deputed there had made a temporary arrangement at his personal level by getting a power connection from a house in the school's vicinity but the connection provider withdrew it some months back.
Observing the pathetic condition of the school, a majority of children of the village have been studying in private schools at Malout and Abohar towns, which are situated about 15 kms away from the village. The total strength of the school is 14 and reportedly all of them belong to the Dalit community.
It is learnt that to keep the school functioning, the Sikhya Karmi posted there ferries five children of Pakki Tibbi village in his own car.
When contacted, the District Education Officer (Elementary), Muktsar, Dharam Pal claimed he was unaware about the condition.
“I hold the dual charge of DEO, elementary as well as secondary. My whole day gets wasted in attending meetings only. But as the issue is very serious, I will personally visit the school and get a first- hand account of the situation. Whatever is possible, that we shall do for the school,” he assured.

Waterlogged Channu awaits relief from govt

Waterlogged Channu awaits relief from govt
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 5
Channu, a village situated in Lambi, the home constituency of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Muktsar district, is one of the worst water-logged villages of the state with 2000 acres land of 192 owners affected by the problem. It is not the end of misery of the residents there as the village has 12 patients of cancer while seven are suffering from tuberculosis (TB). During the past two-and-a-half years, around 10 persons have died due to cancer.
According to a recent survey conducted by Mohammad Tayyab, IAS, assistant commissioner (UT), the ground water level is just two to five feet in the seepage affected area. The reason for high rate of cancer and TB could be water pollution, as toxic salts are present in the seepage.
The report reveals many shocking details about the village as more than 50 per cent of the total population of the village is landless farm labourers and almost half of the village land is affected with seepage/water logging.
The underground water level is rising and shifting towards south west, causing the submergence of land that is generally called waterlogging or ‘Sem’. The ‘Sem’ contains toxic alkaline salts called ‘Shora’ (fluoride), which makes it unfit for drinking, household use, fishery and irrigation.
As per the details available, the village was infested with the problem in 1997-98. Earlier, the depth of water was about 40-60 feet. Now, about 2,000 acres of land is infested with the ‘Sem’, including 400 acre of totally submerged land. Since 1997-98, the watertable is rising at the rate of 2-3 feet a year.
In this village, many cases of skin diseases (dermatitis, skin allergy, scabies), common cold, tuberculosis and cancer have been reported.
It is shocking that in such a disease-prone village, there is only one MBBS doctor, who provides health services and that too on contract basis under the state government scheme.
The report reveals that cancer is one of the major threat to the villagers. The village doctor refers cancer cases to the PHC at Lambi while some go to Bikaner in Rajasthan for treatment.
The report also shows Sem as the major cause of poverty in the village. It was also placed in front of the chairman of the 13th Finance Commission, Vijay Kelker, who had visited the village on December 5. But the whole village is still waiting for a positive action from the government.

Village not to celebrate festivals

Six of family killed in accident
Village not to celebrate festivals
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Kalyan Sukha (Bathinda), October 17
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today flew to this village to share grief with the residents who were mourning death of six members of a family in a road accident.

Residents mourning their loss. Photos by writer

He spent some time in the house of the victims where
residents of the entire village had gathered to mourn the tragic incident while people elsewhere were with enthusiasm celebrating Dussehra (Vijya Dashmi).
The village has recently suffered a major loss, when six members of a family were killed in a road accident on the Bathinda-Chandigarh road. The ill-fate kin, who were killed, were returning after celebrating the engagement ceremony of one of them at Tapa town in Baranala district, when the car they were traveling in rammed into a bus near village Jethuke in Bathinda district.
To sympathize with the bereaved family, Sukhbir Badal expressed grief and assured the family members every possible help, if required.
Narrating the days they shared with the deceased, the immense pain of loss was not only visible on the faces of elderly people but children too were observed soaked in throbbing.
“I had bought a lot of firecrackers to celebrate Dussehra with my friends but when the whole village is remorse over the incident I can not even think to celebrate the festival. So I handed over all my crackers to a kin residing in some distant village,” said a 10-year-old boy Amrit Pal Singh.
It is not Dussehra only, the whole village has decided not to celebrate Diwali also, informed one Rupinder Singh, who resides opposite the house of the victims. He said that the incident had shaken the village so badly that many of the farmers delayed the harvesting of their ripened paddy crop.
An elderly Mahender Singh said, “It was not only the six souls that perished, but the tragedy has put their five close knit families in turmoil for ever.”
Speaking to The Tribune, villagers informed that in the incident one Jagtar Singh had been killed along with his only son Beant Singh and now Jagtar is survived by only his widow.
Meanwhile, there were two nephews of Jagtar, namely Amandeep Singh Gurlal Singh, who left their parents to keep crying for rest of their life. Further, the accident claimed lives of two of his brothers-in-law, namely Darshan Singh and Gursewak Singh, who left their wives and young children to fight the battle of life on their own.
“This is apparently the first such major tragedy in our village that left people from all walks of life in deep sorrow. We wish such a tragic incident takes place in no village,” rued one Rajbinder Singh.

Govt website has stale information

Govt website has stale information
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 14
Most of the columns of Punjab government’s official website do not have updated information.
The biodata of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who assumed charge of the post in the second half of January 2009, becomes available as one opens the website, http:// punjabgovt.nic.in. But the updated details of the state and important telephone numbers, email ids, new government orders, press statements, important events etc have been apparently considered less important.
The main feature of the website, Punjab at a glance>Agriculture-Economy’s Mainstay, shows most of the data based on more than decade-old figures.
Despite much change in status of the state, details still show the state on the top in the list of states in per capita income of the country. On details relating to the per capita availability of foodgrains per annum, it has data of 1997-98, when Punjab had the highest of 904 kg standing way above the average for the country.
To show dairy farming as ancillary avocation to agriculture getting popular, data of 1997-98 has been made available, when the production of milk touched 7.16 million tonnes. It shows per capita availability of milk of 845 gm per day was highest among all other states of India.
What’s New slot opens gradation list of IAS/PCS officers, which is marked as new, but the details lag far behind. Many of officers have been transferred from those positions, so the “unreliable” information provided here is of little use.
The slots under Important Information on welcome page, marked “new”, have almost stale details.
In this slot, the recent government order is of the District Magistrate, Rupnagar, which was issued for cyber cafes (under Section 144, CrPC) dated January 19, 2008. Further, the recent press note is regarding the 17th National Forest Games of November 4, 2008.
The e-mail directory does not have IDs of various IAS officers. Moreover, in the list, only 17 out of 20 deputy commissioners of the state have been mentioned. The e-mail directory does not have information on the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, while the rest four are there.
In the telephone directory, Barnala, Pathankot and Mohali districts have been ignored and telephone numbers of DC office, district development and panchayat office, chief agriculture office and district revenue office have not been uploaded.
Being elections days, it should be the duty of the department concerned to provide updated information for public convenience.

Busy with Nanded, govt forgets New Punjab Day

Busy with Nanded, govt forgets New Punjab Day
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 2
Because of its preoccupation with the Gurta Gaddi Diwas celebrations at Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra, the Punjab government apparently forgot to celebrate the New Punjab Day on November 1.
The state government neither held any state-level function nor did it declare the day as holiday.
Deputy commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said: “We did not receive any letter from the state government regarding the declaration of a holiday or celebrations for the day. So, we did not do it”.
On the other hand, the SGPC announced a holiday for its offices on November 1, but it too did not hold any function to mark the day.
There were some differences over the declaration of a holiday on November 1.
When contacted over the phone, Daljeet Singh Cheema, adviser to the Chief Minister, said: “We all were busy with the Gurta Gaddi Diwas celebrations at Nanded. We have reached here just today, so it was not possible to celebrate the day.”
Speaking further, Cheema said: “Moreover, there are already many scheduled holidays. So it was not required to give one more holiday on the day.”
“The state government has already done a lot for the Punjabi language which can not lose its sheen just because the day was not celebrated,” he added.
SGPC chief Avtar Singh said: “We never announce a holiday suddenly. It was scheduled in the committee’s calendar. So we closed our offices.”

Liquor vend auction on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day

Liquor vend auction on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 8
On one hand the whole state will be observing March 23 as the Martyrdom Day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, while on other the authorities of the Punjab Excise And Taxation Department have selected the day to hold a statewide draw for the allotment of liquor vends.
According to the recently issued public notice, the excise and taxation commissioner, Punjab, has announced that the first draw of lots would be held on March 19 and the second draw after regrouping of the vends would be held on March 23.
The scheduled allotment of liquor vends on this day has created a flutter among social activists, thinkers and leaders of farmer unions, who have been terming it as a well planned move by the government to hurt popular sentiments.
“Delivering long speeches with the promise of promoting the ideology of martyrs, our political leaders would garland their statues on that day. And on the same day, bureaucrats are all set to hold a statewide allotment of liquor vends, which sounds unjustified,” rued general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) Sukdev Singh Kokri Kalan.
Expressing anguish, a social thinker Jagdish Ghai, an executive member of the Public Library here, said, “Opting for this sacred day for liquor vend allotment is a clear insult to the martyrs and we strongly condemn it.”
“Respecting the sanctity of the day and the feelings of the people attached with it, the government should change the day, otherwise it can create fresh controversy,” said a social activist Parkash Bansal.
“The allotment of liquor vends on a large scale throughout the state on the same day has upset us. We humbly urge the government to change the date,” said Rakesh Narula of the Bathinda Vikas Manch, a social organisation.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the joint commissioner, Excise and Taxation department, Punjab, HMS Rosha said, “We respect the public sentiments. As you have apprised us, we will surely have a departmental meeting tomorrow and if possible, try to change the date.”

Sud unfurls flag, but forgets to salute

Sud unfurls flag, but forgets to salute
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 15
The celebrations of the Independence Day here remained the talk of the town for one or the other wrong reason.
The chief guest on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Tikshan Sud, forgot to salute the Tricolour after unfurling it.
Interestingly, the minister’s tongue slipped while mentioning the name of freedom fighter Sohan Singh Bhakna as Mohan Singh Bhakna.
Recounting achievements of the SAD-BJP government, Sud flayed the previous Congress regime for all reasons, which hurt the audience.
Some senior citizens, attending the celebrations, accused the minister of ‘misusing’ the I-Day platform as of a political party’s stage.
The district administration made the minister to distribute 10 tricycles among physically challenged people, which irked other disabled persons, who were also waiting for government aid. They alleged that the administration was ignoring them.
Irked over this, the agitated physically challenged persons staged a dharna in the front of the minister.
Later, person in charge of the Bathinda Assembly constituency of the SAD (B), Sarup Chand Singla announced to distribute tricycles among all of them from the account of a charitable trust.
Despite presence of policemen, indiscipline among visitors was visible on the stadium. Talking about the issue, an Inspector accused his subordinates for the situation.
It was an embarrassing situation for DC Rahul Tewari when supporters of the chief guest elbowed him out to make way for the chief guest.
A metal detector installed at the VIP entrance of the stadium was also defunct.

World Cup Kabaddi-- ‘Ego tussle’ between groups of players keeps Norway away

World Cup Kabaddi
‘Ego tussle’ between groups of players keeps Norway away
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 3
It was not the last minute withdrawal by the Norway Kabaddi team - as claimed by the sports department Punjab, in fact, “ego tussle” between the two groups of players prevent them to form a team for participating in the World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2010.
As per the information gathered by The Tribune, there are two main groups of Kabaddi in Norway—the Tikka group and the Padda group. And both groups carry a two-year-old internal tussle.
Confirming the issue, vice-chairman of the organising committee of Kabaddi World Cup, Sikander Singh Maluka said, “We put our best to help them to reach at some settlement between the groups and constitute a team, but our every effort went in vain.”
Maluka added, “I along with director sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh kept on calling them for four consecutive days (March 28-31). Meanwhile, we also took the help of kabaddi players of UK, but all efforts proved futile.”
“After long negotiations, Tikka group had somehow agreed to bend but Padda group flatly refused to make a joint team with them, as of result, the players will have to face a major loss as they have lost opportunity to gain name and fame at the world level,” Maluka said.
Replying a query, Maluka said that Norway had many kabaddi players but the only hurdle was the condition that all players, representing the country, must be its permanent residents.
“Most of the kabaddi players in Norway have work permit only. These two groups had only five-six permanent residents each, so none could form the team and finally, failed to be part of the Kabaddi World Cup,” informed Maluka.

Now, a Facebook page for them

Now, a Facebook page for them
SP Sharma & Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 3
As pressure mounts on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up with the the release of 17 “innocent” Indians facing death sentence for killing a Pakistani, a page has been created on social networking website Facebook to muster larger public support for their pardon.
While cutting across political differences, several parties have joined hands in support of these Indians who have pleaded innocent, page on the Facebook is expected to mobilise further support for their cause.

The website had 173 members when the page was logged in this afternoon. It has been created by an astrologer, Ajay Chandra, to gather as much support as possible for them.
The page, carrying pictures of some relatives of those facing death sentence, says: “This group is to voice public's concern to save the life of 17 Indians.” It also carries newspaper reports of the developments pertaining to the issue.

SMS war begins ahead of Maghi Mela ---Facebook

SMS war begins ahead of Maghi Mela
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 9
As a tech savvy generation holds the sway in every walk of life today, politicians have decided not to get left behind.
While social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have already become popular to keep abreast of one's friends and update them about the developments in their lives and get feedback, SMSs have started replacing the traditional public announcement systems to convey message to the masses at large within a short span of time.
And the social media, it seems, is all set to be put to good use with Punjab politicos deciding to test it in the coming assembly polls, scheduled barely a year from now.
It was the ruling SAD (B) leaders, who had experimented with the innovative idea of using the traditional way of communication-letters-during the recent parliamentary elections in Bathinda constituency, where the party had fielded Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife the party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Lakhs of letters had been despatched to the people, seeking vote and support. Though the experiment made the postmen a harried lot, it remained somewhat successful in its objective.
But this time, the use of technology is going a notch higher.
After Manpreet Singh Badal detached himself from the present government, he utilized his Facebook account as a good way to reach the masses and convey messages. Even the media could not resist publishing the developments posted in his account.
Manpreet has now opened a new page on Facebook-Join Manpreet Singh Badal at the Maghi Mela Conference held @ Muktsar, where he is trying to get people's response with three options-Yes, No, May be.
He has been experimenting by sending bulk SMSs by entering into a contract with some service provider.
Every morning, mobile phones of thousands of people in Punjab including mediapersons buzz with an SMS, with details of the day-long schedule of Manpreet Singh Badal.
Besides, two more messages have now started reaching people's mobile phones-- inviting support and feedback-- about his "Jago Punjab Yatra".
One of the SMSs states, "If you want to support Manpreet Singh Badal, please go to your mobile phone message box and type MSBadal (space) and write Yes and send it to 54646. Another SMS states something similar but it seeks opinion from the recipients.
Speaking to The Tribune, Manpreet's OSD Charanjit Singh informed that the experiment was in initial stage but it would be fgather oace after the Maghi Mela. He informed that they had used the bulk SMS during Manpreet's Amritsar rally, when about 20 lakh SMSs were sent and now they were planning to do somewhat similar for the Maghi Mela conference also.
On the other hand, the state government led by the SAD-BJP alliance has also jumped into the SMS war.
It is learnt that the Department of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, has invited tenders from leading cellular service companies for the purpose. The tender is to propagate the government's achievements, programme and policies through SMS.
Citing the pre-requisites, the department has said that the interested company must have the capacity to rush 700-1,000 SMS in a second, sources informed.
The tenders are supposed to be opened by January 11, three days before the Maghi Mela Conference, which is scheduled for January 14 at Muktsar.
With such exercises setting the tone, one thing is clear-- Punjab can hope for an engaging election year.

FM finds friends on Facebook

Row over debt waiver offer
FM finds friends on Facebook
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 11
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has been in the eye of a storm following his stance over the Centre’s offer for debt waiver. The issue which has threatened to tug at the very fabric of the ruling Akali Dal in general and the Badal family in particular has also found an echo in the cyber world with geeks posting their views on Manpreet’s page in the social networking site Facebook.
While the district presidents of SAD have rallied around party president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, indirectly targeting Manpreet by seeking “penal action against anyone who violates party discipline,” the Finance Minister’s fans have come to his support in the virtual world.
The Facebook account of Manpreet is now flooded with posts—encouraging him to move ahead and relieve the state from a huge debt burden, which is seen to be creating a hurdle in the state’s growth.
With over 4,000 friends on Facebook, Manpreet finds it to be an easy and straight way to ascertain the public opinion about his moves.
A majority of his friends are full of appreciation for his speech stating that it has ignited a positive debate on the issue, which is related to the welfare of the whole state. A number of “emotional” well-wishers are also there, who finding that his ‘enemies’ have become quite vocal against him, have urged him to leave the party.
One of his well-wishers, Peter Bassi writes: “Manpreet, we all know you take stand on what is best for state of Punjab. We need people like you to understand the long-term economic growth rather than short political gain.”
Further, one Jasdeep Grewal says: “You have the support of millions of overseas Punjabis, who want welfare of Punjab. Carry on the good work.”
Another of his Facebook friend Kumar Karun Krant went ahead saying, “Andhera lakh raushan ho, Ujala phir ujala hai” (However much be the depth of the darkness, light shines through).
Punjab is the birth place of the greatest philosophy on earth, ‘Mat uchi, sir neeva” but in the past few decades ‘Mat neechi par sir uccha’ has become the truth. You are the only hope.”
Meanwhile, some people like Rabinder Cheema and Karambir Hundal state, “It’s time to say bye-bye to Akali Dal.”
The different suggestions or posts have started an intra-account (Facebook) debate over the issue Taking all this in a positive way, Manpreet posted his comments on Facebook on Sunday: “Thank you all for your support. It truly means a lot to me. Your faith is what gives me the strength, courage and resolve to keep going.”

Ex-Armyman promotes hybrid crops, reaps rich harvest

Ex-Armyman promotes hybrid crops, reaps rich harvest
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Sukha Singh Wala (Bathinda), June 30
Inspired by the worldwide famous slogan given by the legendary prime minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, an ex-serviceman of this village, Nirbhai Singh Khalsa is now not only known for introducing hybrid variety of vegetables but has also emerged as a role model for a number of progressive farmers of the region.
The 43-year-old Nirbhai is now running a 30 kanal nursery of hybrid varieties of chilly, onion, cauliflower, brinjal, tomato, capsicum and others. The nursery was spread over just one kanal when it was set up in 1993, when he was serving the Indian Army in Maharashtra.
Having a passion for agriculture, he started bringing seedlings of hybrid variety of onions and chillies from Maharashtra, which were reportedly not much popular then in Punjab.
After serving the country as an Armyman, one day he made up his mind to make efforts to promote diversification of agriculture in Punjab.
Sharing the turning point of his life with TNS, Nirbhai Singh Khalsa said, “Being a son of the soil, I was getting worried after coming to know that people in Punjab were suffering losses as they were confined to regular crops like wheat, paddy and cotton only. Observing the success rate of diversification in other states, I wanted to replicate it in Punjab also.”
“Meanwhile, focusing upon the slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan, I realized that the importance of service in the agriculture sector was equivalent to that in the defence services. The same day, I made up my mind to go for farming and applied for pre-mature retirement, which was sanctioned in 2003,” disclosed Nirbhai Singh Khalsa.
Immediately after returning to his village Sukha Singh Wala, the last village of Bathinda district located on Mansa road, Nirbhai started making efforts to nourish his small nursery. Taking the first step, he joined a three-month training course conducted by the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, where he learnt new ways to protect environment and earn a good income by switching to diversification in agriculture.
“I was not in haste to earn profit but the agenda was to take a step towards giving new variety of vegetables to the region. Naming the nursery as Khalsa nursery, initially I thrived upon the seedling of hybrid onion and chilly, which became popular within a short span of time,” he said.
“Then, I started farming of hybrid onions, which had longer shelf life. Liking the variety, now people from far off places including those from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana visit here to purchase seedlings as well the ‘special’ onion crop,” he added..
Though, 30 kanal is not a big chunk of land, Khalsa claims to earn profit almost equivalent to more than 10 acres of regular crops in the state.
The success rate and a number of awards he received for the hard work, not only made him expand the nursery but also proved a motivation for large number of youth, who under his guidance, adopted diversification of crops and set up their own nurseries.
Besides giving credit to his family members for helping him at every step, Nirbhai Singh Khalsa is now providing employment to 10 youth of his village at his nursery.

Dy CM ropes in top cops to monitor civic works

Dy CM ropes in top cops to monitor civic works
Asked to keep tab on construction of water supply, sewerage pipelines
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 30
The top police officials of Bathinda and Mansa districts are now busy in performing an unconventional duty of supervising the construction of the water supply and sewerage pipelines in their respective areas.
The duty has been made mandatory by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal after he held a meeting with the officials of the two districts, at his residence in Badal village about fortnight back, before leaving for abroad.
Highly placed sources informed that during a review meeting of the two districts-part of his wife MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal's constituency-the Deputy CM took an exception to the fact that the construction work of the water supply and sewerage projects was progressing at a snail's pace.
Annoyed over the slow progress made by the construction company as well as the officials of the department concerned, he pulled up the staff
concerned. The Deputy CM then came up with the idea to award each town to senior officials of the district to personally supervise the work and monitor the pace.
Meanwhile, making the supervising officers personally responsible for the progress of the projects, Sukhbir clearly mentioned that if any delay was reported in the towns assigned to them, it would be taken seriously.
While assigning the job, he asked Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill to personally monitor the progress of the development works at Maur Mandi, while Mansa SSP HS Mann was asked to look after the construction work in Mansa city.
Meanwhile, he assigned similar duties to two DSPs -DSP Bhucho, Baljeet Singh Sidhu and Phul, Vinod Chaudhary, for Bhucho and Phul towns, respectively.
Then, the DC Bathinda, has been given the duty to personally monitor the work related to laying of sewerage at Rama Mandi, where the situation is reported to be the worst.
However, the other towns of the two districts, like Sangat, Kotfatta, Goniana, Rampura, Budhladha and Sardulgarh, where also related works are going on, the duties have been assigned to ADCs and SDMs.
Now following the directions, all officials have started visiting the towns assigned to them twice or thrice a week and are busy in preparing a dossier as the Deputy CM is expected to call a review meeting in the coming few days.
Visiting Maur Mandi (which is assigned to the SSP, Bathinda), this correspondent found that the residents of the town were unaware about the development and were surprised as to why the police officials were frequently visiting the construction sites for the past about ten days.
Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the off-beat duty would not hamper their prime duty, and added, "We are happy to perform the duty as it would enable us to improve our public dealings. It would further help in developing better relations between the police and the public."

When pupils turn mentors for teacher!

Teachers’ Day Today
When pupils turn mentors for teacher!
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Mansa, September 4

Teachers giving lesson to students is normal! Here is the story of a role-reversal, which was enacted in Gehle village of Mansa district some six-years ago when tiny-tots gave their teacher a lesson of her life time.
A 36-year-old ETT teacher, Harpal Kaur of Mansa has made a commitment to herself that she would enable the poverty-ridden kids live a normal life. After performing her duty at the school, she visits a slum area located on Thoothian Wali road and spends about two hours with the children there. She imparts them the basics of education.
When asked what made her to take this challenge, she replied, “About a couple of years ago, my son had lost about 70 per cent visibility, due to which I went into depression. One day, I saw a number of my students coming to the school barefooted. Surprised, I asked the reason for the same and came to know that they had been visiting temple and gurdwara for past couple of days to pray for my son’s early recovery. Their prayers and wishes resulted in a miracle. My son regained the visibility within few months.”
“But the devotion of pure-hearted students raised a question before me. I found myself very small in front of them when I asked myself that what was the objective of my life and what I did for the society,” she recounted.
“After pondering over for some days, I made a commitment to myself that I will dedicate a bit of my life to the children living in slum area. Initially, I started with arranging health check-up camps. But later, I realised that due to limited resources I might impart them basic education, which could help them in leading a good life,”
“Since that day, I am particular about my routine. The changes that have developed in the behaviour of my students, who live in slums, satisfies me to a great extent as this is what I had committed to myself,” she claimed.

Rural tourism scheme fails to yield rich harvest

Rural tourism scheme fails to yield rich harvest
Farmhouse owners, officials blame each other
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 14
The farmhouse stay scheme of the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB), which not only failed to meet the expectations of the farmhouse owners and the authorities of the PHTPB, but is also creating problems between the two.
The scheme was introduced in February 2009, with the dual aim of promoting rural tourism along with providing an alternative business to farmers of the state.
Under the scheme, as many as 23 farmhouses were registered for providing a clean, hygienic environment with modern facilities for the comfort of visitors to help them experience real 'Punjabi' hospitality, with fine 'home-cooked' meals, agricultural activities as well as an opportunity to meet families from the outback and countryside of Punjab.
However, the scheme could not yield the expected results.
A majority of the farmhouse owners rue that even after spending lakhs of rupees to meet the requirements of the Board they could get even a single client till date. They blame the Board authorities for lagging behind in the promotion of the scheme.
Speaking to The Tribune, owner of the Mann Makhi Farms, Tungwali (Bathinda), Gurcharan Singh said, “I have constructed two rooms equipped with all facilities like air-conditioner, television, double beds etc. Spending thousands of rupees, I got some statues installed to attract the visitors. Despite all this, when I did not get any client, we started using the rooms for family purposes. Otherwise, everything would be ruined with the passage of time.”
“Had the state tourism department showed real interest in promoting the scheme, people would have surely shown their interest in visiting us as we have sufficient facilities to help them enjoy themselves in the lap of nature,” rued Sukhpal Singh.
Further, owner of the Captain Farm House, village Poohli (Bathinda), Col AS Sidhu also informed that he too could not get any client till date. Accusing the Punjab tourism officials of doing much less than required to promote the farmhouse stay concept, Sidhu rued, “Nobody even enquired about the scheme, till today.”
On the other hand, the PHTPB officials refuse to take the responsibility and instead pass the buck on to the farmhouse owners, stating that they themselves are not taking any initiative to promote the business, which will pay the ultimate benefit to the farmhouse owners.
Refuting the allegations of the farmhouse owners, manager (marketing) of the PHTPB, Razit said, "After launching the scheme, the state tourism department imparted them training as well as operational advice and undertook promotional activity of farm tourism via internet, publications and media relations."
Naming some farmhouse owners belonging to Fazilka, Hoshirapur, Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadson, he claimed that they all were fetching handsome returns through the scheme. Speaking further, he informed that many of them had got tie-ups with big tour promoting houses also.
“Finding that some of the farmhouse owners were giving a bad name to the Board's initiative due to their personal issues, the PHTPB authorities have even started planning to review the interest and performance of the farmhouse owners. After this, a number of new farmhouses would be registered and some of the old ones will have to lose their registration,” the manager (marketing) of the PHTPB added.

24x7 vigil by cops on high-altitude structures

Preventive measure after drama on Sunday
24x7 vigil by cops on high-altitude structures
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

A makeshift tent pitched for cops near water tank in Bathinda on Monday. A Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Bathinda, February 23
Following yesterday’s high-voltage protest with the EGS teachers climbing atop a water tank, the Bathinda police have taken preventive measures to avoid any such situation in the near future.
The police has deployed around 50 cops in groups of four at selected 13 high-altitude structures in the city, including shopping malls, TV tower, AIR tower, water tanks etc. The cops will maintain round-the-clock vigil.
Confirming the facts, SSP Bathinda, Ashish Chaudhary said, “The step has been taken after sensing the increase in aggression among the protesters. Yesterday’s protest by the EGS teachers kept us on toes the whole day.”
“Now, in the near future, we want to avoid such a situation,” he added.
As per the reports available, the intelligence wings have also intensified their activities, as lack of information about the plan of the EGS protesters to climb atop the water tank, has been taken seriously by the senior officials.
A CID department official, seeking anonymity said, “We have realised that before the model code of conduct is imposed, the protesters, who have been lodging their protests here for a long time, can go to any extent to build pressure upon the government to get their grievances redressed.”
It may be mentioned that at present, there are nine organisations sitting on dharna outside the Mini-Secretariat, including those of the EGS teachers, unemployed linemen, rural MBBS doctors, police trained youths, health workers, ETT teachers and veterinary doctors, among others. All of them have formed a joint front to press for the acceptance of their demands.

Reaping benefits of opting out of cotton-paddy cycle

Regional potpourri
Reaping benefits of opting out of cotton-paddy cycle

Contributed by Rajay Deep

Most of the Farmers in Malwa grow cotton and paddy. But Gurcharan Singh Mann (39) of Tungwali village in Bathinda district, is an exception.

Gurcharan Singh Mann shows year-old banana trees in his farm at Tungwali village in Bathinda district. A Tribune photograph

He has converted 42 acres of sand dunes, into fish ponds, honey bee farm, mushroom farm, flowering fields, orchards, biogas plant and nursery etc. His farm has been selected under the Punjab Rural Tourism plan, where visitors can have feel of rural Punjab. Mann will be paid for his hospitality.
He also motivates farmers and rural youths to get trained and go for diversification in farming and allied ventures.
“Farming is good occupation. But,we should be efficient from sowing to selling the produce,” said Mann.
Mann’s mantra of success is quality. The diversification is more lucrative than cotton and paddy. ‘Diversification has enabled me to negotiate with those, approaching me for buying fish, honey, timber or other crops,” said Mann.
Bee farming got him several awards and certificates. He has 2,000 boxes of honey bees.
Later, he started fish farming, orchards and then chose to plant trees, of various species, which bring him good returns. Mann has started growing banana trees in this village of Malwa.
He was was given Parvasi Bharti Award by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 2005 for diversification.
He has fish ponds on 10 acres, orchard on 10 acres, green fodder on five acres, 16 acres are for trees and other crops.
The orchard has banana, jamun, amla, ber, guava, pomegranate trees. He is also experimenting to grow apples. Noticing demand for aloe vera, Mann has been sowing its plants in one acre.
He has contract with Agmark for turmeric, and red chilly powder, which he sows, grinds and packs under the supervision of Agmark officials.
A votary of organic farming, he has installed traditional bell outside his house as he believes the sound of the bell keeps environment free from pollution.

Cancer XIV

Patients also seek govt help in meeting cost of treatment
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Boha (Mansa), September 16

"It is good that MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal brought this cancer detecting team to our village but it would be better if the government helps us in getting operated also,” said a 52-year-old widow, Urmila Devi.
Narrating her plight, she said, “I have to discharge the responsibility of being a mother but due to the breast cancer, it is tough to live for long. My mother-in-law also died of cancer. I have already undergone mammography and cancer is suspected. But despite this, I do not have the resources to undergo surgery.”
Urmila was not the only one, found worrying about the wherewithal to get treatment for the disease, at the camp organized here for breast cancer detection.
Another patient, Jaswinder Kaur of Mal Singh Wala village, said she had undergone surgery but due to the poor economic condition of the family, she finds it impossible to get the diet recommended, as a result of which her body had become too weak to withstand the disease.
“I have again started feeling pain in breast, so I humbly request the government to lend a helping hand as I am unable to cope with the ‘expensive’ diseases any more,” said Jaswinder, wiping tears from her eyes.
Rani Kaur, who is in her forties, said, “I had three tumours in the breast, which I got removed at a private hospital in Bathinda after bearing huge expenses. Now I have been suffering the after-effects of the surgery, but I have no capacity to shell out expenses incurred on treatment. My sister-in-law also died of cancer. Despite this, my husband is not bothered about me.”
“Besides such detection camps, if our woman MP, understanding the pain of the womenfolk, could come up with monetary help for surgery and treatment, it would be a noble act,” she said.
Shinder Kaur of Shekanwala village, whose mother-in-law died of breast cancer, said, “Three years back, I got operated for tumours in the breast, but it has again started developing. This time, in the absence of resources, I would prefer to die than to beg in front of any one.”
“After the test, if we are told about the suffering caused by this disease, it would serve no purpose other than the onset of an early death. As nobody will come forward to lend monetary assistance for treatment, the tension will squeeze the life out of me,” said Mohinder Kaur of Maghania village.

Top cop on alert after gherao threat

Top cop on alert after gherao threat
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 11
Taking an ‘extra’ precautionary measure to foil the Congress announced gherao, the SSP today sealed the roads leading to his residence by deputing huge number of cops and installing barricades. However, the Congress activists did not turn up to lodge their protest as per their announcement.

It may be mentioned that Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat and son of former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, during his press-meet on Saturday, had announced to gherao the SSP on Monday, if their demand regarding registration of a criminal case against some accused SAD (B) leaders was not met.
On Sunday, following a protest of Congress workers outside the Sadar police station here, an attempt to murder case was registered against the chairman of the SAD-affiliated Block Samiti, Vir Bahadur Singh. Satisfied, the Congress workers had deferred their move for Monday.
When contacted in the morning, the SSP, Ashish Chaudhary, was not aware about the gherao being deferred. He said, “I have taken a preventive step to avoid any untoward situation.”
Later, he instructed for removing the barricades and ordered the deputed cops to go back to their duties.
A senior officer from the civil administration said, “If the police chief is so ‘frightened’ by a simple call of gherao, then what about us, who are gheraoed regularly by farmers, teachers, doctors and other unemployed staff.”

Potato growers unhappy, buyers scarce

Potato growers unhappy, buyers scarce
Rajay Deep/TNS

Rampura Phul (Bathinda), March 30
Despite getting a bumper yield, potato growers of the Malwa region are an unhappy lot this season as in the absence of purchasers, they are now trapped in a glut-like situation, where the government is lending no help to them.

In the absence of any solution to the problem, the growers have opted for storing potatoes in cold stores but that measure, too, has remained insufficient to serve the purpose.
As the production has crossed the total capacity of storage, especially in the Rampura Phul subdivision of Bathinda district, which is the second biggest potato-producing belt in Punjab after Jalandhar, the cold store owners have now started closing their doors.
“Initially the cold-store owners charged me Rs 40 per bag for the storage but within a couple of weeks the rate has been revised to Rs 65 per bag,” alleged a farmer, Harbhagwan Singh, who was waiting for his turn outside a cold store.
Potato grower Gurcharan Singh of Lehra Mohabbat, who had placed 2,400 bags of potatoes in a cold store, said nearly 400 bags were still lying loaded in trolleys for the past four days but no store was accepting them giving an excuse of running out of capacity.
“In such situation, I am left with just one option -- dump the potatoes by the roadsides -- with the hope that the government will come out of the deep slumber and take an account of the situation,” lamented Gurcharan Singh.
Meanwhile, a farmer Nath Singh of Lehra Bega village said, “Though I was unwilling, finding no option, I have started taking potatoes to the vegetable market, Rampura, to sell these in retail as a hawker.
On the other hand, president of the Cold Stores’ Union Jasvir Singh said, “We all were open for the storage but when the capacity crosses its limits, we are helpless.
Secretary of the market committee, Rampura Phul, Vijay Kumar said, “We are well aware of the glut-like situation but things are not in our control as the yield was bumper and the main purchasers, who belong to other states, did not turn up this season.”

Authorities indifferent as police station runs from Balianwali Fort

Authorities indifferent as police station runs from Balianwali Fort
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Balianwali (Bathinda), August 29
Thanks to the indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned, the Balianwali Fort, which was established around 1810 as part of the Jind Estate, is now in a dilapidated condition and crying for attention.
The strong boundary walls are collapsing and the whole fort, one of the historical monuments, is on the verge of turning into a debris. Despite this, no one is ready to pay a heed to its pathetic condition.
Taking advantage of the attitude of the Department of Tourism, Department of Archaeology and Museum and the villagers, who were supposed to take care of the Fort after the Jind Estate came to an end, the Punjab Police took over the structure. Ironically, cops have painted Police Station, Balianwali, at the main entrance of the Fort.
According to information collected from villagers, about 200 years ago, the king of the Jind Estate, Raja Rajput and his brother Baba Alam, got the foundation stone of the Fort laid by Baba Gudarh Ji. Later, Raja Rajput granted 14 villages in the Fort's vicinity to his brother with the right to collect taxes for his livelihood. After that, a gurdwara in the name of Baba Gudarh Ji was established in the Fort.
According to unconfirmed sources, a small police post was also established in the Fort during the period of Jind Estate. With the end of the Jind Estate, the Fort was vacated and it was said that the land of the Fort belonged to no one. However, the Punjab Police allegedly encroached upon it and modified it as per their requirements.
The police station catered to 16 villages, including those that were highlighted in the media during the militancy period in Punjab because some extremists hailed from there. The huge gate of the Fort is still there. It remains open as it is the lone entrance to the gurdwara and the police station.
A major part of the Fort is being used as a store by the police, officially called the Maalkhana. Showing scant regard for the rules, the cops have allegedly tampered with the electricity meter installed there and are receiving direct power supply. "Had it been preserved, the Fort could have been in the list of historic monuments. Ironically, the police has encroached upon it. Sometimes, we plan to renovate it but finding the cops reluctant to leave the place, we chose not to court a controversy," rued some villagers sitting outside the Fort.
Speaking over the phone, Husan Lal, special secretary-cum-director, state tourism, said, "As the Fort is not a protected one, the department has no proposal for its renovation."
About the alleged encroachment of the police on the Fort, the officer said he could comment only after going through the records of the Fort.
Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said, "It is not a lone case where a police station is being run. However, we are making efforts to get land in the village to set up a modern police station there. Once a new police station gets constructed, we will immediately leave the Fort as it is unsafe for our staff also."