AAP makes ‘topi-cal’ gaffe

AAP makes ‘topi-cal’ gaffe

Muktsar: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in Gidderbaha recently committed a faux pas while printing posters inviting people to attend Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann’s rally on July 28. The poster showed AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal wearing the trademark white ‘topi’ (cap), but the catchline, ‘Main hoon aam aadmi’, got flipped. The rally was eventually postponed as Mann was busy giving his reply regarding the controversial Parliament video. Luckily for AAP, this gaffe didn’t stir a hornet’s nest.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Cow slaughter triggers protest in Malout; 2 held

Gau Sewa Commission forms panel, asks police to file report

Activists of Hindu organisations take out a protest march against the alleged slaughter of cows in Malout town of Muktsar district on Sunday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, July 31

Tension prevailed in the town after two persons were nabbed for allegedly slaughtering cows at a vacant plot on the Shekhu road here last night. A pickup vehicle used to transport cows was impounded.

Those arrested are Rakesh Kumar and Ramesh Kumar. Their three accomplices managed to flee. A case under various sections of the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act and Sections 295-A, 278, 429, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against them.

Later, activists of some Hindu organisations and the BJP staged a protest in the town. They also damaged the pickup vehicle used to transport cows.

The protest was resumed at Gandhi Chowk today. The activists took out a march in the town and appealed to the shopkeepers to close their business establishments.

Keemti Lal Bhagat, Chairman, Gau Sewa Commission, Punjab, visited the town today. He formed a five-member committee to probe the matter and directed the district police and the administration to deal with this issue diligently and file a report in seven days.

Bhagat said he had last night tried to speak to the SSP, Muktsar, and IGP, Bathinda zone, but none of them answered his phone call. He said: “If the police officers don’t answer our phone calls, I can understand the plight of the commoners.”

Balraj Singh, SP, Malout, said: “A post-mortem of the dead bovines was conducted. The situation is now under control.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Shoddy work, funds lapse too

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 29

The panchayat of Dhulkot village in Gidderbaha sub-division has been running from pillar to post for the past seven months to know who repaired the sewerage pipeline.

A sum of Rs 6 lakh had been released on this count by the Centre in the panchayat’s account. Surjit Singh, the Akali sarpanch of the village, accused a SGPC member of the area saying, “A constituency incharge carried out the work in a botched manner. He did not have any authority but did this work to usurp grants forcibly from the panchayat. He even pressed me to release the grants, but I refused. The grants lapsed.”

“Since then we are repeatedly asking the district administration to inform us that which agency had carried out the work, but are not getting any reply. The funds for the repair work were deposited in the bank account of the panchayat in December. The work was done in January by the SGPC member. A large number of people are affected due to the poor condition of the works but no official concerned is paying any attention,” he claimed.

He showed some documents of the Rural Development Department, Punjab Mandi Board and Soil Conservation Department, which he had procured under the RTI Act, wherein it was clearly mentioned that they had neither carried out the work nor paid the money to anyone.

DC Sumeet Jarangal has asked for a probe by the Rural Development Department.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Dept uploads information on RMO posts

Tribune News Service
Muktsar, July 29

Acting on The Tribune report, ‘Job applications sought twice, but forms unavailable’ (July 29), the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats today uploaded information regarding the recruitment of rural medical officers (RMOs) on its website.

It also increased the posts from 346 to 370 and extended the last date of submission of applications from August 1 to 11.

It was highlighted in the report that though the department had twice sought the applications, the forms were neither available on the website nor in the Zila Parishad offices across the state.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Job applications sought twice, but forms unavailable

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 28

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats has twice sought applications for 346 posts of rural medical officer (RMO), but the application forms have not yet been made available.

The posts were first advertised on June 25, asking the applicants to download the form from the department’s website or collect it from any Zila Parishad office and submit it by July 15. Later, the last date was extended to August 1.

However, the forms, terms and conditions, pay, allowances and other details have not been made public so far.

A job aspirant said, “I have visited the Zila Parishad office twice, but the officials have no information about the availability of the forms.”

When contacted, Baljit Singh, Deputy Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, said, “The forms will be made available from tomorrow. The last date will be extended again.” Repeated attempts to contact SS Bains, Director of the department, proved futile.

Courtesy: The Tribune

CM’s posters on buses ripped off

A Punjab Roadways bus with torn off image of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal parked at the Bus Stand in Muktsar town on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 28

Posters listing government’s achievements, schemes and the picture of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal pasted on state-owned buses were found torn in the district.

The Punjab Roadways authorities have blamed the staff and warned them of stern action if someone was found guilty. A visit to the local bus stand today revealed that the buses with torn posters were parked in the workshop.

Charanjit Singh Brar, General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Muktsar, said: “The government’s publicity posters were pasted on nearly 20-22 buses a week ago. But some drivers and conductors tried to remove these from two-three buses. They have admitted to it and agreed to replace these by paying from their own pocket.” Rejecting the charge, some drivers and conductors said some passengers might have tried to remove the posters. “But we have contributed money and placed order to print 13 such posters,” a staff member said.

Courtesy: The Tribune

DCs ‘not reporting’ to child rights panel on school bus safety

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 27

Despite the High Court being strict regarding the violation of traffic norms by school buses and the Child Rights Protection Commission trying to implement the ‘Safe Vahan’ policy regarding the safety of school buses, Deputy Commissioners and other officials concerned seemed to be not taking it seriously.

For instance, the Child Rights Protection Commission is repeatedly writing to all Deputy Commissioners to send monthly action report to it. However, except for SBS Nagar Deputy Commissioner, no other Deputy Commissioner has sent the report.

Sources in the Child Rights Protection Commission said they had first written to all DCs on April 12 to send the action report at the earliest. However, not even a single DC sent the required information that time. Thereafter, the commission sent a reminder on July 11, asking DCs to submit report by July 25.

“Except for the SBS Nagar Deputy Commissioner, no other DC sent us the report till the evening of July 25. The commission is again issuing a reminder to DCs. Even the District Transport Officers (DTOs) of four districts — Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana and Fazilka — were recently summoned regarding the safety of school students and the implementation of the Safe Vahan policy,” said Rajwinder Singh Gill, Deputy Director, Child Rights Protection Commission.

On the other hand, sources claimed that the District Safe Vahan Inspection Committees formed in the state were working under immense “political pressure”.

“Recently, a district-level team had gone to the school of an SAD leader in Malwa region, who misbehaved with the officials. Later, the officials decided to approach the court. Then the issue was settled with a compromise and the buses violating the norms were penalised. These are the issues responsible for the half-hearted approach of the officials concerned now,” said a source.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Awaiting distribution order, Atta-Dal dealers return stock

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 27

It sounds strange but true. The Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries in Muktsar district are waiting for rations, but the authorities concerned have returned the stock in their possession. The reason: They did not have any official order to start the distribution.

The last time pulses were distributed for three months among the beneficiaries in Muktsar district was in March. Similarly, wheat was also distributed for three months in March.

Paramjit Dhamija, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, Muktsar, said, “Pulses were last distributed in March. Thereafter, we did not get the orders from the higher-ups to start the distribution work. However, PUNSUP, which supplies us pulses, had the stock for distribution purposes.”

Muktsar district has 1,41,601 blue card holders and 5,21,912 beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal scheme. As per the scheme, wheat is given at Rs 2 per kg and pulses at Rs 30 per kg to the beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal scheme.

There is no upper cap for the distribution of wheat, but pulses have to be given 0.5 kg per member and for maximum five persons in the family.

Sources in the PUNSUP said the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department were informed that they had the stock of black grams, but the distribution agency did not take the stock from them. This made them return the stock in their possession to the sellers.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Like Ganda in Haryana, state too has strange village names

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 26

Just like Ganda village in Haryana which was recently renamed Ajit Nagar, there are a number of villages in Punjab with strange names such as Billimar, Kala Bakra, Jhotianwali, Kattianwali, Sappanwali, Gidderanwali, Moranwali, Kirianwala, etc.

Residents of these villages say they have to face embarrassment sometimes because of these villages are named after animals. A youth of Kattianwali village in Muktsar district said, “We, being the residents of the village, like its name but when we tell others, they laugh. When I got admission in a college in Chandigarh, my classmates laughed at my village’s name.”

Similarly, an advocate from Sappanwali village said, “There may be some historical importance behind the name of our village but whenever we tell people that we belong to Sappanwali village, people not just laugh but also start asking some weird questions. My sister works in a multinational company and she has never revealed the name of our village to her colleagues.”

Notably, some residents of Kuttianwali village in Muktsar district had approached Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They requested him to change the name of their village, which was thereafter renamed Sheranwala in 2014.

Nishan Singh, sarpanch of Sheranwala village, had at that time said, “The village name was weird and especially the women objected to it. However, it took us 20 years to get the village name changed.”

It is further learnt that a majority of the residents of these villages were not even aware about the history behind their village names.

The list of villages having funny names includes Jhotianwali, Sappanwali, Gidderanwali, Korianwali, Beganwali, Killianwali, Kirianwala and Amir Khas in Fazilka district; Billimar and Phide in Ferozepur; Chhapianwali, Kattianwali, Kolianwali, Chibbranwali, Kabarwala, Raniwala, Bhangchari and Lande Rode in Muktsar district; Moranwali in Faridkot district; Lande and Rode in Moga district; Giddar and Bhagi Bandar in Bathinda district; Kala Bakra in Jalandhar district; Muchhal in Amritsar district; Kubba in Ludhiana district; Munda and Kuttiwala in Tarntaran district.

Sumeet Jarangal, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “We have got an application from an individual of Khane Ki Dhabh village requesting us to rename the village as Harkirat Singh Ki Dhabh (his relative, a former Chairman of Market Committee, Malout). I have asked the SDM Malout to submit a report in this regard. Thereafter, we will see the guidelines of the Union Home Ministry and decide whether it can be recommended or not.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

JE installs hoardings to greet SAD leader

A hoarding on the national highway in Malout. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, July 26

In violation of service rules, a JE in the Public Works Department (B&R) has installed a number of hoardings in the town to congratulate SAD leader Tejinder Singh Middukhera on his appointment as Chairman of Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank.

This is not the first time when JE Sukhmander Singh Gill has installed such hoardings to congratulate a politician. Last year in October he had installed similar hoardings to congratulate SAD leader Dyal Singh Kolianwali on his elevation as the president of SAD’s Muktsar district unit.

However, no official in the administration has so far initiated any action against him which raises a question on their functioning.

Sources said, “This JE is very close to some SAD leaders of the area and to prove his loyalty he always installs hoardings in violation of service rules. This is the only reason that he has been posted at Malout since long.”

However, Gill said, “My cousin is married to Tejinder and I have installed hoardings to congratulate my relative over his elevation. I don’t bother what people think or say about this. I don’t take part in any political activity and have not done anything wrong.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Thumbs down to Kishor’s ‘bouncers’

Thumbs down to Kishor’s ‘bouncers’

Muktsar: A section of the state Congress leaders is upset with the team of party’s poll strategist Prashant Kishor, saying that the IPAC (Indian People’s Action Committee) executives behave like bouncers and don’t allow them to have a one-on-one interaction with PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh. “When we are not even allowed to stand or sit beside Capt Sahib, how will the party workers freely air their grievances?” a party leader told a member of Kishor’s team in Malout — and that too in Amarinder’s presence.

Courtesy: The Tribune
Contributed by Archit Watts

Congress leaders await bragging rights

Congress leaders await bragging rights

Muktsar: Several state Congress leaders who were recently accommodated in the party’s human rights cell, sports cell, labour cell and the cooperative cell are awaiting the official order regarding their postings. A party leader who got a prominent post said, “We have not received any communique from the PPCC office regarding our appointment. We want to inform our supporters at the earliest but have no option but to wait.” Agonising for them, to say the least.

Courtesy: The Tribune
Contributed by Archit Watts

ATTA-DAL SCHEME UNDER SCANNER: Empty packets of black gram found from canal

ATTA-DAL SCHEME UNDER SCANNER

Empty packets of black gram found from canal

Residents of Chak Baja Mrar village with empty packets of black gram found from a canal in Muktsar on Monday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 25

The state government’s atta-dal scheme has come under scanner as a large number of empty packets of black gram (kala chana) have been found from the Rajasthan feeder canal near Chak Baja Mrar village here.

It came to light when some youths bathing in the canal found a bag floating in the water. They found empty packets of black gram with Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited imprinted on it.

Besides, the price of black gram, Rs 30 per kg, meant to be distributed under the atta-dal scheme was also written on it.

Randeep Singh and Gurwinder Singh, who found the bag, said, “It seems someone sold black gram in the open market and tried to destroy the empty packets by throwing it in the canal. The department officials must conduct a probe and take strict action against the wrongdoers.”

Paramjit Dhamija, District Controller of Food and Civil Supplies, Muktsar, said, “I am out of town today, but I will definitely look into it after reaching back tomorrow.”

He added that the state government was regularly distributing atta-dal among the poor under this scheme.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Sukhbir warns SAD workers against helping drug peddlers

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), July 22

Deputy Chief Minister-cum-SAD chief Sukhbir Badal today warned the party activists of the Lambi constituency of strict action if anyone tried to protect drug peddlers.

Sukhbir held closed-door marathon meetings with the SAD activists of the Lambi area for over four hours at the PSPCL's rest house here today.

Party sources said during the meeting a SAD activist even targeted an OSD of Sukhbir (who was not present there). He said the district police had allegedly let off some drug peddlers some time ago on the insistence of the OSD.

However, it is learnt that Sukhbir asked the party activist, who raised this issue, to meet him personally after the meeting.

"I will not spare anyone directly or indirectly involved in drug trade. If someone calls up any officer asking him/her to release any drug peddler, he/she will be taken to task," Sukhbir told SAD activists.

Unlike the past, the officers were not allowed to go inside the meeting hall and the proceedings were kept confidential.

Those present during the meeting included SAD's Muktsar district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali, district coordinator Avtar Singh Vanwala, Bobby Badal, OSD to CM Gurcharan Singh, Kulwinder Singh 'Kaka' and Pappi Tarmala.

He also held a meeting with the party's women wing of Lambi.

Sources said Sukhbir also told the SAD activists to counter AAP and Congress activists coming to their area by listing development works.

Youth clubs to get funds from govt directly

After some youth club members raised the issue of government funds, Sukhbir assured them that they would soon get the funds directly and not through the village panchayats, sources said.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Two Akali panchayats approach HC, seek direct funds from govt

Flay release of grants to agencies for village development

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 21

In a major embarrassment to the ruling SAD, two Akali panchayats in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment have filed petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking direct allocation of funds to the panchayats.

The panchayats of Dhulkot and Butter Shrinh villages, led by the ruling SAD, have challenged the practice of the distribution of grants to various agencies for development works in villages.

The sarpanches of both villages accused SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency incharge Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy’ Dhillon of not allowing the authorities to give them funds.

Surjit Singh, sarpanch of Dhulkot village, said, “The panchayat of this village, which was elected in 2013, got just Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a gym in the last about three years. The halqa incharge did not allow any development work through the village panchayat. Even the grants sanctioned during the CM’s sangat darshans did not come to the panchayat’s account.”

Bikkar Singh, sarpanch of Buttar Shrinh village, claimed, “After getting the grants for development works once, we have not got a single penny. Development works are done through some departments and not by the panchayat. We want that the funds should be given to the village panchayat so that the money is utilised more judiciously.”

The sarpanches claimed that as per norms, the funds should have come to the panchayat’s bank account. The high court has clubbed both petitions and the first hearing will take place on August 16.

Courtesy: The Tribune

‘Diet’ is right for Amarinder, Sukhbir

‘Diet’ is right for Amarinder, Sukhbir


Sukhbir Badal along with other Akali leaders enjoying Diet Coke.


Capt Amarinder Singh with a can of Diet Coke.

Muktsar: Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal have something in common despite all their political differences. They just can’t say no to Diet Coke. Recently, Capt consumed two cans of the beverage before and after lunch at Malout. SAD activists never forget to keep the cans ready for Sukhbir whenever he pays a visit here.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Religious movie, liquor vend don’t mix

Religious movie, liquor vend don’t mix


The state government’s publicity van, showing movie ‘Char Sahibzade’, parked alongside a liquor vend at Khappianwali village in Muktsar district on Saturday. Tribune photo

Muktsar: The social media is abuzz with a photo of the state government’s publicity van stationed alongside a liquor vend and showing ‘Char Sahibzade’, a religious movie. A man is seen buying liquor. A local resident claimed that the photo was clicked at Khappainwali village in the district. When contacted, sarpanch Joga Singh claimed that the van was parked at a ‘safe distance’ from the vend. But the embarrassing damage has already been done.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

No stopping actor MLA

No stopping actor MLA

Congress MLA from Guru Har Sahai Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi (in police uniform) during shooting for a TV serial, ‘Mughal-e-Azam Ki Vapsi’. Tribune photo

Muktsar: After playing the Chief Minister’s role in ‘Born To Be King’, a movie released in India and the UK early this year, three-time Congress MLA from Guru Har Sahai Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi is now set to act in a Hindi TV serial, ‘Mughal-e-Azam Ki Vapsi’. Sodhi (62), a former international shooter, will be seen as Rana Partap Singh, Superintendent of Police, Agra. The lead role of Emperor Akbar is played by veteran actor Ranjeet. Sodhi says, “Acting has always been my passion. I have close ties with the bigwigs in Bollywood and Pollywood, so it was easy for me to enter the industry.” Is Hollywood next?

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

No authority, SAD halqa incharge unveils projects

SAD’s Muktsar halqa incharge Kanwarjit Singh (third from left) inaugurates a project at Khokhar village in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 17

Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, SAD’s Muktsar halqa incharge, has been inaugurating development projects in the constituency in his name.

The constituency incharge is not a constitutional post and the ruling SAD has given this post mostly to leaders who lost the Assembly elections.

According to the rules, an elected representative or some officer of the state government can lay the foundation stone or inaugurate a project.

Rozy, who is a close aide of SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, recently inaugurated twp projects one at Khokhar village and a library at Haraj village. The village residents said the projects were funded by the state government, but the name of Rozy was written on the inaugural stones.

Jagjit Singh ‘Honey Fattanwala’, a Congress leader from Muktsar, said, “This is a clear case of misusing the government funds. I visited Khokhar village yesterday where the SAD’s Muktsar constituency incharge had inaugurated an underground water pipeline project on July 10.”

Earlier, the name of a SAD leader addressed as halqa incharge had appeared on the cards issued by the Ferozepur district administration for the Martyrs Day function at Hussainiwala.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also the patron of SAD, had said in the Vidhan Sabha that there was no post of ‘halqa’ incharge in the SAD’s constitution.

Courtesy: The Tribune

No claimants for Fisheries Dept’s Rs 36-lakh subsidy

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 15

The Fisheries Department is facing a unique problem as it has got the subsidy amount from the Centre but the beneficiaries are not coming forward to claim it.

Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the Centre had announced 90 per cent subsidy to the farmers for adopting pisciculture in the four water-logging affected villages for digging ponds, putting seeds, feed and installing nets.

Though the department has provided the subsidy to the farmers, yet no one has come forward to claim the subsidy which is Rs 25,000 for a pond on 2.5 acres.

Sources in the department said they had received Rs 36.44 lakh for this purpose on October 23. However, not even a single farmer had yet applied to claim the subsidy.

Karamjit Singh, Assistant Director, Fisheries, said, “We have asked the farmers a number of times to buy nets and claim the subsidy. However, not even a single farmer has come forward for the same. We received the first application yesterday.”

On the other hand, sources claimed that the farmers did not need nets because they sell it on lump sum basis to the contractors mostly belonging to Ludhiana who bring their own nets.

“The farmers say they should be given subsidy against the submission of bills of buying nets but our officials have to physically check whether the net has been purchased. We need a photograph of the beneficiary clicked with the net and this is the sole reason behind this inordinate delay,” an official added.

The four villages selected in this scheme are Ghagga, Tappakhera, Rattakhera and Fatehpur Manian, having 100 acres each under pisciculture.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Akali MLA’s kin booked for threat call to woman

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 16

The Malout police today booked the cousin (maternal uncle’s son) of SAD MLA from Bagha Purana for allegedly using foul language over the phone and threatening to kidnap and rape a woman of Malout two months ago.

The woman (33) had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that she had got phone calls from two mobile numbers on May 16 and 17 from an unidentified caller. He had threatened to kidnap, rape and pour acid on her. He also used foul language for her mother as well.

“On probing at our own level, we identified the caller as Harninder Singh alias Richy Mann, a resident of the neighbouring Abul Khurana village. We have the phone call recordings to substantiate the allegations,” alleged the complainant in her statement to the police.

The woman said that she works at an automobile showroom in Malout town and the accused had come there a number of times to inquire about cars. Sources said that Harninder, in his early forties, had got married a short time ago. At the time of filing of this report, the accused was at large.

Speaking over the phone, Maheshinder Singh, SAD MLA from Bagha Purana said, “Harninder is my cousin, but I never supported anyone in any wrongdoing. Had I supported Harninder, he would not have been booked. If he has done anything wrong, he will face action.”

YAD district ex-chief booked for assault

Muktsar, July 16
The Malout police today booked Dinesh Garg ‘Tony’, former district president of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD), his brother and three other persons on the charge of assaulting and intimidating his uncle, Satpal Garg.

Satpal told the police that he had gone to a wedding at a resort on the Bathinda road on July 13 in Malout, where Dinesh, his brother Deepak Garg, gunman Wazir and friends Premi Nagpal and Gurmeet were present.

“Dinesh and the others started arguing with me over a property dispute. He told his gunman to open fire. The latter fired three shots into the air. I somehow escaped and reached home,” he said. A case under sections 336, 342, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC and 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. — TNS

Courtesy: The Tribune

Liquor ban not feasible: Amarinder

Capt pays lunch bill

• After the lunch with his team at Bansi da Dhaba on the outskirts of Malout, Amarinder gave money to his personal security officer to pay the bill. The latter did the needful and returned the balance to him.

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Malout, July 15

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh here today reiterated that the party, on coming to power, would root out the drug menace from the state in four weeks. He termed liquor as an intoxicant, but said it was not feasible to ban its sale in the state as it was a major revenue earner.

“The consumption of liquor can’t be compared with that of drugs. Those addicted to heroin and poppy husk are at far greater risk than liquor consumers,” Amarinder told The Tribune.

Replying to a query by a local resident during his ‘Halke Vich Captain’ programme, he said, “This will be my last election. I want to see you people happy by solving all your problems.”

He said the forms of all ticket applicants would be sent to the high command after August 15. “We not only want to give the ticket early to the candidates but are also keen to ensure that there are no rebel candidates. The state government has 160 posts of chairperson in various departments and these will be ‘allotted’ to those who fail to make the cut,” Amarinder added.

Capt said his son, Raninder Singh, would appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) prior to leaving for the Olympics. He added that Raninder, being the president of the National Rifle Association of India, was busy completing the formalities for sending the shooting contingent to the Olympics.

Courtesy: The Tribune

TRIBUNE IMPACT: Anganwari centres get items missing from medical kits

TRIBUNE IMPACT

Anganwari centres get items missing from medical kits

The medicines supplied to an Anganwari centre in Muktsar district on Monday. A Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 11

Two days after The Tribune report, ‘Anganwari centres allege bungling in medicine supply’, the authorities concerned today supplied the medicines which were missing from the kits given a few days ago.

Chhinderpal Kaur, district president, All-Punjab Anganwari Employees’ Union, Muktsar, said, “The supervisors in the Social Security Department today supplied the medicines to the anganwari centres that were earlier missing from the medical kits. For my centre, I have received one packet of cotton, 250 ml paracetamol syrup, 300 paracetamol tablets, five bottles of albendazole suspension, five bottles of eye and ear drops and one tape roll.”

She added, “The anganwari workers from other centres too have confirmed the medicine supply. It seems to be a big scam as there are a large number of anganwari centres in the state.”

The anganwari workers had earlier demanded a probe into the recent supply of medicines under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) by the Social Security Department, alleging that the quantity received by them was less than what was mentioned on the packing slips on the cartons.

Repeated attempts to contact Naresh Kumar, District Social Security Officer, Muktsar, proved futile. He had earlier said that the medicines were supplied by a Sangrur-based firm for one year to all anganwari centres. These were purchased by the head office. So, they were not at fault.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Dimpy likes grey beard, can’t keep it

Muktsar: In public life, you sometimes can’t even choose your style statement. Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy’ Dhillon (49), Akali Dal’s Gidderbaha assembly segment incharge, recently decided to let his beard turn grey for a ‘veteran’ look. But he had to face opposition from not only his family members but also the party workers. Dimpy says, “I like a grey beard, but can’t keep it. My well-wishers have asked me to colour it to look younger.” He is the frontrunner for the SAD ticket from Gidderbaha, represented by Indian Youth Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. It seems Dimpy’s supporters don’t want him to look too old compared to his rival, who is in his late thirties.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Not many takers for health insurance scheme in Muktsar

In 8 months, just 26,987 farming families have enrolled themselves

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 8

The state government’s free-of-cost health cover up to Rs 50,000 and life insurance of Rs 5 lakh under the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana to poor people has not got a positive response from farmers in the Chief Minister’s district.

In the past eight months, just 26,987 farming families of Muktsar district have enrolled themselves under this insurance scheme. However, as per the figures of the Agriculture Department, there are nearly 50,000 farming families in the district.

The Mandi Board officials said they had provided 15,807 insurance cards to the farmers till date and some of them even availed benefit of this scheme.

However, they added that some farmers owing allegiance to opposition parties were reluctant to enrol under this scheme. Earlier some hospitals had denied benefit of this scheme to patients and the message spread like fire.

Kulbir Singh Matta, District Mandi Officer, Muktsar, appealed to the farmers to avail benefit of this scheme and enrol themselves as beneficiaries without any hassle at any of the four market committees in the district

“Any farmer can enrol his family by producing the ‘J’ form of his crop, Aadhaar card or ration card,” said Matta.

Besides, the district administration has also roped in block development and panchayat officers (BDPOs) and panchayat secretaries in this process.

Sources said the situation was almost similar in the neighbouring districts as well.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Anganwari centres allege bungling in medicine supply

Anganwari workers show the medicines supplied to them under the Integrated Child Development Scheme in Muktsar on Friday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 8

Local anganwari workers have demanded a probe into the recent supply of medicines under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) by the Social Security Department, alleging that the quantity received by them was less than what was mentioned on the packing slips in the cartons.

The medicines were supplied in mid-June, while the anganwari centres reopened after the summer vacation on July 1.

Chhinderpal Kaur, district president, All Punjab Anganwari Employees’ Union, said, “When I opened a carton, I noticed that some of the medicines were missing. The slip mentioned 500 tablets of paracetamol, two packets of cotton and a 500-ml bottle of paracetamol syrup, but I found just 200 tablets of paracetamol, one packet of cotton and a 250-ml bottle of the syrup.”

She added, “There are seven anganwari centres in Thandewala village but none got the full supply of medicines. The anganwari centre at Chak Kala Singh Wala village also faced a similar problem.”

She said their union had lodged a complaint with the district social security office through their president, Hargobind Kaur, seeking a fair probe.

Naresh Kumar, District Social Security Officer, said, “The medicines were supplied by a Sangrur-based firm for one year to all anganwadi centres. These were purchased by the head office. If the supply was found short, we will seek the supplier’s explanation. The district office is not involved in the distribution of medicines.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

More money for mid-day meal, yet nothing new on kids’ table

No formal order

• The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has increased the cooking cost for primary classes (I to V) from Rs 3.86 to Rs 4.13 per student per day
• Similarly, the cooking cost for upper primary classes(VI to VIII) has been increased from Rs 5.78 to Rs 6.18 perstudent per day with effect from July 1
• Sources in the state Education Department say they know that the cooking costs have been revised, but they don’t have any formal order in this regard

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 8

Despite the fact that the Centre has increased the cooking cost of mid-day meal in government schools with effect from July 1, the state government is yet to implement the orders, courtesy ‘red tape’.

The file in this regard is stuck somewhere in the channel and the school heads in the state are still serving the mid-day meal to students as per the earlier fixed cooking cost.

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has increased the cooking cost for primary classes (I to V) from Rs 3.86 to Rs 4.13 per student per day. Similarly, the cooking cost for upper primary classes (VI to VIII) has been increased from Rs 5.78 to Rs 6.18 per student per day. The mid-day meal scheme is jointly funded by the Centre and the state government.

Sources in the state Education Department said they knew that the cooking costs had been revised, but they did not have any formal order in this regard.

Prabhcharan Singh, General Manager, Mid-Day Meal Cell, Punjab, said, “The Central government has increased the cooking cost from July 1 for both primary and upper primary classes. The notification in this regard has been sent to the higher-ups for their approval.”

He, however, did not comment about the undue delay in clearing the file in this regard.

Harjinder Singh, Mid-Day Meal Cell, District Coordinator, Muktsar, said, “As per our records, the cooking cost is Rs 3.86 for the primary classes and Rs 5.78 for the upper primary classes. We have not received the copy of any fresh order about the increase in cooking costs.”

Whenever the Centre increased the cooking costs in the past, the state government took nearly a month to implement the orders.

For instance, the documents in possession of The Tribune showed that when the cooking cost was increased from Rs 3.59 to Rs 3.76 for primary classes and Rs 5.38 to Rs 5.64 for upper primary classes with effect from July 1, 2015, the orders were conveyed to the district coordinators on August 4, 2015, after the delay of more than one month.

Similarly, when the cooking cost for primary classes was increased from Rs 3.76 to Rs 3.86 and for upper primary classes from Rs 5.64 to Rs 5.78 with effect from January 1 this year, the orders were issued on February 1 this year after a delay of one month.

Courtesy: The Tribune

17 schools in Muktsar have one teacher each

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 7

Even after spending huge money on infrastructure development under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 17 government primary schools in the district are running with one teacher each.

These schools are located at Budhemall, Jagat Singh Wala, Kothe Melak, Nanakpura, Dhani Sham Singh, Bazigar Basti Kotbhai, Shekh, Kothe Behka, Chak Cheedian Wala, Chak Kesar Singh Wala, Kothe Naiwala, Manianwala, Bhullarwala, Lohara, Mithri Budhgir, Phullukhera and Sehna Khera villages.

Sources in the Education Department said the situation had arisen after the recent transfer of teachers. Though the district office had refused to transfer the teachers, some of them approached the higher authorities and managed to get transfer orders, they said.

As per the RTE Act, a government school should have minimum of two teachers with a student teacher ratio of 30:1. The Act says more than half of the existing staff can’t be transferred from any school.

A teacher posted at a government primary school said: “With no one to share the burden, I am saddled with the responsibility of teaching nearly 80 students of classes I to V. Besides, I have to do non-academic work as well.”

Another teacher said: “Imparting education is not a tough task, but other works like mid-day meal and administrative works consume a lot of time. It is difficult to manage everything on our own.”

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said: “After the recent transfers, some schools are left with just one teacher. But we are hopeful that the situation will improve as the state government is appointing 4,500 new teachers.”

Courtesy: The Tribune