Harsimrat’s Rakhi gift plan may fizzle out

In her adopted village, only 625 of 1,012 women to get free insurance policies

Visit unconfirmed

• The district administration is still waiting for the confirmation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s visit to Mann village on Thursday

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 26

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s Rakhi gift to all women residents of Mann village adopted by her under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) — free personal insurance policies — may prove to be a damp squib tomorrow.

The eligible residents are not ready to get the free personal insurance.

Sources in the district administration said that a total of 1,012 women residents between 18 and 70 years of age were found eligible for the insurance scheme, but only 625 agreed to get the policy.

“The rest are unwilling either because they fear that they may be cheated later or they do not have all the documents required,” said a senior official in the district administration.

Till the filing of this report, the district administration was not even sure about the visit of the Union Minister and was waiting for her confirmation.

The official said that each beneficiary would get health insurance cover through the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) at Rs 12 per year.

This means Rs 120 will be paid by the MP from her MPLAD funds in 10 years. For 625 beneficiaries, it will amount to Rs 75,000.

The PMSBY covers accidental death, full disability and partial disability.

Meanwhile, the district administration has sought approval from Harsimrat to give lifetime insurance cover to all beneficiaries, which will cost a little more than Rs 200. However, the approval in this regard was awaited till the filing of this report.

Surinder Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Lambi, said, “We have so far opened the bank accounts of nearly 600 beneficiaries in Mann village to give them free personal insurance.”

Repeated attempts to contact Nawal Kumar, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) who has been deputed as nodal officer for Mann village, proved futile.

Courtesy: The Tribune

In Muktsar, schools double up as community centres

Violation of rules

• The bhog ceremony at a school in Sukhna Abluvillage in Gidderbaha sub-division on Wednesday was held with the consent of its management
• A majority of the Sangat Darshan programmes of the Chief Minister, too, are held in schools
• On July 2, YAD workers had held a membership drive at Government Primary Schoolin Fattanwala village

A ‘bhog’ ceremony under way in Government Primary School at Sukhna Ablu village in Muktsar district on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, August 26

It’s a free-for-all in government schools of Muktsar district – the home district of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

After Sangat Darshan (public meeting) programmes of the Chief Minister and membership drive of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD), bhog (last rites) ceremonies are being held at government schools here, and that too, during school timings in clear violation of rules.

One such bhog ceremony was held at Government Primary School, Sukhna Ablu village in Gidderbaha sub-division today. Tents were pitched in the school ground to observe the ceremony from 11 am to 1.30 pm. During this time, loud speakers were also used, much to the inconvenience of students.

A large number of people had come to attend the ceremony. They were later offered eatables in a separate tent there.

Interestingly, the school management committee (SMC) had given the approval for the event on the request of the village panchayat, without bothering about the disturbance that would be caused to students.

When contacted, Davinder Kumar Rajoria, District Education Officer (DEO), Muktsar, said, “The holding of any such programme on the school premises is in violation of the rules. I have sought a reply from the school management committee and head teacher on why they allowed the bhog ceremony on the school premises.”

Notably, there is open space available for such programmes at the focal point in the village.

A majority of Sangat Darshan programmes of the Chief Minister are held in schools. Even during his recent visit on August 18 and 19, the programmes were held at schools in Dhaula, Tharajwala, Kheowali, Killianwali and Phulukhera villages.

On July 2, YAD workers had held a membership drive at Government Primary School, Fattanwala village.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Dy CM’s helpline flooded with transfer requests

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 11

The “1905” toll-free helpline number launched by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on May 13 is flooded with transfer requests. An executive of the helpline told The Tribune that they were receiving five to six calls daily pertaining to transfer requests. “The Deputy CM had started the helpline to redress the grievances of public, but government employees are requesting us to register their transfer requests through the helpline. Some of them not only argue but also give logic behind their request,” said another executive. A senior government officer said they had advised the government employees not to make calls regarding their transfers, but they refuse to listen.

A government employee who had recently requested for his transfer through the helpline said: “The helpline is started to redress the grievances of all citizens. There is nothing wrong in it if any government employee has requested for the transfer.”

Meanwhile, executives of the helpline did not reveal the number of total calls being received daily. This number functions from Monday to Saturday between 9 am and 9 pm.

Sukhbir has also shared an official email id sukhbirsinghbadal@punjab.gov.in to public to lodge their grievances. Besides, “181” helpline of the state police or WhatsApp number “7696181181”, Excise Department helpline number “18002582580” for business community to register their grievances and suggestions has been launched. The power department has also launched “1912” toll-free helpline number for power complaints. The local bodies department has recently started “180018000172” helpline for municipality related complaints.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar fails to bring back dropouts to school; Despite spending Rs 3.48 cr annually, only 87 of total 437 join schools

Muktsar fails to bring back dropouts to school

Despite spending Rs 3.48 cr annually, only 87 of total 437 join schools

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 12

Despite the fact that the state government is every year paying Rs 3.48 crore to 601 education volunteers in Muktsar district, who have been given the task to educate school dropouts, the purpose is still not achieved.

For instance, the Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Alternative Innovative Education (AIE) and Special Training (STR) volunteers have brought just 87 of total 437 school dropouts (7-14 years) identified in Muktsar district to the mainstream of schooling this academic session.

A senior official in the district education office said the state government had not assigned teaching job to these volunteers and they were told to bring dropout children to the mainstream of schooling. “Due to political pressure, these volunteers have been given their preference postings. Thus the purpose is not being achieved. There are some government schools where these volunteers are not even required, but posted without any reason,” said the official.

Jaspal Monga, deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “Education volunteers have been given the task to bring dropout children to schools. As per records, 350 schoolchildren are yet to be brought to the mainstream of schooling in the district. The seniors are well aware of the facts as we have sent the report to them.” Another senior official said the salary of these education volunteers was coming direct from the state government and not under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) or any other scheme. “These volunteers are academically not qualified for teaching jobs as they have not cleared the Teacher Eligibility Test,” he added.

On the other hand, an EGS volunteer said they were doing the same duty as of the teachers. They alleged that the Education Department was exploiting them and not showing their work in records.

“There are some schools, which are being run by volunteers only as not even a single teacher is deployed there. The department doesn’t want to show us working like teachers because they fear that we will claim permanent job and salary hike,” he added.

Another education volunteer said, “We are unable to bring all dropout children to schools because the department is getting other works done from us as well.”

Repeated attempts to contact Pritpal Singh and Kulwant Kumari, who spearheaded the movement of EGS volunteers in the past, proved futile.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Harsimrat’s hoardings torn in village adopted by her

The torn poster at Mann village in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Mann (Lambi), August 8

Unidentified persons tore up hoardings greeting Union Minister for Food Processing Industries-cum-Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal at Mann village today. Harsimrat has adopted this village under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). It is located near to Badal village in the Lambi Assembly segment.

The village witnessed major violence during zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in 2013. Around 150 Congress activists were booked in a criminal case and they had to leave the village for almost a month to evade arrest.

The SAD is also facing factionalism in the village. On January 2 this year, two factions of the party entered into a scuffle just after the CM’s sangat darshan, alleging that some influential persons did not allow them to meet the CM.

Even during Harsimrat’s last visit to the village on July 3 this year, some residents had decided to lodge a protest demanding better civic amenities. The administration had, however, stopped them and also changed the travel route of Harsimrat.

The Union Minister today announced free health insurance for all women of the village for 10 years.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badal village shows the way; First to get rooftop solar power projects of 125 kW

Badal village shows the way

First to get rooftop solar power projects of 125 kW

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), August 6

Badal, the native village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, is all set to become a guiding force in rooftop solar power generation in the state.

With four rooftop solar power projects of 125 kW being installed under the net metering policy in the village, it will become the first village in the state having such projects of this much capacity.

The solar power generation will start in the next couple of days as all five projects are in the final stage of installation. The maximum 70-kW rooftop solar power project is being installed at Dasmesh Girls’ College, which is followed by Dasmesh Girls’ School having a rooftop solar power project of 30 kW. Besides, Mata Jaswant Kaur Memorial School has been installing a 15-kW project.

A 10-KW project is being installed at the Badal Kinnow Waxing Plant.

Speaking over the phone, Amarpal Singh, CEO, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), said: “Badal village is leading in the state in rooftop solar power projects covered under the net metering policy. Earlier, the largest rooftop solar project of 76 kW under the net metering policy is installed at a cold store in Jalandhar.”

The CEO said the solar power project was installed on the roof and walls of the building to generate electricity. The generated power was first used in the building as per requirement and the surplus power was fed into the grid to the PSPCL. A bi-directional meter was installed in the supply line to register import and export of power.

He said the solar system was most environment friendly method of power generation. The rooftop solar power project of 1 kW needs about 120 sq ft space. Its cost is estimated nearly Rs 1 lakh and the state government provides subsidy of Rs 12,000 per kW.

The CEO hoped that the rooftop solar power generation under net metering policy would cross the mark of 2 MW in the next 2-3 months in the state.

“As of now, 500-kW power is being generated in the state through rooftop solar power projects coming under the net metering policy,” said Amarpal.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Security up, cops ‘denied’ leave till I-Day

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 31

After the Dinanagar terrorist attack, the state police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure foolproof security for the Independence Day functions. The police have not just sounded an alert in the state but also stopped issuing casual leave to its personnel.

Some policemen told The Tribune that they were not allowed to go on leave. “The orders of not sanctioning leave had come on Wednesday, which would be in effect till August 15,” said a policeman.

A head constable said, “I had availed leave for a week till Monday but was called on duty today itself. The department has cancelled our leaves.”

A senior police official said security at police stations and public places, including railway stations and bus stands, had been beefed up. “Though there is nothing to panic about, preventive measures are being taken in view of the Independence Day. The night patrolling parties have also been told to strengthen their vigil. Besides, some nakas are being laid on inter-district boundaries,” he said.

However, about the suspension of leave, he said, “There is no such order issued by the higher-ups. Personnel are allowed to take leave in case of any urgency.”

Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal, said, “After the terrorist attack, an alert has been issued in the state. We have increased the vigil and sought public alertness and assistance in case they find anything suspicious.”

Courtesy: The Tribune