Labour shortage hits toilet project

A World Bank-funded project

• The state government has to build 4,400 toilets in Lambi block; 7,100 in Gidderbaha block; 8,200 in Malout block and 24,064 in Muktsar block
• Nearly Rs 61 crore will be spent on the project
• Construction in Gidderbaha, Malout and Muktsar blocks is yet to begin
• These toilets are to be built in those houses that do not have one

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service 

Muktsar, August 23

The construction of 44,000 toilets under the World Bank funded Open Defecation Free (ODF) project has been hit as the district administration faces a shortage of skilled labourers. To resolve the issue, the administration has now started training labourers. For instance, a batch of 30 labourers is being trained at the Construction Skill Training Institute (CSTI), Abul Khurana village, here.

The state government has to build 4,400 toilets in Lambi block; 7,100 in Gidderbaha block; 8,200 in Malout block and 24,064 in Muktsar block. Nearly Rs 61 crore will be spent on this project.

Ramvir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Muktsar, said, “We have to construct the toilets in the given time frame, but we are facing a shortage of skilled labourers. So, we are training labourers for free at the CSTI in Abul Khurana village. It will help us overcome the shortage of skilled labourers.”

At present, the work is undergoing in Lambi block only. Construction in the other three blocks, where about 40,000 toilets are to be built, is yet to begin. These toilets are to be built in those houses that do not have one.

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

Waterlogging-hit villages fast turning self-reliant

Fiscal push

• The Chief Minister adopted Rattakhera Vadda and Rattakhera Chhota villages last year to ensure their development
• The state government is spending nearly Rs 20 crore to develop these villages
• Farmers are turning to dairying and women tailoring

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, August 16

The residents of Rattakhera Vadda and Rattakhera Chhota villages – worst affected by waterlogging – are fast becoming self-reliant. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal adopted the villages in October, last year, to ensure their development. The state government is spending nearly Rs 20 crore to develop these villages with a population of nearly 2,500.

Loans were sanctioned to farmers so they could set up dairy units under the new schemes launched by the state government. So far, no one has been declared defaulter. Barring a few landlords, no one in the village could grow crops on their land for the last two decades. Now, with the efforts of the Agriculture Department, a large chunk of waterlogging-hit land has been reclaimed.

Similarly, 110 small dairy units set up are becoming a good source of income for the residents. “The milk that the villages supplied to Milkfed daily has increased from 45 litres to 400 litres. The farmers are also selling milk to private companies,” said Ramvir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Muktsar.

He said, “The progress report of these villages has shown that not even a single person has defaulted on his loan. Everyone is repaying their monthly instalments to the banks in time.”

Another senior officer in the district administration said some women, who were recently trained as tailors, have started their business in neighbouring Malout town.

He said only 20 per cent of the land hit by waterlogging could not be reclaimed, but the government was continuing with its efforts. To reclaim land, its hard crust is broken using sub-soilers and then irrigated with canal water.

As per a recently conducted socio-economic survey, 18 per cent boys and 15 per cent girls of marriageable age here were reportedly unmarried.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Work shoddy, probe govt projects, demand villagers

Allege substandard material used in construction

Their complaints

• Residents of Mann and Raniwala villages complained about leaking water pipes
• Residents of Gaggar village complained about the pathetic condition of the community hall that was recently built
• In 2012, the then Muktsar DC Paramjit Singh found substandard material being used to construct toilets under the Sulabh toilet project

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, August 17

Residents of several villages here have approached the district administration, demanding that the development works in the region be probed. Though a lot of money has been spent on development works, the construction material used has been reportedly substandard.

For instance, the recently built waterworks in a number of villages are leaking. Villagers have accused the contractors of using inferior material and sought a probe.

Recently, residents of Panniwala Fatta village demanded that all development works carried out since 2003, be investigated. Similarly, residents of Mann and Raniwala villages complained about leaking water pipes.

The pathetic condition of the community hall at Gaggar village that was constructed a few years ago has also raised doubts about the utilisation of funds. Earlier, the road leading to the CM’s residence in Badal village caved in within a month after the project was finished.

Residents of Sham Khera village alleged the concrete streets in their village had developed cracks within a year of their construction.

In 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner Muktsar Paramjit Singh found substandard material being used to construct toilets under the Sulabh toilet project.

Sources said the departments concerned were yet to submit the utilisation certificates of a number of development works. The issue has been brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner.

Ramvir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Muktsar, said, “If the panchayat or residents of any village have any complaints regarding development works, they can approach the district administration. I promise to look into each complaint and punish the guilty.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

State will flourish under NDA: Badal; Expresses gratitude for inclusion of Punjab in Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojna

State will flourish under NDA: Badal

Expresses gratitude for inclusion of Punjab in Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojna

SWAT thrust to Chief Minister’s security

• The Israel-trained Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the state police has now been added to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s security.
• The Chief Minister already has Z plus security cover that comprises National Security Guard (NSG) commandos.
• A SWAT commando told The Tribune during the CM’s Sangat Darshan in Lambi today that their 12-member unit had been deployed with Badal.
• “This is our first day with the Chief Minister. We are happy that the CM has posed faith on us and made us part of his security cover,” said a SWAT commando.

• Also in this section

• State offers liberal sops to rev up investments

• CM meets Union Ministers, returns ‘empty-handed’

• Mishap involving Badal bus ends in compromise yet again

• In Muktsar, schools double up as community centres

• Cong seeks probe into ‘insecticides scam’

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SWAT commandos stand guard during the Chief Minister's Sangat Darshan programme in the Lambi assembly segment in Muktsar on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, August 18

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today thanked the NDA government for inclusion of Punjab in the Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojna which aims at transforming the fortunes of SC population in the state. He alleged in contrast, the Congress-led UPA government had deliberately excluded the state from this scheme despite it having the largest concentration of SC population.

Interacting with the mediapersons on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan in Lambi, the Chief Minister said he had raised this matter with the UPA government a number of times, but to no avail.

He said the states with far lesser SC population were reaping the benefits of this scheme during the UPA regime even as Punjab was denied the benefit.

“The NDA government has now given its consent to cover the state. Punjab has the highest SC population (32 per cent) in the country as per census 2011. Of 12,168 villages, 2,800 (23.01 per cent) have 50 per cent or more SC population,” he claimed.

He said the scheme would go a long way in providing basic infrastructural facilities such pavement of streets and “firnis”, solar streetlights, hand pumps, toilets, water supply and sewerage in villages across the state.

On CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s allegations, Badal said he had already sanctioned Rs 10 crore as demanded by her for the constituency. “Even if she (Sidhu) seeks more funds for her constituency, her demand will be considered,” he said. He refuted the allegations regarding preferential treatment to any particular city or constituency, saying that the SAD-BJP alliance government was working to ensure overall development of the state without any prejudice or regional disparity.

Empty chairs greet CM 

Arniwala Wazira (Lambi)

Empty chairs at the CM's Sangat Darshan in Muktsar on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had to face a major embarrassment in his own assembly constituency, Lambi, when empty chairs greeted him at  his Sangat Darshan programme at Arniwala Wazira village on Tuesday. A number of chairs installed at the venue remained unoccupied. Later, when the CM reached the venue, security guards were directed to stand before the empty chairs, so that the CM could not see them.

However, a senior SAD leader accompanying the CM said, “A majority of the people were busy in getting subsidised ration being distributed by the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the village, so they could not come to the Sangat Darshan programme.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Lambi gyms remain shut, Badal seeks info

What the villagers allege

• The issue came to light when some youths demanded that a gymnasium hall be built in the area
• Then the CM got suspicious as he had sanctioned a gym during his last visit
• There are some villages in Lambi which have got more than two gyms
• Some villagers said the gymnasiums were rarely found open. The equipment is lying unused and rotting away, they say
• Others even alleged that influential people in the villages had taken the machines to their houses for personal use

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), August 21

Even though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has granted a lot of funds for the setting up of gymnasium halls in villages, most of these are never found open.

The CM on Wednesday got suspicious and asked the District Sports Officer (DSO) to prepare a list of villages where gyms had been set up and the pending demands of the residents.

The issue came to light when some youths demanded that a gymnasium hall be built in the area. Then Badal got suspicious as he had sanctioned a gym during his last visit.

There are some villages in Lambi which have got more than two gyms. Some villagers said the gymnasiums were rarely found open. “The equipment is lying unused and rotting away,” they said.

Some villagers even alleged that influential people in the villages had taken the machines to their houses for personal use. A senior officer in the district administration also confirmed this. A youth from Gurusar Jodha village said their village had four gyms, but all of these were never open the same day.

Sunil Kumar, District Sports Officer (DSO), Muktsar, said, “I assumed the additional charge of Muktsar district just a few days ago and so I am unaware of the condition of gymnasiums here. I will visit the area to get a firsthand report of the situation.”

147 inmates died in Jalandhar Central Jail in 15 years: RTI; Sangrur District Jail witnessed 44 deaths in same period

147 inmates died in Jalandhar Central Jail in 15 years: RTI

Sangrur District Jail witnessed 44 deaths in same period

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 24

An alarming number of 147 prisoners died in Jalandhar Central Jail at Kapurthala in the past 15 years, revealed the information procured under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The figures procured from 2001 to 2015 (till mid of July) revealed that maximum number of 45 deaths occurred in jail in 2014. Before this, 32 prisoners died in 2013, 11 each in 2011 and 2012, seven each in 2009 and 2010, four in 2008, five in 2007, one each in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In the current year, as many as 21 prisoners have died in this jail alone. An inmate had even died during the riots in jail in 2011.

Similarly, 28 prisoners sustained injuries in fights that took place inside the jail premises between 2011 and mid of July this year.

The medical officer of the jail has, however, termed drug addiction as the main cause behind the deaths. “Most of the prisoners who died following illness were those who were addicted to drugs and refused to take treatment to get rid of this abuse,” the medical officer said.

Perusal of the records procured of other jails from 2001 to 2015 revealed that 44 deaths took place in the Sangrur district jail; 17 in the Ropar district jail; 16 in the Barnala district jail; 14 in the Nabha district jail; nine in the New District Jail, Nabha; eight in Central Jail, Ferozepur; four in Sub-Jail, Malerkotla; three in Sub-Jail, Fazilka; and one in Sub-Jail, Muktsar. A woman prisoner too died in Women Jail, Ludhiana, during the corresponding period.

About the steps being taken by the jail authorities to keep a check on the number of deaths, the jail authorities said the barracks were searched everyday randomly for prohibited articles such as ropes and sharp objects for the safety and well being of the inmates.

“Besides, some good record convicts (nigraans) are placed inside every barrack for the security and safety of inmates. The jail warders, assistant superintendents, deputy superintendents and superintendents patrol the jail premises asking every nigraan in the barrack if there was any problem at night,” he said.

“Doctors and pharmacists have been deputed for the well being of inmates in all jails. The inmates are also allowed to participate in yoga sessions and play games such as volleyball, cricket, badminton and chess. The NGOs too visit the jails and volunteers talk to the inmates,” stated the jail authorities.

Courtesy: The Tribune