Doubts over election to local bodies chief

Though the ruling Congress captured most of the wards in the Municipal Council, Patti, and Nagar Panchayat, Bhikhiwind, elections with a very comfortable margin and there was no challenge to the ruling party from the opposition to choose office-bearers of its own choice. But at the time of office-bearers election differences surfaced among party workers. The ruling party had won 15 of the 19 seats in recently concluded Patti Municipal Council election. Dalbir Singh Shekhon was elected president, Komal Jain senior vice-president and Tirath Sabharwal junior vice-president. The ruling party was criticised for not giving due representation to the women candidates as the state government had reserved 50 per cent seats for them in the local government election. Similarly, Rajinder Kumar Babbu was elected president of the Bhikhiwind Nagar Panchayat. The Congress candidates won 11 of the 13 seats in the civic body poll. The party was seen divided at the time of election for the president. Besides Rajinder Kumar Babbu, there was another candidate Rekha Rani for the post of president. Babbu Chopra, husband of Rekha Rani, said that at the time of election he was the backing of seven elected members to whom the MLA ignored. He condemned the party for ignoring the feelings of majority members.

Education Department goes all out to persuade parents

Officials of the Education Department are leaving no stone unturned to increase the enrolment of children in government schools. The department had launched ‘Each One, Bring One’ move to increase the admission. Sushil Kumar Tuli, District Education Officer (Elementary), and Deputy DEO (E) Paramjit Singh said, “ Staff members of government schools, including heads, are motivating parents of kids for admission in government schools.” Members of the school staff are establishing contacts with village panchayats and representatives of social organizations for admissions in government schools. Flex boards had been installed in each village at the common place. Nukkar nataks are being displayed in villages. The department is taking all steps to advertise the facilities provided to children in government schools. Education Officer Paramjit Singh said pamphlets were being distributed among the residents. The school staff was daily making announcement through the common public address system in the villages. He said comparison to last year this year students strength had increased 17 per cent. He said certain social organizations, retired teachers, were also coming forward in helping the Education Department move. District Education Officers had specially appreciated the best efforts of Kuljit Kaur Mand, head teacher of Government Elementary School, Nandpur (Block Naushehra Pannuan) for her remarkable efforts to increase admission in school.

Rs11.48 crore for social welfare schemes

The state government is all set to release Rs 11.48 crore to the beneficiaries under different social welfare schemes. The bills in this respect were submitted to the District Treasury Officer (DTO) a few days back by the District Social Security Officer. Karam Singh, DTO, said the money would be transferred to the bank accounts of all eligible beneficiaries. The DTO said the office of Capt Amarinder Singh had issued instructions to release the social security pension without any delay.

Yes! I am lucky enough

Sarwan Singh, a farmer of Mughal Chack Pannun village (Tarn Taran), is feeling lucky enough being the father of three honest, hardworking, dedicated and excellent daughters who have excelled in international sports. Sarwan Singh is the holder of mere one acre land and to pull the daily domestic expenditure he operates three-wheeler. The daughters are Rajwinder Kaur (22), Mandeep Kaur (21) and Veerpal Kaur (20). Rajwinder Kaur, who is doing her BPEd from Bathinda, is a member of national hockey team for Olympic Games. Mandeep Kaur is a state-level hockey player and Veerpal Kaur had won medal in the recently concluded national-level wrestling tournament held in Karnataka. Sarwan Singh said he was ready to make any sacrifice for her daughters. Mandeep Kaur and Veerpal Kaur were recently honoured by Kulwant Singh, Deputy Commissioner, with sports kits.