22022021-JTR-01.qxd 2/21/2021 10:26 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE REDRESSAL SYSTEM NEITHER EFFECTIVE NOR HELPFUL PAGE 2 Most readers are of the view that the civic body’s plaint redressal system provides only assurances not solutions. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF MAN DIES AS LIFT COLLAPSES Jalandhar: A man (25) died after a lift collapsed at a warehouse factory in the Bhagat Singh Chowk area here on Sunday. Around 11 am, the division three police received information that a worker succumbed to his injuries at KapurTraders godown. “Upon visiting the godown, we were briefed that the workers fell down into the basement with the lift shaft. The deceased was identified as Raju, a native of Bihar. He along with his coworker was shifting the raw material from the ground to the second floor. After loading the material from second floor, the lift box suddenly collapsed, while they were getting down to the first floor,” ASI Mangat Ram said. While, Raju remained unconscious and was later declared dead, the other worker received serious injuries. Raju was presently residing at Raj Nagar here. Further probe is on. TNS TWO DIE, 38 TEST POSITIVE IN DIST PAGE 3 FARHAN AKHTAR COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF ARJUN TENDULKAR SALMAN LENDS HIS VOICE IN UPCOMING SHOW BAWARA DIL Arjun Tendulkar, son of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, has been picked up by Mumbai Indians at IPL auctions. MAX 26°C | MIN 12°C | YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET MONDAY 6:20 PM PAGE 4 Salman Khan will be seen in a new avatar of a narrator in the opening episode of upcoming show Bawara Dil. SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:01 AM MONDAY | 22 FEBRUARY 2021 | JALANDHAR People’s movement to save dist from floods Farmers led by environmentalist Balbir Seechewal start desilting Gidderpindi bridge without help from govt Aparna Banerji GIDDERPINDI BRIDGE AND KISAN ANDOLAN Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 21 Amid kisan andolan (farmers’ protest) an alternate people’s movement is taking place on the Sutlej riverbed to save people and crops from floods. More than 30,000 acres of standing crop got inundated in 2019 in Shahkot, Lohian, Gidderpindi and Sultanpur Lodhi, which caused massive financial loss to farmers. Accumulation of silt at Gidderpindi (bridge) was termed as one of the prime reasons for widespread havoc caused by floods in 2019. Farmers from the area led by environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal started to desilt Gidderpindi bridge, without any financial assistance from ■ Shahkot and Lohian were among the worst hit pockets due to floods in 2019 and had been most active supporters of kisan morcha ■ At least 250 tractor-trailers from these flood affected areas and over 2,000 farmers participated in protest at Singhu border. Over 300 to 400 people were still protesting in Delhi. In April, huge jathas from villages would head to Singhu border ■ More than 1,000 tippers of soil worth ~50 lakh desilted so far ■ The task is being performed without any financial assistance from the government. Even NRIs have pitched in with machinery and financial aid administration watched as the ❝TheFirst floods wreaked havoc insilt deposited underagri bridge. the area and now, laws pushed by the Centre are testing our nerves. Many are yet to recover from losses. Groundwater got polluted due to floods. Earlier, one could find potable water at 30 to 100 ft, but now borewells need to be dug up as deep as 400 ft. Desilting is the first step to prevent floods in future. Salwinder Singh Jania, DISTRICT CHIEF, KISAN MAZDOOR SANGHARSH COMMITTEE the government. Work on desilting the bridge had begun in Sep- tember 2020, but was stalled due to rains and farmers’ stir. Now, the work has resumed again, with Seechewal starting second phase of karsewa. Seechewal said, “Gidderpindi bridge is instrumental in ensuring smooth flow ❞ of river. Earlier, villagers used to desilt it regularly, but stopping the exercise led to collection of silt right up to the level of girders, which caused flooding in 2019. The work on desilting started last year, but was suspended due to unprecedented rains and farmers stir. Now, the work has resumed again. Tippers and earth movers have been pressed into service at Gidderpindi bridge.” While a bundh was also made on the river last year to strengthen banks and avoid flooding, the environmentalist said, “To strengthen bundhs on the river, there is no shortage of funds with the government, but these funds are never used properly. As a result, people residing along the rivers live under constant fear. Neither grants, nor amenities are provided to people.” TODAY’S COVID UPDATE NEW CASES: 38 TOTAL CASES: 21,232 NEW DEATHS: 2 TOTAL DEATHS: 696 RESULT AWAITED: 1,445 TOTAL DISCHARGED: 20,208 ACTIVE 328 HELPLINE NUMBERS FOR COVID PATIENTS ■ Helpline number of Ambulance: 108 ■ Emergency helpline: 104 ■ Jalandhar Helpline for Covid or other medical queries: 0181-2224848 ■ Dist Immunisation Officer contact: 94171-64164 ■ Website for Covid bed info: https://jalandhar.nic.in/ Farmers head to New Delhi in groups to strengthen stir Ayushman Bharat e-card services begin at 26 Sewa Kendras in district Tribune News Service With two persons dying of Covid-19 on Saturday and two today, the toll increased to 696 on Sunday. The district recorded 38 new cases of Covid on Sunday taking the tally to 21,232 cases. Jalandhar, February 21 Accelerating the pace of the ongoing drive to cover all eligible beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Sunday launched e-card generation services at all 26 type-2 Sewa Kendras of the district. While unveiling the e-card programme at the District Administrative Complex Sewa Kendra, the DC said as many as 2,62,520 families in the district were eligible to avail the benefit of cashless treatment up to ~5 lakh under the scheme. He called upon people to get them enrolled under the scheme by visiting Sewa Kendras, CSCs, and government healthcare institutions along with their Aadhar cards. He said the e-card generation Jalandhar, February 21 Support for farmers’ stir is increasing with each passing day. Villagers of Jalandhar district have been heading to Delhi in groups on rotational basis to ensure that they have enough protesters on the ground. Tarsem Singh of Uchha village said he would be going to Singhu on Monday along with his group. “Now, participation from villages will increase manifold. Everyone wants to make their presence felt in the farmers’ protest,” he said. He said they decided at the panchayat-level that farmers would head in groups to Delhi to infuse more energy in the stir. Tarsem said, “We will spend four-five days and come back. Tribune News Service STIR IN NAWANSHAHR ON FEBRUARY 24 ■ A district-level protest will be held in Nawanshahr on February 24 to protest against the Central Government. Bhupinder Singh Waraich, member, Kirti Kisan Union, said ‘false’ charges were filed against Disha Ravi and Nodeep Kaur. Those involved in the farmers’ movement were being targeted, he said. ■ Members of the union said the Centre was responsible for inflation, unemployment and price rise of LPG cyclinder, petrol and diesel. They said by bringing the agri laws, the Centre had shown that they do not care about farmers of the country. ■ A conference would be held where all issues and problems prevalent in the country would be discussed. Later, another group of farmers will leave. In this way, we can look after our fields and and strengthen the protest.” Sukhwant Singh from Karnana village said some adjoining villagers decided to move to Singhu and Tikri borders in groups. Another farmer, Sucha Singh, said he would be leaving for Delhi to show solidar- ity with farmers’ protest along with his counterparts. He said they would take essentials articles for farmers who had been staying there for the last three months. services have been launched in all 26 type-2 Sewa Kendras including one near BDPO office Adampur, near bus stand Alawalpur, backside Patwarkhana Phillaur, behind bus stand Nakodar, Bara Pind road Goraya, Basti Mithu, Bhogpur, Dasehra Ground Shahkot, EOCP Noormahal, Gonse Mohalla, Nakodar, Guru Amardass Colony, Kartarpur, Major Rohit Sharma Government School, Model Town, near tube well No. 2 Goraya, New Sabji Mandi, Maqsoodan, opposite Parminder Hospital Hoshiarpur Road, Phull Road Lohian, Primary Health Centre Mehatpur, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences Garha Road, Suwidha Centre SDM office Nakodar, Suwidha Centre SDM Officer Phillaur, Sewa Kendra under ROB Domoria Bridge, Dhilwan village near elementary school, village Khurla Kingra road, opposite Government High School Kot Sadiq village and Ladhewali village. The DC said these e-card generation services would start at the remaining six Sewa Kendras of the type-3 category as well from February 26 onwards. He directed Sewa Kendra operators to put their maximum efforts to make this scheme a great success besides making Jalandhar a leading district in e-card generation. The DC also announced reward and honor for top performing operators generating the highest number of e-cards, adding he asked the officials of the governance reform department to develop a system to analyze the performance of every operator. Meanwhile, he also reviewed the pendency of Sewa Kendras and expressed satisfaction over the current pendency rate of 0.02 per cent, which is the lowest in the state. KNOW YOUR COUNCILLORS In the municipal council poll held recently, several new faces have emerged, who will lead the people in their respective areas. Some of them have struggled very hard to make a mark. Jalandhar Tribunecatches up with some councillors who are gearing up to serve the masses and stand for their voters for the next 5 years... A homemaker, she now has plans to improve amenities in her area When Cong rebel Ballu had his way Lalit Mohan Pathak Ballu (50), Independent, Nawanshahr Jyoti (39), INC councillor, Phillaur thought ❝ I had neverpolitics tillI a would step into few weeks ago, but it just happened. Having won people’s mandate, I do not want to sit back now. I have plans to improve the civic amenities in my area, take along women for setting up some self-help groups and even raise awareness on schemes for my Dalit community... Having passed BA and B Ed from a college in Ludhiana, Jyoti was a schoolteacher when she got married in Jamsher village of Jalandhar. As she was putting up in a village and got occupied with her family life, she said she did not think beyond home for over 12 years. She narrates her story: “Our lives changed for the better as my husband, who runs business in leather work, moved to Phillaur town. My two daughters aged 5 and 10 are also now much onto their own. So, it was time that I could think of socialising and building my own career. I had never thought I would step into politics till a few weeks ago, but it just happened. It was a bit strange for me going out, striding ahead of several men in town, getting garlanded, hearing slogans in my name and delivering a few speeches.” But slowly, she says, she has got a bit acclimatised. “Having won and got people’s mandate, I do not want to sit back now. I have plans to improve the civic amenities in my area, take along women for setting up some self-help groups and even raise awareness on schemes for my Dalit community,” she said, taking long pauses to think after uttering every word. A rebel Congress leader, Lalit Mohan Pathak, more commonly known as Ballu, has made a record of sorts. Despite contesting Independently, he has won with a record margin of 1,162 votes. While a total of 1,352 votes were polled in his ward, the Congress candidate who came second polled only 165 votes. From a family of diehard Congressmen, Ballu could not go along with local MLA Angad Saini and thus went to contest as a rebel and made it triumphantly. Four more Despite sitting in the candidates from the group that he Opposition this time, I will continue formed won the poll and three winning Akali leaders also benefitted owing to to serve the masses and provide them the best civic amenities that the votes of Congress candidates getting dented. A fourth-time they rightfully need to have... councillor and two-time president of the Nawanshahr Municipal Council, Ballu managed to generate a lot of support for himself. His voters had started chanting “Ballu ki challu” (meaning Ballu will have his way). A property dealer by occupation, he says: “Despite sitting in the Opposition this time, I will continue to serve the masses and provide them the best civic amenities that they rightfully need to have.” ❝ c m y b A civil engineer, he wants to ensure residents are safe Sarabjit Sabi (28), AAP councillor, Banga A qualified civil engineer, Sarabjit Sabi has struggled to reach a level, where he could be recognised as a face for MC elections. “My father has worked as a labourer and we have really seen tough times. But ever since I completed my studies, I did not let him work. He now runs a general store and a salon that I got opened for him. After studies, I had started finance business which is doing good.” Sabi shares his story about his foray into politics: “My friends and I always felt that Banga town, despite its good location, has not developed to the potential it has. So, they all pushed me into politics. Just as elections got started, they asked me to contest and I agreed. We felt that going Independent won’t be easy, so they pushed me to join AAP. So, I joined this party just 20 days back and won by a margin of 52 votes.” He adds: “Luck has been on my side and four other party candidates here also got elected. So, we guess my party could be in power here and the only one in the entire state. If that happens and we are able to wield some power, my topmost agenda would be to upgrade the sewer system, have clean public toilets and install CCTV cameras for residents’ security.” I always felt Banga town, despite its location, has ❝My friends andthey pushedthatinto politics and I agreed.goodfelt that going not developed to its potential. So, me We Independent won't be easy, so they pushed me to join AAP. I joined AAP just 20 days ago and won by a margin of 52 votes. If we are able to wield power, my topmost agenda would be to upgrade the sewer system, have clean public toilets and install CCTV cameras for residents’ security...