The Tribune – Duped in the name of ‘Nanhi Chhaan’

Kulwinder Sandhu, Tribune News Service

Moga, April 20. Hundreds of people have been duped under the banner of ‘Nanhi Chhaan’, a socio-religious campaign launched by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal against female foeticide.

Hundreds of forms have been sold at Rs 15 each at the Suvidha Centre here during the past few months.

These forms, duly completed, were accepted by employees/contractors of the centre along with Rs 300 in cash from couples with daughters.

Sources said the employees promised to provide a grant of Rs 1 lakh to couples with a girlchild, Rs 2 lakh to those with two daughters and Rs 3 lakh to those with three daughters. “There is no such scheme to provide financial aid to couples with daughters,” said a Social Welfare Department official.

When contacted, Moga Deputy Commissioner Arshdeep Singh Thind claimed that no such forms were sold by the Suvidha Centre. “These forms could have been sold prior to my posting here last week,” he said.

The DC said he would look into the matter and take appropriate action against those found guilty. An employee at the Suvidha Centre, Mohit Arora, said a few months ago these forms were sold by a contractor who was given the task to run the centre.

“Now, the centre is managed directly by the district administration and we are neither selling nor accepting the controversial forms under the so-called Nanhi Chhaan scheme”, he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120421/punjab.htm#8

The Tribune – Opposition comes to rescue of assaulted teacher

Archit Watts, Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, December 5. Both the PPP and the Congress today came out in support of the EGS Teachers’ Union and sought an apology from Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal at whose Sangat Darshan programme at Daula village in Gidderbaha yesterday a teacher was slapped by Akali sarpanch Balwinder Singh ‘Toti’.

Leaders of both the parties said the incident proved there was “jungle raj” in the state. Vinu Badal, PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal’s wife, along with Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders, met activists of the Teachers’ Union. She said:

“On the one hand she (Harsimrat) has launched a campaign to save the girl child under the Nanhi Chhaan programme and on the other male activists of her party are slapping women.”

She said Harsimrat must own moral responsibility and apologise on behalf of the SAD sarpanch. Vinu demanded that the local DSP and the SHO should be transferred and a case registered against them for failure to perform their duty.

Bhagwant Mann lashed out at the police for being a mute spectator as the sarpanch hit the teacher. Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira also criticised the sarpanch’s “shameful” behaviour and demanded that a case be registered against him.

Meanwhile, the EGS Teachers’ Union burnt the effigy of the sarpanch at Husnar Chowk here. Pritpal Singh, President, EGS Teachers’ Union said: “We are being pressurised into reaching a compromise with the sarpanch but we will stick to our stand.”

Harsimrat, in a written statement, has condemned the incident. “The assault on a woman by any functionary is not acceptable, whatever may be the provocation. Necessary action will be taken against the guilty,” she said.

When contacted, Gurdev Kaur Sangha, Chairperson, Punjab State Commission for Women, she said: “So far we have not received any complaint. But in case a complaint is filed, we will definitely investigate the matter.” The EGS teachers had gone to Daula village yesterday to hand over a memorandum to Harsimrat. The teachers, who are demanding regular jobs, have been holding protest demonstrations since November 29.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111206/punjab.htm#4