History of Fazilka : Firozpur District Gazzette

Fazlika: - Headquarters of the tehsil/subdivisions of Fazlika are connected both by rail and road. It is a junction and terminus railway station of the Rewari-Bathinda-Fazlika Section of the metre-gauge line of the Northern Railway. It is also connected by the Fazilka-Firozpur Cantonment section of the broad-gauge line of the Northern Railway. By rail, Fazlika is 80 km from Kot Kapura, 428 km from Rewari and 99 km from Firozpur cantonment. By road, it is 87 km from Firozpur. 56 km from Malaut, 34 km from Abohar and 15 km from the international Sulemanki border with Pakistan. Its population was 3,406 in 1868, 6,651 in 1881, 10985 in 1911, 25935 in 1951, 32015 in 1961, 36,281 in 1971 and 43,548 in 1981.

When in 1844, the tract of country on the Satluj was ceded by Bahawalpur, there was no village where Fazilka now stands, but Vans Agnew, the first officer stationed there, built himself a bungalow, in which the office of the Subdivisional Officer (Civil), Fazilka, is now located. From that bungalow, the place became known as Bangla, a name still given to the town and tehsil by the people. Two years later, Oliver established a few shops there, and gave the place the name of Fazilka from Fazil, one of early Wattu settlers. Its favrouable position near the Satluj enabled it to engross almost the whole of the export trade from the great desert tract towards Sind (now in Pakistan), and made it very soon a flourishing market. A most destructive flood visited Fazlika in 1908 and practically the whole of the town collapsed and had to be rebuilt.

It is a class Ii municipality. There are a degree college (M.R. College), 3 high schools for boys and 1 higher secondary school for girls; 3 middle schools (2 for boys and 1 for girls) and 12 primary schools. There are two libraries, viz. the Sunam Rai Municipal Library and the Sadhu Ashram Library. There are three rest-houses, viz. the P.W.D. Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and the Market Committee Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and Market Committee Rest-House, besides one serai, viz. Aggarwal Ashram. There are a civil hospital, a maternity and child-health centre; 4 private Ayurvedic dispensaries; a veterinary hospital; a police-station and sadar police-station; and a post and telegraph office, 2 sub-post offices and a telephone exchange. There are three separate parks for men, women and children, situated adjacent to one another. There is a centrally located clock tower.

Before the partition of the country in 1947, Fazlika was the biggest wool market in India, but thereafter the trade has been hit very hard, with a major portion of the supply area going to Pakistan and the Bikaner Town gradually attracting the raw wool produced in Rajasthan. Other products, for which the town is known, are baan, moorhas and sirkis.
http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gazfzpr22.htm#ch19

फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषियों को गोल्ड मेडल

Jan 28, 10:07 pm
Dainik Jagran
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4124228.html
फाजिल्क - कलकत्ता में श्रीराम कृष्ण शास्त्री द्वारा 19 से 23 जनवरी तक आयोजित 31वीं वार्षिक इंटरनेशनल एस्ट्रोलाजी एंड ओरियेंटल हेरिटेज कान्फ्रेंस 2008 में फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषियों को सम्मानित किया गया। कान्फ्रेंस में इंग्लैंड, कैनेडा, श्रीलंका, नेपाल, बांग्लादेश, मारीशस, म्यांमार, पंजाब, हरियाणा, हिमाचल प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, बिहार, मिजोरम व अनेक राज्यों के ज्योतिषाचार्यो ने भाग लिया था।
सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन भारत सरकार की मिनिस्टर आफ स्टेट फार हेल्थ एंड फैमिली वेलफेयर पाना बाका लक्ष्मी ने 31 दीपक जलाकर किया। सम्मेलन में श्रीरामकृष्ण परमहंस, मां शारदा, स्वामी विवेकानंद जी को श्रद्धांजलि भेंट की गई। फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषाचार्य पंडित मदन लाल शर्मा ने अनुभूत योग, डा. देसराज ग्रोवर ने वास्तु शास्त्र और रोग, डा. अभिमन्यु कुमार ने पंच गव्य और जलालाबाद के रतन लाल कुक्कड़ ने वास्तु शास्त्र पर अपने विचार व्यक्त किए। उन्हे अंगवस्त्र, हार पहनाकर गोल्ड मेडल और ज्योतिष विद्या रतन की उपाधि से सम्मानित किया गया। सभी ज्योतिषाचार्यो को दक्षणेश्वर काली मंदिर, 12 ज्योर्तिलिंग, विक्टोरिया हाल, सितारा विज्ञान प्लेनेटोरियम, स्वामी रामकृष्ण परमहंस, विद्यापीठ, वलूर मठ, हुगली नदी, गंगासागर स्नानक करवाकर कपिल मुनि मंदिर के दर्शन भी करवाए गए।

Fazilka celebrates award for Dr Chopra

Hindustan Times, Region, P.no-004, 28-01-2008

Manoj Tripathi

FAZILKA WON a civilian honour this Republic Day in the Padma Bhushan for neurologist of world fame, Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra, who hails from the district. Earlier, bureaucrat S.S. Bedi and Punjabi folk singer and actor Pushpa Hans had won the honour for Fazilka.
Dr Chopra, Founder Director and former principal, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, was born in Lahore and made his medical beginnings in Patiala, where he graduated in medicine.
He has served as Head of Department, Neurology, at the PGI, Chandigarh. Dr Chopra has to his credit 235 scientific papers referred in 48 chapters of books, has submitted 89 research projects, 54 monographs and presented papers at 145 global conferences on neurology .
He holds editorial responsibilities of at least ten international journals and has published books on Tropical Neurology A . professor emeritus at PGI and at the National Academy of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, Dr Chopra was the first Indian neurologist to be honoured in the US.
Fazilka SDM Rajiv Prashar, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Umesh Chander Kukkar, patron and president, respectively, Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka, Inder Singh Sidhu have hailed the award as well deserved

विकलांग सहायता कैंप : 600 का किया चेकअप

Jan 20, 08:52 pm
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4102268.html
फाजिल्का -रविवार को रोटरी क्लब द्वारा जमीदारा फार्म शोल्यूशन के सहयोग से स्थानीय डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल में विकलांग सहायता कैंप का आयोजन किया गया। शिविर का शुभारंभ एसडीएम राजीव पराशर ने किया। क्लब के अध्यक्ष डा. अजय धवन ने बताया कि यह कैंप शहर व पास लगते गांवो के विकलांग लोगों के लिए लगाया गया। उन्होंने बताया कि बाहर से आई डा. हांडा की टीम द्वारा रविवार को विकलांगों के अंगों का माप लिए गए। इसमें करीब 600 मरीजों की जांच की गई।

बीस मार्च को कृत्रिम अंग व खराब टांगों के लिए बैसाखी आदि क्लब की ओर से मरीजों को वितरित की जाएंगी। जिन जरूरतमंदों को ट्राइसाइकिल की जरूरत होगी वे प्रशासन के सहयोग से मरीजों को मुफ्त दिए जाएंगे। इस कैंप में करीब 25 हजार का खर्च होगा जो फाजिल्का के जमीदारा फार्म सोल्यूशन की ओर से दिए जाएंगे। उन्होंने बताया कि जिन लोगों के हाथ कटे हुए है, उनको जयपुर रेफर किया जा रहा है। उनका इलाज वहां की भगवान महावीर सेवा समिति के सहयोग वहां के एसएम अस्पताल में नि:शुल्क किया जाएगा। पोलियो से जिन बच्चों के जोड़ जाम हो चुके है, उन बच्चों को उदयपुर के श्री नारायण सेवा समिति विकलांग अस्पताल में भेजा जाएगा। वहां पर उनका इलाज मुफ्त में किया जाएगा। अंबाला से अपनी टीम के साथ आए डा. हांडा ने बताया कि इस शिविर में कृत्रिम अंग उपलब्ध करवाए जा रहे है। इसके लिए माप लिए जा रहे हैं। उनको क्लब के सहयोग से वे बीस मार्च को खुद अपनी टीम के साथ आकर कृत्रिम अंग लगाएंगे। इस शिविर में उद्योगपति सुरिंद्र अहूजा, डायरेक्टर विक्रम अहूजा, प्रिंसिपल डा. बीसी जोसन, अढ़तिया एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष ओम प्रकाश सेतिया, संस्था के प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन असीम कामरा, सचिव डा. रजनीश कमरा, को-प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन दविंद्र अग्रवाल, प्रिंसिपल मंजुला सहगल व अन्य सदस्यों ने पूर्ण रूप से सहयोग दिया।

Community Lohri for girls

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080114/punjab1.htm
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
While most people are celebrating Lohri to welcome their newly born sons, a substantial number of people are celebrating Lohri for their daughters.
But one of the most welcome steps this festive season is that people of Fazilka are jointly celebrating tonight what they call “A Lohri to fight the darkness”.
Organised by Rakesh Nagpal, editor of a local newspaper “Sarhad Kesri”, the function that started earlier tonight and will go on till late in Fazilka is celebrating the birth of all girls born last year.
“It is a community Lohri and more than 100 families have registered, while the actual presence is much more”, according to Navdeep Asija, a Fazilka resident and a scientist at the IIT, Delhi.
The families of the new-born baby girls and their families are celebrating the festival with achievers and personalities of Fazilka in what has been termed as “Kanya Samman community Lohri”.
As per 2001 census, urban Fazilka has sex ratio 909:1000, which is much better than most parts of Punjab.

Lohri for girls receives appreciation

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
13th January, 2008, Times of India, Chandigarh Edition
Chandigarh: Fazilka, situated near the Indo-Pak border, has put itself at the heart of the battle against female foeticide. On Friday the town celebrated a collective Lohri for more than 100 newborn girls. The folk festival of Punjab is usually celebrated for newborn boys only. While this reflects on the inherent patriarchic nature of the society in the state, the celebration for girls can be seen as an attempt to reform the mindset that works against them. The celebrations, organized by a local tabloid Sarhad Kesri have now received the appreciation of two women who hail from the town and have been successful in different spheres of life. Padmashree award winning singer Pushpa Hans and Maharashtra IG (crime) Meera Chadha Borwankar told TOI in separate communications that they were moved by the report regarding the celebration they read in the electronic version of the newspaper's Chandigarh edition. The celebration in Fazilka had the town's who's who taking part. This was a first of its kind celebration in the state organized without government help. Rakesh Nagpal, the organizer of the event said he was happy that two of the successful women from the town had appreciated the effort. Punjab has been criticized globally for its skewed sex ratio. The government has started acting against the evil of female foeticide but has not been very successful. "I still remember my days at my home there. My town has a history of supporting girls. The people there will not allow the menace of female foeticide to prevail," said Pushpa Hans. She is a noted Punjabi singer considered a living legend. She added that her area is known more for successful women than men. Be it Noorjahan, Reshma or Mandira Bedi. "I am sure that my town is proud of its girls," she said. Meanwhile, Meera Chadha Borwankar said she was proud of the efforts being made in her hometown. She stated that it was only because of her hometown's culture that both she and her sister, who is senior income tax officer had made it big. "We are ready to make any contribution needed to spread the message for saving the girl child," she said. It is high time that we wake up and stop female foeticide and killing of newborn girls, she said.

A Lohri to fight the darkness : FAZILKA AGAINST FEMALE FOETICIDE

Times of India, Chadigarh, 10th January, 2008

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
Chandigarh: The cold, dark practice of female foeticide in Punjab is about to find resistance in the warm glow of the Lohri bonfire. In Fazilka subdivision of Ferozepur district, a local tabloid, Sarhad Kesri, is going to celebrate this festival for the girl children of the area. Lohri, which marks the last day of Paush month in the Vikrami Samvat calendar, is traditionally celebrated only for newborn boys. Fazilka is a far-flung, lessdeveloped area of Punjab. But this celebration can bring it to the forefront of spreading awareness against the killing of girl children and female foeticide. The local tabloid with it's small office here, will hold the celebrations for about 100 newborn girls. This would be the largest such programme to celebrate Lohri for girls in Punjab. That too without government support. "I have details of all the 937 girl children born this year in the sub-division, but we had limited resources, so we decided to keep it a low key affair," says Rakesh Nagpal of Sarhad Kesri. They have asked the families of the newborn girls to register themselves and they will be made part of the celebrations on a first come first serve basis. "We have already exceeded the 100 mark, but will accommodate the additional entries," said Rakesh. He said they had budget of Rs 35,000, which he was putting in from his own pocket. "I might not save every girl child in the state, but I am sure my small effort would encourage others to accept them," said Rakesh. The sex ratio of Punjab is 874 females per 1000 males, much below the national average. Ferozepur also comes low on the national district wise sex ratio chart. Punjab has also received criticism for not controlling the decline in sex ratio. Nagpal said the traditional song of the festival, 'Sunder Mundriye' also carries the message to save the girl child. Nagpal said that is what inspired him, "The whole song is based on a girl, and is sung by girls. It will be very unfair if we do not celebrate this festival for girls," he said. Wife of local MLA Surjit Jayni, Nirmala, is helping Nagpal in this effort. "The celebrations in this programme for newborn girls will be the same as they are traditionally for the boys. Every child will be given new clothes, and sweets like gachhak, rewri apart from peanuts, popcorn etc," said Nagpal. It can be added that in the recent times this area has shown improvement in sex ratio, especially infant sex ratio.

A celebration of folk

Manoj Tripathi, 25th December, 2007, Hindustan Times, The Buzz
The one-day Lal Chand Yamala Jatt Yadgari Mela ended at Fazilka on a colourful note this Sun day, with live performances by various Punjabi folk singers, including Mukhtiar Singh Yamla, Shawinder Mahi and Kawalpreet. The rhythm reverberated by tumbi and dhol cast a spell on the crowd of about 10,000 that thronged the border town. Folk lyrics, rooted deep in the state, dominated the Mela.
The Mela began with tributes being paid to the great Tumbi maestro Lal Chand Yamla Jatt by president of Punjabi Sabhyacharak Manch, Rajesh Aneja, chairman Daljit Singh Sarbha and patron Gammdoor Singh, who were the organisers of this event.
Lovepreet Bhullar, Rani Randeep and Gurbhej presented songs depicting lifestyle of rural Punjab. Enthusiastic youngsters dancing to songs like 'Tere ne kararan mannu pattia, Heer kali and Manke tutde jande ne.
Yamla Jatt's most famous songs were rendered here. The main feature of the Mela were performances by Bhajna Amli and Santi who made the crowd break loose with their rib-tickling jokes.
Among those present were Jagdev Singh Jassowal, president of Vishav Punjabi Sabhyachark Manch, former MP Gurdas Badal, MLA Surjit Jayani Gurtej Singh and Shar Singh.
Though 'master of laughter' M.P Navjot Singh Sidhu could not make it to the Mela due to Gujarat election, his 10-minute message was enough to keep the audiences thrilled. Jagdev Singh Jassowal expressed happiness over the successful organisation of the Mela and thanked people for cooperation, hoping such cultural events would be fruitful in streamlining youngsters, who were ruining their lives by going into drugs. Nineteen persons, working to bring about a difference in different fields, were also given mementos for their efforts.
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=25_12_2007_134_005&typ=1&pub=722

अमिट यादें छोड़ गया यमला जट यादगारी मेला

Dec 23, 09:16 pm
फाजिल्का-टीवी चैनलों पर भले ही तथाकथित मनोरंजक कार्यक्रमों की कितनी भी भरमार हो, लेकिन आज भी पंजाब के शहरों व गांवों में पंजाबी सभ्याचार से जुड़े मेलों के प्रति लोगों का क्रेज ज्यों का त्यों बना हुआ है। रविवार को फाजिल्का में पंजाबी सभ्याचारक मंच की ओर से पंजाबी गायकी के स्तंभ यमला जट की याद में एक विशाल मेले में जुटी बहुत भारी भीड़ ने इसकी पुष्टि कर दी। पिछले 12 बरसों से लगातार आयोजित किए जा रहे इस मेले में इस बार श्रोताओं की संख्या जहां रिकार्ड तोड़ रही वहीं कलाकारों के स्तर व गिनती के अलावा मेले में शामिल नेताओं का स्तर व गिनती का भी कोई मुकाबला नहीं था। मेले के मुख्यातिथि पूर्व सांसद एवं मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल के भाई गुरदास सिंह बादल थे। मेले में पंजाब के प्रसिद्ध गायक गायिकाओं ने अपनी कला का जादू बिखेरा वहीं प्रसिद्ध कामेडियन भजना अमली ने भी लोगों को खूब हंसाया।
मेले में गुरदास बादल के अलावा विधायक सुरजीत ज्याणी, एसजीपीसी सदस्य गुरपाल सिंह ग्रेवाल, सूबा सिंह, डीएसपी रछपाल सिंह, डीएसपी जेल दलजीत सिंह भट्टी बतौर विशिष्ट अतिथि कार्यक्रम में शामिल हुए। मेले में प्रसिद्ध गायिका रानी रणदीप, मुहम्मद सदीक, गायक असलम खां, सुखजीत सुक्खी सहित अनेक कलाकारों ने अपनी गायकी के जलवे बिखेरे। इसके अलावा स्थानीय कलाकारों पप्पी पारस, सुरिंदर ननड़ा, बाल गायक गुरनाम सिंह भुल्लर, राहुल वर्मा ने भी गीत पेश किए। कामेडी कलाकार भजना अमली व उनकी जोड़ीदार बीबी संतो (सुमन) ने लोगों को हंसा हंसाकर लोटपोट किया। मेले में मुख्यातिथि बादल ने फाजिल्का के युवा इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा को फाजिल्का गौरव, सुबोध वर्मा, मुनीष भठेजा को पत्रकार सम्मान, शगन लाल सचदेवा को समाज सेवा सम्मान, प्रो. सीपी कंबोज को आधुनिक तकनीक सम्मान से सम्मानित किया।
इस मौके उन्होंने गायक जस वीर की नई कैसेट चन्न जिहा मुखड़ा व संगीतकार एवं गायक मनजिंदर तनेजा की वंगा छनका के रिलीज भी की। बादल ने प्रिंसिपल गुरमीत सिंह द्वारा लिखित हास्य पुस्तिका लापरवाही जिंदाबाद का विमोचन भी किया। उन्होंने मंच द्वारा पंजाबी संस्कृति के विकास के लिए पंजाबी सभ्याचारक मंच के अध्यक्ष राजेश अनेजा व उनकी टीम द्वारा आयोजित मेले की मुक्त कंठ से प्रशंसा की। मेले का आयोजन प्योर फूड्स लिमिटेड के आरडी गर्ग के सहयोग से किया गया था। मंच संचालन पंकज धमीजा ने किया।

मोबाइल के जरिये मुखातिब हुए सिद्धू
फाजिल्का : पंजाबी सभ्याचारक मंच की तरफ से मेले में सांसद व लाफ्टर गुरु नवजोत सिद्धू को भी बतौर विशेष मेहमान बुलाया गया था, लेकिन विभिन्न टीवी चैनलों पर गुजरात चुनाव संबंधी कार्यक्रमों व पार्टी के बुलावे पर दिल्ली में होने के चलते सिद्धू समारोह में नहीं पहुंच पाए। उन्होंने मोबाइल के जरिये मेले में मौजूद हजारों श्रोताओं को अपना संदेश प्रसारित किया। सिद्धू ने अपने संदेश में कहा कि गुजरात चुनाव के परिणाम के चलते उन्हे दिल्ली आना पड़ा था। इसलिए वह फाजिल्कावासियों के समक्ष हाजिर नहीं हो पा रहे। उन्होंने इसके लिए जनता से माफी मांगी। अपने संदेश के अंत में चिरपरिचित अंदाज में सिद्धू ने जब 'अपने वल्ल देखां तां कुझ नई पल्ले, फाजिल्का वासियां दे प्यार वल वेखां तां सिद्धू दी बल्ले ही बल्ले' कहा तो पूरा समारोह तालियों सं गूंज उठा।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4016596.html

मुद्दा एशिया की सबसे बड़ी ऊन मंडी फाजिल्का की दुर्दशा

फाजिल्का-कभी एशिया की सबसे बड़ी ऊन मंडी का गौरव प्राप्त करने वाली फाजिल्का ऊन मंडी वर्तमान में सरकारी अनदेखी के चलते दुर्दशा की शिकार होकर रह गई है। एक वक्त था जब इस मंडी में राजस्थान व हरियाणा तक और पाकपटन जो अब पाकिस्तान में है, की ऊन बिकने यहां आया करती थी। तब ऊन की खरीद फरोख्त के लिए ऊन बाजार बनाया गया था जो है तो आज भी लेकिन अब वहां ऊन का नामोनिशां तक नहीं है। इस मंडी के पतन का मुख्य कारण भेड़ पालकों को प्रोत्साहन न मिलना है।
उल्लेखनीय है कि फाजिल्का ऊन मंडी कभी एशिया की सबसे बड़ी ऊन मंडी हुआ करती थी। आजादी से पहले यहां बिकने वाली ऊन अंग्रेजों द्वारा एशिया में व्यापार के लिए बनाए गोल्डन रेल ट्रैक के जरिये अन्य एशियाई देशों में निर्यात होती थी। यही कारण था कि हर राज्य के ऊन व्यापारी फाजिल्का मंडी को ही पहल दिया करते थे। ऊन के विशाल व्यवसाय के चलते यहां ऊन की साफ सफाई व कताई के लिए कई प्रेस फैक्ट्रियां भी लग गई थीं। प्रेस फैक्ट्रियां लगाने की शुरुआत भी अंग्रेजों ने ही की थी। अंग्रेजों की प्रेस फैक्ट्री के अलावा यहां राम प्रेस, ओम प्रेस, अशोका काटन फैक्ट्री में भी ऊन की साफ सफाई व कताई का कार्य चलता था जो आजकल बंद हो चुकी है। आज आलम यह है कि कभी ऊन के लिए विख्यात फाजिल्का मंडी में ही आज ऊन अपनी पहचान के लिए मोहताज है। इस ऊन मंडी की इतनी दुर्दशा हुई है कि ऊन के व्यापार के लिए बने यहां के ऊन बाजार में आज ऊन की एक भी दुकान नहीं है। हालांकि एक वृद्ध ऊन व्यापारी आज भी ऊन बाजार में अपनी दुकान पर बैठा नजर आता है, लेकिन वह ऊन की बिक्री की बजाए ऊन के व्यापार के सुनहरी दिनों को ही याद करता है।
फाजिल्का ऊन मंडी की दुर्दशा का प्रमुख कारण सरकार द्वारा भेड़ पालकों को सुविधाएं न देना है। कभी अपनी भेड़ों से पैदा ऊन के जरिये फाजिल्का मंडी को एशिया में नंबर वन बनाने वाले भेड़ पालक आज रोटी के लिए मोहताज है। लेकिन जब यह व्यवसाय अपने सुनहरी दौर में था, तब बड़े बड़े जमींदार भी खेतीबाड़ी के सहायक धंधे के तौर पर भेड़े पाला करते थे, लेकिन आज भेड़ों को चराने के लिए चरागाहों की कमी हो गई है। इसके चलते जमींदारों ने तो भेड़ें पालना छोड़ ही दिया और गरीब चरवाहे जिन्होंने अपनी भेड़े बना रखी है, वह सौ, पचास भेड़ों से साल भर में होने वाली तीन से चार हजार रुपये की आमदनी से अपने परिवार का गुजारा चलाने में असमर्थ है और दिहाड़ी करने पर मजबूर है। उन्हे सबसे बड़ी परेशानी सरकारी सहायता न मिलने की है। अगर सरकार अन्य कृषि कर्जो की तर्ज पर ऊन उत्पादन करने वालों को कर्ज व भेड़ों की चिकित्सा जैसी सुविधाएं दे तो ऊन का व्यवसाय फिर से फाजिल्का को एशिया के नक्शे पर विशिष्ट पहचान दिला सकता है।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4001730.html

सरकार इस बार भी नाकाम रही संस्कृति के उत्थान में

16th दिसम्बर, 2007
फाजिलका -साल 2007 में सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियों के उत्थान के मामले में सरकार व प्रशासन नाकाम रहा है। इस साल भी सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियों के आयोजन का सेहरा विभिन्न निजी स्कूलों और समाज सेवी संस्थाओं के सिर ही बंधा है, जबकि न तो सरकारी स्कूलों और न ही प्रशासन ने संस्कृति के प्रति लगाव में दिलचस्पी नहीं दिखाई।
उल्लेखनीय है कि पंजाब की पहचान उसकी धनी संस्कृति ही है। स्कूल स्तर से शुरू कर राष्ट्रीय और अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर होने वाले सांस्कृतिक मुकाबलों में भाग लेकर पंजाब के कलाकार अपना और राज्य का नाम रोशन करते आए है। हालांकि साल 2007 में फाजिल्का में सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियां काफी हुई हैं, लेकिन निजी स्कूलों और समाजसेवी संगठनों ने भावी कलाकारों में जल रही अपनी संस्कृति के प्रसार की लौ लगाए रखा।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_3996727.html
ऐसा नहीं है कि सरकार ने इस दिशा में कोई प्रयास नहीं किया, लेकिन सरकारी स्कूलों में करवाई प्राइमरी से लेकर सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्तर की सांस्कृतिक प्रतियोगिताओं में फाजिल्का के होनहार विद्यार्थियों को उससे आगे अपनी प्रतिभा का प्रदर्शन करने का मौका नहीं मिल पाया। स्थानीय प्रशासन ने भी राष्ट्रीय दिवस 26 जनवरी व 15 अगस्त व एकाध अन्य मौके पर सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियां तो जरूर आयोजित कीं, लेकिन वह आयोजन महज खानापूर्ति भर बनकर रह गए। मगर उन आयोजनों में प्रदर्शन करने वाले विद्यार्थियों ने जहां भी मौका मिला उन्होंने अपनी प्रतिभा का खुलकर प्रदर्शन किया। सबसे बेहतरीन मंच विद्यार्थियों को निजी स्कूलों ने मुहैया करवाया। आत्म वल्लभ स्कूल, सर्वहितकारी विद्या मंदिरा, डीएवी सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल, केडी हाई स्कूल, रेनबो-डे बोर्डिग स्कूल, सेक्रेड हार्ट स्कूल, सरस्वती विद्या मंदिर, चाणक्य माडर्न, डीसी माडल, आर्मी स्कूल व अन्य निजी स्कूलों ने विद्यार्थियों की कला निखारने के लिए जहां सांस्कृतिक मुकाबलों में अवसर प्रदान किए वहीं स्कूलों के वार्षिकोत्सवों में भी विद्यार्थियों ने अपनी कला की धूम मचाई। इसके अलावा समाजसेवा में अग्रणी लायंस क्लब, सेवा भारती, भारत विकास परिषद आदि ने भी लोहड़ी, दीवाली, होली व अन्य तीज त्यौहारों पर सांस्कृतिक समारोह आयोजित कर लोगों को पंजाब की धनी संस्कृति से जोड़े रखा।

EW VISION FOR MALWA\'S COTTON-BELT

Punjabi farmers say Dabb ke wah te raj ke kha - plow deep and eat splendidly. Now along comes a progressive farmer who says Akal nal wah te raj ke kha. MANOJ TRIPATHI UNTIL RECENTLY SPINNING ERI SILK YARN WAS A HIGHLY LABORIOUS UNDERTAK- ING. RADITIONALLY, ERI COCOONS WERE SPUN BY PULLING THE FIBER AND SIMULTANE- OUSLY IMPARTING A TWIST TO IT TO FORM THE YARN. BETTER MACHINES HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO SPIN MORE YARN QUICKER AND IN FINER COUNTS THAN WAS EVER POSSIBLE BY HAND. N FREE-RANGE POULTRY IS AN ENTERPRISE THAT INTEGRATES WELL WITH COTTON-HYOLA- CASTOR COMBINATION. THE CASTOR PLANT "TRAPS" BUGS AND THE BUGS THEN BECOME A MAJOR PART OF THE CHICKENS' DIET.
Sunday Region, P.no-587, 16-12-2007, Hindustan Times

ENGINEER and progressive farmer Sanjeev Nagpal of Fazilka, district Ferozepur, wants farmers to cultivate new habits. And new crops too. Nagpal is the man behind Fazilka-based NASA Agro Industries Ltd. Punjab Agro has stake in NASA while the Central Silk Board and NABARD are also backing the NASA project.
Nagpal's fields show-case a new strategy evolved in collaboration with Punjab Agriculture University. It's not just Nagpal's farm. Experiments are being conducted on hundred acres in ten villages in Ferozepur district Nagpal explains: "Punjab farmers have no trouble imagining a threecrop mix but when the crops are castor, cotton and hyola mustard they stand back and scratch their heads. At the same time, they are well aware that the present cropping pattern can't go on."
There's no need to explain 'cotton' to a Fazilka farmer and hyola is no mystery either. As a variety, hyola is new but it's very similar to the ordinary variety of sarson that is a standard crop. Hyola is a hybrid rapeseed-mustard that requires much less water than wheat and matures in about 145 days during winter. The best thing about Hyola is that it is resistant to frost and is highly tolerant to white rust so expenditure on crop protection chemicals falls dramatically.
But castor? They know what it is, alright. A non-edible oil is pressed from castor seed; the oil has industrial uses, is made into bio-diesel and much of it is exported. The crop flourishes in dry conditions. But where do they sell it? How greatly does the price fluctuate? Is it worth the risk? Nagpal and PAU says plant it.
It turns out that castor plants have some unexpected plus-points. It's a "trap crop". The farmer plants five rows of cotton and then one row of castor. Castor attracts pests away from main crops.
But here's the BIG plus-point: castor leaves are what the muga-silk moth (Antheraea assama) needs. It lays its eggs on castor leaf, the larvae mature and spin their silky cocoons. The silk is harvested, spun and woven into eri silk. Five distribution and collection centres for the silk will be set up in district Ferozepur. Silk-farmers also get worm excreta which when mixed with castor cake, dry leaves and cow dung forms organic fertilizer.
What comes out of a castor crop? Castor seeds yield oil. Castor leaves feed silk-worms and the worm cocoons yield silk and larve go into poultry feed. The castor plants attract insects which are eaten by chickens. All this means that a castor crop can bring in money in several ways.
After four years of field trials, Nagpal has concluded that castor pulls in good profit, even on a small holding and it works fine in combination with cotton and hyola. PAU experts say that cotton-hyola-castor mix will provide stability, reduce use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, allow the groundwater table to recharge and create much needed employment opportunities. The aim is to create at least 60000 jobs in rural areas over the next five years. PAU now refers to this triple crop as an agro ecosystem of cultivation and has take up the project for valuation, promotion and farmers training.
But the cotton-hyola-castor plan won't work unless farmers get backup and necessary inputs. That is why NASA is going in for "service complexes" that will include nurseries growing quality seeds and seedlings, hatcheries for the right kind of chicks, materials needed for rearing silk-moth larvae and necessary infrastructure for post harvest processing. Says Nagpal: "My idea is to bring together a cluster of industries around Fazilka and have a common packaging facility with a common brand in order to achieve maximum value addition.
To maintain farmer's interest to produce more it is important to link farmers to most remunerative market.
The target is 20,000 hectares spread over three districts in Punjab's cotton belt under castor. The farmers will have the services of agro parks where all necessary inputs will be provided and which will also function like mandis, handiling crops and linking farmers to buyers. Says Nagpal: "Production by masses should have all the advantages of mass production."
The idea is generating a lot of interest in high places. Last week Financial Commissioner (Development) R.S. Sandhu along with director agriculture B.S. Sidhu visited the NASA's experimental farm and appreciated the work.
COTTON-BELT CRISIS During the early nineties the boll weevil and bad weather brought cotton farners to rockbottom. Farmers switched to wheat and paddy. But both wheat and paddy are waterguzzlers. The water table has gone down from 30 feet to 300 feet. Excessive use of agrochemicals has poisoned both water and soil and led to major health hazards. As the water table fell the level of fluoride in the water rose - another serious health hazard. People in this region are suffering from many diseases. With cotton crops wiped out, industries dependant on cotton were wiped out too. Yarn and oilseed units had to either close down or scale down. Today cotton-based industries in he region are working for four months in a year and practically the entire population is unemployed for most of the time. Water gets more and more scarce. That means goodbye to paddy. Farmers are going back to cotton - BT cotton. Farmers fear that it is only a matter of time before pests develop a taste for BT. Non-BT cotton means the inevitable high applications of pesticides and insects soon become resistant to pesticide too. How long before it becomes impossible to raise any crop in this region? Obviously new techniques of cultivation are needed that will manage development of immunity and control pest growth. That's where the "trap crop", also called the "refuge crop", comes in. But most farmers are cultivating very small holdings - in many cases less than 2.5 hectare. So a "trap crop" has to generate income as well. Castor meets the need. The proposed cropping pattern meets two needs: It provides:
Pest management for sustainable crops. Utilisation in several money-earning ways

वतन पर मरने वालों का बाकी यही निशां होगा

Dec 16, 11:31 pm
फाजिल्का
-1971 की भारत-पाक जंग में शहीद हुए भारतीय सैनिकों को 16 दिसंबर (विजय दिवस) के मौके पर श्रद्धांजलि देने के लिए शहीदों को समर्पित आसफवाला समाधि पर विशेष कार्यक्रम का आयोजन किया गया। कार्यक्रम के मुख्य अतिथि श्रीगंगानगर सेक्टर के मेजर जनरल डीएस दौलता, विशिष्ट अतिथि एसडीएम राजीव पराशर थे। कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता फाजिल्का सेक्टर के ब्रिगेडियर आरके भूटानी ने की।
शहीद यादगार कमेटी, इंडो पाक सुलेमानकी इंटरनेशनल ट्रेड फ्रंट व सेना द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से आयोजित श्रद्धांजलि कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत मुख्य अतिथि द्वारा शहीदों के स्मारक पर सलामी देने के बाद हुई। मुख्य अतिथि मेजर जनरल दौलता ने कहा कि वीर शहीदों की बदौलत ही आज देश का सिर ऊंचा है और उनकी बदौलत ही देश को दुश्मन के हाथों से बचाया जा सका है। खासकर फाजिल्का को पाकिस्तान के कब्जे में जाने से बचाने के लिए सैकड़ों पाकिस्तानी सैनिकों का सामना कर शहादत का जाम पीने वाले 84 जियाले सैनिकों की बदौलत ही आज फाजिल्का भारत का अभिन्न अंग बना हुआ है।
शहीद यादगार कमेटी की ओर से मुख्य अतिथि मेजर जनरल दौलता को स्मृति चिह्न भेंट किया गया। आर्मी स्कूल फाजिल्का के राष्ट्रीय गीत पेश किया। इस मौके पर शहीद यादगार कमेटी के रतन लाल ठकराल, प्रफुल्ल नागपाल, सेठ राजा राम नागपाल, नासा एग्रो के एमडी संजीव नागपाल, उद्योगपति विक्रम आहूजा, रूड़की आईआईटी के सेवानिवृत्त प्रोफेसर भूपिंदर सिंह, तेजपाल सिंह सेखों, एडवोकेट मनोज त्रिपाठी, प्रगतिशील किसान नरपिंदर झींझा, आर्य समाज के अध्यक्ष सुशील वर्मा, पुरोहित राजेश कुमार आदि मौजूद थे।
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पाकिस्तान ने किया था सबसे बड़ा आत्मसमर्पण
फाजिल्का : भारत-पाक जंग 1971 में पाकिस्तान द्वारा किया आत्मसमर्पण द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के बाद किया गया सबसे बड़ा आत्मसमर्पण था। इस युद्ध में भारतीय सेना की थल, जल व एयर फोर्स ने शौर्य गाथा लिखते हुए पाकिस्तान को भारत पर हमला करने के दुस्साहस का मजा चखाया था। इस युद्ध में सेना की विभिन्न यूनिटों के असंख्य अधिकारी व जवान शहीद हुए थे उनमें 15 राजपूत के छह अफसर, दो जेसीओ, 62 जवान, चार जाट रेजीमेंट का एक अफसर, चार जेसीओ, 64 जवान, तीन असम रेजीमेंट के चार अफसर, तीन जेसीओ, 32 जवान, अन्य रेजीमेंटों का एक जेसीओ, 27 जवान शामिल है। कुल मिलाकर 206 सैनिकों ने शहादत का जाम पिया था।
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http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_3996719.html

Meera Chadha Borwankar : First female IPS Officer in Maharashtra Cadre from Fazilka

Another reason to feel proud for the entire community of this India’s smallest big town Fazilka. Daughter of Fazilka, Meera Chadha Borwankar, for becoming the first ever woman to be posted as Commissioner of Mumbai Crime Branch in its 150-year-long history. To be a woman police officer in a force that has barely one or two per cent women is unique in itself; but to head an investigative force of 300 police officers is definitely a first. At present she is working as Special Inspector General of Police, CID State Crime Branch, stationed at Pune.

Mumbai's Crime Branch is known as the premier department of the city's police force, handling the investigation of organized and white-collar crime, and law enforcement in the mega-polis. While it didn't exactly cover itself with glory during the Mumbai riots in the early 1990s, it has had to deal with the operations of rival underworld gangs remote controlled by Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and even the don-turned-politician Arun Gawli. It has had to grapple with criminal cases against big film financiers like Bharat Shah, the ignominious Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) case against Mohammad Afroz and myriad encounters against gangsters by trigger-happy cops who call themselves `encounter specialists'.
Born and brought up in Fazilka, studies till matriculation from D.C Model School Fazilka. Her father, Mr. O P Chadha, was with the Border Security Force and Posted in Fazilka region till 1971 war. Later she completed her Master's in English Literature from Lyallpur Khalsa College and did her post-graduation from DAV College in Jalandhar, Punjab. She was, by all accounts, a very good student and became head girl of her college. Later, she also studied Policy Analysis in Law Enforcement at the University of Minnesota, USA, was awarded the President's Medal for meritorious service in 1997, apart from the police medal and the Director General’s insignia for meritorious service and Hubert Humphrey Fellowship (2001-2) in three decades of her policing career. During her stint with the state Crime Investigation Department from 1993-95, one of the important cases she investigated was the Jalgaon sex scandal
While answering to a question about choosing IPS as her career, she said “I was good at studies too, participating in plays, debates, etc. I was also in the Punjab Cricket Team”. So, in general I grew up with no future thoughts, but I was sure I did not want my life to end with marriage. When I was in college, during '71-'72, Kiran Bedi had just joined the IPS and was creating waves. That is when, one day, my teachers called me and told me that they saw within me the potential for the IPS and that I should consider it as a career option. I completed my M.A. In English Literature, cleared my UPSC examinations and did my basic police training at SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad. She asserts that women are much more patient, resourceful and capable than men. All they need to do is throw away the yoke of selfdoubt and their own insecurities
In 1981, she became an IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, served as Deputy Commissioner of Police at Mumbai between 1987-91, held independent charge of Aurangabad as District Superintendent of Police (and later of Satara in 1996-99) and was posted at the state CID crime branch in 1993-95. She worked with the Economic Offences Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Mumbai and was DIG of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the CBI in New Delhi.
She is married to Mr. Abhay Borwankar, who quit the Indian Administrative Service to start a food-processing business. She has two children and they presently live in Pune with family.Her immediate ongoing tasks are the extradition case of gangsters like Abu Salem and his partner Monica Bedi from Portugal, Iqbal Mirchi and Tariq Parvin from Dubai and Sharmila Shanbhag from Germany.
Entire Fazilka is proud on her achievements. It is wonderful to have such police officers in our country. We wish Fazilite Meera a bright and further satisfying career ahead. She would be a source of motivation to thousands of young girls in the country. We all know this upright and down-to earth and no-nonsense officer will achieve greater heights and fulfill her mission for the good of the nation! May God Bless Her in All Her Endeavors and Godspeed!

All Proud Fazilite Community
http://www.lovefazilka.esmartweb.com/

Accidents in Amritsar most severe: Study

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
11th December, 2007
Chandigarh: The streets of Amritsar, which give the city an almost medieval feel are the most dangerous in Punjab when it comes to severity of accidental deaths. As per the analysis by TRRIP, IIT Delhi, 863 people die for every 1,000 accidents in the city. Meanwhile, on crash ratio value, six districts of Punjab are above the state’s average of 11.4 crashes per year for 10,000 registered vehicles. Jalandhar (5.9), Amritsar (5.5) and Ferozepur (8.5) follow Faridkot (4.1). Worse among all districts are Fathegarh Sahib (38.5) and Rupnagar (36.3). “This means there is a problem of infrastructure more than anything else,” said Navdeep Asija, scientist at IIT Delhi, who conducted the analysis with the help of Harpreet Kahlon, who runs an NGO here. When it comes to severity of the accidents in the state, Amritsar is followed by Jalandhar (759), Gurdaspur (736) and Mukatsar (731). The study also showed that although their were more accidents in Ludhiana, the severity there was less. “Ludhiana has more vehicles and hence the high number of accidents, but the severity is low,” added Asija. The 2006 accident figures in Punjab were taken into account for the study. It was found that as per the crime records bureau figures, Punjab has the lowest number of accident cases but when it came to severity it was third among all states in the country. Speaking to TOI, Punjab’s IG Traffic HS Dhillon said he is aware of the situation, and doing his bit to improve it. “Most of the accidents in the state take place because of drunk driving and speeding,” he said. “We have finalized the speed graphs for all the roads in the state and would be displaying them soon. Chief secretary has cleared the file for that,” he said. He said that the matter of constituting the Punjab safety council was pending with the government. Scientists recommend The scientists have recommended that the state should have its own online road crash database management system, where scientifically collected traffic and road crash data at the level of various administrative units is available. Punjab government should also ensure the implementation of road safety audits on all upcoming and existing roads in the state. There should be special focus on improving road safety measures and increasing traffic awareness among drivers. Also there should be better medical facilities in case accidents do take place. Cranes and ambulances should be easily available. Special steps should be taken to decrease the speed of vehicles in districts with high crash severity like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur and Muktsar.