Fifth General Elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1972¹.—These general elections had to be conducted due to the premature dissolution of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha constituted in March 1969. It was for the second time after the formation of the present State of Punjab that President’s rule was imposed in the State. In the wake of President’s rule, emergency was declared due to Indo-Pak conflict. The preparation for the conduct of the new general elections had, therefore, to be made under the shadow of emergency. The poll throughout the State was held on a single day on 11 March 1972. The election was held under the marking system of voting. The change in the design of ballot paper which was printed for the first time alongwith counterfoil attached to it, was an additional factor in this connection. The election was held in the same constituencies as were in force at the time of the general and mid-term elections held in 1967 and 1969.

There were 10 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies in the district, viz. Sardulgarh, Budhlada, Mansa, Talwandi Sabo, Pakka Kalan, Bathinda, Phul, Nathana (SC), Kot Kapura, and Faridkot (SC). Out of the total population of 13,18,134 (1971 Census) of the district, the total number of electors in the district was 6,83,39. From these constituencies, 2 Congress, 7 Akali and 1 Communist candidates were elected. The total number of valid votes polled in favour of each contesting party is given below :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Congress	2,27,827	47.07
Communist Party of India	1,48,049	30.58
Jan Sangh	48,400	9.98
Independents	3,300	0.68
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	1,532	0.32
Swatantra	458	0.09
Independents	54,545	11.28
Total	4,84,111	100.00

¹ Report on General Elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1972 (Chandigarh, 1974), pp 1, 2, 5, 53 and 61

Sixth General Elections to the Lok Sabha, 1977.—The Fifth Lok Sabha was constituted in March 1971. Prior to the enforcement of Constitution (42^nd Amendment) Act, 1976, the duration of Lok Sabha was five years. Thus, normally the sixth Lok Sabha was to be elected in 1976. During the emergency, the tenure of the Lok Sabha was twice extended, each time by one year and its term stood extended to March 1978. However, the Fifth Lok Sabha was dissolved on 18 January 1977 and a general election was ordered within 2 months, which was conducted on 16 March 1977.

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha elected in March 1972 was normally to last upto 20 March 1977. But due to the aforesaid amendment, its term stood extended till March 1978. However, as it was also dissolved on 30 April 1977, the general election was held earlier.

The Lok Sabha poll throughout the State except Firozpur Constituency was held on a single day on 16 March 1977 and the poll to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha was also held on a single day except Anandpur Sahib Constituency on 12 June 1977. The election was held under the marking system of voting and ballot paper with counterfoil was used. The elections to the Lok Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha were held as the constituencies declared delimited by the Delimitation Commissin’s Order No. 41 of 24 May 1975. According to it, there was no change made in the Lok Sabha constituencies, but the number of Punjab Vidhan Sabha constituencies was raised from 104 to 117 in the State.

Lok Sabha Constituency¹

There was one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district, viz. Bathinda (SC). The total number of electors in the district was 6,07,613, out of which 4,35,035 electors cast their votes. Shiromani Akali Dal candidate was declared elected from polled in favour of each of the contesting party in the district was as under :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Shiromani Akali Dal	2,62,864	61.82
Congress (I)	87,553	20.60
Communist Party of India	62,639	14.73
Independents	12,088	2.85
Total	4,25,144	100.00

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies²

There were 9 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies in the district, viz. Talwandi Sabo, Pakka Kalan (reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes), Bathinda, Nathana (reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes), Rampura Phul, Joga, Mansa, Budhlada and Sardulgarh. The total number of electors in the district was 6,30,856, out of which 4,31,663 electors cast their votes. From these constituencies, 6 Shiromani Akali Dal, 2 Janata and 1 Communist Party of India’s candidates were declared elected. The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Shiromani Akali Dal	1,84,536	43.39
Congress (I)	1,08,007	25.40
Communist Party of India	68,148	16.02
Janata Party	48,149	11.32
Independents	16,469	3.87
Total	4,25,309	100.00

¹ Report on the Lok Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections, 1977 (19 July 1979), pp 42, 51

² Ibid, pp 53, 102, 104

Seventh (Mid-term) General Elections to the Lok Sabha, 1980.—The Sixth Lok Sabha was constituted in March 1977 when the Janata Party; consisting of the Organization Congress, the Bharatiya Lok Dal, the Jan Sangh and Socialist Party contested elections and got majority. The Akali Party also supported the Janata Party and it formed the Ministry in March 1977. The janata party could not continue for a long period because, after sometime, defections started and a Cabinet Minister belonging to Janata Party alongwith some other members of Lok Sabha formed his Ministry in August 1979 with the support of Congress (I) Party. But this adjustment could not last long, with the result that the Congress (I) withdrew its support and the Parliament was dissolved by the President under Sub-Clause (b) or Clause (2) of Article 85 of the Constitution on 22 August 1979 for mid-term elections for constituting the new house.

The Seventh (Mid-Term) General Eelctions throughout the State were held on 3 January 1980. Out of the total populaiton of 11,08,580 (1971 Census excluding Faridkot Tahsil of present Faridkot District) of the Bathinda District, the number of electors was 7,08,507 (Lok Sabha) and 7,16,373 (Vidhan Sabha).

The term of the office of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, constituted on 12 June 1977, was due to expire in 1982, but it was also dissolved by the President under Article 356 of the Constitution on 17 February 1980. The Mid-Term General Elections of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha were held on 31 May 1980 and completed on the same day. In these elections, the Congress (I) Party obtained majority of votes defeating other Akali and Janata candidates. In June 1980, it formed its government in the State.

Lok Sabha Constituencies¹

There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda. The Congress (I) candidate was declared elected from this constituency. Out of 7,08,507 electors, 4,15,962 persons cast their votes. The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party was as under :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Indian National Congress (I)	1,65,777	40.92
Shiromani Akali Dal	1,48,768	36.72
Communist Party of India	75,994	18.77
Independents	14,516	3.59
Total	4,05,055	100.00

¹ Report on General Elections to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 1980, pp 59, 66-67

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies²

There were 9 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies in the district viz. Talwandi Sabo, Pakka Kalan (SC), Bathinda, Nathana (SC), Rampura Phul, Joga, Mansa, Budhlada and Sardulgarh. The number of electors in the district was 7,16,373, out of which 5,00,643 electors cast their votes. From these constituencies, 4 Shiromani Akali Dal, 3 Congress (I) and 2 Communist Party of India candidates were declared elected. The number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Indian National Congress (I)	2,17,145	44.09
Shiromani Akali Dal	1,49,001	30.24
Communist Party of India	88,852	18.03
Janata Party	2,477	0.51
Indian National Congress (U)	188	0.04
Independents	34,919	7.09
Total	4,92,582	100.00

² Ibid, pp 69, 74-75 and 114-117

Eighth General Elections to the Lok Sabha, 1985.—The term of the Seventh (Mid-Term) Lok Sabha constituted in January 1980 was due to expire on 20 January 1985. Consequently, general elections were held in India on 24 and 27 December 1984 to constitute a new (Eighth) Lok Sabha excepting the Parliamentary Constituencies falling in the states of Assam and Punjab. Elections in Assam and Punjab could not be held due to unavoidable circumstances. In order to remove any doubt and to avoid litigation, a new section 73-A was inserted in the Representation of the People Act, 1951, by an Ordinance issued on 20 November 1984. The elections to the Eighth Lok Sabha were held in Punjab on 25 September 1985.

There was only one Lok Sabha Constituency in the district viz. Bathinda (SC). The Shiromani Akali Dal candidate was declared elected from this constituency. Out of 8,42,005 electors, 5,92,839 persons cast their votes. The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party was as under :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Shiromani Akali Dal	2,60,222	46.01
Indian National Congress (I)	1,76,838	31.27
Communist Party of India	1,10,749	19.58
Independents	17,779	3.14
Total	5,65,588	100.00

Eighth General Elections to the Vidhan Sabha, 1985.—The Punjab Vidhan Sabha was constituted in June 1980. President’s rule was imposed in the State with effect from 6 October 1983 and the Legislative Assembly was kept in suspended animation. Under the 48^th Amendment of the Constitution, President’s rule could have been continued only upto a period of maximum 2 years, i.e. upto 5 October 1985. Under the circumstances, elections to the Punjab Legislative Assembly had to be held and a new house constituted before that date. In the meantime, on the expiry of 5 years term, the Assembly stood automatically dissolved with effect from 26 June 1985. The elections to the Eighth Vidhan Sabha were held on 25 September 1985.

There was 9 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies in the district, viz. Talwandi Sabo, pakka Kalan (SC), Bathinda, Nathana (SC), Rampura Phul, Joga, mansa, Budhlada and Sardulgarh. The number of electors in the district was 8,42,005, out of which 5,93,181 persons cast their votes. The Shiromani Akali Dal candidates captured all the nine constituencies of the district. However, the number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below :

Name of the party	Total number of valid votes polled	Percentage
Shiromani Akali Dal	2,46,219	43.57
Indian National Congress (I)	1,80,415	31.92
Communist Party of India	73,005	12.92
Communist Party of India (Marxist)	3,418	0.60
Bhartiya Janata Party	1,757	0.31
Independents	60,358	10.68
Total	5,65,172	100.00

(Source : Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh)

(b) Political Parties and Organizations

Political parties play an important role in the working of modern democratic government. They render a very useful service to the cause of government id formulating, moulding and organizing public opinion, clarifying various issues facing the people and offering solutions to social, economic and political problems. They contest elections and establish the desired link between the government and the people. They also clothe the dry bones of the mechanism of the government with flesh and impart energy and driving force to it.

In India, political parties have been in existence for quite sometime even though they were not well-organized. The adoption of the parliamentary system of government after the Independence, however, was a step to promote the reorganization of party system on sound footing. Before 1947, there existed Praja Mandals in the princely states of which the present district of Bathinda forms a part.

All-India Parties

Indian National Congress.—The political organizations and public bodies, which sprang up in the later half of the nineteenth century may aptly be called the fore-runners of the Indian National Congress. When the idea of the setting up an All India Organization was in the air, Mr A.O. Hume, a retired member of the Indian Civil Service, took the much-needed initiative. He addressed an open letter on 1 March 1883 to the young graduates of the Calcutta University, in which he made an appeal to form an association for moral, social and political regeneration of the Indians. The Indian National Union was formed towards the end of 1884 and Mr Hume was made in charge of the same. About a year after the formation of the Union, the delegates from all over the country met at Bombay in December 1885 and the Indian National Union was renamed as Indian National Congress. Its first session was held in Bombay on 25 December 1885.

The objects of the Indian National Congress were; “the promotion of personal intimacy and friendship amongst the workers in the cause of country in the various parts of the Empire; the eradication by direct intercourse of all possible race, creed or provincial prejudices amongst all lovers of the country and the fuller development and consolidation of those sentiments of national unity that had their origin in their beloved Lord Ripon’s memorable reign; the authoritative record of matured opinions of the educated classes in India on some of the more important and pressing social questions of the day; and the determination of the lines upon which during the next twelve months it was desirable for native politicians to labour in the public interest”.

These objects of the Congress, however, changed with the passage of time. Since Independence, the Congress Party has been making strenuous efforts for the setting up of a socialistic pattern of society; to raise the standard of the downtrodden; to defend secularism; to provide basic requirements to the people and narrow the gap between the rich and poor. In every election manifesto, it makes some additions and alterations to the framed policies according to the changed circumstances and public opinion.

¹S.L. Sikri, A Constitutional History of India (Jalandhar, 1971), pp 387, 389

On the attainment of Independence, the Praja Mandals of the princely states merged with the Indian National Congress and became its local units, in the Bathinda District as well. The Indian National Congress witnessed two splits since Independence, one in 1969 and the other in 1977. After the second split, the Indian National Congress (I) emerged as the strongest wing of the party. The 1980 General Elections—both to the Lok Sabha and Punjab Vidhan Sabha were contested under its new nomenclature and then party formed the government both in the Centre and in the Punjab State. On 31 March 1985, the Congress Party had its main unit at the district headquarters with branches at the subdivisions and at other important towns in the district.

Out of eight Lok Sabha elections, which took place in the district from 1951-52 to 1985, the Congress Party captured cent per cent seats in 1957 and 1980. In other elections held in 1951-52, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1977 and 1985, it could not win any seat. During the Vidhan Sabha elections conducted in the district after Independence, the party secured nearly one third or above the seats in 1951-52, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1969 and 1980. But in 1967, 1972, 1977 and in 1985, it did not have encouraging performance.

Communist Party of India.—Founded in 1925, the Communist Party of India is one of the well-organized parties in the country. It enjoys larger influence amongst the intellectuals, labourers and the poorer section of the society.

The party enjoys good hold in the district. In PEPSU/Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections held in the district from 1951-52 to 1985, it won 2 seats in the elections held in 1954, 1962 and in 1980. In other elections, held in 1967, 1969, 1972 and in 1977, it captured one sear every time in the Bathinda District.

Communist Party of India (Marxist).—It stands for socialism and communism through the establishment of the State of dictatorship of the proletariat. It is represented in the Lok Sabha and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from other districts. The party has been contesting elections till 1985, but it has never won any seat in the district either for the Lok Sabha or the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

Janata Party.—The Janata Party was formed on 1 May 1977 on the merger of major opposition parties, viz. the Organization Congress, the Jan Singh, the Bhartiya Lok Dal and the Socialist Party. After contesting the elections independently, the Congress for Democracy also merged with the Janata Party. The party won the sixth general elections to the Lok Sabha and gained absolute majority. The Janata Party did not field any candidates in the Bathinda Parliamentary Constituency, rather it extended support to the Akali candidate, who won the seat. The party captured only two seats for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha till 1985, out of 9 seats in the district in the sixth general elections held in 1977.

Jan Sangh.—The Jan Sangh is an all-India party and stands for the maintenance of Indian traditions, culture and heritage. It mainly derives inspiration from ancient Indian policy and traditions. It has been contesting elections held in the district from time to time to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. The party has its basis mainly in the uraban areas of the district. After Independence, in the first general elections to the Lok Sabha, it got only 4.4 per cent votes and in second general elections 1957, it captured 12 per cent votes in the district. On the formation of Janata Party on 1 May 1977, it was merged into it and lost its identity.

State Parties

From among these, mention may only be made of the following :

Shromani Akali Dal.—It was founded towards the end of 1920 as the representative body of the Sikhs. During the Gurdwara Reforms Movement 1920-25, it played a significant role in bringing about major reforms in the management of Sikh shrines and bringing them under the control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. It actively participated in the national freedom struggle in collaboration with the Indian national Congress and emerged as a vanguard of the non-cooperation movement in the Punjab during 1931-32. It matured into a full-fledged political party in the State during 1936-37 elections, held under the Government of India Act, 1935. The party continues to function as a religious and social organization.

This party is said to have been formed in the Bathinda District around 1924. It has good hold in the district. Right from Independence, it captured cent per cent seats in the district in the Lok Sabha elections held from time to time except in 1957, 1971 and 1980. In the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections, the party won half or more seats in 1951-52, 1967, 1969, 1972 and 1977. But in 1985, it won all the nine seats in the district.

The position of the different parties in the Lok Sabha and in the PEPSU/Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the basis of the general elections held from time to time, is given in the following statement :—

Party position in Lok Sabha Elections in the Bathinda District

Name of the party	Number of seats won
	First General Elections 1951-52	Second General Elections 1957	Third General Elections 1962	Fourth General Elections 1967	Fifth General Elections 1971	Sixth General Elections 1977	Seventh General Elections 1980	Eighth General Elections 1985
ALL INDIA PARTIES
Indian National Congress	-	2	-	-	-	1	1	-
Communist Party of India	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
STATE PARTIES
Akali Dal	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	1
Akali Dal (Sant Group)	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Akali Dal (Master Group)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1

(Source : Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh and his publications entitled Reports on General Elections, Punjab, 1951-52, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1971 and 1980)

Party position in PEPSU/Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections in the Bathinda District

PEPSU Vidhan Sabha Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Name of the party	Number of seats won
	First General Elections 1951-52	Mid-term Elections 1954	Second General Elections 1957	Third General Elections 1962	Fourth General Elections 1967	Mid-term General Elections 1969	Fifth General Elections 1972	Sixth General Elections 1977	Seventh General Elections 1980	Eighth General Elections 1985
ALL INDIA PARTIES
Indian National Congress	3	5	7	3	2	4	2	-	3	-
Communist Party of India	-	2	-	2	1	1	1	1	2	-
Janata Party	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
STATE PARTIES
Akali Dal	6	-	-	3	-	5	7	6	4	9
Akali Dal (Sant Group)	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-
Akali Dal (Master Group)	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Independents including un-recognized parties	2	1	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Total	11	11	8	8	10	10	10	9	9	9

(Source : Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Chandigarh and his publications entitled Reports on General Elections, Punjab, 1951-52, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1977 and 1980)

(c) Newspapers and Periodicals

Periodicals deal with the news items and current affairs besides reflecting popular opinion to a larger extent. Some of these also publish extensive information on science, history, morality, literature and several other subjects. There are six daily publications, viz. Dagar Express, Pilot (The), Punjab Cotton Bulletin, Bathinda Times, Ranjit and Jan Pakh published from the Bathinda District. The other periodicals such as weekly, monthly, etc. have relatively less publication/circulation in the district than those in other districts of the State.

The particulars regarding the periodicals published in the district, during 1985 are given below :

Sr. No.	Name of periodicals	Place of publication	Year when started	Language	Circulation	Classification
			Dailies
1	Dagar Express	Bathinda	1983	Hindi	N.S.*	News and Current Affairs
2	Bathinda Times	Do	1981	Do	2,569	Do
3	Pilot (The)	Do	1979	Do	2,122	Do
4	Jan Pakh	Do	1978	Do	N.S.	Do
5	Punjab Cotton Bulletin	Do	1964	English	668	Market Report
6	Ranjit	Do	1984	Hindi	2,489	News and Current Affairs
7	Thunder Blot	Do	1981	English	N.S.	News and Current Affairs
8	Pilot	Do	1965	Hindi	3,150	Do
9	Bharti Mazdoor	Do	1982	Punjabi	N.S.	Do
10	Malwa Post	Do	1976	Do	N.S.	Do
11	Dagar	Do	1977	Urdu	N.S.	Do
12	Employment and Career for all	Do	1976	English	N.S.	Advertisement
13	The Towering Thoughts	Do	1984	Billingual	N.S.	Do
14	Simla Law Journal	Bathinda	1972	English	900	Law
15	Ved Vigian	Do	1964	Hindi	200	Religion and Philosophy
16	Bhullar Ekta	Do	1977	Punjabi	2,149	Literacy and Cultural
17	Parchand	Do	1977	Do	N.S.	Do
18	Ruby	Do	1971	Billingual	N.S.	Do
19	Competition Companion	Mansa	1982	English	N.S.	News and Current Affairs
20	Rajindra	Bathinda	1949	Multilingual	200	College Magazine
		Bi-Mothlies and Half yearly, etc.
21	Knowledge	Bathinda	1969	Multilingual	N.S.	College Magazine
22	Aas Kiran	Goniana Mandi	1977	Multilingual	N.s.	College Magazine

Press in India, 1985 29^th Annual Report of the Register of Newspapers for India under the Press and Registration of Book Act, 1867, Part Ii (New Delhi, 1986), pp 648 to 695

(d) Voluntary Social Services organizations

The voluntary social service organizations play an important role in the development of the community life and also help in process of maintenance of social solidarity of the State. These organizations are run by the people and work for the people. The voluntary social service is an activity of a self-governing body of people working together for the betterment of the society in particular and the community life as a whole. In the present era of freedom and equality, the States are speedily marching towards the concept of a Welfare State. These circumstances have paved way for the voluntary organizations to play their significant role. Such organizations are getting enormous scope in these days of busy life.

The needs of the individual are increasing fast keeping in pace with the modern development in various fields. Day by day, the individuals are relying more and more upon the activities of the State. The State has to step in to solve various problems covering the life of the individuals. Though it is desirable to have State attendance at every walk of life of the individual it has become impossible for the State, owing to the burden of administration, to fulfil its responsibilities. Where the State is unable to look into the demands of the individual, the voluntary social service organizations step in.

There are number of voluntary social service organizations in the Bathinda District serving the social needs of the people in a variety of ways. These organizations play an important role in the educational, social and cultural development of the community. These also provide welfare activities for children, women, aged and infirms, handicapped and other deserving sections of the society. A brief account of the important organizations functioning in the district is given below :

General Welfare Institutions

Parmanand Dham Kusht Ashram (Leprosy Colony), Bathinda.—It was opened on 26 January 1973 for the benefit of leprosy sufferers. Its main aims and objects are to benefit the leprosy patients, to do welfare work and to eradicate leprosy disease and the resultant nuisance of beggary to look after the health and bring up the isolated children from the leprosy sufferers, to set up a primary health centre for the leprosy patients; to procure the assistance of qualified medical practitioners and staff to continue the treatment of patients of the Ashram and other patients who come in the purview of the society; to provide medicines, clothing and ration, etc. to the inmates of the Ashram; to make proper provision for the treatment, education and rehabilitation of the patients and to encourage those who are eligible to take up work available to them, to collect funds from the individual donors, societies and charitable organizations etc; to acquire/maintain property of the Ashram; to collect/supply information in respect of leprosy patients and to keep a liaison with other such societies; to endeavour efforts towards the physical, mental, economic, educational and spiritual upliftment and betterment of the leprosy affected members.

The Ashram owns a plot measuring 3,000 square Yards and 21 rooms constructed by the Lions Club, Bathinda at a cost of Rs 93,000. The institution had constructed 12 rooms at a cost of Rs 25,000 from its resources and a big godown for the inmates of the Ashram. The construction of godown at the cost of Rs 6,500 in addition to the said amount of Rs 25,000 which was received from Central Government through Lions Club was utilized for construction of community hall. The total assets of immovable property of the Ashram is around Rs 1,49,000.

The sources of income of this institution are donations from public, grants-in-aid from the government, public institutions like Lions Club, Red Cross Society and weekly bazar collections. The annual income and expenditure of this institution, during 1988-89, were Rs 80,664 and Rs 80,688, respectively.

Organizations of National or International Repute

There are a number of other organizations of national or international repute which have been established elsewhere, but have their branches in the district.

The Indian Red Cross Society (District Branch), Bathinda

The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920 under Act XV of the Government of India. The District Red Cross Branch, Bathinda was started on 2 January 1957.

The Bathinda Branch of the Red Cross Society has an impressive record of service in the district. Tended with care and devotion, it has become a great institution whose primary function is to provide relief to human sufferings. It has constructed eight 25-bedded hospitals at villages, viz. Bikhi, Mandi, Virk Kalan, Mehraj, Natheha, Karandi, Chak Attar Singh Wala and Boha. The Society has constructed 44 buildings for bedded hospitals/dispensaries in various villages and extended hospital buildings in villages, viz. Maisar Khana, Bareta, Goniana, Badiala and Phaphre Bhaike. The construction cost of these buildings includes the contribution of panchayats also. The Society has also constructed 21 residential buildings for Medical Officers near hospitals. It is also running 26 medical stores, where genuine medicines on most reasonable rate are being sold.

The Red Cross Society, Bathinda is running 4 maternity and child health care centres and trained dai centres in different villages o the district, where maternity, child health care and family welfare services are provided to the villagers free of cost. It is also running 41 first-aid posts in the villages. It arranged 261 blood donation camps during the last five years and collected 15,959 units of blood on voluntary basis. It holds block level camps for the welfare of the handicapped persons in which pension is got sanctioned from Social Welfare Department. Loans, artificial limbs/clippers, tricycles, sewing machines, goggles, walking sticks, hearing aids, employment, financial aid for treatment and for study are provided to the disabled and needy persons.

In 1989, the Red Cross Society constructed a hostel building of 48 sets with attached kitchens and bathrooms alongwith 2 spacious halls for working women at Bathinda. Another hostel for working women having residential accommodation for 90 ladies and a Day Care Centre for their 30 children with a cost of Rs 29.50 lakhs has recently been completed and opened for inmates. The Society has also constructed a building for Senior Citizen House at Bathinda for 30 inmates. Two serais have been constructed for the stay of patients and their attendants one each at Civil Hospitals, Bathinda and Mansa. In order to store relief articles required for natural calamities, viz. floods, cyclones, etc. a Relief Store on warehouse pattern has been constructed by the Society with the financial aid from National Headquarters of he Red Cross. It feeds Bathinda, Faridkot, Firozpur, Sangrur, and Patiala districts. It has constructed a building of Bal Bhawan in Dhiber Colony, Bathinda in order to provide medical, educational and recreational facilities to the Harijans. It has been running a sewing and knitting centre, an adult education centre, a reading room, a free milk distribution centre in this Bhawan. The Society has been running 7 balwadis (creches) in this district, with 50 per cent aid of the Social Welfare Department. There are 40 children in each creche in the age group of 1 to 5 years. The furniture, durries, crokery, utensils, indoor/outdoor educational and recreational games and other relevant material are provided to these creches by the Society.

The Society is running Bhojan Bhandar near the District Courts, Bathinda and another Bhojan Bhandar at Bus Stand, Mansa, where inexpensive meals, tea, coffee, cold drinks, sweets, namkeen, are being provided to general public on reasonable rates.

A building for Training-cum-Production Centre for Destitute Women has been constructed at Bathinda. Ceiling fans and jute taats for schools, generators, medicines and other equipment to hospitals, books and uniforms to poor students, medicines and rich diet to poor patients, sewing machines to poor widows are normal activities of this branch. The Society assisted the Health Department by providing aditional incentives to family planning cases and their motivators. Bathinda Red Cross organises free eye operation camps in villages. It has established Physiotherapy Centre in Civil Hospital, Bathinda for the welfare of orthopaedic patients. A building for Blood Bank Grid has been constructed by the Society in Civil Hospital, Bathinda in order to provide blood to neighbouring districts.

The Society two National awards for enrolling highest number of members of Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Association.

The main sources of income of the Society are membership subscription/ contributions, collections from lucky bag fund, charity shows, fairs and fetes, donation, etc. The income and expenditure of the Society during 1989 were Rs 1,04,48,693 and Rs 98,67,254, respectively.

St. John Ambulance Association, District Centre, Bathinda

The Association was formed on 2 January 1957. It provides services to the sick, the injured and the victims of natural calamities. After imparting training in first-aid and home-nursing to persons, both male and female, the Association also trains them to render social service to cases of accident, sudden illness and their transportation to hospitals. Forty-nine qualified lecturers in first-aid and home-nursing are imparting St. John training in the district. During the year 1989, it trained 3,772 persons in first-aid and 2,181 persons in home-nursing in the district. The Association is maintaining 3 ambulance cars at the sub-divisional headquarters for carrying the sick and injured persons to the hospitals and attending to such other emergency calls in the district. The sources of income of the Association are membership subscription contribution, donation, etc. The income and expenditure of the Association during the year 1989 were Rs 5,68,656 and Rs 5,32,451

Red Cross Hospital Welfare Section, Bathinda.—This Section was established on 2 January 1957. The Lady Social Workers of this Section are serving the humanity by looking after sick and suffering people lying in the hospitals. They visit the patients, give them care and provide succour to ailing persons. They sit with the patients and establish direct contact with them which helps in mitigating their sufferings. Medicines, nutritive diet like milk, eggs and fruit and clothes are supplied to the needy patients free of cost. The Hospital Welfare Section has been divided into 8 groups of ladies. It donates sewing machines to poor widows to enable them to earn their livelihood. During 1989, it donated 383 sewing machines to such needy women. It also provides books, note-books, uniforms, etc. to poor students and a sum of Rs 3,000 was spent during the year 1989. The Section is looking after a colony of 67 lepers at Bathinda. The lepers are being provided with clothes, eatables, etc. It also motivates the Red Cross field staff to educate the public to follow the family welfare gospel. The lady members organise blood donation camps and 117 units of blood were donated by them in 1989 on voluntary basis. The Section provides artificial limbs to poor amputees. During last year, it secured first position in the State for its marvelous charitable activities.

The main sources of income of Hospital Welfare Section are membership subscription, donations, charity shows, fairs and fetes, etc. The income and expenditure of the Section during 1989 were Rs 3,07,781 and Rs 1,97,607, respectively.

Indian Medical Association, Bathinda.—The Indian Medical Association was registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860. The Association is the member of the World Medical Association, and is mutually affiliated with the British Medical Association and the Nepal Medical Association. Its Bathinda Branch came into existence in 1952. The Association aims at the promotion of scientific knowledge in the medical fraternity and in the safeguarding of the interests of the doctors qualified in the modern system of medicine. The main sources of the income of the Association are individual subscription and public donations.

Lions Club

It is an international organization, whose motto is ‘Make Your Fellow Man Feel Needed’. It is a type of brotherhood to serve the humanity at large. Its activities are dedicated to the needy and the poor. The main sources of income of Club are individual subscription and public donation. The various branches of the Lions Club functioning in the Bathinda District are mentioned below :

Lions Club, Rampura Phul.—Constituted on 22 December 1974, the main activities of the Club are blood donation camps, family planning camps, help to the handicapped and the needy, distribution of shoes, woollen jerseys, books and stationery items to school children. It also organises polio and health camps in the villages.

The ladies wing of the Club, viz. The Lioness Club was formed in January 1982.

Lions Club, Bathinda.—It was formed on 23 May 1965. It has adopted Parmanand Dham Kushat Ashram, Bathinda, where the Club has spent Rs 93,000 by constructing 21 rooms to provide residential accommodation to lepers. It celebrates marriages of poor girls, organizes polio and medical camps and extends scholarships to poor students.

Lions Club, Bathinda Greater.—It was constituted in 1981. It organizes medical camps, provides financial aid to the needy, distributed quilts, mats, stationery, etc. to poor persons.

Lions Club, Bathinda Fort.—It was formed on 3 May 1982. The Club organizes medical camps, arranges marriages of poor girls and grants scholarships to the poor and brilliant students.

Lions Club, Bathinda Model Town.—This Club was inaugurated on 10 April 1984. It distributes stationery, books and school dresses to poor students and organizes langar for poor people.

Lions Club, Goniana.—It was constituted on 26 February 1977. It is running a free dispensary and organizes medical camps.

Lions Club, Mansa.—This Club was formed on 17 April 1977. It organizes medical check up camps and distributes books and stationery to the students. It is running a free dispensary.

Lions Club, Jawahar Ke, Mansa.—Constituted in 1982, it grants medicines to poor patients, distributes blankets, woollen jerseys to needy persons and organizes medical camps in villages and slum areas.

Rotary Club

The objects of the Rotary Club are : to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and in particular, to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service, high ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, the dignifying by each rotarian of his occupation and an opportunity to serve society, the application of the ideal of service by every rotarian to his personal business and community lie, the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and through a world fellowship of business and professional men unite in the ideal of service. The sources of income of the club are individual subscription, public donations and government grants.

The following are branches of the Rotary Club functioning in the Bathinda District :—

Rotar Club, Bathinda.—Set up on 28 May 1971, it is running two homeopathic dispansaries with an annual expenditure of about Rs 50,000. It organizes free eye operation camps and provides medicines to poor T.B. patients. It also helps the handicapped strata of the society. It awards stipends to poor and brilliant students. It creates self confidence among the people by holding debates, declamation contests and cultural programmes from time to time.

Rotary Club, Mansa.—It was formed in 1974. The club organizes blood donation camps, medical check up camps, arranges marriages of poor girls and grants free legal aid to poor and needy persons.

Rotary Club, Budhlada.—It was constituted during 1979. It has adopted poor students for granting assistance to continue their studies. The Club arranges free eye operation camps and medical check-up camps.

Rotary Club, Bhikhi.—It was set up during the year 1981. It assisted Red Cross, Bathinda in organising two blood donation camps. The distribution of medicines to poor patients in their main activity.

Rotary Club, Raman.—This Club came into existence during 1980. It organizes medical check-up camps and distributes books, stationery, uniform, etc. to poor students.

Rotary Club, Goniana.—It was constituted in 1985. It distributes sewing machines and financial aid to the needy and poor persons.

Rotary Club, Bathinda Mid Town.—The Club was formed during the year 1980. The main activities of the Club include holding of eye operation camps and voluntary blood donation programme. It provides medicines to poor T.B. patients. It distributes woollen jerseys, books and note-books in schools to poor students.

Inner Wheel Coub, Mansa.—Formed in 1974, the activities of the Club in the district are to arrange gynaecology camps, blood donation camps, eye operation camps, medical check-up camps and distribution of free medicines to poor patients. Besides, it donates electric fans to schools, books, note-books, shoes, clothes, etc. to the poor students. The sources of income of the Club are contribution of members and collections from fund raising projects.

Goodwill Society, Bathinda.—The society was founded on 31 May 1980. In order to provide health services, the society is running a free Goodwill (allopathic) Dispensary. It also holds immunization and eye operation camps and promotes voluntary blood donation movement and family programmes. It provides basic facilities to school including construction of building and providing books and scholarships to needy students. Promotion of national integration, tree plantation, providing drinking water facilities and helping dowryless marriages, are other activities of society.

The society raises funds through membership subscriptions, donations from general public and grants from district authorities.

Blood Donors Council, Rampura Phul.- Rampura Phul has earned a great name all over India for its blood donation work. So far the council has organized 35 blood donation camps and collected 2,360 units of blood on voluntary basis for P.G.I., Chandigarh, C.M.C., Ludhiana, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala and Civil Hospital, Bhatinda. In addition to this, it gives about 250 units of blood to meet out emergencies every year.

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