Wednesday, December 16, 1998
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Wednesday, December 16, 1998 |
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Kisan Sabha’s
"jail bharo" from Feb 15 BATHINDA, Dec 15 — The state-level rally of the Punjab Kisan Sabha affiliated to the CPI here today resolved to launch "Kisan Jail Bharo Andolan" in Punjab from February 15, 1999 in protest against the "anti-farmer" policies of the Central and state governments. Governor's clarion call to
Punjabis |
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Nursing
Homes Bill draws flak Punjab
to set up law panel FCI
to release wheat stocks Ad
hoc teachers’ plea to CM
Ex-servicemen’s rally
on Dec 18 Declare
financial emergency: JD Dharnas,
protests mark AIR, DD staff stir YC
sore about case against Dimpa Cops
told to be impartial Armed
forces body flays Govt BSP
expels gen secy Sianiwal |
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Kisan Sabha’s "jail
bharo" from Feb 15 BATHINDA, Dec 15 — The state-level rally of the Punjab Kisan Sabha affiliated to the CPI here today resolved to launch "Kisan Jail Bharo Andolan" in Punjab from February 15, 1999 in protest against the "anti-farmer" policies of the Central and state governments. The state secretary of the CPI, Mr Joginder Dyal addressing a press conference said that 25,000 farmers would court arrest in phases. He added that the CPI would organise 100-sub-divisional and block-level kisan rallies to mobilise farmers for the agitation. He alleged that the state Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had betrayed the farmers of Punjab — bread basket of country — and allowed their "open loot" by officials of procurement agencies, pesticide dealers and traders. He said that farmers of Punjab were being "looted" like anything and the "booty" was being shared by Mr Badal and his cabinet colleagues. Mr Dyal said that by launching the "jail bharo" agitation the Punjab Kisan Sabha would press the state as well as Central government to get loan of Rs 5700 crore of farmers waived by making arrangements of repayments of loans to commission agents from their own kitties. He alleged that the Badal government had failed on all fronts and the law and order situation had gone from bad to worse. He said that all "corrupt" officials were being given plum posts in lieu of "consideration". He alleged large scale bungling in the auction of canal rest houses as it was evident from the fact that all these auctions had been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He said that the state government should not fund any religious function being organised in connection with the tercentenary celebration of the birth of Khalsa Panth at Sri Anandpur Sahib. He added that these affairs should be managed by the SGPC or other religious bodies. He opposed the grant of Rs 100 crore by the Central government to the Punjab government for the tercentenary celebration of "Khalsa Panth". Later addressing a massive rally, Mr Bhogendra Jha, Ex-MP and president, All-India Kisan Sabha said that farmers from all parts of the country would participate in the jail bharo "Andolan" and added that his organisation would make efforts to spread the agitation throughout the country. Strongly opposing the introduction of the IRA Bill in Parliament, he claimed that the CPI and the Kisan Sabha would not allow Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government to surrender economic sovereignty of India to multi-nationals. He pointed out that apart from farm labourers and farmers, the traders, manufacturers and industrialists had started coming out against the Central government’s move to amend the Indian Patent Act according to the interests of the United States of America. He appealed that 70 crore farmers of the country irrespective of caste, religion, political affiliation, should come at a single platform to fight against the injustice being done to them by the successive governments of India. Mr Hardev Arshi, MLA and leader of the CPI in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha said that they would not allow the Vidhan Sabha to function in proper manner till the demands of the Punjab Kisan Sabha regarding waiving of loan and suitable compensation for damaged crops were not met. He alleged that on the one hand, the Punjab government was denying old age pension to the old persons of state under the pretext of empty coffers, on the other, it was spending crores of rupees on the purchase of helicopter and "useless" activities of ministers. He said that the CPI would make every sacrifice to save the state peasantry from economic ruin under the slogan is ‘No suicide but struggle’. Mr Bhan Singh Bhora,
Ex-MP, Mr Jagir Singh Joga, Ex-MLA, Mr Ajaib Singh
Raunta, Mr Bhupinder Singh Sambar and Mr Bant Singh Brar,
trade unionists were also present in the rally. |
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Governor's clarion call to Punjabis ANANDPUR SAHIB, Dec 15 — The Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen (retd) BKN Chhibber, today gave a clarion call to Punjabis to maintain their martial traditions by taking advantage in filling the vacant posts in the engineering and computer wings of the armed forces lying vacant due to unavailability of eligible persons. Addressing the 18th annual day celebrations of Sri Dasmesh Academy here, Gen Chhibber said that there was a sizeable shortage in the officers' ranks in these wings of the Army and the Air Force. In the next few years, the demand for engineers and technicians would be very high. He hoped that an institution like Dasmesh Academy could fulfil the needs of the Army. The software industry had opened its doors to a large number of aspirants. The Badal government had done enough in this direction by setting up a centre at SAS Nagar and a Science City at Jalandhar. Gen Chhibber stressed upon the need of quality education. Quality education, he said, was more important and required to be included in human resources development. Even today, the illiteracy rate was very high in the country, which needed to though removed. Quality education was must for developing the children mentally, physically and spiritually. He described Sri Dasmesh Academy as a rare institution in the state. Earlier, Mr Pardeep Mall, Principal of the academy, welcomed the chief guest. He said the academy had interacted with several schools in the USA and UK over the past few months. Gen Chhibber distributed
prizes and trophies to students for their achievements in
academic and extra curricular activities. A colourful
programme was presented by children. |
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Nursing
Homes
Bill draws flak PATIALA, Dec 15 — The Punjab Government's move to table the Nursing Homes Registration Bill in the coming Assembly session has evoked sharp reaction from a former State Health Minister, the Indian Medical Association, members of the Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine and some senior doctors of medical fraternity. Speaking to The Tribune, these persons termed the decision on the draft as "hasty" one. They alleged that there were number of flaws in the Bill which has not taken into account ground realities of the medical profession. They also warned that the implementation of the Bill would make medical treatment in private nursing homes costlier. Dr Malti Thapar, former State Minister for Health and presently general secretary of the PPCC during whose tenure the Bill was prepared initially said that the SAD-BJP government had introduced various new clauses against which she has objection. Mrs Thapar has urged the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to reconsider the decision of presenting the Bill in this session besides forming a draft committee having representatives of the Indian Medical Association to re-draft the Bill. Dr Thapar said that some clauses of the Bill were very objectionable like the one regarding qualifications of persons authorised to open a maternity home or conduct deliveries. The clause of the Act requires that only an MBBS and post-graduate in obstetrics and gynaecology can open a maternity home. The Act further says that qualified nurses, multipurpose lady health visitors, mutipurpose workers and health assistants can also open maternity homes. Dr Thapar claimed that inference drawn from the clause meant that an MBBS doctor who is not postgraduate in obstetrics and gynaecology cannot open maternity home and perform deliveries while a much lower staff like mid-wives could do so. This sounds absurd, she added. She said another controversial clause is regarding the provision of supervisory authority over these nursing homes. The Act provides that Civil Surgeon of a district would Act as supervisor and is empowered to check a nursing home at the most twice in six months. Dr Thapar said that such checks bring the medical profession under 'inspectori raj" which would lead to harassment of doctors and encourage corruption. Dr OP Kande chairman, action committee and legal cell of the state unit of the Indian Medical Association, said that Act if implemented would escalate prices of taking medical treatment, the nursing homes would have to invest a lot to fulfil provisions of the Act like land, equipment of beds etc which would automatically lead to increase in charges taken from patients. Three senior doctors who includes Dr Ajmer Singh former, Director Research and Medical Education, Dr Janak Sachdeva, Professor and Head of Medicine and Dr Naresh Garg who now run nursing homes called the draft an arbitrary one as it targeted only the private practitioners. These doctors, said that the draft Bill should include government hospitals also. Regarding the provision of recruiting medical staff in their clinics as per the set qualifications in the Act, the doctors said that the main lacuna in the Bill was that once the Act was implemented the staff who did not possess necessary qualifications but had more knowledge of the profession through experience and working under the private practitioner would have to leave the job. Homoeopathic doctors have
also objected to the Bill on various grounds. They argued
that the clauses in the Act require for more registration
fee, which is unjust as the homoeopathis had recently
paid renewed registration fee. Further, they argued that
the clauses have been introduced only in this state and
are found nowhere else. |
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Punjab to set up law panel CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has given his approval to the proposal of constituting a Law Commission with a term of one year to examine all the existing state statutes, rules and subordination legislation framed thereunder. The Commission will be
headed by Justice Mr K.P. Bhandari and will include Mr
S.S. Chimney, retired Director Prosecution, Punjab. The
Advocate General and Legal Remembrancer will be
ex-officio members. The Legal Remembrancer will also act
as Member-Secretary of the commission. The government may
at a later date, appoint additional member with
administrative background. Formal terms of reference of
the commission will be worked out and its constitution
would be duly notified. |
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FCI to release wheat stocks CHANDIGARH,Dec 15 — The Union Government has decided to release wheat stocks lying with the FCI to the State Government for release through the public distribution system. This was disclosed in a press release issued by the Director Food and Supplies, Punjab today. The Government of Punjab has decided to make use of this facility and is planning to release the wheat under open market sale scheme (domestic) to the public distribution system and through fair price shops of PUNSUP to supply whole meal atta in 10 kg packs. This decision has been taken to check any increase in the prices of wheat/atta in Punjab. All the Deputy
Commissioners have been requested to indicate the
requirement in their respective districts. |
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Ad
hoc
teachers’ plea to CM PATIALA, Dec 15 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) has represented to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up with the Vice-Chancellor the case of regularisation of 35 ad hoc teachers who have been served with sack notices. In a statement here yesterday, the PUTA Secretary, Dr N.S. Atri, said a delegation of the teachers led by him met the Chief Minister at Chandigarh on December 12 and apprised him of the termination notices served on the teachers by the university which would end their services in mid-session on December 31. Dr Atri said the Chief Minister was also requested for the speedy implementation of long over-due new pay scales for university and college teachers and the release of regular salary for the strike period. The PUTA Secretary said
the problem of existing disparity between merit promotee
and direct recruitee teachers was also brought to the
notice of the Chief Minister. He said a request was made
for the amendment of the Punjabi University Act in the
state Assembly wherein the teachers promoted under the
merit promotion scheme and the career advancement scheme
should be treated on the basis of the length of service
in the respective cadres. |
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Leading artistes to perform at
music fest JALANDHAR, Dec 15 — Programme for the forthcoming 123rd Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan to be held from December 25 to 27, was finalised at here yesterday. Prominent exponents of Hindustani classical music have been invited to perform at the sammelan as per the following programme: December 25 — Rajan and Sajan Mishra (vocal), Ustad Fariddudin Dagar (vocal-Dhrupad), Pt Daya Shankar and party (shehnai) and Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari (tabla solo). December 26 — Pt Bhajan Sapori (santoor), Pt Debu Chaudhari and Prateek Chaudhari (sitar), Upendra Bhatt (vocal), Pt Pradeep Kumar Barot (Sarod). December 27 — Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia (flute), Ashwini Bhide (vocal), Joya Biswas (sitar), Sanjeev Abhyankar (vocal), Pt LK Pandit (vocal), BS Narang (vocal). According to the Organising Secretary, Mr Alok Sondhi, the Chief Minister, Punjab will inaugurate the sammelan and Mr Madan Lal Khurana, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, will be the chief guest. The Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan is the oldest Hindustani classical music festival and one of the most prestigious music festival of its kind in the country. It has been recognised as a national festival by the government. To promote young talents a
music competition would also be organised in the
instrumental (percussion and non-percussion) and vocal
categories on December 25 and 26. Students keen on
participating should register their names by 10 a.m. on
December 25 at the venue — Shree Devi Talab Mandir,
Dr Arun Mishra may be contacted on Ph 271394, 225394,
226151 for further details. |
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Ex-servicemen’s rally on
Dec 18 JALANDHAR, Dec 15 — A state-level rally of ex-servicemen will be held after a period of three years on December 18 at Jalandhar cantonment. Giving this information, GoC-in-C, Vajra Corps, Lt-Gen Kamal Davar, said that though district-level rallies are held twice a year, but to redress problems of ex-servicemen, who constitute a large segment of population in the state, this state-level rally is being organised. Two rallies in remote areas have been held in this year. While the state-level rally was held on December 17, 1995, the General said that highlights of the rally to be held at the Katoch stadium will be participation of 20 state-level ministers, 13 secretaries from various ministries and 20 local civil officials. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will preside over the rally function. More than 37 retired senior officers of the rank of Lt-General, Major-General and Brigadier will be attending this rally, at which several concessions and benefits by the state and Central government for the welfare and resettlement of the ex-servicemen will be announced. A legal advice stall and pensions stall for redressal will also be set up. To help ex-servicemen an up-to-date brochure on latest incentives and schemes launched so far, will also be made available to ex-servicemen. The Army is mobilising 200 Defence Department vehicles and 120 civil vehicles to enable ex-servicemen to reach the rally, he said. Punjab has major share of
ex-servicemen and families who need support for
resettlement in terms of re-employment, self-employment,
training and rehabilitation. The Director-General
Resettlement through the various sainik welfare boards
looks after this aspect. The boards act as link between
ex-servicemen and the civil administration by providing
the guidance, support, training and rehabilitation. At
the grassroots level Punjab is being looked after by 17
district sainik welfare boards headed by deputy directors
sainik welfare. |
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Declare financial emergency: JD LUDHIANA, Dec 15 — The State Unit of the Janata Dal today urged the Governor of Punjab to immediately declare a state of financial emergency in the state as it had become bankrupt due to wrong policies of the State Government. The Governor was also urged to ask the Chief Minister to step down immediately. There has been no payment
of pensions to the retired personnel of the state and the
old-age pensioners, despite the fact that the State
Government had imposed additional taxes of over Rs 800
crore in the form of hike in power tariff, bus fare,
octroi rates, sales tax rates and other local taxes. |
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Dharnas, protests mark AIR, DD
staff stir PATIALA, Dec 15 — Administrative staff of All India Radio, here observed a pen-down strike for the second successive day today in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. A day-long dharna was staged outside the radio station. JALANDHAR: The Akashvani and Doordarshan Administrative Staff Association here held a joint dharna in front of the Doordarshan Kendra, today. The striking staff demanded the implementation of the demands accepted by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on January 2 this year. Addressing the dharna, Mr
Satish Sharma, President, Punjab Zone, condemned the
indifferent attitude of the Ministry. He threatened that
if their demands were not accepted, the association would
give a call for an idenfinite strike. |
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YC sore about case against
Dimpa PATIALA, Dec 15 — The rural and urban units of the district Youth Congress staged a dharna-cum-rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here today to protest against the registration of a case against Mr Jasbir Singh Gill (Dimpa), President of the State Youth Congress. The agitating activists held a rally on the Mall and later submitted a memorandum in the Deputy Commissioner's office demanding immediate withdrawal of the case. Leaders said the Badal
government was stung by the defeat of the SAD in the
Adampur by elections and was taking revenge on Congress
leaders. |
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Cops
told
to be impartial PHILLAUR, Dec 15 — A three-day specialised course on inspection and supervision for gazetted officers commenced today. Inaugurating the course at Punjab Police Academy here, Mr Sarabjit Singh, Chief Director Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, stressed on reorientation to the basics. He advised the participants of the course to perform their duty according to law by remaining impartial all times. He also advised senior officers that the objective of inspection was not to be punitive in nature but to guide the subordinates about their duties. Purpose of this training programme is to focus attention on the various issues relating the subject of inspection and supervision for gazetted officers like the conducting of inspection of a police station, district police officer, district police lines and powers and duties of a supervisory officer. The course relates to the police’s practical working study of the Punjab Police rules for police officers. It will also explain powers of DDOS and functioning of accounts matters. Mr R.L. Bhagat, course
Director-cum Deputy Director (Indoor), Punjab Police
academy, welcomed the chief guest. Mr T.S. Dhillon,
Deputy Director (Outdoor), Dr D.J. Singh, Deputy Director
(Social Sciences) and other members of the academy were
also present. |
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Armed forces body flays Govt LUDHIANA, Dec 15 — The Joint Action Front of the armed forces, an organisation of serving and ex-members of the three wings of the armed forces, has flayed the Government for denying the revision of pension to the Honorary Commissioned Officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Major Shingar Singh
(retd), President of the front, expressed his resentment
and said while the pension of all pre-1986 civilian
pensioners had been revised unconditionally the
government had put certain conditions in case of the
Honorary Commissioned Officers, thus making them
ineligible for the same. |
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BSP expels gen secy Sianiwal JALANDHAR, Dec 15 (UNI) — Bhaujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) president Devi Das Nahar today expelled party state general secretary Joginder Singh Sianiwal from the party on charges of cheating and looting poor and helpless people by enticing them with false promise of sending them abroad. In a statement here Mr Nahar alleged that copies of complaints received by him from the 'cheated' people against Sianiwal have been forwarded to the police for necessary action. He warned of similar firm
action against any party activist found indulging in the
'loot' of the poor people. |
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