Tuesday, December 29, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, December 29, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Jathedar
invited at Sonia's behest CM
says Press misquoted him |
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No action
on Badal’s promise Check
on unqualified chemists planned 500
schools to be upgraded
Statewide
stir by halwais Theft
of baby: IMA seeks explanation from docs Training
centre for blind sought GND
varsity gives special chance to candidates |
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Jathedar
invited at Sonia's behest BATHINDA, Dec 28 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President, All India Congress Committee (AICC) has reportedly taken serious note of the criticism of Mr Jagmeet Brar by some Punjab Congress leaders over his (Mr Brar's) extending an invitation to the Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh for joining the yatra being taken out by the Congress party on the eve of tercentenary celebrations of the creation of the Khalsa. Party sources said that Mr V. George, Private Secretary to Mrs Gandhi, had telephoned PPCC president, Mr Amarinder Singh, recently to get him to stop leaders of the party from making statements against Mr Brar. Mr Amarinder Singh, following the direction, made a statement at Fatehgarh Sahib on the eve of Jor Mela that he had authorised Mr Jagmeet Brar to extend the invitation. Party sources said Mr Jagmeet Brar had extended the invitation to Bhai Ranjit Singh at the behest of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who was trying to use the tercentenary celebrations to woo back a section of the Sikh community into the party fold. Mrs Gandhi had also directed the state leadership to invite the heads of different religious bodies, social organisations and other prominent Punjabi personalities to make the yatra a success. Punjab Congress leaders will hold a meeting at Patiala on January 3 to discuss the modalities of the yatra. Some senior Congress
leaders from the party high command would also
participate in the yatra. |
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CM
says Press misquoted him FEROZEPORE, Dec 28 — The SAD president and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has categorically stated that Mr Hira Singh Gabria has not been removed from the post of president of the district unit of SAD (Ludhiana Urban). Talking to reporters here today at the residence of the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Punjab, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, he added that Mr Gabria was still in the party. There were reports in the press today that delegates of the Ludhiana (Urban) district SAD, on Sunday, voted to remove Tohra-loyalist and Ludhiana rural MLA, Mr Gabria, as president of the district unit. Mr Badal said that delegates had no power to remove the district presidents. The party office-bearers should not attempt tasks for which they had no authorisation. He warned office-bearers to work in a disciplined manner or action would be taken against them. "Mr Gabria was elected president in a democratic manner. He has been working hard for strengthening of the party", he said. To a question, he held the Congress responsible for the increasing menace of corruption. He said the Congress was the mother of corruption. He added that the leadership of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee was making false allegations against the SAD-BJP combine government, as it was working for the people. Regarding the economic condition of Punjab, Mr Badal said almost every state was facing an economic crisis. But the crisis in Punjab was a temporary phase. To a question, Mr Badal said that a central team had already visited affected areas of the state to assess the damage caused to the paddy crop due to inclement weather and rain. Regarding imposition of sales tax on halwais, he said, tax would be imposed only on those with annual sales of over Rs 4.50 lakh. GURDASPUR: The reinstallation of Mr Gabria is being seen as an apparent attempt of woo Tohra-loyalists. It is pertinent to mention here that delegation of district jatha (Ludhiana Urban) had removed Mr Gabria form the post at a meeting held at Ludhiana yesterday. In a categorical statement, Mr Badal announced, "no office bearer of the SAD shall be removed without my prior permission". Mr Gabria switched loyalty to Mr Badal after the feud broke out. Mr Badal clarified that the unsavory incident (removal of Mr Gabria as President) happened without taking him into confidence. Sounding clear signals about not forging any rapprochement with Mr Tohra, Mr Badal parried all the questions about sinking differences with Mr Tohra. To a question he expressed concern over the alleged distortion of his views by a section of the press on the on going feud with Mr Tohra. On Udham Singh Nagar, Mr Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal was firm on the stand, taken by its political affairs committee of the SAD in August. It may be mentioned here that the PAC had decided to withdraw support from Vajpayee led coalition if Udham Singh Nagar was merged with proposed hill state of Uttaranchal. To a question Mr Badal said that 18 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Udham Singh Nagar were not being disbanded as reported in the press. Prime Minister Vajpayee, Mr L.K. Advani and UP Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh have informed me that there was no such move. He said, the issue for reorganisation of certain districts of UP was raised in the Lok Sabha but won't take practical shape. The Chief Minister announced that the multi-crore Thein Dam would be completed by February 12 at all costs. Earlier, while addressing the congregation at a state-level Christmas Day function here Mr Badal said a huge "Masih Bhawan" would be constructed in this Christian dominated city. He announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh as the first instalment and said more representations of the Christian community would be taken on prestigious corporations or boarders. Mr Badal said that the Congress, which allegedly ruled the country by dividing the people in the name of cast and religion was again trying to "grab" votes of backward classes by altering slogans. Earlier, Mr Sewa Singh
Sekhwan, State Minister for Public Relations said that
the government had decided to celebrate Christmas and the
birthdays of great religious personalities at the state
level. Among those who spoke on the occasion including Mr
Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Mr Mohan Lal
— all ministers. |
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90
per cent staff absent; CM suspends SMO GURDASPUR, Dec 28 — In a surprise raid, Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal placed Dr Sukhdev Singh, Senior Medical Officer, Naushehra Majha Singh under suspension for being absent on duty. Mr Badal, on his way to Gurdaspur, made an unscheduled visit to the Civil Hospital of Naushehra Majha Singh, to discover that only seven of its 70 employees were present. He was still more shocked at finding that Dr Sukhdev Singh SMO had been absenting himself for the past several days. He immediately sent his officer on duty, Mr Deepinder Singh to Gurdaspur to find the SMO tending to patients in his private clinic. Mr Badal also ordered an inquiry into the working of the hospital. Announcing suspension of the SMO at the state-level Christmas day function held here today, Mr Badal sounded a note of warning to the bureaucracy, directing them to be punctual and give a patient hearing to the common people for redressing their grievances. Mr Badal said that it
would be the most painful thing for him. If workers of
the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP were not given proper
opportinity to redress their grievances. He directed the
officers, ministers, MLAs and representatives of the
public to visit the general public personally for getting
their genuine works done. |
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Check
on unqualified chemists planned AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — The State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, while addressing the 3rd annual conference of the Punjab Chemists Association here last evening, said the State Government was taking steps to check the sale of medicines by unqualified chemists and was planning to set up a pharmacy college here. The minister said there were wholeslae and about 24,000 drug sellers in the state out of whom many were unqualified. To put a check on this practice, the government was committed to set up more pharmacy colleges, he added. Referring to the increase in the prices, medicines the Minister said the government was committed to supply medicines at reasonable rates to people in the state and had exempted 75 life saving drugs from Sales Tax and some more essential medicines, might also be included in the list. He further stated that the police had been asked not to harass chemists unnecessarily and to conduct raids at chemist shops only when directed by the Drug Inspector or Civil Surgeon and his representatives. The BJP MP, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, promised maximum financial aid from his discretionary fund for the proposed pharmacy college. Mr Harpal Singh, Drug Controller, Punjab, said there were only six drug inspectors against 17 posts in the state and urged the State Government to fill up the 11 vacant posts so that the sale of substandard medicines could be checked properly. Mr Surinder Kumar Sharma, President of the Punjab Chemist Association apprised the Minister of the grievances of the chemists and also suggested that all medicines should be given Sales Tax exemption. Mr Ravinder Sharma,
President of the Punjab Medical Representative
Association; Mr Deepak Sehgal and Mr Gurdip Singh,
President and General Secretary respectively of the
district Chemists Association also spoke on the occasion. |
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500
schools to be upgraded CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — The Punjab Government has planned some major steps to streamline school education in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Tota Singh, Minister for Higher Secondary and Primary School Education, said that a proposal had been prepared for upgrading about 500 schools from the next academic session. He said that the proposal would be put before the Council of Ministers for approval soon. He said that medical and non-medical courses in those schools would be discontinued from the next academic session where students had not enrolled for the past two years. He said 75 per cent of such schools were in rural areas. He said that though lecturers were available in such schools there were no students. He said that after discussing the matter with the Chief Minister, it had been decided that such courses should be run only in two schools in each block. One school would be for girls and the other for boys. All surplus teachers from middle schools would be shifted to high schools, he said. There were 2,392 middle schools in the state and the average number of students in these schools was not more than 50. He said that each middle school had about six teachers and one peon apart from other staff. Mr Tota Singh said that there was deficiency of staff in high and secondary schools which would be removed soon. After interacting with the Education Minister of Kerala, Mr Tota Singh said he had taken certain steps to reduce the number of dropouts in schools in Punjab. He said that this figure had been brought down from 46 per cent to 29 per cent this year. In all schools parent-teacher committees had been set up for motivating people to get their wards literate. The committees were also helping the government in building infrastructure in schools. All grants for constructing school buildings and repairs etc were being routed through parent teacher committees, he added. Mr Tota Singh said that at several places NRIs had either paid money or given land for constructing schools. He said that such schools had been named after the forefathers of donors. Brick-kiln owners had promised to construct about 2000 rooms for primary schools in the villages. The Punjab Government had urged the Central Government to stop mid-day meal scheme in Punjab and pay cash in lieu of that for providing uniforms and other financial assistance to students belonging to poor sections of society. He said that the Congress
Government at the end of its term upgraded about 1200
schools without providing any infrastructure or staff and
it derailed the school education. |
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Drive
for dirty posters' removal AMRITSAR: Vulgar posters can be seen pasted in bazars, private and government buildings with impunity. Even schools are not spared. The Citizens Vision, a social awareness forum, has been trying to impress upon the district authorities to ban the display of such posters in the holy city, but it has failed to elicit the attention of the administration. Mr Brij Bedi, Convener of Citizens Vision, finally prevailed upon the staff of the schools to remove the posters from the walls of schools and other buildings. The NSS unit of the Sant Singh Sukha Singh School, under the guidance of its principal, swung into action and removed all the posters from the walls of the city. Ms Kiran Bedi, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, while speaking at a function here, called upon voluntary organisations to launch a massive campaign against the pasting of vulgar posters in the city. Ms Bedi said she was shocked to see the display of such posters on the walls of this city, a centre of pilgrimage. Visitors from all over the world come to the city to pay obeisance at Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Ram Tirath, apart from paying tributes to martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh. Interestingly, taking a cue Mr Bedi clicked photographs of such photographs. One day he stopped the car of a BJP minister in a busy bazar to show him the vulgar posters. On seeing the pictures, the minister expressed his displeasure and promised to take appropriate action against the culprits. However no action had been taken so far. While talking to TNS, Mr Bedi said he would mobilise school children to launch a massive campaign against the 'poster war' of the film industry. He also took up the matter with Mr N.K. Arora, Secretary of Local Bodies, who also promised action against those who indulge in such activities. The Citizens Vision say if
the Election Commission of India could take stringent
action against defacing of the walls during the
elections, why can't the government stop the display of
vulgar posters, especially in the cities declared holy by
it. |
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No action on Badal’s
promise on new pay scales for medical teachers CHANDIGARH, Dec 28 — The medical and dental teachers in Punjab still have a forlorn ray of hope that the government will keep its promise of giving them a pay scale at a par with that of PCMS doctors. A decision to accept this basic demand of the teachers working in the government medical and dental colleges was announced on November 6 last. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, despite a sore throat had sat through a meeting with a deputation of the Punjab Medical and Dental Teachers Association in Punjab Bhavan here, yet nothing has been heard on the subject. Enquiries by TNS reveal that the matter is stuck up in the Department of Finance. Thus, in the absence of issuance of formal notification the pay scales cannot become effective, much to the chagrin of the association, which has a 500-strong strength, The numbers, perhaps, is not large enough to be able to exert pressure on the government. The promised grades were Professor: Rs 18,600-22,100; Assistant Professor: Rs 16,350-20,100; Senior Lecturer: Rs 14,300-18,150, along with allowances and time-scale placement as admissible to the PCMS doctors. The Department of Medical Education and Research has made available all relevant papers, including minutes of the meeting held with the Chief Minister in the chair on November 6; yet there is no word on when the notification will be issued. It is pertinent to mention that earlier, on August 19, a five-member panel of doctors, constituted by the government, had submitted a detailed report on the "health" of the state medical and dental colleges, their faculty, facilities (in terms of teaching and research aids etc), fee structure for students etc. A notification in respect of the recommendations of the committee, particularly the ones involving financial matters, is also pending clearance from the Finance Department despite the Council of Ministers having already accepted the same. Some of the recommendations which could have been accepted and implemented right away are also pending causing concern to the doctor-teachers. One such demand is redesignation of teachers as per the Medical Council of India guidelines. This demand is hanging fire since October, 1992. For the teaching/clinical staff neither pay scales are being released, as promised, nor are there very many promotion avenues. Even proposal on raising the age of retirement from 60 to 65 years remains unimplemented. Hooked to the pay scale case is the allowing of 25 per cent of the basic pay as non-practising allowance as per the Punjab Pay Commission recommendations. The NPA, doctors said, should be without any upper limit. Besides the five-member committee's recommendation on allowing fee collected from NRI seats to be retained by the respective medical and dental colleges is also to be notified. This demand has already been vetted by the Legal and Finance Departments. But there is no action. Since the money accruing to the medical colleges is to be ploughed back for medicare and medieducation and colleges were raising their own resources, the delaying and dithering attitude of the Finance Department is a discouraging development. In fact, based on a report by the Director, Medical Education and Research, a proposal was submitted to effect hike in user services in hospitals attached to the medical colleges besides general fees to be charged from the students. If on the one hand these medical institutions will tide over their tight financial condition, on the other hand there will be lesser financial burden on the government, which is already facing a major crisis. This one, single instance is only an illustrative example how the government by delaying action eventually works itself to break promises. Why not make only such promises which it can implement? Asked doctors waiting notification on pay scales. Will the Finance
Department keep the word of honour given by the Chief
Minister to doctors, who were discriminated against and
against some of whom action was initiated when the
teacher-doctors went on strike in September last.
"We are neither allowed to cry nor protest",
lamented several doctors here today. |
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Statewide
stir by halwais BATHINDA, Dec 28 — Hundreds of halwais, bakery owners and owners of other eateries today observed a complete strike in protest against the imposition of 5 per cent sales tax by the Punjab Government recently. In a press note here, Mr Iqbal Singh, Chairman, Halwai Association, said the imposition of the sales tax would force the halwais to close their shops. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC, in a press note alleged that the SAD-BJP combine government of Punjab was "anti-traders" and "anti-urban" people. He said instead of mobilising more money by checking corruption, the state government was closing their business. LUDHIANA: The halwai and bakers went on a strike here and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel. The Punjab Halwai Association and the Punjab Bakers Association have criticised the imposition of the sales tax. Mr S.S. Bindra, President, Punjab Bakery Association, and Mr Charanjit Singh, President, Punjab Halwai Association, pleaded since bakery and sweet-making were part of cottage industry, they should be exempted from the tax. They also said this tax was not imposed in any of the adjoining states. AMRITSAR: In view of the statewide strike call given by the Punjab Halwai Federation, bakers and milk-lassi sellers observed a strike throughout the district on Monday in protest against the imposition of the sales tax. A spokesman of the Halwai Federation, talking to newspersons here said the government should withdraw the tax immediately otherwise they would give a call for indefinite strike in Punjab from Wednesday. The BJP MLA, Mrs Lukshmi Kanta Chawla, who was present at a press conference held at the Circuit House, also supported the demand of the halwais and demanded that the notification levying the sales tax should be withdrawn forthwith. Interestingly, last week the government had released a number of advertisements, discounting the fears among the halwais and bakers saying that the government had no proposal to impose the sales tax on these items. However, during the Assembly session last week, the government got the Bill levying tax, passed. JALANDHAR: Bakery owners and halwais observed a total strike here in protest against the tax. They took out a protest march through the main streets of the town and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. NAWANSHAHR: Hundreds of halwais, bakery and the stall owners of Banga, Balachaur, Rahon, Aur and Garhshanker took out a protest march here and held a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner to register their protest against the imposition of the sales tax. The protesters wore black badges and raised slogans against the Badal government and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the tax. Addressing a rally, Mr Ashawani Kumar, President of the district unit of the Punjab Halwai and Bakery Union, Mr Charan Dass, Vice-President, Punjab Dhodhi Union and Mr H.K. Puri, President, Nawanshahr Beopar Mandal, criticised Mr Parkash Singh Badal for adopting double standards with regard to their demands. They said during the Governor's rule in 1990, Mr Badal had strongly protested against the proposed move of the government to levy such a tax, but now he himself had imposed the tax in Punjab. They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. FEROZEPORE: Shopkeepers from Abohar, Fazilka, Jalalabad, Makhu, Guruharsahai, Zira and Mallwanwala here assembled in the Namak Mandi area and held a meeting. They urged the government to withdraw the sales tax, failing which they would intensify their agitation. They declared the move of the government as "black law" and took out a protest march through the main markets and held a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner. ROPAR: On a call by the Halwai Union, the halwais observed a strike here and presented a memorandum to the district administration to forward the same to the Chief Minister. They stated that the halwais were already paying tax on raw material like sugar, flour and dry fruits and therefore the tax was unjustified. They also took out a protest march in this regard. KAPURTHALA: Halwais and bakery owners observed a complete strike here. They also took out a procession in the bazaars of the town, burnt the effigy of the Punjab Government in front of the district court complex and presented a memorandum to the district authorities. GURDASPUR: All sweet shops and bakeries remained closed here in protest against the imposition of the sales tax. They marched through the main bazaars and raised "anti-government" and "anti-Punjab" slogans. They also presented a
memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Theft of baby: IMA seeks
explanation from docs PATIALA, Dec 28 — The Punjab State Indian Medical Association has sought an explanation from Dr Jaswinder Singh Bath and Dr Gurbir Kaur Bath of Jyoti Nursing Home, Phillaur, who have been accused by the Jalandhar police of being involved in the theft of a new-born baby. Releasing copies of explanation letters here today, Dr O.P. Singh Kande, Chairman of the legal cell of the association, said the IMA was pained to read the news report regarding the theft of a baby. Such action spoilt the image of the profession. The IMA, in the explanation letter to the accused doctors, said they should send all facts of the case so that if they were not at fault, their case could be taken up with the government. But if they had nothing to add or say and something wrong had been done, it would be presumed that they had brought a bad name to the profession. The IMA also reminded that it had already taken a decision in the state council meeting held at Barnala to censor any such move and action by the people in the profession. Dr Kande said the IMA
could recommend to the Medical Council of India,
cancellation of the registration of the accused doctors. |
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Training
centre for blind sought BATHINDA, Dec 28 — The National Federation of the Blind, Punjab, today expressed concern over the declining standards of education in institutions established for the blind in the state. In a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Mohan, General Secretary of the Federation, pointed out that there were six institutions for the blind which were getting aid from the state and central governments. The standards of education in these institution was, however, very low due to lack of adequate trained staff. He said teachers were being paid less wages and consequently, the condition of such institutions was deteriorating. A vocational training centre for the blind was also demanded. He said the state government should take steps to improve the functioning of such institutions. Earlier, the federation
organised a meeting in memory of Rotas who died in an
agitation launched by the blinds for 1 per cent
reservation in jobs at Chandigarh four years ago. |
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GND varsity gives special
chance to candidates AMRITSAR, Dec 28 — Guru Nanak Dev University in an important decision today granted a chance to all candidates to clear their compartments or take improvement in April, 1999. The Controller of Examinations, Mr Mohinder Bir Singh, in a statement here, said this special chance had been granted with a special fee of Rs 5000, irrespective of the year of passing or placing under compartment in the relevant examination. He further stated that the university had also decided to grant a chance to the candidates who had failed to submit their thesis or dissertation for MA and M. Phil courses. They could now submit their thesis or dissertation till April, 1999, with a fee of Rs 5000. He however, clarified that
after this, no more chances would be given to such
candidates except as prescribed in the relevant
ordinances. |
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