Sunday, October 11, 1998
|
P U N J A B | |
Sunday, October 11, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Mann to
head team
Paddy
growers resort |
 |
 PM to lay stone of Bathinda refinery CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will visit Bathinda on October 30 to lay the foundation stone of the Rs 16,000 crore oil refinery. SAD-BJP
ties |
||||||
|
Foundation
ceremony of Khalsa Memorial Octroi
contractors face probe Funding
traffic lights — police style Sharp
rise in suicide cases Forum
orders attachment of firm's property Transport
company owner shot dead Project
not okayed to ‘oblige’ local leader Free
call facility for DoT pensioners |
||||||||
 |
||||
Mann to head
team to US Nagar JALANDHAR, Oct 10 — A Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) delegation headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann will tour Udham Singh Nagar from October 18 to October 20 and finalise the next plan of action by the people of the area before the winter session of Parliament. Mr Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of the SAD (Amritsar), said here today a meeting of the party executives, district presidents and circle presidents would be held here on October 13 to finalise a candidate for the Adampur seat. He said his party would file a write petition in the Delhi High Court on the issue of Punjabi language which had been "neglected" by the Delhi Government. He alleged that the Food and Fertilisers Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, had not issued instructions for procurement of paddy to government agencies due to his "closeness" with rice millers and traders. He said his party would hold a dharna on October 12 at Sangrur on the issue. "The visit to Udham Singh Nagar would be punctuated by street-corner meetings and addresses at several gatherings throughout the district which is striving hard to keep itself out of the proposed Uttaranchal state", he said. He said it was strange that the ruling Akali Dal leadership was depending on verbal assurances of the Central Government on the issue when Punjab's experience all along had been a very disappointing one where even written pacts had been ignored due to "vested political interests". "The three-member panel set up under the chairmanship of Defence Minister George Fernandes is nothing but a fraud as the move to fix November 30 as the date for submission of report is aimed at putting the issue in the cold storage till the forthcoming assembly elections", he said. Commenting on the stance of SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Jagmohan Singh said he was playing a game of "deceit". "The next Cabinet
formation at the central level will bear this out, he
observed. |
Punjab comes on world IT map SAS NAGAR, Oct 10 — Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Secretary, Industry, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, inaugurated state-of-the-art earth station (International Gateway) here today. This is the first KU-band earth station launched by the Department of Electronics, Government of India, in the country, the others being based on the C-band technology, involving the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and the Electronics Corporation of Punjab. The Chief Minister, who was to inaugurate the earth station, was unable to make it and the ceremony was performed by Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of State for Industry, and Mr Badal's speech was read out by the Principal Secretary. The inauguration was done through the vide conferencing method with the minister and Mr Ramesh Inder Singh communicating with an NRI, Mr Akal Singh Khalsa, in Bangalore. Mr Badal's speech, as read out, stated that his government was committed to developing information technology (IT) in Punjab. An infrastructure vision group, comprising leaders in the field of IT, had been set up to achieve the objective. An independent department of Information Systems and Reforms had been created which had been approved by the state Cabinet on September 29. It had also been proposed to provide Rs 100 crore to government departments for IT governance. Mr Badal said that Punjab at present had 8 per cent share in trained manpower in IT with 2 per cent of the national population. He hoped the earth station would give a boost to software export from this region, as Punjab's contribution in this sphere had been negligible. Earlier Mr Ramesh Inder Singh said the MoU for the earth station was signed in January and land provided the next month, with the project becoming operational by March-end. There was a plan, he said, to set up a technology park in the joint sector in Punjab. The Principal Secretary said venture capital funding would be started for the IT sector from December 1. He said the Central Government's Task Force on hardware units had selected SAS Nagar for the establishment of a hi-tech habitat centre. Mr Langah said a fertiliser plant would be set up in Sangrur to meet the state's needs. All efforts were being made to increase power production to ensure round-the-clock supply to industry at lower rates. The minister said steps were being taken to advance computer technology which would also be taken to the villages. Mr J. S. Maini, Financial Adviser, Department of Electronics, Government of India, said Punjab had now come on the world's IT map. By the end of the Ninth Plan period, he said, the export target was expected to rise to $10 billion. Mr Maini favoured Smart cards for farmers. The latest software, he said, would be provided in Punjabi for them. Mr S. K. Aggarwal of the STPI said the earth station would become the nucleating point for the software industry. Seventeen industrial units had already got registered with the earth station. The earth station, set up at a cost of about Rs 3.50 crore, is fully operational and is in a position to provide services like point-to-point lease line, shared Internet connection comprising services like Worldwide Web, remote login, file transfer protocol, etc, and the state-of-the-art technology of video conferencing. The satellite earth station would cater to the needs of software exporting units located in and around SAS Nagar and Chandigarh. At present individual
customers would be linked to the earth station through
radio communication but reliable terrestrial cables will
also be used where feasible. |
||
PM to lay stone of Bathinda
refinery CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will visit Bathinda on October 30 to lay the foundation stone of the Rs 16,000 crore oil refinery. This was announced by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while addressing a meeting of the CII National Council here today. Mr Badal said during his meeting with Mr Vajpayee yesterday it was decided to set up a core group shortly to improve the lot of farmers. On November 1, the Punjab Day, five big projects, including railway and thermal, would be announced, he added. Another core group comprising representatives of the Punjab Government and the CII would be set up to evolve a blueprint for sustainable economic growth of the state. To help the farming community, the Chief Minister said, industry must set up research centres to provide new kinds of seeds, fertilisers and other technological means to boost agriculture production. Mr Rajesh V. Shah, President CII and Mr Rajan Nanda, Chairman, CII Agriculture & Processing Committee, highlighted the role of their organisation in promoting agriculture and industry in Punjab. Mr Ramesh Inder Singh,
Secretary Industry, giving a presentation through slides,
said Punjab has the most conducive and industry-friendly
environment. Power tariff in Punjab was the lowest in the
country and infrastructure in Punjab had been rated as
the best. Punjab was the only State where there was no
labour problem and no loss of mandays. Work on the
Goindwal thermal power plant would be launched in
November, he added. |
||
Paddy growers resort to distress
sale MUKTSAR, Oct 10 — Even as the government procurement agencies are shying away from purchasing paddy on the pretext of strict departmental specifications, paddy growers of the Malwa region are resorting to distress sale of their produce. Due to little purchase paddy by the government procurement agencies, the farmers are being compelled to sell their produce to private traders at throwaway prices. The farmers are getting Rs 250 to Rs 400 per quintal against the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 470 fixed by the Centre. During a tour to different grain markets by this correspondent the farmers said they had spent a lot of money on harvesting their inundated paddy crop by selling their jewellery and live stock and now they were waiting for the buyers. Says Shivraj Singh of Ghuri Sangar village, "We are waiting for the past 20 days for the buyers under the open sky". Gurcharan Singh of Kauni
village says, "In the absence of buyers, my paddy
crop has started discolouring and I want to sell it at Rs
200 a quintal". Mr K.C. Kajol, District
Food and Supply Controller, said the government agencies
were making bulk purchases and till yesterday, all
agencies had procured about 45,000 metric tonnes of
paddy. |
||
SAD-BJP ties 'haven't turned
sour' SAS NAGAR, Oct 10 — There is no strain in the relations between the SAD and the BJP over Udham Singh Nagar and the recent decision on the issue in Delhi indicates that the two parties have shown maturity. Stating this here last evening after the Maharaj Agarsen jayanti celebrations organised by the Aggarwal Sabha in the Phase IV mandir here, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab's Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, said the understanding in Delhi had been welcomed and claimed the ties between the BJP and the SAD were good. Mr Mittal said 37.5 lakh tonne of paddy had been procured in Punjab till yesterday, and claimed there was no storage problem. Reports on lack of storage facilities were politically motivated. The minister said the state government had demanded from the Centre relaxation in the conditions for the procurement of damaged and discoloured paddy so that farmers did not suffer financially. The levy free period was extended to October 10 so that traders purchased paddy. He said traders even paid Rs 530 for good paddy though the government's maximum support price was Rs 470. At the celebrations the minister focused on India's history and the harm caused by foreign rule. He urged women to pay less attention to jewellery and go in for "shastr puja" (learning the use of weapons) to make the country strong. A colourful cultural
programme was presented by children from different
schools and "preeti bhoj" organised. |
||
Foundation ceremony of Khalsa
Memorial Complex on November 22 CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — The Anandpur Sahib Foundation today unveiled the first glimpse of the two-year-long Khalsa tercentenary celebrations with the announcement that the foundation ceremony of the Khalsa heritage memorial complex would be performed on November 22. The religious solemnity and traditional grandeur of the Khalsa would merge into the ceremony that would roll off the historic event with the "Panj Piaras" performing the ground breaking ceremony, according to an official press note issued here today. November 22 had been chosen for this auspicious occasion as it was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh was anointed the 10th Guru of Sikhs. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting presided over by the Chairman of the Foundation, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He also reviewed the progress of various projects undertaken by the foundation. A meeting of the general body of the Foundation would be held on October 25 at Punjab Bhavan. The foundation ceremony would also mark the launching of continuous celebrations and festivities within India and abroad. Nishan-e-Khalsa, set slightly apart from the complex upon a small hill, is the heart of the Ajooba Museum Project. It has been designed by a Chandigarh-based architect, Mr Satnam Singh. Mr Badal, Moshie Safdie and activists of the Foundation have worked for over a year to complete the plan for the Ajooba. It will house the complete collection of Sikh history. Dr Saroj Ghose, President of the International Council of Museums, is developing the exhibits and curating the museum. The internationally acclaimed exhibit designer, Jeshajuhu Weinberg, who has designed the world famous holocaust museum in Washington, is also a consult to the project. According to the schedule, the Foundation ceremony will be followed by a public meeting where prominent leaders will address the gathering. Though no formal invitations are being issued but prominent personalities from India and abroad are expected to participate. Meanwhile, an exclusive limited-edition collection depicting events from the life of Guru Gobind Singh was released today by Mr Badal on behalf of the Foundation. A remarkable collection of 12 unique beautifully crafted tapestries have been carefully selected for inclusion in the collection. The images are beautifully matted and exquisitely presented in hand-crafted frames. These beautiful souvenirs
have been made available to the public by the Foundation.
These will also be available in the USA, the UK and
Canada.
|
||
Octroi contractors face probe BATHINDA, Oct 10 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar, has ordered an inquiry into the incident of harassment of people by certain private octroi contractors on 'karva chauth' here. According to sources, the workers hired by the octroi contractors to check the theft, harassed the people on 'karva chauth' day frisked their luggage and charged octroi and fine illegally. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister for Food and Supplies, after getting complaints in this regard asked the Deputy Commissioner to hold an inquiry into the incident and take suitable steps. Mr A.S. Bhatti, Additional Deputy Commissioner, is conducting the probe, sources added. Mr Garg told TNS that octroi contractors would not be allowed to indulge in "goondaism" and if found guilty in the inquiry, proper legal action would be taken against them. He said it was unfortunate that these workers charged octroi on sweets and fruit from people coming to meet their relatives at the railway station and bus stand octroi posts. He said the state
government had taken a serious note of the incident and
guilty would not be spared.
|
||
Funding traffic lights —
police style LUDHIANA: Necessity is the mother of invention: not many know it better than the Ludhiana traffic police. Starved of funds even for putting up ordinary road signs, the local police has evolved a unique "build, advertise and transfer" (B.A.T.) system which has helped it to raise nearly Rs 80 lakh from the industrial sector for installing traffic lights, putting up road signs, and painting markings on the main thoroughfares of this industrial hub. The brainchild of the city police chief, Mr Dinkar Gupta, the initiative has already begun to bear fruit and a semblance of some order is visible on roads. Mr Gupta was apparently inspired by Mr Deepal Singal, president of the Aggar Nagar Cooperative House Building Society, who is chairman of the road safety committee of Ludhiana Citizens Health Council. He first mooted the idea of private sponsorship for installing traffic signals on a "killer spot" on Ferozepore road outside Aggar Nagar. Mr Singal was largely instrumental in collecting about Rs 4 lakh from the residents of the colony for putting up signals. The traffic lights, installed a few months ago, have led to a dramatic fall in the number of road accidents on this spot. The example set by Mr Singal was later followed by the Ludhiana police chief, who also utilised his services to persuade many private corporate houses to put up funds for installing traffic signals. Mr Singal was later honoured by the Director-General of Police, Mr P.C. Dogra, at a public function held here some time ago. As many as nine intersections have been provided with traffic signals and made functional by the traffic police in less than two months. For the first time in the city, road markings have been done, with thermoplastic paint on the Mall Road. The process of road markings on the Ferozepore Road is under way and is likely to be completed shortly. The marking of cycle lane on the G.T. Road will commence shortly. "What is unique about this traffic improvement programme is that it is wholly financed by sponsors who have been given advertising rights in return for their investment", says Mr Gupta. This arrangement, (build, advertise, transfer) has been tried out for the first time in Punjab. The response to this scheme has been very enthusiastic. At a time when Ludhiana is passing through one of its worst recessions in recent memory, various private sponsors for traffic improvement programme committed more than Rs 80 lakh. "There is in fact healthy rivalry between various local companies to become partners in traffic improvement programme through this scheme. The successful completion of projects much before anybody expected it has encouraged the fence-sitters and skeptics to become part of this programme", says Mr Gupta. Some of the traffic signals were formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, a few days ago. The first of these is at Dhandari crossing, on the road leading Dhandari dry port. Last year, five lives were lost at this intersection in road accidents. This traffic signal has
been sponsored by a soft drink manufacturing company.
This was also the spot where Mr Inder Mohan Singh Grewal,
Chairman-cum-Managing Director of a steel manufacturing
company, first came forward to sponsor traffic signals in
the city. As many as 12 persons lost their lives at this
crossing last year. The signals here have been sponsored by a liquor manufacturing company. The fourth traffic signal is on the Shivpuri crossing, again on the Jalandhar bypass. This intersection has claimed many innocent lives over the past few years. As many as 16 persons died here last year. The process of marking a separate lane for cyclists on the G.T. Road from Sherpur Chowk to Dhandari crossing has begun. Twenty-two cyclists and 14 pedestrians were crushed to death by speeding vehicles on this short stretch. A soft drinks company is sponsoring construction of this separate lane. Mr Gupta says the inauguration of these lights and other traffic improvement measures marks a new beginning in the history of traffic regulation in Punjab. The problem of non-availability of funds from the government for traffic improvement has been successfully tackled in Ludhiana. There is no reason why
what has been attempted and achieved in Ludhiana cannot
be replicated in other cities of Punjab. Similarly, the
partnership between the government and private enterprise
can be tried out in many other areas of public service. |
||
Sharp rise in suicide cases CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Suicides in Punjab are taking an alarming proportion. A study conducted here at the behest of the Punjab Government reveals that suicides in 1992-93 increased by a whopping 52 per cent as against the national average of just 6 per cent. Again, Punjab registered an increase of 14 per cent against the national average of 5.88 per cent in the subsequent year. It was 21 per cent against 19 per cent in the 1995-97 period. An exhaustive report running into 102 pages prepared by the Institute for Development and Communications reveals that the Malwa region is more prone to suicides against the Doaba region. Majha region falls in between. If 88 people had taken this desperate step to end their lives in 1988, this number shot up to 418 in 1997. There has been a continuous increase in the cases of suicides showing that Punjabis are becoming prone to depression and dejection."The major share in the increase in suicides goes to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh", the study said. While the overall supervision of the report was with the Registrar of Cooperatives, Mr J.R. Kundal, other well-known experts were Dr G.S. Bhalla, former member of the Planning Commission and known agriculture economist, Dr N.N. Wig, Professor Emeritus of the PGI, Prof S.L. Sharma, Professor of Sociology at Panjab University, and Dr Parmod Kumar, besides Mrs Swaranjit Mehta, professor of Geography at Panjab University. Now the State Government is constituting a core group to see how many of the recommendations of the report can be implemented. Among the districts, Sangrur leads with 22 per cent of the total suicides in the state. In fact, the belt of Sangrur, Bathinda and Mansa leads in the number of suicide cases. Tragically farmers account of 23 per cent of the cases of suicides for the 1991-97 period, thus blowing up the myth that Punjab farmers are hardy. This clearly points to the fact that the agriculture sector is in deep distress, calling for major policy interventions. Among the recommendations, the study said that the whole approach had to change, particularly in the agriculture sector. No single factor could explain the suicide cases; in most of the cases multiple causes were reported — domestic discord, alcohol and drug abuse and indebtedness emerged as the leading factors of suicide. The interface of socio-economic and psychological factors provided a better insight into the cases of suicide. Chronic domestic discord, regular and heavy abuse of drugs, cumulative debt and social isolation tend to emerge as predisposing factors, while family clash, sense of humiliation, injured self-esteem and loss of near and dear ones appeared as precipitating factors; the phenomenon of suicide has not entered the perception of the villagers, as much as it has been highlighted by the media. Alcohol and drug abuse,
indebtedness and domestic discord, in that order, emerged
as the perceived causes of suicide by the villagers; an
overwhelming majority of the villagers disapproved of
suicide as an escape route; and families of suicide
victims were found to be suffering from a sense of
insecurity and fear as well as severe psychological
disturbance. |
||
Forum orders attachment of
firm's property PHAGWARA, Oct 10 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum Kapurthala has ordered the attachment of the PMS Enterprises GT Road Mauli gate Phagwara for failure to comply with forums ruling of June 5. Attachment orders had been issued by Mr M L Puri, president and Mr Surinder Mittal member of the forum. As per the orders, the bailiff of the local court has been directed to recover Rs 64,208 from PMS, according to Mr Surinder Mittal forum member here today. In case the amount was not paid then portion of the property of PMS, be attached. The items to be attached include five fans, 10 tables, 10 chairs, 50 engine kits of PMS mark and telephone sets. The bailiff has also been directed to report to forum on or before October 14. On a complaint of Mr Mirbhai Singh of Bholewal Qadim village the forum had ordered PMS on June 5, 1998 either to replace four engine kits purchased by the complainant as out of five engine kits four were found to be defective or refund Rs 33600 the cost of four engine kits with interest at the rate of 18 per cent from the date of purchase i.e. from June 1996 till date of payment. The forum had also ordered
payment of Rs 15,000 to complainant as compensation and
as 2000 as cost of complaint. The latest attachment
orders followed non-compliance of the earlier order of
the forum within stipulated period. |
||
Transport company owner shot dead MOGA, Oct 10 (UNI) — Owner of Manchanda Goods Transport Company Karamjit Singh Manchanda was shot dead last night, the police said today. A smuggler booked in several murder and land grab cases, he was murdered while travelling in his car. A dhaba servant sitting alongwith him escaped. Manchanda received several bullet injuries on his head. Even as Manchanda collapsed on the steering wheel, the assailants, numbering six, kept spraying bullets at him, according to an FIR filed by his wife, Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur. A senior police official said the FIR mentioned the names of six local residents, including an advocate and members of his family. Local lawyers observed a strike today in protest against the "implication" of their colleague in the case. Owner of a vast property,
including houses, shops and petrol stations, Manchanda
had 20 civil and criminal cases registered against him. |
||
Murder
mystery solved BATALA, Oct 10 — The police has solved the mystery behind the murder of Dashinder Singh with the arrest of Karnail Singh and Chain Singh. The district police chief, Mr Lok Nath Angra, told mediapersons here today that Dashinder Singh was killed on October 1 while he was asleep in his house. The police said the
accused were the real brothers of the grandfather of
Dashinder Singh and a property dispute is said to be the
cause of the murder. |
||
Project not okayed to
‘oblige’ local leader AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla has alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister has not cleared the shopping complex project near the municipal corporation office here under pressure from a "local political leader." In a press statement issued here today, she said this had resulted in a loss worth crores of rupees to the corporation already in dire straits. A few sites for shops had been auctioned which had fetched the corporation over Rs 1 crore. She alleged that the state
government wanted to give the site to a religious body.
She urged the Chief Minister and Mr Balramji Dass Tandon,
Local Government Minister, to clear the project at the
earliest. |
||
70 cases settled at open darbar HOSHIARPUR, Oct 10 — District administration will widen and strengthen the Garhshankar-Anandpur Sahib road before April 13, 1999. This was stated by Mr Iqbal Singh Deputy Commissioner, while addressing an open darbar at Road Mazara village in Garhshankar subdivision yesterday. He said 51,000 applications for old-age pension were received in the district out of which 38,000 were found genuine. Bank accounts had been opened in various banks to provide pension to 18,000 aged, widows and handicapped persons in the district. Arrangements were being made to disburse pension among the remaining beneficiaries through banks. He said he had instructed officers of all banks to open at least 300 accounts each in their respective banks for the purpose. Mr R.P. Mittal SSP said talks were on with higher officials to transfer 16 villages of the bet area from Pojewal police station to Garhshankar and five villages from Garhshankar to Pojewal police station. The Deputy Commissioner settled 70 complaints at the darbar. A medical check-up camp
was organised by the district health authorities and The
Red Cross Society in which 400 persons were examined.
Medicines free of cost were given to the needy. |
||
Brar
elected PAUTA chief LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — Dr Hari Singh Brar has been elected new president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA). He defeated Dr R.K. Batra, the sitting president of the PAUTA by a margin of 219 votes. The election results were declared here last night and the entire team of Dr Hari Singh Brar was elected. Dr Joginder Singh Brar has
been elected vice president, Dr M.L. Gupta secretary, Dr
S.K. Singla treasurer and Dr Ramesh Kumar joint
secretary.
|
||
Free call facility for DoT
pensioners JALANDHAR, Oct 10 — The Ministry of Communications has given concessional telephone facilities to more than one lakh telecom pensioners in its September 25 notification. All employees, permanent or temporary, who have put in a minimum of 20 years of continued service in DoT or had their last posting in DoT for atleast one year before retirement will be covered under the scheme. The benefit will also be available to the spouse of the eligible employee who dies in harness even before putting in 20 years of service or after the death of the retired eligible employee. The general secretary of the All India Central Government Pensioners Association (North), Mr V.S. Jolly, welcoming the scheme said the retired employees will have to furnish a valid documentary proof of having retired from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the period of service rendered duly certified. In addition, senior
citizens of the department have also been given the
benefit of (bimonthly) free calls as follows: group A
officers — 1000 free calls, group B officers —
500 free calls, group C employees — 300 free calls,
group D employees —200 free calls.
|
||
Kisan
Mela
PATIALA, Oct 10 — Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Principal Secretary to CM and Secretary, Industries and Commerce. Punjab, will inaugurate the Kisan Mela at Rakhra, 15 km from here, on October 11. The festival will be organised by the Punjab Young Farmers Association. Foundation seeds of the high-yielding varieties of wheat and vegetables developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute will be distributed among farmers. They will also have an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the world's first dwarf variety of Pusa-Basmati I and the highest yielding variety of Paddy Pusa-44. The theme of the Mela is to improve growers' returns through agro processing. Capt. A.S. Randhawa,
Director of Agriculture will deliver the keynote address. |
||
Panel on revenue records PATIALA, Oct 10 — The Punjab Government has decided to constitute a committee of retired senior revenue officers to make rules and regulations for revenue records and procedure more effective. Talking to mediapersons here late last evening, Ms Shyama Mann, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, said the committee would identify the areas of changes in the revenue laws and procedure. The present government was of the view that the revenue records should be properly maintained and procedure should be made very simple. The revenue records was
being computerised in a phased manner. Ropar, Fatehgarh
Sahib and Patiala district had already taken a lead in
this and the other districts were going to start work
soon, she said, adding that computerisation of the
revenue records would help the farmers in particular and
the public at large in land record problems. |
||
Press
Council view criticised PATIALA, Oct 10 — The Association of Indian Punjabi Newspapers has criticised the resolution adopted by the Press Council of India for questioning the validity of the existing pattern of ownership of newspapers and the contract system for journalists. The Association supports the views of the Indian Newspaper Society President Mammen Mathew (who is also a member of the Press Council) that the existing pattern of ownership of newspapers and employment of journalists is working satisfactorily and the interference by the Press Council of India is unjustifiable. The Association feels that
the Press Council should confine itself to the role
prescribed under the statutory regulations. "It is
not appropriate for it to have any objection to the
system of employment, which is the prerogative of the
employers". |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Stocks | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
