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| Friday, April 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Punjab
CET eligibility criteria kicks up row Now
it’s fake US currency Wheat
procurement Samjhauta
runs on shortened route Pak
for relaxing visa norms Project
to save wetlands |
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Permit
to kill ‘neelgai’ irks Bishnois Ludhiana
MC in PSEB net Career
scheme implemented ‘Kala
jathas’ to create awareness “Senior
citizens’ role vital in character-building” Conference
on key hole surgery The
final resting place Where
normal and special kids study together Work
on Civil Hospital restarts MC
staff seek traders’ arrest Project
for treating backbone injuries
Clerk
suspended
Beating
of MLA’s kin: probe ordered MC
ex-chief dies in road accident Woman
kills herself, two kids 3
criminals escape from custody
PAU
staff want ban on recruitment to go Case
of unfair means in exams detected MCI
recognises Baba Farid University PUTA
endorses decision on evaluation work Strike
against ‘administrative apathy’
Licences
of 3 commission agents cancelled
|
Punjab CET eligibility criteria
kicks up row CHANDIGARH, April 20 — The eligibility criteria laid down by the Punjab Government for appearing in the Common Entrance Test for admission to various courses in engineering institutions in the state have kicked up a controversy causing dismay among parents and students. The test is scheduled to be held on May 28 and the last date for submitting the applications is April 26. The test results will be declared on June 28 . Those who have not passed 10 plus one and 10 plus two classes from any recognised educational institution in Punjab as a regular student will not be eligible for admission against the Punjab quota which is 85 per cent of the total seats. This condition has caused a lot of heart burning among students and parent. There are several students who have passed their matriculation from recognised educational institutions in Punjab but for passing the 10 plus one and two classes, they got admission either in Chandigarh or elsewhere outside Punjab. Such students will be affected by the notification in a big way. In several parts of the state, there are neither good plus two schools nor colleges and parents belonging to such areas in Punjab often admit their wards in Chandigarh or other places so that they are better equipped to face competitions. There are several plus two schools in the border belt and the Malwa area where no teachers are available for teaching plus two classes. So the parents have to admit their wards at other places. However, this condition will not be applicable to the children,wards and dependants of those regular Punjab Government employees and members of the all India services, boards , corporations and statutory bodies established by or under an act of the state of Punjab but are posted outside Punjab.There are thousands of employees from Punjab working in private organisations outside the state. They have not been given such exemption available for Government employees. “This is a clear case of discrimination”, said an employee of a private organisation in the industrial belt of Jagadhri. He belongs to Jalandhar district and has property in his native district. The Punjab Government has the capacity to give jobs to only limited number of people in its departments while lakhs of others earn their livelyhood by working in private industries in neighbouring states like Haryana and Delhi. Therefore, such employees’ wards, wherever they may be studying, should be adjusted against Punjab quota seats. Parents alleged that the criteria fixed by the Punjab government would help maximum the wards of Punjab Government employees. Pointing out major lacunae in the eligibility criteria, parents say that the authorities concerned should carefully evaluate the adverse effect of laying down such conditions. Giving an instance in this connection, Mr G.S.Dhillon, a farmer from Muktsar district,who had put his ward here to do plus one and plus two classes, said that though his son had passed all classes up to matriculation from Punjab he was not eligible to be considered against Punjab quota seats. The matter was brought to the notice of Punjab Finance Minister, Kanwaljit Singh by aggrieved parents. He has called upon the authorities concerned to do justice with such students. But the authorities concerned told Capt Kanwaljit Singh that as the process for holding the examinations and receiving admission forms etc had already started, it would not be possible to make any amendment in the criteria at this stage. There are certain other categories like pensioners, children of deceased central government employees wards of deceased military and paramilitary personnel,who belonged to Punjab at the time of entry in the service etc, have been given exemption from the 10 plus one and plus two condition. A candidate must secure 15 per cent marks in CET to qualify for admission. Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and tribes are required to secure 10 per cent marks. The admissions to the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala; Punjab Agriculture University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University will be made at their own level on the basis of the inter-se-merit of the CET to be conducted by the Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. The Government has clarified that Regional Engineering College,Jalandhar will fill only 50 per cent of the seats mentioned in the notification on the basis of CET -2000 while the remaining 50 per cent seats will be filled up by the candidates to be nominated by other regional engineering colleges of the country in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Human Resources Development. There will be no paid seats at the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and all seats will be free seats. For admission against free seats, the tuition fee will be Rs 30,000 in degree courses in engineering and Rs 66,000 for paid seats while those seeking admission against NRI quota would have to pay $ 5000.The facility of free education for women students in polytechnics has already been withdrawn. Such a high rate of
tuition fee is the other area which has caused dismay
among parents. Only wards of the elite will be able to
bear the cost of studying in engineering colleges. Those
belonging to the weaker sections , marginal farmer
families and lower middle class and class III and IV
employees will have to pay through their nose to get
admission and to continue studies in such institutions. |
Now it’s fake US
currency JALANDHAR, April 20 — After fake Indian currency, is it the turn of fake US dollars to invade the Indian market? Yes, if a $ 100 note seized by the Holland police from a non-resident Indian (NRI), hailing from Balachaur town in Hoshiarpur district, is any indication. Mr Rattan Chand Bains, a resident of Balachaur, who had gone to meet Ashok Kumar, his Holland-based son in February was stunned when officials of a bank in Denhaf city of Holland told Ashok that one of $ 100 notes he was carrying was fake. Mr Rattan Chand Bains had allegedly purchased $ 1000 from a Nawanshahr-based private currency exchange outlet before proceeding to Holland The incident might have created a few problems for Mr Rattan Chand but it has led the police intelligence agencies to ponder over and try to establish the possible involvement of some computer buffs in the incident, particularly after a number of them indulging in printing fake Indian currency were nabbed recently. They feel that they might have printing foreign currency along with Indian currency in the Doaba region. The Jalandhar police had caught members of two such gangs along with nearly Rs 20 lakh of fake Indian currency in the past one month. A similar gang of computer buffs, who had been printing fake Indian currency notes, was nabbed by the Batala police last fortnight. The incident came to light when Denhaf-based bank authorities got suspicious and handed over one of fake $ 100 note to the police after Ashok Kumar presented nine such notes to the bank for conversion on February 15. Ashok Kumar, told the Haaglanden police authorities that the note was part of an amount of $ 1000 which was given to him by his father Rattan Chand who had visited him from India. After thorough investigation the Haaglanden police Inspector Dirk Van Nieuwamerongen, declared that the $ 100 in question with serial number AB 29191479 D was indeed fake. A similar report was filed by Mr Felix Henricus Anthonius Alphonsus Duynstee, Notary Public based at Vooburg after examining and comparing the note, revealed the xerox copies of documents of the Holland police procured by The Tribune. While the intelligence agencies were busy finding out whether any group of computer buffs was involved in printing foreign currency in the Doaba region or not, Mr Rattan Chand, who is back home alleged that he had purchased $ 500 from the World Wide Foreign Exchange, a Nawanshahr based private foreign exchange company, and the fake note was one of the five such notes given to him by it. “The note, detected to be fake by Holland created number of problems for the police officials called by the bank authorities kept grilling my son for hours together. They were not satisfied till I told them that the note was to brought by me from India,” said Mr Rattan Chand. “It did not end up here, when I approached the exchange outlet people at Nawanshahr, the first thing they did was to deny that the note was supplied by them. But later they told me to bring back the note so that it could be exchanged. How can I do that when it is in the custody of the Holland police? So much so they have not paid the money against the fake note even after I showed the entry of the amount in my passport made by the company official “lamented Mr Rattan Chand. Mr Pal Pabla proprietor of the World Wide Foreign Exchange denied that the note which was fake, was supplied by his outlet. “Rattan Chand might have procured the note from somewhere else. I had asked him to deposit the note and get reimbursement against it. But he has not come forward with the note so far. Moreover, we have a fake note detector and we insist our customers to get their notes checked before leaving the counter,” said Mr Pabla. Meanwhile, the police
and intelligence authorities said they were investigating
the case. |
Wheat procurement CHANDIGARH, April 20 — Will the high price of Rs 900 per quintal fixed for the open sale of wheat by the Centre help the state procurement agencies to reduce the burden of procuring 120 lakh tonnes of wheat in Punjab and Haryana? However, no clear answer to question is in sight as yet. But experts in the food departments in the two wheat surplus states opine that the burden may just be marginally less this summer. In normal course, one could expect that a good open general price of Rs 900 per quintal against that of Rs 580 per quintal as the minimum support price even after adding mandi charges, transportation and storage charges could be a profitable venture. But two reasons outweigh this assessment. While traders have not that kind of money to buy say 20 per cent of the arrivals, the farmers, reeling under the burden of heavy debts can hardly afford to invest. The two do not have adequate storage capacity. Added to this is the fact that the crop is threatened by “susri during the rainy season resulting in heavy damage to the crop. While Punjab has set a target of procuring 90 lakh tonnes, Haryana plans to touch 32 lakh tonnes. This summer Punjab will expected to have a bumper crop of 142 lakh tonnes and Haryana is expected to touch 55 lakh tonnes. Trends so far authenticate Punjab Food Secretary P. Ram had predicted. Out of a total arrival of 18 lakh tonnes of wheat till today, the traders have purchased not more than 4 per cent that is a little more than 60,000 tonnes. “The traders as the current trend indicated would end up purchasing a maximum of 1.25 lakh tonnes”, Mr P.Ram said, daily arrivals are peaking and range around 4.5 lakh tonnes in period. The major procurement would be over by May 6 or 7”, he said. “Also the farmers would not be hoarding much. One, they do not have that kind of resources and second, they cannot take risk. Suppose the traders had purchased a good 20 per cent, the farmers too would have felt encouraged and held back the stocks. But this won’t happen”. Also, the price of Rs 580 per quintal is good one. Earlier this month, the government of India had raised the open issue price of wheat to Rs 900 per quintal, calling protest from many political parties. But the intention was, one, to release stocks and second, to encourage private traders who had been marginal players in the food trade for years to come and buy more. Total wheat stock in the central buffer is around 140 lakh tonnes, according to Food Corporation of India officials. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal has given clear directions to heads of various procurement agencies to speed up wheat procurement in various mandis of the state and to ensure that the farmers bringing their produce to the mandis and purchase centres do not face any inconvenience and exploitation. Presiding over a high-level meeting of heads of different procurement agencies including Food and Supplies, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro Industries and FCI here today, Mr Badal said all officials of these agencies must adhere to the highest norms of integrity, transparency and efficiently in the process of procurement and all arrangements of labour handling transport, gunny bags, financial arrangements must be completed in all respects. He said 75 per cent of the economy of the state is dependent on agriculture and we must give top-priority to this field concerning farming community. He told the officers in clear terms that the payment to the farmers must be made within 72 hours on account of sale of their produce. Senior officers must make surprise inspections of the mandis to ensure fool proof supervision of the procurement operations so that the field staff does not exploit the farmers in any way. While reviewing the storage arrangements the Chief Minister directed the procurement agencies to store wheat in covered godowns and fully safe plinths as per the specifications so that there is no loss in the quality of wheat. He emphasised constant monitoring and effective coordination between different procurement agencies to tackle the local problems if any pertaining to labour, transportation and non-availability of gunny bags. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister said experiment of decentralising the process of opening the mandis at the Deputy Commissioner level in consultation with local MLA keeping in view the local ground realities has been very successful. He said during the current rabi season, 1545 mandis had been opened and adequate arrangements for gunny bags, transport have been made. He said one senior officer of different procurement agencies would tour the mandis to check any malpractices and the next senior most would be stationed at the headquarters to tackle the problems. He said cash credit limit amounting to Rs 2,800 crore for the current rabi season had been sanctioned by the RBI and Rs 7,000 crore would be in circulation in this process of procurement and no problem will be allowed to come in the way of making payment to the farmers within 48 hours to 72 hours. Mr Mittal further said
so far over 13 lakh tonnes of wheat had been purchased in
various mandis of the state and the arrival was picking
up fast. He said the FCI had the 33 per cent share of the
procurement, Food Supply 13 per cent, Markfed 18 per
cent, Punsup 18 per cent, Punjab State Warehousing
Corporation 11 per cent and the Punjab Agro Industries 7
per cent. |
Samjhauta runs on shortened route ATTARI, April 20 — The Samjhauta Express running between India and Pakistan since 1976 attained the distinction of being the world’s shortest international train when it plied between Attari (India) and Wagha (Pakistan) with a distance of 3 km on the inaugural run today. The train carrying about 800 passengers, mostly Muslims, was flagged off by the Assistant Traffic Superintendent, Mr Yogesh Aggarwal at 1.50 p.m. for the first time after the latest agreement between the railway officials of the two countries on April 14. It covered the distance in just 10 minutes to reach Wagha — the first railway station in Pakistan. In its return journey the train reached Attari at 3.45 p.m. and brought back about 250 Sikh pilgrims, who had gone to Pakistan on a 10-day pilgrimage of Sikh shrines in that country on Baisakhi. The original train, which was introduced between India and Pakistan as the first ever train between the two, had been running daily since 1976 after the Shimla Agreement signed between late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the then Pakistan Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto. This train was officially named as Amritsar-Lahore Express, but became famous as Samjhauta Express as per the Shimla Agreement. The running of the train was abruptly stopped soon after the demolition of the Babri Masjid incident in December, 1992, and later restored on a bi-weekly basis with a curtailed distance covering only 33 km from Attari to Lahore. There was every likelihood that this train, which is also known as “emotional” train for uniting families living in India and Pakistan since partition, would be stopped because of the crisis arising out of the increased instances of smuggling, particularly the Indian currency, but the railway officials of the two countries decided to continue it till a final agreement was taken at another meeting at Wagha checkpost on April 26. The inaugural train was run by a borrowed Pakistani engine since the Indian authorities could not get visas for the Indian crew. The Pakistan crew were having required visas as they had been coming to India with Pakistani engines which hauled the Samjhautha Express. The Station Master, Attari, Mr Shahi Kumar Jain, told TNS that the train was originally scheduled to depart for Pakistan at 12.30 p.m. but was delayed for over one hour because of some teething problems, unusual rush, clearance by the Customs and immigration formalities. The train had a short stop at the gate on the zero line and proceeded further when the gates were opened by BSF officials on the Indian side and the Pakistan Rangers on other side. The train carried back about 700 passengers. The train would run on
purely temporary agreement till the final one comes into
action. Till then the racks supplied by the Indian
Railways would remain stationed at Attari. |
Pak for relaxing visa norms ATTARI, April 20 — With a view to sidelining the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Mr Javed Nasir, President, Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, has announced that Pakistan would relax conditions for issuing visas to even individuals who wanted to pay obeisance at Sikh shrines in Pakistan. Addressing the congregation at historic Gurdwara Panja Sahib, about 20 km from Islamabad, to mark Baisakhi celebration, Mr Javed Nasir said that the PGPC had taken up the case of relaxing visa conditions. Strongly condemning the SGPC for not sending jathas to Pakistan, Mr Javed Nasir claimed that the decision had caused lot of resentment among the general Sikh masses all over the world. Meanwhile, the PGPC has taken the control of ‘golaks’ (money boxes) in various gurdwaras in Pakistan. Mr Ganga Singh Dhillon, a US-based Khalistani leader also addressed the congregation. He said had the SGPC sent jathas to Pakistan, Baisakhi celebrations would have been held on a promising note. He said the SGPC should not take any decision which could hurt the sentiments of a common Sikh. This was disclosed by members of the 250 member jatha who visited Sikh shrines in Pakistan on individual basis. They said militants who had taken political asylum in Pakistan had kept a low profile. Though the banners of Dal Khalsa International were displayed in various gurdwaras including Gurdwara Nanakana Sahib, Panja Sahib and Dera Sahib yet the leaders of this militant outfit were not allowed to address the congregation. Mr Sham Singh, Co-Chairman PGPC, said that renovation of Sikh shrines in Pakistan was going on war footing. The old ‘Nishan Sahibs’ would be changed by the PGPC shortly, he said. He further said that the PGPC would make all out efforts to provide all sort of convenience to the pilgrims. Mr Avtar Singh and Bibi Narinderjit Kaur, the members of the jatha told TNS that some members of the jatha had held long discussions with the officials of Pakistan for streamlining of the PGPC. Mr Kuldip Singh said that the officials of government of Pakistan agreed to provide all possible help to encourage Sikhs to visit Pakistan. The Sikh pilgrims were unhappy over the thin attendance of visitors in gurdwaras due to ban on jathas to Pakistan. It may be mentioned here
that the SGPC had stopped sending jathas to Pakistan in
protest against the formation of the PGPC, headed by a
former chief of the ISI. |
Project to save wetlands CHANDIGARH, April 20 — Following a request from the Punjab Government, the Army will launch a pilot project to check degradation of the ecologically important Harike wetlands and clear it of weeds and silt. The Harike wetlands, situated around the confluence of the Sutlej and the Beas, forms a part of the largest wetland system in the districts of Amritsar, Ferozepore and Kapurthala and is spread over 148 square kilometres. It is now infested with water hyacinth, pollutants, poaching and encroachments thereby reducing the area for wildlife habitat. Under ‘Project Sahyog’, the Army will clear demarcated zones of the dying wetland. A presentation in this regard was given to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at Western Command Headquarters, Chandimandir, today. Stating that he discussed the issue with the ‘minister concerned’ in Delhi yesterday, Mr Badal, while interacting with mediapersons later added that the project was being given top priority and Rs 40 crore would be made available under the aegis of the World Bank. He said a master plan was being prepared and that the Army had also been requested to provide help. A steering committee for overseeing the project had been set up under the chairmanship of Mr Rajan Kashyap, Secretary for Science and Technology, Punjab. Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi, GOC-in-C, Western Command, said the Army, by its customary association with ecology and environment had suggested that it launch a pilot project to save the wetlands. He added that while the state government would have the overall charge of the project, the Army would provide equipment, expertise and manpower in a ‘’supervisory role’’. The Army’s presentation revealed that the wetland’s area for wildlife and birds has shrunk to just 10 per cent of the original area, with the average depth of the once famous Harike lake ranging from a few centimetres to two metres. A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showed that the spread of hyacinth, which sucks up oxygen, has reduced the surface area of the wetlands, obstructed the free flow of water and raised the bed level of the water-ways by trapping silt. Further problems in wetland management include the multiplicity of agencies involved and lack of co-ordination among them, poaching and illegal fishing, encroachment, and release of industrial, domestic and agricultural pollutants in the water. The Army’s plan of action involves clearing the weeds within specified areas for which it will set up three task forces with three teams each. Each team will have a strength of 10 combatants and 24 civilian labourers equipped with two motorboats, tractor-trailers and other requisite mechanical equipment. Funds for the project, estimated to cost Rs 75 lakh, will be made available by the state government. At the same time,
ecological conditions for wildlife habitat will be
improved and ‘’ social fencing’’
undertaken, which will include spreading awareness among
the local population about ecology and checking the
degradation of nature. Scientific study and technical
documentation will also be undertaken. |
Permit to kill ‘neelgai’
irks Bishnois ABOHAR, April 20 — The Punjab Wild Life Department’s permission to six persons to kill “neelgai” (blue bulls) in the area has upset the animal-loving Bishnoi community which is asking the state government to withdraw the sanction. While authorities of the Wild Life Department say that the permit granted to the six persons, known to be the relatives of the Forest Minister, Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, is for the protection of crops from the animal, the activists of the All-India Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha have criticised the move in a representation to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The department is learnt to have issued permits to six farmers — five from Ramsra village and one from Killianwali in Abohar on March 28 for killing neelgai and wild boars. The Wild Life Authorities have cited devastation of crops by these animals as reason for granting permission till December 31, 2000 in the permits received here a few days ago. However, the office secretary of the All India Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha, Mr Ramesh Kumar, has sought the immediate scrapping of these permits as the permission to kill the animals would hurt the religious sentiments of the Bishnoi community in the area. The 29 commandments that guide the community do not allow the poaching of the animals. When contacted the Forest Minister, Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, denied that the granting of permission was any favour to his relatives. “Anyone can be granted the permission, in case he is troubled by these wild animals”, he said adding. “This was done in accordance with the Central Government rules that allow the killing of the wild animals, which destroy the crops”. Without confirming or denying that the permits had been issued to his kin only in the Abohar area he said the farmers had been allowed to kill only wild boars and neelgai which destroy their crops. Sources in the Wild Life
Department confirmed that the increasing number of
neelgai in the area was causing mishaps and loss to the
farmers and they had been receiving complaints from
various panchayats to this effect. Mr Natha Singh, Wild
Life Inspector, sought to play down the controversy
involving the farmers related to the minister saying,
“None of them is a professional hunter”. He
said the permission was given to protect the crops and
nobody would be allowed to indulge in hunting. “The
law is very clear on this. We will ask them to handover
the bodies of the killed animal, which shall be burnt to
ensure that they are not hunted for fun”, he
explained. |
Ludhiana MC in PSEB net PATIALA, April 20 — The Ludhiana civic body has been netted by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Enforcement Department for running unauthorised load on street light points besides other theft detection which has resulted in a revenue collection of Rs 12 crore. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, PSEB Chairman G S Sohal said against a sanction of 1480 street light points in one subdivision here, 3,290 points had been found connected. He said while the sanctioned strength was 142.24 kw, the load was 466.77 kw. The PSEB Chairman said because of the unauthorised running of load the meters of 10 connections were found burnt . He said the board had been losing lakhs of rupees as revenue as a result of direct supply, adding that a penalty of Rs 34.85 lakh had been imposed. He said among the consumers found indulging in power theft in Batala city one consumer was found stealing electricity and a penalty of Rs 4 lakh had been imposed on him. He said similarly one consumer in Amritsar was found indulging in theft by installing a transformer without any sanction from the board for which a penalty of Rs 13 lakh had been imposed on him. He further said two rice shellers in Patiala and Sangrur had been found stealing power by drilling holes in the meters and meter cup board . Mr Sohal said to discourage theft, naked joints were being covered with insulation tapes and meter terminal cover plates and cup board were being sealed.He said while cases were being registered against customers pilfering electricity, disciplinary action had been taken against officials not taking cognisance of theft in their areas. He said a scheme amounting to Rs 35 crore had already been sanctioned for Amritsar. He added that such schemes were being formulated for other big cities also. In the rural areas the supply on the urban pattern by erecting separate feeders was being carried out. He said 2,000 villages had been covered under the urban pattern power supply till February. Speaking about the Ranjit Sagar dam project , he said the dam would be commissioned by September. He said the repair of a duct in the P-2 tunnel had been completed and the testing of this tunnel was going on. The repair of the P-1 tunnel would be completed in a week’s time. He said the Board was thinking of going in for a joint venture on the 168 mw Shahpur Kandi project and that talks had been held with Himachal and Haryana to form a consortium through which the vast hydel potential of Himachal Pradesh could be exploited. When questioned on the recent power agreement signed with GVG company of Hyderabad for the Goindwal Sahib thermal project and whether the memorandum of understanding was a secret document, Mr Sohal said uncalled for apprehensions were being raised about the project. He further said the tariff calculated for the project was Rs 2.46 paisa and the project was tariff based and not capital-based like the Enron project and fears of steep power rates were unfounded. He, however, said as the
project was financed in dollars through, NRIs the
fluctuation in currency rates would have an affect on it. |
Career scheme implemented AMRITSAR, April 20 — Bowing to the pressure of PCS, officers, DSPs, PCMS-I, doctors, technical and executive officers, the state government has implemented the “assured career progression scheme” as per the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission, which was earlier held in abeyance in 1998 due to protests lodged by some subordinate service employees. The categories which would be benefited from the implementation of this scheme also include veterinary officers, assistant architects, medical officers, sub-divisional engineers and assistant town planners. The notification in this regard has been issued by the Department of Personnel, Government of Punjab, on April 17, which was received here today. However, the circular reads that “excess payments if any, made in the past shall be adjusted in future payments. The administrative department will ensure the recovery from particular officers who were allowed higher pay scales without scrutiny of their records as per the instructions of the state government. The circular, issued by Mr Surinder Sidhoo, secretary personnel, reads “the employees who were allowed four-tier pay scales on completion of four, nine and 14 years of regular service on the recommendation of the commission would be covered under career progression scheme. The operation of this scheme was held in abeyance on September 23, 1998, till required guidelines/clarifications were issued. However, various departments had fixed the pay of such employees without awaiting detailed guidelines and administrative instructions. Now after careful considerations, the state government decided to issue the required guidelines in this regard. This decision would be implemented with effect from January 1, 1996. Mr S.S. Brar, district police chief, Majitha, who is also president of the Punjab Police Service Welfare Association, welcomed the decision of the state government and on behalf of his association thanked Mr Sarbjit Singh, DGP, Punjab, for recommending the case of DSPs. The pay of employees will be fixed in the revised scale against the pre-revised scale. Then he will be placed in the higher admissible scale on the completion of “satisfactory service”. The next increment in the higher scale will be allowed after qualifying service of 12 months. As per the new guidelines issued today, the procedure for assessing the work and conduct for placement in the higher scale will be the same as applicable to a case of promotion. The placement in higher scales will be allowed only to those employees whose overall service record during the “satisfactory service” is judged as “good” and the employee is otherwise suitable for promotion. Giving details, the notification reads “good record shall mean that more than 50 per cent annual confidential reports (ACRs) are good. If the higher scale is
not granted on account of unsuitability, it shall not be
considered as punishment under the Punjab Civil Rules,
1970, the notification further reads. |
‘Kala jathas’ to create
awareness NAWANSHAHR: After giving new dimensions to the successful completion of the total literacy drive by linking it with development and welfare schemes, the local District Literacy Society is gearing itself up to utilise the newly attained literacy skills by motivating neo-literates to participate in the development and social welfare programmes to spread literacy among the masses. The society has been entrusted with the task of assisting the local Health Department for successfully implementing its reproductive and child health and family welfare programme (RCH) aimed at acquainting the masses on population control, AIDS, environment pollution, general health and sanitation awareness. The programme will be run on the pattern of the literacy drive in the district and its budget is Rs 10.81 lakh. Giving this information, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, Deputy Commissioner, who heads the district Literacy Society, said the society in its endeavour to assist the Health Department by building a conducive environment for the programme launch, had published a book “Sakhar Sehat Sunehre”. The book contained poems, songs, dramas written by local writers to prepare “kala jathas” (cultural teams) of school students and neo-literates, which would go to the villages and organise street plays, and cultural programmes aimed at teaching villagers to adopt high standards of health and sanitation. As it was a new programme, the society organised a four-day writers’ workshop at Raja Sahib Ka Mazara, last August. During the workshop, attended by a number of poets and playwrights, the concept of the RCH project was made clear to them and they were urged to write songs, poems, dramas etc. They responded positively and with their cooperation, the society was able to bring out “Sakhar Sehat Sunehre”, a collection of 41 songs and five dramas written by 19 writers. After releasing the book last December, a three-day workshop was organised at the local Baradari Garden, in which 80 heads of “kala jathas” participated. Later three-day workshops to activate master trainers (MTs) were organised at the block level from January 6 to February 18. Now, the society and
district Health Department had started organising
block-level conventions in which social and political
leaders were motivated to cooperate for making the
programme a big success. Besides, the Health Department
had started constituting village-level “Sehat
Chetna” committees and the whole district had been
divided into 500 clusters and a medical officer given
charge of each cluster, Dr Sunkaria added. |
“Senior citizens’ role
vital in character-building” PATIALA, April 20 — Nearly 40 persons were honoured at the 21st annual function of the Senior Citizens Welfare Association, held at Bir Dasondhi Ram Community Centre here today. These persons had won a number of diverse competitions organised by the association during the past 12 months. Mr K.S. Kang, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, presented awards to the winners. Speaking on the occasion, he assured the senior residents of getting major repairs carried out in the community centres, which was a primary demand of the senior citizens. Mr Kang appreciated the zeal in the senior residents despite their age. He said an association like this could go a long way in the development of the nation as well preservation of national character, culture and tradition. Mr R.L. Sharma,
Secretary of the association, said the community centre
had become very popular due to its activities involving
senior citizens. He urged the municipal corporation to
help them in the expansion of the building. The following
are the winners in various competitions: more than 5000/-
donation — Dr R.K. Jindal: octogenarian — Mr
K.L. Gupta: top in roll call — Prof J.S. Grewal:
Sports: short put (men): up to 65 years — Mr J.S.
Grewal: 66-70 years — Mr Balwinder Singh Khehra,
71-75 years — Mr H.S. Rai, 76-80 years — Mr
Banta Singh, above 80 years — Mr Vishwanath Sharma
shortput (women): Mrs Kulwant Kaur. 400 mtr walks (men)
up to 65 years — Mr I.P. Mago: 200 mtr walk (men)
66-70 years — Mr Bhupinder Singh: 100 mtr walk (men)
above 80 years — Mr Jagdayal Singh: 50 mtr walk
(women) — Mrs Pramilla Bhandari; needle and thread
(open to all) — Santosh Kumari Modi; musical chair
(women) — Mrs Shakuntla Bir, chess: Mr B.S. Khehra,
carrom: Mr J.N. Chopra, playing cards: Dr S.S.
Kishanpuri. |
Conference on key hole surgery BATHINDA: Dr P.K. Chowbey, laparoscopist to President of India and President, Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Surgeons, said that with the help of laparscopy many lives could be saved and major surgeries could be averted. It also helped in reducing the duration of hospitalisation. Dr Chowbey, who is also Chairman of Department of Minimal Invasive Surgery, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, while delivering his lecture on Medical Congress on Key Hole Surgery said that key hole surgery could be done through robots. He added that the surgeon performed surgery on the dummy and the real surgery was performed by the robot on human being through messages conveyed via telephone and satellite. Dr Chowbey also performed laparoscopic operation for the removal of gall bladder stones. hernia and uterus in the Medical Congress-first of its kind in the Northern India-organised by the Indian Medical Association and the Bathinda Surgical Forum recently. More than 500 doctors belonging to various medical colleges of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and Delhi Shimla and Chandigarh participated in the two-day medical congress which was inaugurated by the Panjab Minister, Mr. Chiranji Lal Garg. The participants were made aware of new techniques in various types of surgeries by the experts by performing operations and holding video conferences. The delegates were also given knowledge about safe and fast surgeries. Dr G.S. Nagpal, Organising Secretary of the Medical Congress told TNS that about 30 persons were operated free of cost by eminent surgeons. The medical talks were delivered by Dr Yogesh Aggarwal, Dr S.K. Pal. Dr Anil Goyal, Dr R.K. Dewan, Dr Malvika Sabharwal and Dr Ajit Sexsena (all from Delhi), Dr Atul Sachdeva from Chandigarh, Dr P.K Kohli from Sonepat. Dr P.K. Chowbey was
presented the Laparoscopic Rattan of Indian Award on this
occasion. Dr Ravinder Singh, Principal Medical College,
Patiala, was also honoured. Dr Nagpal was also honoured
for his efforts for organising the medical congress. |
The final resting place ABOHAR: The funeral processions in the town have to pass through a road through the fields to reach Shivpuri. Irrigation water mingles with sewage of the area on this road. After a sewerage was laid, it got choked near Shivpuri. The Municipal Committee has started disposing of its land to different Central agencies and the rest has been encroached upon by influential people. The encroached area is called Indira Nagri. The cremation of animals takes place on the other side of the boundary wall of Shivpuri. As a result birds hover over the cremation ground. Stench pervades all around. The space for cremation of children remains without a fence. Dogs pull out bodies of children. Both sides of the Shivpuri road has garbage dumps. There is a provision for burning the refuse. But it has not been done so far. The Municipal Committee had set a sub-committee to suggest alternative sites for the animals cremation ground. The committee’s report has not been made public. Nearly 100 years ago a social worker carried those claimed by plague on his shoulders to an open space in the town for cremation. The person was Mahashya Kirpa Ram, a panwari. The place he took the dead was called Shivpuri. In 1992 Mr Mathra Dass Hiteshi and the late Mr Prithvi Raj Sharma, Mr Mahabir Prasad Kanodia of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha and mr Banwari lal Nagpal, Chairman, Arorbans Sabha. The tough task of restructuring the Shivpuri was initiated with the help of widow of the late Mr Mohinder Kumar Mohta, who ran a spinning mill here. The four-member team succeeded in collecting a sum of Rs 30 lakh from 400 donors to give the 10 acre area adjoining the old cremation ground a new look. Mr Milakh Raj Angi, the
top sweets seller in the sub-division, got a statue of
Krishna and Arjun astride the rath made at a cost of Rs 4
lakh. Sheds for cremation and mourners were constructed.
Statues of Shiva, Hanuman, Krishna, Vishnu, Dharamraj,
Yamraj and episodes from the Ramayana like a Bheel woman
serving fruit to Lord Rama and Shravan Kumar carrying his
blind parents have been put up. Two small temples and
four gates of the complex have been constructed. The
Fellow Club has installed a water cooler. The control of
the cremation ground has been restored to the Shri
Sanatan Dharam Sabha. |
Where normal and special kids
study together PATIALA, April 20 — Patiala is all set to come on the map as far as special education is concerned, with the Rehabilitation Council of India approving four weeks' training courses started by the Navjivani Trust at its unique school here which caters to both ''special'' and normal children . Many teachers tending to mentally retarded children in Punjab and Haryana have already benefited from this course which teaches participants the technique to deal with mentally handicapped children. The success of the course is largely dependent on the near-miracle created on the outskirts of this city in Sular village by the Navjivani Society. The society is running a unique school in which mentally retarded children as well as normal ones of the village and nearby areas are taught in the same building. ''The aim behind this is to provide an integrated approach for which normal children were encouraged to enroll,'' said the Navjivani Trust Secretary, Dr N. S. Sodhi. He said both the handicapped and normal children had a feel of each other and could appreciate themselves better. ''There is not much to differentiate the mentally retarded children from the normal ones, except through the colour of their uniform," he added. He said the children of the local community would be further benefited when a children's club is started on land adjoining the school . Explaining the teaching pattern at the institution, Dr Sodhi said the school followed a problem-solving approach after classifying children into trainable groups. ''We understand the child has to go back to society because of which he is exposed to time and money, concept, self-management, speech therapy, behaviour modification and social skills,'' he added. The school presently has around 150 students on its rolls. Of them, 40 students are normal. Starting from a government house in 1982 with one student, two teachers and an attendant, it is at present housed in Sular village. A philanthropist, Ms Satwant Kaur, donated an acre of land for it. It is named after her husband as 'Devindra Navjivani School of Special Education'. It attracts students from all over the state as it has hostel accommodation also . The society is also engaged in other philanthropic activity which will ensure that it becomes a centre for rehabilitation as well as care. Dr Sodhi said the society was also in the process of establishing an adult institute for the mentally retarded with a life-time package. He said this was being
done on the demand of parents of such children so that
they could be looked after following the death of their
parents. He said a trust had been formed for the same and
a corpus was being raised to base the institute on land
which had been donated along side the school. |
Work on Civil Hospital
restarts AMRITSAR, April 20 — The World Bank-aided Civil Hospital’s construction has been restarted recently. After receiving Rs 3.70 crore the Punjab Government. Dr Raj Inder Singh, Civil Surgeon, said the emergency and the OPD will start functioning by the year-end, while work would continue on the rest of the project simultaneously. The 200-bed emergency-cum-supper speciality hospital budgeted at Rs 11.5 crore was sanctioned only Rs 3.5 crore, while more than half of the construction was completed last year. The project was sanctioned to the Punjab Health Systems Corporation by the World Bank. The project was stalled for full one year since April, last year. Besides wards, there would be two emergency wards with attached operation theatres and three additional operation theatres. Other features include, medicine, ENT, orthopaedics, gynaecology, nephrology, etc. The construction of the multi-storeyed project is under the National Building and Construction Corporation. The Civil Surgeon assured the balance payment of more than Rs 3 crore would be promptly sanctioned next year, while parts of the hospital would start functioning as soon as they were complete. A meeting of the
authorities concerned will take place on April 24 to
coordinate and chalk out the priorities of the project. |
MC staff seek traders’
arrest FEROZEPORE, April 20 — The convener of district unit of the Mulazam Action Committee, Punjab, Mr Kulwant Singh Lehri, has condemned members of the local Beopar Mandal, who had damaged municipal property during their agitation on Tuesday in protest against the lack of basic amenities. Meanwhile, staff of the municipal council here observed a complete strike on the second day today to demand the arrest of those involved in the act. Talking to The Tribune, the Deputy Director, Local Government, Mr H.L. Kumar said today that he went to the striking municipal employees and asked them to call off their strike, but they did not agree, he added, and said, “I told the striking municipal staff that a case under various sections of the IPC has been registered. The Deputy Director said he would immediately begin his inquiry after the strike would be called off by the municipal staff. He added that the
inquiry would be completed and submitted to the Deputy
Commissioner Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, within a week’s
time. |
Project for treating backbone
injuries BATHINDA, April 20 — Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, social security and Women Children Welfare Minister, today said that a project for treatment of backbone injuries and problems suffered in accidents had been started at Chandigarh. Addressing a press conference here, he said under this project, the persons having backbone problems and belonging to Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir can avail of treatment facilities. He disclosed that three centres for fitting artificial limbs were being opened in Punjab. The minister said that the Punjab Government had created a ‘social security fund’ for paying pension to eligible residents of the state. He added that cases of those persons whose pensions had been withdrawn wrongly would be processed again. Mr Kanjla, while dubbing in foeticide as very unfortunate, said that a massive campaign against this immoral practice should be launched. He said that the Punjab Government had initiated 32 social welfare projects with the aid of Central government. Later, the minister in a
meeting held with the officials of Social Welfare
Department of Mansa, Bathinda, Moga, and Faridkot
districts urged them to work hard for ensuring that
benefits of all schemes should reach to needy and
deserving persons. |
Clerk suspended ROPAR, April 20 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, has suspended Om Parkash, licence clerk in the office of the SAS Nagar SDM for violating instructions of the government. Mr Grewal said here today that Om Parkash had been found guilty of voclating government instructions in the registration of vehicles, purchased from outside the state, without proof of entry tax. The Deputy Commissioner
further said that a clarification was also being sought
from the then SDM for failure in getting government
instructions implemented. |
Beating of MLA’s kin: probe
ordered PATIALA, April 20 — An inquiry by an IPS officer has been ordered today into the alleged beating up of a close relative and a gunman of Akali Dal MLA Jagtar Singh Rajla by Mr Hans Raj, SHO, sadar police station, Samana, yesterday. The accused has also been put under suspension and transferred to police lines, Sangrur, with immediate effect. According to police sources, Mr Satnam Singh, a bank employee and first cousin of Mr Rajla, had alleged in a complaint to the DIG range, Mr Sanjeev Gupta, that the accused SHO along with four or five other police men had beaten him and misbehaved with Mr Kashmira Singh, the gunman of the MLA, without any provocation yesterday night in Samana town. However the SHO also alleged that the two had obstructed the officials from discharging their police duty and thus the bank employee was detained. A case against the bank employee and the gunman has also been registered in this regard at Samana sadar police station, he said in his defence. DIG Sanjeev Gupta, told The Tribune that on the basis of preliminary investigations he has put the SHO under suspension and directed ASP Mr Naunnihal Singh to conduct a thorough inquiry into the case. According to the complaint filed by Mr Satnam Singh, he was taking Mr Kashmira Singh, the gunman to the Civil Hospital, Samana, for some medical help at 1 a.m. today near Talkies Cinema the SHO along with other police staff in civil dress stopped them and enquired about their motive of travelling. The complainant said the police party was not satisfied with their reply of going to the hospital. He said then the SHO demanded assault rifle of the gunman. The gunman refused to handover the assault rifle. While the two were allowed to go then but when they reached the hospital the police party swooped on them and took Satnam Singh to sadar police station. He alleged that he was mercilessly beaten up and even hung upside down. According to the police he also received some injuries on his private parts as well. The medical examination also reported injuries. While the complainant has demanded registration of an attempt to murder case against the SHO and other police officer, the SHO Hans Raj talking to The Tribune said he was being falsely implicated. He said he was
performing his duty by stopping and inquiring from the
bank employee and the gunman. He said, however, the two
instead of giving a proper reply tried to browbeat him by
mentioning the name of Mr Rajla. He said they misbehaved
with him and even tried to manhandle him at which he had
to take action against them. |
MC ex-chief dies in road accident JAITO, April 20 (PTI) — A former president of the local Municipal Council, Mr Raj Romana, was killed on the Jaito-Bajakhana road last night when his car collided with a trader near Moti Rice mills near his residence, the police said today. The deceased was returning from his brick kiln in Jalal village when the mishap took place . He died on the spot. Mr
Romana (60) is survived by two sons, one daughter and his
wife. |
Woman kills herself, two kids PHAGWARA, April 20 — In a bizarre act, Bindar, a 26-year-old mother, burnt herself and her two daughters, Priya (eight months old) and Manisha (2), to death at her residence at Hadiabad this evening. By the time neighbours could reach their house on hearing their screams, the trio were already charred to death. Bindar’s husband Mr
Somnath was away at work when the tragedy occurred. She
married Somnath four years ago. The bodies have been
brought here for the post-mortem examination. |
3 criminals escape from
custody BARNALA, April 20 — Three criminals involved in number of cases of theft and looting in Bathinda and Patiala districts today escaped from police custody while they were being taken to the Patiala jail after their hearing in the Phul court of Bathinda district. Police sources said that three criminals who had been identified as Makhan Singh, Ajit Singh and Tarsem Singh escaped from police custody after putting red chillies in the eyes of members of the police party from Bathinda district which was taking them to Patiala. Sources added that the three accused had also taken away one self loading rifle (SLR) of the constable with them. The three accused escaped when the police party along with them came down from their mini bus near a ‘dhaba’ near Dhanaula town to take tea. Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, said that after putting red chillies in the eyes of policemen, the three accused snatched a scooter of a passerby and fled on it. He added that all the five cartridges in the SLR fell on the ground when the accused fled from the site of crime and these had been recovered by the police. He said that police parties had been dispatched to different directions to nab the accused. He added that it was yet to be inquired that from where the accused got the red chillies. The accused might have got the red chillies either in the central jail of Patiala or in the court complex of Phul. He said that four
policemen, including one driver of the mini bus were
taking the accused to Patiala central jail. A case in
this regard was being registered. |
PAU staff want ban on recruitment
to go LUDHIANA, April 20 — Employees of the Punjab Agricultural University have opposed the ban on fresh recruitment imposed by the state government. The government has banned fresh recruitment in the universities all over the state. However, most of the employees of the PAU here contend that the ban would hit the agricultural university more than the other universities as PAU is a research-oriented institution while other universities are teaching-oriented. Dr Hari Singh Brar, president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), said that the state relied on the guidelines and advice of the university, but inadequate staff in the university would not be in a position to provide good guidance and advice to the farmers, “It would not be possible to maintain the present-level of research and retain the confidence of the farmers of the state,” he said. Dr Brar added that against the 1766 sanctioned posts in university only 1365 persons were, presently, working and around 400 posts were lying vacant. He said, “the government should lift the ban so that staff can be recruited and working carried on smoothly.” According to him, more than 50 per cent staff of the university would retire by 2006 and void would be created in case the posts were not filled regularly. According to Mr Madan Lal Gupta, secretary of PAUTA, to keep the university abreast of new techniques and to continue with its role of being a pioneer agricultural research institute, new research scientists should be recruited as they are more familiar with latest research techniques and developments. Even class II and III employees of the university are against the ban on fresh recruitments, Mr D.P. Maur, president of the PAU Employees Union, when contacted, said that work was likely to suffer because of the new rule in the university of appointing people of contract basis. Mr Maur says that in place of assistant professors the university is appointing research fellows on contract basis. The supporting staff is appointed on daily-wage basis. He emphasised that this was not a very healthy trend and with such an arrangement the desired results could hardly be achieved. Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr G.S. Kalkat said that though there was a ban on the appointments but the university board had allowed all essential sanctioned posts to be filled. Dr Kalkat also informed
that a strength review committee had been set up to
review the strength of the staff in each department. The
report of this committee is expected by the end of the
month. He also said that from now onwards all
project-oriented posts would be filled on contract basis. |
Case of unfair means in exams
detected AMRITSAR, April 20 — About 100 cases of the use of unfair means in exams, including 70 cases relating to BA part-I exams, have been detected by members of the flying squads. During their raids at examination centres since the commencement of the annual examination from April 4. About 212 examination
centres have been set up in five districts of Amritsar,
Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Nawanshahr,
according to Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar of the university. |
MCI recognises Baba Farid
University FARIDKOT, April 20 — The Medical Council of India (MCI) has granted recognition to the Baba Farid University of Health Science here and the relative papers have been sent to the central government for the notification. This was stated by Dr J.S. Gujral, Vice-Chancellor of the University, while talking to mediapersons here today. Dr K.S. Khurana, Deputy Registrar of the university, was already in touch with the Union Government to get the nod at the earliest. Elaborating on other developments the Vice-Chancellor said a process had been initiated to incorporate the name of the institution with international organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO), the British Medical Council etc to promote higher education. Mr Gujral said the Punjab Government had allocated Rs 8 crore to start the construction of the first phase of the university complex during the current financial year. The masterplan in this connection had already been finalised. Another amount of Rs 3 crore had been received here to make the remaining payment to the farmers whose lands were acquired for the construction of the building. The amount would be distributed shortly. Mr Gujral further stated
that all colleges, including ayurvedic, medical, dental
and homeopathic affiliated to the university would be
interlinked through Internet and e-mail services by
June-end. The central government had already granted Rs 1
crore to streamline the project effectively. Mr R.K.
Raina, Registrar of the university, was also present on
the occasion. |
PUTA endorses decision on
evaluation work PATIALA, April 20 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) has endorsed the decision of the AIFUTA to boycott evaluation work if the arrears on account of pay revision from the period January 1996 to December 1998 are not released by the end of this month. The association Secretary, Hari Singh Boparai, said here today that a general body meeting here yesterday also appealed to all teachers of Punjabi University to participate actively on April 27 in the dharna-cum-rally to mark its protest against the non payment of arrears. However, the PUTA general body was of the opinion that Rs 3.73 crore, which was received by Punjabi University out of Rs 40 crore, the money released by the central Government for the payment of arrears to the Punjab government had been adjusted towards the maintenance grant amounting to misutilisation. In view of this, the general body resolved that Punjabi University be directed by the Punjab Government to disburse this amount. It was further resolved that the AIFUTA be requested to form a joint action committee with other sister organisations of Punjab such as the GCLA and the PCCTU for this purpose. While appreciating the
efforts of the PUTA executive in general and PUTA
Secretary, Dr Hari Singh Boparai, in particular, the
general house assured the executive its full cooperation
for chalking out any action plan for furtherance of this
cause and for meeting the other major demands such as
implementation of new career advancement scheme,
abolishing the condition of refresher courses and
extension of retirement age of 62. |
Strike against
‘administrative apathy’ PATIALA, April 20 — Undergraduate and postgraduate medical students of the local Government Medical College and Rajendra Hospital went on strike today in protest against the “Administrative apathy” towards the academic crisis arising out of the non-recognition of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot by the Medical Council of India. In a statement here, the College Resident Doctors Association President, A.P.S. Bedi, and General Secretary R.S. Dang said while recognition was supposed to be accorded by March 31, 2000, it did not materialise, putting careers of thousands of students of medical colleges, eight dental colleges, seven ayurvedic colleges and one college each of homeopathy and physiotherapy and two colleges of nursing in jeopardy. The medical degrees and diplomas issued by an unrecognised university stand invalid, they said. All these colleges, affiliation was withdrawn from the three other recognised universities — GNDU, Punjabi and Panjab University — since July 1, 1999, and were affiliated to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. The strike was complete and the hospital services were paralysed with only emergency services being rendered. No surgical operations were carried out and the operation theatres wore a deserted look. Academic activity came to a standstill with students boycotting their classes. So agitated were the medical students that they blocked the traffic on the main Patiala-Sangur road for full one hour and refused to budge despite intervention by the civic authorities. They also raised slogans against the Punjab Government. They submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Principal, Government Medical College, Patiala, which also included withdrawal of fee hike imposed during the last academic session. Later, a general body
meeting of the Resident Doctors Association passed a
resolution, urging the state administration to restore
the affiliation of these institutions to their parent
universities with immediate effect or face a state-wide
agitation. |
Licences of 3 commission agents
cancelled FARIDKOT, April 20 — Mr A. Venu Parsad, Deputy Commissioner, has suspended the licences of three commission agents belonging to this district allegedly for indulging in malpractices during the procurement of wheat. The three commission agents of Bargari, Jaitu and Bajakhana grain markets of this district were found filling less wheat in the bags than the prescribed weight when Mr Parsad along with officials carried out a massive check of all the centres today. The Deputy Commissioner
said that so far 72056 tonne of wheat had been brought in
all the purchase centres of the district. |
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