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| Saturday,
October 14, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Licences of 10 arhtiyas suspended SHSAD to observe Punjab bandh today Morcha criticises farm policies
PPCC seeks policy papers
Cops ready to mend their methods |
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Dengue case in Amritsar RSS leaders ‘fire’
at function They
continue to be in bonds
Recruitment on ‘fake’ documents Tourism project for historic buildings on anvil Punjab to approach CRCI Balmiki function ends up in chaos Women drama festival
on Oct 15 Seminar on Sikh heritage on Oct 21 Punjab to celebrate
Aggarsain Jayanti
‘No move to shift Kapurthala SSP’
2 motor-cyclists killed
AICTE for phasing out unpopular
courses Teachers announce stir plan
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Licences of 10 arhtiyas suspended SANGRUR, Oct 13 — Licences of 10 arhtiyas in the gain markets of Sangrur, Bhawanigarh, Tapa, Tajpur and Dirba in this district have been suspended on account of purchasing uncleaned paddy without bidding and with no markings on the bags. Giving this information here today, Ms Gurmeet Kaur, District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC), Sangrur, said an Inspector of the Punjab Agro had also been suspended by the authorities for non-satisfactory purchase of paddy. She said the official procurement agencies had procured 5,05,000 metric tonnes of paddy till yesterday in the Sangrur district. The government agencies had procured 88 per cent of the total procured paddy, she added. She also claimed that about 60 per cent of the procured paddy had already been lifted from the mandis. A representative of the local Arhtiya Association said here today that no payment against the procured paddy had been made since September 24 to the arhtiyas by the government agencies. Meanwhile, Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, today visited the local grain market and met the paddy growers. Mr Balian also held a meeting with the officers of the procurement agencies and directed them to speed up the procurement of paddy and its lifting. Talking to newsmen, Mr Balian said that in view of the statement given by Mr Shanta Kumar, a five-member team led by Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, would hold a meeting with the Prime Minister, Union Finance, Food and Agriculture Ministers at New Delhi tomorrow. Mr Balian said the Union Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, had assured the Chief Minister that the Central government would compensate the loss to farmers due to decrease in the MSP of paddy. |
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Millers, agencies deny asking
for bribes RAMPURAPHUL, Oct 13 — The members of the District Bathinda Rice Millers Association and Rampura Rice Millers Association today denied having charged any money for giving
permission for unloading paddy procured by agencies into their respective premises. Reacting to a report in The Tribune Mr Shashi Singla, President, District Bathinda Rice Millers Association and Mr Mohan Singh Dhillon, President, Rampura Rice Millers Association told mediapersons that their associations had already passed a resolution to conduct business according to rules. They said if any member of their association was found indulging in any sort of malpractice, he would be expelled from the associations and claimed vested interests were trying to defame the millers. Mr Tarsem Lal, Coordinator, Procurement Agencies, also denied the news report that procurement agencies had been taking commission from paddy growers for procuring their paddy. |
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News analysis CHANDIGARH: Mr Shanta Kumar has applied two cosmetic touches to conceal the ugly face of the paddy procurement operations by way of ‘‘relaxations’’ in the prescribed ‘‘specifications’’. The first cosmetic touch was provided to parboiled rice, whereby the percentage of damaged or slightly damaged grain was enhanced from 3 to 4, discoloured grain from 4 to 5 and broken grain from 14 to 16. The second was to damaged paddy. Purchase is now permitted of paddy damaged up to a maximum limit of 7 per cent instead of 3 per cent. The rider is that such paddy will be bought at Rs 515 per quintal (instead of Rs 540, the minimum support price fixed for fair average quality A-grade paddy) and Rs 485 per quintal (and not Rs 510, the MSP for common grade varieties). Despite these cosmetic changes, ‘‘there is no compromise on quality’’, says Mr Shanta Kumar. This measure will now take care of 70 per cent of the paddy heaped in mandis. The out-turn ratio, however, will go down from 67 to 64. The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution expects farmers to feel ‘‘satisfied’’ because distress sale will also end. Before making this concession, Mr Shanta Kumar spoke to the Minister of Finance, Mr Yashwant Sinha. He told him that any further relaxations would mean an additional financial burden of Rs 250 crore. Has he blocked further attempts by the Akalis to extract more concessions? Understandably, the Akalis are ‘‘unhappy; they want more lenient specifications. The Akalis know well that early paddy transplantation and early harvesting are responsible for the damaged paddy and the suffering of the farmers. The “grain war” Punjab is fighting with the Centre is due to abundance. It is a crisis situation. The warehouses are bursting at the seams, while New Delhi refuses to quicken the movement of foodgrains outside the state making space for the new harvest. Now that Punjab is awash with foodgrains it has become a victim of food politics. Or is it politics-led policies? Either way these have added to the woes of the farmers, who are taking a beating with the prices nose-diving? The farmers are poised for a face-off because of irrational policies governing the foodgrain market, which cries for reforms. The same production that once soared on the wings of the Green Revolution has now become a problem. This only shows that the stress was always on higher, target-oriented production. No attention was paid to the marketing system or the ills afflicting it. Here is a paradox: while higher production has resulted in higher economic development and consumption, there still remain 300 million poor in the country who cannot buy food. Even as agriculture got transformed, with mechanisation and technology transfer changing its face, survival has become a challenge for the farmers. Their only hope of sustenance is “keep producing”. There is the absence of vision. Problems of plenty do cause political anxiety and if not remedied lead to social tensions resulting in a law and order problem. With other states catching up in foodgrain production and the World Trade Organisation regime staring in the face, the grain glut will only precipitate and further deepen the crisis in the years ahead if correctives are not applied, warn scientists. It is time to look beyond “specifications” and reinvent the procurement system by transforming the marketing of foodgrains, primarily wheat and paddy. For this to happen one has to look at the operating “food mafia” and the ever-prevalent conflict among the players in the food chain of farmers, farm universities, the Departments of Agriculture and Food and Supplies, the Mandi Board network, the state procurement agencies and the FCI. Add to the chain the Union Ministry of Food and rice millers. This unholy nexus has to be broken and a holistic approach adopted if the likes of the present crisis are to be avoided in future. With the galloping population, the foodgrain requirement of India will be between 200 million and 230 million tonnes by 2020, estimates the World Bank. If the handling of the grain is to remain clumsy, stockpiles will not fill stomachs. The World Bank review, India’s “Foodgrain marketing policies: reforming to meet food security needs” (August, 1999), is a telling comment on the way rice and wheat marketing is done, the role of the FCI and policies which govern the purchase to build a buffer stock and keep the target public distribution system operational. Besides giving a profile of the state of the country’s markets — 6,800 state-operated wholesale markets — severely congested sans proper facilities, the report also refers to the pathetic state of the rice milling industry. It holds government policies responsible for stifling the growth, development and modernisation of grain markets. The system as a whole registers 12 million to 16 million tonnes of grain losses per annum. These begin for post-harvest in the farmers’ fields to the market and distribution levels. This loss includes at least 5 million to 7 million tonnes of rice and 4 million tonnes of wheat. The World Bank report remarks: “With the average per capita consumption of about 15 kg of foodgrains per month, these losses are enough to feed about 70 million to 100 million people, about one-third of India’s poor, or the states of Bihar and Haryana, for almost a year”. In such a scenario such political cosmetic touches are inconsequential. A proper perspective is called for. Punjab has 2,600-odd rice mills. Countrywide, the report says, 30 per cent of paddy is milled using less efficient technologies, such as hullers and shellers, with recovery rates of 50 to 68 per cent compared to modern rice mills’ 70 to 72 per cent. For every 100 kg of paddy, about 4 kg to 20 kg of rice becomes unavailable for direct consumption as it is mixed with byproducts. In Punjab 60 per cent of the rice mills are “sick”. Therefore, lifting the present paddy should mean just a beginning for undertaking major reforms in marketing. Stress on production along will not help. Therefore, for Punjab to survive in a competitive international market and on home turf, it has to initiate a “revolution” in its farm operations right for giving quality, high-yielding varieties to harvesting, marketing and processing. Agriculture is now commerce. Its terms of trade have to be re-determined favouring the farmers. Politics can wait. |
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Procurement of foodgrains NEW DELHI, Oct 13—The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief, capt Amarinder Singh, today demanded a policy paper from the Centre on its foodgrain procurement policy, specially after the recent crisis in the mandis of Punjab. Warning the Centre of a possible law and order problem in the state due to lack of procurement by the official agencies, the Punjab Congress chief said that it was not only imperative that the Centre came out with a policy paper regarding its future plans but also ensure that the present paddy crop was lifted from the mandis. He sought to know from the Centre whether it was going to abandon the Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy in the future. He said it was important for the farmers of Punjab to know whether or not the Centre would procure the next wheat crop so that they could plan accordingly and not face a similar situation in future. Capt Amarinder Singh was reacting to the prevailing situation in the mandis after the Centre and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) decided to raise the standard of paddy to be procured. Although the Centre has now relaxed the norms for procurement, ostensibly after the intervention of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal ,and the apparent political pressure applied by him, the Punjab Congress chief was of the view that the situation was still delicate and violence could erupt in the state if further steps were not taken right away. He pointed out that Punjab farmers were very agitated over the Centre’s policy and could create a law and order situation. He warned that if there was rain at this point of time, there would be riots in the state for the crop was lying in the open in the mandis. He said that while the Centre was claiming that it had started lifting the crop, the main variety,IR-8,was not being procured. A
former Rajya Sabha member and Punjab Congress leader, Mr Surinder
Singla ,who was also with the Punjab Congress chief, said that the
party had planned to gherao the Chief Minister on October 17 to press
their demands. |
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PPCC chief’s call to Cong activists CHANDIGARH, Oct 13 — The President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh, has instructed all the Congress party activists to converge at Matka Chowk here on October 17 to protest against the anti-farmer and anti-people policies of the SAD-BJP government in the state. Mr Sant Ram Singla, Vice-President of the party, said here today that Congress activists would stage a dharna at the chowk. Led by Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress party leaders, including MLAs and MPs, would move towards the residence of Punjab
Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to gherao him. |
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SHSAD to observe Punjab bandh today NEW DELHI, Oct 13 — The SHSAD today demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should pull out from the NDA government for his “failure to protect the interests of the state”. The SHSAD also announced that a Punjab bandh would be observed tomorrow in protest against the treatment being meted out to farmers of the state, and to force the Centre to rollback the hike in prices of petroleum products. Addressing a press conference here today, the SHSAD General Secretary, Mr Prem Singh
Chandumajra, alleged that Mr Badal had failed to protect the interests of the farmers. |
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Morcha criticises farm policies BATHINDA, Oct 13 — The Lok Morcha, Punjab has criticised agriculture policies of the Centre. Mr Narinder Jeet, state president of the Morcha said liberalisation had done more harm than good to the agriculture sector. The reduction in subsidies had resulted in poor economic conditions of farmers. The non-procurement of paddy by various state agencies and verbal commitment from the authorities had added to the problem. Mr Narinder alleged that the government was acting at the dictates of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The technology mission for oil seeps which was funded by the Central government is now facing a financial crunch. |
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Paddy straw burnt despite ill-effects BATHINDA: Even after repeated warnings by agricultural scientists not to destroy paddy straw in the fields, farmers have started burning the straw after harvesting the paddy, at the cost of the environment in this region, ignoring its harmful effects. On the one hand, the smoke pollutes the environment and on the other, the fields get contaminated due to the ash from the burnt straw. Apart from this, the villagers also complain that paddy straw smoke, causes irritation to their eyes but farmers who are in a hurry to reap the next crop, do not take care. Earlier farmers used to harvest the paddy with sickles and it was the cheaper and the best
method. Agriculture scientists of Punjab Agriculture University say that the paddy straw could be converted into fertilizer after irrigating it. Dr Gurdial Singh Khera, Chief Agriculture Officer, said this trend had created various problems related to health, environment and the fertility of the land. He pointed out that there were 17 elements which were necessary for plants to grow fully but now due to non-scientific methods adopted by the farmers there were just five to six elements being supplied artificially. He added that the farmers could use Rota Baler, a machine used to cut paddy straw, which could convert it into powder. This was beneficial for the land. He clarified that the machine was costly and was not within the reach of small farmers but farmers could adopt alternative methods to destroy the paddy straw other than burning it. He said that according to the green revolution pioneer Dr Borlaug if this trend of burning paddy straw continued, fertile land would deteriorate into wasteland and nothing could be produced on it. Dr Borlaug had already warned about the possible consequences of using the unscientific methods of crop production. Dr Ajit Pal Singh, of the Civil Hospital, said people were suffering from asthma, allergy and chest diseases due to the smoke from paddy straw. Patients did not get pure oxygen due to a contaminated environment. Those living in the villages were the most affected. Now it is up to the government to take the necessary action in this regard or to make some rules so that the land as well the people could be saved. |
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Cops ready to mend their methods JALANDHAR, Oct 13 — Their words stunned the common man since their ears were not used to listen to words like “Hum sudharne ko tayyar hain, bus hamein aapka saath chaahiye”, particularly if these were to come from khaki wearing men of Punjab police cops in stark contrast to the force’s reputation of being a lathi-wielding force. But this happened at the local Red Cross Bhavan where the Punjab police top brass, including the DGP, Mr Sarabjit Singh, and Mr A.A. Siddiqui, Director of the Punjab Police Academy at Phillaur, sought people’s cooperation and active involvement in ending or at least lessening crime in society. “We are ready to mend our ways and we extend a hand of friendship towards you. I admit the police image does not match with the desired one and I also admit that people have objections about the behaviour of policemen in general. I know they don’t like the image of the police with stigmas like third degree methods due to which no one is ready to come to police stations. That is why we have started senatising our men and a change is visible, said Mr Siddiqui in a confessional tone and with a promise to break the ice between the police and people. The DGP, who inaugurated the Community Policing Programme at Nagra village today, was equally responsive to people in a face-to-face with them and even joined them after listening to their complaints by saying, “You can reduce the burden from your shoulders by participating in our programme and help us in the process of policing. “You know we are a necessary evil”, Mr Sarabjit Singh said, “If your help is there in an effective manner there will be lesser need of uniformed people”, he said. Promising a lot for people, he said, “We are planning to open sports clubs for crime-prone and lesser
privilege children in police stations and the step we think will result in lesser crime in society. I am a firm believer that no organisation can work without the cooperation of the people. He said another step which was being taken for the benefit of the people of Jalandhar Range was that any person who would be arrested would be handed over a list of lawyers in the police station itself so that he could attain free legal aid if he so desired so at the time of his arrest. “If you trust us you will get better results from us,” said Mr Sarabjit Singh while admitting that the age-old police system was based on lack of trust. He said the police was planning to open a traffic school in Jalandhar to make residents aware about traffic laws and the city’s municipal corporation had already promised to provide land for that. Mr Sarabjit Singh said breath analysers would also be introduced in major cities like Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar to curb the menace of drunken driving. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said the programme was aimed at better interaction between the people and the police. “We will reach out to you and also invite you to come forward and help the police in curbing crime. Let it be a cooperative venture,” he added. Mr K. Shiva Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, said community policing was not a new concept but had been a part of the police system. “But there is the need to implement it”, he said. Later, addressing a press conference, he said the police apprehended more trouble in Punjab fomented by Pakistan during the festive season. He said intelligence inputs said Pakistan could trigger bomb blasts. |
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Dengue case in Amritsar AMRITSAR, Oct 13 — A confirmed case of dengue was reported here. The patient, approximately 35 years old, was rushed to Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, in the early hours of the morning today in the absence of treatment available in the city. The patient suffering from dengue could not be administered blood platelets — as no government or private hospital had a blood separating machine. The Medical Superintendent, Dr H.S. Gill, admitted the absence of the machine in any hospital of the city. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Raj Inder Singh, too disclosed that the machine for segregation of blood components was not available in Amritsar although the requirement for it had been placed with the Health Ministry for quite some time. While discounting the occurrence of any dengue cases in the district, he said. “No cases of dengue have been reported since last year.” He claimed that private doctors and hospitals are in coordination with the health authorities if any such cases occur. Further, he disclosed the health authorities were taking all preventive measures for destroying mosquitoes which carry the malarial and dengue in elections. This includes fogging, spraying etc. However, on condition of anonymity private doctors disclosed at least four cases of suspected dengue had come to light in the past few months, including one of a senior doctor. The infection, also called back-breaking fever is caused by the aedes mosquito. Its symptoms include severe frontal headache and pain in the eyeballs, extreme backache, fever, vomiting, eruption of body rash. The count of blood platelets falls drastically and the patient experiences bleeding gums. Skin bleeding leads to purpuric red spots. Further drop in the count of platelets due to retardation and complete halt in manufacturing of platelets can lead to bleeding in vital organs like stomach, brain etc, leading to death. |
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RSS leaders ‘fire’
at function FEROZEPORE, Oct 13 — An alleged incident of firing of guns at an RSS “Shastra Poojan” (weapon worship) function at the town hall here on October 8 has sparked a controversy. Several participants in the ceremony confirmed that a BJP mandal president, Mr Vinod Monga and Mr Baldev Raj, the son of RSS leader fired into the air during the function. There is a ban on firing weapons during social functions. The incident has sparked a demand for registration of a criminal case and thorough probe by opposition parties. Condemning the incident, both the Congress and the CPI have charged the RSS and BJP of perpetuating terror in the public mind. While the BJP mandal president, Mr Vinod Monga vehemently denied the firing charge, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary, Major Harminder Bhullar has demanded a thorough investigation of the incident to nail the culprits. A member of the CPI state council, Mr Randhir Gill demanded that the weapons displayed at the function be immediately seized to establish the facts. He demanded that a criminal case be registered against the culprits and expert opinion be sought. While Mr Vinod Monga claimed that nobody had fired in the air, RSS leader Deena Nath whose son Baldev Raj is also accused of firing was not available for comment. Baldev Raj, however, said anybody could express his joy through gun shots. To a specific question, whether he had fired in air or not, he neither denied nor confirmed the charge. On being contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu said that he was not aware of the incident and no such report came to him through the public or CID sources.
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They continue to be in bonds ZIRA (Ferozepore), Oct 13 — Unskilled workers employed in the farming sector continue to be exploited as bonded labourers by the affluent landlords. Sources in the administration revealed the illegal custom of engaging bonded labourers, mostly from Scheduled Castes, is widely practised here by the landlords in defiance of the lobour laws. Even though the authorities had rescued as many as four bonded labourers from the captivity of the feudal lords in this subdivision alone, the practice continues unchallenged. Thanks to the apathy of the Labour Department, all four labourers were set free in July last only on the complaint of People’s Vigilance Committee, a volunteer organisation. Although a case was registered against employers of the rescued labourers for meting out inhuman treatment to the victims, this has not worked as a deterrent for others. Even the authorities have done little to ensure that such exploitation is not repeated in the area. The SDM, Mr Bakhtawar Singh, who rescued the labourers after holding an inquiry pleaded that it was for the Labour Department to investigate the quantum of exploitation in the farming sector and inform him for further action. He said, “Being an administrator I have other responsibilities to handle. It is for the Labour Department to make a random survey of the farming sector and bring them to my knowledge. The Labour Department officials on their part said only the SDMs were competent to hold inquiries into such matters. They, however, failed to explain why surprise checks are not being carried out by them in the farming sector to check the exploitation of labourers. The maximum number of complaints pertaining to bonded labourers reported at the Ferozpore Labour Department are from Zira. While inquiries have been completed in four cases the probe in one case has been recently started. In all these cases, the labourers had unfolded a tale of atrocities and denial of minimum wages by their masters. The employers in all cases had advanced loans to the victims and engaged them as farmhands for wages much below the minimum wage scale prescribed by the government. Apart from denying them leave, they were illegally fined in case of illness. In case they wished to quit the job they were either forced to shell out the loans earlier advanced to them or search out a new employer who could compensate the previous “master”. The defiance invited atrocities and torture by enraged employers. |
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Recruitment on ‘fake’ documents CHANDIGARH, Oct 13 — The physically Handicapped Association has alleged bungling in the recruitment made against the quota for handicapped persons in Punjab Government departments. While certain government departments have already made the recruitment, it is in progress in some other’s. The association alleged that certain persons had got themselves recruited on the basis of “fake” certificates. It said an “ineligible” person had got a certificate issued from Faridkot district that he was handicapped and got employment in the Revenue Department as a Kanungo. Likewise, another person got a job as patwari though he was not eligible to be recruited under the handicapped quota. The association had given a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Faridkot in this connection. The Deputy Commissioner ordered an inquiry and asked the Civil Surgeon to reconduct the medical examination of the persons against whom complaints had been made by the association. Informed sources said the Civil Surgeon had called the persons concerned for medical examination a number of times but they had not appeared before the board of doctors. The association requested the Deputy Commissioner to get a criminal case registered against these persons and also to intimate the Punjab Government. They should be removed from government service, the association demanded. The association also urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to set up a high-level committee to probe the issuance of “fake” certificates for recruitments under the handicapped quota. |
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Tourism project for historic buildings on anvil PATIALA, Oct 13 — Quila Mubarak and Sheesh
Mahal, both heritage buildings associated with the former princely state, are in for a major facelift under a Union Government scheme which aims at developing both sites from the tourism point of view. The scheme, which has been developed by the Archaeology, Cultural Affairs and Museums Department, envisages spending Rs 25 lakh on Quila Mubarak and Rs 50 lakh on Sheesh
Mahal. While the Union Government will give a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the project, the state government will spend the rest of Rs 25 lakh. Sources said once the funds from the Central allocation were released, the department would approach the Finance Department for the release of its share of the amount. The scheme, which is being implemented under the refurbishment of monuments, envisages providing essential facilities at both sites which will give a fillip to tourism, besides flood lighting of both the monuments. In a major decision, the Banasar Tank in Sheesh Mahal is being revived. The tank has been lying dry for years. Under the project a cement concrete flooring will be done in the tank and water will be filled in it. Boating and other water sports will be started at the site. A suspension bridge built over the tank will also be repaired and given a fresh coat of paint. Among the works to be undertaken in Quila Mubarak are cementing the courtyard of the Quila Androon and laying of fountains in the area in front of Sheesh
Mahal. The fountains, which already existed in the Bagichi complex in the Quila
Androon, will be made functional. Fountains will also be erected in the Ranwas compound which is built outside the main complex. Among the things to be done to attract tourists to the fort are creation of a
cafetaria, a souvenir shop, parking space, curio shop and construction of swings and other recreation facilities for children. Hoardings of Quila Mubarak and history boards will also be put up in the complex. As regards Sheesh
Mahal, besides the resurrection of the Banasar Tank and repair and repainting of the suspension bridge, flood lighting will be done around the monument to make it more appealing in the evening. In Sheesh Mahal also it is planned to establish a curio shop and a
cafetaria, besides fixing up swings for children. Though the execution of the project is likely to be a boon for tourists visiting both the historic buildings, the people of the city are not to be pleased with the scheme. Sohanjit Singh, a resident of the inner city, said though funds for giving a facelift to both the buildings was welcome, concrete steps needed to be taken to save the very character of the buildings. Sohanjit and others believe the present project would only be cosmetic in nature as it would bring in infrastructure with only the tourism angle in mind. ''Is anyone thinking of restoring and repairing Quila Mubarak whose very existence is threatened due to years of neglect,'' he
added. Rajeshwar Sharma said the Quila Mubarak complex was in urgent need of funds for carrying out restoration exercises. He said even restoration of the Ranwas structure which had been started by the Archaeological Survey of India could not be completed due to lack of funds. Similarly, he said various columns in the Quila Androon had simply come apart and were still to be restored. Sources said the same was the case with Sheesh Mahal where the structure needed to be strengthened at various places. ''We can only think of cosmetic needs once both the structures are brought back to their pristine glory through a massive infusion of funds,'' Rajeshwar said. |
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Punjab to approach CRCI NEW DELHI, Oct 13 — The Punjab government plans to approach the Delhi-based Cultural Resources Conservation Initiative
(CRCI), to assist it in the conservation of the Qila Mubarak in Patiala and other monuments in the state. Mr G.S. Cheema, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Punjab told TNS here on yesterday that he would request the CRCI to take up the conservation of some protected monuments under his charge. He said he was impressed by the UNESCO-UNDP-aided conservation project executed by CRCI in Gurdaspur district. For almost a year, an inter-disciplinary team of conservation architects, art restorers and social scientists has been engaged in conservation and restoration of the 200 year-old Krishan Mandir at Kishankot and the Guru ki Maseet at Sri Hargobindpur with the help of the local community. Work on the third site, the Dargah of Baba Shah Badar Diwan at Masani is expected to begin soon. The project is also being supported by the US-based Sikh Foundation and the Santmat Foundation associated with the Radha Soami, Satsang Beas. Mr Cheema said he would request the CRCI to help the state government find sponsors to execute the plan. Asked as to which monuments needed immediate attention, Mr Cheema said: “ The Qila Mubarak has suffered from neglect. Other monuments that need to be conserved include the Moorish mosque in Kapurthala”. He said the Qila Mubarak had the richest collection of wall paintings in the state but they needed to be re touched. Mr Cheema said the palace in Kapurthala (Durbar Hall), which houses the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the baradaris (a pavillion with 12 arches) also needed to be taken up for conservation. |
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Balmiki function ends up in chaos AMRITSAR, Oct 13 — Two Balmiki groups at the extravagantly arranged Balmiki state level function entered into a brawl leading to fisticuffs following heated arguments. Chaos followed in the function organised at Guru Nanak Stadium here today for celebrating the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Shri Balmiki. Mr Natha Singh Dalam, Minister for Public Relations, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister for Health, and Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Agriculture were among the guests invited to speak at the ‘thinly’ attended function. The function was to be presided over and addressed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, who cancelled his programme at the eleventh hour. Meanwhile the Public Department issued a press note with Bhagwan Balmiki’s message who had conceptualised society to be united and in harmony. |
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Women drama festival
on Oct 15 PHAGWARA, Oct 13 — A unique “Aurat Natak Mela” (women drama festival) will be organised here on October 15 by the Punjab Lok Sabhayacharak Manch and the Aurat Jagriti Manch, with a view to awaken womenfolk against atrocities on them. Disclosing this here today, Mrs Suman Lata, organiser of the mela, said it would be preceded by a “mashaal march”. A seminar on the problems faces by women would also be held during the festival, she said. |
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Seminar on Sikh heritage on Oct 21 AMRITSAR, Oct 13 — Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib yesterday announced the commencement of an international conference on preservation of the Sikh heritage from October 21. The purpose of the two-day conference is to highlight wasting away of the precious Sikh heritage through neglect and explore means for its preservation. The matter of a uniform curriculum for the ‘divinity course’ in all Sikh institutes was also raised in the SGPC. There are about 2000 Sikh Institutes all over the country and 40 abroad which will be requested to conform to a fixed curriculum of Sikh studies. Giani Kewal Singh speaking to newsmen here said the seminar would also dwell on the growing menace of drug addiction, its prevention cure and rehabilitation. Punjab to celebrate
Aggarsain Jayanti HISAR, Oct 13 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, today announced that Aggarsain Jayanti will be celebrated in
Punjab officially from the next year.
Speaking at the jayanti function held at Agroha, near here, Mr
Badal said the Aggarwal community had contributed much towards
strengthening the country’s economy.
Mr Badal was embarrassed when a former Haryana Finance Minister, Mr
Mange Ram Gupta, stated in his presence that it would have been more
proper had the chief guest been from the Aggarwal community. He was
interrupted by the crowd. |
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PSEB unions decry police ABOHAR, Oct 13 — The coordination committee of PSEB employees unions held a meeting today. It strongly condemned the city police for not taking action against the proprietors of a medical store located in Nai Abadi who had allegedly beaten up trade union leaders last month. The committee resolved to stage dharna and demonstration outside the DSP office on October 24 here. |
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‘No move to shift Kapurthala SSP’ JALANDHAR, Oct 13 — The Punjab police today virtually cast doubts over the investigation and registration of case in the Harpreet Kaur death case by the CBI with the Director-General of Police, Mr Sarabjit Singh, saying that only time will tell whether the Punjab police was right or the CBI. The DGP has also asserted there was no move to shift the Kapurthala SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh, in view of allegations of his alleged “partisan” role in the Harpreet death case. He also clarified that Nishan Singh, a Sub-Inspector and a gunman of the SGPC, was with the Punjab police and had not been arrested by the CBI as has been reported by a section of the media. Mr Sarabjit Singh, who was answering queries by mediapersons as to whether the Punjab police had not been exposed by the manner it conducted the probe, said the CBI too had taken two months to register the case after filing of a writ petition in this regard by the complainant Kamaljit Singh. “We had been investigating the case. But in fact time will tell whether the Punjab police was right or the CBI,” said the DGP. Answering another question relating to rumours that the Kapurthala SSP’s transfer was in the offing, the DGP said”. No such move is afoot as yet”. The DGP cleared the haze about the alleged arrest of Nishan
Singh, a gunman of Bibi Jagir Kaur, by saying that Nishan had not been arrested so far even as he was to be produced before the CBI on October 10 as desired by the later but it could not materialise owing to lack of time. He said the Punjab police was ready to produce him before the CBI whenever the latter required him for the purpose of investigation. |
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2 motor-cyclists killed ABOHAR, Oct 13 — Surender Kumar of Bazidpur village and Manohar Lal of Azeemgarh were crushed to death while they were trying to cross the road on a motor cycle last evening. Police sources said a truck hit the motor cycle on the Kandhwala road link. The victims were in their twenties. The bodies were handed over to their parents after a post-mortem examination at the civil hospital here today. The police has registered a case against the driver of the truck. |
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AICTE for phasing out unpopular
courses PATIALA, Oct 13 — The All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE) is considering to phase out various courses in private technical institutions which do not attract the requisite number of students. The body may also become selective in giving permission for opening of more technical education institutions in Punjab following reports that many courses in various engineering colleges are not attracting students. Talking to TNS here today while on a visit to the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology to attend its 14th convocation tomorrow, the AICTE Chairman, Dr N.C. Nigam, said the council wanted to take corrective action in case of these courses. He said a survey had revealed that with youngsters wanting to concentrate of information technology many traditional courses, including civil engineering, were not attracting students across the country. He said it had also been noticed, especially in case of Punjab, that the two tier fee structure in self-financing schemes, had not been successful with the paid seats not getting filled. He said it had also been observed that the management seats in various Punjab colleges had not been completely filled. Dr Nigam said in another major initiative the AICTE had started a process of accreditation, whereby all the technical institutions in the country would be ranked according to the education provided by them. He said though all institutions are to be accredited after two batches pass out from others, the process would be speeded up. He said the accreditation exercise will enhance quality and benchmark the various institutions for the benefit of students and society at large. He said a national technical manpower survey was also being conducted under which each state had been asked to prepare its plan for the development of technical education. He said the purpose of the plan was to remove imbalances in this regard between various states and also within the various state itself. He gave the example of Uttar Pradesh saying there were hardly any technical institutions in the proposed Uttranchal State and that the number of institutions in western Uttar Pradesh were much more than its eastern side. He said similarly there was an imbalance regarding number of available seats in various states, for example these were 166 seats for 10,000 students in Tamil Nadu and only 7.7 seats for the same number of students in Bihar. The AICTE Chairman said an early faculty induction programme was also being started under which promising youngsters in various institutes would be groomed to provide skilled manpower. He said this was a priority area for the AICTE as it was very difficult to recruit teachers for new subjects of information technology. He said under the scheme, youngsters would be chosen to do higher degrees in reputed institutions across the country and then recruited for teaching in various colleges. When questioned about the fee structure in various technical institutions, he said money was not coming to most of the institutions from the industry as it had failed to become an equal partner in the running of these institutions. He said due to this if the students wanted quality education they would have to pay for it. |
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Teachers announce stir plan PHAGWARA, Oct 13 — Chief coordinators have been appointed for 10 multi-member struggle committees constituted to spearhead the teachers’ stir from October to January by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), according to Prof Charanjit Chawla, General Secretary, PCCTU, here today. The names of the chief coordinators, places and time of zonal rallies they will organise as under: Prof Sukhpal Singh, Firozepore, October 30, Prof Amrinderpal Singh, Bathinda, November 7, Prof R.S. Brar, Barnala November 14, Prof J.S. Randhawa, Amritsar, November 20, Prof Parkash Singh Pathankot, November 27, Prof J.S. Randhawa, Jalandhar, December 2, Prof N.P. Manocha, Nawanshahr, December 11 and Banur, December 19, Prof Kanwaljit Singh Doraha, January 9 and Prof Sukhpal Singh, Giddarbaha, January 18. |
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