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| Saturday, February
24, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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No unity offer from Tohra: Badal Bhagta
Bhaika, February 23 Mr Badal made these remarks when he was asked whether he denied the chances of unity among the Akali faction led by him and the President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He said so far, he had not received any offer of unity from any one from the faction led by Mr Tohra. Mr Badal when asked whether the doors of the SAD were opened for unity move, he said he would not like to comment. He, however, added that he had positive attitude and it was good not to make allegations against each other. There were reports that MLAs belonging to both the factions have been exerting pressure on their respective leaders to forge unity keeping in view the coming assembly elections in the state. Mr Badal neither confirmed any such move nor denied it while addressing mediapersons after attending a sangat darshan programme here today. Mr Badal said as the agriculture was mainstay of state economy, so both Punjab and Haryana governments had urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for announcing minimum support price (MSP) of wheat. Mr Badal, who came here after meeting Mr Vajpayee in Delhi today, when asked whether he would seek a berth in the Cabinet for his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh, who had been elected member of the Rajya Sabha, said there was already one ministry with the SAD in the Cabinet and SAD would not ask for more. He added that Rs 100 crore would be distributed among the farmers who had made distress sale of their paddy in the last procurement season shortly. He added that adequate funds would be arranged for the implementation of stage-II of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP). When asked about his comments on the statement of Punjab, BJP, Chief, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, that the Punjab Government had failed to check the corruption, he said. “I have great regards for the BJP and the SAD-BJP alliance was not merely political but it was sacred.” While declaring that the assembly elections would be held on time, he claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance had won byelections in the Malwa, Majha and Doaba belt of Punjab with effective margin. He alleged that due to its anti-people and anti-Punjab policies, the people had started hating the Congress. The Congress governments in the state and at the Centre always played havoc with the economic and other interests of Punjab. When asked what would be the character of Punjab’s Budget, he said that it was not possible to disclose the items before it was presented in the state Vidhan Sabha. He added that the Punjab Government was seized of the events that had been taking place in the Jammu and Kashmir and he had been keeping in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah, so that arrangements could be made for the security of Sikhs living in valley. The policemen, who were deployed in and around the venue of the sangat
darshan, distributed “laddoos” to the people to celebrate the victory. |
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Capt Kanwaljit for direct subsidies Fatehgarh Sahib, February 23 The minister had come here to preside over the annual function of the Punjab State Karamchari Dal. While talking to The Tribune exclusively here yesterday he said instead of providing indirect subsidies to the farming sector, direct subsidies should be given. At the moment subsidy is given to pesticides units and other units. He said if indirect subsidy was converted into direct subsidy farmers as well as consumers would benefit more. He said because of lack of proper planning more than 40 per cent population of the country was not getting food to eat where as heaps of foodgrains were rotting in the godowns of the country. He also demanded that the central government should review the public distribution system as there were loopholes in the system. Though the government was spending more than Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore on this the ordinary man was not getting any benefits. He said like the European countries beneficiaries should be given coupons for food which should be made convertible and operative at any store. He urged the farmers, employees and labourers to be united and raise only one issue that of being given food at cheaper rate. He said at present these sections were under major economic stress and the average family was spending more than 50 per cent of its income on food due to increasing prices. Talking about the financial condition of the state, he said the state had very sound financial condition in the forthcoming budget and every section of society would be benefited. A sum of Rs 200 crore had been released for the construction of roads in the state and new policies and programmes had been chalked out for the overall development of the rural as well as urban areas. He said education, health, transportation and roads were on the agenda of the government and these would be dealt on priority basis. Later, addressing a massive gathering of employees he said employees were the backbone of the state government. No public oriented schemes of the government would be implemented without the cooperation of the employees. He said the pay commission report had been implemented and employees had been benefited of Rs 1200 crore by providing one or the other facility. |
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Charge against Commissioner to be probed Jalandhar, February 23 The police decision to probe the corruption and other charges is an outcome of an order handed down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court following a writ petition by the president of the district unit of the PHRO, levelling various charges of corruption and misappropriation of funds. The PHRO, district unit had alleged in the petition that the Commissioner had take bribe from the Additional District Fire Officer Mr Harmohinder Pal Singh Bhullar, in the timber purchase case. Interestingly, Mr Bhullar had alleged that he had to take bank loans amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh to make payment to a timber merchant for the purchase of wood for the Mukerian-based under-construction bungalow of the Commissioner. Mr Bhullar had opened a can of worms by further alleging that the Commissioner had taken bribe through him to clear the bills of an Ambala-based Fire Tender Fabrication unit. Mr Bhullar, who had been suspended by the Local Bodies Department, was later reinstated by the department, reportedly after the Mayor had claimed openly that he will take up the matter with the CM and will get him reinstated. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, it had been decided to get the allegations investigated by a high-level team headed by an officer of the rank of an SP. He said if allegations proved to be true, than an FIR would be registered against the Commissioner and if otherwise the case would be filed and the inquiry report would be sent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “After preliminary inquiry by the team, we will seek legal opinion.” |
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Seminar on Guru Granth Sahib Amritsar, February, 23 The Vice-Chancellor, Dr H.S. Soch, addressing a press conference said yesterday that the main theme of this year’s international conference to be held from February 25 to 28 would be Sri Guru Granth Sahib as a world’s first interfaith scripture. Delegates from India and abroad attending the conference would visit the Indo-Pak border at Wagah to pray for “world peace and welfare of mankind” he added. Bhai Harbans Lal, President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies of the U.S.A., would deliver the key-note address. While Dr K.S. Aggarwal from Lucknow would be the main speaker in the inaugural session. Dr Soch said there would be nine academic and panel discussions on ‘global inter faith issues and Sri Guru Granth Sahib’. ‘Round table discussion with discussion leaders’, ‘Times of Sri Guru Granth Sahib’s compilation’, ‘Interfaith topics and scholars on Sri Guru Granth Sahib’. ‘Partnering with scholars of various faith discipliners’, ‘Sri Guru Granth: Suffering and healing of human kind’ and ‘Issues in globalisation of Sri Guru Granth’s and worldwide society’. One special session would be devoted to Gurbani CD as a research tool and Sikhism and cyber space. One session on “round discussion with discussion leaders” would be held at DAV College for women, Amritsar and another on “times of Sri Guru Granth Sahib’s compilation would be held at Khalsa College, Amritsar. All other sessions would be conducted at the Guru Nanak Bhavan Auditorium of the University. A galaxy of international and national scholars would discuss various aspects of the interfaith issues, interfaith perspective and movement at the conference. More than 20 international, 30 national scholars and about 100 delegates from all over India, the USA, Canada and Pakistan would participate during its four-day deliberations. Those participating in the conference include Bhai Harbans Lal, Rev Elizabeth Espersen, Rev Travis Rejman, Dr Manmohan Singh, Dr T.S. Rukhmani, Dr B.S Hansra, Prof Balwant Singh, Dr D.S. Chahal, Dr Beant Singh, Dr Kulbir Singh Thind, Dr Rahul Deepandker while the noteworthy among national scholars would be Prof S Rinpoche, Dr K. P. Aggarwal, Dr M.L. Ranga, Prof M.Y. Qadri, Dr C.O. McMullan, Swami Agnivesh, Dr J.S. Grewal, Dr Himadri Bannerji, Dr N. Muthu Mohan, Dr R.S. Jaggi, Dr M.K. Gill, Dr Indu Banga, Dr Mahip Singh, Mr S.S. Dhanoa and Mr Gian Singh. The proceedings of this international conference would be published by the university in a book form and the university would also start an international journal on Guru Granth studies on a regular basis. The first volume of which would be released at the conference.
Dr Soch said foreign scholars participating in the conference would visit Nankana Sahib-the Mecca of Sikhs and Kartarpur in Pakistan. The Delegates, he said would return to India on February 25. The delegates would also pray for the “world peace and welfare of mankind” at the Indo-Pak border that day. |
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Women smugglers keep cops on tenterhooks Muktsar, February 23 Over the years, the fair sex has started indulging in unfair activities, including smuggling of narcotics, keeping the district police on tenterhooks. Women have been smuggling narcotics from Haryana and Rajasthan to this district. Perturbed over the new trend which has emerged in the smuggling of narcotics, the district police has launched a special intensive drive to check it. In the current year, the district police arrested three women up to February 22 who were involved in the smuggling narcotics as against the arrest of five women for these activities in 2000. On the other hand, the district police has arrested 35 males involved in smuggling of narcotics this year against 135 held last year. Up to February 22, the district police had registered 34 cases, while 129 cases were registered in 2000. Mr Kultar Singh, SSP, said that recovery of narcotics had also increased manifold in the current year. He added that so far 800 kg of poppy husk had been seized, while only 656 kg was recovered in the corresponding period last year. He added that the police had also seized one car, one jeep and four scooters this year which were being used by the smugglers. He pointed out that smugglers had started using small vehicles to escape the police net. Last year, 11 scooters, one motor cycle and one moped were impounded from the smugglers. Besides, four jeeps, six cars and one tractor-trailer were impounded. A poppy husk contractor of Rajasthan, where its sale is legal, had opened a illegal vend in Haripura village of Rajasthan which was close to Kandu Khera village, the last village of this district. The smugglers had been using the canal route to bring poppy husk to various locations in Punjab earlier. He claimed that after the district police launched a special drive, the smugglers had started shifting their bases and routes for bringing poppy husk to Punjab. Policemen in plainclothes had been deployed in those pockets which shared their border with Haryana and Rajasthan and arrangements had been made to check the smuggling of narcotics in that area. He added that last year, more than 12 kg of opium, 4543 kg of poppy husk, 82 gm of heroin and 17 gm of smack was seized from smugglers in the district. |
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Protecting the rights of children Chandigarh, February 23 To get an answer to these questions and know more about the status of children as well as to sensitise them and all those who come in contact with them, one of the first tasks the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) assigned itself in 1997 (when it was set up) was “safeguarding childhood”. A new report gives an insight into the subject. The concept of “safeguarding childhood” in Punjab has been taken up as a joint project of the PHRC, the Punjab Police Academy and the British Council. It is a multi-dimensional, multi-agency approach to sensitise the child, the parent and society, creating awareness about the rights of children and their protection. The approach involves health workers, doctors, the voluntary sector, teachers, elected representatives, social activists and community leaders, the media and, of course, the police. Based on the initial work done by Angela Hawtin, Deputy Director, School of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, and Keith Oliver, Detective Chief Inspector, Child Protection Unit, Northumbria Police (he has since quit the police service), a project was conceived by the PHRC involving the community. To begin with, the commission assigned three resource personnel — Anita Punj, Parveen K. Sinha and Dr D. J. Singh — all at the Phillaur Academy, to get training with the British Council. Thus, the group of five, including the two UK officials, drew up a plan under which 12 centres were set up in the urban and rural areas of the state. The former are at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Ludhiana, Patiala and SAS Nagar. The rural centres are at Faridkot, Ferozepore, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur and Mansa. In all, 72 public educational programmes were organised at these centres with the help of nucleus persons in 2000. The report, compiled on the experience gained, will be released at the concluding function on safeguarding childhood at the PGI here tomorrow. The 125-page report is a telling comment on the state of the child and describes in detail the work done under the project (the Additional Director-General of Police, Mr A. P. Bhatnagar, with the PHRC is the Project Coordinator) and the future programme of action. One part of the report is a research study by the Chandigarh-based Institute of Development and Communication on Child Abuse in Punjab. The institute used two approaches for the study: Taking up cases from the police files and tracing them and conducing a Punjab-specific study on children at risk. The study covers Majha, Doaba and Malwa on “child exploitation” from police records to community confederates. The exploitation ranges from child prostitutes to children of prostitutes and their vulnerability to unorganised commercial sexual exploitation to child victims of sexual abuse. Then there are the children of prisoners, including children below five years and lodged alongside their mothers in jails, and those living with families but with one or both parents in jail. Children employed at dhabas, in factories and as domestic helps have been studied. The study also covers juvenile delinquents; orphans and institutionalised children who have been deprived of parental care; victims of violence who suffer from mental and physical repercussions; and substance abusers, the ones who have become addicts. Then there are the child beggars. All this should ring the alarm bell. The major findings of the study on child abuse are summarised as follows: (1) A majority of children subjected to abuse while still at a tender age. (2) Child victims revealed lower physical and mental status. (3) Personality disorders discernible among abused children. (4) Abused children displayed faulty style. (5) Children were caught in the vicious circle of abuse. (6) Low access of the abused children to nutritious diet. (7) Access to basic health and education was minimal. (8) No provision of psychological assistance or counselling available for the abused children. (9) Lack of recreational sources among abused children. (10) Negligible access to rehabilitative schemes or measures. Punjab did adopt a Plan of Action for Children in 1996. It is a “decorative” document leaving much to be implemented. It is expected that the PHRC under Justice V. K. Khanna will galvanise the society and the government to respond to the issue of child rights and child protection. The guest speakers tomorrow will include the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Justice J. S. Verma, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Tom Macon. Mr Bhatnagar told TNS that the Indo-British project had received support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK. The PHRC project had, so far, covered 7,500 persons under the people education programme, out of whom 50 per cent were children themselves. The others were their parents and professionals. |
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8 PCS officers recommended for IAS Chandigarh, February 23 According to official sources, the names of Mr H.R. Gangar ( 1976 batch), Mr Som Nath ( 1979 batch), Dr Arvinder Singh ( 1981 batch), Mrs Amrita Atwal, Mr R.L.Mehta, Mr H.L.Kumar, Mr M.R. Goyal and Mr G.R. Bansal ( all 1984 batch) have been recommended by the committee. The sources said that the recommendation in the case of two PCS officers was provisional because of certain technical and administrative reasons. The sources said that the UPSC authorities had sent the proceedings of the meeting of the committee pertaining to the recommendations to the Punjab Government for formal approval. Following the approval, which is granted at the level of Chief Minister, the proceedings will be sent back to the UPSC for formally issuing the notification appointing the PCS officers to the IAS cadre. The meeting of the Select Committee was held on November 11 last year. However, its proceedings were not disclosed because of stays granted by various courts, including the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court, in this connection. According to the sources, now all stays have been vacated.Formal action on the recommendations have begun at the level of Chief Secretary, who is overall head of the state Personnel Department. The committee, according to the sources, by and large gave preference to seniority and the past five Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) while making the recommendations. It gave full weightage to the ACRs containing remarks such as “very good and outstanding”. The issue of appointment of the PCS officers against the available vacant quota slots had been hanging fire for three years. On the direction of the Central Administrative Tribunal early last year, the state government had sent a panel of 27 names from the PCS cadre for the selection of eight names for appointment to the IAS. A meeting of the Select Committee was fixed for May 8 last year to consider the panel. However, that meeting was postponed as senior state government officers argued that the seniority list of the PCS officers was required to be revised in the light of a certain court decision. Following the postponement of the May 8 meeting, a lot of bad blood was created among the PCS fraternity because of the tug of war between certain interested groups of officers wanting to make it to the IAS. The tussle led to a split in the PCS Officers Association. The breakaway group had then alleged that some senior officers of the state government were causing disharmony in the PCS cadre as they wanted to help certain PCS officers get appointed to the
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Civic body staff move HC for salaries Maur Mandi, February 23 Official sources said that so severe was the financial crisis that the employees had been getting their salaries after three to four months. Besides, all development works in the town come to a standstill. Employees could not get their salaries from October, 2000, to January 2001. In addition, the employees had not been getting dearness allowance (DA) instalment. Apart from this, the municipal council had not deposited the provident fund amount of its employees for the past many years. At least Rs 85 lakh was yet to be paid to employees in the shape of arrears after their pay scales were revised. There were 109 employees working in the local municipal council and it had been spending Rs 94 lakh per annum. Out of this amount, 71.16 per cent was being spent on the establishment, while Rs 23 lakh was being spent on the maintenance of water and sewerage in the town. Though the population of the town had been increasing every year, the municipal council authorities could construct only 2000 feet of drains to drain out the stagnant water only after gastroenteritis struck the adjoining village of Maur Khurd. The municipal council authorities had spent only Rs 1 lakh to take preventive measures to check the spread of water-borne diseases. Official sources said that municipal council authorities could not manage enough funds to lay the sewers and water pipes in the town, whose population had crossed 30,000. At present, 20 per cent of the population had been covered with sewerage facilities and 60 per cent with water supply facilities. For the past many years, not even an inch of underground water and sewers were laid down in this town. The authorities had also failed to metal certain important roads of the town despite the fact that all roads were in bad shape. The sanitation arrangements were also poor. Official sources said that municipal council office was in bad shape also. The roof of the meeting hall had collapsed while roofs of other rooms could fall any time. Whenever a meeting was held in the meeting hall it was covered with a tent. The residents alleged that due to insanitation in the town, they had been exposed to the risk of various water-borne diseases. They alleged that there was no proper arrangement of street lights. The residents added that how the municipal council authorities could provide them with basic amenities when it was unable to pay salaries to its employees regularly. A senior official of municipal council, on condition of anonymity, pointed out that the Punjab Government had been meting out ‘step-motherly’ treatment to the local municipal council as it had not been given adequate funds for the past many years to fulfil its responsibilities. |
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2 sentenced for dowry death Ferozepore, February 23 According to sources, Meenakshi, daughter of Tarlok Nath of Ferozepore, was married to Suraj Kant, son of Narender Kumar Julka of Basti Balochan, Ferozepore city, in 1995. Soon after the marriage, Meenakshi’s in-laws allegedly started torturing her and subjected her to physical and mental trauma for not bringing sufficient dowry. On July 24, 1998, which was incidently also her birthday, she was allegedly burnt alive. Henceforth, a case was registered under Section 304-B of the IPC. After a prolonged battle for approximately three years, the two accused were yesterday sentenced to 10 years rigoruous imprisonment. The brother-in-law of the bride was, however, acquitted. |
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Noise pollution a bane at exam time Bathinda, February 23 Sensing the pulse of the students, Bollywood producers are not releasing any new films these days. However, the students are facing disturbance from other sources. Loudspeakers fitted in religious places and shopkeepers playing audio cassettes on full volume in various part of the city have been causing disturbance to the students. Disturbance from loudspeakers has been continuing despite the fact that the district authorities have imposed Section 144 in the city for the next six months on their blatant use. The blatant use of loudspeakers coupled with the noise pollution being generated by audio cassette sellers has become a permanent source of irritation for those residing near religious places and audio shops. But the authorities concerned have so far failed to check the noise pollution. Music shops owners have been using loudspeakers in violation of rules and without permission. Some of the residential areas of the city where the music shop owners are using loudspeakers in violation of rules include Partap Nagar, Paras Ram Nagar, Naruana road, Guru Nanak Pura Mohalla, Quila road, Poojan Wala Mohalla and the backside of the bus stand. This correspondent visited some of the residential areas of the city where noise pollution is rampant. Mr Ranjeet Singh, a resident of Naruana road and a student of Government Rajindra College, alleged that some shopkeepers in the nearby market played loud music from morning to evening, disturbing the whole locality. He pointed out that there were private schools in street number 2 and 4, but their management too had not got complaints registered against these shopkeepers. Poojan Wala Mohalla is one of the residential areas of the city where there are so many music shops. The shopkeepers do not bother about their proximity to schools and residential areas and play music from morning to evening. None of the residents is ready to register a complaint against any of the shopkeepers. Mr Kulwant Singh, Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), said that the board could check the noise pollution level of any of the areas of the city if anyone wanted it to do so. He said the noise level during the night should be 45 DB and during the day it should be 55 DB. The frequent electricity cuts have added to the woes of the students. The students have to make alternative arrangements during electricity cuts and also have to tolerate the noise pollution caused by generators. Even the electricity board has not made special arrangements during the examination days. Mr Nirmal Singh Deol, Superintending Engineer (SE), said that there was no special provision to continue electricity supply during the examination days. He added that only schools and colleges where the examinations were to be conducted, were given continuous electricity supply. He claimed that if continuous electricity was supplied during exam days, the whole system suffered. |
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He built his empire on ceramics Ferozepore: If there is a dream within and a dauntless spirit to achieve success, no impediment can deter one from reaching the pinnacle of glory. This is the story of 82-year-old Jaswant Rai
Marya, doyen of the ceramic industry in India, who, although bent with age, faced the vicissitudes of life with not a wrinkle on his forehead. Even the untimely death of his two young sons could not deviate him from the path he had opted — of sacrifice and struggle. JR Marya suffered a lot all through his life. He got the opportunity to work under the guidance of Mr Rash Behari
Bose, a great revolutionary and a companion of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose, whom he considers his godfather. Though born at Bathinda on May 7, 1918, to Dr Mukand Lal
Marya, who was in charge of the Railway Hospital, his link with his home town remained intact since 1932 after he came over here for his schooling. The turning point came in his life when Mehta
Jaimani, an Arya Samaj preacher, suggested to his father to send him to Japan to pursue studies in industrial education rather than going for graduation. He fondly remembers how his father, who used to draw a monthly salary of Rs 160, had to sell off his mother’s gold ornaments to send him to Japan. Marya started his voyage to Japan in May 1934 and remained there until World War II. He joined vitreous enameling course at an institute named Tobohoro Seisakusho and later started research keeping in mind the Indian market. In a nostalgic vein, he narrates an interesting episode how once he got a lift from a Japanese gentleman and later to his pleasant surprise, he found out that the gentleman was no less than the Prime Minister himself! On returning to India, he was given three confidential letters addressed to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Maulana Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose to escape the censors in Japan, which was then an adversary against Britain. On landing at Calcutta at the end of 1939, he was arrested and put to prison by the British police as he was suspected to be Netaji’s associate. His confidence and determination were never shaken till his requests to the Police Commissioner for a dialogue were rejected. Later, after prolonged interrogation, he was released on the assurance that he would not join politics. The Calcutta port police was asked to keep a watch on him. With limited resources in hand he set out to realise his dream, a promise he made to his parents. He plunged head on and started his own factory in Ferozepore. He could not turn a blind eye to the financial hiccups as his parents had spent all they had on his education abroad. Slowly and steadily with hard work and dedication, Marya emerged as a leading industrialist of the town. Soon he became a life member of the apex ceramic body in India. By dint of his contribution to society and the nation at large, he was awarded Punjab Sarkar Parman Patra in 1958. His contribution to this border town can be gauged from the work he had undertaken. He remained President of the Rotary Club for some time. Even after losing his two sons, Marya though slowly coped with the setbacks. The 1988 floods, in which he lost one of his factories, left him shattered yet he continues to run his porcelain and vitreous enamel factory, one of the few in the northern belt, and his products are being exported to all parts of the world. While talking to this correspondent, he recollects the sacrifices made by his parents. Today, age may not be on his side, his eyesight may have blurred, but this man of steel with iron will still stands erect with dauntless courage, indomitable forbearance and unquenching perseverance. |
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Badal thanks voters Chandigarh, February 23 Expressing his gratitude to the voters of the Majitha constituency for giving a massive mandate in his favour Mr Badal said today that he was overwhelmed and moved by the trust reposed by the people of Punjab. Attacking the Congress, he said right from the commencement of the Majitha byelection campaign, the Congress had concentrated only on malicious and baseless mud-slinging of the lowest political standards, whereas the SAD-BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Morcha combine sought a mandate in favour of peace, amity and development. |
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Explosion in cosmetics shop
Hoshiarpur, February 23 The explosion was so powerful that it caused damage to the windowpanes and exhaust fan of the upper storey buildings of Mr Gopi Kapur and developed cracks in the adjoining wall of the shop. A woman customer in the adjoining Sandip Handicraft shop received injuries when goods suddenly fell on her. Mr Jain told mediapersons that two unidentified persons with small beard on their faces had come to his shop at about 11.30 a.m. Before entering the shop they went beyond it and entered in the adjoining lane. Later, they came in the shop and purchased cosmetics worth Rs 388. He said while they were purchasing cosmetics he had gone to a nearby shop to acquire some goods for them. He suspected that they might have lobbed some explosive material in the shop.
Meanwhile, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, SP, (Operation), Mr Sukhwinder Singh, DSP, (headquarter) and Mr Jaswant Singh, SHO, along with a dog squad and police force reached the spot and started investigation. |
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Jaundice outbreak denied Phagwara, February 23 Dr Virdi said a few old cases of hepatitis (jaundice) had been reported and treated about 20 days ago. Reports of bilirubin quantity and pigment were sent for tests to determine the gravity of the cases. Dr Virdi said jaundice was a ‘self-limiting’ disease requiring preventive measures, rest, hygiene and safe water. The SMO along with other doctors, including Dr Kailash Kapoor, visited Mehli Gate to spot-study the reports about epidemic outbreak. Dr Virdi asserted that only three old cases were confirmed. However, a visit to these areas by this reporter revealed that at least 12 persons had been afflicted with the disease caused by contaminated water. Three new cases of jaundice were reported from the affected area. Jaundice had earlier spread in the New Model Town and Khalwara Gate localities due to leakage of sewer water into drinking water supply. However, municipal authorities deny that the water supplied was contaminated. They claimed that water was being chlorinated regularly. Municipal employees had also gone to Mehli Gate to detect any suspected leakage, they said. |
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Don’t restrict Sikhism to Punjabi, says
scholar Patiala,
February 23 This was disclosed during an exclusive interview with this correspondent by renowned Sikh scholar Dr Harbans Lal, Emeritus Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, here yesterday. Dr Lal spoke about his endeavour to create interest in the present NRI Sikh youths, who were not only ignorant about Sikh literature, but also did not show any seriousness towards the religion. The communication gap did not allow them to change their learning attitude from Punjabi to English, in which the teachings were actually made in other countries. Dr Lal said Punjabi was not related to the Sikh religion and spreading the teachings in only Punjabi would restrict Sikhism. The Sikhs had still not overcome the atrocities in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar, but the main emphasis of the present moment should be to forgive and make a new beginning, he asserted. Dr Lal emphasised the trauma from which the Sikhs passed in the 1984 riots. The Sikh mindset was yet to recover and the Sikhs ought to come out of this grief and fear if they were to spread Sikhism in the entire world, he added. The situation could be arrived at by going back to the roots from where the community originated. The fundamentals were in understanding and reviving the relationship between the self and the spiritual. The focus should be to come out of the pseudo self which comprised ego, greed and selfishness. Quoting the incident during the birth of the Khalsa, he showed how the Sahajdhari Sikhs got importance in the Sikh community. He said when the Mughals attached the Sikh community, Guru Gobind Singh had to leave Anandpur Sahib. Before departing, the Guru handed over Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib over to the Sahajdhari Sikhs. Dr Lal spoke of the NRI Sikhs who had not made any significant contribution towards maintaining the traditions of the Sikh community abroad. Sikh religion had become the fifth largest religion in the world, he stated. There should be at least a secretariat in every country which had a large percentage of the Sikh community, he opined. He said the religion appreciated diversity and taught its followers the spiritual relationship among human beings. |
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Tandoors keep their kitchen fires burning Bathinda, February 23 The tandoors which have been in use for the past hundreds of years have become the main source of income for the potters. Other utensils of baked clay have lost their market value and are being replaced by plastic, bone china and stainless steel. The sale of tandoors, which are popular in Punjab households, increases during the summer season many times as most of the people like the tandoori roti during this season. The hotels are another sector where the tandoors are used during summer season as well as the winter season. The tandoors are made in three to four sizes and their prices vary accordingly. Most of the potters get between Rs 10 and Rs 40 for one tandoor according to the size. The potters earn enough money from tandoors every month which help them to (‘sustain life’) but they cannot enjoy other facilities of life. The gossip while preparing rotis on a common tandoor in mohallas or streets also has a long-tradition in Punjabi culture. This is the time when women get the chance to make remarks about other women. They feel free to discuss everything from personal problems to popular fashion in the streets. Traditional potters, known as “kumhars”, have been for generations the suppliers of pots. Although refrigerators have replaced the traditional ‘gharas’ and ‘surahis’ yet tanoors are still in demand. The tandoors are the best ‘chullah for the lower middle class to prepare rotis as the consumption of wood energy is less and a lot of rotis can be prepared from one tandoor. As a result of the decrease in availability of wood for tandoor people have started using liquified petroleum gas for cooking everything. This has, to some extent, affected the sale of tandoors. The cost of production of tandoors is also high. The potters have to arrange for clay which costs between Rs 400 and Rs 500 per trolley from areas which are far away from cities. Maman Chand, a potter of Naghana village, when contacted said his grandfather used to make pots and now he was also in the same business since his childhood. He added that the tandoor tradition was popular among villagers who had open courtyards and spacious houses. He pointed out that ‘gamlas’, ‘surahis’, ‘gharas’ and other pots had almost lost their market value but tandoors were still in demand. He said modern things used in kitchens were replacing the traditional things which had cultural value. These things were the cultural symbols of traditions which were being destroyed, he added. Another women potter, Chinto, of Nathana village of this district, has been making tandoors since her childhood. When contacted she said she had to mix black clay and the dried leaves of farmah tree to prepare the material for tandoor. She pointed out that now these two items were hard to procure which had resulted in less production of tandoors. She added that the sale of tandoors increased during the summer season. She said people should use the tandoors to keep alive their traditions. She added that if people did not use clay pots the coming generations would only see them in pictures. |
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Scribe
crushed
to death
Amritsar, February 23 People rushed to save him but severe injuries and excessive bleeding led to his death. The bystanders and some reporters tried to contact the police but no senior officer was available due to the visit of the Chief Minister.
According to a spokesman of the Journalist Association, after repeated telephone calls to Civil Lines police station, the munshi informed that since the entire police force was busy with the Chief Minister’s security they could only take action after his departure. |
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Did Guru try to
liberate temple site? Ferozepore, February 23 The book, titled, “Sanskriti Gyan”, for Class VIII students of RSS-run schools claims Guru Gobind Singh had sent forces to Ayodhya for the liberation of the Ram temple site in 1680. Although the book does not elaborate the event, this is part of the text on the Ram janmabhoomi in a chapter on history. The chapter gives the chronology of events leading to the demolition of the Ram temple by Babar, a Mughal emperor, and its subsequent conversion into a mosque. The recent events related to Ayodhya also find a mention in the chapter. The controversial book that is in possession of The Tribune is subscribed by students of Sarvhitkari schools, which are affiliated to Vidya Bharti, an education wing of the RSS. The issue has sparked a debate as both Sikh scholars and the Left parties dispute Guru Gobind Singh’s role in Ayodhya. Even the suspended BJP leader, Mr Jagmohan Kaura, has threatened to bring this fact to the knowledge of the Sikh clergy for “appropriate action” against those involved in the distortion of history. He accused the RSS of trying to woo Sikhs in their hate campaign against Muslims. While the Left parties allege the RSS is trying to muster the support of the Sikh minority on the Ayodhya issue, Sikh scholars deny that Guru Gobind Singh even tried to liberate the Ram temple site. The Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar, Prof Manjit Singh, categorically said Guru Gobind Singh at no point of time sent his forces to Ayodhya. He added that there was no documentary evidence to suggest this, and the event appeared to have been doctored on the basis of folklore. To prove his point he said there was no campaigning even on the part of the Hindus to liberate the Ram temple site during the year of the reported event. Hence, there was no question of Guru Gobind Singh sending his forces to Ayodhya. The former president of the Institute of Sikh Studies, Prof Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, alleged this was just a figment of the imagination of the RSS which was bent on bracketing the Sikhs with the Hindu mainstream. |
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Federation merger
Chandigarh, February 23
This was stated by the president of the employees’ federation, Mr Hardip Singh Patti, after a meeting of office-bearers, who included Mr B.S. Sekhon, Mr S.S. Bedi, Mr Boota Singh, Mr Didar Singh, Mr Dhanna Singh, Mr Baldev Singh, Mr Manjit Singh Kamboj and Ms Salinder Kaur. |
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Media boycott CM’s Press meet Amritsar, February 23 However, the media adviser to the Chief Minister expressed regret over the attitude of the police. On behalf of the Chief Minister, he said the Press had reported the byelection with great fairness and responsibility. |
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Seva Dal to initiate awareness drive Bathinda, February 23 Addressing a press conference late last night at Lala Sant Ram Memorial Library, Mr Harbans Lal said worker-training camps were being organised to unite the Seva Dal. He added that a state-level camp dedicated to Shaheed Bhagat Singh would be organised on March 23. He pointed out that there were 8,000 members of the Seva Dal including 1000 women workers. He added that there was no groupism in the Punjab Congress but admitted that some of the leaders were fighting for the ‘chair’. Mr Suresh Grover, chairman, Sewa Dal, Bathinda unit, Mr Rajinder, vice chairman, and Mr Rameshwar Das Garg, chief organiser were also present. |
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Tibetan students for
ban on Chinese goods Ropar, February 23 These were a few of the demands for which 30 students of the STF are carrying out a peace march from Dharamsala to Delhi, on foot, to draw the attention of the Indian government to their aspirations. The march entered the Ropar district from Nangal yesterday. The Tibetan students in their traditional attires were carrying the National flags of Tibet and India besides the anti-China placards. The students would be travelling along the national highway to reach Delhi, covering about 30-35 km daily. They would hold procession at Chandigarh on February 25. |
‘Stagnation in farm sector should be removed’ Chandigarh,
February 23 Mr Lakhanpal said there was urgent need to tackle issues like capital formation and growth in agriculture with a new outlook. “The agricultural growth has plateaued and it has to be assured that stagnation is removed,” he said. Emphasising on research activities, Mr Lakhanpal said the state government and NABARD could explore the possibility of forming an R&D Fund with equal contribution which could be implemented through Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The seminar, which was attended by heads of the state and senior bank officers’ development departments — Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation — and officials from several banks, focused on strategies and programmes to be followed during 2001-02 in order to increase the volume of rural credit flow in the state. A state focus paper on institutional credit prepared by NABARD for the next year was also presented at the seminar. According to
NABARD estimates, the total ground level credit requirements for priority sectors for 2001-02 worked out to be Rs 9187 crore, of which the crop loan and investment credit requirements would be Rs 4666 crore, and Rs 1408 crore, respectively. Mr A. Ramanathan, CGM, NABARD, highlighted the initiatives of NABARD in grassroot level credit planning. Giving
push to agro-economy
Chandigarh, February 23 The university has identified a few areas where diversification can be carried out. These areas are diversification of farming by encouraging sowing of maize, summer moong, sugarcane and opting for green manure. Diversification of agriculture also includes growing citrus fruit, vegetables, bee-keeping and mushrooms.
Diversification in other allied activities include agro-based industries, dairy development, poultry, piggery, goats and sheep rearing.
After indicating the areas, the PAU report has also charted out a detailed programme for the next five years in these activities as well as calculating the cost of these. |
Ordinance on infrastructural board cleared
Chandigarh, February 23 The council resolved to seek a declaration from the Government of India to the effect that the castes named Ramdasia, Ravidasia, Ramdasia Sikhs and Mazhbi Sikhs were equivalent names or synonyms or sub-castes of Ramdasi, Ravidasi and Mazhbi. It called upon the Centre to issue a clarification, as had been done in the case of Haryana on October 5, 1979, to resolve the complicated issue affecting a large number of people in Punjab. The Prime Minister has assured Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that the matter will be taken up on priority. Mr Badal had personally taken up the issue with the Prime Minister recently. The council passed a resolution commending the excellent services rendered by Mr R.S. Mann, former Chief Secretary, who retired on January 31, on attaining the age of superannuation. It hoped that he would remain actively involved in public interest activities in the coming years. It also passed a resolution expressing profound grief and sorrow over the colossal loss of human life and property in the earthquake in Gujarat. Through another resolution it expressed grief over the death of eminent persons in the recent past, including Mr Parkash Singh Majitha, former Cabinet Minister, Mr Indrajit Gupta, a former Union Home Minister, Mr Balbir Singh Bannu, Senior Vice-President, SGPC, Mr V.N. Gadgil, former Union Minister, Mr Dharmvira, former Governor of Punjab, and Mr Prem Singh Prem, a former Minister. It expressed shock over the brutal killing of Sikhs in Kashmir in recent attacks. Drive against footpath squatters Bathinda, February 23 The local municipal council authorities have set up a mobile wing, with the help of the police, which has been removing squatters and encroachments from footpaths in the city. A four-wheeler, fitted with public address system, has also been pressed into service urging the people not to encroach upon footpaths and roads so that traffic on the interior roads of the city could be regulated. Mr Shiv Kumar Mittal, executive Officer, Municipal Council, said these steps had been taken to keep the city free from traffic bottlenecks and to keep it clean. He added that shopkeepers of various markets had also been urged not to place their goods on footpaths and roadsides. He added that if anybody was found guilty of violating municipal council’s instructions, appropriate action would be taken against him. Over the years, the volume of traffic in the city had increased manyfold due to increase in vehicles on the one hand while on the other the width of various streets and roads had remained the same. The situation had been leading to frequent traffic jams in the main bazaars of the city. |
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Health Dept sans regular
Director Hoshiarpur, February 23 Dr S.S. Sharma, vice president, General Category PCMS Association, Punjab, in his representation to the Principal Secretary stated that it was a dangerous trend to delay the implementation of the Janjua report and give current duty charge to Directors in Chandigarh and give temporary charge of Civil Surgeons at Amritsar and Faridkot to junior officers when a number of Deputy Directors were available for posting as Civil Surgeon in the department. He said in the total cadre of 47 senior doctors, three Directors, one Additional Director, two Joint Directors, 12 Deputy Directors had already retired and six would be retiring soon. He said it was unfortunate that no regular Civil Surgeon was posted at Amritsar and Faridkot. |
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Irrigation Dept starved of funds Bathinda, February 23 The state irrigation authorities have decided to fulfil first outstanding financial liabilities to the tune of crores of rupees before taking up any new work as the contractors who have executed various works have started approaching the Punjab the Haryana High Court for taking payment from the government in lieu of the work done by them. Getting perturbed after receiving directions from the high court for making payments to various contractors, the state Irrigation Department authorities have taken up the matter with Punjab Government to sort out the issue. Official sources said the state irrigation authorities had got executed various works, including the bricklining of minors and distributaries, desilting and enhancement of their capacity. In this region, the work was executed on the Phul, Bhadaur, Dhapali distributaries and the Bathinda branch of the Sirhind canal. Official sources said the state irrigation authorities had also sent a project worth Rs 84 crore to Nabard for remodelling the Sirhind canal. The clearance of the project was still awaited. Sources added that various minors and distributaries originating from the Bathinda branch could not be repaired for the past many years as adequate funds were not made available to the department. As a result of weed growth and silting, the capacity of the canal had been reduced and the Bathinda branch was running with less free board and under strained conditions as per the note put up by the Executive Engineer, Bathinda canal division, to the higher authorities while giving his comments on the news item which appeared in The Tribune on February 20 under the headline “A Lifeline under Threat”. Official sources said the SAD-BJP government after coming into power gave funds only for the Kotbhai distibutary and Teona. No funds were made available for the annual maintenance of the existing irrigation system in the Malwa region. Official sources added the Punjab Government had also been informed that if necessary repairs were not carried out the breaches which had become a common occurrence in the past few years could not be checked. |
Smugglers’ gang busted Tarn Taran, February 23 Mr Jagdish Kumar Mittal, SSP, told newspersons here yesterday a case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act had been registered against the gang members. They have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, Gurnam Singh, Ashok Kumar Mehta, Pankaj of Pune, Bao Raj of Jalandhar and others. The SSP said a police party headed by Mr S.K. Kalia, SP (D), installed a naka when this tanker was impounded on a tip-off. The conductor and driver of the tanker had forged documents showing their route from Delhi to Pune. These forged documents were made at Amritsar and the kerosene was filled from Jalandhar. Subash Khanna, leader of the gang, is settled at Delhi. He has reportedly absconded. Kerosene is used for mixing in petrol and diesel in different states, sources said. It is meant to be distributed among weaker sections through the PDS introduced by the government. |
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Wife, paramours murder man Fazilka, February 23 Mr Sarbjit Singh, in charge of the police station Khui Khera said Kashmir Singh, resident of Ghallu village and brother of the deceased, had lodged an FIR on February 7 alleging that his brother Arjun Singh had been kidnapped by Jagir Kaur and her two companions Des Raj and Harmesh Singh, both residents of Chak Khiva village of Jalalabad subdivision. The Khui Khera police had registered a case under Section 364 of the IPC. Following police pressure, Des Raj and Harmesh Singh surrendered before the police on February 18. According to Mr Sarabjit Singh, both the arrested accused had confessed that they, along with Jagir Kaur, had conspired to murder Arjun Singh. According to their plan on the fateful day, they took Arjun Singh in a car to Shajrana village where they made Arjun Singh drunk with liquor and when he was almost unconscious, they throttled him to death. Afterwards they removed his wrist watch and ring and threw the body in the Gang Canal near Kamal wala village. According to police sources, Des Raj and Harmesh Singh reportedly had illicit relations with Jagir Kaur. The police has recovered the car used for committing the crime, along with the watch and the ring. A case has been registered against Jagir Kaur who is reportedly missing. The body of Arjun Singh is yet to be recovered. |
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In-laws, man beat wife to death Tarn
Taran, February 23 Tara Singh, father of the deceased and resident of Chuslewar village, said here today that his daughter was married to Lakhwinder Singh of Kadgill village about a year ago. He alleged that his daughter was mentally and physically tortured by her husband and other members of the family for bringing insufficient dowry. The woman was pregnant by three months. A post-mortem examination was conducted in the local Civil Hospital today. The local police has lodged a complaint for which Tara Singh has shown his dissatisfaction and demanded registration of a case under Section 302 of the
IPC. |
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Gang of robbers busted, 4 held Ferozepore, February 23 Addressing a press conference here today, the district police chief, Mr H.S. Sidhu, said the gang comprised five members, including a former policeman Manjit Singh. However, Manjit Singh managed to escape while four others were arrested near Jalalabad area. Those arrested have been identified Shingara Singh, Rajinder Kumar, Lakhmir Singh and Kanwar Singh. Two of the gang members, Shingara and Rajinder were also responsible for the Chatti Gali dacoity that occurred here in October last. With the latest arrests, the number of those held in connection with the robbery has increased to seven. Earlier, the police had arrested five persons in connection with the robbery. Among the recoveries made are the ornaments worth Rs 6.30 lakh and a revolver stolen from the house of Bajaj family of the Chatti Gali locality. The SP (Detective), Mr H.P.S. Kang, said the stolen revolver was also used by the gang in some of the crimes committed outside Punjab. |
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Boy stabbed for not dancing Jalandhar, February 23 All three victims were second-year students of the REC, who developed cold feet following a request by four college mates, who were allegedly under the influence of liquor and who had desired that the three boys “dance” before them. Though Vishal and Vikas were fortunate enough to save themselves from the ire of fellow students, Achint Jain was knifed for three to four times in his stomach and had been struggling for life at the CMC in Ludhiana. The incident occurred at around 12.45 a.m after conclusion of a cultural function in the college premises at around 12.30 a.m., the police authorities said. The trouble started when the victims reached their rooms in the hostel and were summoned by a group of four students. One of then Paramdeep Singh “ordered” them to dance. But when Paramdeep insisted after their repeated refusal, the three tried to escape. They were however, chased and Achint was allegedly knifed by Paramdeep and his associates, identified as Anil Jassal, Amandip Singh and R.P.S. Deol. One of the victims, Vikas got so scared that he jumped from second floor of the building and fractured his leg while Vishal escaped unhurt. Other students converged at the place after hearing shrieks of Achint and his friends. Both the injured were shifted to the local Civil Hospital from where Achint was referred to the CMC Ludhiana since his condition had started deteriorating. |
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Car stolen, found
abandoned Patiala, February 23 Ms Khetal disclosed that her brother and mother had come to the city to attend a family function. She said the incident took place at around noon. A case has been registered in the Civil Lines police station. The city
DSP, Mr G.S. Bedi, said the police immediately swung into action and sent parties and put up nakas at various points in the city. Sensing trouble, the robbers probably got scared and abandoned the vehicle, with all its parts and contents intact and fled, he added. |
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2 booked for fraud
Jalandhar, February 23 |
APRO suspended, reinstated in 3
days Patiala, February 23 According to available documents, the APRO was suspended on February 16 for failing to perform his duties properly and acting in a careless and irresponsible manner. The university Registrar, Dr B.S. Bhatia, while passing the suspension order of Mr Dhandli, noted that he had not brought a news item published in a section of the Press to the attention of the Vice-Chancellor. The suspension order said when the Vice-Chancellor sent Mr Dhandli with a rejoinder to the newspaper headquarters for publication, it was not published in its columns the next day. The order said though it was the prerogative of the newspaper to publish the rejoinder or not, the APRO did not submit a report of the task he was entrusted with. It said neither Mr Dhandli met either the Vice-Chancellor or the Registrar in this regard, nor did he consult the university authorities as to what further was needed to be done in the matter. The Registrar further maintained that Mr Dhandli did not give a satisfactory reply to the show cause notice issued to him in this regard. He was found guilty of the charges levelled against him and suspended with immediate effect. He was also transferred to the regional centre of the university at Talwandi Sabo, pending completion of the inquiry against him. The suspension was revoked by the university authorities on February 19. He again took over charge as APRO in the university. The university authorities, while reinstating the
APRO, were still to decide on how the two days during which he remained suspended were to be treated. The authorities while reinstating him said a decision on this would be taken later. |
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Probe VC’s
wrongdoings: teachers Patiala, February 23 The AIFUTA president, Mr P.P. Arya, while addressing teachers of the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) and representatives of universities of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh at a dharna organised in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office on the campus here, said a resolution to this effect had already been passed at the North Zone meeting of AIFUTA held recently. He said the inquiry should go into the “wrongdoings’’ committed by the Vice-Chancellor whom he accused of ‘’ bureaucratising and vitiating ‘’ the academic atmosphere of the university. Mr Arya, whose speech was punctuated by slogans against the Vice-Chancellor, said Dr Ahluwalia was deliberately not initiating the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) in the university despite the fact that it had been implemented by both the Punjab and Guru Nanak Dev University. He said besides this the Student Appraisal Scheme was being propped up under which students were supposed to evaluate the performance of their teachers. He said this scheme could be used to settle scores with teachers. He said the Student Appraisal Scheme was not a component of any scheme of the University Grants Commission and was only an optional recommendation. He said this was clear from the final recommendation of the Rastogi committee. The AIFUTA president, while speaking about the removal of Dr K.C. Singhal from the headship of the University School of Business Management and registration of a criminal case against him, said the university authorities must immediately withdraw the FIR against Dr Singhal and give an undertaking that he would not be victimised again. The Punjab Federation of University Teachers Association (PFUTA) president, Ms Devi Sirohi, while speaking at the dharna said the Vice-Chancellor was functioning in a ‘’bureaucratic , fascist and totalitarian’’ manner which would not be tolerated by the teaching community. Ms Sirohi said while the teachers of Punjabi University were suffering as they were unable to secure promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme interviews in around 20 departments had been held under the scheme in Panjab University. Speaking about the ‘’ humiliation’’ meted out to Dr Singhal, she said the entire teaching community had been humiliated and would fight to ensure his honour in the university was restored. Others who spoke on the occasion included Kurukshetra University Teachers Association president Hari Singh, Government College Teachers Association senior vice-president Anup Virk, Guru Nanak Dev University president Harbans Singh Sidhu, Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) general secretary Balwinder Singh and PAUTA president Hari Singh Brar. KUTA president Hari Singh called for the removal of Dr Ahluwalia from Vice-Chancellorship of the University. Dr Anup Virk said government college teachers would support any agitation launched by the teaching community against the Vice Chancellor. Dr Harbans Singh Sidhu said a delegation of teachers would soon be meeting Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to apprise him of the functioning of Dr Ahluwalia and demand immediate action against him. The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) president, Mr Hari Singh Brar, while calling for a mass movement against the Vice-Chancellor accused him of not meeting the teaching community and even members of PUTA even though he had time for various cultural events which were held in the university. He said in this light the functioning of the Vice-Chancellor should also be evaluated. He also accused the Vice-Chancellor of instigating the students to take on their teachers on the campus of Punjabi University. Meanwhile, a release of the Organisation of Punjabi University Students (OPUS) claimed a rally was held on the university campus today to highlight the demands of students. The release said while addressing the students its president, Bhupinder Singh Cheema, said the Student Appraisal Scheme which had been passed by the Syndicate should be implemented immediately by the university. He also called for elections to student bodies in the university and construction of a new hostel for girl students. OPUS representatives claimed they had met the Vice-Chancellor and he had assured them their demands would be put before the Syndicate and efforts would be made to get them implemented. |
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‘Focus on gender disparity in education’ Patiala,
February 23 This was discussed by Dr Andre Beteille, a renowned sociologist from Delhi School of Economics, during a seminar organised by the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology of Punjabi University on ‘Gender Equality and Development’ in the Senate Hall of the University here today. The delegates felt that in the present scenario, the struggle of gender equality was a defining moment comprising female liberation, her economic independence, legal equality, her human rights and empowerment. Dr Beteille felt that there are departments where women enjoy their respective roles and there are other departments which are to be handled by males alone. “We must distinguish different forms of inequality, specially which are odious, such as race, caste, and gender,” said Dr Beteille. Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of the university, observed that the life of the female in general was deteriorating as compared to what it was earlier. Elaborating the point, Dr Ahluwalia added that even now womanhood is defined and understood not in terms of her whole being with mind, body and soul but only in terms of her body. He added that the female was still not independent to express her ideas and expressions. Rather, she was subjected to male dominated norms of chastity and purity. In the keynote address, Prof. Hem Lata Swarup, ex-VC of Kanpur University, felt that even though great opportunities lay ahead of the world platform, women had been the most adversely affected. |
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Computers donated for schools Kapurthala, February 23 At a function organised by the district administration at the local Sainik School today, the Derby Mayor, Mr Ashok Kalia, who Sails from Kapurthala, distributed these computers to the 10 schools and colleges of this district. Mr Kalia during his first visit to his home town after becoming the mayor of Derby about two months ago had promised to send 100 computers from Derby for the computer education of students. Addressing the function, Mr Kalia said following his appeal through a newspaper, several non-resident Indians donated their second-hand computers and after reconditioning he brought these to Kapurthala. While bringing these computers to India he had to face many problems at the hands of customs
officials. He lauded the efforts of Deputy Commissioner V.K. Singh helped in clearing the consignment of computers from the customs by showing the ruling that no custom duty was levied on the import of computers for government schools. Mr Kalia said people of Derby had also sent relief material amounting to over Rs 2 crore to Ahmedabad for earthquake victims. Two reporters of Derby evening daily also came alongwith Mr Kalia to cover the distribution function. The Commissioner, Jalandhar Division Mrs Geetika Kalha, who presided over the function lauded the efforts of Mr Kalia.. |
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Need to conserve fuel
stressed Patiala,
February 23 The development of the road infrastructure enjoys the highest priority of the government as good road network increases the speed of transport. However, the construction of such projects in India is fraught with risks and obstacles. Delegates from all over India had gathered to discuss the issue concerned and devise methods for the success of road safety and fuel conservation projects in the country whose demand has been increasing. The delegates took cognisance of the situation and stressed that the investments were much higher to bring about improvements in the conservation process. They felt the theory on papers was still not apparent in practice. With globalisation of constructural activities, complexities in techniques and advances in the construction of methodologies, it is imperative to upgrade our technological awareness. The chief delegates who delivered the keynote address were Dr P.K.Sikdar, Director, CRRI, New Delhi, Mr P.K.Motwani, Regional Coordinator of PCRA, Dr V.S.Batra, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, Mr A.S.Bajwa, the state coordinator. |
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No clubbing of PMET, class XII
marks
Amritsar, February 23 |
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Decision on BDS admission awaited Mansa, February 23 He said that the Secretary of the council had issued letter to the Registrar of the university vide letter No DE-3 (103)-2000 of November 2000 regarding admission in the BDS in the college. |
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