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| Tuesday,
September 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Woman jumps to escape rape, gets
injured Ludhiana, September 3 The woman suffered multiple fractures, but was relieved that she succeeded in saving her honour. She has identified the three persons to the police. Police sources said it was awaiting the medical examination report of the victim to register a case. The sources said the accused nursed some enmity with the woman and allegedly attempted to rape her in order to settle score. Suraj (name changed), husband of the woman, said he worked as a labourer in a spare-parts factory. At about 1 p.m., he learnt about the incident. He said he did not know the exact time of the incident as his wife was not in a position to relate the case in detail. Forming the incidents from the tit-bits of information, which his wife gave him in parts, the labourer said his family had some dispute with a person, who was always trying to harm them. According to the man, his enemies had earlier beaten up his son and a complaint was lodged with the police then also. He said today his wife had gone to a neighbour’s house where three persons, all of whom have been identified by his wife, allegedly either forced their entry in or were present earlier in the house. The man said his wife was shocked when the three persons pounced upon her after closing the main door of the house behind her. The accused allegedly started beating her up and attempted to outrage her modesty. The woman told her husband that though she was terrified she managed to break free and run upstairs as the exit door was locked. The accused followed her and as she had no other place to go, she jumped off the two-storeyed building. She was then shifted to the civil hospital by neighbours. Police sources said they had recorded a preliminary statement of the woman but as she was not fully conscious they could not get details. The police added that though the woman had identified the accused, the process to nab them could be started only after her statement was recorded. The police said the woman was expected to regain consciousness by tomorrow morning. |
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Decision on abolition of octroi taken:
Rinwa Ludhiana, September 3 Addressing a party workers’ meeting, organised by the BJP East Mandal in Kidwai Nagar here on Sunday, he criticised the Opposition for raising the issue of ‘saffronisation’ of education. Mr Rinwa lambasted certain political parties for describing the BJP as a communal party. Those who call us communal have been exploiting the communal situation to their political advantage all along. These parties should remember that a large number of BJP functionaries had sacrificed their lives during the period of militancy and the contribution of the party in restoration of normalcy in Punjab was significant, he said. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab, claimed that except for abolition of octroi, the SAD-BJP coalition government had fulfilled all its poll promises. The minister further asserted that the government had restored the communal amity and an atmosphere of mutual trust among people. He said the NDA government, headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had maintained best of relations with all the state governments and there had been no instance of ‘communal tension’ or riots anywhere in the country ever since the present government took over. This was a pointer to the common allegations that the riots were ‘engineered’ by the previous governments. Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Balbir Chand Kapila, vice-president, BJP, Mr Avinash Jaiswal, organising secretary, Mr Narottam Dev Rati, Mr Shakti Sharma and Mr Vinod Sharma, general secretaries, Mr Anil Sarin, secretary, BJP, Mr Madan Mohan Vyas, chairman, Improvement Trust, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, District President, Mr Pran Bhatia, group leader of BJP councillors, Mr Sukhwinderpal Singh Grewal, president, Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Punjab, and Mr Kamal Chatley, district president, Yuva Morcha, were present. |
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To give visually challenged a
vision Ludhiana, September 3 There were instructors who had come from as far as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Hyderabad Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa. This is a month-long course. The Chairman Of the Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre (VRTC), Mr R.N. Chatterji, in his address, traced the history of the centre in rehabilitating visually and physically challenged students. Mr Chatterji, a renowned eye-surgeon, said, “It is sad that India one sixth of the visually challenged persons of the world live in India. Increasing the number of doctors and hospitals will not solve the problem, but awareness, education and early prevention can reduce the cases of blindness in the country by 80 per cent.” Mr Chatterji praised Mr E.M. Johnson, who lost his sight at the age of 22 and decided to rehabilitate himself and the others like him. The VRTC was created for this purpose alone in 1964 on the premises of the local Christian Medical College and Hospital. After the 1965 India-Pakistan war, many Armymen who had lost their sight came to Dr Johnson for treatment. Teachers were asked to translate their ideas into reality after the course is over. The chief guest, Mr J.S. Khullar, Director of the Small Industries Service of the Union Ministry of Industries, was the chief guest. He praised Mr E.M. Johnson, Ms Johnson and the other teachers of the institute for helping visually and physically challenged students. Students of the institute presented patriotic, solo and group songs. When a person loses his sight, he feels like a prisoner within his body. Dr Johnson has helped thousands of such persons rehabilitate themselves. At present, the VRTC has 18 sections where training is given to inmates after they have been put through aptitude tests. They pick up skills like cane-mesh making, candle making and chalk making. Some of them also become telephone operators and computer professionals. The VRTC also conducts outreach programmes, where teachers visit villages to pull visually challenged persons out of depression and provide them with
vocational training. The institution is also giving vocational training to inmates of the women’s jail, so that, after release, they can earn their living. The VRTC also organises one-day clinics in villages. Under the worldwide 2020 programme, teams of doctors visit primary and high schools to identify children with eye problems and treat them in time for saving their eyesight. |
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Cong councillors threaten to boycott MC
House Ludhiana, September 3 A number of party councillors, who attended a meeting at the residence of former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Harnam Das Johar, were of the opinion that the decision for the removal of Mr Puri was taken at the instance of the district unit of the BJP which was looking for an opportunity to settle score with Congress councillors who had sided with the Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, on the controversial issue of the elevated road project, approved at the general house meeting of the MC on July 18. As a result of all the councillors from the Congress and some others from the SAD coming together in support of Mr Grewal, the BJP was isolated and marginalised in the House and had gone to the extent of making an announcement that the party had withdrawn its support to the Mayor. Besides Mr Johar, party councillors, Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu, Mr Han Raj Jassa, Mr Gurmel Singh and Mr Om Parkash Angrish, who were present at the meeting, maintained that Mr Puri had become a victim of a well thought out conspiracy by the BJP. The disqualification was made on frivolous charges and the government had acted in undue haste. Moreover, the issue on which the councillor was removed from office, was under litigation and court was yet to deliver its verdict. The Congress councillors further indicated that the matter was being discussed within the party councillors and the party leader, Mr Surjit Singh Ahluwalia and a decision would soon be taken to launch an agitation, both at the local and Chandigarh levels, seeking justice for their party colleague. |
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Life term for father-in-law Ludhiana, September 3 According to the prosecution, Veena got married with the Yadwinder Singh about one and a half year, prior to the murder and was having a five-month-old female child. The victim was killed for not bringing enough dowry. She died in DMCH on May 27,1997. But three days prior to her death, her statement was recorded by Ms B.K. Bhatia, Judicial Magistrate, Ludhiana. Above named persons were booked by the staff of police station Sadar, Ludhiana, on May 20,1997, under Sections 307 and 498-A of IPC. After her death Section 302 of IPC was added. |
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Call to strengthen cooperative
institutions Fatehgarh Sahib, September 3 Addressing a gathering of elected members of cooperatives institutions at the fifth district level cooperative awareness workshop organised by the Punjab State Cooperative Development Federation at Bachat Bhavan here today, Mr Partap exhorted the office-bearers of cooperative institutions to overcome all shortcomings in the cooperative system to further strengthen cooperative institutions at village levels and educate members about the importance of this movement in the changed scenario. Referring to performance of cooperative societies, banks and other cooperative institutions, the Deputy Commissioner informed that during the current financial year, different kinds of loans amounting to Rs 93 crore were being released to farmers and other members in the district, out of which loans amounting to Rs 51 crore was being advanced for the purchase of agriculture equipment and cash credits to the farmers and Rs 30 crore are being advanced by central cooperative banks and cooperative agriculture development banks for different purposes. He informed that the Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank of Amloh had bagged the first prize in the country for excellent service to farmers. He further informed that with a view to providing the cooperative loan facilities to urban population, a new urban cooperative bank would be opened in Mandi Gobindgarh shortly, where members would run the bank themselves by electing their own representatives and would share the profit also. He said to facilitate members of all cooperative institutions in city at one place, a cooperative bhavan was also being constructed at Fatehgarh Sahib, for which the required site had already been selected. |
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PCCTU teachers on relay
fast Ludhiana, September 3 According to Mr Kuldeep Singh, president District Council Ludhiana Mr J S Bal, president District Council, Amritsar, and Prof H. S. Walia, member of the executive committee of the PCCTU today sat on dharna. They will be replaced by teachers from Jalandhar district tomorrow. Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president PCCTU, regretted that the members had been compelled to resort to this kind of protest because of the indifferent and callous attitude of the government. He added that the case of pension-cum-gratuity passed on to the Finance Department on August 22,2001. Mr Sodhi alleged that the department adopted a casual attitude towards the genuine demands of teachers. Mr Sodhi added that the grant of arrears of about Rs 30 crore, for the disbursement to college teachers, which was received by the Punjab Government from the Human Resource Development Ministry, was lying with the Finance Department for clearance. The president said that the teachers had also not received the UGC recommended grades. He said that physical education teachers were not getting proper designation and parity with lecturers. |
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Homoeo students divided over exams
schedule Ludhiana, September 3 While a large number of students wanted the examinations to be conducted, as announced, from September 10, there were some who wanted that the examinations should be put off and wanted them to be conducted at a later date by Baba Farid University (BFU) in place of the Punjab Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine (PCHSM). In representations made by one section of students to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Medical Education Minister, Punjab and Dr Bhupinder Singh, Chairman, CHSM Punjab, they demanded that examinations scheduled from September 10, 2001 should not be postponed as the students were all prepared to take the examinations and that they wanted to finish the BHMS degree in time. The representatives of the students told Ludhiana Tribune that there was a small section of students who wanted the postponement of examinations on the pretext that they should be conducted by BFU, Faridkot. The students said though there was a confusion of awarding degrees yet Mr Bhupinder Singh, President, CHSM, had claimed earlier that the council had legal right of awarding degrees to homoeopathic students. The students said keeping in view the interests of students of 1996-97 batch, who were already late by six months and were ready to appear in the examinations, these examination should not be postponed. The students appealed to the members, who would be participating in high-level meeting scheduled for September 5 at Chandigarh, that postponement of exams would amount to irreparable loss to the aggrieved students. Meanwhile, the other group of students demanded the postponement of examinations scheduled from September 10. It may be mentioned that a deputation of parents of these wards and students had already met Mr Manoranjan Kalia at Jalandhar regarding the postponement of examinations. Earlier, these students had also boycotted classes and blocked traffic to protest against the non-affiliation of the ongoing batches of the BHMS by BFU. The students favouring for postponement of examinations, added that these should be conducted by the BFU and not by the council, as it would have a life-long bearing on their careers. From this year, three colleges have affiliated to the BFU. These include Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic College Ludhiana, Guru Nanak Homoeopathic College, Ludhiana and another college at Abohar. |
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Suspended scientist chargesheeted Ludhiana, September 3 The faculty member of the Department of Soils, PAU, was suspended by the university authorities few days ago after one of his girl students had alleged that she was molested by him. The university had ordered an inquiry into the case and suspended him on August 28. The suspension orders had come in the wake of the massive protests and an inquiry will be initiated after his reply. |
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Avtar murder case hearing
today Ludhiana, September 3 At about 3.30 p.m. two police officials came from Jalandhar with the intimation that Gurmeet Singh ‘Pinki’ had been admitted to Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. In the absence of prime accused, the statement of the prosecution witnesses could not be recorded today. Meanwhile, infuriated relatives of Avtar Singh raised slogans against the accused persons, demanding severe punishment to them. Avtar Singh, a youth of New Prem Nagar, was gunned down on January 7, 2001, allegedly by Pinki by firing a shot on his forehead in the Maya Nagar area in front of accused’s newly purchased house. |
Martyr’s widow alleges harassment Ludhiana, September 3 The woman alleges that she is being harassed due to old rivalry between two groups of the village. She has submitted a written complaint to the Deputy
Commissioner of Ludhiana, the Senior Superintendent of Police at Jagraon and the District Sainik Welfare Officer in this regard, alleging that the local police, in connivance with the opposite group, laid siege to her house for four days when the drain was being dug. The SSP, Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu, said he would ask a DSP to look into the incident. The woman, Gurdial Kaur, said she was supervising the cultivation of the land after the death of her husband, Pritam Singh, in the 1971 war. She said she had successfully repulsed several moves of her rivals to grab the land. After one such bid in 1994, some villagers had acted as mediators and settled the dispute. The then village panchayat had given in writing that the drain would not be dug on this land. |
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They owe it to rehabilitation centre Ludhiana, September 3 Vinay and Jarnail Singh had come from Jammu to receive one-year free computer training from this centre last year, whereas Jasvir Singh had come from Solan. They are presently employed and earning enough to take care of their needs. Reminiscing over their one year stay at the VRTC, Jarnail Singh said, “Due to the excellent and free computer training that I received here, I am employed in a cyber cafe in Jammu. I earn about Rs 2,500 per month. I had wonderful experience in the institute and I learnt we can do everything if we are determined to”. Vijay, an orthopaedic challenged young man, was learning computer in Jammu when he got to know about the free computer training imparted at the VRTC. Not only did he saved money he also gained confidence staying away from his family in the hostel. At present he is employed as a computer operator in a hotel in Jammu. He said, “I have come to say thanks to my excellent teachers who were a source of great strength . They always encouraged us. I plan to do advance course in computers. If given the right opportunities we can say with confidence, “Hum kisi se kam nahin.” We do not want sympathy of people but recognition in society. I will advise the physically challenged persons never to give up and grab all opportunities to lead an independent life.” Jasvir Singh had come from Solan to the institute when his friend had given him information about the computer course at VRTC. He is working in Ludhiana in a studio as photo designer. His left hand is completely immobile yet he manage with his right hand. His ambition is to study more and more about the latest courses offered in computer applications. He said, “I feel so proud that I can earn for my self and not dependent on any one. Since my friend ,Vijay and Jarnail had come specially to say ‘thanks to our principal and teachers, I also decided to come along. What we are is due to the VRTC as we did not have resources to sustain the expenses of one-year computer course.” “Though ‘thanks’ is a small word but it expresses a lot of gratitude for our teachers. Since we can’t come together on September 5 i.e. Teachers Day, we decided to come and let our teachers know how we cherish them,” said all the three in unison. |
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Dehydrated vegetables — money and time savers Ludhiana, September 3 A research study on the dehydration of onions and potatoes was conducted by Amarinder under the supervision of Dr Rupa Bakhshi, Department of FRM, COHSC, PAU. The onions were cut into different shapes and potatoes were cut into cubes, plain chips and net chips. The vegetables were tied in a muslin cloth and blanched in boiling water for 5 minutes. Then onions were sulphited in 0.25 per cent solution of potassium metabisulphate (KMS) and potatoes were boiled in 1 per cent solution of the KMS. The sulphited vegetables were dehydrated in three different types of solar cookers — multi-rack solar dryer, finned multi-rack solar drier, domestic solar drier; the vegetables were also dried in open sun drying. The results of the study revealed that open sun drying took maximum time to dry the onions as well as potatoes. In case of solar drying, the drying time was minimum in multi-rack solar dryer. The dehydrated vegetables were stored for three months and then used in preparing various dishes, the taste of which comparable with that of the fresh vegetables. The results of the organoleptic evaluation showed that there was no significant differences in the various attributes of cooked recipes. The overall acceptability of solar dried products was quite good. For cooking, dehydrated products took less time as compared to fresh products. Cauliflower is also an important and popular winter vegetable of North India. For its extended use over long periods after harvesting and to avoid glut during the season, it is important that a sizeable portion of total cauliflower produced is preserved various ways. Cut cauliflower was blanched and sulphited in KMS and dehydrated in box type solar drier, open sun floor drying and by threading and hanging the cauliflower in sun. The vegetables was prepared from different samples. The results revealed that solar dried samples had got better colour, flavour, texture and taste as compared to samples dried by other methods. The findings of the study show that the cauliflower, onions and potatoes can be dehydrate properly at the household level using solar dryer. Housewives can take up dehydration of vegetables as income generating activity during their free time. It is simple and the results are good. With more and more women working, the dried vegetables are very handy as it saves them a shopping trip during their free time they can dehydrate the vegetables. |
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Committed to serving mankind Ludhiana, September 3 The convener of the society, Mr Atul Soni, said a three tier work was being undertaken by the organisation. The spiritual activities include devotional singing, nagar sankeertan, study circles, public lectures, seminars, meditation etc. The educational activities cover Bal Vikas (human values) programmes besides formal academic education combined with the development of character of the students. The teachers in the organisation take up classes thrice a week in schools to inculcate basic human values in children. The students are divided into three age groups and value-based programmes in the form of plays, recitations, skits are staged accordingly. The beauty lies in the fact that students are motivated to script these activities. Each year, September 6 is observed in the honour of Sri Sathya Sai’s mother, in which activities, like painting, calligraphy, quiz competitions are organised throughout the week. A grand cultural programme comprising songs, skits, patriotic songs is organised on the day. Activities like medical camps, blood donation camps, eye operation camps, visits to old age homes and homes for handicapped, and adoption of under-developed villages are undertaken by the organisation. The organisation provides relief during natural calamities. A huge medical camp in association with another NGO, Jyoti Kender, was organised on August 26. Almost 600 patients attended the camp. The members prepared food and distributed medicines among them. A regular feature of the organisation is to supply free medicines to poor and destitute patients. The members visit the Civil Hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and give the medicines directly to the patients. They also get the x-rays, pathological tests conducted free of cost for them. On every third Sunday, the members clean up one ward of the Civil Hospital. The organisation never charges for any samithi centre activity, nor does it solicites donations from public in any manner at any time. The expenditure on the activities of the organisation involving financial implications are met entirely by voluntary contributions. |
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Vidhan Sabha panel's
report criticised Samrala, September 3 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune here today, Prof Baldeep Singh and Mr Gulzar Mohammad Goria, president and general secretary of the Punjabi Lekhak Manch, respectively, Mr P.S. Gill, an executive member of the AICC Legal Cell, Mr Mehma Singh Kang of the Adhyapak Chetna Manch, Mr Bihari Lal Saddi and Mr Surjit Vishad, trade union leaders, expressed their shock and anguish over the report, and termed it as 're-opening of their old wounds'. Condemning the committee report, they said it was ironical that the same government, which had issued an ordinance to recruit these teachers, set up a committee, which recommended their dismissal. They asserted that the high court had found the teachers' case to be genuine while hearing a writ petition. These organisations had appealed to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to reject the committee report and bring an end to the feeling of uncertainty among the teachers, they added. |
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‘Take in retired Armymen’ Ludhiana, September 3 At a function of the Rotary Club of Ludhiana here yesterday, General Singh urged the industry to accommodate retired Army officers. He said the average age of those who retired from the Army was 35. “This highly trained and disciplined manpower can be an asset to the industry,” said the General. The GOC-in-C appreciated the love and respect that the armed forces had received from countrymen. He also praised the Rotary Club for its philanthropic efforts. A senior BJP leader and a
member of the Rajya Sabha, Lala Lajpat Rai, also praised the club an recalled his association with it. |
Seminar on banking
ombudsman scheme Ludhiana, September 3 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ahmed said the banking ombudsman scheme was established in 1995 with the aim to improving customer satisfaction by providing an expeditious cost-effective redress forum. Over a period of six years of its existence, it has gained popularity. He said the experience gained in the implementation of the scheme had led to quick redress of the public grievances and the resolution period had come down from 58 days in 1995-96 to 17 in 2000-01, thus serving the basic purpose of the scheme. The response from bankers was also encouraging. Out of the 145 cases solved last year, 126 were solved by the bankers without any meeting. Mr Ahmed said the purpose of organising such seminars was to create awareness among public regarding the scheme. He also redressed public grievances on the spot. Mr P.N. Khurana, General Manager, Punjab National Bank, mentioned that in the fast changing scenario and competitive environment, the expectations of the customers had increased manifold. He said customers’ complaints continued to persist despite large-scale computerisation in the branches. Mr Khurana said the function of banking ombudsman was to resolve disputes between banks and their customers by an informal process of arbitration. He said Punjab National Bank, which is convener of state level bankers’ committee of Punjab, had already organised nine seminars at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Ferozepore and Bathinda to popularise the scheme and to create awareness amongst banks for rendering the desired standard of service to the customers. |
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Derivatives’ trading holds
promise Ludhiana, September 3 He was addressing brokers, investors and their representatives at Ludhiana Stock Exchange (LSE), here on Saturday. He said the derivatives trading at the BSE has started picking up in view of the fact that the BSE had Rs 300 crore as security fund. Further, the BSE was able to provide the same level of facilities to its members despite the decline in income as it was earning more than Rs 40 crore annually from the listing fees and interest. He said the new software provided facilities such as error rectification window, limit flexibility, spread trading and transparency. It provided LAN, WAN, VSAT network, 2 second response system, proper back up and disaster recovery system. Mr Singal said, "There is a lot of potential in the derivatives market. The investors will have less risk as compared to earlier trading. The chances of financial scandals will be less in the new system of trading.’’ He pointed out that due to lack of centralised control and transparency, the forwards trading has been banned. Now the investors would be able to trade in ‘futures’ and ‘options’ only. The trading in futures would have an advantage of customised contract, pre-agreed price and settlement at a specified future date and delivery of assets. The buyers and sellers would enter into a contract in that system for the purchase or sale of a particular asset at specified price on a specified future date, he said. Regarding the trade in ‘options,’ he said,‘‘ The buyers of the options will have a right to buy a specified quantity of the shares at a price on exercising the option on or before the expiry date of the contract. However, to obtain this right the buyers will have to pay a premium to the seller.’’ More than 100 participants attended the seminar. A blood donation camp was also organised by the LSE, in which 40 persons donated blood. |
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Delayed cargo, harassed
exporters Ludhiana, September 3 They say that the contractor is short of labour and equipment, which is the reason for the delay and heavy losses to them and the PSWC. Mr S.C. Ralhan, Chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of the Northern Region, in a memorandum submitted to the Managing Director of the PSWC, Mr Arun Goel, has complained against the contractor. He said the EDI system had been non-functional for the past more than a month, which was another reason for the delay. In spite of repeated complaints, exporters have not received any assurance from the PSWC officials regarding when will the system become operational. He urged the MD to take
personally take up this case. Mr Ralhan alleged that the operations of the handling agent at Container Freight Station
(CFS) was not satisfactory. He said goods were kept in export sheds even after the customs examination and containers were not placed by the contractor in time. He said, “Exporters don’t even have access to the containers. Due to a delay in the clearance of cargo, exporters are not able to meet their shipping schedule. They are asked to pay for storage charges even for the time when the containers are not stuffed due to labour shortage.” Importers are being forced to pay storage charges though the delay in clearance is not on their part. In such cases, shipping companies ask for detention and demurrage charges to be paid in US dollars as per their tariff. Importers get five free days for examination, that are sometimes lost in just locating the containers. Mr Ralhan said a party of Jalandhar had booked an LCL container for shipment from Mumbai on August 25, but the consignment had got delayed for six days due to the negligence of the contractor. The cargo had been kept in the open without any security. He asked Mr Goel to ensure that such incidents were not repeated. Mr
G.S. Arora, Chief Executive of North India operations of Hill Son and
Dinshaw, a Mumbai-based contracting company, denied these allegations. He said, “The clearance had been delayed only due to a breakdown of the machinery and not due to any negligence on part of the company. |
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