R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

TRANSFER FLAYED: Members of the Punjab Health and Department Sub-Offices Clerical Association has criticised the untimely transfer of Mr Sukhvinder Singh, president of the state unit of the association, by the Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, Chandigarh.

KHAMANO
MEETING: A meeting was held here at the local Congress Party office in which the local party activists urged the new Punjab Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, that they give a ministerial rank to Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon who had won from the Samrala Assembly segment twice. Mr Amarjit Sohal and other office-bearers said that during the SAD-BJP regime Samrala constituency remained bereft of its proper development as the Opposition’s party candidate had not done anything.

KHARAR
APPOINTED: Mr Paramjit Singh Benipal has been appointed as President of the Block Congress Committee, Kharar, according to Ms Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, general secretary of the PPCC. 

I-T CAMP: An income tax camp was organised by Punjab National Bank, Ropar Road, Kharar, on Thursday to give awareness to the public for filing their returns under 1/6 scheme of the department. The camp was attended by Mr N.C. Jain, Senior Regional Manager of the bank, Chandigarh-B Region. Mr Vivek Vardhan, Income Tax Officer, Chandigarh Ward 6(I), and officers of his department answered inquiries of the people and accepted the returns. 

LUDHIANA
MEDICAL CAMP: The Atri Times Eye Research Foundation organised its 37th medical camp at Shri Ram Bhavan here on Thursday. Over 1,507 patients were examined and given medicines for general ailments. Mr Arun Atri, director of the foundation, in a press statement said Dr Dinesh Garg, Dr Amit Bansal, Dr Rajnish Ladha and Dr Taniya Mahal along with their teams examined the patients. Those present on the occasion included Dr Prabhjot Kaur, Dr Hardip Singh, Dr Raj Chabra, Dr Jaswant Kaushal, Mr Surinder Goyal and Mr Umesh Aggarwal. 

DANCE PERFORMANCE: Pratibha Pralahd, a renowned exponent of Bhartnatyam, was in the city on Thursday to perform under the aegis of SPIC MACAY. Three more artistes from Bangalore accompanied her for the SPIC MACAY programme. She presented a choreography ‘Sita’s Parallel Realities’.

EYES DONATED: The family of late Narnail Kaur, a school teacher, of Hussanpur Bhanohar village donated both her eyes to the Eye Bank Mansuran. Dr Ramesh, Director, Eye Bank Mansuran, in a press statement on Thursday said the family was motivated by Mr Balwinder Singh Bhattal, a social worker of the village. The eyes were transplanted into two persons hailing from Dakha village and Ludhiana. 

CELEBRATIONS: Jashn-e-Sahir—2002 will be held in Ludhiana by the Adeeb International (Sahir Cultural Academy) on March 16 to mark the 81st birth anniversary of Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi. A seminar and an international ‘mushaira’ will be the chief events of the celebrations. Dr Kewal Dheer, general secretary, stated that eminent scholars and Urdu poets from all over the country and abroad have been invited. Annual Sahir awards will also be presented on the occasion. These awards are presented to eminent personalities from the field of film, art, literature and culture. The celebrations are being organised in association with Nehru Sidhant Kender Trust, Ludhiana. 

SURGEONS MEET: The Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons here held its 16th meet on Wednesday. More than 50 delegates attended the meeting. Dr John Tricker of the UK delivered his talk on ‘Fracture Healing—past, present and future'. Dr John stressed the need of better understanding of biology of fractures and various factors which influence fracture healing. In spite of best treatment, about 10 per cent cases in the USA and Europe undergo delayed union. More research was on in the USA and UK to understand the cellular and sub-cellular elements responsible for fracture healing, he said. The general secretary of the association, Dr R.S. Sidhu, welcomed the delegates. 

FUNCTION: The District Valmiki Sabha organised a function here on Wednesday in connection with Guru Ravidass jayanti. Mr D.P. Khosla, vice-president, Bahujan Samaj Party, Punjab unit, said Guru Ravidass was a forerunner of a social revolution. Mr Ram Parkash Gill, chairman, District Valmiki Sabha, congratulated the gathering. Others who spoke included Mr Gurkirpal Singh Sidhu, president, Punjab Local Bodies Employees Union, Ludhiana, Mr Rakesh Ghai, Mr Babu Ram Nahar, Mr Jasbir Singh Ghalib, Mr Naresh Manchanda, Mr Ajay Khanna, Mr Narinder Rai Bittu, Mr Gurdyal Chand, Mr Raj Kumar, Mr Bhag Ram Sidhu and Mr Ashok Kumar. 

MEETING: The Muslim Aman Society, Punjab, held a meeting here on Wednesday. It was presided over by Mr Nasim Ansari, its president. The meeting hailed the victory of the Congress in Punjab. It also observed that the party never overlooked the interests of the minorities in the country. Others who attended the meeting included Mr Ghulam Rasul, Mr Shamsher Alam, Mr Ali Azhar, Ms Manjit Kaur, Mr Sunil Kumar, Mr Darshan Singh Ahuja, Mr Surinder Singh Verma, Mr Satish Kumar and Mr Davinder Singh Jassal.

SHIVARATRI PREPARATIONS: The Shivaratri Mahotsav Committee held a meeting on Wednesday to review the preparations being done to make the Shivaratri ‘shobha yatra’ on March 11 a success. According to a press note issued by Mr Charanjit Bhargove, its general secretary, the city has been divided into different zones for the smooth conduct of the yatra. He said a batch of 251 hymn-singing women under the leadership of Ms Saroj Verma and Ms Veena Malhotra would march ahead of the Shiva rath during the yatra, which would start at 12 noon from the Daresi grounds.

RELIEF TO WIDOWS: The Shiv Sena (Tangri) held a function at Gur Mandi on Monday at which relief, in the form of ration, was distributed among 350 widows of the city. The Taraksheel Society held a ‘magic show’ on the occasion to expose the tricks of ‘tantriks’, who are exploiting gullible people by impressing them with the same. 

SEMINAR: The Ludhiana Tuberculosis Eradication Society will organise a seminar on World TB Day on March 24. Mr Navin Sharma, an office-bearer of the society, said the society had registered 182 patients last year and collected Rs 2.56 lakh for the distribution of medicines among poor patients. The president of the society, Dr Satish Nuarhia, said a sub-centre of the society would be opened here soon under the supervision of Dr M.S. Chauhan. Among others who attended the meeting were Mr Harish Saggar, Mr Ram Raj Garg, Mr Vipin Mittal, Mr Dharam Singh, Mr S.K. Choudhary and Mr Kailash Chander. 

MALERKOTLA
ROAD MISHAP: Hassan Khan, (32), of Ghanour Kalan village died in a road accident near Kaheroo village on Wednesday. According to information available, the scooter of Hassan Khan collided with a cycle, who died on the spot. The police has registered a case.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Sher-e-Punjab Youth Club (Katron): president — Mr Bahadour Singh, vice-president — Mr Sarab Jeet Singh, general secretary — Mr Balwinder Singh and treasurer — Mr Darshan Kumar.

SAMRALA
LAWYERS’ STRIKE: In connection with the construction of a new judicial complex in the tehsil premises, a strike by the lawyers of the local Bar Association entered into 11th day on Thursday here, according to Mr Anil Gupta, president of the association. Due to the strike, the general public, including litigants is facing problems.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CONDEMNED: The Bar Association, Ambala, suspended the court work on Thursday to protest against the killing of innocent train passengers at Godhra on Wednesday. At a meeting, the Bar condemned the unfortunate incident and appealed the people to maintain communal harmony. 

NEW BUS ROUTES: The Haryana State Transport, Ambala Depot, has decided to add some buses in local routes to provide better service to the passengers. The General Manager of the depot, Mr Arvind Sharma, said a few buses would also be introduced during night hours. He said the depot had earned the profit of Rs 2.51 crore during January. In addition to it the depot has also deposited Rs 86 lakh with the government as tax. 

ATHLETICS MEET: The Government Polytechnic for Women, Ambala City, will organise its annual athletics meet on Friday. According to Principal, Mr Rampal Keshver, the Commissioner, Ambala range, Mr Maha Singh, will be the chief guest on this occasion. 

BUDGET MEETING: The president of Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, Pandit Shankar Dass, said on Thursday that an “unnecessary issue” is being raised over the budget meeting. There is no need to hold a fresh budget meeting since the budget was passed in February 19 meeting, he added. Pandit Shankar Dass said out of 22 councillors who were present at the meeting, eight walked out. “Of the remaining 14 present at the time when he budget was passed, six objected and the remaining eight were in favour. So the budget was considered passed,” he said. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
PENSION FOR EMPLOYEES: Mr P.C. Oberoy, leader of the state unit of the HVC, said here on Thursday that the party would provide better service conditions to employees, including residential quarters at subdivisional level to state headquarters. He said the HVC would also allow pension and other perks to all employees, including those of cooperative sector and the Department of Rural Development. The party would work to strengthen the Panchayati Raj institution by giving administrative and financial powers to pradhans, uppradhans and members for smooth functioning of the panchayats.