R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
MEETING: A joint meeting of the Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes Teachers Union and the SC BC Employees Coordination Committee of Fatehgarh Sahib district was held in Government Senior Secondary School Boys, here on Tuesday. It flayed the anti-SC/ BC policies adopted by the Punjab Government. The meeting, which was chaired by Mr Karnail Singh, district president, decided that employees of Amloh tehsil would participate in a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Fatehgarh Sahib on January 24 and on February 5 in front of the DPI’s office in Chandigarh to demand the implementation of the 83rd amendment of the Constitution, to complete the backlog in promotions and 27 per cent reservation for BC candidates.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
FUNCTION: A function was held at Khojemajra village on Tuesday to celebrate the birth of eight baby girls. It was organised by the Rural Development Department in collaboration with the Social Security Department. Mr Vikas Pratap, Deputy Commissioner, Ms Harjeet Kaur Aneja, Ms Ramanjit Kaur and Dr Girish, SMO, were present, among others. Tiny tots presented a cultural programme and the parents of baby girls were honoured.

HOSHIARPUR
TRIBUTES: While paying rich tributes to Giani Wattan Singh, former president, District Congress Committee and former chairman, Zila Parishad, Hoshiarpur, on his bhog ceremony at Khanpur-Sahota village on Monday, Mrs Santosh Chaudhry, MP, said according to the will of the late Giani Wattan Singh, the Khanpur Sahota Machhariwal link road would be made pucca and renamed after him. She gave a cheque of Rs 1.25 lakh from her MP Local Area Development Fund to the Executive Engineer, Panchayati Raj, Hoshiarpur for this purpose.

LUDHIANA
COURSE: The Department of Extension Education (Home Science component) in collaboration with the Department of Clothing and Textiles, College of Home Science, under the guidance of Dr Geeta Goyal, Prof-cum-Head, Department of Extension Education, organised a staff development training course on ‘Innovative techniques in dying and printing” a PAU from January 6 to 9. The participants were enlightened on the latest trend in dying and printing such as transfer printing and screen printing. Special emphasis was given on eco-friendly dyes.

PROHIBITORY ORDER: The District Magistrate on Tuesday announced the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPc in the district till March 19. According to a press note, assembly of five or more persons is banned.

NSS CAMP: A 10-day NSS camp under the leadership of Ms Ramneek Kaur, Programme Officer, organised by the Institute of Management Studies, will conclude on January 19. The camp is being organised at Phulanwal village. Fifty students and 10 youths of the village are attending the camp. According to a note, the camp was inaugurated by Col H.S. Singha, Director of the institute. During the camp, the students are creating awareness among the villagers regarding judicious use of water.

CITY ATHLETE: A class VII student of Tagore Public School in Aggar Nagar here, Gurratanvir Singh, has been selected to represent Punjab schools (under 14 years) in the 48th School National Games, scheduled to be held from January 23 to 27, 2003, at Surat (Gujarat). This was stated by Ms Manju Parkash, Principal of the school.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
HAILED: The Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry has hailed the decision of the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, regarding ban imposed on self-styled labour unions, which indulged in exploitation of labour and industry. Mr J.P. Sharma, its general secretary, said such unions use all types of tactics and allurement to exploit the working class.

NAWANSHAHR
KILLED: An ex-serviceman, Avtar Singh of Dogarpur village, was killed on the spot when a truck coming from the opposite direction lost its balance and fell on his scooter on the Garhshanker road at about 6.30 p.m. on Monday. The truck driver, Jaswinder Singh of Sauna village, who received serious injuries was admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

PATIALA
PROTEST MARCH: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) will organise a rally and dharna here on January 16 to protest against the state government’s decision to cut tubewell connections of farmers who have not paid their electricity dues. Giving this information, district president of BKU Gurbax Singh said that the government’s decision of charging electricity and water bills had caused resentment among the agricultural community. He stated that the BKU (E) would “force” the state government to roll back its decision regarding charging farmers for electricity and water.

PHAGWARA
ULTIMATUM: Employees of the local Nagar Council on Monday served a one-week ultimatum for the acceptance of their demands after which they would stage a dharna and demonstration. The Nagar Council Karamchari Union met Mr Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, civic body chief, and presented him a memorandum. They were led by their president, Mr Jagtar Singh.

TARN TARAN
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office bearers of the local unit of the Vikas Manch, Punjab: president — Ms Baljit Kaur; vice-president — Ms Gurdarshan Kaur; general secretary — Ms Anju; joint secretary — Ms Atma Ram; organising secretary — Ms Sarabjit Kaur, and treasurer — Ms Ranjit Kaur.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
LOHRI CELEBRATED: Students and staff of Amravati Public School celebrated Lohri. Students danced to the tunes of Punjabi numbers and were explained the significance of the festival. The festival was also celebrated in Satluj Public School, Sector 2, with students lighting a bonfire.

HARYANA

AMBALA
POWER CUTS: The Ambala Cantonment Traders Federation on Tuesday demanded that prior intimation should be given if a power cut is going to take place in a area. “A number of telegrams have been sent to the electricity board about power cuts in Ambala Sadar. Water supply is affected and it has adverse impact on trade and industry. There is no timing for power cuts,” a press release said.

TRAFFIC RULES: Students of GRSD Senior Secondary School, Ambala city, were informed about traffic rules on Monday. Head Constable Subhash Chander explained to the students the major causes of accidents. He said that traffic rules must be obeyed, a release said.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
ALLEGATION: Mr Balak Ram, president of the Kulu District Non-gazetted Employees Association, has urged the state government not to extend the tenure of the Director of the Mountaineering Institute at Manali. He alleged that the director’s working was under a cloud and he should not be given extension.