R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Prayer: An all-religion prayer was organised by the Congress Seva Dal here on Monday to pray for an early recovery from turmoil of tsunami disaster. Priests appealed to the people to contribute generously towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief fund. They said old clothes or perishable items should not be sent as this would demoralise them.

DISTRIBUTED: The local Aggarwal Sabha has distributed shoes and socks among poor students of Shri Guru Nanak AV Senior Secondary School and Shri Sanatan Dharam Putri Pathshala.

Amritsar
APPEALED: A meeting of the Government-Aided Privately Managed Schools Teachers/Employees Union was held at Salvation Army Senior Secondary School here on Tuesday. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bal, district president, presided over the meeting. He appealed to employees to take mass leave on Friday to participate in a protest rally at Jalandhar. He said their demands included the reintroduction of old pension scheme, merger of 50 per cent DA in the basic pay and the removal of ban on filling regular posts in the aided schools.

Hoshiarpur
BHOG CEREMONY: The bhog ceremony of Sukhmani Sahib was performed at local mini secretariat by employees of various government offices to pay homage to the victims of tsunami disaster here on Tuesday. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the employees and public to donate liberally to the Chief Minister’s fund.

KILLED: Sukhdev Singh of Dehriwal was killed when the Jehlam Express train hit his cycle at a railway crossing at Khakh village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot railway section on Tuesday.

Khamano
HONOURED: IG Patiala Zone Rajinder Singh on Wednesday visited the site for accident of January 3 where 15 persons including 14 girls were killed . He honoured six persons who saved lives of accident victims. He presented certificates of honour and Rs 500 each to the six persons namely Balwinder Singh (Captain Dhaba), Paramjit Singh (zimidara Dhaba) Jasbir Singh Pohlomajra, Janak Singh Pohlomajra, Kamaljit Singh Pohlomajra and Havaldar Piara Singh of Khamano police station. He said that a letter will be written to the Health Department to take stern action against the doctors of civil hospital Khamano and civil hospital Morina, who were not on duty.

PROBE ORDERED: Civil Surgeon Fatehgarh Sahib H.P.S. Sandhu has ordered an inquiry against SMO Khamano Charanjit Singh. He has deputed DDHO Parmod Kumar Mahajan to hold the inquiry and report in seven days whether the doctor was present at the time of accident.

Mandi Gobindgarh
DISTRIBUTED: As many as 200 pairs of socks, leather shoes and 200 cardigars were distributed any children of a school by help the Punjab Khatri Sabha Mandi Gobindgarh said Dr. Manmohan Kaushal President of the Sabha. Sabha will also organise a blood camp on January 27, at SNAS senior Secondary School.

Elected: The following have been elected office bearers of the new press club Fatehgarh Sahib for President – Vinod Kumar ; General Secretary – Gurmeet Singh Laut ; Finance Secretary – Raghbir Singh ; Secretary – Ms Ranjna Pamila.

NAM DEV SABHA: The following have been elected office bearer of Baba Nam Dev Sabha Mandi Gobindgarh; President – Balwinder Singh Jassran; chief advisers – Amin Chand Bhat and Bhajan Singh Jassal : Senior Vice-President — Narinder Kumar Mohal; Vice- President – Labh Singh; General Secretary – Gurdev Singh; Press Secretary – Dharam Pal Mohal; Cashier – Ujagar Singh.

GYMKHANA CLUB: The following have been elected office bearers of a Gymkhana club Mandi Gobindgarh; President – Sushil Mittal; general secretary – Inder Pal Singh Chopra and Cashier — Vinod Kaushal.

DONATED: Dr Ambedkar Mission Welfare Society, Greece, has donated Rs 21,000 to Bimla Rani of Mahalon village, whose husband had died in an accident. The cheque was given to her by Mr Satnam Kainth, former Member of Parliament, and Mr Dharam Pal Rattu of Greece.

Pathankot
CRITICISED: Officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) have criticised the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme because it is not beneficial for the board. Mr N.K. Malik, senior Executive Engineer, PSEB, said here on Tuesday that instructions had been issued to all officials to carry out surprise checking in their jurisdiction for the financial interest of the board. He said it was decided at a meeting in which Director, Enforcement, Mr K.D. Parti, Deputy Chief Engineer, Operation Circle, Mr Tarlok Singh, and other officials of the board were present.

PATIALA
NCC camp: Punjab (G)BN, NCC Patiala organised an annual training camp from December 19 to 30 at Punjab Public School, Nabha. Speaking on the occasion, Lieut-Col S.S. Aujla, informed that cadets took part in various activities like PT, shooting, weapon training, first aid, signal communication, games and cultural activities. The chief guest, Col Manjit Singh (Gp Cadre NCC GP HQ) informed that the cadets from Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar districts participated in the camp. He further added that the aim of the camp was personality development of the cadets, selection of best cadets for Republic Day celebration-2006 and preparation of cadets for NCC ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ certificate exam.

De-addiction programmes: Mr S. Virk, Director in charge, Red Cross De-addiction Centre, Saket Hospital, Badungar said on Tuesday that they were trying to educate the youth about the harmful affects of drugs. Dr Jagir Kaur said they were organising the de-addiction programmes. The counsellor of the centre, Mr Anil Kumar, further added that 36 patients had been admitted in the centre. 

Fast: Mr Mahinder Pal Bathinda, here said on Tuesday that it was the 21st day of the fast by the employees of the Punjab-State Electricity Board (PSEB) in protest against the decision to give Rs 5 lakh to the families, instead of giving jobs to the descendants of dead and permanently disabled employees of the PSEB. On the occasion, senior vice-president Rajesh Batish informed that Mr Lakshmi Kant Chawla (BJP), alongwith Mr Satpal Saini were also present.

Help kits: Shri Akhil Bhartiya Sewa Sangh has distributed help kits to nearly 100 poor and needy children at Braham Kumari Ashram here. Speaking on the occasion the chief guest, Mr Randeep Singh, secretary of the local municipal corporation, informed that they were distributing boots, sweaters, notebooks, school bags, suits, pencils, biscuits and medicines. Mr Sohan Lal Jalota, Director, Punsup, and Mr Rahul Kaushal, SHO, Model Town, were also present on the occasion.

Nagar kirtan: A colourful nagar kirtan was taken out on Tuesday to mark the Parkash Utsav of the Guru Gobind Singh in different parts of the city. The route of the nagar kirtan, which originated from Gurdwara Singh Sabha was decorated with banners and hundreds of people, including children and women, took part in the kirtan on trollies and other vehicles. The panj piaras led the procession followed by children from different schools.

Rally: Prem Dham Sarvhithkari Vidya Mandir organised a rally here on Tuesday to help the victims of tsunami tragedy in South India and other parts of South Asia. According to an official statement the rally was attended by the students and teachers of the school.

PSEB rally: The PSEB Employees Joint Forum organised a rally in support of their demands on Monday. The member of the forum, Mr Amarjit Singh Sodhi, stated here on Tuesday that the rally was organised against the privitisation of the board in the garb of ‘unbundling’ at all sub-divisional offices of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Taran Taran, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mohali, Ropar, Sangrur, Patiala, Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepore, Muktsar, Khanna, Bathinda thermal plant, Ropar thermal plant and UBDC Pathankot and Shahpur Kandi.

Road safety programme: An NGO, Progressive Youth forum, organised a road safety programme in Seona village of Patiala district in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Mr Major Singh Sekhon. The objective of the camp was to suggest ways and means to reduce accidents. The theme of this campaign was “No Accident and Save Human Lives”.

Donation: Members of the Punjab Agrawal Intellectual Forum, Patiala, at a meeting held here on Wednesday, expressed sympathy with the families who bore the brunt of tsumani. The president of the forum, Mr N.K. Jain, all members had decided to cancel the Lohri celebrations and contribute Rs 21,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Members of the Dedicated Brothers Group also decided to donate Rs 27,547 for the victims of tsunami. Dr Manjula Sahdev, a retired Professor and HoD of Maharishi Balmiki Chair, Punjabi University, donated Rs 50000 for the tsunami victims on Wednesday. 

Child relief centres: Public Relations Officer of the SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOSCVI), Rozy Sareen said here on Wednesday that they were setting up 16 emergency child relief centers in the worst affected areas of Naggapatinam, Cuddulore and Kanyakumari to help the tsunami victims. She said the organisation was going to take care of 4000 children affected by tsumani the SOSCVI appealed to other organisations to contribute donations for emergency relief work for the children affected by the tsunami disaster in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Persons who are interested in donating any amount can send the donations to the SOSCVI. 

Samrala
Relief fund: Mr Baldev Singh, SDM, Samrala, said here on Wednesday that a sum of Rs 3 lakh was collected in this subdivision for the Prime Minister Relief Fund.While talking to mediapersons, the SDM said Rs 30,000 was donated by the local Patwar Union. Mr Budh Singh and Parminder Singh Toor, are president and general-secretary of the union, respectively. A sum of Rs 10,000 was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr Anurag Verma, by the national general-secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union, Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal.

CHANDIGARH

CalendAr released: The year 2005 calendar of the Haryana Civil Accounts Association was released today by Mr Mohinder Singh, Accountant General (A&E) at a simple function held in Sector 33 here on Wednesday. On this occasion, Mr Sudesh Kumar, Additional Secretary-General, All-India Audit and Accounts Association, was also present on the occasion.

Divali dhamaka: The Chandigarh Mobile Dealers Association on Wednesday announced the winners of the Divali Dhamaka. City-based Satish Kumar won the bumper prize, Maruti car. Apart from this other prizes were also given away to the winners. 

HARYANA

Sonepat
DETAINED: The Ganaur police on Wednesday detained five persons for questioning in a case of rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, Sapna. The detainees include Meena, Sohan Chand and Ram Niwas.

DEAD: Chand Ram allegedly tried to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his house at Chaulka village, about 15 km from here, on Wednesday. He was taken to the PGIMS, Rohtak, for treatment where he died. A family feud is said to be the cause of the suicide.

CELEBRATED: The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated here on Wednesday. Several Sikh organisations arranged langar.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
NOC: Mr Rohan Lal Sharma, president of the Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers’ Union, has said the Director of Education, Himachal Pradesh, has agreed to withdraw his earlier order which had made No objection Certificate (NOC) obligatory from all schools served by a retiring teacher during his life time at the time of his retirement. He said the decision was taken at a meeting with the Director of Education, Mr O.P. Sharma, on Monday. Now, a retiring teacher would submit an NOC from a school where he had served during his last five years, he added. He said the Director had also agreed to restore powers of Headmasters to write off material worth Rs 10,000 and also to annul order for verification of such materials by an S.O. of Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Dharamsala
UNIVERSITY: Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, president, NSUI, said here on Tuesday that he had discussed with the Government of India the setting up of a central university at Dharamsala. He said a survey would soon be conducted in this regard.

Kangra
APPOINTED: The following have been appointed office-bearers of the Association of Self Financing B.Ed Colleges of Himachal Pradesh: president—Mr N.K. Sharma; senior vice-president—Mr Chand Saini; vice-president—Mr Facenoo; general secretary—Mr Shiv Kumar Dogra; joint secretary and treasurer—Col Jai Chand and press secretary—Mr Surender Sood.

INAUGURATED: The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Shrikant Baldhi, inaugurated a public library in the municipal committee complex here on Tuesday. Swami Vivekanand Kendra would manage the library. Dr Baldhi described old books as a treasure and lauded the role of the kendra in the service of the society. A spokesman for the kendra said the library would remain open for two-hour daily in the evening.