R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

HOSHIARPUR
Red Cross fair: To raise funds for the welfare of suffering humanity, Hospital Welfare Section here will organise the Red Cross fair at Green View Park on December 3. This was stated by Ms Urveshi Tiwari, Chairperson, Hospital Welfare Section, on Wednesday here. She said more than 14 stalls of various eatables, children games and garments would be arranged by the members and NGOs in the fair. She said that Hospital Welfare Section would construct a home costing Rs 20 lakh for women and girls at Mall Road. The home would provide free shelter and protection to the women and girls in distress. Besides, they would also be imparted training in stitching, stenography, computers, etc to earn their livelihood.

Sainik welfare board meeting: While presiding over the quarterly meeting of the District Sainik Welfare Board (DSWB) here on Wednesday, Mr D.K. Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman of the board, appealed to all ex-servicemen to get themselves registered with the board to avail themselves of the facilities being given by the government. He said there were more than 60,000 ex-servicemen who had got themselves registered with the DSWB in the district for whom works were being done for their welfare under various schemes. Computer centres would soon be opened by the board for the wards of ex-servicemen.

Jalandhar
One held: The local police has arrested one person for allegedly carrying poppy husk. Sandeep, a resident of Chaugitti village, was arrested in his village and around 8 kgs of poppy husk recovered from his possession. A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the Narcotics Act has been registered against the accused.

2-year-old dies: Two-year-old Noorjahan died after she fell off the roof of her Danishmandan Mohalla house. The girl was not rushed to any hospital on time and she was declared brought dead in the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital, here.

Union’s demand: The members of the Pendu Mazdoor Union have appealed to the government to withdraw all policies, which were against the interests of the workers. The Union’s district president, Mr Kashmir Singh, has said the union had decided to step up its agitation against the government as its policies were adding up to the unemployed work force in the region.

Seminar on city: As a prelude to Katha Asia International Festival, a seminar on ‘Writing the city’ was organised at HMV College here Thursday. Ms P.P. Sharma, Principal of the college, introduced Katha as a distinct organisation devoted to linking the cultural diversities.

New car model: The Hindustan Motors has put the new model of Mitsubishi Lancer at the Northern Motors here. The company has displayed new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO – IX Model in city. The new model is competent for the rough roads as well as for speed racing, making it the fastest rally cars in the world, the company claims.

Literary society: Tagore English Literary Society was founded in Government Arts and Sports college here on Thursday. The college Principal Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary is its patron.

IBSAT 2005: ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT) 2005, for the two-year full-time MBA programme at ICFAI Business School (IBS), is scheduled to be held on December 18 at 189 test centres across the country. Based on the ranking in IBSAT, candidates will be short-listed and called for interviews at Hyderabad in February, 2006, according to a press release said.

NAWANSHAHR
Complaints: Mr Krishan Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, redressed as many as 54 complaints put forth by the people at the weekly Jan Sampark Divas organised here in Dilbagh Hall on Tuesday. He asked the officials concerned to look into grievances of the people.

Spiritual awakening: The local Prajapati Brahmakumari Ishvariya Vishva Vidyalaya opened Adhiyatamak Path Pardarshi Kendra here at Banga Road. Centre in charge B.K. Krishanaji, in her address, said the centre would strive to create spiritual awakening among the masses and mobilise them to raise their voice against the social evils, informed Mr Varinder Ummat. 

Children Day celebrations: A district-level programme in connection with Children’s Day was organised by the District Education Department here at Government Senior Secondary School. Declamation and poetical recitation competitions were held in which students from different schools participated. In declamation contest - Priyanka ( Govt. Senior Secondary School, Nawanshahr), Rupinder Kaur (Govt. Senior Secondary School, Mehli), Kiranjit Kaur (Govt. Senior Secondary School, Bharta Kalan) and in poetical recitation contest – Ruby Mehta (Govt. Senior Secondary School, Nawanshahr), Harpreet Kaur (Govt. High School, Jhander Kalan) and Sanjiv (Govt. Senior Secondary School, Kariha) bagged the first three positions, respectively. Mr Gurmail Singh Sahlon, District Education Officer, presided over and gave away the prizes to winners. 

Jan Kalyan Divas: The Bhai Ghanayia Sewa Samiti organised Jan Kalyan Divas here at Shiv Mandir, Katcha Toba. Mr Kishoari Lal Duggal and Ms Jatinder Kaur Pathlawa, prominent social workers, presided over and distributed ration items among as many as 26 poor families, informed Mr Birbal Takhi, secretary.

HARYANA

Fatehabad
Competitions for disabled: The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.L. Kaushik, said on Wednesday that mentally retarded and physically handicapped persons needed support from the society for their rehabilitation. He was addressing a gathering after giving away prizes on the conclusion of sports and cultural competitions for handicapped persons. He said that the state government had been providing facilities for rehabilitation of handicapped children. School teachers should give extra care to such children. He announced that track suits and other sports items would be promised to handicapped children. 

KARNAL
DC’s denial: Not even a single child died due to Japanese encephalitis in the district. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Gupta, while talking to mediapersons here on Wednesday. A section of the media reported in the recent past that over 20 children had died because of this disease in several weeks. The DC said blood samples of the deceased children had been sent to Delhi-based national laboratory for examination but their reports confirmed none of them had died due to Japanese encephalitis. 

KURUKSHETRA
50 donate blood: A blood donation camp was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr T.K. Sharma on the premises of Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa, 15 km from here, on Wednesday. The Principal, Dr N.K. Nagpal, said the camp was organised in memory of the college founder, late Mr O.P. Garg. Fifty students donated their blood.

SONEPAT
Traffic blocked: A large number of aged persons held up traffic for more than one hour on the road between Thana Kalan Chowk and the office of the Municipal Committee at Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here, on Thursday in protest against the non-payment of the old-age pension. The police officials succeeded in lifting the blockade after assuring the aged persons that they would get the pension on Thursday itself 

Theft: Thieves are reported to have entered the house during broad-day light in Jiwan Nagar here on Thursday and decamped with cash and jewellery worth several lakhs of rupees. The owner of the house along with his wife had gone to attend a prayer meeting at his relative’s house. After his return he noticed the theft and lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines police station.