Ludhiana, January 2
Workers of Nagesh Knitwear suspended work for around five hours here today. The matter was settled between the management and the workers in the afternoon following which the work was resumed.

Nearly 500 workers of the unit, located near Jalandhar bypass, came out in protest against the demand to raise salary.

A spokesperson of the company said: “They are given an increment every year. They wanted to know some details about it due to which there was a minor altercation. The matter was sorted out after a dialogue between he management and workers.”

The workers’ protest set alarm bells ringing in the industry, which is wary of labour unrest. Industry representatives said chances of workers having been provoked by some outside parties could not be ruled out.

“The industry here is witnessing increased incidents of labour unrest. Backed by political parties, several labour unions are trying to spoil working environment. So far it was confined to the cycle industry, but it is quite likely that certain political parties are trying to create unrest in the hosiery industry too,” said Mr B.D. Arora, advocate, who is a legal adviser to several companies.

Ludhiana, January 2
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), while castigating the Punjab Government for granting legislative approval to a private university in the state, has vowed to launch a decisive battle against the move. The youth wing of the BJP has not only decided to file a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the step which was bound to have far-reaching repercussions on the education system but would also start a mass agitation with the cooperation of students, teachers as well as other social and political bodies.

Addressing a news conference here yesterday, the district secretary of the BJYM, Mr Sandeep Kapoor, observed that the proposed Lovely Professional University would lead to commercialisation of professional education and exploitation of the student community in a big way.

“The Lovely International Trust which has been allowed to set up the university has neither the requisite experience nor any significant contribution in the field of education. It is with sheer money power that the said trust has set up a number of educational institutions and manipulated the government in seeking approval for a private university.”

According to Mr Kapoor, the Lovely Professional University Bill, adopted by the Punjab Assembly was also against the professed policies of the state government in bringing about excellence in technical and professional education. On the one hand, the Punjab Government had set up separate universities for technical education and health sciences while on the other, the said university had been permitted to impart education in all disciplines, including technical and health education.

He alleged that the permission granted to the private university for starting distant learning centres and according affiliation to already functional educational institutions anywhere in the country would result in mushrooming of unscrupulous institutions and indiscriminate award of degrees as had happened in the case of universities allowed to be opened by the Chhattisgarh Government. Mr Kapoor said in allowing the said university to decide the fee structure and admissions at its own level, the government had failed to safeguard the interests of the student community.

The BJYM functionary was also critical of the compromise on the post of the Chancellor of the proposed private university. “Unlike in other universities in the state, the Governor will not be the ex-officio Chancellor of Lovely Professional University and will be a mere visitor. Further, the 10-member governing committee will have just one nominee of the state government.”

In the total absence of regulatory controls and government intervention, those running the university were bound to exploit the students and make a mockery of education, Mr Kapoor apprehended.

Ludhiana, January 2
The Punjab State Pensioners Confederation, the Punjab State Pensioners Maha Sangh and the Punjab Govt Pensioners Association representatives met here today in Pensioners’ Bhavan and formed a joint front of pensioners for launching a struggle against the apathy of the Punjab Government for the settlement of their genuine demands based on promises made by the Congress.

A nine-member Joint Action Committee has been formed with B.R. Kaushal , Avtar Singh Afat, H S Sodhi from the Punjab State Pensioners Confederation, O P Gauba, Hardev Singh and Principal Waryam Singh from the Punjab Govt Pensioners Association and Prem Sagar, Ranbir Dhillon and Khushal Singh Naga from the Punjab State Pensioners Maha Sangh. The joint front will struggle for pensioners’ demands which include pension parity of pre- January, 1996, retirees with post-January, 1996, retirees, enhancement of fixed monthly medical allowance 15 per cent old-age allowance for those pensioners having attained the age of 80 years, house maintenance allowance at 5 per cent of the basic pension, revision of pensions from Jan 1, 06.

The Joint Action Committee will organise district-level meetings of pensioners bodies between January 16 and 21, 2006 to mobilise a massive agitation on the eve of the ensuing Budget session at Chandigarh. 

Ludhiana, January 2
Led by activists of the National Federation of Telecom Employees of the BSNL, employees staged a protest at the office of the General Manager, Ludhiana Telecom, and a representative of the NFTE started a fast against “selective and vindictive” transfers by the management.

In a press note issued here today, the district secretary of the NFTE, Mr Mohinder Parshad, alleged that the activists of the association were being victimised and transferred at the behest of rival union. He said during the past eight months, different criteria had been adopted to target the activists of the NFTE.

He charged the BSNL administration with backing out from settlement which was arrived at during several rounds of negotiations. He said the agitation would continue till justice was dispensed to the affected employees and a fair transfer policy was implemented by the BSNL. 

How is your company contributing towards increasing IT penetration?

We are focusing on large-scale projects pertaining to information technology. For instance, we are implementing an IT project in over 2,000 schools in Punjab. There is another broadband project for BSNL that we have taken up. Through such projects, we aim to spread IT to even small towns and rural areas.

What is the IT project in schools about?

It is a five-year project involving an investment of more than Rs 70 crore to be implemented in 1,600 schools over a period of five years. We have also obtained a second order from the government for 1,500 more schools across the state. The company will supply, install and maintain IT infrastructure in government schools, both in rural and urban areas, as part of the project. There is massive employment generation, too, through such projects.

Your company has also launched a PC for Rs 10,000.

Yes, it is another effort to reach out to a large section of people by introducing low-cost IT products. Over 6,000 such personal computers have already been sold.

— Shveta Pathak

Panchkula, January 2
Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) hopes to finally develop its industrial areas by introducing the new Estate Management Procedure. The procedure has been recently approved by HUDA in its meeting held on December 29.

Under the new procedure, no industrial plot allottee can transfer his plot before having completed 25 per cent construction, and initiating commercial production till a minimum of one year. Even the person, on whose name the plot is transferred, will have to start and continue production for a year, before he can re-sell the industrial plot.

Also, the allottee will have to undertake commercial production for a project that he got approved from HUDA. He cannot change the project without approval from the Industries Department. Officials in HUDA, however, inform that these conditions need not apply in case of transfer of the plot from a person to his legal heirs, after death.

This is the first time that HUDA has initiated its own industrial policy. Till date the industrial policy of the state was being implemented in HUDA Industrial Areas. Earlier, the industrial plots could be transferred after 25 per cent construction on the plot.

The new procedure adopted by HUDA will go a long way in developing the Industrial Area here. Though the Industrial Area — both Phase I and II — were developed by HUDA over two decades ago, it has failed to come up to expectations. Of the 900 industrial plots spread over two phases, only 300 are operational as of now. With rising real estate prices, most of the allotees are keeping the plots for speculation.

Most of the developed industrial plots are being misused and instead of manufacturing units, hardware and furniture shops, textile and garment retail outlets, schools, a career academy, computer training institutes and even gymnasium are operational here.

In several plots, where a manufacturing unit is operational the plot allotees have further rented out space in their plots for running more than one business venture. This inspite of the fact that HUDA norms for allotment clearly specify that only one unit can run in a plot.

Mr Satish Gupta, president, Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry: This is a good step to increase the industrial production and promote economic activity in the industrial area developed by HUDA .

Mr S.S. Goel, general secretary, Panchkula Industrial Association: There is not much change in the Estate Management Procedure, but it will definitely give a fillip to industry in Panchkula. Also, speculation on industrial plots will be curbed to a great extent. The government should also consider our demand for allowing tenants in the plots and allow us to change industrial projects on own.

Ludhiana, January 2
The District Transport Officer today challaned around 10 vehicle owners whose pollution emission level was more than the permissible limits.

The DTO, Mr Kuldeep Singh, was educating vehicle drivers during the road safety week being observed in the district. A team, checked the emission level by a number of vehicles on the roads. Only those, that were emitting poisonous gases much beyond the limits were challaned. The rest were given a warning and asked to comply with the rules.

He said the idea behind the awareness camp was not to challan the vehicles but to educate people about road safety.

He added that they would continue to educate people on the issue during the week.