Jalandhar, June 1
Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) will soon sign an MoU with the Ministry of Textile, Government of India, for starting a United Nations Confederation of Trade and Development (UNCTAD)-funded project for technology dissemination and trade-related capacity building in textiles and clothing sector of north India.

During the project that will last for three-and-a-half years, the NIT faculty from the Department of Textile Engineering will assist the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the field by training them in latest technologies for producing better quality textile materials.

As a part of the project entitled ‘Strategies and preparedness for trade and globalisation in India in the textile and clothing sector in Asia’, the NIT faculty will hold a series of interactive programmes such as seminars and workshops and generate feedback on the same from the human resource engaged in small to medium industries.

Giving details of the project, Dr K.V.P. Singh, in charge of the consultancy cell of the NIT, said the institute would help the clothing and textile entrepreneurs in policy-making and negotiating for trading purposes. He said that there would be the exchange of information and documentation on regular basis, besides regular consultation at the sector and cluster levels. He said the joint research projects would be identified and carried out by the NIT which would be funded by UNCTAD after consultation with the Textiles Committee of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

The consultancy cell of the institute has also submitted a proposal to the ministry for functioning as implementing agency for Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Scheme. The Ministry of Textiles is planning to form 20 handloom clusters throughout India, of which the NIT faculty would be assigned to take care of the Kullu-based cluster. The faculty from the institute will empower handloom weavers in the area by training them, conducting study, forming action plan and promoting linkages with institutions and building local governance framework.

The institute has also been involved by the local Municipal Corporation for assessing the quality control of flyovers being constructed over Damoria Bridge and DAV College railway crossing. The faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering from the NIT has been asked to join in for the purpose.

The institute is planning to hold counselling for the AIEEE from 28 June. The institute has also been ranked fourth among 20 NITs and 18th among engineering institutes at national level in a study conducted by India Today covered in its current issue now on stands. 

Phagwara, June 1
The Punjab government has urged the Centre to open 276 new creches for children of working and ailing mothers belonging to the low-income group.

Talking to mediapersons on Thursday, Mr R.L. Kalsia, Secretary, Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, said 75 institutions had sent a proposal to the department seeking opening of creches which had further been recommended to the Union government.

He said that last year, 83 creches had been sanctioned.

Mr Kalsia added that three new Family Counselling Centres (FCCs) would be set up in Ludhiana, Sangrur, Kapurthala and Ropar districts.

The Social Welfare Secretary said that already 12 FCCs were working in the state in close collaboration with police and institutions of short stay homes.

He said FCCs’ aim at providing preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to women who were the victims of atrocities, exploitation, rape, discord, sexual harassment and mal-adjustment.

It would also create awareness in the community on social problems and laws pertaining to the welfare schemes of women, he added.

Mr Kalsia said the department had started a helpline for women and girls which would be accessible at all times by dialing a toll-free number— 1092.

Other than this, needy women and girls were provided with referral services like Short Stay Homes, free legal aid, police assistance, counselling and hospitalisation etc, he added.

Mr Kalsia said that at present, the project sanctioning panel of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development had approved 14 Women Helplines. 

Jalandhar, June 1
It was time for a fight back.

While Ms Kamaljit Kaur Multani, District President (rural) of the Punjab Mahila Congress, who was suspended by the chief of the Punjab Mahila Congress and Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Gurkanwal Kaur, for a second time yesterday said the chief had no right to suspend her.

Ms Harsimrat Kaur, a senior Congress leader and a member of the State Commission for Women, too has lent her weight behind Ms Multani.

Ms Multani was removed by the Minister on April 8 but was reinstated on the orders of the Ms Rita Bahuguna Joshi, President of the All India Mahila Congress on May 25.

After her suspension was ordered by Ms Gurkanwal Kaur once again, Ms Multani ridiculed it as “an illegal act committed out of frustration”.

“How can she remove me for the second time and particularly when my removal was set aside by none other than the All India Mahila Congress chief? She is frustrated over my popularity and the support, which I’m able to muster,” Ms Multani added.

Meanwhile, Ms Harsimrat Kaur, speaking in favour of Ms Multani said the recent developments within the Congress’s frontal organisation had caused utmost pain to her. “Such acts harm the party’s poll prospects and image amongst the people,” she said.

Ms Harsimrat Kaur also sent out a piece of advice to Ms Gurkanwal Kaur saying that she should adhere to “one man, one post” principle, which had been adopted by the AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi.

She said Ms Gurkanwal Kaur was holding twin posts.

Jalandhar, June 1
Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma has invited applications for the “Shaheed-E-Aazam Bhagat Singh State Youth Award 2005-06”.

The award, Mr Verma said, would be given by the state government to two male or female youths from each district in the age group of 15-35 years. The candidates should have participated with distinction in the fields of youth welfare, National Service Scheme, sports, NCC, cultural activities, social service, national integration, mountaineering, hiking-trekking, higher education, scouting and guiding and actions of valour.

Apart from medals, the winners would also include receive a scroll and a cash prize of Rs 5,000.

The eligible persons should have achieved distinction in any one of these fields before March 31, 2006 and should be keen to continue participating in these activities for next two years. The applications, Mr Verma added, should be accompanied by written qualitative statement of about 200 words regarding achievements along with documentary proof.

The prescribed forms can be had from the office of Assistant Director, District Youth Services, Youth Coordinators, Nehru Yuvak Kendra at the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

The last date to submit the applications is June 6 and after verification through respective SDMs, the forms would be forwarded to the Punjab government with a recommendation of the district-level selection committee.

Phagwara, June 1
The Nakodar police arrested an NRI and his mother and booked his two sisters yesterday after his second wife accused him of getting married illegally without seeking a divorce from his first wife. The case was registered in October last year.

Manjit Kaur was married to one Kamaljit Singh. After that he went abroad along with his mother, Darshan Kaur, and did not call his wife there even after two years of their marriage. When he returned to India, he married one Kamaljit Kaur, a resident of Sarhin village, the police claimed.