The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Coming soon: City bus service Gear up for new riding experience Varinder Singh Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 26 Grappling by city residents with a lackadaisical private local bus service, despite presence of more than 50 buses on the scene, continues unabated, even as the municipal corporation is gearing itself for the introduction of a much-needed ultra-modern city bus service in Jalandhar under an ambitious central government-aided programme. Despite being one of the major cities of Punjab, Jalandhar - the heartland of Doaba region of Punjab - sans any convenient local bus service, with a result that residents have to depend heavily either upon their own vehicles or the existing “non-convenient” network of private bus operators.The biggest problem of the residents and local commuters in proper utilisation of the local minibus service is the alleged lack of punctuality coupled with absence of any coordination in ongoing operation of a fleet of 50 odd minibuses being operated by private operators. These buses are allegedly being run by private operators “as per their whims and fancies.” “There are no fixed timings and no care is being taken to ensure any degree of convenience for commuters or passengers. Some bus drivers and conductors are of a tendency to resort to delays when they are short of passengers and they keep waiting at the main bus stand or other stops till the bus is filled with passengers to its full capacity. Normally, I and others like me prefer the local bus service, but to avoid inconvenience we are forced to take out our own vehicles, which results in incurring of more expenditure and pollution of environment,” said Ravinder Kumar,local resident. Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that the biggest roadblock in the success of the existing local bus service network was lack of coordination in its operations. There was practically no agency to monitor, supervise or streamline the existing network.“Though the office of the regional transport authority (RTA) can check maladies like delays and jumping of timings by private minibus operators, but normally it does not occur owing to lack of interest. The municipal corporation has no say, despite the fact that the minibuses operate in most parts of the city. When there are no checks and balances, things go haywire,” admitted a senior official of the Punjab Roadways. But the existing dismal situation is likely to give way to a positive change with the MC planning to introduce a new network of local bus service in under the aegis of the Jalandhar Transport Services Limited within a tentative period of about one month.“We are doing the spadework.. The new bus service will be run by a registered company under the public-private partnership programme. We will weed out ills of the existing network and introduce pluses of the private sector in the new system,” said C.S. Talwar, commissioner of the Jalandhar Muncipal Corporation. The Punjab government has already made a provision in its budget for putting a new local bus service network in place in all four corporation cities of Punjab - Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar. The new network of city bus service, however, would be introduced under a central government-aided city bus service programme, said Parneet Singh, general manager, Punjab Roadways (II), Jalandhar. He said the new bus service would be having dual objective of reducing congestion on roads and making an effort to minimise pollution of environment. The existing network of private minibuses provides commuting facility to surrounding villages, whereas the new bus service will be city specific. The city buses will be having low ground clearance, which means that there will be no difficulty for even old-aged people in boarding the buses. “We have finalised three major routes, including PAP chowk, bus stand and BMC chowk, so far, but the number of buses to be introduced has not been decided upon as yet,” said Kulwinder Singh, joint commissioner of the municipal corporation.
	Heat wave sends prices of veggies soaring Anil Jerath Tribune news Service Phagwara, June 26 A sharp rise in the vegetable prices over the past few days is burning a big hol e in the pockets of residents. The poor production has hit the supply hard. “The intense heat wave in the region has adversely affected the vegetable production,” says Tirath Ram, a wholesale vegetable vendor on Hoshiarpur Road. Agrees Vinod Kumar, a merchant in the Sarai Road market. “The extremely hot weather has destroyed most of the crop. Therefore, we are not able to bring enough produce to the market with the result that the prices have gone up.” The increased prices have made people either to look for an alternative or compromise by reducing the consumption. Radhika Malhotara, a housewife, who has opted for soya products as an alternative, says: “One has to eat, but one cannot upset one’s monthly budget. Therefore, I have increased the use of soya products, which are cheaper than vegetables.” Pratibha, a mother of two children, said: “Supplementing vegetables and fruits with other products without compromising on nutrition is the main concern for every mother. I cannot let the health of my children suffer. As the prices have shot up, I am looking for alternatives in pulses and cheese." “The fuel price hike is already taxing our pockets and now the vegetables have gone out of reach. We are facing a tough time managing things,” complained Anu Sharma, a resident of Hargobind Nagar. Though the prices of fruits have not changed much, the costly vegetables have ensured that they remain out of people’s homes. Kirti from New Model Town says: “Earlier I used to spend around Rs 250 in a week on veggies. But now I have to shell out Rs 400, which means I have to cut down on fruits.” The vendors are also facing a tough time. Says Ram Saran of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar rehri market: “There’s nothing much left in the business. People buy vegetables in bulk from the mandi and come to us only when there is some urgency, as a result our sales have been badly affected.”
	Pedalling their way to limelight Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service Kapurthala, June 26 Four cyclists from different parts of the state claim to have made a new world record by reaching world’s highest motorable road, Marshimikla, situated at a height of 18634 feet, in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir, in just eight days. The team led by Dr Amarjeet Singh, included Dr Bahadur Singh both from Patiala, Dr Balraj Singh from Ludhiana and Gurbachan Singh, a member of Punjab Adventure Sports Club and a Punjab Police constable from Kapurthala. The expedition was flagged off from Chandigarh on June 5 by Vivek Atray, director tourism. The team crossed 884 km long terrain, passing through Kiratpur, Bilaspur, Kullu, Rohtang and Khardung-La, to reach Marshimikla on June 12. Anoop Chand, in charge of GREF, received them at the Khardung-La top. The team hoisted the national flag after reaching Marshimikla in a record time of just eight days, claims Gurbachan Singh. As a proof of completing their journey in a record time of eight days Gurbachan claims their papers were stamped by officials of the area and notified in the log books. Earlier, Bahadur Singh and Amarjeet Singh covered the same distance in 17 days in 2004, he claimed. Gurbachan said that they have sent a letter with photocopies of documents to the Limca book of records for entering their name in the book.
	Scripting success Wind beneath their wings Anuradha Shukla Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 26 Government Model Co-educational Secondary School on Ladowali Road here was in news for all the right reasons this time. Four of its students, Arshdeep Kaur, Jasmine, Rachna and Himanshi Guglani, figured in the top 11 positions of the merit list of the Punjab School Education Board class X examination. Arshdeep Kaur bagged the first position in the state surpassing even her teachers’ expectations. It is for the first time that students of the school, who have earlier also been figuring in the merit list, have bagged the top honours. A government school walking away with the honours might have caused some heartburn but it has drawn the attention toward the factors responsible to enable other government schools to relive the success story. Walking into the premises of the serene environs of the school we discover that the wind beneath the wings of these children are the open arms of the school itself. An environment which welcomes them to revel in the quest of their mind, to seek answers even if it means walking straight into principal Raj Kumari Saroa Mahi’s office. A model school meant to compete with the high profile private schools of the city, the administration here has been working with constraints alien to schools they face challenge from say the teachers here. Duties in the atta-daal survey, elections and other such projects notwithstanding, the success of the students reflects that the teachers here never ignored their duty. “We come after God, parents and the hard work of the children,” says Mahi. “Environment is crucial because even if a child is talented a bad environment can sabotage his/her success,” she adds. Giving due credit to the class teacher of Arshdeep, Jeevanjyoti says that these children were exceptional because they always brought with them questions from some book they were studying, besides their textbooks, she says. “Students here come from humble backgrounds unlike their counterparts in more popular schools,” says Mahi. Despite a fund crunch and other constraints, a concerted effort is not lacking on the part of the school, claim teachers, which may be the reason that the school proved itself with the results. “We took up the matter that at least teachers of the three model schools in the city should be spared of non-teaching duties, but to no avail,” says Mahi. Nine of the school’s students scored above 80 per cent marks with 44 getting the first division. Out of 133 students appearing for the class X examination, 116 got through. Toppers’ secret Arshdeep Kaur, who topped in the state, says the school inspired her to be target-oriented. “Our teachers and principal inspired us in making a concerted effort toward our goals not forgetting to enjoy in the playfield too,” says Arshdeep, who was part of the school’s basketball team. It is a “toppers’ gang of girls” from the school which believes in studying together, says Rachna Mahey who scored eighth position in the class X examination. “All girls who have topped are best friends amongst themselves and sitting together to share problems was a regular activity of the group,” says Rachna. Jasmine Kaur, bagged the fifth position in the state, gives credit of her success to her teachers who used to work hard with them even after returning from duties outside the school.
	Greener pastures: Dera sevadar defrauds widow Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Phagwara, June 26 In the unending instances of Punjab youths attempting to migrate to developed countries, thus losing money and landing in trouble, another case of Harpreet Singh, a resident of Narur village, came to light here when his widowed mother allegedly accused a “sevadar” of a dera of defrauding her of one acre and 12 marla of land on the pretext of sending her son to Greece. Talking to media persons here, Satwant Kaur, mother of Harpreet Singh, said Satnam Singh, a sevadar of Dera Baba Ghagh Singh, made her transfer one acre and 12 marla of land in his name on the pretext of sending his son Harpreet Singh to Greece. She alleged that the sevadar sent his son to Jordan in place of Greece where he was caught by the Jordanian army and imprisoned for 10 months for illegally entering the country. However, the victim’s mother gave Rs 1.50 lakh to an advocate who pleaded her case before the Jordanian Embassy officials and got her son released. Satwant Kaur alleged that when her son came back to his native village Narur after his release from the Jordan jail, she asked the sevadar to return her land as he could not fulfil his promise. She alleged that she even gave Rs 70,000 to sevadar Satnam Singh as registry charges for transferring the land in her name. But Satnam Singh refused to do so. When contacted, Satnam Singh termed the allegations against him as baseless. He was the real owner of the said land as per the revenue records, he said. The widow has lodged a complaint with the Rawalpindi police.
	Young World Students march for Kalam Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 26 Supporting Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the next President of India, a march was organised by students of CT Public School on Tuesday. Children also shouted slogans, “No dirty politics -We want only Kalam” and “After Chacha Nehru - Kalam uncle”. Citing reasons for supporting Kalam, students said, “Leaders should be men of vision, those who inspire young generation by their own example. Kalam is the only person who fits the bill”. MD Manbir Singh and principal Lakhwinder Kaur also took part in the march. School gets affiliation Mayor World School has received affiliation from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The affiliation has come just in time for the tenth standard students of the two-year old school who were to fill their forms for CBSE examination in few months from now. Rajesh Mayor, owner of the school, said the school had procured about 10 acres of land near its building for setting up a sports complex. He said another branch of the school was being planned at Gurgaon, the construction for which will begin in September this year. Day against drug abuse Citizens’ Welfare and Protection Council organised International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Kendriya Vidyalaya here on Tuesday. SSP Arpit Shukla warned students against harmful effects of drug addiction. Prof Anoop Vatts, general secretary, said nearly 73 per cent of youth from Punjab were hooked to drugs. A poster making contest was also held for students from various schools. Painting exhibition A 10-day teachers training programme organised by Lovely Institute of Distance Education and Pidilite, a paints company, concluded with an exhibition on Monday. Wall and tile paintings, painted pots, suits, frocks and towels, earthenware, crockery, candles and candle stands were put up by participants in the exhibition. B.Tech admissions Admissions to four-year B.Tech programmes at Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology will be made on the basis of merit of AIEEE conducted by the CBSE. Dr A.L. Sangal, registrar, said the admission is being conducted in two phases from June 16 to 25 and July 2 to 12.
	Loneliness can lead to dementia Tribune News Service Jalandhar, June 26 Terming loneliness as the main factor responsible for dementia, a chronic insanity, associate professor, department of neurology, AIIMS, Dr Manjari Tripathy, said the disease was on a rise among the aged people. Addressing a clinical meeting of the council of super specialists here, Dr Tripathy said the diagnosis of dementia might sometimes pose difficulty and might be confusing. “Apart from loneliness, alcohol also causes the disease,” she added. “However, with the latest medicines and new tests available in the country, it is not difficult to diagnose and cure the disease,” said Dr Tripathy.
	SBI life insurance opens branch Jalandhar, June 26 SBI Life Insurance Company on Tuesday announced formal opening of its branch here, the fourth in Punjab after Ludhiana, Bathinda and Patiala. The new branch was opened in Crystal Plaza Market on Garha Road. Rajiv Gupta, country head, retail agency and institutional alliances, said the branch would act as a one-stop shop for providing all life insurance solutions to the customers and servicing centres for the existing and new policy holders. He said the company was planning new branches at Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. He said a work force of 1000 insurance advisers had helped record a growth of 196 per cent. — TNS
	New pharmaceutical courses Jalandhar, June 26 CAAN Wings has joined hands with Delhi-based ATIS Business School for opening up a training centre, offering short term courses in pharmaceuticals for the students. The centre has been named as International Learning Training Centre (ILTC) and would offer courses for plus two pass outs as well as fresh graduates. — TNS