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Villagers detain swindlers
Ludhiana, January 13 The villagers let them off after the accused returned thousands of rupees fraudulently collected from them, civil surgeon office sources said. The accused had been visiting the village for a week. It is strange that neither the health department nor the police questioned their credentials. Lakhbir Singh, a spokesperson for the villagers, said when they confronted the gang today, one of them slipped away with a “bottle of the medicine”. He said almost the entire village had paid for the “preventive injection”. A doctor from Katani Kalan on a visit to the village to attend a function organised by anganwari workers was the first to warn them about the swindlers. He said the group comprised seven persons, including three young women. " All were young. They claimed they belonged to a medicine manufacturing company and charged Rs 10 for a blue card and Rs 60 per injection." He said when questioned about the company they represented and the medicines they carried, they began to slip away but two of them were nabbed and detained for over five hours. They were gven a thrashing. They insisted they were “genuine” persons and kept calling some one over the mobile phones. The calls went unanswered. Civil surgeon S.K. Sharma said no person or agency had been authorised to administer injections. “The residents of the village have done well to expose the gang but it would have been better if they had seized the injection bottles and approached us." He said the health department had received reports about the activities of such a gang but no complaint had been received from the district so far. |
14 booked for immigration fraud
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 12 The case was registered at Raikot police station. SSP Ludhiana (Rural) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, acting on the complaint of Avtar Singh Mullanpuri, a Lok Bhalai party office-bearer, zeroed down on the suspects. No arrest has been made so far. Owners and organisers of Grewal Marriage Bureau, UK Marriage Bureau, Sangam Marriage Bureau, Ek Noor Marriage Bureau, Dasmesh Marriage Bureau, Kulwinder Singh Kalsian, Paramjit Singh of Gandhi Gift House, Billa, Kulwinder Kaur, Jagroop Singh and Gurmel Singh were booked under Sections 420 and 120 B, IPC, for allegedly duping innocent people on the pretext of sending them to western countries. According to Bhullar, the case had been registered on the statement of Mullanpuri and others who had alleged that a few organisers of marriage bureaus and marriage palaces in Raikot subdivision had been duping innocent people on the pretext of sending them abroad illegally. “As the matter concerned lives of innocent youths, we constituted special investigating
teams and sent fake clients to the suspects on various occasions. The case was registered after verifying the allegations levelled by the complainants,” said Bhullar, while talking to the Ludhiana Tribune. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had been exploiting the mindset of Punjabis to settle down in foreign countries by hook or crook. Columns of certain vernacular newspapers were used for trapping them into marriages on paper and cross marriages. Some suspects offered to prepare fake certificates and bank statements to support visa applications. Though some of the victims had approached leaders of various social and political organisations, none of them came to their rescue. “After receiving reports from this area, we handed over a memorandum to SSP Ludhiana (Rural) on August 24. Finding substance in our complaint, the SSP directed the Raikot police to register a case and initiate action against the suspects,” said Mullanpuri. |
Licence to kill: No test, just pay for driver’s licence
Ludhiana, January 12 One is required to go through a series of tests before one can secure a driver’s licence. But thanks to the nexus between the agents and DTO officials, the only trouble one needs to take for getting a driver’s licence is to appear for the photo session. All this comes at a premium ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per licence. According to reliable sources, about 3,500 driver’s licence and more than 5,000 learner’s licence are issued in the city by the DTO every month. It is learnt that a majority of these licences are made through the agents, to whom the learners pay anything between Rs 1,000-Rs 1,500 to get a driver’s licence within two-three days. Getting the driver’s licence is not a problem to those, who produce an "eligibility certificate" issued by certain driving schools (through agents). And these driving/training schools are violating the rules with impunity. According to the sources, there are more than 30 driving schools in the city. Except for a few, a majority of the schools do not even have basic infrastructure. Any person who wants to start a driving school has to fulfil a lot many formalities including registration with the department, displaying all traffic signals and signs, an ITI passed trainer, cars (for LTV) having brakes on both the sides, etc. The Tribune spoke to a number of learners, who within 10 days of training claimed to have learnt "thorough" driving. Chinu Gaur, who recently got married, learnt driving in 11 days. She added that the trainer had taken Rs 2,000 for 15 days' driving classes. "But within 11 days, I was able to drive the car on main roads. He has assured me to get my driver’s licence made within a week for which I have to shell out just Rs 900. I have to meet the Motor Vehicle Inspector once as a formality", she claimed. One of the agents said on condition of anonymity that the agents had a good rapport with the staff at the DTO office. "Our work never suffers because we grease their (office staff) palms every month. At times, we do not even produce the person but the licence is issued to us both for Light Transport Vehicles (LTVs) and Heavy Transport Vehicles (HTVs)", he said. |
Jarkhar to host Pak Rustams
Ludhiana, January 12 This was stated by Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu, chairman of the festival’s organising committee, which met here today for reviewing the preparations made for conducting the event. Pakistani wrestlers who will take part in the festival are Rustam-e-Pakistan, A. Siddique, Rustam-e-Lahore, Mohammed Ali, Rustam-e-Karachi M.H.A.Khan, Mohammed Salman, Mohammed Umar, and Mohammed Usman besides others who would be seen in action during the festival. The visiting wrestlers would battle it out with their counterparts Karma Mandodh, champion of the India-Pakistan test series, Satish Alamgir, Manjit Mandodh, Kamal Dhoomchheri, and Achhra Khanna besides others. The wrestling matches that will start on January 15 have been sponsored by Channa Alamgir, Mohana Jodha and Gurinder Singh Lapran (USA). Singer Jazzy B will entertain the spectators on January 17. Besides this, a hockey tournament, kabaddi, basketball, handball and volleyball competitions and athletic meets would be organised during the four-day festival. Jagdeep Singh, captain, Indian hockey team, would lead the procession. It would start from the historic Alamgir Sahib Gurdwara. A large number of prominent sports persons drawn from different disciplines would also take part in the festival, Balbit Singh, president of the club said. Dare devils of the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, would present a show on motorbikes in addition to spectacular horse riding performance by Nihangs, Giddha and Bhangra by the school and college students. Dhanraj Pillay, former captain, Indian hockey team, would be given Surjit Singh Randhawa award while wrestler, Sikander Alamgir, would receive the Amarjit Grewal award for promoting sports. Comedians Jaswinder Bhalla and Bal Mukand Sharma would also be honoured for their contribution in the field of culture, he added. |
Hike in steel prices & power cut hit industry
Ludhiana, January 12 These two factors have caused a lot of resentment among the industrialists. The steel prices have been raised by major steel producers by Rs 1,000 per tonne. The prices of H R Coil were quoted at Rs 34,500 per tonne while that of CR Coil at Rs 41,000 tonnes in the local market today. The steel plants and the steel rerolling mills of Mandi Gobindgarh have also taken advantage of the hike in the steel prices by the major steel producers and have enhanced the prices of MS rounds and other steel items by Rs 1,000 per tonne. MS rounds were quoted at Rs 32,000 per tonne. The industries are being subjected to a four-hour power cut daily besides a compulsory weekly off by all the industries, which has adversely affected the production. The small-scale industries in particular are hit badly by the power cut and the hike in the steel prices, say Inderjit Singh Pradhan, president, and Avtar Singh, general secretary, of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, Ludhiana. Pradhan and Avtar Singh called upon the Union Government to stop the main steel producers from raising the prices of steel to save the small industries. They said steel producers should adopt the policy of China which was not increasing the price of steel for domestic consumption and the price of exported steel was being raised. The Union Government should delink the international price of steel and local steel prices, they emphasised. Meanwhile, resentment continues to prevail among the industrialists over the failure of the state government to withdraw the hike in power tariff and the industrialists have already paid two bills at enhanced tariff. The industrialists are also sore over the fact that the PSEB has not withdrawn the scheme of having advance security bills of two months from the industrialists and domestic consumers. P D Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Punjab, has urged the Punjab government to withdraw 10 per cent duty on electricity, which is the highest in Punjab. Sharma explained that most of the states had duty on a specific basis and Punjab, too, had specific duty. In the year 2003, the state government all of a sudden charged it to ad valorem basis at 5 per cent. |
Stray sambhar rescued
Ludhiana, January 12 It received minor injuries when it entered the store room of a metal fabrication unit and was rescued by a forest department team led by divisional forest officer Harbhaj Singh. It was given first-aid and transported in a trolley to be released into Laddowal area. The sambhar was first spotted in Mangli village last night. It disappeared soonafter on being chased by stray dogs. It panicked and took refuge in a factory in phase VII, Focal Point, this morning. The owner of the factory informed the police and SHO Gurdev Singh reached there and informed the forest department. It took the officials at least two hours to catch the frightened animal which ran helter and skelter and was injured after colliding with a container. DFO Harbhaj Singh said deer and sambhar often strayed into human habitation due to fog. He asked the people to treat such animals with compassion and contact the forest department. |
Land use: Industry
buoyed at change in rates
Ludhiana, January 12 The industrial sector was suffering after the government decided to significantly increase these charges. A unit was earlier required to pay external development charges of more than Rs 43.18 lakh, conversion charges of over Rs 5.38 lakh and a license fee of Rs 50,000 per acre in order
to set a base in the state. The charges now have drastically been reduced. “The industry is now saved from paying a heavy amount of change of the land use. It will be paying only Rs 1 lakh per acre. This will certainly send a good message,” said S.C. Ralhan, regional chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council. In a letter to director, Industries and Commerce, V.K. Janjua, Ralhan stated that the industry welcomed the decision. With this, existing units can plan expansion without worrying about heavy charges and at the same time new units will also not hesitate in setting base in the sate. Welcoming the decision, Dheeraj Gupta, general secretary, Northern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it had come as a major relief to industry. |
Lohri in honour of the girlchild
Ludhiana, January 12 PAU celebrates Lohri was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm in the undulating hillocks of bougainvillea garden of landscaping and floriculture department at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Field workers, gardeners, students and faculty members of the department, as well as from other departments, participated in the celebrations. Those who addressed the gathering included Gurbhajan Singh Gill, Jaswinder Bhalla, a noted comedian, Dr. Maan Singh Toor, an art lover, Dr. Amrit Parkash Singh, Dr. Ramandeep Singh Jassal etc. Participants took a pledge to work with devotion before the Lohri pyre. Kundan Vidya Mandir In order to make children aware of the glorious culture of Punjab and the significance of Lohri, special arrangements were made for students of primary sections at the Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines. Students presented bhangra and giddha, around a bonfire. Principal S.C. Saxena, along with all section heads, attended the function and conveyed their best wishes to children. Green Grove Public School Rising flames of the bonfire, colourful attires, songs, dances, peanuts and a variety of sweets marked the Lohri celebrations at Green Grove Public School, Mohanpur- Khanna, today. Many competitions were organised on the occasion. The principal gave his good wishes to students and staff members. GNN College, Doraha Lohri was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, today. On this occasion Prof. Balwant Singh Pangli, general secretary of college managing committee congratulated the staff and students and enlightened them about the historical significance of Lohri. Students and staff members lit a bonfire and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Dr. Sidhu, college principal, emphasised upon the need to fight against the menace of female foeticide. Doraha College of Education Lohri was celebrated with great fervour at Doraha College Of Education. Amrit K Gurm, director, lighted a bonfire and girls chanting traditional songs livened up the atmosphere. She said the festival binds the people of Punjab together and urges us to care, share and live together. Harkrishan Public School Students of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, celebrated Lohri with festive joy. The Director Umal Kaur lighted a bonfire. Pre-school section of the school presented a cultural programme to mark the occasion. Kindergarten students presented the Giddha. Meanwhile, children at Government Senior secondary School, Spring Bells Day Boarding, Senior Secondary School, Chander Nagar, Love Dale nursery school also celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm. The schools had made special arrangements for the occasion. Importance of the girl child was highlighted on the occasion and people were urged to work against the evil of femicide. |
Employees’ body plans statewide agitation
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 12 President of the federation and former MP Charanjit Singh Walia said the previous government had initiated several measures to provide relief to the employees working in various government departments, but the SAD-BJP government had stalled all those measures. He said the employees in the state had been struggling for long to get some of their legitimate demands accepted. Walia added that the government had not implemented all recommendations made by the fifth pay commission so far. He said promotional policy that had been approved by the previous government following a persistent struggle by the employees was yet to be put into practice and the recruitment in government offices on compassionate grounds had not been started. Walia said the federation would also take up issues such as privatisation of public sector undertakings and filling up of posts lying vacant in the government offices. Initially, the agitation would be launched at the divisional level and a massive protest would be held in Chandigarh during the budget session in the state assembly, he added. |
Trust plans to open more educational institutions
Banur, January 12 Dr A. S. Sekhon, dean of Gian Sagar colleges, stated this and said the trust would set up and run adult education centres and coaching centres for imparting educational skills to the students. He said the trust was being managed by medical professionals dedicated to undertake human resource development programmes through educational, health and community welfare activities by establishing schools, colleges, hospitals and social welfare centres. The hospital, as also the college, had been provided with state-of-the-art technology and latest equipment in laboratories and latest audio-visual aids for teaching and training of medical students. The Gian Sagar Institute now has separate buildings for 350-bedded hospital as well as college for 100 MBBS students as per norms laid down by the Medical Council of India. It has state-of-the-art 11 operation theatres with ultramodern equipment. The anesthesia workstations are hi tech with multi-parameter and hi-tech monitors in all operation theatres and recovery areas with the facilities for all types of endoscopic surgeries. |
‘Sculptures in Motion’ on January 19
Ludhiana, January 12 “Sharon, a US citizen, learnt the art from Padma Vibhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra. Despite coming from a different cultural background, she has established herself as one of the best dancers,” said S.K. Rai, general secretary, Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam, while addressing a press conference here today. The artiste will perform with a troupe of seven and present Orrisa’s traditional dance form Mangalacharan, Kumar Sambhava and Geet Govindam. She has received a few awards, including the Government of India’s Acharya Narendra Dev Sarokar Samajik Samman, Delhi, Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman. She has also authored a few dance books. |
Marginal tillers turn borrowers
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 12 Hike in wheat and rice prices was cited to be reason behind the hike in rent and monopolistic attitude of landlords. Massive land acquisition for the four-laning of the Ludhiana- Malerkotla road was stated to be reason behind scarcity of the cultivable land, leading to tough competition among farmers for hiring a piece of their choice. Observations made by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that the rents (chakota) for cultivable land in this belt of Malwa had increased by 25 per cent. While prosperous farmers had finalised contracts with landlords after paying hiked annual rent in advance, small and marginal peasants were sitting on the doorsteps of moneylenders for borrowing money for hiring the land, they had been cultivating earlier. According to Bawa Singh, a landlord of Jhorran village, rates for hiring land for the cultivation had increased by 20 to 25 per cent in the area. Hike in prices of agricultural produce and acquisition of agricultural land by the government were cited as reasons for the increase. “Hoping to receive over Rs 1,000 per quintal for wheat and correspondingly higher price for the paddy, a large number of farmers have shown inclination for hiring our land. We have already finalised contract of our land at Rs 23,000 per acre whereas it used to fetch only Rs 18,000 per acre earlier,” said Bawa Singh. Gurdial Singh Samra of Pohir village said the scarcity of cultivable land due to acquisition for the four-laning of the Ludhiana- Malerkotla road had caused major hike in Lehra, Gopalpur, Dehlon, Jhammatt, Jagera and Butahri villages. The land that used to be rented for Rs 20,000 per acre went for Rs 25,000 to Samra this year. “Though the term for rent commences on May 1, my tenant has already paid nest year’s advance to me fearing of losing the land due to tough competition among cultivators,” Samra added. Rajinder Bhardwaj, a local commission agent, said a few farmers had approached him for borrowing money on interest as they had to make advance payment for hiring the land for cultivation. |
Play portrays plight of Pakistani woman
Ludhiana, January 12 The play was organised by the Youth Sabhyacharak Lok Hiteshi Manch. The emotional portrayal of the character, Inayati, who is forced to return to Pakistan along with her child, by actor Sukhwinder Kaur Sukhi, made audience cry. Equally strong was the character of terrorist, Kera, who saves her life, played by Baldev Raj Nabha. “People on both sides of the border are attached to each other and this play was an attempt to show the effect on their lives due to political and other tensions between India and Pakistan,” said director Rajinder Raja. Addressing the gathering at the event, Charanjit Singh Atwal, deputy speaker, Lok Sabha, exhorted cultural and social organisations to try to educate the youth about our rich cultural heritage for the progress of the nation. Atwal stressed on the need for involving the youth in a big way to eradicate social evils like dowry, female feticide, pollution, drugs from society. He said stage programmes and plays were the most effective medium for educating and persuading the youth towards constructive activities. Deputy speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Satpal Gosain, and Harish Rai Dhanda also addressed the function. Iqbal Singh, chairman, Santokh Singh, president of the manch, Bhairaj Singh, secretary, was among others present on the occasion. |
Marginal decline veggies rate
Ludhiana, January 12 In wholesale market, potato that was priced at Rs 6.50 a week ago is now available at Rs 5 per kg while the onion, earlier priced at Rs 8 to Rs 9, has now come down to Rs 6 and tomato rates recorded a decline from Rs 10 a week ago to Rs 8 per kg. Rates of other veggies which have declined are green peas, that are now priced at Rs 12 to Rs 13 per kg, from the earlier price of Rs 14 to Rs 15, french beans earlier available for Rs 25 to Rs 30 are now priced at Rs 18 to Rs 20, gourd that was priced at Rs 20 to Rs 22 a week ago, now available for Rs 15 to Rs 16 a kg and capsicum, earlier rate was Rs 20 is now available for Rs 15 per kg. In case of cauliflower the rate remained stable at Rs 3 to Rs 4 per kg and so were prices of cabbage, Rs 3 and lemon Rs 30 per kg. In the retail markets prices were 25 per cent to 100 per cent higher than wholesale markets. |
Letters
I want to draw the attention of traffic police, public and the media towards the fact that almost all vehicles running on the roads at night are using high beam, which makes it extremely difficult for other drivers and people walking on roads. I am surprised that even in clear vision areas, high beams are being used. I think traffic cops should take strict steps to check such errant drivers and penalise them, so that safety on roads is maintained. Garish Gupta |
PAU, Field Fresh ink pact
Ludhiana, January 12 A consultancy project was taken up in 2007 for the preparation of soil fertility map of about 300 acre at Field Fresh Agriculture Centre of Excellence Model Farm, Ladhowal. The objective behind the pact is to promote technological development for the production of export quality fruits and vegetables throughout the year and development of infrastructure for research. A detailed analysis of the soil was carried out in this regard. Giving details of the project, Dr V. Beri, Head, department of soils, said fertility of each field was investigated through analyzing critical soil health parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, texture, organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, iron and manganese etc. Based on the findings made by the PAU soil scientists, the Field Fresh Foods prepared an illustrated project report. It provides information on the yields of vegetable crops in coarse and heterogeneous soils. The soil test reports indicated that 58 per cent samples were low in organic carbon, 16 per cent in available phosphorus and 7 per cent in available potassium. Moreover, 56 per cent samples were deficient in micro-nutrients such as available iron, 14 per cent in manganese and 8 per cent in zinc. Available copper was found deficient in less than 2 per cent soil samples only. Dr Beri told that six thematic maps pertaining to status of organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese were prepared that indicate the macro and micro status of individual field at the farm. He added that thematic maps would be useful in taking remedial steps for correcting the multi-nutrient deficiencies and that these would act as soil-health card for each field. Vice-chancellor Manjit Singh Kang presented the copies of the report to Dr A.K.Johri and Kevin S. Parker, chief project operator, Field Fresh Foods Private Limited. Dean, Post Graduate Studies,Dr S.K. Mann said as per the MoU signed between the two Bharti-Field Fresh Fellowship of Rs 1,800 per month would be awarded from academic year 2007-08 to four students for their Ph.D programmes at the university in agronomy, entomology, plant pathology and vegetable crops. Other areas that had been identified for the fellowships include food technology, soil science and agricultural chemistry and plant breeding technology. |
Attend vocational courses, says PAU director
Ludhiana, January 12 “Young farmers, including women, should gain practical knowledge from experts and strive for self-employment,” he said. He said 40 trainees will be provided practical tips on different aspects of crop production, crop protection, vegetable growing, apiculture, floriculture, mushroom growing etc, under these one-month training courses. Dr. V.K. Bhambota, incharge Kairon Kisan Ghar, Dr.T.S.Dhillon, Dr. Tejinder Singh Riar, Dr. Jaswinder Bhalla, among others, were present on the occasion. |
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From Schools
Ludhiana, January 12 The movie with its sensitive portrayal of a dyslexic but creative child serves as an eye opener for the parents and teachers who burden the tiny shoulders with academic pressure and expectations without realising the problems and challenges faced by them in today’s cut-throat competitive world.The movie provided an insight into the teachers so as to help them sensitively deal with schoolchildren. It was an emotionally enriching experience. “I have emerged out to be a better parent and a teacher after watching this movie”, commented Gagandeep Kaur, one of the school teachers.The movie was followed by a group discussion where its subtle nuances were discussed so as to gain a better understanding of the inner world of a child’s imagination and creativity.“Kids are like flowers. They need gentle showers of love and affection. Our aim behind this movie workshop was to remind our teachers that every child is special”, commented Dr Vandna Shahi, school principal. Contest B.C.M Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, under the aegis of the Swami Vivekananda Study Circle organised a paper reading contest to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand. The contest was organised for students of primary class. At least 35 students took part in the contest and shared their views on the life and works of Swami Vivekananda. Results: Class IV (English) Pahul,Ist; Puranjeet, IInd; Akansha Wadhwa, Ist; Muskan, IInd; Class V (English) 1st.Tanya Aggarwal,IInd; Sanpreet, Class V (Hindi) 1stDolly and Simar, IInd. Youth Day Helianthus Day Boarding School, Sunder Nagar, Ludhiana, celebrated the Youth Day by remembering Swami Vivekananda. Students took part in the declamation contest and dwelled on thoughts and ideas of Vivekananda. Ankita Chhabra and Monika Sharma of IX standards, who got first and second prizes, respectively, talked on providing quality education and transforming society. Monika emphasised on the realising the power vested in humans where as Amarjit of Class IX, Rohit of Class VI spoke on having faith in God and oneself. Rinkle of Class VII gave a brief biography of Swami Ji. |
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New computer centre for Govt College, Karamsar
Doraha, January 12 On the occasion, Grewal congratulated the principal and staff of the college, who with the active support of parents of the wards initiated this move. Stressing upon the importance of computers, he said in today’s world computer education is very important for students and this is a golden opportunity for them to be computer literate. Grewal also announced a grant of Rs one lakh for the institution. College principal Dr. Sushma Gupta while welcoming Grewal said, “I felt a dire need of affording computer education to my students immediately after I joined the college two months ago. Since then we have worked on the idea. The most satisfactory part of the whole effort is that this centre will be the first of its kind in this rural area where students were almost bereft of computer education. Now it will be available at their doorstep.” Grewal also honoured meritorious students of the institute. The winners of inter-class hindi quiz contest were also felicitated. Peeyush Jain, chief executive, management infotech system, was also present during the function. The vote of thanks was proposed by the computer in- charge of the institution. |
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