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Believe It or Not!
Combatting HIV scourge
Supply of Medicinal Opium |
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Host of accolades
British Computer Society bestows title of Fellow upon Dr Hardeep Singh
Biz Buzz
Orientation course for teachers begins
Jatin Mahajan Scam
Nullah trouble for Ward 47
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Believe It or Not!
Amritsar, May 11 This astonishing fact was revealed after an application under the RTI Act was filed with the Municipal Corporation. The deficiency in sanitation and health services for the local citizens, pilgrims and other people visiting the holy city could well be gauged from the fact that out of the total of 65 wards in the limits of the Municipal Corporation, about 43 wards here have not been provided with any public toilet or urinal. These wards included No 1 to 19, 2 to 21, 25, 27 to 36, 38, 39, 43, 44, 50, 57, 59, 60 and 61 to 65. Even the railway station has no sufficient provision of
toilets for passengers. The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, D.P.S. Kharbanda, still thinks otherwise. “No the situation is not that grim presently. We have been providing these essential services and recently adequate arrangements have been made for both sexes separately at the Golden Temple surroundings and more such provisions have been planned on the most visited places in the city,” he said. In the absence of these facilities, people resort to defecate in open and urinate along the walls, thereby polluting the environment. P.S. Bhatti, president of the local Pollution Control Committee, has filed a PIL with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum to make the Municipal Corporation and Improvement Trust accountable for this negligence. It is to mention that the “provision for public toilets or urinals” were duly there on the site drawings, but were never executed. Interestingly, the MC itself admitted that these essential services could not be practically provided even in the fully occupied shopping or residential areas. If the inspection report of the Railway Board is to go by, gross deficiencies were observed at the railway station, where no provision of public toilets was found on platform Nos 2, 3, 4 and 5. The report on its page 37 mentioned that “pay and use” toilets were not sufficient, keeping in mind the enormous footfall in the city through trains. N.S. Gabarhia, former Deputy Station Superintendent, said the situation had been prevailing for the last two decades. “There used to be one public toilet each on platform No 2 and 4, but they too remained non-functional for last over two decades,” he said. |
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Combatting HIV scourge
Amritsar, May 11 A team of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) led by Dr S.I. Ahmad, Chairman AIDS Prevention Society, and Dr Anju Dhawan, Associate professor, National Drug Dependent Treatment Centre, New Delhi, along with members of the Punjab AIDS Control Society visited the de-addiction centre of the hospital. According to survey conducted by NACO, Punjab has the highest number of HIV patients who got the disease through injections used for taking drugs by the addicts. Ironically, Amritsar got the dubious distinction of having highest number of HIV cases in the state while it also has the maximum percentage in the country in the category of spreading of HIV through IDU. Incidentally, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital would be the first government hospital in the state where this centre would be established. “Under the project, the centre would identify the addicted persons who use injections for taking the intoxicants. They would be administered a specially made tablet ‘Buprenorphine’ that would decrease their dependence on injections and drugs,” said Dr R.P.S Boparai, Medical Superintendent of the GNDH. These medicines would be provided by the Union Government free of cost, he said. The patients would be counselled at the centre by experts while new staff and doctors would also be appointed. All the expenditure of setting up the centre would be incurred by the NACO. Other team members include Dr Francis Joseph, technical specialist of IDU, Dr Suchita Vamori, communication expert, Dr S S Basra of Punjab AIDS control Society etc. “After establishing the centre in Amritsar, the same would also be set up at Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Ludhinana,” said Dr Basra.
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Supply of Medicinal Opium
Amritsar, May 11 Dr J.P. Singh, Managing Director of the company, in a press conference said the Punjab Government had no role in the allotment and fixing the rate of medicinal opium supplied to the firm. He said the supplies of the opium used for manufacturing ayurvedic medicines are made on the rates fixed by the Union Government and Opium and Alkaloid Works, Ghazipur. It is pertinent to mention here that Jagdish Sahni, Parliamentary Secretary, Batala, had levelled serious charges that the Health Minister had sold medicinal opium worth crores to the firm at throwaway prices which had become a bone of contention between two senior BJP leaders. “The Drug Controller General, Government of India, fixes the quota to the each state drugs controlling authority every year for all narcotic drugs being used in the manufacturing of allopathic and ayurvedic medicines,” said Dr J.P. Singh. The Central Government had fixed annual quota of 170 kg medicinal opium to Punjab, which was very less as compared to other states in the country, he said. Dr J.P. Singh threatened that their company would file a defamation suit to the tune of Rs 5 crore against the persons who were making baseless allegations . R.C. Yadav, Chairman, Punjab Parvasi Welfare Board, and Dr A.S. Basra, president, Ayurvedic Medical Services Association, were also present. |
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Host of accolades
Amritsar, May 11 Baljeet Kaur Johal, an actor, a model, a sportsperson and a perfect show host, this multi-faceted personality is a regular face on the idiot box. “Being the only child of a single parent, it was not an easy journey for me. I lost my father during my school days. It was only my mother who has always been a driving force behind me. I never wanted to lead an unknown life. I wanted to achieve recognition with utmost dignity. Just this feeling kept me going,” she says. Baljeet, a passout from Government Girls School, Mall Road, did not have a very happy or complacent past. While hailing from a Jat family, she was not expected
to take to acting or conducting stage shows. “I won many competitions as a student at BBK DAV College. I was the giddha team captain, best dancer and a sportsperson, too. I played cricket in sub-junior, junior national and senior national Rani Jhansi trophy. I also got state scholarships in the same,” she said. “After completing my graduation, I decided not to waste my talent. Instead I started with a meagre salary from a school as a teacher coordinator. Thereafter, while switching over to another school, I got an opportunity to play a role in ‘Moran Sarkar’ on one of the most famous stages in Punjab Natshala. This was the beginning,” she added. Nevertheless, this ex-Miss Fresher of BBK DAV College has to her credit a long list of accomplishments. “I got an opportunity to direct a play ‘Pratibha Di Pehchaan’, written by Jasbir Jass in 2008. I hosted a number of shows and functions, the prominent ones included 150 years’ celebrations of the sessions court, five-day international Panj Pani festival at Virsa Vihar, cultural eve by the BSF on the Wagah-Attari border, Haryana state awards, Dhee Punjaban international heritage show, Amritsar virasat mela, etc,” she says. At present, she hosts a show “Pindan Vichon Pind” every week on ZEE Punjabi and ETC Punjabi. This programme highlights the humble backgrounds of Punjabi singers, comedians and other Punjabi personalities. “It inspires the youth that even a simple background can take you to great heights if you have the will to do something. People are fighting to save trees, unborn girl child and water, but this is also the time to save villages which are fast turning into concrete towns,” says Baljeet. |
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British Computer Society bestows title of Fellow upon Dr Hardeep Singh
Amritsar, May 11 A university press release issued here today said the title was the highest form of recognition given by this society to a person from the academic field based on his achievements.
He would enjoy all the privileges associated with this fellowship for lifetime. Prof Hardeep Singh, having doctorate in software engineering, is currently holding the dual charge of Director Placements and Dean Alumni Association of the university besides Professor of software engineering and information system. He has 52 publications to his credit and was an author of four books. He said this title provides a global platform for interaction with other academic institutions of world fame and to be part of various advanced research activities all over
the world. It also accredits individual professional competence and integrity, he added. |
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Biz Buzz
Amritsar, May 11 Mukesh Khandelwal, Regional Sales Manager, said only spares and consumables like filters etc would be charged if replaced. He said the clients could avail this service by registering themselves by their dealers Naveen Sehra (98760 32506), Bikramjit Singh (9878484573), Pritpal Singh (9878007481) or Jaspreet Singh (94173 82756). |
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Orientation course for teachers begins
Amritsar, May 11 Brar emphasised on adopting technology, innovation, dedication, commitment, creativity, novelty, analytical ability and compassion by students. He also discussed the positivities and negativities of technology and suggested to include general environment, social, political as well as economic factors in teaching. He said education was becoming an international phenomenon. Therefore, colleges must upgrade their infrastructural facilities and should introduce latest technological innovations as regards to teaching and research. He quoted the example of Israel for its accomplishments in the field of science and technology on the basis of knowledge the nation had acquired despite its smallest geographical expanse. He said teachers should not hesitate in accepting their shortcomings and should go for improving and upgrading their knowledge. He said the society could not progress without knowledge in the wake of globalisation and cutthroat competition. Dr Satish Verma, Director-cum-Course Coordinator, Academic Staff College, highlighted the importance of the general orientation course as a platform to motivate and encourage the teachers with a view to improving the quality of education. He said the orientation with respect to refined teaching was of utmost importance as the issue under consideration had been repeatedly emphasised by the UGC, Ministry of Human Resource Development. |
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Jatin Mahajan Scam
Amritsar, May 11 SP (D) Harjit Singh Brar, who heads the special investigation team to probe into the alleged scam, said Vinod Bala had been evading arrest and was probably hiding somewhere out of the city. He said unaccountable Rs 16.85 lakh was withdrawn from her account in a day. The police submitted a challan against Jatin Mahajan in the court and as the investigation proceeded, it was found that his mother was also involved and a portion of the sum was deposited in her accounts, he said. The working of the Standard Chartered Bank branch here has come under scanner with 45 of its account holders alleging that nearly Rs 2.5 crore had been misappropriated in December. A majority of the account holders are small-time farmers and NRIs from Vallah village located on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road. The scam shocked the public, forcing them to recheck their banking transactions. So far, the mother-son duo has been found to be involved in the scam but Brar did not rule out the involvement of more persons. Nearly 11 residents of Vallah village had been victimised by the bank official. All of them had become customers of the bank after selling their agricultural land at a hefty amount to real estate developers nearly three and a half years ago. Gurinder Singh, a villager, who sold five acres, alleged that he was duped of Rs 9.95 lakh in the name of FDRs. Another villager Ajit Kaur alleged she had been duped of Rs 5 lakh. Another victim Kanwaljit Kaur said she received a call from a relationship manager that she would get an increased rate of interest after converting her Rs 5 lakh from the savings account to an FDR. She said the official had allegedly got her signature on a self cheque and asked her to come after a fortnight to collect the FDR, as it was made at the bank’s global processing office in Chennai. She said even after making a number of rounds of the bank, she did not receive the FDR. Meanwhile, it is learnt from sources in the bank that the financial institute was trying to reach an out-of-court settlement with the account holders by paying back their money. |
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Nullah trouble for Ward 47
Amritsar, May 11 “With summer season approaching its peak and monsoons round the corner, the mosquitoes and insects have made our life hell,” said the residents living just close residential areas of the nullah near Lahori Gate. Talking to The Tribune, Ramesh Kumar, a resident, said we even could not sleep in the nights properly as mosquitoes and other insects buzz around and adding to that the frequent power failures compound their miseries. Underground water contamination due to this nullah could not be ruled out. “A number of the politicians and local ministers have made many promises to cover the drain and find permanent solution of their problems, but nothing has yet fructified. We left to fend for themselves and the problem may continue for several more years,” said Rajni Bala. It is pertinent to mention here that during last several decades no plan has been chalked out for this part of the city which has remained in the state of neglect with surging population and construction of illegal and unauthorised buildings besides shops and commercial establishments. Like many other wards the shortage of water supply has also been the bane of the area. Large number of people of the area could be seen queuing up for water due to failure of a couple of water tubewells that has gone dry. The inhabitants criticise the apathetic attitude of Municipal Corporation authorities while no body paying any heeds to their woes. What is worst, many of the tubewells needed urged repair. “We are not getting adequate water supply while repeated requests failed to bear any fruit,” said Kamlesh Kumar of Dam Ganj area. Another biggest problem the residents are facing is menace of stray dogs. “What to say, the dogs entered our residences threatening the life of inhabitants whenever we try to shoo them away. Sometimes even infected dogs enter the houses and climb on beds. We have complained a number of times to authorities but nothing has been done so far,” said one Kishan of Nawa
Kot. CouncillorSpeak
Younus Kumar, Congress councillor of area, confessed the problems adding that his ward has deliberately ignored by the powers to be. Alleging discrimination, he said he himself had taken up the issue with power to be and civic authorities but it had not yielded any fruit. The nullah has been covered in other areas, but no plan has been chalked to cover it in this ward. “As a last effort we can only agitate to get the problems of the area addressed,” said Kumar adding that while funds worth crores of rupees were spent in other wards, this area has been neglected by authorities for the reasons best known to them. |
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Coming in the support of Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Shree Dhanvantri Herbals, a pharmacy company, today.
