The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Admn teaches clerks how to execute seniors’ orders Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, November 11 In a novel initiative, the Gurdaspur district administration has introduced a new concept in which members of the ministerial staff from the district’s five tehsils are being imparted training in how to execute the orders of their seniors. The four-day workshop, which concluded here today, was attended in batches by the clerical staff of Dera Baba Nanak, Batala, Pathankot, Dhar Kalan and Gurdaspur tehsils. The Chandigarh-based Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) had asked all districts to make arrangements to open training centres where newly-contracted ministerial staff could be trained in how to implement the orders of officers. While some districts opened the training centres, the others like Gurdaspur fell short of establishing such ventures owing to paucity of space and funds. As an alternative, the district administration here took it on itself to instruct new recruits about office procedures, filing systems, conduct rules, punishment and appeal rules and the modus operandi on how to execute senior officials’ directives. Deputy Commissioner Pirthi Chand said former Under Secretary of Punjab Banke Bihari had been asked to act as “teacher” to tutor the clerks. The DC said the administration tried to locate a hall where some furniture, a projector, computers and some chairs and desks could be placed. After weeks of scouting for rooms in government buildings, the administration failed to find the requisite space. However, the administration decided to impart training on its own in Circuit House and the bill of the workshop’s proceedings would be sent to the MGSIPA for reimbursement. Pirthi Chand said, “Since regular appointments have been banned by the Punjab government, we have employed scores of employees on contract to do clerical work. However, the contracted employees are not well versed with the intricacies of the system and that is why we have organised the workshop which, perhaps, is the first of its kind in Punjab.” ADC (General) R.P. Singh, who is acting as a moderator between Banke Bihari and the administration, said, “We are taking classes in batches since we do not want work to suffer in any tehsil. Lessons are also being given on work ethics and discipline.”
	Thousands of winged guests fly into Keshopur Chambh Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Keshopur (Gurdaspur), November 11 Rare species of birds moving around trees and flowers have now become a common sight at Keshopur Chambh (wetland), 10 km from here, as thousands of migratory birds have flown into the area which will be their abode till April. Gurdaspur-based wildlife experts say that the exodus of birds from countries as far as Siberia has just started and more such winged visitors will arrive in December as the winters get harsher in Siberia, Central Asia and some European countries. The birds which have been spotted at the wetland include gadwal, pintail, common teal, wigeon, mallard, shoveler, black-headed gul, brown-headed gul, booted eagle, ruff and reeve, marsh harrier and ruddy shelduck. However, bird watchers say that famous saras cranes have yet to make an appearance, although Keshopur is playing host to six pairs of such birds which have made the wetland their permanent residence for the past so many years. Forest Range Officer Jarnail Singh says, “Hundreds of migratory birds visit the wetland in winters. Once the wetland is declared an eco-tourism spot, bird lovers from all over the country will come here to get a glimpse of some of the rarest species of birds in the world.” Experts say that birds migrate to the area in search of food and a place to breed. “Birds which breed in the summers in the extreme north, such as the Arctic, benefit from an abundance of food as plant and insect life flourishes in the wetland during the daylight hours. Migration is affected not only by food supply but also by ocean and wind factors. Birds exploit the winds to their favour so that they can fly long distances using minimum energy,” says Jarnail Singh. Gurdaspur Range Officer Gurnam Singh revealed that birds start migrating when tailwinds are favourable. “Once they start migration journey, nothing stops them, except extremely bad weather. Many birds prefer to fly at a higher altitude while migrating because winds usually prevail at higher altitudes and the cold temperature at these altitudes helps them in diffusing body heat which is generated by their flight muscles,” said Gurnam Singh.
	Global dental meet opens today Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 11 Come November 12 and Amritsar would become a global platform for dental specialists. They are converging on the city from all over the world and different parts of India to attend three-day international regional meet of paediatric dentistry (IAPD) and 32nd national conference of the Indian Society of Pedodontics at Amritsar. The event is being hosted by the Amritsar unit of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD) under the aegis of Dr Navneet Grewal. Dr Grewal said the Indian dental scenario would get a big boost and international acclaim by showcasing the capability and research standards of Indian dental specialists. The theme of the conference reflects this motto of “Forming firm foundations and investing in healthy smiles of generation next.” “It is strange that hundreds of crores of rupees are being spent on advertisement of fizzy drinks but hardly anything is being done to create awareness about the dental health,” said Dr Grewal. The conference would focus on the issue of negligence by parents who often let their children sleep with milk bottle with sugar or added supplements. Even sweetened juices and cola drinks are fed through bottles which cause rampant nature of cavities almost finishing the tooth structure to root level. According to a national survey, 54.1 per cent children in India are affected with destructive pattern of dental caries.
	Red Ribbon Express in town Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, November 11 As many as 8,655 HIV positive cases have been detected in Punjab, of which 1,276 are in Hoshiarpur district. Punjab Minister for Medical Education and Research, Forest and Wildlife Preservation Tikshan Sud said this after inaugurating the function on the arrival of the Red Ribbon Express here yesterday. He said the state government was making all possible efforts to eradicate diseases like AIDS, cancer and drug abuse and female foeticide. Eradication of polio was being done, whereas smallpox had been controlled. He emphasised on the need to spread awareness among people for the complete eradication of AIDS. Only preventive measures could save a person from this disease. The Red Ribbon Express train would remain at the local railway station up to November 12 to spread awareness among people about the disease. Deputy Commissioner Dharam Dutt Ternach appealed to the people, especially the younger generation, to witness the exhibition on the subject in the Red Ribbon Express. Citizens, school and college students and members of health and other government departments were present on the occasion.
	BJP’s SC Morcha appoints presidents Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 11 The SC Morcha of the BJP today appointed district presidents of its cell. In a meeting, headed by Avtar Singh Shikri, state president of the morcha, Deepak Telu was appoinetd the president of Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr unit, Gurdial Chand of Jalandhar (urban) and Khanna unit, Rajinder Khatri of Jalandhar (rural), Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib unit, Joginder Sheel of Amritsar (urban), Gurdaspur and Batala unit. While Raj Kumar Pathi was appointed the president of the Sangrur, Batala and Moga units and Balwinder Gill was chosen to head the Ferozepore, Faridkot and Muktsar units.
	2 cops booked for graft, suspended Tribune Reporters Tarn Taran, November 11 The Harike police has booked two head constables of its own police station for corruption. According to police sources here today, the accused have been identified as Charanjit Singh and Surinder Singh ans booked under under Sections 7 and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 382 of the IPC. The case has been registered on the statement of Narinder Kaur of Tung village, 35 km from here. She alleged that the head constables took a bribe of Rs 1,000 from her son and took away the earrings from his fiancee Raj Kaur. She said her son and his fiancee were coming to their village when the head constables threatened them that they would be booked in a wandering case in case they denied to give them the bribe. Narinder Kaur brought the matter to the notice of the higher police officials who ordered to register a case against the head constables. The services of the head constables have been put under suspension with immediate effect. Three held with contrabands Amritsar: The police today seized huge quantity of narcotics from three persons. Though two smugglers were arrested, the third one gave police the slip. The contraband was to be supplied to various areas notorious for drug addiction. Talking to mediapersons, DCP Amar Singh Chahal said the two arrested --- Nirmal Singh of Shaheed Baba Sangat Singh Nagar, Mehta Road, and Kabal Singh of Maqboolpura --- were big shots in the illegal trade who used to supply contraband to Maqboolpura, Anngarh, Gujjapura and several other localities. Their third companion was Sandeep Singh of Rana Garden, Mehta Road. The raiding party seized 15 kg charas and 1 kg smack from them. “Hopefully, we would succeed in curtailing the drug supply chain to these localities for a considerable time from now,” said Chahal. Those absconding include Hira of Gujjarpura, Sikandar of Maqboolpura and Dilbagh Singh of Anngarh. While detailing, Chahal said on a tip-off the CIA staff led by Inspector Sukhwinder Singh, intercepted a Swift Car bearing number PB-02-AY-9233 and during the search, the team recovered contraband wrapped in cloths beneath the seats (of the car). “The accused brought the consignment from Pattran township in Patiala. The absconding persons had left the car just few minutes from the recovery and manhunt has been launched to arrest them,” said Chahal while adding that further investigations were in progress. A case under sections 20, 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered at B-Division police station in this regard.