Ludhiana, February 9
A few enumerators, who were unwilling to take up the responsibility of conducting the second phase of Census -2011 that commenced today, have proceeded on a long leave.

At least 3,323 enumerators, 533 supervisors and 75 trainers have been appointed for the Census operations to be carried out in Ludhiana district alone.

Each enumerator has been given the target of getting at least 800 forms filled between February 9 and February 28. Each form contains 29 columns that need to be filled precisely.

The entire staff has been trained to count families and their respective members. Homeless destitute will be counted on the night of February 28.

Despite having received special training in filling the forms that carry elaborate details of an individual, enumerators are taking the job casually. A bank employee, who proceeded on a week-long leave, stated that getting the forms was not a difficult task. “I will get the forms filled within a week,”he added.

Director, Census Operations, Punjab, Seema Jain, had categorically stated that a lot of government resources had been utilised in imparting training to the enumerators.

Joint Commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation MS Jaggi, who is also in charge of the Census operations, said despite having proceeded on leave, the enumerators would have to finish their work after resuming their duties. “We did get applications for exemption from the Census duty, but they have been rejected,” he added.

Ludhiana, February 9
The paradox of being denied ration cards despite having resided here for over a decade and yet counted as bona fide citizens in this year’s census exercise has added to the confusion of the city’s migrant populace.

The food, civil supplies & consumer affairs department has repeatedly rejected applications by migrants for ration cards. As a result the latter, almost all of whom work in factories and commercial establishments on daily wages, are unable to get food supplies at subsidized prices.

What has flummoxed the migrants is the statement made by Punjab census operations director Seema Jain during her recent visit to Ludhiana in which she urged the district administration to ensure all slumdwellers in the city, a majority of whom are migrants, are enumerated in the headcount.

On the other hand, over 500 migrants who visit the district food, civil supplies & consumer affairs office every week to seek ration cards issued in their names return empty handed. The reason is officials and their subordinate staff flatly turn down their applications.

After receiving numerous complaints from migrants, Ludhiana deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari took up the matter with district food, civil supplies & consumer affairs controller Rajneesh Kumari during the advisory committee meeting. The latter reportedly told Tewari the department intended to issue migrant workers “provisional” ration cards valid for three months.

“The provisional would be made permanent after the migrants surrender their old ration cards in their respective states and get a NOC from the department concerned. Applications are now being accepted at the ‘Suvidha Centre, so there’s no question of their being rejected in the district food, civil supplies & consumer affairs office”, she stated.

However, Kumari was caught on the wrong foot when the DC immediately call up officials at the Suvidha Centre ho told him they had been instructed not to accept any applications for new ration cards.

Tewari later stated he has called a special meeting of district food, civil supplies & consumer affairs controllers on February 22to discuss the issue. "We’ll soon find a solution. We also plan to organize a special camp to receive applications *(for new ration cards)”, he added.

Ludhiana, February 9
Even though the ink has not dried on the recent notification in which four new LIT trustees from the BJP quota were recently nominated by the Punjab government, one of them - Sunil Moudgil - has come under suspicion for reportedly possessing a house in the city’s posh Kitchlu Nagar colony, for there is no allotment or sale record in the trust office.

Not only this, a city resident, Sumit Mangla, has alleged a 250 square yard plot adjoining Moudgil’s house (no 26F) was being eyed by members of a powerful “land mafia and claimed the vacant plot had been carpeted recently to show it as a part of the adjoining public street.

However, despite the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s directions to the city’s police commissioner to provide police protection to the revenue staff so as to demarcate the piece of land owned by Moudgil, the revenue officials - said to be under political pressure — remain unmoved. Details obtained by the applicant (Mangla) from the municipal corporation under the Right to Information Act stated premix carpet on the vacant plot in question was not laid by the local body. This is intriguing because the Kitchlu Nagar colony, developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, had been handed over to the civic body for maintenance a long time ago.

Another piece of information that Mangla obtained under the RTI from the trust is even more startling. It says plot no 26F (Moudgil’s residence), along with some other plots, was still in the trust’s possession according to revenue records and had not been allotted to any one.

Moudgil, however, has rubbished these allegations. While admitting LIT had not allotted plot no 26F to him, he maintained when the colony was carved out this particular piece of land as well as some other existing houses were left out of the scheme. "But the plot number has been allocated by the trust”, he claimed. About the plot adjoining his house Moudgil said: “A public street exists in the colony’s layout plan. However, if this piece of land belongs to someone the owner is free to get it demarcated from revenue officials and take possession”.

Ludhiana, February 9
The local police claims to have busted a gang of vehicle thieves with the arrest of three of its members. The trio, who have been remanded in police custody for 15 days, used to steal four-wheelers, change their chassis, forge their documents, give new numbers and sell them to prospective buyers.

Deputy Commissioner Police, Ludhiana, Yurinder Singh, said three of the gang members had been identified as Jagsir Singh, alias Seera, a resident of Moga, Harkirat Singh, alias Lovely, a resident of Kotakpura, and Chanchal Singh, a resident of Ferozpur, were arrested by a police team headed by CIA in charge, Harpal Singh Grewal.

“They had stolen about 20 vehicles, including SUVs, not just from Ludhiana but also from Jodhpur, Bathinda, Patiala, Amritsar and Mohali in the past a few months. The estimated cost of these vehicles is about Rs 90 lakh. The three kingpins admitted during interrogation that there were nine members in their gang. A manhunt has been launched by the police for arresting six other members,” the Deputy Commissioner Police added.

The police has recovered six Tata Indigos, four Bolero Jeeps, one Tata Safari, two Zen diesel cars, one Verna, two Indica, one Maruti, one Alto and one Mahindra pick-up from their possession.

Harpal Singh Grewal, CIA in charge, said, “We will recover more such vehicles, which the gang had lifted from other districts. Sheera was involved in 40 more cases.”

The three accused were arrested on January 20 and remanded in police custody. Cases under Sections 413, 420, 467, 468 and 471 were registered against the arrested accused.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police said the CIA staff arrested Vijay Kumar, a resident of the Lohara road from near Bapu Gandhi market, today. At least 10 mobile phones, one laptop, one camera and one CPU were recovered from the accused. Vijay Kumar admitted to have stolen these articles from Guru Nanak Mission Rai Studio, Kirpal Nagar Market, Ishar Nagar, on January 24.

Ludhiana, February 9
The city wore a chocolaty look today as residents came out in large numbers to celebrate Chocolate Day, the third day of the Valentine’s Week, by gifting choco-treats to their beloved ones, friends and family.

College campuses, in particular, were buzzing with activity as enthusiastic youngsters could be seen exchanging chocolates with their loved ones.

“For a change, my bag is not full of books today. Instead, I have a variety of chocolates in it, meant for all my friends,” smiled BCom-II student Gursimran Kaur.

Another college student, Sukhpreet Singh, said, “I gifted as well as received chocolates from all my friends. It was so much fun exchanging chocolates and expressing love for each other, strengthening the special bond of friendship.”

Sukhpreet, however, missed exchanging chocolates with his girlfriend, who was studying in Canada. “I flooded her phone inbox with legions of Chocolate Day SMSes, along with an equal number of e-mails. I guess her day was made,” grinned the youngster.

Not very surprisingly, colleges across the city witnessed thin attendance as youngsters chose to remain away from classes, celebrating the day with friends instead.

A group of excited girls hanging outside the Khalsa College for Women said, “We are bunking college and making our plans for the day.”

“While those who have boyfriends will celebrate the day with them, others will go for a movie,” disclosed the cheerful girls.

Needless to say, the day meant big business for confectionery stores and bakeries in the city.

"Youngsters, especially girls, bought chocolates in bulk. Some bought milk chocolates while others chose to go in for chocolates with filling. It is overwhelming to see how youngsters leave no stone unturned in expressing their feelings for their loved ones,” chuckled an elderly confectionery store owner at the College Road.

While the young brigade played it big, the not-so-young, too, had their fill of the Chocolate Day.

“I have prepared special home-made rum chocolates for my husband, which I will present to him at a surprise romantic candle-lit dinner. I am waiting for him to return from his evening walk. I am sure he will be surprised as well as touched with my gesture,” exclaimed retired schoolteacher Sunita R.

Ludhiana, February 9
Irked over the non-revision of rates for maintaining parks in the city despite repeated assurances of the municipal corporation (MC) Commissioner, the Federation of Pollution and Park Management Committees has questioned claims of the civic body to make the city green.

In a letter to MC Commissioner AK Sinha, federation president SS Chana has rued that though the revised rates were to be made effective from November last, no park management committee had been paid the revised rates so far.

He asserted that the MC Commissioner had assured them that the rates would be revised in accordance to their demands. He asked how the government was claiming to bring about proposed reforms in the administration with such an attitude.

Chana alleged that the failure of the civic body in implementing the revised rates for maintenance of of parks was an example of red tape. “It is unfortunate that the MC is not bothered to spend a small sum for ensuring green cover for the city,” he added.

Past year, the MC had revised rates to maintain more than 700 parks of the city in an efficient manner. Sinha had assured the committees that he would look into the matter, but the issue was hanging fire since then.

Ludhiana, February 8
In a strange turn of events smacking of irregularities and official negligence, an applicant for a residential plot who was not even eligible to participate in the draw of lots for allotment of plots in LIT’s 475 acre Bhagat Singh Nagar scheme here, was not only included in the draw but secured allotment of a 150 square yard plot facing a park facing, valued at around Rs 60 lakh at current market prices of land in the locality.

This startling fact has been revealed in the audit inspection report of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust for fiscal 2009-10, a copy of which was obtained by Rohit Sabharwal and Arvind Sharma, president and secretary, respectively, of the Council of RTI Activists under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

According to the audit objection made on the file pertaining to allotment of plot no 185E in the colony, one Balwant Singh had deposited Rs 1,200 as earnest money for a 150 sq yd plot in November 1982. Since litigation related to land acquired for the colony had dragged on in various courts, and the allotment process could not be taken up for nearly 17 years, the applicant sought refund of his earnest money, which was returned to him in April 1992.

However, when finally the draw of lots was held for allotment of plots in Bhagat Singh Nagar in July 1999, the name of Balwant, who had withdrawn his earnest money and thus forfeited the right for being included in the allotment process, figured in the list of successful applicants having been allotted plot no 185E in the colony defying all logic.

With the land, valued at a very high premium even at that time, and a prime residential plot coming his way for just about 16,000 odd rupees, the applicant did not disclose the fact he was no longer eligible for being allotted a plot as he had got the earnest money he had deposited refunded to him some seven years ago. The allotment letter of the plot was issued to the applicant on August 25, 1999 and its reserve price was paid by him in installments according to the payment schedule.

The audit report further said it in August 2008 when the allottee sought a "no dues certificate" from LIT for getting a sale deed executed, the truth about the earnest money having been refunded a long time ago and the applicant having been included in the draw of lots by "oversight" emerged.

That there is more to the matter than meets the eye in this mystifying allotment of plot is evident from the course of action adopted by LIT officials in this particular case. Rather than going for cancellation of the allotment, which was a glaring mistake and also "bad in law", as also fixing the responsibility of the employees concerned, the officials sought instructions from the local government department through a resolution adopted in August 2005.

Apparently, strings were pulled at the highest level as well and the Punjab government directed that the refunded earnest money amount of Rs 1,200, along with simple interest calculated from 1992 to 2006, be taken from the applicant so that the allotment was regularized. The government also desired that the names of those responsible for this negligence be intimated so that suitable action could be taken against them. However, this part of the instructions were never carried out, says the audit report.

Ludhiana, February 9
Taking a defiant stand against the decision of high-powered finance and contract committee (F&CC) of the municipal corporation (MC), Senior Deputy Mayor Praveen Bansal has lodged a complaint with the state government’s local bodies department regarding an agenda item passed by the committee on January 4.

Under pressure from a local SAD MLA, the F&CC approved a survey to give connections of sewerage, being laid under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, to villages through which it was passing.

Though the matter was not on the agenda, the F&CC approved it, under pressure, despite vigorous opposition by Bansal, who claimed that it would increase the burden on sewerage, which would affect residents of the city.

The issue caused a confrontation among leader of the SAD and the BJP, with the former patting its back for consolidating its vote bank in rural areas and the latter opposing it for vote gains in urban areas.

Bansal met Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia in Chandigarh today, requesting him to put the brakes on the survey. Talking to The Tribune, Bansal said he told the minister that the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board had objected to it, but MC officials had misled the F&CC by not showing it the board’s report.

He said he informed the minister that any such move would spell disaster for sewerage in the city and the purpose of laying the new line would not be fulfilled. “I told him that the sewerage is already choked and the condition will be worse if we add the villages to it,” he stated.

Bansal asserted that the minister assured him that he would look into the matter and the agenda item would be passed only after going into all facts.

He further said he would not allow such a move to materialise as it would result in great inconvenience to residents of the city in the future.

Ludhiana, February 9
Ludhiana MP and the national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress Manish Tewari on Sunday stated that the Akali-BJP government in the state had lost its will to rule the state. “The government has lost all its credibility,” he said while addressing a series of meetings at various villages falling under the Dakha assembly constituency.

Accompanied by senior party leaders, including Jassi Khangura, Gurdeep Singh Bhaini, Pawan Dewan, Manjeet Humbran, Manjit Singh Bharowal, Major Singh Mullanpuri, Ranjit Mangat, Darshan Birmi and others, Tewari addressed gathering at villages like Walipur Kalan, Ghamnewal, Maniewal, Baniewal, Walipur Khurd, Ranke and Bhatha Dhua, Aliwal, Talwandi Nauawad, Kotmanan, Madaarpura, Kiri, Bhumal and Salempura.

The Congress MP lashed out at the state government for mindlessly spending on advertisements, particularly at a time when it did not have funds for development and paying salaries to employees.

He said the only performance of the government was visible in big advertisements placed at huge expenditure at the cost of the state exchequer.

Predicting a landslide victory for his party in the coming elections, Tewari said people were so fed up with the Akali-BJP government that no Akali leader or legislator was feeling confident about the victory of the alliance. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal were looking for safer seats and running away from Lambi and Jalalabad.

Ludhiana, February 9
Irked over the pollution being caused by a dyeing unit, residents of the Karol Bagh locality on Jassian Road have asked the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) authorities to take action against it.

In a letter written to the chairman of the PPCB, the residents of the locality including Anil Kumar, Usha Rani, Phoolmati, Jawahar Lal Sharma, Kanta, Baldev Singh, Maninder Kaur, Ranjit Kaur and others, have alleged that a dyeing unit in the area was creating water and air pollution due to which they were facing a lot of problems. They rued that the factory owners often put rubber waste on fire in the open areas of the locality due to which residents had to face a lot of problems. Cases related to skin and breathing diseases in the area had risen.

They also alleged that the contaminated water was being thrown by the factory owner in the open space in the residential locality, which was also causing skin problems to them. They also said that the factory owner was also polluting the ground water but no action was being taken against him. The residents rued that their health was at stake and the authorities had not bothered to take action against the owner.They requested the PPCB chairman to take action against the factory owner adding that earlier also they have lodged a number of complaints but nobody paid any heed to it.

Ludhiana, February 9
Three persons identified as Channa, Pamma and Vicky have been booked for abetting Sukhwinder Singh (22), a resident of Shimlapuri, to commit suicide. A case was registered against them on a complaint lodged by Maninder Kaur, mother of deceased, here today.

SHO Daba police station, Rajwant Singh, said Sukhwinder was married and had one small kid. “According to Maninder Kaur, during her daughter’s marriage, which was solemnized at Shimlapuri about nine months ago, Sukhwinder had entered into a scuffle with these accused. They have been threatening him of dire consequences since then. He used to constantly remain under stress. Fed up of threats, Sukhwinder consumed poison on February 1. He was admitted to DMCH in serious condition. He died last night,” the SHO said.

Meanwhile, the body of a man identified as Raj Kumar, 45, was found from near the Buddha nullah near the Tajpur road here today.

The body was spotted a few passersby in the morning. “Investigations reveal that Raj Kumar, a painter by profession, was an alcoholic. He used to walk all the way home. He fell into the nullah last night. His body was taken out of the nullah with the help of passersby and the police. A slip with a telephone number scribbled on was found from his pocket. Victim’s wife, Sunita, answered the call. She helped the police in identifying the body. The post-mortem examination confirmed that the man died due to drowning,” the ASI stated.

Ludhiana, February 9
Recommendations by doctors to patients to undergo unnecessary CT (computed tomography) scans have emerged as a major factor in triggering serious health problems including cancer, bone death, damaged blood vessels, DNA damage and mutations and increased risk of heart attacks.

David Brenner of Columbia University, New York has attempted to substantiate this fact in a recently conducted study that challenged the arbitrary use of CT scans. "About one-third of all CT scans that are conducted right now are medically unnecessary. Virtually anyone who comes to a hospital’s emergency room with pain in his belly or a chronic headache will automatically be advised a CT scan. Is that justified?" he asks.

The unethical practice of the "commissions" or “incentive” offered by diagnostic centres to quacks as well as physicians has emerged as a major contributor to superfluous scans being recommended to patients. A diagnostic centre in the city even went to the extent of advertising a “unique scheme” under which doctors were offered Rs 1,500, Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,500 for CT scans of head, chest and abdomen, respectively. Patients pay Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively, for the test.

In the absence of any restrictions imposed by the health & family welfare department, CT scan centres in the private health sector are mushrooming at an alarming rate, which in turn are being misused by quacks. Dozens of these centres, which can be seen in the city’s posh as well as remote localities, are not only violating ethical codes but are putting thousands of people at risk of contracting critical diseases.

The complexity of medical radiation technology has created new avenues for error by way of software flaws, faulty programming, poor safety procedures or inadequate staffing and training. In the absence of trained staff and radiologists these CT scans often sound the death knells for patients.

Said a senior doctor in the city: “I was shocked to see a prescription slip recommending a CT scan scribbled by an unqualified practitioner to a patient at a particular centre in the city. And the patient didn’t need to undergo scan as his problem could’ve been easily diagnosed clinically”.

Pointing at another factor that has contributed to the growing practice, Dr GS Grewal, chairman of the political affairs committee of the Indian Medical Association (Punjab chapter) and member of the Punjab Medical Council, referred to “non-allopathic professionals” prescribing CT scans. “No other system of medicine except that of allopathy trains professionals to prescribe or conduct tests including CT scans. The government must hence draw up some regulations for ‘ayurvedic’ (Indian traditional system) and homeopathic experts who aren’t equipped to understand the implications of CT scans but nevertheless prescribe them to patients”, he said.

Grewal also criticized the “commissions” taken by physicians from various diagnostic centres, terming it as a “blot on the name of the medical fraternity”.

Ludhiana, February 9
Realising that the data collected by the municipal corporation (MC) staff regarding the number of trees and poles hindering the smooth flow of traffic quotes a small figure, the civic body authorities have told the staff to conduct the survey again.

In a recently conducted survey, the MC staff had, in a report to Additional Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, said there were around 2,000 trees and pillars in the middle of roads, creating a hindrance in traffic flow.

Dissatisfied by the report, Brar held a meeting with the MC staff today to review the report. She pointed out that the figure of around 1,500 electricity poles, 200 telephone poles and 300 trees in the middle of roads seemed less.

She said the figure of only 200 telephone poles, in particular, seemed so miniscule that a fresh look must be taken before finalising the report, to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) next week.

She told the staff to ensure that all such trees and poles were counted accurately so that proper facts were presented to the DC.

She told them to identify the roads where the problem was acute so that those were chosen for the first phase of their operation.

She also told the officials to ensure that there was no anomaly in the survey, failing which strict action would be taken against those who responsible for such a lapse.

Asked to comment, Brar confirmed that a review meeting was held for looking into minute details regarding traffic hazards. She said they had got an interim report, but wanted to cross-check facts.

“Planned action will be taken on the report for the convenience of the general public. I have asked the officials to cross-check the facts,” she stated.

Ludhiana, February 9
If you are applying for the post of a constable in the Ludhiana police, then its better not to attach any recommendation letter this time. Deputy Commissioner Police Yurinder Singh, who also holds the portfolio of the chairman of the Ludhiana Recruitment Board, has said the panel will not entertain recommendations made for recruiting constables. Candidates will only be selected on basis of their merit.

He said middlemen dupe aspiring candidates by taking huge money for “securing” their job. “We, the panel of three officials, will ensure that only deserving candidates are selected. There is a shortage of police personnel and we need to recruit efficient ones,” he added.

The applicants will be recruited after scrutinizing their papers, physical tests and interviews. Papers have already been scrutinized. Physical test will start from February 25 onwards. This will continue for almost a week. Candidates will have to pass through endurance test, 1,600 meters race, long jump and high jump.

Interviews for the post will be conducted later on. The file of selected candidates will be sent to the DGP for final approval. The police department has received 5,617 applications for filling 534 posts.

Samrala, February 8
Hira Singh Gabria, Minister for Jail and Tourism, Punjab, has said that suitable memorials will be built in the memory of Punjabi martyrs, who laid down their lives for freedom of the country and their native villages will be developed as modern villages, so that the coming generation would seek inspiration from their sacrifices. Gabria was addressing the196th Parkash Utsav of Shri Satguru Ram Singh Ji organised by the Punjab government at Bhaini Sahib near here.

Gabria said that ` 5 crore was being spent for the overall development and beautification of Sri Bhaini Sahib by the Punjab Government.

While paying tribute to Shri Satguru Ram SinghJi, Gabria said that Raiyan -Bhani Sahib, the Birth Place of Sat Guru Ram Singh Ji was a sacred and historic place for the whole country, as the most effective Kuka Movement was launched here by Satguru Ram Singh.

Ludhiana, February 9
The government, especially Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, is frustrated over the huge response to district-level rallies being organised by former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as it goes on to show that the ruling alliance has lost the confidence of the masses.

Stating this at a party workers’ meeting in the Atam Nagar area here today, former District Congress Committee president Krishan Kumar Bawa said the government had ditched the people for the past four years. Now that Assembly elections in Punjab were just a year away, government functionaries were out to woo the people in the name of development projects, which were still on paper, he claimed.

“A majority of development projects launched by the state government during the past couple of months have failed to take off simply because there are no funds,” he stated.

“On the other hand, the Chief Minister, his deputy and other senior government functionaries are distributing largesse among their favourites, which have been misappropriated from different centrally funded welfare schemes,” Bawa alleged. He said the SAD-BJP government, which had robbed the people of Punjab during the past four years, was now resorting to yet another gimmick by terming its last year in office as the ‘year of development’.

“Do governments work only when they realise that they are about to be thrown out,” he wondered.

Ludhiana, February 9
A delegation of the Congress from the city led by a former municipal corporation councillor Jasbir Singh Chadha met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to check inflation in the country.

The delegation met the PM in New Delhi. Chadha told the PM that the rising prices of essential commodities were bringing a bad name to the party.

Chadha said the SAD government was implicating the Congress workers in false cases. He appealed to the PM to consider the party’s request and take adequate action.

Chadha claimed that the PM assured him that the prices would be controlled soon and as far as false cases against the party workers were concerned, necessary steps would be taken. — TNS

Ludhiana, February 9
In one of its kind endeavour, students of Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, and city campus, have adopted 24 animals at the Tiger Safari, Ludhiana. The adopted animals include a tiger, five deers, five parrots, five peacocks, cranes, bajrigars and other birds. With this, the school has become the first in the city to adopt animals.

Having adopted these animals under the animal adoption scheme started in the zoos of Punjab an year ago, Kundanites, in their capacity of foster parents of these animals, have given the first installment of ` 95,150. The amount will take care of the food and shelter of the animals for six months.

"We will renew the adoption after six months to extend support to the cause of saving wildlife, especially tigers, in India," remarked Anupama Kumbkarni, in charge of the school's environment club.

Anupama went on to add: "Animal adoption was an idea originally conceived by our principal but when the students were consulted on it, they were so excited that they decided to go all out to make it possible."

The project, started under the guidance of biology teachers Anupama, Promila Sharma and Ashok Chugh, was a voluntary exercise for students. "But we found that majority of the children came forward to contribute towards the cause," said Anupama.For expert help on the subject of animal adoption, the school management consulted the district forest department.

"With the help of district forest officer DS Brar and local environmentalist Ranjeet Rai, we calculated the amount required to adopt these animals, based on each one's food and shelter expenses for six months. However, the amount to be contributed was left to the students," disclosed Anupama.

She added that boards would be put up outside the enclosures of these animals at the Tiger Safari indicating their adoption by Kundanites which "will be a great motivating factor for our kids," she averred.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, KVM principal Navita Puri, said, "I am very proud of my students for undertaking this noble cause. They are so excited that they have even christened the tiger 'Bheem'."

Puri disclosed that animal adoption is now a permanent project for the school. "We will arrange trips for our students to the Tiger Safari in the coming session to build up a bond between them and their adopted animals. This, I think, will go a long way in inculcating a sense of environmental responsibility in our future generations."

Meanwhile, Brar visited the campus of KVM, Civil Lines, this morning and interacted with the students. He applauded their efforts towards saving wildlife and motivated them to continue the good work.

"I wish that every school adopts and follows the path shown by Kundanites," Brar remarked. Puri, on behalf of the students and staff of both branches of the school, handed over a cheque of Rs 95,150 to Brar.

Mandi Gobindgarh, February 9
An inter-college youth festival ‘RHYTHMZ 2011’ commenced at RIMT campus here today. The function was inaugurated by RIMT Group vice-chairman Vijayant Bansal. RIMT Group director General Dr BS Bhatia said that more than 2,000 students from 70 different colleges were participating in 28 events like rangoli, extempore, flower arrangement, declamation, solo song, chess competition, quiz, canvas poster making, modeling , dance, choreography, drama, mimicry, debate, chef vs chef etc. Speaking on the occasion, Bansal welcomed all present there and said that it was on occasions like the present one that students got an opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity.

Winners

Solo song: Arya College Boys Ludhiana;

Face Painting: Guru Nanak Girls College Ludhiana;

Poster making: Guru Nanak Girls college Ludhiana;

Collage making: Khalsa college for women Ludhiana;

Best out of waste: Guru Nanak Girls college Ludhiana;

Mimicry: PMN College Rajpura;

Skit: PMN college Rajpura;

Choreography: Sri Atam vallabh jain College Ludhiana;

Declamation: Government college Malerkotla; Debate: BBK DAV College Amritsar;

Extempore: Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology Ludhiana; Rangoli: AS College for women Khanna;

Mehandi: DIMT Doraha; Chess: PMN College Rajpura;

Quiz: SCD Govt. college Ludhiana;

Ad-mad show: PMN College Rajpura; Debugging: Guru nanak Institute of management and technology Ludhiana;

Chef Vs Chef : CC HMCT Landran;

Flower arrangement- CC HMCT Landran;

Consolation prize: RS Model SR. Sec. School Ludhiana;

Salad decoration - KMRD Jain College Malerkotla;

Nukkad natak: PMN College, Rajpura;

Modeling: Shri Atam Vallabh Jain College Ludhiana;

Dance western (solo): SCD College Ludhiana; Dance western group-SCD College Ludhiana;

Dance classical (solo): RS Model Sr. Sec.School Ludhaian;

Dance classical group- AS College for Women Khanna;

Dance traditional (solo): Baba Banda Singh Bhadur College Fatehgarh Sahib;

Dance traditional group: Guru Nanak Girls College Ludhiana and over all trophy was won by Patel Memorial National College, Rajpura.

Jagraon, February 9
The Ludhiana rural police arrested two proclaimed offenders, wanted in a criminal case, here last evening. The accused were identified as Bahadur Singh and his son Gurmit Singh, residents of Kothe Rahlan village.

A team of the CIA staff arrested the accused from the bus stand following a tipoff. They were waiting to board a bus to flee when they were arrested. According to the CIA staff in charge, inspector Tehal Singh, the accused were wanted in a criminal case registered against them at the Jagraon police station in 2004. — TNS

Ludhiana, February 9
Gurinder Singh Chahal and Priyanka Rana wrapped three titles each and were declared the best athletes among boys and girls, respectively in the fifth edition of the annual athletics meet of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) held here today. The College of Veterinary Sciences bagged the overall trophy.

A large number of students, drawn from all the colleges situated in the GADVASU campus namely College of Veterinary Sciences, College of Dairy Sciences and Technology and College of Fisheries, School of Animal Biotechnology besides affiliated college of the university- Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar competed in various track and field events. Equestrian events were also held in which NCC cadets took part.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Yurinder Singh Hayer declared the meet open and unfurled the games flag. Dr VK Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU, was the guest of honour on this occasion. The senior most student of the university, Harshdeep Joshi took oath on behalf of the participants to play in the true spirit of the games.

Dr KS Sandhu, director, Students Welfare, GADVASU, and faculty members along with a large number of students were also present there.

Results

(Men)

110m hurdles race: 1 Rajandeep, 2 Ravinder Singh Chahal and 3 Navjot Singh;

Javelin throw: 1 Vikram Narula, 2 Akashdeep Singh and 3 Satinder Pal Singh;

5000-m race: 1 Gurinder Singh Chahal, 2 Barinder Singh and 3 Girish Chand;

400m hurdles race: 1 Gurinder Singh Chahal, 2 Ravinder Singh Chahal and 3 Girish Chand;

Hammer throw: 1 Jugraj Singh, 2 Gurvinder Singh and 3 Simarpreet Singh;

800m race: 1 Gurinder Singh Chahal, 2 Gurjot Singh and 3 Amrit Pal Singh;

Triple jump:1 Rajandeep Singh, 2 Gurinder Singh Chahal and 3 Dhanpreet Singh;

High jump: 1 Harmanjot Singh, 2 Grishi Chand and 3 Navjot Singh;

Shot put: 1 Bir Joginder Singh Gill, 2 Gurinder Singh Sidhu and 3 Jugraj Singh.

(Women)

Javelin throw: 1 Navjot Kaur Pannu, 2 Taranjot Kaur and 3 Amardeep Kaur;

1500-m race: 1 Priyanka Rana, 2 Karanpreet Kaur and 3 Taranjot Kaur Sran;

800-m race: 1 Karanpreet Kaur, 2 Taranjot Kaur Sran and 3 Arshdeep Kaur;

100-m race: 1 Priyanka Rana, 2 Ramneet Kaur and 3 Gurjeet Kaur;

Broad jump: 1 Priyanka Rana, 2 Navneet Kaur and 3 Taranjot Kaur Sran.

Ludhiana, February 9
The 13 thorough bred horses, well trained by 1 Punjab Remount and Veterinary Squad, NCC, will display their skills during the annual athletics meet of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) here late evening. These horses play an important role in shaping the personality of NCC cadets of GADVASU, for whom horse riding is a compulsory activity.

Major Mangesh of 1 Pb R and V Sqd. informed that after learning horseriding on these well-bred horses, the NCC cadets had participated at many national and international level events and havewon many awards. The horses, a property of the Army, have been kept in stable of GADVASU here where thorough training is provided to them.

Their nutritious diet is fixed, which is taken care of by the Army. Two national riders posted as Junior Commissioned Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer work as instructors. These horses were efficiently trained for showing skills in jumping, pent-pegging and crossing from the fire ring etc.

Sohrab Singh, an NCC cadet of GADVASU, said that these were all trained horses. "Horse riding is a tough activity but it is important for students of GADVASU. It is a part of our course. We just love riding on these tough animals", he said.

The NCC in charge of GADVASU, Dr Samrinder Sodhi, said that horse riding remained one of the favourite activity of NCC cadets. "All these white and brown horses will show their skills in the evening during a horse show, a unique activity of GADVASU", said Sodhi.