 |
|
|
They came, waited and returned disappointed
@ Rs 76.36/ltr, petrol a luxury now
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Big question: How to afford ‘dal-roti’
Woman among five held for kidnapping, duping NRI
|
|
They came, waited and returned disappointed
Jalandhar, November 4 The visitors were upset as they felt that their work would be put off for the next three days due to weekend and Monday being a public holiday. It appeared to be a holiday at many offices as some of the rooms, including those of the social welfare department, were even from outside. Other offices, including that of the District Revenue Officer, wore a deserted look. The most affected was the office of the District Transport Department. The department area, which otherwise is characterised by long queues and chaos on any working day, was marked by unusual silence with no one at work. All counters, including those for permanent licence, registry of vehicles, getting token numbers, cash counters and photography were shut. Visitors were coming and leaving after reading a strike notice pasted on the wall of the office. Harmesh, a representative of India Bulls, said he had come for endorsement and verification of a company truck, but had to return as the counter was closed. Sepoy Kundan Singh had come from Jalandhar cantonment to get a copy of his permanent driving licence. The beneficiaries of various social welfare schemes also had to return empty handed. An elderly man, Om Parkash, had come all the way from New Dashmesh Nagar on Kala Sanghian Road to get a grant under the Shagun Scheme after the marriage of his daughter Nitu, but there was no one to hear his plea. Getting the work done in the revenue department was also not possible as the staff of the tehsildars and SDMs was also nowhere to be seen. Joginder Singh, who had come from Kishanpura to get a registry done, was seen running around helplessly. Contractual staff run the show
As many as 250 regular government employees - clerks to superintendents - in the tehsil complex were on a mass casual leave on Friday. Around 2,500 employees of 52 departments, including those of fish farming, drainage, food and civil supplies departments, were on strike seeking hike in their salaries. However, offices with contractual staff managed some work. The Fard Kendra was open as the assistant system manager (works) and other technical staff is on contract. The work of issuing of learner's driving licence, marriage registration, getting ration cards and attestation of certificates went in routine at the Suvidha Centre as over 50 employees here are on contract. The staff deputed on contract for socio-economic census was also seen
working. |
|
@ Rs 76.36/ltr, petrol a luxury now
As the day started, voices of dissent were heard with people from the middle class raising questions on the sudden hike in the petrol prices by the Union government and the forced around 33 per cent VAT in the state, burning a big hole in consumer’s pocket. Residents also lambasted the ruling SAD-BJP government for not reducing the VAT on petrol in Punjab. “It is the middle class which is the worst affected due to the petrol price hike. Earlier, when petrol was priced at around Rs 50, one could get around 10 litres of petrol in Rs 1,000, whereas now one hardly gets 14 litres of petrol for the same amount,” said Tushar Singh, a city resident. A youngster, Vishwajeet Singh, said he would have to curtail is favourite ‘geri’ routes to Model Town and regular visits to Chandigarh. “In Chandigarh, petrol is cheaper by Rs 7 compared to Punjab, which is a big difference. Now, I will get the petrol filled from Chandigarh rather than from the city.” Kartika Singh, another college-going student, said her family asked her to avoid excess use of her Honda Activa as she was dependent on her family for pocket money. “I used Petrol dealers also maintain that ever since the petrol prices have started shooting up, the consumption has gone down. Monty Sehgal, owner of a petrol pump in Adampur said: “At the end of the day, every consumer is concerned about his or her monthly budget. Barring the government sector, the private sector employees end up facing huge expenses, which in turn has brought our sales down.” He said owing to less consumption of petrol, their commission has gone down. “It might sound strange, but even we are facing losses,” he added. Ranbir Singh Tut, owner of a petrol station on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway, said now people fight with us for each single penny of petrol. “Moreover, ever since the petrol prices have been soaring, people have started buying diesel cars, which are economical,” he added. Meanwhile, members of the Youth Akali Dal today burnt an effigy of the Union government for petrol price hike in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They also handed over a memorandum to DC Priyank
Bharti.
|
|
Big question: How to afford ‘dal-roti’
This is what a majority of housewives in the city are using these days, as even the lowest price of tomato begins from Rs 30 per kilogram. As if this was not enough, the past one-month also witnessed a steep hike in the price of the lowest-priced chana dal, which was earlier available at Rs 40 per kg, but now has gone up to Rs 55 a kg. Even chick peas (kabuli chana) have turned into a luxury as they are priced at Rs 110 per kg. Every housewife ended up cribbing about the price rise of the essential commodities, but also listed their way outs in such circumstances. Harman Kaur, a homemaker said since last year, she started a kitchen garden at her house, which has been giving her little yields. “It is difficult to spend Rs 50 of vegetables every day. Even now before the onset of winters, I have planted radish, coriander, cauliflower, spinach and sarso to help run the family budget smoothly,” she said. But not all are lucky to have open space. A majority of the housewives maintained that earlier they would make fresh vegetables and pulses three-time a day (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) but now they have cut down on such luxuries. “Earlier, the common man was sure of dal-roti in minimum wages, but now dal, has become a luxury. What will one eat when moong dal is available at Rs 80 per kg, sugar at Rs 35, rajmah at Rs 75 plus and that too coupled with a steep hike in vegetable prices. We have actually forgotten about fruits as even the worst quality of apple at no less than Rs 50,” said Pooja Bhatia, whose husband is employed in a private company. Somehow, the middle class families have been managing the show, but for the lower middle class, this is no less than a routine torture. Santosh Kumari, whose husband works as a tailor said: “At times, we pity ourselves for not able to bear the mounting expenses due to price rise. I avoid taking my six-year-old son to the market as he keeps asking for one or the other thing. What to talk of vegetables and essential commodities, we spend the last 10 days of the month with extreme difficulty.” |
|
City’s security in ailing hands!
Cops suffer from Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, obesity, hypertension Bipin Bhardwaj Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 4 A recent annual medical report prepared by the police authorities on cops serving in the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate reveals that 38 cops are suffering from Hepatitis-B and 33 from Hepatitis-C. The report also says that 11 cops are suffering from serious infections not to be disclosed. Sources revealed that more than 10 police personnel are in the grip of AIDS while one is suffering from cancer. Besides, seven police personnel are heart patients, four had undergone bypass heart surgeries and three have undergone joint replacement surgeries. Though the authorities have no data of cops suffering from hypertension and obesity, it is learnt that the nearly 50 per cent of the force in the grip of high blood pressure and nearly 10 per cent are obese. A recent report in this regard shows that seven inspectors, 23 head constables, 29 constables had to undergo the second round of the medical examination after they were detected positive for some serious ailments in the first round of the annual medical report. The City Police Commissioner has directed the officials concerned to ensure that the ailing cops should be re-examined and provided proper medical care. Talking to the Tribune, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Navjot Singh Mahal revealed that the department had been providing medical aid to the ailing cops as per government rules. “The best possible treatment is being provided to the ailing police personnel,” he added. “Many cops are not in a position to afford the treatment of Hepatitis. The most affected are the cops who are either retired or are on the verge of retirement as they find hard to continue their treatment due to high cost of medicines," said an ailing cop. A random survey by The Tribune team revealed that scores of police personnel are overworked and are under stress. The odd, long and unscheduled duty hours have further added to their stress. Moreover, pressures from their superiors and long stay and that too away from their families also aggravate their problems. Shortage of staff is one of the major causes of the increasing level of the stress among cops as the government has failed to maintain proper police-public ratio, a senior police official said. Contrary to the tall claims of the Punjab Police of having taken the yoga route to overcome stress, fatigue and obesity among cops, noting has been done at the grassroots level. Experts, however, claim that the stress level among cops could be reduced to some extant if the authorities start recreation classes apart from introducing regular yoga classes for them.
|
|
Woman among five held for kidnapping, duping NRI
Jalandhar, November 4 The gang members include a woman and her brother, who had been targeting NRIs. The gang is active in this part of the region for the past few of years and is cheating ‘womaniser’ customers, the police said. Hardial Singh Maan, Senior Superintendent Of Police (SSP), said Amandeep, a resident of Bhargo Camp, and his sister Neha Sharma, a resident of Kathar, her husband Vineet, along with their aides Rohit of Bhargo Camp and Amandeep Kumar of Lambra, were arrested for abducting and cheating an NRI, 65-year-old Bhupinder Singh Sangha aka Peter of Jandu Singha. Amandeep and Neha were residing in a rented accommodation at Bhargo Camp where they used to take the ‘customers’ and rob them of their belongings. The SSP said that 25-year-old Neha was being used as a bait to attract the “interested parties” by the cheaters. They then used to kidnap and rob them of
valuables and cash, he said. Neha managed to come in contact with the NRI who had been to his native village about 10 days ago. She, on behalf of the gang, fixed a meeting with Peter near Rama Mandi and the woman later accompanied him in his taxi (PB-36C-3040) to her accommodation at Bhargo Camp. The five later made the NRI and his deriver, Ram Dhan, a resident of Phagwara, captive at their place on Thursday night. They took out Peter’s wallet containing 550 pounds. They even forced him to handover his State Bank of India passbook. When the gang was taking Peter to the bank for withdrawing Rs 1.52 lakh, the police on a tip-off chased the gang and nabbed them, Deputy Superintendent of Police HS Benipal said. The police has also recovered 530 pounds and the passbook from the accused and a case under Sections 364-A, 384, 342, 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC was registered against them at the Maqsudan police station. The SSP said the gang was also involved in a similar case and a case was registered against them on October 17 at the Bhogpur police station. They were declared proclaimed offenders by a local court in the case, Mann added. |
|
Draw for 381 plots of Surya Enclave Extn held
Jalandhar, November 4 The draw was held for 66 plots of 100 sq yd area, 130 plots of 200 sq yd area, 65 plots of 250 sq yd area, 66 plots of 356 sq yd area and 54 plots of 500 sq yd area. The draw for the 50 plots in 153 sq yd area was left at the last moment. The reason cited for the same was that the mother of Executive Officer Jatinder Singh had fallen ill all of a sudden and he had to rush. In his absence, the draw could not be conducted as per rules. Since the area where the 153 sq yd plots fall has not yet been acquired owing to litigation, there had been doubts over the draw for the plots falling in the part. The Chairman, JIT, Baljit Singh Neelamahal, however, had earlier in the day said the draw for the owners of the plots would be conducted, but the plot numbers would not be declared. On November 1, SDM-I-cum-Land Acquisition Collector Iqbal Singh Sandhu had acquired nearly 62.5 acres for the scheme with the rest falling under litigation left as it is. This included some 20 per cent area for which there had been no claimants for the award of Rs 1.28 lakh per marla. The process of conducting draw started almost 90 minutes behind schedule. While the process was to start at 11 am, it began around 12.30 pm. Since there was a long list of draws, it continued till 5 pm. Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud, who was expected as the chief guest, failed to turn up owing to “some engagements in Ludhiana”. Interestingly, most of the turnout at the draw included property dealers and financiers. Trustees Gopal Mian, Shiv Dyal Chugh and Buta Singh Sachdeva attended the event.
|
|
Small village girl makes it big
Jalandhar, November 4 Today, she has become the first Indian Punjabi student to receive the Best International Scholar Award by University of Wolverhampton, UK. Meet Jasvir Kaur, a former student of Lyallpur Khalsa College, who was selected by academicians of Wolverhampton University for pursuing M.Sc (information technology) in 2008. She completed her graduation in B.Sc (information technology) from Khalsa College. Jasvir, who is presently working as an IT analyst in London, is back home in her village Kotli Than Singh, near Jalandhar Cantonment. A topper in Khalsa College, she was all thanks to that one golden chance, which changed her life forever. Talking to mediapersons, she said her father ran a small grocery shop in the village and had a family of five to feed. “After completing my schooling from Government Senior Secondary School, Kotli Than Singh, I took admission in B.Sc (IT) in 2004. My college fee was Rs 25,000, but I could just manage to deposit Rs 4,000. Although I started attending classes, but poor financial conditions were posing problems for me. Somehow I managed to continue my studies, but in February 2005, I had to pay the pending fee. Surprisingly, the day I was about to submit my application for fee concession, I met Prof Harbans Singh Bolina, the Head of the Department of Punjabi Department, outside the Principal’s office. It was there and then that he assured me of help,” she said. “After hearing my story of financial constraints, Prof Bolina deposited Rs 75,000 fee for the next three years of my graduation. “That was a God-sent opportunity for me and I grabbed it as I wanted to complete my studies,” she said. “Then in 2008, the Wolverhampton-India project was launched and luckily I was selected. The Vice-Chancellor of Wolverhampton University, Prof Caroline Gipps, had met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2008. The CM had forwarded a suggestion to the varsity delegation to award a scholarship to academically excellent, but financially poor students. And I became the first Punjabi Indian girl to receive the scholarship,” she added. Jasvir completed her postgraduation in computer science in 2010, following which she was awarded the scholar award. Apart from her job, she is also planning to take up research in computer science, which she said was her passion.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Jalandhar, November 4
unhealthy lifestyle
Jalandhar, November 4
City residents blamed both the Centre and the state governments for turning a blind eye towards the problems of the common man. Abjinder Singh, a city resident said, “What is the fun of providing subsidies if one part of the population ends up bearing the brunt of steep hike in petrol prices and other essential commodities? Petrol has become a luxury for the common man and there does not seem to be any ray of hope from this vicious circle of inflation.”
Jalandhar, November 4