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Two killed as roof caves in
A roof of a house that collapsed in gali no 8 at Shiv Nagar in Jalandhar. District authorities all geared up for polls
Poll SMSes keep voters engaged
Poll manifestos have ignored art, say organisations
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Auxiliary polling booth for Army personnel
3 localities drop not-to-vote stance
Earlier, residents have adopted lack-of-development stance to say no to voting. A file photo
NRI’s house burgled
‘Police biased in a property dispute case’
Groom takes 'jumbo' ride to woo his bride
Jalandhar remembers the man who gave it art
Govt’s claims on recruitment false: Unemployed BEd teachers
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Two killed as roof caves in
Jalandhar, January 29
The incident occurred at about 4 am when Rehka (43) was asleep with her daughter Pooja (19) and son Raja (17) in the house. As the roof collapsed, they were buried under the debris. Hearing a loud thud, area residents gathered and began a rescue operation. Neighbours informed the police. Rekha's elder son, Sunny, who worked a waiter at a marriage palace, came in after getting the information. RK Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) City-I, said a police team led by Nirmal Singh, SHO Police Station Division No 1, rushed to the spot. The SHO said Raja was brought out alive by the residents, but Rekha and Pooja were not so lucky. Locality residents said Rekha was staying in the house with her children while her husband, Roshan Lal, was staying separately in Bhargo Camp area for a long time. The police has shifted Raja to the Civil Hospital. At the Civil Hospital, Raja, still in a state of shock, claimed that he was in deep sleep when the incident happened. Suddenly, he heard a loud thud and found himself under the rubbles. "I was able to breathe as my face was out of the debris. I raised an alarm," he recalled. The bodies were handed over to the family after post-mortem examinations at the Civil Hospital this afternoon. A pall of gloom descended in Shiv Nagar soon after the news spread in the locality. Meanwhile, the ADCP said inquest proceedings have been initiated in the incident. The police authorities have also decided to depute a patwari to access the loss, he added.
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District authorities all geared up for polls Jalandhar, January 29
The District Transport Office arranged public transport to ferry the polling staff to their respective polling booths Almost the entire district wore a look of a cantonment as personnel from Punjab Police and 21 companies of paramilitary forces manned the roads and areas. There are 1,771 polling stations in nine assembly constituencies falling in Jalandhar. There are 13,70,000 voters in the district. The district election authorities have sent 1,771 electronic voting machines (EVMs) to the respective polling booths in the district. For the first time, live webcasting would be done at five sensitive polling booths in the district. The initiative has been taken on the directions of Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu.
Talking to Jalandhar Tribune, District Electoral Officer Priyank Bharti said this service has been arranged at five sensitive polling booths of the district. "We roped in engineering students from different technical institutes to carry out this service successfully," he said. "Under live webcasting, polling will be telecast with the help of web cameras, laptops and broadband internet connection. This will be directly monitored by the state election office in Chandigarh," the DEO added. The five sensitive polling booths are Government Senior Secondary School, Talhan (Adampur 38); Government School, Maqsudan (Jalandhar North 36); Government School, Bhargo Camp (Jalandhar West 34); Government School, Lambra (Kartarpur); and Government School, Garha (Jalandhar Cantt 31). It is pertinent to mention here that webcasting has been arranged only in those government schools that have satellite connection under EDUSAT services. The DEO also said the process of dispatching the voter lists was also completed at all the nine constituencies. He also highlighted that the district election authorities had arranged wheelchairs for the physically challenged and the elderly at many polling booths. "We have sought wheelchairs from District Red Cross Society for this purpose," he added. Fact file * Polls to begin at 8 am and conclude at 5 pm * 1,771 polling booths in nine assembly constituencies of district * 9,000 polling staff, 450 micro observers, 5,000 personnel of Punjab Police and 21 companies of paramilitary forces Facilities for voters * Wheelchairs for the physically challenged and elderly - Taking cognisance of a new report published in Jalandhar Tribune on December 29, the district election authorities said that they have arranged the same outside polling booths in the district. * Adequate shelters, drinking water facilities have been arranged Live webcasting * For the first time iin the history of Punjab Assembly polls, live webcasting will be held at five sensitive polling booths.
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Poll SMSes keep voters engaged
Jalandhar, January 29 NGO Help exhorted voters with an SMS which read 'Your vote is your voice. Make sure it is heard by casting your vote on January 30, 2012. You can also exercise your 'Right to Refuse' at polling booth under section 49-O of Conduct of Election Rules 1961'. Interestingly, youngsters also took the lead in forwarding SMSes regarding 'cast your votes' in their friend circles. From 'Rise and Awake..be not late..cast your vote' to 'The making of a new government: First cast your vote' and 'Picture abhi baki hai mere dost..first vote', it was youngsters who were seen excited about the polls. "We have been forwarding these SMSes for the past two days. It is just to ensure that every voter plays a role in the formation of the next government", said Dilpreet Singh, a youngster. The political parties used the service to take a dig at their opponents. An SMS, sent by Congress workers, highlighted the 'misrule' of the SAD-BJP combine in every field. The message written in a hilarious tone read- "Raj Nahi Sewa…Orbit Bus Sewa..Dabwali Bus Sewa..Orbit Resorts Sewa..Orbit Spa and Hotel Sewa..Digital Cable Sewa...PTC News Channel Sewa..Highrise Advertising Sewa..Majithia Building Material Sewa..Apna Kimti Vote Deke Badal Parivar nu hor sewa da mauka deyo ji?????' Among other SMSes making the rounds were from party workers seeking votes in the name of their respective candidates. The BJP IT cell sent an SMS that read 'Please remember BJP ka election symbol hai kamal ka phool, din 30th of January. Yaad rakna BJP candidates Manoranjan Kalia and Bhagat Chuni Lal and Bhandari'. A majority of the youngsters also said that they would cast their votes in the morning so that they could ensure the participation of others in their family and society. "Casting your vote is constitutional right and every resident should become part of this process. We will motivate the voters to reach well on time in large numbers to exercise their franchise", said a group of youth. |
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Poll manifestos have ignored art, say organisations
Jalandhar, January 29 While not a single art organisation got the requisite amounts they were allocated in the Punjab budget 2011-12, the lack of mention of policies concerning art and culture in the manifestos of political parties have further angered these organisations. Organisations across Punjab - the Punjab Arts Council, Anad Foundation, Punjabi Bhasha Vibhag, Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Punjab Jagriti Manch, Manch Rangmach, Kendri Punjab Lekhak Sabha and Kendri Punjab Lekhak Sabha, Sekhon, among others, had been promised amounts of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 2 crore as special budgetary allocations, but none of them have received the amounts promised by the state government so far. The disillusioned organisation heads believe the total lack of concern for these organisations signals a growing disconnect with art in government policies. Gurbhajan Singh Gill, president of Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, says, "Rs 2 crore was allocated to us for the construction of the Saeen Miyan Meer Bhawan but have not been released so far." Calling the politicians of the day as "Hardware de vanjare", he says, "They are busy with atta daal schemes and sustaining voters. For the past five years, the state government hasn't endorsed any policy which promotes the fine arts. It's a sad state of affairs for artists." Bhai Baldeep Singh of the Anad Foundation says, "It's like a bad joke. Although there was enthusiastic appreciation and promises for the work I am doing, we have not received a penny of the funds that were allocated to us. Passionate projects are dying out due to government apathy." Renowned theatre person Kewal Dhaliwal, of Manch Rangmanch, says, "Nine of us who were promised budgetary provisions have been given these. We were promised Rs 5 lakh. They had asked us for the details of the expenditure of that money. We gave them a detailed list of our plans. But they just took it and we did not hear from them again." Professor Anup Virk of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha has similar qualms, "We were specially called and promised the amount of Rs 5 lakh. The state is being run on a farce. Barring the CPM, the poll manifestos of none of the parties promise anything for artists or arts. We have no funds to carry out our plans but the government doesn't care." While the Punjab Government is also supposed to make yearly contributions to the corpus fund of the North Zone Cultural Centre, Devender Singh Saroya, Director North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala confirms that the Punjab government has been a defaulter on that front, too, since 2004. The Punjab Jagriti Manch had been promised Rs 5 lakh and the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan Rs 25 lakh but they, too, haven't got the amount. The Harivallabh, is the only surviving Classical Music Festival in Punjab and the world's oldest. But the organisers, wary of the escalating costs and nose-diving audience at the festival, express concerns that they do not want the festival to meet the fate that other esteemed music festivals in the state did. In statements launched a day earlier, the Punjab Jagriti Manch and the Bhasha Akademi, Jalandhar had also expressed grave apprehensions about the way the state is heading in the absence of a serious policy for art and artists by all political parties (except the CPM). Crying foul
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Auxiliary polling booth for Army personnel
Jalandhar, January 29 Jalandhar Cantonment constituency has been allotted an auxiliary polling booth 83-A, which has been set up at Cantonment Board Senior Secondary Boys School. The Jalandhar Cantonment seat has a total of 83 polling booths. Jaskiran Singh, returning officer of the cantonment, said they had written to the ECI to grant them an auxiliary polling booth for the serving soldiers and families,” he added. A large number of Army personnel from different regiments, who are residing in the cantonment with their families, have registered themselves as voters during the final summary revision of voters held from January 2 to 4. As many as 5,729 persons (serving soldiers and their families) had registered themselves as voters. It needs mention here that that after the registration of new voters of Army personnel, the total number of voters in the cantonment constituency had gone up to 1,62,146. Even, Bathinda Cantonment has also set up separate polling booths for the serving soldiers and their families. Besides, this those soldiers who are residing at different regimental centers across the country would use the postal and ballot system to cast their votes in the Punjab assembly elections.
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3 localities drop not-to-vote stance
Jalandhar, January 29 While most of them have changed their minds, bowing to constant persuasion by vote-seeking parties, some are still sticking to their guns, saying they won't vote. Some of these areas have seen hectic political activity with activists and politicians themselves doling out promises. While some have been told their work will be done on a priority basis, some have even been issued dates after which development work will be started in their areas. Catching up with the more than 2,000 voters (Madhuban Colony - about 390, Raja Garden 1,500 to 1,600, Sangam Vihar about 300) who had said no to voting in various areas of the city, The Tribune finds out what made them relent. Residents of the Madhuban Colony (which falls under Jalandhar West), who were strictly against the idea of casting votes till just a few days ago, saw political parties making a beeline to the area. One of the candidates told them work in the area would be completed at any cost after polls. So some area residents are now rethinking their decision. "We just want to have better streets and development in the area. The entire point of note voting was development issues. But now that we have been promised progress, many of us have changed our minds and might vote tomorrow," says a resident. But some refuse to budge. "Politicians have been doling out promises every year. Many people have relented too. But I haven't seen any development for the two decades. I don't know about others but I won't vote," says Rajvinder Sharda, another resident of the area. Like Madhuban Colony, Raja Garden (Jalandhar West), too, has been in the news due to residents deciding not to vote. Obviously, the area, too, has been seeing political cavalcades doing the rounds for the past many days. While there has been political activity and promises doled out here too, the residents of this area are the discreet kind. "We have listened to politicians speaking. They have even issued dates when work will start in the area. We are keeping our cards close to our chest. We will surely go to vote but will act according to our will." Residents of the underdeveloped Sangam Vihar (Jalandhar Central) battling sewerage woes, have also decided something similar. "Our candidates thought of us at the last moment. Some just came yesterday. Some didn't even come and sent their men. We are largely disillusioned. But our votes will answer them." A substantial number of people from these areas were also found debating on exercising the right not to vote. "There should be an option not to vote on the EVMs themselves. Filling a form and revealing details, sometimes makes people shy away from the no-voting option," some residents said.
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NRI’s house burgled
Jalandhar January 29 Thakur Singh Bhatia, owner of the house, said they had come to India to attend a wedding function of his relative. The burglars struck at the house on Saturday afternoon when the family had gone to attend the function. “When I returned home in then night, I was stunned to see the locks of the main door broken. The house was ransacked by the miscreants”, Bhatia said. Burglars broke the locks of the almirah, which contained cash and ornaments worth Rs 21 lakh. The police has started the investigation.
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‘Police biased in a property dispute case’
Jalandhar January 29 Kuldip Kumar in a press conference said he had a property dispute with some villagers. “And the police has connived with the said villagers to forcibly take the possession of the property,” Kuldip said. DSP, Adampur, Manohar Singh, denied all the allegations. “I never threatened to implicate him in a false case,” the DSP said. He said the plot did not belong to Kuldip. |
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Groom takes 'jumbo' ride to woo his bride
Jalandhar, January 29 He covered about a km on the elephant before reaching the marriage venue. When his baraat was on the way, the groom attracted the attention of the passersby. Some even cheered the bridegroom's choice of transport. "I had dreamt to ride an elephant on my marriage day," Ashu said. "My parents were against the move, but I convinced them,” he added. |
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Jalandhar remembers the man who gave it art
Jalandhar, January 29 Whether it was the fact that many of Punjab’s artists and dramatists preferred to shift base to Delhi or the fading arts and crafts of the state, he worried about Punjab’s disconnect with art and culture. Born at Rawalpindi, Duggal moved to Punjab along with his family after the partition. Coming to Jalandhar in 1947, he set up the radio station in the city in August 20 1947 and was its first director. Then just a one-room establishment, his initial struggles to make it work involved adjusting wooden antennas on the roof and roping in talented artists that he constantly hunted for. Not many know that he is also responsible for bringing the golden music of composer OP Nayyar to Punjab. If it wasn’t for him, Jalandhar (and many other cities of Punjab) would not have had a Virsa Vihar either. It figured on the list of art plans he had for cities across Punjab when he became MP from 1997 to 2003. People from the city speak up about him. SL Arora, Secretary, Kapurthala Heritage Society, says, “There have been few people as committed to the cultural heritage of Punjab as Mr. Duggal. He was dedicated to the cause of art and culture and donated the amount of Rs 11 crore from his MPLAD funds to build Virsa Vihars across Punjab. Wjile the idea was visualised by the then PM IK Gujral, Duggal was also deeply associated with promotion of art in the state.” “The foundations of the Kapurthala and Jalandhar Virsa Vihar(s) were laid on the same day. He is also responsible for the Virsa Vihar(s) that were built in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Mohali. In the latter part of his life, when he found that work was not happening at these Virsa vihar(s) according to his vision, he was really upset about it. Whenever we conversed, it was evident that the growing cultural void in Punjab was one of the prime reasons for his worry.” Writer, Des Raj Kali says, “He brought to us the golden music of composer OP Nayyar. Nayyar was his find and was brought to the AIR, Jalandhar by him. He had a great understanding with the then PM IK Gujral and both thought similarly about preserving the cultural heritage of the state. He started the radio station from a single room and in one year, expanded it to the bustling establishment that it later became.” Jaswant Deed, Assistant Station Director, Doordarshan, Jalandhar, says, “When I think of people who really did something about Punjab and Punjabi at the ground level, I think of two names, MS Randhawa and Kartar Singh Duggal. During his time, radio saw a spring of classy literary programmes and plays in Punjabi. The class of radio content during his time, remains unmatched to this day.” Deepak Bali of the Punjab Jagriti Manch says, “He took active interest in promoting a culture of reading books in the state too. He set up many libraries in Punjab under a society run by him. The Jalandhar Mitthapur library and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dehati Library in Gondpur are his contributions to the promotion of literature.”Duggal’s nephew Inderprit still lives at his ancestral home at Central Town in Jalandhar. * The radio station, Virsa Vihar, OP Nayyar and village libraries are among the few connecting links that the city has with Kartar Singh Duggal, the legendary writer, MP and art activist |
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Govt’s claims on recruitment false: Unemployed BEd teachers
Jalandhar, January 29 They said the government’s own statements regarding the number of teachers that had recruited by it, were contradictory. Deepak Jareyal of the union, while speaking to The Tribune, said, “While a recent government advertisement said 71,025 teachers had been recruited by the SAD-BJP government, the SAD’s poll manifesto released some days ago, claimed that 55,000 teachers had been recruited during the course of this government. But in all, in the past five years, the government had advertised (various times) for the recruitment of a total of 46,719 teachers.” He said of the total 13,500 sanctioned posts under the SSA that the government had advertised about at various times, only 11,500 had been filled, while the rest were empty. “These jobs, which include RMSA, SSA, CSS teachers, fall under a centre sponsored scheme. While the centre is responsible to contribute 65 per cent of the salaries of these teachers, the state government is responsible for the remaining 35 per cent and that, too, is not being paid (while other master cadre teachers are getting over Rs 30,000 in salaries, these teachers are getting only around Rs 18,000),” Deepak said. “However, the SAD is taking credit for all these jobs too”, he added. Talking about the about 14,000 jobs under the education department which had been advertised in September 2007, he said of these too, only about 11,500 had been filled. “A September 2009 advertisement about 7654 posts (in which there were about 5,000 posts of teaching staff), only 3,600 to 3,700 were filled, while the rest were vacant. Getting only Rs 5,480, these teachers were also caught up in a regularisation battle, but their demands have not been paid heed to,” Deepak said. He said while posts were being filled in upgraded schools, the posts in older government schools were lying vacant. “After the opening of many private colleges in the state, the merit holders’ marks percentage has increased. Those who were earlier toppers, do not figure on the list of merit holders now. But the state government is still opening new colleges, creating new problems, even as 2.5 lakh unemployed B.Ed graduates are already present in the state.” The union members demanded that no new colleges should be opened until the unemployed teachers get jobs. The union members said they will hold village-level protests against the government on the issue. They also declared they will stick to the protest path until the formation of a new government after the elections and won’t stop until the anomalies are fixed.
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A middle-aged woman and her teenaged daughter were buried alive when the roof of their kutcha house in gali no 8, Shiv Nagar, caved in on Sunday.
For the people who were up in arms against the government till a few days ago --- due to underdevelopment in their respective areas --- it's time for a decision.
While most of them have changed their minds, bowing to constant persuasion by vote-seeking parties, some are still sticking to their guns, saying they won't vote.
While Punjabis across the world swear by his literary genius, very few know of his efforts to strengthen and preserve the art and heritage of Punjab. With the demise of the legendary Kartar Singh Duggal barely two days ago, Jalandhar residents remember the man who was largely responsible to shape up the foundations of the city’s artistic infrastructure (as we see it today).
While a majority of SMSes were confined to ensuring maximum participation of the voters in polling, others were sent by political parties targeting their opponents.
Organisations across Punjab - the Punjab Arts Council, Anad Foundation, Punjabi Bhasha Vibhag, Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Punjab Jagriti Manch, Manch Rangmach, Kendri Punjab Lekhak Sabha and Kendri Punjab Lekhak Sabha, Sekhon, among others, had been promised amounts of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 2 crore as special budgetary allocations, but none of them have received the amounts promised by the state government so far