Amritsar, March 13
With a view to keeping tabs on the rising crime rate and traffic violations in Amritsar, the police department has started the exercise of installing much-needed close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the key interjections across the holy city.

All the station house officers (SHOs) concerned have already started submitting point locations falling under their jurisdictions to the office of Police Commissioner.

Under the intelligent city surveillance project, state-of-the-art CCTV cameras will be installed at various important locations and intersections in the city to keep a close vigil on anti-social elements.

The project, earlier conceptualised in collaboration with the Amritsar Improvement Trust, has been hanging fire for the past three years.

If sources in the police department are to be believed, the survey of identifying camera locations is almost complete and Amritsar would probably be the first city in Punjab to have such a surveillance network this year.

It has been learnt that the police department has identified around 52 key points and a report regarding the requirement of number of cameras has already been sent to the government. The modalities are being finalised by the government to release funds for the project. Sources said input cost of the project would be somewhere around Rs 4.5 crore for over 200 highly sophisticated cameras to be installed under the project.

The high-resolution day and night vigil cameras are proposed to be connected with a centralised control room through dedicated broadband lines. A real-time footage will be available in the control room to watch all the happenings in the entire area.

Confirming the development, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP-1) Amrik Singh Pawar said, “We are almost done with our survey and the government has been intimated about the requisite infrastructure for electronic surveillance. Even the tenders for engaging the firm, which would supply us the cameras, will be floated soon. But we need to spare extra manpower too that would monitor the cameras.”

“We have asked the government for extra hands to make the surveillance a success which in turn will help check crime and maintaining better traffic management. The cameras will be installed at the main roads and bypass routes as well,” he said.

Some of the key locations where the CCTV cameras are proposed to be installed include GNDU Chowk, Putlighar Chowk, T-point Ram Tirath Road, bus stand, railway station, T-point Daburjee bypass, T-point Vallah bypass, Verka bypass, Majitha road bypass, Fatehgarh Churian road bypass chowk; Gumtala bypass; Chheharta Chowk besides the inside city locations. 

About the project

State-of-the-art CCTV cameras will be installed at important locations and intersections in city to keep vigil on anti-social elements

The police department has identified around 52 key points and over 200 highly sophisticated cameras to be installed under the project

High-resolution day/night vigil cameras will be connected with a centralised control room through dedicated broadband lines

Real-time footage will be available in the control room to watch all the happenings in the entire area

The project was earlier conceptualised in collaboration with the Amritsar Improvement Trust

Proposed locations
Among key locations where the CCTV cameras are proposed to be installed are GNDU Chowk, Putlighar Chowk, T-point Ram Tirath Road, bus stand, railway station, T-point Daburjee bypass, T-point Vallah bypass, Verka bypass, Majitha road bypass, Fatehgarh Churian road bypass chowk, Gumtala bypass, Chheharta Chowk 

Amritsar, March 13
Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal today asked all the officials concerned of various departments of the district to appoint a nodal officer in each department to help implementing the ban on smoking at public places.

A team of Health Department inspects food items at a shop in Amritsar bus stand on Wednesday. photo: sameer sehgal

Even as Amritsar was declared a smoke-free district on August 15 last and instruction were passed on the all the departments to ensure that smoking at public places in the city was not allowed, no other department — barring the Health Department — has taken the matter seriously. All the departments have been instructed to challan the violators in the city.

The Health Department, ever since the ban came into force, has issued challans to 1573 people. Expressing satisfaction at the enadeavours of the Health Department officials, Aggarwal instructed others to help in the common cause.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that an extensive campaign to curb smoking should be initiated and report of the challans issued for violations should be regularly sent to the Civil Surgeon.

District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said they had issued challans to 234 people in March. He said the department had collected a fine of Rs 18,860 in January, Rs 12,775 in February and Rs 15, 890 in March. The teams of the department issued challans to 52 in a drive around the Golden Temple area yesterday evening, he added.

Kahlon said as instructed by the Deputy Commissioner, the Health Department would organsie a series of awareness camps at schools and localities to inform people about the ill-effects of smoking and chewing tobacco.

He said there was a ban on the sale of tobacco products around the 100 yards periphery of educational institutions. He said that inspections teams were being dispatched to various parts of the city on regular basis to check the menace.

A team of Health Department led by Dr Kahlon also conducted a raid at the local bus stand and collected samples of various food items from the food stalls inside its premises. He said unhygienic food was being served to passengers at the bus stand. Soft drinks and juice packets without batch number — mandatory to check quality — were also seized, he added. 

Amritsar, March 13
The Senate and the Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) today approved a budget estimate of Rs 284.77 crore for 2013-14.

The university has made a special point that no financial burden be imposed on students, said Vice-Chancellor Prof AS Brar. Out of the total Rs 284.77 crore, 56.17 per cent would be spent on teaching, applied teaching, research and improvement of education.

A total of Rs 9.61 per cent will be spent on non-teaching departments, including hostels, publication, estate, construction, NSS, landscape, guesthouse, public relations and health centre. Over 13 per cent has been allocated for general administration and 4.52 per cent for conducting examinations.

There would be provision of 13.55 per cent for general provision— for both teaching and non-teaching staff — including retirement benefits, vehicle, printing, legal expenses, PABX, advertisements, insurance and modernisation of departments and 2.81 per cent for construction of buildings. During financial year 2012-13, the university spent Rs 4 crore to help the needy and intelligent students.

Rs 24 lakh were spent to help the handicapped students and to provide scholarships. Special scholarships and facilities in terms of finance were also provided to sportspersons and student artists.

Prof Brar said more than 500 students were doing research work under various projects of UGC, DST and other agencies at 
present.

“More finance will be generated by increasing the number of admissions in various courses. This year, it is expected that the strength of students will be raised to 25, 000,” Brar said.

He said more construction activities on the varsity campus and other regional campuses would be taken up.

“There is special provision in the budget to strengthen the university Health Centre with a focus on healthcare of students, teachers, employees and their dependents,” he said.

The Senate accorded approval to the recommendations of the Syndicate to start MA Punjabi, B.Com (III unit), B.Sc (computer science unit II) and diploma in cosmetology at BBK DAV College for Women.

Among other courses on cards are diploma in cosmetology at SN College, Amritsar; MA Punjabi at DAV College, Amritsar; B.Com (professional II unit), B. Com (Hons), B.Sc (computer science unit II) at Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar; BBA, B.Com diploma in computer application, Punjabi elective and physical education at Khalsa College, Chawinda Devi, Amritsar.

The senate also approved to start M.Sc computer science at Majha College for Women, Tarn Taran; B. Com professional at Shaheed Baba Deep Singh College, Pauwind, Tarn Taran; B.Sc (IT), BBA, diploma in computer application at Guru Arjan Dev Khalsa College, Chola Sahib, Tarn Taran and B.Com professional at Baba Budha College, Beed Sahib, Tarn Taran.

The nomenclature of Shaheed Ram Singh Pathania Memorial College, Niari, Gurdaspur has been changed to Shaheed Ram Singh Pathania Memorial GND University College, Niari. The nomenclature of Govt Degree College, Patti and Govt College of Physical Education, Patti (Tarn Taran) has been changed to Guru Nanak Dev University College.

The Vice-Chancellor chaired the meeting while Dr Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar, Dean, Academic Affairs, presented the agenda. The Syndics and Senators also unanimously appreciated the balance budget and congratulated Prof Brar and his team. 

Courses on cards
MA Punjabi, B.Com (III unit), B.Sc (computer science unit II) and diploma in cosmetology at BBK DAV College for Women

Diploma in cosmetology at SN College, Amritsar; MA Punjabi at DAV College, Amritsar; B.Com (professional II unit), B. Com (Hons), B.Sc (computer science unit II) at Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar

BBA, B.Com diploma in computer application, Punjabi elective and physical education at Khalsa College, Chawinda Devi, Amritsar 

Amritsar, March 13
On a call given by the Technical Services Union, the employees of PowerCom Corporation today staged a dharna outside the office of Chief Engineer, Border Range, for the non- fulfilment of their demands today .

The protest was attended by hundreds of PowerCom employees hailing from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts.

The agitating power employees demanded that there had been around 40,000 posts lying vacant in the state and the department had turned a blind eye to the extra work load on them.

They said after the privatisation of the department, their pay scales were also reduced by the corporation and the benefits of general provident fund, pension, leave encashment and other retirement benefits were being withdrawn by the corporation management.

Parmod Kumar, Convener, Amritsar Border Zone, said the whole process of raising new infrastructure, meter reading, bill distribution or complaint centres had been handed over into private hands, which exploited the staff.

Jagtar Singh Khunda, president of Gurdaspur circle, said the staff members were being harassed and transferred on frivolous grounds. “Despite our initiation to the government for redressal of our grievances, no step has been taken so far. We have jointly decided to intensify the agitation in the days to come”, he said.

The agitating employees also carried out a flag march against the management and the government. 

Amritsar, March 13
“Line of control”, an Indo-Pak Food Festival, featuring delicacies from both Pakistan and Northern region of India focusing primarily on Punjabi cuisine, has been scheduled for March 14 at Best Western Marrion.

Addressing mediapersons, General Manager Atul Pandey said the objective was to take an initiative in spreading the message of brotherhood and love between the two neighbours by promoting the delicacies from both the countries and by highlighting the cultures of either side of Punjab.

To take advantage of the pleasant weather in evening, Dazzle – the roof top, pool side and fresco dining venue has been selected for the festival.

The festival will be held during the dinner session only from 7:00 pm to 11:45 pm.

Vandana, Manager Operations, said the decore would reflect both Indian and Pakistani cultures. "We will consider placing a platform/stage on the swimming pool for the live performances of folk songs, ghazals and instrumental performances", she said.

The food menu will feature delicacies from Pakistan and Punjab region of India, including kababs, tikkas, authentic biryanis and curries, served with a variety of breads and desserts. 

Amritsar, March 13
A glaucoma awareness programme was organised at Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital, for the hospital staff and under-training nursing students. A glaucoma check-up camp was also organised as a part of the World Glaucoma week, being observed from March 10 to 16.

Eye Specialist Dr Chander Mohan said glaucoma was a common disease among the elderly and the most common cause of blindness. He said the condition could be avoided with regular check up of the eyes.

He added that even the use of steroids by untrained medical practitioners in rural areas was triggering the occurrence of blindness in rural areas.

There was a need to create awareness that the use of steroids for medical conditions was giving rise to further complexities at later stages of life, Dr Mohan added.

He said patients could get their eyes checked at the civil hospital any day for preventing common eye problems. He said that the hospital was well equipped and had facilities at par with most private clinics. 

Amritsar, March 13
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) won the overall trophy of the All-India Inter University Hockey (Men) Championship with 3-0, by defeating Sabalpur University, Sabalpur.

Sabalpur University remained the runner-up in the championship and MGKV University, Varanasi, finished third by defeating Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, with 4-0 points.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof AS Brar presided over the occasion and gave away the prizes to the winners. Dr HS Randhawa, Deputy Director, Sports, welcomed the chief guest and others. Janab Mohd Saddiq, Director Sports, Faislabad University, Pakistan, was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Prof DN Johar, Vice-Chancellor, Agra University, Agra, Dr Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar, Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr PK Shejpal, Dean, Students Welfare, Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Dean, Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy, Dr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Professor In charge, Finance and Development and observers from AIU were present. 

Amritsar, March 13
A minor girl was allegedly raped by a railway employee at the Railways B-block Colony here. The accused identified as Ram Bharose, who happens to the neighbourer of the victim, has been arrested.

A case under Section 376, 375, 354-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 and 7 of the Child Protection Act has been registered against the accused.

The Islamabad police said medical examination of the girl was conducted the report of which is still awaited. Reports said the incident occurred when the girl was alone at home. The accused allegedly took her to his quarters and committed the crime. The incident came to light when the girl told her parents about it. 

Amritsar, March 13
An engineering student allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance late last evening here. The victim, identified as Ista Bedi, reportedly took the extreme step for not faring well in her examination.

Reports said Ista was student of B.Tech Electronics at a local engineering college located near Manwala. She reportedly was apprehensive that she will not be able to fare well the examination and ended her life.

The cantonment police took the body in r custody for post-mortem examination. Family members of the victim told the police that she was upset after she could not perform according to her expectations in viva test. Later she consumed some poisonous substance. She was rushed to a hospital where she died. The police has initiated action under Section 174 CrPC in this regard. 

Amritsar, March 13
Last week, the Parliament passed an important legislation, seeking to protect the Indian working woman. The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment Bill 2010, will now soon lay down the law for employers of private and public sector, domestic workers and agricultural labourers.

Awaiting the Presidential nod, the bill could prove to be a strong deterrent in sexual harassment at workplace.

As the women are calling it a good start, we check out how prepared is the city’s professional circuit to combat sexual harassment at workplace.

Educational institutions are way ahead of others in the implementation of the SC guidelines. GNDU has a sexual harassment committee, headed by Professor Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar, comprising mainly women faculty members. Dr Inderjit Kaur, who heads the Pingalwara Charitable Society, is also a member.

Dr Inderjit Singh, Registrar, GNDU, said, “We ensure that any complaint filed under the 
guidelines is dealt with immediate effect and workplace harassment is checked through various measures”.

Khalsa College too has a separate panel to deal with sexual harassment issues.

But schools in the city lag behind by not having any specific committee or panel to check harassment. Although provisions are being made for the same.

Neera Sharma, principal, DAV Public School, said, “The story is the same for many prominent schools in the city. Most of them do not have separate cells for sexual harassment related problems, but if the situation arises, a panel comprising faculty, councillors, managers and the director of the institution is set up to review the problem”.

Medical institutions too have failed to provide proper and effective sexual harassment cells for working women. While most fail to provide authority to act against any complaint, Guru Nanak Dev Medical College and Hospital is in the process of setting up a panel to check workplace sexual harassment.

Dr SS Shergill, principal at Guru Nanak Dev Medical College, said “We have passed a resolution and are in the process to set up a panel to check sexual harassment within a week. It will comprise of the faculty members, mostly women, and we are roping in an NGO working for the cause to be a part of the committee”.

The private sector in city, however, has been quite efficient in providing measures to check sexual harassment. Most players in the industry have set up help-lines and human resource to deal with such complaints. The administration too has been effective in providing aid in sexual harassment cases. The city has five ‘suvidha centres’ to deal with and provide justice in such cases.

Inspector Kashmir Kaur, of the Circuit House Women Police Cell, said “The city has five centres that take care of sexual harassment cases. The complaints received online are often dealt by the officers in the women cell or the particular station heads of the concerned area”.

Help-lines to report such cases are also available. These centres are divided as suvidha centre north, comprising Civil Lines, Sadar, Majitha road and Airport, the south wing which includes Sultanwind, Division B and C, the west wing, covering Cherherta, Cantonment and Airport road, east centre which covers Division A, Maqboolpura and Verka among others and Central wing that covers Division E, Islamabad and Gate Hakima areas, Kaur added.