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Disabled hold rally to improve their lot
Special trainers against govt move to relieve teachers
Factory owner held for eve-teasing
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Scrap, garbage in Santoshi Nagar, Railway Colony upset residents
Group Captain R Bhasin takes charge
PWC seeks DC’s suspension
Movement begun for uplift of SC community
Raids on chemist shops to intensify
Moot court competition organised
Play spreads awareness against drug addiction
Models set the ramp on fire
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Disabled hold rally to improve their lot
Jalandhar, March 24 Better pensions for the disabled, provision of disabled-friendly infrastructure in the government and public places, provision of adequate jobs under the disabled quota as well as other demands were high on their agenda. The rally included men and women on wheelchairs and on crutches as well as visually and hearing impaired people who stood in the midst of the road (Chick Chick Chowk), raising slogans against the government. Traffic on the road remained block for about an hour and it was only with the arrival of Additional ADCP Naresh Dogra that the motley crowd was finally persuaded to let the flow of traffic resume. Activists from various organisations like the Apahaj Welfare Society, Angheen and Blind Association, Chanan Association among others - from Abohar, Fazilka, Moga, Amritsar, Begowal, Phagwara, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Jalandhar - participated in the rally. Their demands included clearing the backlog of jobs for the disabled in all government departments; provision of jobs only on the basis of ability and qualification; completion of job recruitment under the 3 per cent quota (presently 3 per cent quota is not filled); money for disabled pension be increased to Rs 3,500 instead of the present Rs 200; provision of benefits of all government schemes to the disabled on a priority basis; increase of the quota percentage from 3 to 15; free travel in buses for the handicapped; regular government camps in all districts to provide tricycles, wheelchairs, calipers etc to the disabled, among others. Raju, a disability activist working at the local Pingla Ghar, said, "There are many women including me in the district, who are eligible for the disabled employment quota and the pension but are denied it." "As far as employment is concerned, many girls are written off as 100 per cent handicapped in their certificates, even if they are not and are able to move around and work," she added. Baljit from the Apahaj Welfare Society, Fazilka, said, "The backlog of the disabled in all government offices needs to be filled. We need to be given jobs as per our qualification and ability which is often not done since handicap becomes the decisive factor." Amarjit Singh Anand, head of the Chanan Association for Mentally Retarded Children, Jalandhar, said, "There are no special provisions for the disabled being made at government offices or public places in the district. The district lacks special educators but despite demands, they are not provided." Activists said there were plans to hold dharnas and rallies across district in the state and announced that their next dharna would be held in Lambi.
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Special trainers against govt move to relieve teachers
Jalandhar, March 24 The union members said the union had chalked out a "secret" programme to express their angst against the government’s decision to relieve them despite repeated protests on the same issue by them in the past. Addressing a press conference here today, state president Devidner Singh said, “We will be gheraoing ministers and holding traffic jams in the coming days and the government will be responsible for the consequences. We shall gherao the residences of the education minister and the CM.” Speaking about the past activities of the union, members said, in 2011, the special teachers were recruited to provide education to drop-out students across the state. “We got children working at dhabas or languishing on the roads admitted to schools. We were recruited in 2011 when the state dropout rate was 19,000 children and in 2012 (in one year) the dropout rate was down to 14,000 children.” While in 2012, there was talk about relieving 494 teachers (after a dip in the dropout rate); after many agitations by the teachers’ union the government finally agreed to adjust these teachers. However, later the government again began relieving teachers (from the remaining 1400 teachers) and had relieved about 900, after which our union members again sat on dharnas and fasts unto death (many were also arrested), following which the government finally agreed to the demands not to relieve these teachers in December (2012). “However, with the dropout rate being nil this year, the government is again planning to relieve by March 31 this year even as it retains the CSS teachers who were hired for the same purpose,” Devinder Singh said. In view of this, the government would be holding agitations and block traffic in Bathinda to protest against the government’s move. State press secretary Gursewak Singh Raunta, chief advisor Gurcharan Singh Tarn Taran among others, were also present on the occasion.
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Factory owner held for eve-teasing
Jalandhar, March 24 Confirming this, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) West Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu told The Tribune that the rubber factory owner, Narinder Kumar (21), a resident of the Raj Nagar locality, was arrested on the complaint received by a 20-year-old girl student of Bank Colony. The girl alleged in her complaint that Narinder used to tease her on her way to attend computer classes. She, along with her mother, also went to his house to ask him to mend his ways and he also assured them that he would not do so again in future, she added. On the contrary, he stopped her again and also beat her, she alleged, adding that she also sustained injuries on her hand. A first information report (FIR) under Sections 354, 323 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code was registered on her complaint and the accused was arrested. In a separate case of eve-teasing, the city police arrested Surjit Singh, alias Sonu, of Chak Kalan village in Nakodar on the charge of allegedly teasing an MA (I) student, living in the Ekta Nagar locality. In her complaint, the student alleged that the 25-year-old carpenter used to tease her on her phone by making unwanted calls and on her way to her education institute. The student further alleged that he threatened to commit suicide if she did not marry him. At this, the police arrested him after registering an FIR against him under Sections 354, 509, 341, 506, 309 and 511 of the IPC. The city police will produce both accused in court on Monday, the ACP added.
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Scrap, garbage in Santoshi Nagar, Railway Colony upset residents
Jalandhar, March 24 Close to the Kazi Mandi area of the city, Santoshi Nagar shares all the serious problems faced by its notorious neighbourhood area. Snatching, addiction, hooliganism, eve-teasing and insanitary conditions hound area residents, who have written to the administration as well, but so far their issues have not been addressed. The godown of the Department of Food and Supplies in the area, residents say, is a den for anti-social elements, who make their lives difficult. Ravi, a local resident, who lives opposite the godown, says, “We have regularly been writing to the administration regarding the problems being faced by us. The godown is being used as a scrapyard where sacks of scrap get accumulated daily. Mounds of sacks filled with garbage are kept right outside our house. Also, tyres and wires are regularly burnt in the area due to which sometimes the entire locality is engulfed in poisonous smoke. No matter how many times one cleans the house, the dust comes back.” Speaking about the anti-social elements in the area Ravi says, “People looking for their lost cycles and goods often come enquiring in the area. Stolen goods are often included in the scrap. Our locality girls are often teased and lewd comments are passed, but often girls do not even tell their families, as they know these people are too strong. However, we have not received any response for our repeated letters to the administration.” He also says that illegal drugs are sold in the area, a matter which he has also mentioned in his letters to the DC and other administration members. Ashok Kumar, another area resident, says, “The area residents are so scared to talk about these issues that even mobilising people to initiate action is difficult here. Hordes of problems are being faced by us and so far there has been no respite. With a lot of effort we have been able to gather some area residents who will be meeting this Sunday to talk about these issues. While we shall be meeting this Sunday, concrete efforts to cleanse the area can only be possible if the district administration supports us.” Palini Apal, area councillor (Santoshi Nagar falls in Ward 17), talking about the problem of the godown, said, “I have talked to the food supplies department officials many times. I have also instructed elements to clear the area of the scrap, but it is a very difficult task. These people do not listen. One of the solutions might be erecting a boundary wall. We are in talks with the department to do that. Meanwhile, I do send my people regularly to clean the area.” |
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Freedom fighter cremated with state honours
Jalandhar, March 24 Former Punjab local bodies minister and Jalandhar Central MLA Manoranjan Kalia, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Jalandhar North MLA Krishan Dev Bhandari and SDM Iqbal Singh Sandhu were present on the occasion. Suri, who breathed his last here on Saturday, remained in jail for six years during the freedom struggle. He was the eldest son-in-law of late journalist Lala Jagat Narayan. A number of persons from different walks of life attended his last rites.
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Group Captain R Bhasin takes charge
Jalandhar, March 24 Air Commodore M Fernandez was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December, 1982. Before taking over the Command of Air Force Station, Adampur, he was appointed as Air-I at Head Quarters Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, New Delhi. He has undergone various courses, including Joint Air Warfare Course and Defence Services Staff College Course, in his career of 28 years. He is an alumnus of Air Warfare College, United States of America. For his distinguished services, the Air Officer was awarded with Vayu Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. Air Commodore Fernandez is proceeding on promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi, said a defence press note. |
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PWC seeks DC’s suspension
Jalandhar, March 24 In a press note issued here today ,the PWC vice- president Nimisha Mehta alleged that the two women could not get admitted at the PHC due to the VIP security there. Even 108 ambulance failed to take them to the PHC, where free delivery and one-month follow- up treatment and Rs 1,000 financial help was available for them under the Janani Suraksha Yojna under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). After meeting both women, Nimisha stated that both women were left with no other option but to get their deliveries done at private hospitals,where they faced complication in the same. Nimisha said the money spent by both women in their deliveries should be deducted from the DC’s salary and a high-level probe should also be ordered.
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Movement begun for uplift of SC community
Jalandhar, March 24 Sabha president Paramjit Singh Kainth, while addressing a function on the third founders day of the Chamar Mahan Sabha, said Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali-BJP government was blatantly ignoring the fundamental rights of the Scheduled Castes. Kainth claimed, “The SC Sub Plan of the 11th Five-Year Plan,worth Rs 4088.49 crore from 2007-12, had not been spent even though according to the Planning Commission the money allocated to this Sub Plan cannot be diverted or allowed to lapse. The Akali-BJP government has no account of where this money has gone.” He further said that the Badal government, instead of making Punjab self-dependent, had driven the state to the edge of economic abyss. Kainth further said that the Akali-BJP government’s wrong policies had led to economic instability, unemployment, corruption, addiction to drugs, illiteracy and the rule of mafia gangs. "For vote bank politics, the political parties of Punjab have put everything on stake for capturing power. The Congress Party has failed to play its role as an effective opposition party," he said.
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Raids on chemist shops to intensify
Jalandhar, March 24 A delegation of the Youth Congress, led by its Jalandhar Lok Sabha president Gagandeep Singh, aka Kaku Ahluwalia, submitted a memorandum a few days ago to Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan, asking him to take a stern action against those chemists who were selling drugs without the prescription of any registered medical practitioner. Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan said drug inspectors were already conducting raids on chemists shops, the raids would further be intensified to check the menace of drug addiction. Dr Bassan said he had already directed zonal drug inspector and four drug inspectors to conduct more raids at regular intervals. To a query, he said drug inspectors usually remained busy in various court cases in connection with earlier raids conducted on the chemist shops and they would definitely intensify raids as per availability of time. In reply to a question, he said, “If any chemist is found selling drugs without prescription, we write against this shop to the state health authorities and they decided whether its licence should be suspended or not.” Meanwhile, Kaku said, “Drugs are being sold without any prescription by the owners of a number of chemist shops located in various parts of the district. Their licences should be cancelled.” Kaku further alleged that a number of chemist shops were run in the Basti area by unauthorised persons, such shops should be sealed to save Punjab, in general, and Jalandhar, in particular, from drug addiction. |
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Moot court competition organised
Jalandhar, March 24 Welcoming the guests, college principal Dr Subhash Sharma said “This moot court competition is a teaching tool to produce quality law professionals with practical knowledge and practice ready advocates”. Team winners Ambika Masih, Varsha Gupta and Manpreet Singh were presented Rs 2,100 as cash prize by Prof Manhar Arora, managing director of St Soldier Group of Institutions. A vote of thanks was given by Prof Veena Dada Principal St. Soldier Degree College. — TNS
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Play spreads awareness against drug addiction
Jalandhar, March 24 The Jalandhar Youth Congress headed by its chief Gagandeep Singh Kaku Ahluwalia staged a “nukkad” play “Mitti Rudan Kare” based on the ill-effects of drug addiction near the statue of Saheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh at the city ISBT bus stand on Saturday evening. The president of Jalandhar Lok Sabha unit of Youth Congress Gagandeep Singh Kaku Ahluwalia said “Drug addiction in the state has reached at an alarming stage as nearly seven per cent of the youth are drug addicts. Solid steps are required to be taken to encourage youths to give up drugs. He said the Youth Congress would keep on spreading awareness among the public against drug addiction, Kaku said that the youth Congress would stage this play at different locations of the district in this regard. Local YC activists Paramjit Singh Bal (president halka central constituency) Rakesh Aggarwal (president Adampur Constituency), Rajesh Aghnihotri (president west constituency), Varinder Lally (In-charge halka Kartarpur) Jagdeep Singh Sonu, (office In-charge Lok Sabha, Jalandhar) Daljinder Singh, Kulwinder GSK and Lakhbir Singh Lakha were present on this occasion.
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Models set the ramp on fire
Jalandhar, March 24 To provide a platform for the students moving into the world of glamour, the show was organised by the LPUS Schools of Fashion Technology and Journalism and Films Production. The activity was an attempt to provide an experience to students who prepared themselves for the exhibition after a lot of hardwork of five days during which numerous workshops and sessions were held to groom the contestants, who came from across the state. A seven member jury,comprising Marathi Film Director Sandeep Jadhav, Femina Miss India Finalist Jyot Priya Sud, CEO Seema Pimpley, Pollywood Director HS Sandhu, Shreya Kishore, judged the participants. Renzil, from Himachal Pradesh, was adjudged Ms Punjab Mega Model, while Harrish (from Jammu and Kashmir) got the title of Mr. Punjab Mega Model. Bhavneet was adjudged as Mr Personality, Sheetal as Ms Beautiful Hair and Mayank as Mr. Physique, Prominent personalities, including Femina Miss India Earth Shreya Kishore, Big Boss fame and MTV VJ, Siddharth Bhardwaj, Zee TV actor Anand Suryavanshi, Bollywood actor Ruslan Mumtaz and famous bollywood fashion designer Shravan Kumar were as special invitees. During different workshops, contestants were groomed on photo shoots, personality building, ramp-walk, make-up and dietary control 60 students selected and out of them 30 (15 male and 15 female), could make to the final list.
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Punjabi music awards function ends on a high note
Jalandhar, March 24 Held at the PAP grounds in Jalandhar, the evening saw the first- ever Punjabi Music Awards hosted even as rain lashed the grounds. While some audience ran for cover, others grabbed table cloth to escape from the rain. Hosted by singer Satinder Sartaaj - playing host for first time - was joined by talented Bollywood actor Divya Dutta (Veer Zara, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Delhi-6 fame) on stage. Comedian Binnu Dhillon featured in a stand- up act for the first time. The evening witnessed riveting performances by Kailash Kher, Yana Gupta, Wadali brothers and Lakhwinder Wadali, Jazzy B, Amrinder Gill, Sherry Mann, Garry Sandhu, Vinaypal Bhuttar, Yuvraj Hans, Jassi Gill, Deep Money and Navjeet Kahlon. Awards were won by music directors - Gurmit Singh and Nick Dhammu; recordist - Beat Minister; artists - Meenu Singh, Yuvraj Hans, Jazzy B, Garry Sandhu/Sudesh Kumari, Harjit Harman, Miss Pooja, Meenu Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, Yuvraj Hans; albums - Family 428, Allaah Paakan Pak Bhi Hai, Jai Bhagouti, Bohemia Thousand Thoughts, Satrangi Peengh 2, Aatey Di Chiri; songs - Tum karo Daya Mere Sain, Asi Haan Sikh, Sufi Sufi, Rum Tey Whiskey, Aate Di Chiri, High Heels, This party Getting Hot, Tareyan Di Loe, Kharku, video director - Arvind Khera, lyricist - Debi
Makhsoospuri.
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More than 65 people and activists from the disability sector across the state today rallied from Kapurthala Chowk to the Adarsh Nagar (Chick Chick) Chowk and blocked traffic.
Jalandhar, March 24
Jalandhar, March 24
More than 65 people and activists from the disability sector across the state today rallied from Kapurthala Chowk to the Adarsh Nagar (Chick Chick) Chowk and blocked traffic on the chowk in support of their demands of ensuring proper facltities for the disabled in the state.
Mounds of scrap lie strewn all outside the houses of residents of the Santoshi Nagar area, causing a lot of trouble to the residents of the area.
