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Health services in the district paralysed
Heritage board floats tenders to restore historical buildings
Getting death certificate uphill task
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Allegations of impropriety against GNDU VC
Snatcher nabbed
2 minors succumb to burn injuries
Slow pace of work on sewerage system irks Ghanupur Kale residents
Reduce rush at regional passport office: NGO
Training programme for cooks organised
Overburdened, PSEB engineers to launch agitation today
Armoured Regiment launches trekking expedition to Himalayas
City artist holds painting exhibition on Ajanta Caves
Workshop on environmental safeguards organised
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Health services in the district paralysed
Amritsar, June 10 A complete strike was witnessed at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital and Employees State Insurance Hospital on the Majitha road. There were reports of complete strike from all sub-divisional hospitals and dispensaries. Apart from the medical services for the general public, doctors also refused to undertake medico-legal cases and medical check-up of prisoners. The policemen deployed with the prisoners were seen pleading with the doctors. The doctors, however, continued with emergency and child delivery services. Meanwhile, patients were seen waiting outside the cabins for the doctors to return. Most of these offices were seen locked and doctors staged protests outside their respective hospitals. The general public, harassed by the protests, had to either go to private clinics or Government Medical College for treatment. Gita Devi, a patient at Civil Hospital, said, “We do not know what this strike is for. But we want that the government must do something to end it, as poor people like us would be the sufferers.” She said she had come a long way from Lopoke and now she would have to return empty handed. The patron of the PCMS Association, Dr Ranjit Singh Buttar, said, “We regret the inconvenience caused to the general public, but the association was pushed to the wall for this strike by the government.” He said apart from transfers’ issue, the medical fraternity had many other genuine demands, which needed attention. Associations of health department employees as Medical Laboratory Technicians Association, Multipurpose Health Employees Union, Sanitary Inspectors Union, Government Dental Hospital Employees Association, Punjab Mental Hospital Employees Association, Health Employees Association and Para-Medical and Class Four Employees Union supported the strike by the doctors.
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Heritage board floats tenders to restore historical buildings
Amritsar, June 10 The PHTPB has issued tenders to restore and beautify the historic buildings falling on the route of the Walks, both of which are grappling to gain popularity among tourists. The Board has invited bids for the development of heritage trails around Amritsar Walled City, as per which phased development and miscellaneous works of buildings, including Gurudwara Saragarhi Memorial, Jalebiwala building, Thakurdwara Darianamal temple and Gurudwara Chowrasti Attari, would be done. The deadline for participating in the bids would end on July 9. The restoration work was long overdue even as the authorities try to lure tourists from around the world to appreciate the city’s heritage. Many city residents were also found to care the least about the treasure they owned, as they demolished the old structures and plastered them, burying their old world charm forever. This also defeats the purpose behind the Walks which would be of no significance when the historic buildings are no longer existing. The importance of the two-and-a-half-century-old Udasi cult Chitta Akhara, near Harmandar Sahib, was undermined as one of its walls, made of Nanakshahi bricks, was rebuilt last year. Already, a considerable damage has been done to the frescoes of the Akhara as they were painted. Intricately carved doors and windows were brightened up with green paint. Another vital spot on the Heritage Walk route is Thakurdwara Dariana Mal, situated near Patel Chowk. Its well, making it unique for a wooden system installed to deliver the water at its first floor window, has been lost, as a concrete roof and walls were raised over and around it. The PHTPB launched the Heritage Walk here on September 27, 2011, to showcase the 14 key spots of religious, historic, architectural and traditional cuisine spots in the walled city. Many among these 14 key spots are either getting damaged or are being demolished to construct new structures with contemporary designs. Restoring many out of the 14 heritage places on the route of the walk became a priority. For this, the Board has already received the NOC from the SGPC to refurbish the historic gurdwara at Chaurasti Attari Chowk. It received the NOC from the Durgiana Committee to restore Thakurdwara Dariana Mal. The proprietor of famous Jallebiyan Wala shop Sanjeev Sharma has given the NOC to beautify the exterior of his shop.
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Getting death certificate uphill task
Amritsar, June 10 At least, Mahesh Mittal, a city resident, thinks it to be so, who has been running from pillar to post for getting his work done. Even as the department also runs its helpline No. 1800 345 1500, all his efforts to lodge his complaint have fallen on deaf ears. Mahesh required five sets of death certificates of his late mother Padma Wati. Complying with all norms, he deposited the requisite fee at the counter for the purpose. On the requisite date, when he went to receive the certificates, he was handed over two copies, instead of five. When he showed the fee receipt for five certificates, which he had already deposited, the man sitting on the counter instructed him to follow the procedure afresh. Mahesh was given another date to procure the three certificates. His woes did not end here. “When I was given the remaining three certificates, to my utter surprise, none of them bore signatures of the authorities. I again requested the counter-man to get these signed, without which these certificates would hold no meaning for me. Instead of helping me out, he showed his anger and told me to get the rest of the job done on my own. Wasn’t it ridiculous?” he questioned. For the past one month, I have been running from one desk to another, but no one was there to help me. I also tried to meet the authorities but in vain,” he told Later, he tried to convey his grievances through the toll free helpline number, but that, too, could bring little respite for him. “I was bluntly told to come personally to the office to show my fee receipt before lodging any complaint. What was the fun of running such a helpline if the complaint had to appear personally in the office. It too was illogical,” he resented When this matter was brought to the notice of assistant commissioner Surinder Singh, he said, “I admit that there are lapses in the system, but we are trying our best to make it efficient. Ask the aggrieved person to contact me directly. I will personally intervene”.
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Allegations of impropriety against GNDU VC
Amritsar, June 10 The PHRO, headed by Justice Ajit Singh Bains (retd), has prepared a 161-page report for the CM Parkash Singh Badal, seeking the VC’s removal from the post. Meanwhile, the VC has straightaway denied all allegations, terming these as baseless and having frivolous logic. Nonetheless, the principal investigator of the PHRO, Sarabjit Singh Verka, alleged that the VC had been flouting all rules and norms while promoting teachers in the main campus as well as its affiliated colleges while granting undue privileges to his blue-eyed contenders out of the way. “We have prepared a detailed report with supporting documents procured through the RTI, which speak volumes about the autocratic and spiteful style of working prevailing in the university, which has caused loss to the exchequer. We have sent the report to the CM,” he said. The PHRO blamed that it was the GNDU’s VC who withdrew the claim on the Rs-200 crore premises located near Jalandhar, where its constituent college was running from on a rental basis since the inception of the university in 1969. This property, reportedly, belonged to an NRI. “Despite the fact that the case in the HC favoured GNDU, it was the VC himself who withdrew the claim on this place and vacated the building. At whose behest and for whose gains the VC has taken this extreme step, needs a thorough investigation. Similarly, to please political masters, the VC has helped them to gain financial benefits in the purchase of land at Ghudda (Bathinda) for setting up the Central University to grab VC’s chair. Similarly, he also agreed to take over Government College Patti (Tarn Taran) which was already a sick unit. All these actions caused financial loss to the university exchequer,” said Sarabjit Singh. The PHRO also accused the VC of promoting one of his relatives as Reader, while other teachers were denied promotions. Reacting to the allegations, Prof AS Brar said it was an attempt of some disgruntled elements to tarnish the image of the university by unleashing a false propaganda. “Every appointment has been made strictly on merit, with the consent of the selection committee as well as the Syndicate as per the norms,” he said.
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Amritsar, June 10 The accused was identified as Mohinder Singh, a resident of Gumanpura village. He was accompanied by another youth, who was yet to be identified. A case under Sections 382, 34 of the IPC has been registered against them at the Kotwali police station in this regard. Radha Maini stated to the police that she was travelling on a rickshaw along with her nephew Rajesh Kumar when the accused came on a motorcycle and snatched her purse. She was carrying Rs 1,500 cash, gold jewellery, a mobile phone, besides other documents. The police authorities said raids were being conducted to nab the second accused in the case. — TNS
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2 minors succumb to burn injuries
Amritsar, June 10 The deceased were identified as Shivdarshan Singh and Amanbir Singh, both residents of Maqboolpura. It may be recalled that six members of a labourer's family, including four children, had sustained serious burn injuries in the incident who were rushed to the Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Science and Research at Vallah here. The two children had received 90 per cent burns, while the rest of them had sustained 65-70 per cent burn injuries. Narinderjit Singh, ASI, said the condition of two-and-a-half-year-old Ranbir was still serious, while six-year-old Laxmi and Jyoti (25), mother of Ranbir, was stable. The blast had occurred after a leakage had developed in the gas pipe fitted to the cylinder.
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Slow pace of work on sewerage system irks Ghanupur Kale residents
mritsar, June 10 Repeated pleas made to the civic authorities by the residents have fallen on deaf ears. The residents are irked over the over-flowing sewerage water and foul smell emanating from it. The dirty water gets accumulated in vacant plots and ponds are formed. The conditions here can lead to an outbreak of epidemic anytime, while the MC and health authorities are turning a blind eye to the issue. “The authorities have dug up roads because the earlier drainage system had been dismantled. Because of this, the water has been spilling on to the streets,” said Tarsem Singh, a resident. “Even the Municipal Corporation authorities have done nothing to solve the problem and officials involved in the project have not been pulled up,” said Rattan Singh Randhawa, a communist leader and a resident of the locality. The work on the sewerage system had started about a year back, but it is far away from completion. With monsoon approaching, life would be miserable for the residents. It would become difficult to ply vehicles on the pot-holed road. “This is ward number no. 1 of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and the basic amenities are zero here. This is an apt example of the MC’s apathy towards our ward,” said Kamaljit Kaur, another resident. Nirvail Singh Fauji, the councillor from the ruling party SAD, said, “I am aware of the problems of the resident as I also live in the same locality.” He also expressed his unhappiness with the JICA authorities over slow pace of work. He said he took up the matter with the Mayor and the MC Commissioner but it did not serve the cause. An authority with the JICA said they had already warned the contractor and he was given the final warning for speeding up the work. He said the contractor had failed to provide the material to workers and he had been pulled up for the same. Meanwhile, the residents threatened that if the authorities failed to desilt the drains in the area, they would lodge a protest by blocking the main GT Road for an indefinite period. Protest call
The residents have said that if the authorities concerned fail to desilt the existing drains and dirty water accumulated in the area, they would lodge a protest by blocking the main GT Road for an indefinite period. Residents speak This is ward number no. 1 of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and the basic amenities are zero here. This is an apt example of the MC’s apathy towards our ward. — Kamaljit Kaur }The authorities have dug up roads because the earlier drainage system had been dismantled. Because of this, the water has been spilling on to the streets. — Tarsem Singh
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Reduce rush at regional passport office: NGO
Amritsar, June 10 General secretary of the Mission Aagaaz Gurbhej Singh said the regional passport office here dealt with the applications of residents of eight districts of the state — Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Fazilka and Pathankot. “There is always a huge rush of people at this office,” said Gurbhej Singh. He said the Ludhiana office was dealing with only four districts. He said due to the huge rush here, people found it difficult to secure online appointments. “People of Jalandhar can easily get the online appointments because the office caters to the needs of residents of only one district,” he said. “The website claims that minors and senior citizens are entitled to ‘walk-in’ appointments but here they have to first visit the RPO to get the file approved which is a cumbersome process,” added Gurbhej Singh.
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Training programme for cooks organised
Amritsar, June 10 The workshop was jointly organised by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) and Hoshiarpur-based Food and Craft Institution. Employees of various government departments engaged in providing hospitality were given a training to enhance their skills. Fifteen employees from different departments took part in the worskshop. PHTPB Project Manager AK Mishra gave away the certificates.
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Overburdened, PSEB engineers to launch agitation today
Amritsar, June 10 The engineers had earlier suspended their move to start an agitation in March after being assured by the PSPCL management that the issues raised by them will be settled within the committed time-frame. Engineer Mandeep Singh, regional secretary, said the agitation programme would commence on June 11, wherein all power engineers of the state would wear black badges till June 14. “As a mark of protest and commitment towards our work, we have decided to work without a lunch break from 9 am to 7 pm on June 11. The action shall be followed by switching off our mobile phones from 11 am to 1:30 pm on June 2 and from 2 pm to 5 pm on June 26. “There will be a state-level dharna in front of the PSPCL head office, The Mall, Patiala, on August 21. If our demands are not fulfilled, we will again start an agitation on August 21,” he said. The issues raised by the association mainly concern the consumer services and working conditions of the engineers. Mandeep Singh said joint secretary Ishwar Das had stated that the engineers had been working hard to bring down the losses to 16.4 per cent in 2012-13. But instead of praising the efforts, the management had been issuing charge sheets to a large number of engineers even in minor cases. “The cadre is demoralised and working under great stress. The management is totally indifferent to the ground realities. There is an acute shortage of technical staff (at least 40 per cent) and poor infrastructure is affecting the consumer services. There is a shortage of around 600 SDOs and management has failed to recruit these engineers even after two years of sanction by the state government and as a result, one engineer is forced to perform duties of two-three engineers,” he explained. A committee was constituted in May last year that could suggest ways and means to modernize the organisation structure of the PSPCL in order to fulfil the present day requirements of the Right to Service Act. The committee was to submit its report within six weeks. However, even after one year, only 20 per cent of the work has been completed by the committee and the interim report of the committee has not been implemented. The field engineers are heavily loaded and due to an acute shortage of staff, the quality of supply is suffering. The grid and transmission lines are overloaded and the obsolete equipment is in a dire need of immediate replacement, they stated.
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Armoured Regiment launches trekking expedition to Himalayas
Amritsar, June 10 The expedition started from Uttarkashi and will culminate at Gaurikund in the Garhwal Himalayas. The team comprises two officers, three junior commissioned officers and 10 other ranks. The expedition of an epic proportions will set a benchmark for environment as well as for the other soldiers to emulate in future. The team will cover a distance of 152 km to reach the Khatling glacier at a height of 5,500 m (16,500 ft). The Khatling glacier is a lateral glacier at the source of the Bhilangana river in the Garhwal Himalayas. The team is also enthusiastic about providing aid and succour to the locals and educating them to maintain eco-balance. The regiment has a history of carrying out numerous adventure activities for its troops. It has to its credit an expedition to the Andamans, cycling expeditions in the Himalayas and treks to remote areas of Himachal Pradesh and Garhwal Himalayas. These expeditions were aimed encouraging “Scholar Warriors” to seek greater glory and to explore the hidden marvels of bravery among themselves. The Indian Army is known for its indomitable courage, passion, hope and resolves to protect and nurture the motherland. It has made great inroads into the domain of adventure activities like conquering the Sagarmatha and exploring the South Pole.
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City artist holds painting exhibition on Ajanta Caves
Amritsar, June 10 Presenting her work for the city art patrons at KT Kala, Aruna, flanked by senior artists like Baldev Gambhir, has put up a series of paintings highlighting the religious art in the caves and her own perceptions of it. The collection, with the striking three huge panels depicting the journey of Prince Siddharth to Gautam Buddha, has speaks volumes about the original style of work in the caves and her own contemporary style. “I have tried to retain the original style with dry fresco as well as fused cubic style, glass incept and bubbles style to keep it unique. I had earlier made a small series of paintings inspired by Ajanta. Its detailed depiction of wealthy princely life has always fascinated me. I, too, have tried doing the same with the panels made on Buddha’s life, depicting days he spent as a prince to the moment he attained Moksha,” says Aruna. It is for the first time in Amritsar that an artist has dared to work on large canvases of 15 ft. Aruna says it wasn’t that difficult a task when she came down to it. “All I needed was an inspiration to keep me motivated. I found Buddha striking in many ways and the energy came from within. As an artist, it was a challenge and I accepted it.” Her mentor, prominent artist Baldev Gambhir, has also praised Aruna’s latest work. Dr Baldev Gambhir, former head of the department of fine arts, BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, inaugurated the exhibition by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Aruna has dedicated the exhibition to her teacher. In his address, Dr Gambhir said Aruna had been a good student and her hard work had paid off. “The Ajanta Caves are a specimen of beautiful and exquisite ancient art that specialised in elaborate motifs. Taking even single slice of inspiration from such fine art work and coming up with an individual series of paintings is a huge achievement,” he shared. Aruna believes that once in a while, heritage, tradition and history should be made the focus of art.
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Workshop on environmental safeguards organised Amritsar, June 10 Pushap Nathan is the resource person for the workshop. The engineers and official of the board, besides consultants working on various projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, are attending the programme. — TNS
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While the government contemplates to computerise the system to issue birth and death certificates, things have hardly changed at the ground
level.
