Amritsar, November 22
Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna, a new health insurance scheme for the below poverty line (BPL) families, was launched at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital here today.

The function was presided over by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Health and Family Welfare Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Sidhu said the scheme was for the families which were availing the Atta-dal scheme and had been issued Blue cards by the state government.

Under the scheme the beneficiaries would be issued smart cards, valid for one year. The scheme is aimed at providing free medical services to all the family members of the card holder. She said provisions had been made that a new-born child would automatically become the beneficiary of the scheme. Though the beneficiaries would have to pay a one-time premium of Rs 30 per family and medical expenses of Rs 30,000 would be covered.

Dr Yash Mitra, Civil Surgeon, said the health department would constitute teams of medical and paramedical staff to inform the people about the scheme in a door-to-door campaign.

Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Prabhdeep Kaur said a total of 1,04,611 families would be brought under the ambit of the scheme. She said the work to issue smart cards to the beneficiaries would be started soon.

Present on the occasion included Assistant Food Supply Officer Vipin Sharma, Senior Medical Officers Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon and Hardeep Singh Ghai and other health department employees. 

Jalandhar, November 22
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Varun Roojam today conducted inspections at various government schools to check their mid-day meal arrangements. The DC checked the mid day meals given to students at Government Senior Secondary School Maqsoodan and Government Senior Secondary School Adarsh Nagar.

The visits came after Jalandhar Tribune had highlighted the issue of the district education department’s lackadaisical approach in taking various erring schools to task on the issue of mid-day meals. Many questions have been raised on the department’s silence on the issue of various schools where mid-day meal ration or fund frauds have been alleged.

He instructed the school staff to exercise care in the cooking of the mid-day meal and storing of its ration. He asked schools to use clean utensils for both and check arrangements regularly and instructed that food being provided to children should be clean and with the right amount of nourishment as per the Right to Education Act guidelines.

He also checked mid-day meal records and made a count of students present in the schools. On the occasion, the DC also instructed the DEO (S) to personally ensure the checking of mid-day meal at district schools on a regular basis.

The DC also visited the Red Cross-run schools for the hearing and speech impaired children.

Amritsar, November 22
The Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital has installed an LCD screen in its reception area to educate people about various health centres and state government health schemes. The initiative in this regard has been taken by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation which also plans to install such systems at all district hospitals in the state.

The Senior Medical Officer, Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon, said, “The most important fact is that the videos shown to the people on this screen are in Punjabi and rural people will find this information beneficial.”

He said the system had already started working. The videos would be shown throughout the day from 8 am when the hospital opens. Dr Dhillon said over two dozen different schemes were being implemented simultaneously and it was important that people were aware of these schemes.

“They won’t be able to avail themselves of these schemes if they are not aware. And if somebody denies them these facilities, they will be in a better position to demand it if they know what exactly is the scheme,” he said.

Meanwhile, visitors to the hospital were happy to get the information in visual form. “At least we have been able to know what the government is doing for us.” 

Amritsar, November 22
At least four fully grown Peepal and Bohar trees along the road leading to the Bhandari Bridge were chopped off for ‘unknown’ reasons.

The residents living in the locality alleged that these trees were axed recently, apparently to install new hoarding stands or facilitate one installed across the bridge side.

“Out of curiosity I asked the workers who were chopping these trees, but did not get any satisfactory reply. It must have either been done by advertisers whose hoardings on the other side of the bridge have already been installed as these trees obstruct their view,” said Paramjit Singh, a resident.

Another resident, Naresh Johar, said, “Whoever has done it, has committed an unpardonable act. We cannot abandon nature, the trees, the vegetation and the flora and fauna for our vested interests because we require them for our sustenance. These are our saviours.”

A trader, Manjit Singh, who owns a shop in the same vicinity, said, “The other reason could be that the MC itself had got these trees removed to erect more hoardings. Enquires from the Forest Department revealed that the area came under the jurisdiction of MC only and it was the liability of the MC to take note of it.

Distict Forest Officer NS Randhawa said, “This particular area is not under us. The MC shares the responsibility of this area,” he said.

On the other hand, the MC Commissioner, DPS Kharbanda, when asked, showed ignorance about the incident.

“It is quite shocking, if it has been done so. I have absolutely no information about it. I will send my team to take cognisance of it”, he said. 

Amritsar, November 22
With the government all set to de-regulate diesel prices, local residents feel that letting oil companies increase fuel prices at their will be an "anti-people" decision. In times when people have already seen the impact of de-regulation of petrol prices, they have vocally opposed the move and demanded that the government should not protect oil companies.

The residents said that most of the people preferred diesel cars because these were more economical on road and a further increase in diesel prices would be against the interest of people who owned diesel cars. Amritsar Plus spoke to some of the residents on the issue. 

What people say

The government is not doing anything to control inflation. De-regulating diesel prices means prices will go up. It will lead to a spiral increase in the prices of other goods as transportation costs will increase. If the government does not want common people to suffer, it should not go for de-regulating diesel prices.

Daljinder Singh, student

We can expect that with de-regulation, prices of vegetables and other items will increase. Even bus fares will increase. And the way petrol prices have seen ups and downs in recent months, the same will happen with diesel. In this situation, who will monitor the prices of other goods and traders will not slash the prices of goods transported from far-off places, even if diesel prices are slashed. 

Ayush Sharma, student

The government must think about farmers. The input costs of agriculture will go up and decrease the profits of farmers. Agriculture is already reeling under crisis and the decision will harm them more. Already, farmers are ruing that they are not getting adequate prices of their produce.

Nirmal Gill, farmer 

Amritsar, November 22
SGPC serais (inns) also feature in the list of the illegal hotels/inns/guest houses functioning in the city prepared by the Municipal Corporation. Even as MC officials say that these serais have also been served notices under the Municipal Corporation Act 1976, Section 269, on the lines of the illegal hotels located in the walled city, on the other hand, SGPC officials denied receiving any such notice.

Ironically, none of the top officials was ready to accept that SGPC was served any notice as three of its serais, too, didn’t comply with the laid down norms under the Serai Act.

The area around Golden Temple, being the oldest part of the city, does not come under the purview of any official scheme or land-use norms. But it does come under the Serai Act, which makes it mandatory for them to have provision for a parking lot, a building with a permissible height (not exceeding 38 foot), and it was mandatory to obtain an NOC from the fire brigade and environmental clearance from the Punjab Pollution Control Board and other relevant NOCs from the MC.

However, the multi-storeyed serai located at Saragarhi ‘boasts’ of a height of around 80 feet. This 10-storeyed serai has 300 rooms. Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) activist Sarbjit Singh Verka, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2010, pleading removal of illegal hotels/inns/guest houses around Golden Temple, alleged that there were as many as 10 SGPC serais operating in violation of the norms, with the MC turning a blind eye to it. Putting aside the allegations by hoteliers, who were served notices or whose under-construction properties were demolished, that the MC was targeting them while "favouring" influential proprietors, MC authorities stated that no pick and chose policy was ever adopted in this regard. 

MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda: No immunity will be given to any illegal construction. The list of 150 such buildings has been prepared by the Municipal Town Planning Department, so I don’t have any idea whether SGPC serais were included in it or not.

Senior Town Planner Hemant Batra: It was the job of the Municipal Town Planner to conduct the survey and prepare a list. This has to be checked with him only.

Municipal Town Planner Suresh Raj: It is certain that SGPC’s serais are part of the list of buildings which do not comply with the stipulated norms.

SGPC president’s personal secretary Manjit Singh: We have not received any such notice from the Municipal Corporation yet. 

Amritsar, November 22
One of the municipal corporation’s house-tax recovery officials died on duty yesterday after suffering a heart attack. This instance has demoralised the recovery staff as they said that they were overburdened, especially after the introduction of property-tax realisation and conducting awareness camps in different wards of the city. They attributed the death of their colleague, Harpal Singh (52), recovery clerk, to the same cause.

The burden on the recovery teams was allegedly so enormous that they have been conducting recovery and awareness camps, even on their days off and gazetted holidays, too, when the other MC staff avails rest.

There are 37 MC employees who have been associated with the House Tax Department on field duty. Today, they had conveyed to their immediate boss, superintendent and defaulters’ sealing-drive in charge Shushant Bhatia, that they would not continue to do double duties.

Confirming this, Bhatia said the staff was overburdened and it was conveyed to the higher authorities about reshuffling the manpower and provide extra hands, but in vain. “Harpal was a very duty-conscious colleague. It is true that all staff members were under tension and they refused to work. They have told me plainly that they will not continue with the prevailing arrangement, else they, too, will meet the same fate as has happened with their colleague. They have sought transfer elsewhere, except in the House Tax Department out of resentment”, he said.

The instance occurred during last evening when the house-tax recovery team went to the Mohkampura area to make collections from the defaulters. It was then that Harpal complained of chest pain and became subconscious. He was immediately taken to Apex Hospital. Looking at his deteriorating condition, the doctors attending on him referred him to Escort Hospital, but before getting any medical aid, Harpal lost his life on the way. He is survived by two children.

With the city being the city of Local Bodies Minister, the MC staff alleged that each and every ruling party councillor, bullies them. 

Jalandhar, November 22
The strike by over 70 contractual employees of SSA/RMSA across the district schools has delayed the work on the consolidation of the DISE (District Information System for Education) reports in the district by about a month, causing a considerable delay in the completion of substantial work of the education department.

While the information in the district DISE reports is normally with the department by about mid-October, the contractual employees’ strike has delayed the work by over a month.

More than half of the 3,000 government schools in the district are yet to submit their DISE data books owing to the fact that the employees responsible for this specific work are on strike.

As per the district MIS coordinator, of the total 3,000 government schools in the district, the work of book submission of about 1,600 schools is presently pending.

In view of the situation, District Education Officer (elementary education) Kuldeep Sharma today held a meeting on the issue and asked regular staff in schools to ensure the submission of the DISE books to the district SSA office.

The DEO (E) today issued a formal directive to schools across the district to put regular staff on the job of delivering DISE books in school records to the district Sarav Sikhiya Abhiyan (SSA) office.

Notably, about half of the schools have regular employees, their DISE books have been submitted to the DEO office, but the work was stalled in the rest of the schools, which have contractual employees on strike.

The pen-down strike of the contractual non-teaching SSA/RMSA employees has been on since October 21.

While their attendance was earlier being marked in the district, since last Friday owing to government directives, it is not being marked since last Friday as the strike is now taking place at Mohali. While the onus of the DISE work was on the SSA/RMSA contractual workers, in their absence, other staff is having trouble groping with it.

The work on the preparation of balance sheets, issuance of salaries of all contractual SSA staff (teaching and non-teaching) has also been stalled due to the strike.

Amritsar, November 22
In view of the approaching foundation day of the GNDU, a two-day 28th Annual National Seminar on Guru Nanak Dev's Contribution to Indian Philosophy was organised by the Department of Guru Nanak Studies today in the university’s conference hall.

As many as 50 scholars from various parts of the country are participating in this seminar.

Avtar Singh Makkar, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, was the chief guest at the inaugural session today while Prof Jagbir Singh, former head, Department of Punjabi, Delhi University, Delhi, delivered the keynote address. Prof Ajaib Singh Brar, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the occasion.

SGPC President said the contribution of Guru Nanak Dev started from the 'Janeu' ceremony in his childhood. “Condemning the bare rituals, Guru Nanak Dev propounded his basic teachings, "Kirat Karo, Naam Japo" and "Wand Chhako". Guru Sahib widely travelled all over the world and raised his voice against political and religious leaders,” he said.

He also gave the examples of 'sakhis' of Haridwar, Mecca, the Siddhas and Jogis.

While talking about the contributions of the SGPC, its President said, “The SGPC has always encouraged religious studies in its institutions. It encourages the youth by organising religious contests and awarding scholarships and awards to winners,” he said.

While talking about the Guru Nanak Studies Department, he said the SGPC had been providing scholarships to five students of postgraduate classes. Besides, he announced that another batch of five students would be provided scholarships by the SGPC. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakhs for the department.

Dr Jagbir Singh in his keynote address said that not even a single book of Indian philosophy has discussed Guru Nanak’s philosophy or Sikh philosophy in its entirety. “Guru Nanak's philosophy is not projected in a proper manner. Materialism and global crisis have moved us away from our religion”, he said.

Prof Brar in his presidential remarks viewed that religion could not be questioned. “Religion is macroscopic and science is microscopic. Religion is sometimes accurate and sometimes approximate but it can't be questioned,” he said. 

Amritsar, November 22
Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, organised two workshops under the aegis of Federation of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of India. Under the programme two simultaneous workshops on cervical cancer screening and colposcopy, and on intra-uterine insemination were organised.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar inaugurated the workshops. During the workshop, the experts stated that the cancer of cervix is most common cancer in women after the breast cancer. They stated that early preventive measures could be adopted and there is a need of awareness, screening and advocacy.

In the workshop on intra-uterine insemination, the experts stated the population in country is increasing at an alarming rate, yet it is open reported that few couples are suffering from infertility and are desperate to have their own children. The experts shared their research and practical experiences to tackle problem of infertility among young couples.

The others present on the occasion included Joginder Singh, Secretary SGRDIMSR, Dr AP Singh, Additional Secretary, Principal Dr Geeta Sharma, Dr Hema Diwakar, President, FOGSI, India and over 300 gynaecology and medical professionals. 

Amritsar, November 22
Dr IPS Grover, assistant professor, pharmacology, government medical college, here attended the World Health Organisation’s international conference on e-health concluded recently.

The conference was attended by representatives of 10 nations in South-East -Asia and Dr Grover was among the three representatives nominated by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

He said, “A declaration about e-mobile health was made during the conference. The project in India would start in 2014.”

He said under the declaration, they would strengthen the e-health and telemedicine facilities in the rural areas. “The scientists have development mobile applications by using which we would be able to track the pregnant women to provide them better care,” said Grover.

Amritsar, November 22
Chess and Fencing tournaments were held at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Basant Avenue, here today. Nirmal Singh, resident president, Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society presided over the function.

Addressing the students Nirmal Singh said a sound mind resides in a sound body and games and sports were the great builders of health and character. The trophies were presented to the winning teams by chief guest, Nirmal Kaur, Principal, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School.

Results:

Fencing boys (U-14) Ist SGHPS, GT Road, IInd SGHPS, Golden Avenue,

IIIrd SGHPS, Chabbal, best player Gagandeep Singh, SGHPS, GT Road

Fencing boys (U-17) Ist SGHPS, GT Road, IInd SGHPS, Basant Avenue

IIIrd SGHPS, Ranjit Avenue, best player Dharampreet Singh, SGHPS, GT Road

Fencing boys (U-19) Ist SGHPS, GT Road, IInd SGHPS, Sultanwind Link,

IIIrd SGHPS, Ranjit Avenue, best player Kushaldeep Singh, SGHPS, GT Road

Chess boys (U-14) Ist SGHPS, Basant Avenue, IInd SGHPS, GT Road

IIIrd SGHPS, Majitha Road, Bypass, best player Amritpal Singh, SGHPS, Basant Avenue

Chess girls (U-14) Ist SGHPS, GT Road, IInd SGHPS, Basant Avenue,

IIIrd SGHPS, Majitha Road, Bypass, best player Harpreet Kaur, SGHPS, GT Road.

Amritsar, November 22
Swaranjit Singh Butt, 82, has become a living legend who has the rare distinction of playing both for India and England. The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has acknowledged the contribution of its former player by presenting him a cheque worth Rs 50,000, a silver tray and a Pashmina shawl. He is also being given Rs 7,000 per month as pension.

Before he represented England XI in Caribbean Islands against West Indies, at home, he had captained the North Zone team and had played against the visiting West Indies team as well. He had gained a fair amount of international exposure by playing against West Indies' Roy Gilchirist, a famous bowler, and Garfield Sobers, a top international all rounder at that time. Besides, he had also played against the visiting Pakistan and England XI, little knowing that one day he will be representing the same team in an international tournament.

All rounder Butt was declared the best all rounder in the Indian universities during inter-varsity matches at Lucknow university while he was leading Punjab University.

After finishing his schooling at PBN School and a brief stint at Khalsa College, Butt had gone to study at Cambridge University in October 1953 to do graduation in economics and law and stayed there till 1956.

In the beginning of 1956, EW Swanton, a popular cricket administrator and journalist, was asked to take the England XI team on a two months' tour to the West Indies. Butt, who was then a student of the Cambridge University and represented its cricket team, "Light Blues", got an invitation to join the England XI team. With holidays in the university, the Punjabi youth accepted the invitation. The English team was also armed with Frank Tyson, the fastest bowler in the world at that time.

The West Indian team had three great Ws — Clyde Walcott, considered the greatest back foot batsman, Everton Weeks and Frank Worrell.

At a test match in the Port of Spain, Butt clean-bowled Everton and bagged three wickets for 60 runs in the first innings. Next day, the local press had Butt's photograph and a headline that said, "Singh clean bowls Massa Weeks". That evening, at a reception, the music was stopped to make way for an announcement: "Welcome Massa Weeks", he fondly reminisced. Such was the cricket fever that time. Incidentally, Weeks had scored only 40-odd runs.

The turbaned Sikh recollected how overwhelmed he felt after migrants from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh welcomed him at the airport. "They said they were happy to find a person from India". On the fifth day of the match, an elderly Sikh approached Butt and said, "Sat Sri Akal". He introduced himself as Bhagat Singh from the Ghadar Party of 1919. Bhagat Singh said he had settled in Port of Spain after the First World War since the British government had not allowed him to return home.

Butt remembers visiting a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna on Caribbean island. The temple, he said, was built as a church on top of a hill. At England he had played against Surrey at Oval cricket ground and his six against Tony Lock which went across the road and fell in a gas holder was the talk of the town.

In response to Butt's letter, Sir David Gore-Booth, the British High Commissioner to India in 1997, wrote that a member of his staff, Mark Williams remembered the short innings Butt played at the Oval in 1957.

Amritsar, November 22
Some unknown persons robbed a house when the occupants were away to Vrindavan.

Aman Dhawan, owner of the house, suspected the involvement of his maid as she had been captured in the CCTV camera installed at the house of the neighbour.

“Me and my family had been to Vrindavan and came back on November 19 and found the jewellery, besides cash, a laptop and clothes missing .

A CCTV footage showed that some unknown persons had parked a scooter in front of our house. They broke open the locks and burgled the house,” he said.

Investigating officer SI Tarsem Singh said the maid was still absconding.

The police have registered a case under Sections 457, 380, IPC. No arrest has been made in this regard.

Phagwara, November 22
A motorcyclist identified as Tersem Lal of Bhagatpura was killed on the spot in a collision between his bike and a tempoo near Nagar village last night.

The police have registered a case against the driver and impounded the vehicle.

In another mishap, an unidentified youth was run over by a train near Bhattian on the Phagwara-Phillaur rail section. The GRP have registered a case and sent the body for autopsy to the Civil Hospital. — OC