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Project heritage-look: Govt move
Domestic help alleges torture in police custody
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World
NO Tobacco
Day
Brick kiln workers hold protest, demand better
wages
Theatre workshop in city from June 6
Workshop on development of scientific skills held
Mass marriage
Five held for flesh trade racket
18 health officials transferred Feedback
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Project heritage-look: Govt move stirs debate
Amritsar, May 31 While certain quarters have come out against the move, others have expressed their opinion on the way it should be carried out. Senior BJP leader Laxmikanta Chawla has raised a question mark over the project, saying, "It sounds strange that the government is talking about building the heritage by demolishing old bazaars and buildings. The officials must answer whether the heritage is created or conserved. The buildings that were demolished in the past were our heritage and today the government is talking about razing a part of shops and residences to change their facade and lend them a heritage look. The government should tell the people as to which heritage it intends to conserve by demolishing and renovating some structures." Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said instead of lending a uniform look to the structures, the government should replicate the traditional designs of the facade of the existing heritage buildings. She said they should have five to six different designs to replicate so that the flavour of the city is not lost. "Giving them a uniform look will not be in sync with the spirit of the city. It will be disastrous and would kill the city's soul," she said, adding that the people from Amritsar should be involved in the project. Dr Balvinder Singh, Conservation Spatial Planner, GNDU, felt that a comprehensive approach should be adopted while carrying out the project with the help of heritage experts. He also cautioned that the traditional character of the walled city must be maintained and no drastic changes should be made. "We need to evolve urban design guidelines by doing documentation of existing architectural and decorative elements in the walled city. We also need to evolve special building bye laws for the walled city as the present bye laws are damaging the streetscape as well as the townscape of this historic-religious city. We must also establish heritage advisory committee on the pattern of Shimla which will help in protecting from damage to buildings and areas." On the other hand, allaying apprehensions, the MC authorities say the existing heritage structures on the stretch would not be touched while they will restrict themselves to lending a uniform look to all the shops while ensuring that the city's traditional character is maintained. They said all the shops will be painted with earthen colour. They said they will be using GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) technique in the job which is recognized by
the ASI. THE PROJECT: The Tourism Department's project aims to bring uniformity in the facade of the structures, a majority of them commercial, on the lines of Lucknow's Hazrat Ganj which is painted in a single colour. A Mumbai-based private firm has already prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to paint the structures on the approach and exit roads to the Golden Temple with a single colour while similar, attractive and equal-sized signboards will be put up to streamline the exterior of buildings falling on the path. It will all be done at the government expense. The NOCs are being sought from the shopkeepers for the project.
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Domestic help alleges torture in police custody
Amritsar, May 31 Her family members alleged that she was falsely implicated in the case and the police officials kept her in an illegal detention and physically tortured her due to which her health
deteriorated. Rajkumar Verka, Vice Chairman, National SC Commission, today visited the woman and immediately directed the police department to hold an inquiry under the supervision of the IG border range. He also instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Tarn Taran to form a medical board for her examination. Amarjit Kaur told Verka that she was mentally and physically tortured at the police station. She alleged that a police official demanded Rs 50,000 from them in order to release her. A number of Dalit organisations had held protest against the police department for registering an alleged false case against her. Her husband Sukhwinder Singh had appealed before the commission to save his wife. He had alleged that his wife had been working at the residence of the civil judge for past one year. The said judge did not treat her well. On May 17, she received a call from the judge who asked her to reach her home for cooking food. However, Amarjit Kaur refused to come. On May 19, Tarn Taran police arrested her on charges of theft after the complaint of the said judge. He alleged initially the police kept her in illegal detention and when her condition deteriorated a case was registered against her. The case May 17: Amarjit Kaur received a call from the judge to reach her house and cook food. However, Amarjit refused to come. May 19:
The police arrested her on charges of theft after a complaint was filed by the said judge. May 31:
She was admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital as her health deteriorated. Rajkumar Verka, Vice Chairman, National SC Commission, visited her and directed the police to hold an inquiry under the supervision of the IG border range. He also instructed the DC of Tarn Taran to form a medical board for her examination.
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Over 2,430 challans for smoking issued in a year
Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 31 District Health Officer Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon said in the past two years, the district administration has collected a fine of Rs 4.5 lakh from the violators. "If polio can be erased from the country, there is no reason why tobacco usage cannot be checked, provided the general public is aware," he said. At the time of declaring district as a smoke-free zone, the district administration had issued challan books to all the departments to help in checking smoking at public places. Kahlon said, "The department heads were issued challan books and were given the account numbers in which the challan fees can be deposited but it has not shown any results." He said over 4,000 persons were issued challans after city was declared smoke-free zone. The district Health Department had also observed the week as a tobacco awareness week. Kahlon admitted that problem of tobacco usage at public places still exists. "But the situation has shown a remarkable improvement. We will continue our efforts so that an ideal situation can be created," he said.
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Brick kiln workers hold protest, demand better
wages Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 31 SHO Jhander Police Station Balwant Singh said, "The union activists stoned two vehicles of the owners as they came in support of their workers. The owners later fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd." He said both the parties have reached to an agreement and no case has been registered so far. Another incident of clash between the two parties was reported from Tangra village. However, no one was injured in the clash. Kulwant Singh Bawa of Batha Mazdoor Union denied that activists had manhandled workers at the brick kiln. He said the association had been demanding Rs 750 per 1,000 bricks from workers as the owners are paying Rs 641. Arvinder Singh Chamak, President, All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers Association, said, "The brick kiln owners in district are paying the highest wage in the state. The Batha Mazdoor Union is trying to make the issue political ground by staging this protest." "Many new unions have sprung up during the recent times. Batha Mazdoor Union charges Rs 200 every season from around 70,000 workers in district. With new unions coming up, the money will split and the unions are trying to avert the situation." He said the owners had to flee to save themselves and their workers from the mob. Kulwant Singh Bawa said after Gurdaspur where Rs 668 is being paid, Amritsar kilns are paying Rs 641 as wages. Chairman of the Batha Mazdoor Union, SD Kapoor, said: "Our protest is for the cause of better wages of the workers. There is no truth in the allegations of owners association." The Batha Mazdoor Union in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts had proceeded on protest yesterday. With this protest, the construction industry in the area is feared to hit badly as supply of bricks have been stopped.
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Theatre workshop in city from June 6
Amritsar, May 31 Continuing with their annual summer theater workshops, in collaboration with the NSD, Virsa Vihar will hold a theater workshop for artistes across the region from June 6. "Every year we get over 200 to 300 artistes, amateur and young, for our theatre workshop. From the very basics to the finer nuances for theater productions, stage designing and script writing are taught by professionals. At the end of it, we stage a production by the students, featuring their talents in various aspects of theater," said Kewal Dhaliwal, president of Sangeet Natak Academi. While the workshop focuses mainly on youngsters, it has previously invited theatre personalities from across the border. "This workshop has become one of the most awaited and prominent theatre activities in the city. Over the years we have invited and hosted artists from various parts of the country and across the border as well, giving a lesson or two in various technicalities. This includes street-plays, mono-acts, realistic acting, sterilised acting and voice and speech production, besides studying movements and facial expressions," he said. Dhaliwal is currently holding a four-day theater festival with noted plays like Kehar Singh Di Maut and Museum being staged. "We have travelled to Ludhiana and will also hold another theatre festival soon in city," he said.
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Workshop on development of scientific skills held
Amritsar, May 31 The workshop dealt with the role of science teachers in skill development and the methodology of skill development. The resource persons talked about the positive environment in enhancing learning and explained how audio-visual aids can enhance learning. They showed a power-point presentations on activities which can be taken up in the class and assimilated into teaching for better learning. Role of internet in better understanding of a few concepts was also discussed.
DAV Public Schools, Regional Director, Amritsar Zone, Dr Neelam Kamra, who is also Principal BBK DAV College for Women, addressed the participants and said it was a positive step towards enhancing academic performance and enabling students to gain knowledge with understanding of concepts. She applauded the efforts of the school for organizing the workshop. She added that such workshops are very important in keeping the teachers abreast with the latest trends in education.
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13 shelter home girls tie the knot
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 31 Dr Tarundeep Kaur, Chairperson, Hospital Welfare Section, said the marriage was conducted at a Gurudwara in the Ranjit Avenue area. She said the aim behind this move was to provide these homeless girls a real family of their own to be loved and cherished. "These girls would now be reintroduced and rehabilitated into the larger society," she said. She said suitable matches were selected for these girls and proper verification was done through police and sarpanches who verified their antecedents and good character, work and property. Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner-Cum-President, District Red Cross Branch, and his wife Dr Tarundeep Kaur gave their blessings to the couples.
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Five held for flesh trade racket
Amritsar, May 31 Vavinder Mahajan, SHO, Civil Lines police station, said the police received information that the owner of the beauty salon is running a racket in the garb of the salon. Subsequently, a raid was conducted and the accused were arrested. The owner had employed several girls for massage and spa. A case under Sections 3, 4, 5 of Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against them. He said the accused have been produced in the court and sent to police remand.
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Amritsar, May 31
Amritsar, May 31
