Jalandhar, November 15
With the Municipal Corporation’s decision to acquire nearby land to develop the Wariana dump for the successful implementation of the solid waste management project in the city, land rates near the dump area have soared.

With the Jamsher land clouded in controversy for the past three years, the MC is presently facing a tough challenge to widen the approach road to the dump as owners of the nearby lands are either not interested to sell off their land or are asking much higher rates than the existing ones. Finding no respite, the MC has now decided to acquire the land under the “emergency clause Section 40” of the Government of India’s Act for Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2013, to extend the dump area and to widen the approach road.

“Due to a lot of slush gathered under the road all these years, the road has gone beyond repair. Now, with people’s unwillingness to sell off the nearby land, we are also not able to widen it for the smooth movement of compactors (automated garbage lifting vehicles). Despite making strenuous efforts, people are either not willing to sell off their lands or are demanding much higher rates,” said Gurpreet Singh Khehra, Municipal Commissioner. He further said that although the MC was trying its best to move ahead with people’s support to implement the project, if need arises, the land can be acquired under the emergency clause 40 of the Act that entitles the government to take possession of the land to undertake any project pertaining to infrastructure development in its area.

Presently, around four compactors of Jindal Infrastructure Company are lifting the garbage in the city. However, around 10 more are expected to arrive in a few days from now. Due to the bad condition of the approach road, one of the compactors even turned over on the first day of its operations.

Since then, the waste management company, instead of dumping the garbage at Wariana, is now dumping it near the DAV College dumping point from where it was then taken to dump by tippers. However, due to much smaller size than the compactor, the tippers have to make almost double the rounds to transfer the garbage to the Wariana dump. However, to save the extra effort, the MC is now making efforts to build the approach road for the smooth movement of the compactors. 

Jalandhar, November 15
Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral has sanctioned Rs 60 lakh for machinery at the ICU in the Civil Hospital here, which is presently in a state of disarray.

Gujral sent a letter sent to Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav yesterday, allocating Rs 60 lakh for equipment which will include Rs 15 lakh for the purchase of a medical gas pipeline system in the ICU, Rs 30 lakh for two ventilators, Rs 5 lakh for the purchase of non-invasive ventilators, bedsides X-ray and Rs 6 lakh for the allocation of ultrasound echo machine for the ICU.

Currently, the trauma unit in the hospital mostly serves as the official ICU, and the actual ICU on the third floor of the hospital (by the dialysis unit), is lesser known and in a state of disarray. The third floor ICU has no monitors, ventilators or specialised equipment required for use in an ICU.

Housed in a very small space on the third floor, which is itself one of the prime reasons for it not being used, the ICU presently serves merely as a ward, while all the special emergency or trauma patients get routed to the trauma unit on the ground floor.

Jalandhar, November 15
While the laws in the country call for the inclusion of all children into the schooling system, a particular crisis is when the schooling system itself is not able to sustain the responsibility which it is given. One of the prime demands of a healthy schooling system – a proper students-teacher ratio – is not being fulfilled by the state education department.

In the total 443 Government upper primary (senior secondary, high and middle) schools in the district, of the 7,341 sanctioned posts of employees, only 4,811 are filled.

In all there are 5,604 sanctioned posts of teachers and heads in these schools of which only 3,828 are filled leaving 1,776 posts of teachers in middle, high and senior secondary schools in the district empty.

Of the 126 sanctioned posts of principals across schools, only 111 are filled with 15 schools being without principals. Of the 128 sanctioned posts of headmasters, merely 42 are filled leaving 86 schools without headmasters. As many as 385 posts of lecturers are lying empty in schools with only 596 of the total 981 posts in schools filled.

A whopping 997 posts of masters in schools lie empty with only 2,654 of the total 3,651 posts of masters in schools being filled.

Lastly, of the 718 total posts of classical and vernacular teachers, only 425 posts are filled – leaving 293 empty.

The schools also suffer on the count of non teaching employees, of total sanctioned posts of 1,737 non-teaching staff; they have only 983 teaching staff working in them.

While there were 5,500 teachers for about 1, 60,356 students in the year 2013, the number of teachers had risen by about 100 – reaching 5,604 now. But so has the number of students as well after relatively higher admissions in the past few years.

The concentration of schools without teachers is primarily in the Nakodar, Lohian, Shahkot and Nurmahal blocks where many say some schools are almost akin to unkempt haunted houses. Cobwebby, ill maintained schools are run by single or two teachers who grapple with a huge student strength.

District schools which have stayed without adequate staff for ages include Government High School Mundi Kasu (has more than 130 children but only an English and drawing teacher is present), Government Girls High School, Lohian, Government Boys Senior Secondary School Khiwa, Government Senior Secondary School Punia (all principals who make it to the school are said to seek a transfer within days), Government Boys Senior Secondary School Lohian, Government Senior Secondary School Gidderipndi. Schools at Nawa Pind Donewal Turna, Rupewali Nawa Pind Khalewal, among others. There are schools like those at Baopur and nagal Ambian where experts say there should be at least 20 teachersgiven their strength but they are making do with just two.

With student – teacher ratios being thrown down the drain, the present state of schools forces students to put up with a substandard level of studies where the infrastructure in the schools isn’t even enough to provide them education in every subject.

Sources say, “There are schools – which everyone in the department knows are perceived to be akin to a punishment posting. Anyone transferred there does not stay for long. Within months, they seek a posting back to the urban areas or those close to the city. No teacher wants to go there. For years the students of such schools haven’t seen a lecturer leave alone a specialist in certain subjects. It can easily be said due to the system – these students end up spending their entire school session receiving lessons from teachers not even competent to teach 10th or 11th standard.”

On the flip side a handful of these schools are said to be having teachers where lone teachers are putting up outstanding hard work to provide quality education to their wards, however, the number of these is low.

Also, in rural areas, school bunks are pretty common among teachers. Sources say for months out of two teachers each one takes turns taking the day off even though their attendance is marked.

“Even in the rationalisation process, politics rules and teachers getting postings according to what they deserve and according to the need of the respective schools is a rarity in the education department,” said a teacher.

While for all these places the transfer and posting of new teachers and a policy to bring up the standard of education is needed. However, department insiders say clearly raising the standard of education is not on the government agenda. 

Jalandhar, November 15
With the Swach Bharat Abhiyaan catching up with politicians and superstars alike as they figure increasingly on photo-ops with them wielding brooms in mohallas, squares, offices and even studios, the enthusiasm as unfortunately not boiled down to the grassroots level.

As far as the success of the abhiyaan in schools is concerned, a similar glum picture is to be seen.

Even after much ado regarding failed samples and unhygienic conditions prevailing at various schools, students are mostly faced to drink dirty water from stinky, mildewed water taps or places. However, in such a grim scenario, the major rescue to students in the region has been provided by NRIs who donate water coolers, tanks and other equipment to provide proper drinking water to school students.

Two such major contributors in the district brought respite to at least 11 schools in Jalandhar where water purifiers were presented to schools. While in one case 10 schools have been presented with water purifiers, in another, the entire drinking water responsibility of a school has been taken up by an NRI who had donated underground water system, an overhead tank and water purifiers for benefit of school children.

NRI philanthropist Surinder Nijjer had donated water coolers and purifiers to 10 schools and S Mohan Singh Mann and S Rajinder Singh Mann have donated entire water supply system for drinking water at a school.

Nijjer shall provided water coolers and purifiers at Government schools in Adampur constituency for children studying in Rural areas.

Nijjer will also be contributing towards upgradation/construction of toilets for the children studying in school, under Individual social responsibility.

He will make contributions of water coolers to following schools— Government Elementary School Lesriwal, Government Senior Secondary School Ishrowal, Government Senior Secondary School and Government Elementary School Pandori Nijjran, Government Elementary School Dhadda (Hazara), Government Senior Secondary School Kala Bakra, Government High School Puranpur, Government Elementary School Bias Pind, Government Elementary School Chomo and Government High School Khichipur.

Jalandhar, November 15
After countless heavy episodes of Satyamev Jayate baring truths from the underbelly of a rotting social system; what brought hope, laughter and smiles to the faces of burdened hearts were the little indie musical events which introduced us to anthems like 'Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya', Chiraiya' among others - which went on to become cult hits.

Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the Youth Vibe event held at the Lovely Professional University here today, the duo said there were interesting personal and social influences from Punjab which had regularly contributed to their music. Sampath and Mohapatra said Munna Dhiman who has also been the lyrics for many of their compositions is constant influence from Punjab and they constantly find influences in the state. "I have great respect for Punjabi music and this is an industry which has its own superstars and brand names. We are great fans of Barkat Sidhu, Wadali Brothers, Han Raj Hans and Navraj Hans who is a great singer and also did Jind meriye (Purani Jeans) with me," said Sampath. Speaking of increasingly soft and folk Punjabi themes found in his music - Ambarsariya being one of the examples, Sampath said with people mostly associating Punjabi music to Bhangra beats and dance, he felt the need to bring out the romantic side of the music in the state. Sampath and Mohapatra also talked of how the protest music of Band Singh (who is a hit with Mumbai crowds) and their personal favourite Punjabi folk genre of 'Jugni' (which they recently came to know had many versions) had deeply impacted them.

Speaking of being associated with projects like Coke Studio and Satyamev Jayate which were supporting alternate movements in music, Sampath said, "It is really fortunate to be part of these ventures, to have people backing you. It is not easy to find someone like Aamir Khan who supports stands by your music." Speaking on the role of Bollywood, he said, "Bollywood is extremely influential and undoubtedly it has also ended up making a lots of misogynistic films as well. There are times one feels Bollywood also needs to get its act together. Sometimes when people get name their subsequent projects lose the formr appeal. But then youth judges you by your last work and they understand whatever we are doing. Their preferred music is fast changing and they are very clear about genres. These are all factors which are bound to affect how the industry and music in general is perceived."

Speaking of attitudes of women icons in music in the country, Sona said, "The attitudes of men in the heartland are also changing. During a performance at a university in Allahabad, I was shocked at the calm and comfort girls shared with boys in their college. They were quite comfortable with an evening show even though I had anticipated more conservative crowds. After 'mujhe kya bechega rupaiya' more male listeners wrote to me. It indicates a maturity among the men in the nation."

Vocalist Vijay Prakash who was one of the playback voiced for Rahman's Oscar-winning Jai Ho also came calkling to the LPU campus today. Starting off with playback in South Indian films, Vijay came to Bollywood in 1996-97. He has done more than 3,000 jingles and over 25 songs in the South. Accompanying Rahman to the Grammy's, Prakash says that is when he realised the largeness of the popularity of Jai Ho.

Jalandhar, November 15
Governor Shivraj V Patil today said in the present day world, science and technology, transport and communication facilities are playing a very important role and the new knowledge should be made to flow freely.

He was addressing the faculty and students at the simultaneous closing ceremonies of a two-day Global Science Conference and a five-day Global Youth Fest 'Youth Vibe-2014' at Lovely Professional University near here today. He said students should also be allowed to move freely in national laboratories to exchange and acquire knowledge and for this the universities could play a positive role. "Oceans are equal to two-third of the globe and they need to be explored. The resources and wealth they have under the sea beds, in the columns of water of them were very rich and should be put to use", he said. Patil said that the space was bigger than the oceans. "It has many sources of wealth and energy and they should also be explored and used. The space, oceans and lands had enough to meet our needs and demands. Our needs and demands can be met by paying more attention to natural and non-conventional sources of energy, developing wider, perspective and long-term vision and plans, which also can be done in a better manner by bringing about cooperation between the countries", he pointed out.

He also interacted with the students and replied to various questions on science and technology, research and development and on spirituality. On one of the questions, he said spirituality is a super-science as money and position could not give anyone happiness. Ashok Mittal, Chancellor, LPU, appreciated various works about the JLN Education city, Modern Terminal Market and Chandigarh Energy Park done under the Governor's administration.

Jalandhar, November 15
The Punjab Ball Badminton Association today organised a ball badminton tournament at Sai Dass Senior Secondary School grounds.

Over 25 teams from all over the state in the men’s and women’s category participated in the tournament. Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari was the chief guest on the occasion. In the tournament, Gurdaspur beat Mansa by 29-27 and 29-10. Jalandhar beat Malerkotla by 29-11 and 29-22. Also, Sangrur beat Hoshiarpur by 29-25 and 29-20. The host city also beat Kapurthala by 29-28 and 29-25 points. In the last segment, Gurdaspur beat Barnala by 29-20 and 29-17.

While applauding the participants, Bhandari said he would propose to the state government to get the event recognised by the state government.—TNS

Jalandhar, November 15
In the attack case on senior bank officials of the Central Bank of India yesterday, two women had leveled allegation of the use of abusive language. The police have delayed the registration of FIR citing that inquiry into the allegation of women was initiated.

However, the bank officials had denied the allegation leveled by women. Notably on Friday afternoon, over 12 assailants, including two women had attacked the senior officials of the Central Bank of India, who had gone to survey the property mortgaged against loan in the Alipur area. They had gone to review the property detail against which industrialist owning Satya Metals had taken a loan worth several lakhs of rupees.

A senior bank manager of the Central Bank of India branch, Bhagat Goyal, along with the regional manager, SK Rohila, had sustained injuries. They were also accompanied by chief manager SS Dahiya, Roshan branch manager, and a staff member, Vijay. Bhagat had sustained serious injuries on legs, face, arms and other body parts while Rohila escaped with minor injuries on arms.

SHO Sadar police station Sukhdev said two women who were living at the mortgaged property had filed a complaint with the police that the bank staff had hurled abusive remarks on them.

“We are investigating the allegations leveled by women and attack on bank staff. Whosoever is found guilty, legal action will be taken as per law,” said the SHO.

Regional manager of the bank SK Rohila denied the allegation of hurling abusive remarks on women. He said women were trying to distract the police investigation by leveling false allegations.

Jalandhar, November 15
Assistant sub-inspector Mukhwinder Singh of police division number five has been sent to the Police Lines after he misbehaved with a congress councillor and workers.

Congress workers had also held a dharna outside the police station and demanded action against ASI for his alleged behaviour.

Confirming this, ACP West, RPS Sandu said congressmen had leveled allegation of misbehave on ASI and on the basis of which he was shifted to Police Lines. Notably, dispute started after residents of Basti Sheikh locality found over dozen persons forcibly taking away the saleable items from the cycle shop. While residents were arguing with the persons, police also reached the spot. Congress workers accompanied by the councillor of ward number 47 Harsimran Singh Bunty also arrived. When congress councillor Bunty was stopping the persons from taking away the goods from cycles shop, ASI Mukhwinder Singh, exchanged heated arguments with councillor and misbehaved with him.

Against the behaviour of ASI, congress workers laid a dharna outside police stations and demanded immediate action against ASI. Acceding to the demand of councillor, ASI was shifted to Police Lines. SHO also confirmed that six persons were also arrested who broke open the lock of cycle shop and were forcibly taking away goods. A case under Sections 447, 323, 506, 148,149 of the IPC was also registered against them.—TNS

Jalandhar, November 15
A local court today sentenced a man to 10 years in jail for murdering a man.

According to information, the accused would have got life imprisonment if the police had proved the exact motive behind the murder.

Ashok Singh and Ram Singh were working in a dairy at Dyalpur village in Kartarpur. On December 13, 2013, they had an altercation over some issue. In the melee, Ashok Singh attacked Ram Singh with a spade on his head, resulting in his death on the spot. The Kartarpur police had then registered a case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC. The police had also filed a challan in the murder case, but the police had failed to prove in the court the exact reason behind the attack. Considering the attack due to negligence, the court sentenced Ashok to 10 years in jail.—TNS