List of tax-free life saving drugs released
KHARAR, Dec 17 — The Punjab Department of Excise and Taxation has released the list of life-saving drugs exempted from the Sales Tax by the State Government.

2 Khalsa marchers die in mishap
ROPAR, Dec 17 — In an accident, involving an SGPC vehicle, parked on slope near the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib this morning, a girl was killed on the spot while seven others were injured, two of them seriously. All were participants of Khalsa March which reached last evening there from Jammu.

Punjab Govt notifies holidays in 1999
CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — The Punjab Government has notified the public holidays in the State during 1999 under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Punjab drive to identify disabled
CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — The Punjab Government has launched a special campaign to identify disabled persons in the State.

Week-long art festival from Dec 20
JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The Punjab Art Heritage is holding its third annual art festival from December 20 to 27 at Apeejay College of Fine Arts here.

Cong represents to CEC
PATIALA, Dec 17 — The Punjab Congress today represented to the Chief Election Commissioner to seek a report from the Punjab Government about the action taken against Mr Jaskaran Singh, who has been promoted as Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar, from his earlier rank of zonal SP after the Commissioner ordered an inquiry against him.

Pensioners Day celebrated
JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The 'Pensioners Day' was celebrated by more than 350 aged central government pensioners including widows braving bitter cold, at the premises of the Retired Railway Employees Association, here today.

• Couple killed in road mishap
  

• Students threaten CM's gherao
  

Central team in state to assess crop loss
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Dec 17 — A high-level central team led by Mrs Deepika Padda, Managing Director, the Seed Corporation of India, today met farmers, district officers and traders to assess loss to paddy and cotton crops caused by untimely rains in the region in September and October last.

After meeting representatives of farmers, traders, rice mill owners and officers belonging to Mansa, Bathinda, Muktsar and Ferozepore districts here, Mrs Padda said that she would submit her report regarding crop loss to the central government shortly.

At the meeting, Mr Amrit Pal Singh Brar, President, the Punjab Young Farmers Federation demanded that all farmers affected by untimely rains be given compensation of Rs 5000 per acre.

The commission agents and traders also suggested that farmers who were in debt should be given suitable compensation for crop loss.

Mr Gurdev Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepore told the central team that due to rains the Ferozepore district had suffered a loss of Rs 270 crore due to damage of crops, roads and drains.

Mr Phulwant Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar said that his district suffered loss of crores of rupees. Mr Alok Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bathinda disclosed that his district suffered a loss of nearly Rs 294 crore. Mr Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa said that in his district main and link roads had been damaged due to rains to the extent of Rs 20 crore. He said that paddy crop on one lakh hectare area also got damaged.

Mr Avtar Singh Randhawa, Director, Department of Agriculture, Punjab, who also participated in the meeting said that his department had prepared a plan to ensure supply of quality fertilisers, seeds and pesticides to the farmers. He also disclosed that Crop Insurance Scheme would be introduced in whole of Punjab from the next crop.

Stand on U S Nagar to stay: Badal
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

PADHRI (Amritsar), Dec 17 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out a shift on the stand taken by the SAD on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar.

Mr Badal was reacting to media reports that the Union Cabinet had decided to introduce legislation for the creation of three states of Uttaranchal, Vananchal and Chhatisgarh in the current session of Parliament without any change in the original draft.

It is pertinent to mention that the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the SAD had recently unanimously passed a resolution to withdraw support to the Vajpayee government if Udham Singh Nagar was merged with the proposed Uttaranchal.

"The Bill on Uttaranchal cannot be passed without our consent. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee has given us a categorical assurance that Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh will not be merged with the hill-state. He will definitely fulfil his promise made with the SAD", Mr Badal explained.

The issue of Udham Singh Nagar would be settled as per the aspirations of the residents there. Mr Badal, who is one of the three members of the committee constituted by the Prime Minister under the chairmanship of Mr George Fernandes to look into the issue, said Mr Fernandes had stated that an amicable solution to the problem would be found.

Mr Badal was here to lay the foundation stone of a self-employment centre — the first of its kind in the state.

Addressing a gathering, he said a team of experts from Israel would visit Padhri Kalan to educate farmers on modern farming techniques, including the drip and sprinkle irrigation systems. At least 20 dairy units and a composite fishery-poultry unit would also be set up.

A centre would be set up for promoting low-cost building technology and training village masons.

In Amritsar the Chief Minister reviewed the pace of the various welfare and development projects. Addressing a high-level meeting of ministers, members of Parliament, MLAs, senior officers of the district administration and the police, he stressed on the need to accelerate works on certain projects like such as repair of roads.

The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla suggested that all tubewells should be connected through a high-tension line so that water was available round the clock. The Chief Minister readily agreed to the same.

The meeting was also addressed by the Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Rural Development Minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon, MP Daya Singh Sodhi, Deputy Speaker Baldev Chawla and former minister Manjit Singh Calcutta.

A college fights for survival
From Ashok Grover

JALALABAD: Higher education plays a vital role in socio-economic changes in any society and its significance is multiplied when it is meant to for an area like Jalalabad surrounded by socially, economically, and educationally backward communities.

When the late Giani Gurbax Singh, philanthropist and sant, died on February 3,1985, renowned social workers of the area, including Mahant Kartar Singh, and other like-minded followers from the three adjoining areas of Jalalabad, Fazilka and Saharanpur(UP), decided to put Giani's teachings into practice by setting up a trust and opening a degree college at Jalalabad. This was the need of the hour as there was no higher education facility available in the backward belt of Jalalabad, Guruharsahai and Mandi Ladhuka.

Giani Gurbax Singh Memorial Trust then approached the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, to open a college at Jalalabad and also gave a 10 acres of land for the purpose and Rs 14 lakh in cash, of which Rs 8 lakh was collected through donations. Thus Giani Gurbax Singh DAV College came into existence on January 1,1986.

Nowadays the college is ahead of other colleges in backward areas in every field whether education, sports, arts and culture. During the 13 years of its existence the college proved to be an asset for the area. The college provides degrees courses for BBA and BEA in addition to all the three faculties of science, arts and commerce. The college is affiliated to Panjab University and also has organised two zonal youth festivals.

But the concentration of the college administration remained always on meeting the annual deficit of Rs 14 lakh. As the college is not in the list of colleges getting grants, amounts ranging between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh are being collected in the form of voluntary donations from local people to keep the institution running.

Mahant Kartar Singh had played a key role in making collections for the college and after his demise his son, Joginder Singh, former CBI Director, stepped into his father's shoes as the chairman of the college managing committee.

According to Dr B. C. Josan, principal of the college, he fears that when the UGC scales are implemented the college deficit would rise to Rs 281 lakh which would be impossible to collect from the public. There is no way to run this education centre except to put it on the list of grants-in-aid colleges so that it can continue to be a source of educational development of the area.

Dismissal of Badal govt
Punjab Cong to give memo to President
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Dec 17 — The Punjab unit of the Congress will give a memorandum to the President, Mr KR Narayanan, in the last week of this month demanding the dismissal of the Badal government in view of its gross mismanagement of the state's economy.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, Chairman of the PPCC Backward Cells, said the memorandum, to be given under the leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi, was likely to be submitted on December 26 or 27.

He said the Congress opposed the imposition of sales tax on various items in the state and sought the scrapping of the decision. This, he said, was the wrong way to keep the economy going and had hit the common man. Taxes should be imposed mainly on the financially well-off sections.

He said the Punjab Congress planned to organise dharnas shortly in front of the offices of Deputy Commissioner against the economic policies of the Badal government. He accused the state government of failing to encourage industry leading to the loss of massive revenues. In Mandi Gobindgarh, he said, around 90 per cent of the industrial units had closed due to the power crisis and high tariff.

Free power, the Congress leader said, should be given only to small farmers. At present the real beneficiaries were farmers with large land holdings, including the Chief Minister himself.

Mr Lakhwinder Singh said the current infighting in the Akali Dal would prove harmful for the state. Earlier, such infighting among the Akalis had led to the Naxalite movement in the state and later terrorism. One of the reasons for the infighting now was that the Akali Dal wanted to divert the attention of the public from the grave economic crisis in Punjab when the government could not provide jobs to the unemployed or even pay the salaries of those already employed.

Mr Badal, he said, had put the future of the entire state at stake merely to ensure that his son remained in power.

Mr Badal, had become the Chief Minister for the third time. However, he had failed to take up major issues concerning the state in earnest with the Centre. He wondered why Mr Badal had failed to get adequate bonus for farmers who had been adversely affected by rain even though there was a BJP-led government at the Centre.

List of tax-free life saving drugs released
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Dec 17 — The Punjab Department of Excise and Taxation has released the list of life-saving drugs exempted from the Sales Tax by the State Government.

According to a copy of the notification issued here yesterday by Mr C.L. Bains, Punjab Financial Commissioner, Taxation and Secretary, Department of Excise and Taxation. The list of 46 tax-freed life-saving drugs had been notified in pursuance of the provisions of item 75-A of schedule "B" appended to the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948, (Punjab Act 46 of 1948), and the powers enabling in this behalf. The list of tax-freed life saving drugs is as under:

Fluids dextrose (5 per cent), dextrose saline (5 per cent), haemacel, ringer lactate and mannitol; antibiotics injections of ampicillin, C-penicillin, cephalosporines, gentamycin and metronidazole, vasopressors injections of dopamine, adrenalin and ephedrine; analgesics (pain killers) injections of pethidine, morphine, pentazooccine and diazepam; steroids injections of dexamethasone and betamethasone; beta blockers injections of propranolol; bronchodilators injections of aminophyllin and deriphyllin; antipyretio injections of paracetamol; antiemetic injections of metachlopramide and phenergan; antiallergic injections of chlorpheneramine maleate; cardiology injections of streptokinase, nitroprusside and xylocard and capsules of nigedipine; gynaecology injections of pitocin, methergan and magnesium sulphate; antiepileptic injections of phenytoin and phenobarbitone; miscellaneous injections of PAM, snake venom, chromostat, ORS, insulin plain, nikethamide, lasix, soda bicarbonate, calcium gluconate, pottassium chloride and atropine.

2 Khalsa marchers die in mishap
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Dec 17 — In an accident, involving an SGPC vehicle, parked on slope near the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib this morning, a girl was killed on the spot while seven others were injured, two of them seriously. All were participants of Khalsa March which reached last evening there from Jammu. According to information received here, the parked vehicle suddenly moved downward, killing one on the spot and injuring seven. Ms Manmeet Kaur (18) from Jammu was killed, while two of the injured namely Sarbjit Singh (7) and Amarjeet Kaur (40) were referred to the PGI Chandigarh for treatment.

The remaining injured — Khajan Singh, Harbans Singh, Sawarn Kaur, Ajit Kaur and Darshan Kaur — were treated at the local hospital there as they had received minor injuries.

According to Mr Bhupinder Singh, Assistant Manager of the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, one person, out of the two referred to the PGI, died on the way which raised the toll to two. He said this information was received by them when Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, acting president of the SGPC, was giving reception to "Khalsa March" participants, today.

He added that Mr Bhaur on behalf of the SGPC president also announced a grant of Rs one lakh each to the family members those killed, and Rs 10,000 each for all injured, besides treatment expenses.

However, the police was contacted repeatedly on phone at Anandpur Sahib till this afternoon, but it failed to provide any information about the accident except the occurrence of the same.

SAD district chiefs to report on bureaucrats: CM
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed all Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police and other officers of the state to take up "all genuine works" of SAD and BJP workers on a priority basis.

After the defeat of the SAD in the Adampur byelection last month, Mr Badal was told that party workers were feeling frustrated as they had no say in government offices.

Mr Badal said he would seek periodical reports from the district presidents of the party on the working of the bureaucracy. He said if any worker lodged a complaint that his "genuine work" was not done, suitable action would be taken against the "erring" officials.

He admitted that he could not give due attention to the "aspirations" of the workers.

Punjab Govt notifies holidays in 1999
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — The Punjab Government has notified the public holidays in the State during 1999 under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

All Saturdays and Sundays; other holidays: Birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh — Jan 5, Id-ul-Fitr — Jan 20, Republic Day — Jan 26, Birthday of Sri Guru Ravi Dass — Jan 31, Mahashivratri — Feb 14, Holi — March 2, Hola Mohalla — March 3, International Women Day — March 8, Shahidi Day of Bhagat Singh — March 23, Ram Naumi — March 25, Mahavir Jayanti — March 29, Bank Holiday — April 1, Good Friday — April 2, Baisakhi/Birthday of Dr B.R. Ambedkar — April 14, Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Arjun Dev — June 16, Birthday of Prophet Mohammad Sahib (Milail-ul-Nabi or Id-e-Milad) June 27, Martyrdom day of Shahid Udham Singh — July 31, Independence Day — August 15, Janamashtami — Sept 2, Bank holiday — Sept 30, Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi — Oct 2, Dussehra — Oct 19, Birthday of Maharishi Valmiki — Oct 24, New Punjab Day — Nov 1, Divali — Nov 7, Birthday of Sri Guru Nanak Dev — Nov 24 and Christmas — Dec 25.

Besides, each employee will also be permitted during the calendar year 1999 to avail himself/herself any two holidays from followings restricted holidays. New Year Day — Jan 1, Lohri — Jan 13, Basant Panchmi/Birth day of Sri Satguru Ram Singh — Jan 22, Muharram — April 27, Budh Purnima — April 30, Nirjala Ekadshi — June 24, Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh — June 29, Birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh — Sept 5, Karva Chauth — Oct 27, Goverdhan Puja — Nov 8, Birthday of Sant Namdev — Nov 19, Jor Mela Fatehgarh Sahib — Dec 25, 26 and 27.

Government offices will open at 11 a.m. on August 26 on account of Raksha Bandhan.

Punjab drive to identify disabled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — The Punjab Government has launched a special campaign to identify disabled persons in the State.

Disclosing this after releasing a special supplement of the Punjabi fortnightly "Virasat", dedicated to the handicapped persons in the State, Ms Jagir Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, said here today that the Government would use all the sources of the media for creating awareness among the disabled and for providing them information regarding the facilities being given by the government.

She said the Punjab Government had appointed a Secretary level officer as Commissioner under the PWD (Persons With Disability) Act, 1995, to redress the grievances of the disabled persons for the State. Free education to all disabled persons would also be given till they attain 18 years in age as per provisions of this Act.

She appealed to social organisations to contribute liberally all possible resources for this noble cause.

Ms Jagir Kaur said that 3 per cent jobs had been reserved in all the departments for the handicapped. The State Government had acquired land in Bathinda to set up an institute for the welfare of handicapped persons.

Week-long art festival from Dec 20
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The Punjab Art Heritage (PAH) is holding its third annual art festival from December 20 to 27 at Apeejay College of Fine Arts here.

Mr B.K. Srivastava, Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, and Senior Vice-President of the PAH, said today that prominent artists would participate and interact with the famous painters and sculptors in this week-long festival.

He said in the absence of any patronage to artists by the state, the PAH had resolved to look after the welfare of the artists in the form of providing a grant to dependants of artists in case of unnatural or untimely death. A group insurance scheme had been drawn up in consultation with the Life Insurance Corporation of India to give cover to poor artists.

A corpus of Rs 1 lakh has been created for this purpose. A financial help of Rs 11,000 in 1997 to a widow of Banta Singh, a versatile artist from Punjab, was a step in this direction.

The art festival will award 10 artists with cash prize of Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500 each.

Raj Jain, Ashok Tiwari, Pooja Burale, Bharat Bhushan, Vijay Vadara, Pritesh Dass Pandey, Pushpa Mala and Kirpal Singh are expected to participate in this festival.

Cong represents to CEC
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Dec 17 — The Punjab Congress today represented to the Chief Election Commissioner to seek a report from the Punjab Government about the action taken against Mr Jaskaran Singh, who has been promoted as Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar, from his earlier rank of zonal SP (CID) after the Commissioner ordered an inquiry against him.

In a message to the Chief Election Commissioner Pradesh Congress general secretary Birdevinder Singh said the manner in which Mr Jaskaran Singh had been "rewarded for working for the Akali Dal nominee" in the Adampur Assembly byelection would send a wrong signal to officials deployed for conduct of elections in future.

He said in future anybody could violate the election code of conduct and chances of free and fair polling would be impaired. It would also have a demoralising effect on officers who conducted the poll with fairness and firmness.

Pensioners Day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The 'Pensioners Day' was celebrated by more than 350 aged central government pensioners including widows braving bitter cold, at the premises of the Retired Railway Employees Association, here today.

Mr Rajpal Sharma divisional president, Railway Pensioners and Mr V S Jolly, general secretary, All India Central Government Pensioners Association (north zone) spoke on the significance of Pensioners Day when 16 years, ago, on December 17, 1982, a Constitution Bench of the apex court headed by Justice Y V Chandrachud delivered a landmark judgement in the case D S Nakra, Satyendra Singh and H D Shouri v/s Union of India. The judgement justified the constitutional right of pensioners to receive pension and other benefits.

Couple killed in road mishap
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Dec 17 — A couple was killed when a truck rammed into their scooter on G.T. Road here this morning.

The deceased were identified as Atma Singh (50), a pharmacist working at Rajpur Bhaian village, and his wife, Gian Kaur (47), a school teacher at Jasso Majara village. The truck driver who fled along with his vehicle from the site was nabbed by the police near Khajurla.

In another accident, as many as 12 persons were injured in a collision between various vehicles due to poor visibility in dense fog on GT Road at the Chahehru railway overbridge yesterday.

Students threaten CM's gherao
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Dec 17 — The joint action committee of students of Punjabi University and affiliated colleges, which has been agitating for the past three weeks against fee hiked by the university, has threatened to gherao the residence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on January 19 if the fee hike was not rolled back by them.

In a statement here yesterday JAC convener Surinder Singh Ghumana said even though students had protested against the fee hike in a large number yet the university and the state government had maintained a stubborn attitude against the students' demand.

The statement also demanded immediate release of student Rominder Popi allegedly arrested on false charges. The committee also criticised the government for using police to foil the strike. The statement alleged that students of various colleges who were coming to the Punjabi university on Tuesday for participating in a dharna were stopped by the police and not allowed to reach the university. The statement further alleged that by using tactics the government was blocking the right of students to make demands.