Wednesday, November 25, 1998
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Wednesday, November 25, 1998 |
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1.19 lakh to vote today JALANDHAR, Nov 24 — The election for the Adampur seat, which has turned essentially into a battle royale between the ruling SAD-BJP combine and the Congress, will take place tomorrow. Pak ISI "humiliated" Hindu
pilgrims |
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Sialkot child labour scheme
for Jalandhar JALANDHAR, Nov 24 — The Sialkot project initiated in 1996 to phase out child labour in Pakistan’s renowned football stitching centre in that district may form the basis for rehabilitating child workers in Jalandhar’s sports goods industry. "Guru's
tenets can cure social ills" Panch
alleges torture by CBI Non-lifting
of paddy spells crisis for millers Punjab
procurement system to be extended Rotary
team chief selects himself Special
training to treat hospital waste NRIs
urged to set up industries Guru
Teg Bahadur's martyrdom day observed |
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1.19 lakh to vote today JALANDHAR, Nov 24 — The election for the Adampur seat, which has turned essentially into a battle royale between the ruling SAD-BJP combine and the Congress, will take place tomorrow. The 1.19 lakh-strong electorate in the constituency will choose from amongst four main candidates — Mr Dalbir Singh Dhirowal (SAD), Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lalli (Congress), Ms Vidwant Kaur (BSP) and Mr Anoop Singh Minhas (Akali Dal-A). The contest is primarily being seen as a trial of strength between the Chief Minister and SAD supremo, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Capt Amarinder Singh, president of the Punjab PCC. The byelection was necessitated by the death of Akali minister Saroop Singh. Neither the SAD nor the Congress left anything to chance during the intensive campaigning. Mr Badal was aided during electioneering by the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, his son, who is a Minister of State in the Union Government, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, his wife, Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal and his ministerial colleagues. Not to be left behind, Captain Amarinder Singh took the help of his wife, Ms Parneet Kaur, his son, state PCC office-bearers and Central party leaders, including Mr Rajesh Pilot, Mrs Meira Kumar and Mr Munish Tewari. All arrangements for the poll have been completed. The Administration is claiming that elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth polling. The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer said here today that elaborate arrangements for tomorrow's polling had been made. Of the 1,19,053 voters, 61,207 are males and 57,783 females. As many as 94 polling stations had been set up with 145 polling booths in the entire constituency. Each polling booth would be manned by three poll officers and one presiding officer. A total of 580 officials had been deputed for election duty tomorrow, with arrangements for reserve staff also being made. The polling will start from 7 a.m. tomorrow and finish at 5 p.m. The district administration has declared a public holiday tomorrow under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The SSP, Mr P.S. Gill,
said 4000 police personnel had been deployed in the
constituency with every polling station to be monitored
by a patrol party. A gazetted officer would monitor eight
polling stations each. |
Pak ISI "humiliated"
Hindu pilgrims ATTARI, Nov 24 — The 89 Hindu pilgrims, who returned to India here via Samjhauta Express visited holy temples in Pakistan including Katasraj under the shadow of the ISI. Not only did they receive a rough deal at hands of Pakistani officials, Ms Saroj Khosla, senior branch manager, Punjab and Sindh Bank at Chandigarh was duped by the Pakistani Customs officials, they stole foreign currency from her purse on the pretext of checking, Hindu pilgrims had gone to Pakistan on November 19 and returned to India yesterday evening. She contacted higher Pakistani officials for favour but in vain. With the result the train reached India three hours late. Apart from humiliation, they were not allowed to take photographs in Pakistan. So much so their repeated requests to pay obeisance at gurdwaras fell on deaf ears of Pakistani officials, said Mr Mathura Dass Arora, head of the Vikram Vishav Vidyalaya. Pilgrims were directed to hand over film rolls by Pakistani officials. Mr Mohinder Jain while told The Tribune that Pakistani officials looked Hindu pilgrims with suspicion. "We were virtually under house arrest" said Mr Jain while talking about their stay in Pakistan. He further alleged that transporters of Pakistan too charged extremely high fares for the buses. They had to pay Rs 24000 per day for the chartered buses. However, Dr D.D. Gautam, of Aggarwal college, Ballabhgarh had no complaint to make. He said that while the talks between both countries were going on for promoting mutual relations, one should not highlight such problems at this juncture. He said that ultimately, relations between both countries would be normalised as people from these countries love each other. Mr Raj Kumar Uppal of Phagwara., on the other hand, was so upset over the rude behaviour of Pakistani officials, said that he would not suggest anybody to visit the "hostile" country in future. He alleged that shopkeepers fleeced them. He added that when some of the Hindu pilgrims talked to the boys playing cricket and asked them whether they would gift the bat, they (boys) refused saying that they would be interrogated by Pakistani intelligence for that. Dr Jain of Bathinda said that behaviour of Pakistani officials was comparatively better with woman pilgrims. There was general complaint that the Customs officials of Pakistan gave bad treatment and their luggage was opened repeatedly. So much so cosmetic boxes and match boxes were checked by officials. Since the Samjhauta
Express reached here late by three hours, it could not go
back to Pakistan the same day. It left for Pakistan today
morning. |
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Eco recommendations under
wraps CHANDIGARH, Nov 24 — There is an overwhelming concern for ensuring sustainable agriculture. When a predominantly agricultural state like Punjab shows signs of fatigue, the concern is all the more. Take the concern expressed by 300 delegates, who had assembled here for an international conference on "ecological agriculture: towards sustainable agriculture." The host was the Indian Ecological Society and the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development. This conference was held from November 15 to 17,1997. One year has gone by. Yet there is no word as to what happened to all those recommendations encompassing the concern over land and water resources getting depleted; crop-environment interaction causing ecological imbalances; or for that matter on such key issues like "integrated" nutrient management or pest management; what to speak of policy and planning for sustainable agricultural and rural development. The proceedings of that conference, running into two volumes (1,399 pages) and the "Chandigarh eco-declaration" remain under wraps. In between Punjab has been flooded with several reports and analysis from as diverse sources and institutions as one wishes there were crop alternatives to wheat and paddy. Besides the Assocham's "strategic plan for the Indian agricultural sector", there is the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's "Decline in crop productivity in Haryana and Punjab: myth or reality"; Punjab Agricultural University's "Vision — 2020 a perspective plan"; the Confederation of Indian Industry's "An agenda for reforms in Indian agricultural sector"; and to top it all the proposal of New Delhi for a countrywide "agricultural plan". May it be the budget documents or political speeches or bureaucratic concern for agriculture the reference is to the need for increasing productivity to match the growing population. All these documents, prepared by government and non-government organisations and all tall-talk showing concern for farmers speak the same language, highlight the same issues and yet expect some other agency to implement. All this goes on in the name of the farmers, yet the producers remain in the quagmire of poverty and indebtedness. They have to make do with little or no civic amenities, educational and health facilities (including veterinary), poor hygiene, no sanitation, no potable drinking water, no effective sewerage system, electricity playing a truant, poor upkeep of rural link roads and poorer communication, all coupled with vagaries of weather, fleecing by middlemen in the mandis and unsolicited "cuts" on minimum support price for the produce. Thus left with no alternative , farmers continue to sulk and wallow in self-pity. With such a dismal agrarian scene comes the news of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Capt Amarinder Singh, setting up an "economic and planning cell". This is headed by a former IAS officer, Mr R.R.Bhardwaj. Some of the recently retired Punjab government officials have joined the cell. They include Dr G.S. Dhillon , Mr J.S. Negi, Mr P.S. Bajwa. Mr Bhardwaj says the cell is engaged in preparing a document with the perspective of "Punjab: 2000-2025". Some papers on common and well known themes have been procured by the cell for the proposed report. One really wonders how relevant all such concern is to Punjab where everything happens in the name of the farmers and yet in return nothing accrues to them to improve their standard of living, ensure them liquid cash, mitigate their suffering in the mandis or in the sugar mills. The talk of "crop insurance" has been in the air all these decades. It remains elusive. Agriculture is yet to be equated with industry. While so doing will it be spared the hassles of industry? One has also heard of export-oriented agriculture to give value-addition to the farmers' produce and also of promoting agro-industry. That is the end. The state has set up an agricultural export corporation. Given the quality of produce one wonders what is proposed to be exported and where to. The talk of basmati being exported is there, primarily, by private agencies. But the milling industry's technology is so obsolete that quality is poor. Purchase is so shoddy, impurities get bagged may it be in respect of paddy or wheat. With other states too coming up in increasing their production soon there will be no buyers of Punjab produce owing to "poor quality". Giving "free" electricity or exempting farmers from payment of water cess (abiana) is not the end of the woes of the farmers. Punjab agriculture, like industry, has its backbone made of "small" farmers. The new technology, therefore, has to be such which suits their requirements. All concern and sympathy for the farmers ends with committees, discussions and more meetings. After the state finance department took up the agricultural issues with the planning commission recently the news is some experts are being deputed to make on-the-spot assessment. Jointly the state and the experts will suggest ways and means to pull agriculture from the quagmire. Will there be higher level of investment? When will there be a policy on agriculture in a country which lives in villages? Agriculture in Punjab and adjoining region is today in a precarious condition. There are reports of either lowering of water-table or rising of water-table, leading to water logging and salinity. There is pollution of groundwater and contamination of food commodities due to over use of plant protection chemicals. Soil is getting poorer due to nutrient imbalance. The centrifugal pumps are giving trouble due to sub-soil water getting deeper. In the wake of the green revolution, there is an increase in type and number of insects, pests, diseases and weeds. Some of these remain uncontrolled. There is minimum support price for major crops, wheat-paddy etc. even though these have resulted in imbalances: ecological and environmental. There is no remunerative alternative. Since it is difficult to fix the minimum support price for fruits and vegetables, these being perishable commodities, as the Union Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, tells TNS, how without government intervention in price fixation, and an assured market will Punjab farmers switch over from wheat and paddy, which cover 3.2 million hectares and 2.2 million hectares, respectively? Commercial crops will have to be competitive profitwise. For decades there has been talk of "diversification" of agriculture. The entire system has become immune and resistant to such a diversification. With each passing day, agriculture is becoming uneconomical. Suicides is the beginning? Of what use are all the
reports and all this concern when there are no signs of
any new beginning being made in the interest of the
farmers and economy of the state? |
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Sialkot child labour scheme for Jalandhar JALANDHAR, Nov 24 (UNI) — The Sialkot project initiated in 1996 to phase out child labour in Pakistan’s renowned football stitching centre in that district may form the basis for rehabilitating child workers in Jalandhar’s sports goods industry. Mr David Husselbee of Save the Children (SCF), UK, an international NGO which is coordinating the project in Sialkot, is of the view that key elements of the project could be reproduced in Jalandhar for the benefit of about 10,000 working children. The sports goods industry of India has its roots in Sialkot. After partition, many of Sialkot’s skilled Hindu craftsmen migrated across the border into Punjab and settled in Jalandhar. Today, the city is India’s sports goods base producing a variety of goods for both national and international markets including inflatable balls, badminton racquets, shuttle cocks, cricket bats and balls, gloves, leg-guards, hockey sticks, carrom, chess boards and fishing equipment. Mr Husselbee, who is SCF’s Programme Director for the Sialkot project and based in Islamabad, was sharing the Sialkot experience with policy makers, activists and manufacturers of sporting goods at unique workshop here organised by the Sports Goods Foundation of India on "developing a programme to prevent and rehabilitate child labour in the sporting goods industry". The workshop follows the release in September of a study on "Child Labour in the Sports Goods Industry: Jalandhar". It is a case-study undertaken by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and jointly commissioned by ILO-IPEC and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Commissioned in the wake of an UK-based NGO’s Graphic account in May, 1997 of child exploitation in the sports industry in India, the study attempts a situational analysis of the problem for remedial action. The workshop hopes to sign a partnership agreement along the lines of that signed for the Sialkot project involving international implementing and monitoring agencies, government, local NGOs and the manufacturers for the prevention and rehabilitation of child labour in Jalandhar. The Sialkot partnership came into being when SCF visited the district with the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) to develop responses to the problem of child labour highlighted by international pressure groups. The project is running on two levels — a prevention and monitoring programme to check that children under 14 years are not working and a social protection programme to ensure that children leaving football stitching are not forced by economic need to engage in more harmful forms of work. According to Mr Husselbee, the key word for the success of such an endeavour is "partnership". For the Sialkot project, a partnership agreement was signed in Atlanta, in February 1997 outlining commitments from the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), ILO, SCF and UNICEF. "Of the 68 football manufacturers who produce top grade export footballs in Sialkot, 35 have joined the voluntary partnership and 58 international brands have signed a pledge confirming that they will only source footballs from manufacturers in the partnership", he said. Jalandhar could learn useful lessons from Sialkot. Manufacturers there had invested in large stitching centres to enable women to earn a living in place of their children. "But we found that women were reluctant to go to stitching centres due to a combination of reasons including cultural taboos and the need to remain close to home for child care and household chores", he said. "Future strategies including those in Jalandhar could focus on smaller, village-based stitching units near homes’’. The study puts the number of children working in the sports industry in Jalandhar at about 10,000. As many as 1350 full-time workers and the remaining part-time workers. With regard to football
stitching, it concludes that the phenomenon of child
labour here on a large scale has come about with the
emergence of home-based production and it would remain as
long as home-based production continued. The possibility
of a shift from home-based to factory-based production
needs to be examined by all concerned including the
manufacturers, government, NGOs, researchers, trade
unions and those involved at the level of policy
formulation, it recommends. |
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GND varsity function AMRITSAR, Nov 14 — Physical illness can be treated with proper diagnosis and medicines, but social ills can be cured only through the teachings of great spiritual personalities like Guru Nanak Dev, remarked Prof Allauddin Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, while presiding over the 29th foundation day function of Guru Nanak Dev University here today. Speaking on ‘Relevance of Guru Nanak Dev's bani in today's materialistic society’ Professor Ahmad said the Guru believed in a universal religion and preached universal brotherhood. The Guru tried to establish peace and harmony in society by advocating an appropriate relationship of man with his creator and with the other living and non-living creatures. Guru Nanak Dev spread the message of love for all and hate for none, Professor Ahmad added. Dr Mohinder Kaur Gill, Principal, Mata Sundari College, New Delhi, in her lecture on 'Role of Sikh women in the development of religious and moral education,' said that Sikh women, like Bibi Bhani, Bibi Amaro, Bibi Dani, Mata Sundari and Mata Mansa Devi, made commendable contributions to the propagation of moral and religious education Sikh women not only played a major role in the development of religious education and character building, as advocated by the Guru, they also established good moral values. Noted cardiologist and former professor at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr H.S. Wasir, speaking on 'Ancient wisdom for heart care', said modern medicine had given us powerful tools to treat heart diseases but at a tremendous cost. It provided only temporary relief and not a permanent cure. Traditional or ancient wisdom, specially contained in ancient texts on ayurveda, like Charaka Sahitya, dwelt on the preventive aspects of healthcare, including heart care. According to ancient wisdom, the 'food for heart' consisted of a balanced diet, regular physical exercises and peaceful mind. A disturbed mind could result in high blood pressure and irregularities in heart rhythm, Dr Wasir pointed out. Prof K.P. Aggarwal from Lucknow University spoke on 'Sikh philosophy and history'. Earlier Dr Inder Pal Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the guests. Dr H.S Soch, Vice-Chancellor, honoured all speakers by presenting them a set of university publications. Professor Allauddin Ahmad released a book, 'Naroya dil', written by Dr Wasir and published by Guru Nanak Dev University. Earlier, the celebrations
began with the Akhand Path bhog, shabad-kirtan and
opening of an exhibition by Dr Soch. |
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Panch alleges torture by CBI ABOHAR, Nov 24 — Mr Amar Dass Maan, member Dharampur village panchayat was allegedly tortured by a CBI team at the local camp office at a rest house on Monday. He was freed in the evening and got admitted in Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital by another resident of the same village. Mr Maan told reporters in the presence of Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, a former Punjab Minister and president of the District Congress Committee today that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had referred the case of alleged kidnapping of Mr Shankar Lal by some landlords in April 1997 with the help of the local police on a complaint filed by Mrs Santro Devi wife of Mr Shankar Lal, because the Punjab Police had not been able to trace him. The CBI was directed by Mr Justice RL Anand of High Court to complete investigation in a year. A team led by a DSP of the
CBI had arrived here. The team yesterday asked Mrs Santro
Devi and her supporter Mr Amar Dass Maan to accompany to
the camp office. Mrs Santro Devi was suffering from
fever. She was allowed to have treatment from a doctor,
police guards reportedly waited outside the clinic. When
Mr Amar Dass Maan visited the camp office he was
allegedly subjected to third degree treatment in the
presence of an accused. The Punjab Police was also
present there. Both Mrs Santro Devi and Mr Maan alleged
that the CBI official was forcing to reach a compromise
with the accused and wind up the case. Earlier the local
police had been allegedly adopting the same methods. They
said many villagers visited Mr Maan and reported the
matter to the Director CBI and the Punjab and Haryana
High Court. Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar conveyed his anguish
to higher officials. |
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Non-lifting of paddy spells
crisis for millers GURDASPUR, Nov 24 — Rice millers in this district are in for a financial crisis in view of the non-lifting of paddy by the FCI so far. According to official sources there are more than 100 shellers in this district, at present, where paddy stock worth Rs 200 crore had piled up. Paddy stock with the rice millers also amount to worth Rs 200 crore. According to a spokesman of the rice millers initially when they purchased paddy several exporters came to them and purchased rice in advance at a rate ranging between Rs 850 to Rs 900 per quintal against the government price of Rs 851 per quintal. The exporters realising that the FCI had no demand of paddy lying with the rice millers in this district they reduced the purchasing price to Rs 800 per quintal. To add fuel to the flames the exporters have started delaying payments against rice supplied to them taking full advantage of the situation. The sources said that the rice millers when forced by arhtias to make them the payment against paddy supply, the millers, as a short term solution, are selling the rice shelled out of new arrivals of paddy at a price dictated by rice exporters. But still rice millers are given only part of the payment at the time of rice supply to exporters which is too small to meet their needs. The spokesman said that the rice millers by this time have exhausted their personal investment, bank limits and sale proceeds of rice supplied to exporters and still owe more than rupees 200 crore to arhtias. They can overcome the financial crisis only if the FCI comes to their rescue and starts lifting rice stocks. The spokesman apprehended that the FCI could not lift the paddy stock with specifications prescribed by the government. He said that due to untimely rains the paddy got damaged and the percentage of discoloured and broken grains is much higher than the prescribed specification. He demanded relaxation in specifications and immediate intervention of Mr S.S.Barnala, Union Food Minister to direct the FCI to start lifting rice stocks of the rice millers. The spokesman said that the financial crisis being faced by the rice millers has affected the payment of paddy which arhtias owed them. The delay in payment is bound to hit the sowing of rabi crops and will ruin economy of the farmers. The district manager of
the Food Corporation of India was not available for
comments in this regard. |
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Punjab procurement system to be
extended CHANDIGARH, Nov 24 — The Union Government wanted to introduce Punjab-type foodgrain procurement system in all states. Talking to TNS, the Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, said the procurement system in Punjab was the best in the country and it would be made a model for other states as well. India was perhaps the only country in the world where government agencies procured a huge quantity of foodgrain. In Punjab, apart from the Food Corporation of India, state agencies like Punsup, Markfed, Punjab Food and Supply Department and private traders procured foodgrain. It made the system competitive and the burden of procurement was divided to a certain extent, the minister pointed out. When asked about import duty on the sugar, Mr Barnala stated that he was for increasing the import duty on sugar. He said he would again take up this issue with the Prime Minister or at the meeting of Chief Ministers scheduled to be held to consider the issue of prices of various commodities. The Union Food Minister had proposed to increase the duty on import of sugar to 40 per cent but its proposal was shot down by the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, saying that such a move would be inflationary and not advisable. Mr Barnala said the "unnecessary dumping" of sugar by importing stocks was not in the interest of domestic industry and sugarcane growers. Domestic industry would not be able to dispose of its sugar stocks in the local market and would be unable to pay farmers, if dumping from abroad was there. According to an estimate the sugar output this year would be around 154 lakh tonnes as against a domestic requirement of 135 lakh tonnes. Except Punjab, there is a bumper sugarcane crop in all other states, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, which is almost free from disease. India has been placed second in sugarcane yield, next only to Brazil. To make up for the shortfall in the production of edible oils, the Union Government was importing about 14 lakh tonnes of edible oils, Mr Barnala said. Adulteration of edible oils in Delhi and certain other parts created the problem for some time, he added. When asked about the rise
in prices, Mr Barnala said the government was able to
keep the prices of three essential items, rice, wheat and
sugar, under check. He said the Union Government
considered these commodities as essential ones. |
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Rotary team chief selects himself PATIALA, Nov 24 — Rotary International Foundation has declared rotary district 3090, consisting of 15 districts spread over Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, ineligible for participating in the group study exchange (GSE) programme for the 1998-99 Rotary year following "serious violations of the foundation's policies". District 3090 has been asked to discontinue all correspondence with regard to group study exchange (GSE with district 5770 (Oklahoma in the USA) and to make members conversant with rotary rules. This action has been taken following an inquiry into "several violations" committed during district 3090's GSE team's travel to district 4520 in Brazil. Rotary chairman Robert R Berth's communiqué said "I have noted that two team members — Mr Viswajeet Khanna (who is the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala) and Mrs Sukhwinder Kaur (an IRS officer also posted at Patiala) were husband and wife. GSE team member application forms include a statement that team members are not spouses of other persons on the team. The Rotary Foundation chief also noted that the 1997-98 GSE selection committee did not include either the former district governor nor the present district governor Jagmohan Khandelia, who was the governor nominate at that time as required. The Chairman also said it was difficult to understand how a GSE selection committee could without bias, select its own chairman Dr Naveen Saronwala to serve as the GSE team leader. Dr Saronwala was the then president of the Rotary Club (mid-town). He along with 1997-98 district governor PD Bansal had signed the applications of Mr and Mrs Viswajeet Khanna. Former Rotary Patiala Mid-town president Dr Saronwala when contacted said the deputy commissioner and his wife were earlier slated to travel in two different teams. However, when the visit of one team was advanced to February from March Mrs Sukhwinder Khanna expressed her inability to go on that trip. He said he was not aware of the rules disallowing spouses to travel together. Dr Saronwala also claimed that then district governor PD Bansal had gone to the USA when this decision was taken. Deputy Commissioner Viswajeet Khanna, when contacted, said he did not want to be dragged into a controversy and no wrong had been committed by him. He said when he and his wife had signed the application forms they were slated to travel in different groups. He also said he was not
aware of the clause regarding spouses. |
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Special training to treat hospital
waste ROPAR, Nov 24 — To improve the healthcare system in the state, the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) has recently taken up a special project for the proper management of hospital waste. This project will help in a big way in the improvement of health institutions and provide a better atmosphere to the public in hospitals by proper disposal of waste like infected cotton, bandages, needles, material and placenta, etc. For this state-level project, Ropar has been selected as a pilot district. All seven health institutions of the district under the PHSC — the Civil Hospitals here, at SAS Nagar, Kharar, Anandpur Sahib, Kurali, Chamkaur Sahib and Nurpur Bedi — will be covered by the pilot project. In the other districts of the state, however, only one hospital at each district headquarters would be covered by this special project. Talking to this correspondent here today, Dr B.K. Goyal, Deputy Medical Commissioner of the PHSC here, said that under the project, special training in handling hospital waste was already being imparted to the SMOs, MOs, paramedical staff, including nurses and pharmacists, Class IV employees and safai karamcharis. The training would be imparted to 19 batches. For SMOs, MOs and paramedical staff, the training course was of two days, while for Class IV employees and safai karamcharis it was for a day only. Since October 15, training in management of hospital waste has so far been imparted to about 65 MOs, 120 paramedical staff and 102 Class IV employees and safai karamcharis in this district by Dr D.K. Mahajan, who has trained in hospital waste management from All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The management of hospital waste consists of three stages — segregation, collection and disposal. Dr Goyal said about 1.5 kg to 2 kg waste per bed was produced in hospitals. Ten per cent of this was infectious and about 5 per cent to 10 per cent comprised sharp items and the rest was solid waste. The waste would be segregated as infectious in red dustbins, sharp-edged in yellow dustbins and general waste in black dustbins in the hospitals. Infectious waste would be
disposed of separately by burning. Sharp-edged waste like
needles and scalpels would be disposed of in a pit
especially prepared for the purpose and solid waste would
be discarded by simple burning or earth filling. |
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NRIs urged to set up industries GURDASPUR, Nov 24 — B.K. Srivastav, Chairman, NRI Sabha, Punjab here today urged the NRIs of the district to start hi-tech industries in the district. Mr Jasminder Singh Saini, owner of a $ 300 million empire in the USA who was accompanying him assured his cooperation in this regard. Mr Srivastav, who is also Commissioner of Jalandhar division, said a special code for NRIs would be set up so in every district to expedite decisions regarding NRIs' cases. Mr Srivastav said once Punjabi NRIs are integrated and pool their resources for the uplift of Punjab, Mr Badal’s dream to convert Punjab into California would be realised. Mr Srivastav said the sabha had an NRI investment cell where NRI entrepreneurs are guided regarding the possibility of industries which could be set up and run on profit. Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy
Commissioner, said Assistant Commissioner (General) had
been deputed to dispose of complaints of NRIs on a
priority basis. He also announced production of NRIs'
directory. |
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Guru Teg Bahadur's martyrdom
day observed PATIALA, Nov 24 — Thousands of devotees today visited Dukhniwaran Sahib Gurdwara and the Bahadurgarh Gurdwara on the occasion of martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur. Devotees took a dip in holy "sarovars" Bhogs of Akhand path were also held at a large number of other gurdwaras in the city and its vicinity. Community kitchens were organised on the occasion. AMRITSAR: A religious procession was taken out here today to mark martyrdom day of 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur. "Sangat" paid obeisance at the holy Sikh shrines. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee made elaborate arrangements on the occasion. The Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a blood donation camp at Prem Ashram Senior Secondary School here on the eve of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur martyrdom day on Monday. As many as 35 persons donated blood. Mr Narinderjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest. PHAGWARA: The
martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur was observed here on
Tuesday with solemnity. A big congregation was held in
the local gurdwaras. A "langar" was also
organised on the occasion. |
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Kharar, Banur exempted from
Periphery Act CHANDIGARH, Nov 24 — The Punjab Urban Development Authority in a letter written to the Sub-Registrar has stated that the areas falling within the municipal limits of Dera Bassi, Kharar and Banur have been exempted from the Periphery Act. In the light of this there
is no restriction on registering sale deeds with regard
to these areas. |
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Dang's charge against Majitha
police AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — Veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang has alleged that the Majitha police had registered false cases against the husband, father-in-law and supporters of a lady sarpanch of Nizampura village at the behest of ruling party leaders with the connivance of the then SHO. In a communication sent to the Chief Minister and the Director-General of Police, Mr Dang alleged that the cases were registered with a view "to settle scores" with the sarpanch who had won the panchayat election by defeating the ruling party candidate. The then SHO had also played an active part to book relatives and supporters of the sarpanch as they had lodged some complaints against the SHO, he said. Mr Dang urged the Chief
Minister and the DGP to order a high-level probe into the
whole matter. |
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Demand for pension adalats PATIALA, Nov 24 — The Punjab Pensioners Welfare Association has demanded setting up of pension adalats at all district headquarters for speedy disposal of pension cases. The demand was made in a memorandum submitted to the Accountant-General, Punjab. According to a statement issued here yesterday by Mr H.S. Sodhi, president of the association, the pensioners were facing difficulties for the past many months due to piling up of a large number of pension cases that were awaiting clearance. The association also demanded clearance of a case within two months and issuance of a prior notice of at least 10 days to the intended pensioners. It urged the government to
ensure that all the pensioners are given pension at the
rate of 22 per cent DA and all arrears are cleared
forthwith, including difference of LTC to put all
pensioners at par with those who retired on or after
January 1, 1996 on the central pattern. It also demanded
increase in medical allowance from Rs 250 per month to Rs
500 and grant of LTC for both husband and wife. |
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53 employees found absent from duty KAPURTHALA, Nov 24 (PTI) — Forty eight employees and five officers were found absent from duty in a surprise check by the district authorities here on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Usha R. Sharma told mediapersons here today that four teams were directed to conduct surprise checks following complaints against officers and employees that were not available to people. He said that four teams conducted raids at 10 district offices and found 48 employees and five district officers absent from duty. The raid was conducted at 9.30 am. The officers who were found absent include PSEB X-En Ravi Kamboj, District Welfare Officer Akhwinder Singh, X-En Provincial Division S.S. Thind, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Bhupinder Singh and BDPO Baljit Singh. She said the district
administration had sent a report of officers and
employees not on duty to the concerned secretaries for
taking disciplinary action. |
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2
held
in granthi murder case FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 24 — The district police has arrested two persons suspected to have killed a granthi of Gurdwara Chhathi Patsahi here on October 22. Addressing media persons here today, Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal, SSP, said on the night of November 20, a joint patrol party of CIA staff, Sirhind and Fatehgarh Sahib led by Gurkirpal Singh, SP (D), detained two persons Hari Ram and Poojari from Rohtak and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, near Dashnami Akhara, Sirhind city. On interrogation they admitted to having hit the granthi with a rod and a sharp-edged weapon for taking away the 'golak'. The SSP said a case under
Section 460 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Freedom fighter dead AMRITSAR, Nov 24 — A state Congress leader protested against denial of state funeral to the former Congress Minister, freedom fighter and Gandhian Mr Faqir Chand Sharma, (80) who died this morning. The general secretary of the Punjab Pardesh Congress, Dr Raj Kumar, said here today the police contingent to sound the last post arrived after the pyre was in lit the evening at Shivpuri cremation grounds and resented the "disrespect" shown to their senior leader and former minister. Mr Sharma was a minister in the cabinet of the Chief Minister Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. He was elected MLA from Amritsar north Assembly constituency in 1992 and lost the election in the last Punjab Assembly poll to Dr Baldev Chawla of the BJP. Punjab Congress president
Captain Amarinder Singh mourned the death of Mr Sharma
who he said never compromised on principles. Social,
political and business leaders also mourned the death of
Mr Sharma. |
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Consumers to pay cess in Ludhiana LUDHIANA, Nov 24 — Traders and petrol station owners here continue to charge 1 per cent infrastructure cess from the consumers even though the Punjab Government stayed its operation last week. Mr Harish Khanna, convener Punjab Janata Dal, today produced two receipts from local petrol stations charging one per cent cess from the consumers. He said while the Chief Minister had stayed the operation of the cess, the Excise and Taxation Department had issued no such instructions to the traders and petrol dealers with the result that the consumers were paying it through their nose. He was of the view that
the cess would ultimately be pocketed by the traders and
dealers. He wanted the government to take immediate steps
to check the malpractice. |
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