AMRITSAR
Cleanliness drive: "The local administration should declare the current fortnight as a "cleanliness fortnight" as part of the tercentenary celebrations." This was stated by the Citizens Forum in a press note here on Saturday.

FEROZEPORE
Convocation: The annual convocation of Dev Samaj College of Education for Women was held here on Sunday. Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dean, Panjab University's College Development Council, presided. About 343 students were presented M.Ed and B.Ed degrees.

HOSHIARPUR
Competition: A shabad recitation competition for the mentally retarded children of Thakurdass Asha Kiran, school for mentally retarded, was organised on Saturday on the school premises in connection with the tercentenary of the Khalsa.

Schemes: Non-resident Indians of the district have started various schemes for the development and uplift of the poor. This was stated by Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, here on Sunday. He also gave the details of various schemes.

Clarification: Mr Naresh Thakur, Organising Secretary of the PPCC, in a press note issued here on Saturday, said Mr Madan Lal Gandhi, ex-Municipal Councillor, was still the president of the backward classes cell of the District Congress Committee as per the record of the party.

LUDHIANA
Labour laws: The youth wing of the Indian National Council of Young Workers has appealed to the Labour Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, to strictly implement labour laws and Acts at all factories of the state where more than 20 workers are employed. In a press note issued here, Mr K.R Tripathi, president of the union, alleged that government departments had also not taken any initiative in this regard.

PATIALA
Parshuram Jayanti: The district unit of the Brahmin Sabha will celebrate Parshuram Jayanti here on April 18 at Kali Mata Mandir. Mr S.C. Vashisht, president of the sabha, in a statement here on Saturday said sewing machines would be distributed among widows and school uniforms, copies and books would be given to poor students.

Union: The following have been elected office-bearers of the PSEB Stenographers Union (central body) here: President — Mr Angrej Singh Lang; Senior Vice-President — Mr M.P. Jain; Vice-President — Mr Gurmeet Singh; General Secretary — Mr Sham Lal; and Finance Secretary — Mr Tarsem Chand Sharma.

Free medical service: The state branch of the Homoeopathic Medical Association of India has started 24-hour free medical services at Anandpur Sahib from April 8 to 15 during the tercentenary celebrations. This was stated by Dr P.S Sondhi, general Secretary of the association, here on Saturday.

Lecture: The Dedicated Brothers Group organised a lecture on "Career Guidance and Youth" here recently. Ms Kamla A.D. Singh, Director, Career Consultancy, presided.

PANCHKULA
Brahmin sabha: A three-day function will be organised by local unit of the Jagrit Brahmin Sabha to celebrate the Purshuram Jayanti on Friday in Sector 12-A here. The local MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, will inaugurate the opening day function. Mr Lachman Singh and Mr Vinod Sharma, both Members of Parliament, will participate on Saturday. The State Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma and Chairman of HAFED, Mr Narinder Sharma, will take part in the concluding day function.

Painting competition: An on-the- spot painting competition is being organised by the Central Ground Water Board, North Western Region, at Town Park in Sector 5 here on Monday. The Regional Director of the Board, Mr M. Mehta, said the children had been divided into three categories, up to Class III ; from Class IV to VI; and from Class VII to X.

Elected: Mr Varinder Mohan and Mr Rajinder Singh have been elected President and General Secretary, respectively, of the local Saini Sabha. They had been authorised to elect other office-bearers of the sabha, said a spokesman of the sabha here on Sunday.

Jhuggis burnt: Seven jhuggis were reduced to ashes at Murra Basti in the cantonment on Friday. Fire engines from the IOC and the Municipal Committee fought the flames. The cause of the fire was not known.

PANIPAT
Sanitation: Mr Dharam Pal Gupta, district president of the Indian National Lok Dal, has threatened to stage a dharna if steps were not taken to improve sanitation in various colonies within a fortnight. They would also hold a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Mr Gupta alleged that due to this people were falling victims to various diseases like jaundice.

SIRSA
Illicit liquor: Chhaju Singh of Chakarian village and Surjeet Singh of Kanganpur village have been arrested by the police under the NDPS Act. According to police sources, 60 bottles of illicit liquor were seized from them.

Booked: Kuldeep Singh of the local Grewal basti has been booked under sections 279 and 304-A, IPC, for careless driving. According to police sources, Mr Sikander Singh of Chirgeevipur of Bihar alleged that Kuldeep had hit Anil Mahto, who later died. The accused has absconded.

Meeting: A meeting of senior officers of the district for controlling road accidents was held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Avtar Singh. The Deputy Commissioner instructed the PWD, B&R Department to take appropriate measures in this regard.

Suicide: Anil Kumar (35) who was living near Bang Gate, allegedly committed suicide on Saturday. According to a report received on Sunday, he left a suicide note saying that he was taking this step because he had been ailing for some time.

SONEPAT
Arrested: The Sadar police has arrested five persons on a charge of forgery and recovered a truck loaded with 18 tonnes of rice, worth several lakhs of rupees, from them. These arrests were made following a report lodged with the police by Mr Satpal of Tughlaqabad (Delhi).

Forest fire: A massive fire has been raging at the Bandla hills on the eastern side of Bilaspur town since Friday in which precious forest cover has been destroyed. The fire is spread over an area of 4 km.

Electoral rolls: The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, Mr Ramesh Kapil, has said voters lists for all four assembly constituencies, comprising Bilaspur Sadar, Kotkehloor, Ghumarwin and Gehadwin (reserved), will be available for inspection at all polling stations and offices concerned here from April 20. Any objection regarding the addition and deletion of names will be accepted till May 20.

Loans: Farmers in the state have been given loans worth Rs 79 crore through cooperative societies during the previous financial year. The Potato Growers Cooperative Society of Lahaul-Spiti has been provided with a loan of Rs 1 crore. This was stated by Mr Rikhi Ram Kandal, Minister of Cooperatives, here on Saturday.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Pashupalan Vibhag Karamchari Sangh here: President — Mr Jagatram Sharma; Vice-Presidents — Mr Kamaldeep Sharma and Mr Ramesh Kumar Verma; General Secretary — Mr Jagat Singh Chandel; and Joint Secretary — Mr Dinanath.

Chain fast: The Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Chowkidar Union continued its 24-hour chain fast in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner for the 10th day here on Sunday. Addressing the rally, the district President of the union, Mr Deshraj, said their agitation would continue till the demands were accepted.

CHAMBA
"Vidya upasaks": Mr Dharam Singh Pathania, chairman of the Salooni Development Block Samiti, has urged the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to appoint "vidya upasaks" and teachers in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district where a number of posts are lying vacant.

SOLAN
Survey sought: The District Congress Committee (DCC) has sought immediate survey for determining the extent of loss suffered by farmers on account of the prolonged dry spell. The DCC President, Mr Lajja Ram, while addressing a press conference here on Friday, said the current drought had taken a heavy toll of both agricultural crops and horticultural plants in the district.