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| Monday, May 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Punjab to gain from devolution of taxes Sikh radicals put pressure on Badal Sikh clergy’s plan on social reforms Amarinder predicts mid-term poll No ban likely on smoking in jails
Youth Akali Dal to reactivate itself
Dairy farming no longer rewarding Children set to fight drug menace
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Material shortage
may delay ‘tatkal scheme’ MC starts 3 tubewells
to augment water supply Ayurveda
doctors list their grievances Census duty clashes with transfer Contractors assail
liquor policy SPs, DSPs to assist in traffic regulation
Police officials to
be awarded
GND
University test schedule
Tandon favours PSUs privatisation Fix storage loss norms: FCI union Recommendations of farm panel rejected Notify commission, demand arhtias
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Punjab to gain from devolution of taxes CHANDIGARH, May 20 — Punjab will log good financial gain from the devolution of 29 per cent of the Central gross proceeds now available to the states. This has become possible following approval of the Constitution (89th amendment) Bill, 2000, by Parliament. As a consequence of the implementation of the “Alternative Scheme of Devolution” (on the basis of sharing 26 per cent of the gross proceeds of the Central taxes and another 3 per cent to compensate the states for additional excise duties in lieu of sales tax on sugar, textiles and tobacco) as suggested by the Tenth Finance Commission , Punjab’s share in the total of Rs 226.64 crore comes to Rs 3,590 crore. Since the scheme is “operative” with effect from April 1, 1996, Punjab gets Rs 250 crore as “arrears” for a four-year period from April 1, 1996, to March 31, 2000. According to the Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, due to the Constitutional amendment and increase in the share of devolution of Central proceeds (26 to 29 per cent) Punjab will expectedly get Rs 1,400 crore by 2004-05 against Rs 700 crore for the current year. In fact, as a result of the “interim report” of the Eleventh Finance Commission, Punjab is likely to get Rs 150 crore per annum for the current year. “All this money will be available to the state’s Consolidated Fund. The additional augmentation of which will supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities” , he added. Mr Lakahnpal recalled that Punjab had presented a very forceful case during the visit of the Eleventh Finance Commission to the state in 1999. In fact, its terms of reference are much broader than the earlier one. Punjab demanded 50 per cent share in the central proceeds for a period of five years (2000-05) covered under the award of the Eleventh Finance Commission with states being paid “arrears” from 1996-97 onwards. “Our recommendation to the Eleventh Commission was simple: the percentage share of states in the gross receipts of the central taxes be fixed at 29 per cent for 1996-97 and 1997-98; 33.33 for 1998-99 and 1999 - 2000,” said Mr Lakahnpal. Punjab does benefit from the Eleventh Finance Commission, which is expected to submit its “final report “ by end of June. There is “marginal relief”. He was hopeful that final recommendations of the Commission will keep in view the difficult financial situation of the states. Mr Lakhanpal disclosed that a meeting of all state Finance Ministers and Finance Secretaries is scheduled with the Commission in New Delhi on May 22 (Monday) to discuss an additional reference the Centre has made to the Commission. That reference seeks recommendation from the Commission on drawing up of a “monitorable” fiscal reform programme for all states and also recommendation on grants-in-aid for meeting the assessed non-plan revenue deficit”. Punjab favours financial help based on” fiscal performance” by the states which have very little flexibility and maneuverability in financial matters now. If Punjab has, somewhat, gained financially, it is not because of change in the formula of devolution of central revenue but due to increase in revenue of central taxes. Punjab expects progressive increase in the share having regard to responsibilities which the Constitution entrusts the states regarding health, agriculture etc. In its memorandum to the Commission Punjab had demanded change in the grant and loan ratio from 30:70 at present to 60:40; erasing distinction between non-plan and plan expenditure; and share of each state from the divisible pool to be determined on the following basis : 70 per cent on population basis (1971 census), 20 per cent on the size of the gross state domestic product and 10 per cent on the basis of fiscal discipline. Besides several other suggestions, Punjab has desired that grants-in-aid (under Article 275) should be given to individual states facing “special problems” of national concern and importance to meet their special burden. After identifying such problems Punjab demanded Rs 4,420
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Sikh radicals put pressure on Badal AMRITSAR, May 21 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, is under tremendous pressure to call a meeting of representatives of all Sikh organisations to evolve a consensus over the distinct separate identity of the Sikhs ever since the Sikh conclave at Akal Takht on May 14 had directed him to present a case of the Sikh “qaum” to the Constitutional Review Committee. The Sikh conclave had directed SAD to ensure that the Sikhs should be incorporated as separate, unique identity while making amendment in the Constitution. The decision of the Sikh conclave made the radicals glee as they never expected that Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of Akal Takht, would go a step forward on this issue by directing SAD to ensure that separate identity of the Sikhs is incorporated in the Constitution. The Akal Takht Jathedar was under “tremendous pressure” from various quarters, especially from the ruling SAD, not to take this drastic step due to its political alliance with the BJP. A former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, while talking to the Press here had also stated that Giani Joginder Singh had told him that he was under pressure so far as the RSS issue was concerned. Mr Badal also had a closed-door meeting with Akal Takht Jathedar and had reportedly asked him to go slow on this issue for obvious reasons. However, the “studied silence” of Mr Badal on the RSS issue has given enough ammunition to the radicals to attack him. Even after one week of the directions of the Sikh conclave for constituting a committee of legal experts to prepare a case of “separate Sikh identity”, SAD has done nothing in this regard. With the result, the Sikh radicals who had been keeping a low profile ever since the severe reverses they had suffered during the past decade, would stage a comeback in the Sikh politics. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) while talking to TNS has asked Mr Badal to immediately summon a meeting of the representatives of various Sikh bodies and rival Akali factions so that the case of Sikhs could be prepared as per the directions of the Sikh clergy. He said all the five Sikh high priests were present at Akal Takht when the direction to SAD was given for getting the Sikh agenda prepared. Mr Kanwarpal Singh, spokesman for the Dal Khalsa, has also asked Mr Badal to clarify his stand on the RSS issue. Unlike the aggressive posture adopted by radicals, Mr Badal has not openly criticised the activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat for its blasphemous acts. With the result, the Sikh radicals have taken this issue to the Sikh masses which would discredit the ruling party in the long run. It may be mentioned here that Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, a Congress member of Parliament, has earned the distinction of being the “voice of Punjab” as he had been raising the issues relating to Punjab and Sikhs openly on the floor of Parliament which the Akali MPs failed to do so. In the given circumstances, the Congress and radicals stand benefited due to soft-peddling on the RSS issue by the ruling Akali Dal. What could be disturbing for the ruling SAD is that the senior Akali leader like Mr Surjit Singh Barnala openly criticised the RSS activities. The detractors of Mr Badal within SAD could also exploit the issue. The Sikh circles feel that Mr Badal could not afford to ignore the directives of the Sikh conclave for preparing an agenda for the Sikh identity as it was not a simple resolution passed by any ordinary organisation but it was clear direction through a “gurmata” (agreed decision of a Sikh conclave) which could not be ignored. On the one hand if Mr Badal comes up to the aspirations of the Sikh clergy, he would stand to gain among the Sikh masses. To satisfy the Sikh masses on the issue of separate Sikh identity by the ruling SAD would be the need of the hour. On the other though the leadership of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) had criticised the RSS activities yet it has failed to launch a mass movement on this sensitive issue. The ‘mid-way’ approach by the SHSAD, the Sikh circles feel, is due to the tug-of-war on the floor of the Assembly between the rival Akali factions. The SHSAD leadership feel that a section of the BJP could support its “oust Badal” move in the long run. However, the situation seems to have reached a point of no return. The radicals are determined to encash the issue of the RSS in every possible manner. Though the RSS has virtually withdrawn itself from the rural areas of Punjab yet the radicals feel that they would take the issue to the logical conclusion. Of course, this is the heaven-sent opportunity for them to re-establish themselves among the Sikh masses by raising the issue of distinct Sikh identity which had taken a back-seat after the return of normalcy in the state. |
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Sikh clergy’s plan on social reforms FEROZEPORE, May 21 — To bring social reforms in Punjab, a section of Sikh clergy is seriously contemplating to use religion as a force to rid society of various ills. Since every Sikh Guru had a social objective to work for, a section of clergy is aiming at using their birth anniversaries to launch various reformatory drives. Literacy, women’s rights, drug abuse and environmentalism are some of the areas where the clergy aims to bring
radical changes. This section of the clergy is worried at the social ills creeping into the most progressive Sikh society and finds for itself a role to bring reforms than confining to the convention of organising prayers and community kitchens. Already, a proposal for launching a state-wide literacy campaign on the birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev has been chalked out. As Guru Angad Dev had tailored the Gurmukhi script and was considered an authority in traditional accountancy, there is a proposal for launching a literacy drive from his birth place in Khadoor Sahib. Significantly, Prof Manjit Singh had earlier revived a garden at the treatment centre run by Guru Har Rai in Kiratpur Sahib to encourage plantation of herbal trees. Besides, he is instrumental in offering saplings as “prasad” to the devotees at Anandpur Sahib to bring one third of Punjab under the green cover. He quotes Guru Nanak Dev and cites Guru Har Rai’s philosophy to prove that the Sikh Gurus were environmentalists. Prof Manjit Singh revealed that a drive to clean up Punjab rivers on days coinciding with the birth anniversary of these Gurus is also on the anvil. Likewise, the birth anniversary of Guru Amar Dass, a votary of remarriage of widows and opponent of female infanticides, can be used as an occasion to promote women’s rights among the Sikhs. Drug abuse is another area where Guru Gobind Singh’s ideology can be used to desist Sikhs from falling prey to the menace. Besides, growing casteism can also be checked by propagating the philosophy behind “langar” and baptism. |
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Amarinder predicts mid-term poll JALANDHAR, May 21 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, today predicted that the mid-term poll was imminent as the people of the state were fed up with the style of functioning of the ruling SAD-BJP combine. Addressing a gathering during a state-level function organised by the Punjab Youth Congress to commemorate the ninth death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here today He said it was nothing but a pure misconception if the ruling combine was thinking that it would complete its full term. “Don’t think that they are going to complete their term as people have turned against them due to corruption, absence of development and increasing unemployment in the state and the government is about to fall under its own weight. You can imagine the state of affairs from the predicament of a poor young boy who approached me the other day in Amritsar and sought my help as he could not afford to give a bribe for becoming a DSP,” said Capt Amarinder Singh. The PPCC president said the biggest problem of the state was high unemployment. “Nearly 2.40 lakh youngsters are attaining the age of 16 every year and there are just 40000 jobs available against this number. Can the government tell the people what it is doing to contain the problem,” said Capt Amarinder Singh while urging the youth to strengthen the Congress for a longer lasting solution to their problems. Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, a former PPCC President, said he had full faith in Capt Amarinder Singh and the reports appearing in newspapers that the party was a divided house were wrong. He urged youth to emulate Rajiv Gandhi and his vision of a prosperous India. Mr Balbir Singh, MP, said lack of discipline has weakened the party over the years and efforts were needed to set it right. Referring his statements in this regard, Mr Balbir Singh said he had no remorse to have called a spade a spade. “If some deficiency is there I would like to point it out without caring whom it was hitting and where,” he said. He said it was unfortunate that some forces within the party were trying to weaken Capt Amarinder Singh which was nothing but a suicidal act. Paying tributes to Rajiv Gandhi, Mr Avtar Henry, Vice-President of the PPCC, said it was he who had ushered in an era of technological advancement in the country. Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, President of the state unit of the PYC, said the PYC was organising blood donation camps in different parts of state in memory of the late party leader. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Mr Manoj Arora, Vice-President, YC, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, a former minister, and Mr Jagjit Singh Chaudhary, a CLP leader. LUDHIANA:
The death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi was observed here under the leadership of Mr Pawan Dewan, President, District Youth Congress (Urban). The leaders adopted 11 point programme which included to strive for a drug-free society, to launch an anti-dowry campaign, to inculcate the spirit of universal brotherhood into youth and to promote sports and cultural activities among the youth. BATHINDA: Hundreds of Congress workers took pledge to fight against social unjustice, illiteracy and poverty for building a strong nation on the
occasion of the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. In a press note issued here, Mr Yashpal Bansal, general secretary, city Congress committee, said that the peace prayers were performed for the
goodwill of the humanity. SHIMLA: Rich tributes were paid to Rajiv Gandhi here today. The pradesh Congress committee organised a meeting at the Congress Bhawan at which Mrs Vidya Stokes, a former Speaker, Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mr Harbhajan Singh, both General Secretaries of the party, Mr Kush Parmar, MLA, Mrs Jenny Prem, Mayor of the local Municipal Corporation, lauded the services rendered by Rajiv Gandhi to the nation. A blood donation camp was also organised. Mrs Vidya Stokes administered the pledge of national integration to the gathering. Floral tributes were paid on behalf of Mr Sat Mahajan, PCC chief, and Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislative Party. The Mahila Congress organised a seminar on “Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of modern India” at which issues like 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state Vidhan Sabha and empowerment of women were discussed. |
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No ban likely on smoking in jails CHANDIGARH, May 21 (UNI) — Non-smoking prisoners’ rights may go up in smoke in Punjab where the Punjab State Human Rights Commission is fighting a losing battle with the state government on their behalf. In reply to a notice of the commission that pointed to their being exposed to the dangers of passive smoking, the state IG Prison stated that smoking could not be banned in jails as such a step could lead to increase in smuggling of cigarettes and “beedis”. Moreover, para 771 of the Punjab Jail Manual holds right of smoking to condemned prisoners with specified clauses of instructions, IG Prison K.L. Sharma stated in a reply submitted to the PSHRC on May 5. In fact, this particular para states that prisoners who smoke should be given cigarettes daily at government expense. The PSHRC had sought a report from the
IG Prison following complaints by prisoners of the Patiala jail that there was free supply of intoxicants in the jail with the involvement of the jail staff. Ten to 15 per cent of the prisoners were addicted to smoking and drugs. The matter still hangs fire though it is more than a year since the complaint was lodged by Kuldip Singh and two other prisoners. The PSHRC has held seven sittings and the IG, Prisons, has given several clarifications. The next date of hearing is May 22. IG Prison K.L. Sharma ruled out any possibility of amending the jail manual to facilitate non-smoking prisoners. Though there was no provision in the manual for supply of cigarettes to the inmates other than condemned prisoners, he said it was not practical to bar them from smoking. “We have conducted a survey in several jails of Punjab and found that the banning of smoking would create serious problems in handling prisoners addicted to cigarettes and beedis’’, he added. PSHRC member Mr Justice J.S. Sekhon (retd.) said the commission had already recommended a ban on cigarettes and “beedis” at public places, including jails, but the prison authorities shot down the proposal by filing unconvincing excuses. Even though there was no provision in the jail manual for providing cigarettes and beedis to undertrials and inmates other than condemned prisoners, “they still continue to get cigarettes from jail canteens and even from outside,” he said. “Instead of taking initiatives like de-addiction campaigns, certain jail officials are involved in supplying tobacco and other drugs inside jail premises,” Mr Justice Sekhon said. The PSHRC had also sought reports from Superintendents of all jails in Punjab to report their prison conditions like ventilation and cleanliness in cells and open spaces in the premises. So far, Superintendents of Ludhiana, Ferozepore, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Sangrur, Patiala, Ropar, Moga and Patti jails have sent reports to the commission regarding the smoking scenario and cleanliness. |
Youth Akali Dal to reactivate itself LUDHIANA, May 21 — After a rather extended political hibernation, the Youth Akali Dal, headed by a former MP, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, has decided to reactivate itself and renew its contacts at the grass roots level with the youth in the countryside. Its parent body, the Shiromani Akali Dal, has traditionally drawn its strength from the villages. The Youth Akali Dal has functioned as an important tributary of the party’s mainstream. However, it began lurching from one crisis to an other soon after the SAD came to power in February, 1997, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Although, Mr Aliwal managed to have himself elected to the Lok Sabha from the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, the Youth Akali Dal was mired in an unseemly controversy over the leadership issue with a section of the party campaigning relentlessly for the replacement of Mr Aliwal with someone more effective like Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, then a member of the Union Council of Ministers. A senior party leader, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, was said to be behind the move. However, the controversy was settled finally following intervention by the Chief Minister. But soon afterwards, Mr Aliwal lost the election to the Lok Sabha from the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency held in September last year. This demoralised the party cadres and the Youth Akali Dal went into a political limbo. But with the next state assembly elections less than two years away, the dal has now finally decided to get its act together. It has appointed Mr Agyapal Singh as its secretary-general and also put him in charge of setting up party units in foreign countries. Mr Darshan Singh, a popular municipal councillor, has been put in charge of the Dalit wing. The party has also chosen to focus on the issue of providing more powers to panchayats in the light of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Indian Constitution. It is of the view that by doing the SAD can broaden its base among the masses by giving more powers to the panchayats. A beginning can be made by authorising panchayats to issue birth certificates and authorised the sarpanches and panches to draw the grants. These are not yet deposited in the accounts of the panchayats. All panches and sarpanches should be issued identity cards so that they can visit government offices whenever necessary. All government and semi-government institutions in the villages should be put under the supervision of the panchayats. These may include schools, veterinary hospitals, dispensaries, water works and services like banking, telephones etc. The party has chalked out an elaborate programme of holding a series of seminars on the role of local bodies in a democracy. The first such seminar was held on April 11 at Jalandhar. The second was held today at Amritsar. Three more seminars on the subject would be held as follows : Patiala — June 16, Bathinda — July 14 and Ludhiana — November 14. The one to be held at Ludhiana, a mahapanchayat sammelan, is expected to be representatives from almost all the 12,000 odd panchayats in Punjab.  |
Dairy farming no longer rewarding LUDHIANA, May 21 —With imported milk powder and butter oil hitting markets in the state now becoming a reality, worry is writ large on the faces of the dairy farmers of Punjab. Milk vendors and dairy farmers in the state have began to feel the heat because of the import of milk powder and butter oil from Scandinavian countries. As a result the prices of milk have been slashed during the lean season (summer months), which otherwise witnesses milk shortage and consequent rise in prices. Let alone the private milk vendors, even Verka, which controls 37 per cent of the branded milk market, has reduced prices, both for the consumers and producers. In Ludhiana where maximum milk is produced by the cooperatives in the state (2.40 lakh litres per day during the lean season), the prices of milk have been reduced by Rs 1 per litre. While the standard milk will now be available to the consumers at Rs 14 per litre (earlier the price was Rs 15 per litre), the price of double tonned milk is down to Rs 10 per litre from Rs 11 per litre. It is also learnt that Verka has also cut down rates offered to the diary farmer from Rs 1.65 per litre fat content to Rs 1.60 per litre fat content. The prices of ghee, too, have been reduced by Verka. During a visit to several villages in the district, farmers said they were now forced to rethink on continuing with dairy farming as it was no longer a remunerative occupation. Rajinder Kaur, who supplies six litres of milk daily to the Latala Women Milk Producers Society during the lean season and 12 litres daily during the peak season, said: “The cost of inputs in dairy farming has increased considerably. Labour charges, prices of green fodder and cattlefeed have all been hiked. On an average, I am spending Rs 500 as inputs on the three buffaloes that I own. But I am making only Rs 462 per week through the sale (at the rate of approximately Rs 11 per litre being paid by Verka)”. Incidentally, the Latala Women Milk Producers Society is the highest profit making dairy cooperative in the district. During the past 20 years since its inception, the society has managed to build savings account of Rs 10 lakh. It has two automatic milk collection centres and milk procurement from the village is also the highest at 3450 litres per day during the peak season and 23 quintals per day during the lean season. Jasbir Singh, a dairy farmer and the secretary of the Latala Women Milk Producers Society said: “This time milk procurement has increased, but with the coming of imported milk at lower prices in the cities, the consumption of our milk will decrease sharply. So there is no other option but to lower our prices to ensure sale, which in turn is economically unviable. His views were corroborated by Mr Darshan Singh, a dairy farmer of Nangal Kalan village. “Most dairy farmers are now discussing how to dela with the threat posed by imported milk. During summer, the rate of milk generally increases. But this time it has been decreased by the government, which is being viewed as a distress sign.” He said when agriculture became stagnant, farmers diversified into dairy farming due to the government’s policies and programmes and efficient marketing. Now dairy farming, too, becoming unviable, the farmers are worried. At Jhande village, Bibi Ranjit Kaur, chairman of the Jhande Milk Producers Cooperative Society, also expressed concern at the likely glut of milk and milk products in the market, with their products less likely to be sold because of the lesser prices fixed for Scandinavian milk. Mr Sohal Paul Gupta, Managing Director of Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana, said: Even as of now, there is accumulation of milk, something unheard of during the lean season, because of the panic in the market". He informed that during the past two months, the prices of milk had been reduced three times by Verka. It is not just the threat of imported cheap milk that is worrying the dairy farmer. They feel a majority of their problems regarding production of good quality milk and its marketing through cooperative societies could be solved if they were given more autonomy and the "interference" of the Cooperative Department was removed. Mr Nirmal Singh, a dairy farmer of Chak Kalan, village remarked that earlier our only concern was to increase the quantity of milk. But now to compete in the market, more emphasis "has to be laid on quality improvement and this can be done only when the dairy cooperatives are allowed to make judicious use of their own funds without the interference of the Cooperative Department, which takes months to give clearance for any work to be initiated by us." |
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Children set to fight drug menace LUDHIANA, May 21 — “Dear President uncle, we are being forced to become passive smokers and drug addicts, please, please, save us from tobacco, gutka, zarda and other drugs”. Thus appeal 15,000 postcards sent by children of different schools in the city to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Chief Minister Punjab and the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, urging them to take steps to impose an immediate ban on these deadly intoxicants. The government, administration and the police at the Centre, state and local levels has had little success in curbing the menace of drug abuse especially the danger posed by cheap and easily available intoxicants like gutka and zarda. These schoolchildren, encouraged by YES (Youth Engaged In Services), a social work organisation in the city, decided last month to take up the fight against these by sending 500 postcards daily to the above mentioned authorities. But 30 days later, these little ones are still awaiting a response but they have not received even an acknowledgement of the receipt of cards. In fact, some of the recent studies and data provided by YES not only reveal the extent to which cancer of drug abuse has spread in society but also indicate that these children have a tough fight on their hands and the time is running out for the authorities to take suitable steps to save the young generation. Mr Sarbjeet Singh, founder chairman of YES, said, “The problem has become very serious”. The organisation, which conducts educative lectures in schools and colleges, was shocked to learn that even children studying in class II were addicted to gutka. “There is hardly a school in the city which has not come across a drug addict child at one time or the other”, he claimed. According to him the children pick up the bad habit from their elders and easy availability of gutka for Re 1 per pouch and available at roadside shops increase the risk manifold. The organisation also learnt that even general merchants in the city stock the pouches and give these to young customers in lieu of change. A study based on addiction among
hostellers in the city revealed more alarming figures. According to it, the state, once known for high consumption of liquor, was now way ahead in addiction to tobacco, gutka, opium, and smack. The study based on a survey of 5,000
hostlers in the city claimed that every second male hosteller and every tenth female hosteller had “tested” some drug. According to the study 43 per cent urban and 38 per cent rural males were into addiction. In the female category the rate was 36 for urban and 35 for rural women. Another study based on rural women coming to Punjab Agriculture University for different courses or interactive functions revealed that nearly three fourths of rural males and 10 per cent of females were regular users of these drugs. “The studies, however, reflect only the tip of an iceberg”, said Mr Sarbjeet Singh adding that the deeply-rooted menace needed an extensive campaign against it. On its part, the organisation, unfazed by the disappointment or the lack of action on postcards, has decided to step up the campaign. A function is being organised in this connection at Baba Isher Singh school tomorrow to post 500 more postcards. According to Mr Sarbjeet Singh, founder chairman of the organisation, “The campaign against the drugs will continue till the government takes some concrete steps in the matter. The campaign was launched by the organisation after three children murdered one of their classmates last year in the city as they did not have enough money to buy drugs, “The incident gave us a jolt and we, a group of like-minded individuals, formed the organisation “YES”, informs Mr Sarbjeet Singh. The organisation has received overwhelming response from parents and school authorities. |
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Material shortage may delay ‘tatkal scheme’ SANGRUR, May 21 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) may face an uphill task in releasing tubewell connections under its “tatkal scheme” to those farmers who have deposited Rs 10,000 per horse power in addition to security to get the connections. According to sources, there is a shortage of material in PSEB stores to accommodate all tubewell connections seekers in a stipulated period under the scheme. These connections are being released under the single-pole category to the consumers who have availed temporary tubewell connections during the paddy season, last year, and to the consumers who have submitted their test reports up to December 31, 1999. The sources in the PSEB say that there is a backlog of about 2.5 lakh applications and about 26,000 test reports up to December 31, 1999, under the tubewell category. Talking to TNS here yesterday Mr S.K. Thaman, Deputy Chief Engineer, Operation, Sangrur, said the Sangrur circle had received 718 applications from farmers under the scheme, of which 168 connections had already been released. He said an amount of Rs 2.19 crore had been deposited by the farmers to get the connections under the scheme. In reply to a question, Mr Thaman also admitted that there could be a delay in the release of connections to some consumers. However, he claimed that efforts would be made to ensure the release of tubewell connections to all consumers before the current paddy season. Mr Thaman also said instructions had been issued to all the divisions to release tubewell connection to the consumers in three or four days after the submission of the test report by him. On the other hand, sources in the PSEB say that the board should have first made the requisite arrangements of material before the launching of the scheme so that all seekers of the connections could get the same as per the scheme. |
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MC starts 3 tubewells
to augment water supply PATIALA, May 21 — The Patiala Municipal Corporation has started three tubewells in Arjun
Nagar, Charan Bagh and Factory Area to augment the water supply in the city. The tubewell at Arjun Nagar was needed the most as there were a lot of complaints of shortage of water. The Arjun Nagar tubewell will cater to the needs of Dhobi
Ghat, Dhiru ki Majri, Raghomajra and parts of Lal Bagh colony. Municipal Commissioner
K.S. Kang told Tribune News Service that with the functioning of these tubewells complaints about the non-availability of water in a few parts of these areas had stopped. He said there were, however, complaints of low pressure in many parts of the city which the corporation was trying to solve quickly. He said there were complaints that water did not reach the first and second floors due to low
pressure. Mr Kang said with the augmentation of the supply of water through setting up of tubewells the corporation was also in the process of making all overhead tanks in the city functional. He said this was being done to tackle the low pressure problem by coupling supply from the tubewells and the overhead tanks wherever needed. He said four tanks in the city which had not been functioning for the past 25 years were being cleaned. He said these tanks were situated on Passi Road, Arjun
Nagar, Model town and Yadavindra Colony. He said three tanks had been made functional and the Passi Road tank would also start functioning in a few days. He said, besides this, four small tubewells were also being dug up at Chhata Nanu Mal, Gur
Mandi, Sui Gram Mohalla and Bishen Nagar. He said they would start operating before May 30. He said four more small tubewells were being installed to further augment water supply. He said the corporation had also decided to rebore the tubewell at Guru Nanak Nagar which had been abandoned for some time. Though the revival of the overhead tanks has been welcomed by the citizens, they are wary of the quality of water supply as there have been instances of
black-coloured water coming in taps in some areas. The Commissioner said this was due to the problem of scaling in the tanks which had not been used for a very long time. He said the problem was of temporary nature and would disappear soon, adding adequate care was being taken to chlorinate all water being supplied from overhead tanks. He said following the further augmentation of the water supply the problem of low pressure could only occur due to the use of tullu pumps by citizens. He said sucking of water through these pumps broke its continuous flow and ensured that those at the tailend were denied this essential commodity. He said the corporation had already started a drive against tullu pumps with eight to 10 pumps being seized by its staff everyday. He said he hoped the use of tullu pumps would be reduced with the help of the drive as well as a constant educational campaign regarding the use of this practice. The drive has, however, ruffled many a feather. People are still complaining that the corporation does not have any locus standi to start a drive against tullu pumps when it was unsuccessful in maintaining the pressure of water released by it. Mr
V.N. Sharma of Ghas Mandi in Johrian Bhattian, whose street was raided for tullu pumps recently, said the corporation employees were forcibly entering houses to search for tullu pumps. |
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Ayurveda
doctors list their grievances PATIALA, May 21 — Long-pending demands like pay scales and gazetted status to be given to the ayurvedic doctors of the state at par with their Central Government counterparts were listed in front of Mr Baldev Raj Chawla and Ms Mohinder Kaur Joss, Cabinet Minister and State Minister of Health and Family Welfare at a meeting between the ministers and the members of the Punjab Ayurvedic Medical Services Association held here today. The association members urged the ministers to remove the disparity in pay scales between ayurvedic doctors of the Central Government and those of the Punjab Government. The association members also urged that some of their demands like gazetted status were in the pipeline for a long time and that these demands should be looked into by the government immediately. Dr Harmanjit Singh, President of the association, said that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had in principle agreed to look into their demands last year, but nothing concrete had emerged so far. Both ministers took sympathetic view of the association’s demands and assured the members that a senior ayurvedic doctor among their cadre would be appointed Director (Ayurveda) soon. |
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Census duty clashes with transfer SAS NAGAR, May 21 — Certain Junior Engineers of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) who are on census duty but have been transferred to outstation under general state level transfers by the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Punjab, are confused about their new duty. As per the transfer orders dated May 16, the employees would be automatically relieved from the existing posting from May 22. At least four junior engineers have been on census duty from May 3 and will continue till May 24. While the officials say as per the norms, they cannot leave the census duty before completing it, on the other hand they are to be relieved from May 22 to join on their new posting. Sources in the government say that as per the norms the employees on census cannot be transferred till the enumeration exercise is complete. The affected officials have written to the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr Jaipal Singh, who is in charge of the census operation. The SDM said he had written to the Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr Dipinder Singh, seeking that the officials should not be transferred till the census exercise was over. The ACA said he had forwarded the request of the SDM to the Chief Administrator of
PUDA. |
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Contractors assail
liquor policy LUDHIANA, May 21 — A number of liquor contractors who could not get vends in the recent auction due to breaking of the syndicate today openly named Mr Adesh Partap Kairon, Minister for Excise and Taxation, for having favoured his candidates in the auction. The contractors also alleged that the new liquor policy of encouraging small contractors, breaking the syndicate to keep liquor prices down in the city, was on the verge of failure as the new contractors were also planning to increase rates. In a signed statement the contractors Mr Rakesh Kumar, Mr Gurdev Sharma, Mr Kewal Chhabra and Mr Vinod said here today that the favourite contractors were putting pressure on others to increase the price of liquor in the city. They claimed that it was ironic that the government which wanted the old contractors to stick to the announced liquor rates was now working to increase the rates. |
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SPs, DSPs to assist in traffic regulation JALANDHAR, May 21 — To ensure better traffic management and implementation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directions regarding traffic rules, the district police authorities have decided to involve officers of the rank of Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents of Police to enforce these rules. Although it is the duty of all police officers to enforce traffic rules according to the Police Act, 1861, and the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, but in practice the enforcement of traffic rules has generally been confined to the officials of the traffic wing of the police or the Transport Department of the state. He said all gazetted officers had been ordered to spend a minimum of one hour every day for supervising traffic and checking violations within their respective areas of operation. The gazetted officers who did not have any supervisory jurisdiction over the area of a police station had been authorised to conduct checkings in any part of the district on the authorisation of the SSP or as per the orders given by the SSP or SP (Headquarters) through the police control room. While on traffic duty, the officers would exercise powers of superior police officers as per provisions under Section 36 of the Cr PC and they would have the powers of the officer-in-charge of the police stations during this period. According to the order, the gazetted officers would submit a daily report regarding traffic checking and the number of challans issued by them to the police control room by 8 p.m. and the SP (Headquarters) would be responsible for collection and monitoring of the information. |
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JEs to meet
minister CHANDIGARH, may 21—The joint action committee of junior engineers of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Union Territory, Chandigarh ,have strongly opposed the transfers of more than 50 junior engineers by the Punjab Urban Development Authority. The Secretary General of the Committee, Mr Satnam Singh
Dhanoa, said here today that the issue had been taken up with Urban Development Minister, Mrs Upinderjit
Kaur, who has assured that justice would be done with affected JEs. |
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Tributes
paid to Rajiv CHANDIGARH, May 21 — A state-level meeting was organised by the Punjab Mahila Congress President, Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur. Tributes were paid to late Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary. While speaking on this occasion, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, President of the Indian Mahila Congress, said Mr Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life for the country. She supported the demand for 50 per cent reservation for women in municipal councils and panchayats. Mr Moti Lal Vora, General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, said that there should be 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State assemblies. Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur said the path shown by Mr Rajiv Gandhi would be followed by all women activists of the Punjab Mahila Congress. Tributes were also paid to the departed leader here at the headquarters of Haryana Pradesh Congress (I) committee by garlanding his portrait, a party release said here today. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President HPCC, paid floral tributes to the departed leader by garlanding his statue at his Samadhi (Veer Bhoomi) in Delhi in the morning. |
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Police cells in Excise
Dept planned LUDHIANA, May 21 — Mr Tikshan Sood, State Minister for Excise and Taxation yesterday said the proposal to have police cells in the department for speedy collection of taxes was in its final stages. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Sood said the department would take police personnel on deputation and would prefer either the staff trained for excise or tax collection work or give them a short training. He refuted reports that new police stations would be created. Earlier, the department had to seek police for conducting raids. |
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Implementation of
judgement sought CHANDIGARH, May 21 — The General Category PCMS Doctors Association has urged the Punjab Health Secretary, Mr P.K. Verma, for the quick implementation of the Ajit Singh Janjua case judgement and finalise the seniority accordingly. Many doctors have retired without getting promoted, which otherwise was their due because of non-implementation of the judgement, Dr Virk said. Many more would retire in days to come if the government continued to dither on this issue. The association members also met the Health Minister, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, to apprise him about the growing resentment among doctors at the senior level. The next meeting of the association would be held on May 23. |
Police officials to
be awarded PHAGWARA, May 21 — The police officials who arrested five gangsters here on May 19 will be awarded, the SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh, said here yesterday. He said even the informer would be awarded. the arrests were made by a police party headed by the local
DSP, Mr Satinder Singh, and foiled an attempt of Parvez Khan, alias
Tanda, an associate of the Dubai-based don, Dawood Ibrahim, and his four accomplices to wipe out an NRI family. The
"supari" crime, which had started spreading its tentacles in the state, has also exposed the modus operandi of the international syndicate and its linkages with many states and countries, including Nepal, Dubai, the U.K. and Pakistan. The underworld now appears to have an eye on Punjab for expanding its activities.
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Cop suspended JALANDHAR, May 21 (PTI) — A police constable Baljinder Singh, who misbehaved with some journalists at the local Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, venue of a rally by the Youth Congress, was suspended by Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav here today. The constable, posted at the gate of hall, used vulgar language without any provocation. When the scribes asked him to behave properly, he said he was not bothered if he was punished. |
GND
University test schedule AMRITSAR, May 21 — Guru Nanak Dev University has released the schedule of entrance tests for admission to various courses being run by the university for the academic session 2000-2001, here yesterday. Releasing the schedule Dr Satinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs said the entrance test for MCA will be conducted on June 8 and for MBA on June 20. The entrance test for MSc mathematics and MSc statistics will be held on June 28, the MBE, BLib and information science and MLib and information science entrance test has been fixed for June 29. According to the schedule, the entrance test for MSc chemistry (instrumental analysis), MSc industrial chemistry (oil, soap and detergents), MSc applied chemistry (pharmaceuticals), MSc food and technology, MSc physics and applied physics will be held on June 30. The entrance test for admission to MSc botany, MSc human genetics, MSc zoology, MSc microbiology/fermentation and microbial technology, MSc molecular biology will be conducted on July 3. He said the entrance test for admission to BPEd, and MPEd is scheduled for July 2 and for Masters in sports physiotherapy, MSc (Honours School) chemistry, physics, human genetics, botany, B.Sc. (industrial microbiology) and B Pharmacy will be held on July 5, MSc (Honours) environmental sciences, MA political science and sociology, BA (Honours School), English and Punjabi and MA Sanskrit entrance test will be held on July 4. The test for LLB (five years) being run at Regional Campus, Gurdaspur, will be held on July 6. The test for admission to MA English (Regional Centre, Jalandhar), Masters of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC), MA Hindi and translation (Hindi) has been scheduled for July 7 and for MA Punjabi and Masters of Mass Communications (MMC) at Regional Campus, Jalandhar, will be held on July 8. Admission to B Tech electronics and communications engineering, computer engineering, food technology, textile chemistry, sugar technology and urban and regional planning shall be made on the basis of the merit of CET to be conducted by Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. Similarly admission to MSc biotechnology will be made on the basis of the merit of All-India Combined Entrance Test (AICET) to be conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
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Tandon favours
PSUs privatisation LUDHIANA, May 21 — Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, today said that the privatisation was the only solution to improve the development process in the country and the state government would have to disinvest from the public sector units running in losses. Talking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of a road to be named after Sant Baba Nand Singh, Mr Tandon said that the final decision of whether to give octroi on contract or not from June this year would be taken shortly in the next meeting of the Cabinet. Referring to the development of Jagraon, the minister said Rs 1 crore would be spent on providing infrastructural facilities at Jagraon during this year and out of this Rs 40 lakh would be released within a few days. He said a joint fire brigade station for Jagraon, Raikot and Mullanpur would be set up at Jagraon which would cater to the requirements of three towns. |
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Fix storage loss norms: FCI union SANGRUR, May 21 — The Punjab unit of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Employees Congress affiliated to INTUC at its annual conference here today demanded that the FCI management should fix foodgrains storage loss norms before initiating departmental proceedings against employees in this connection. Mr V.K. Kaushal, national president of the FCI Employees Congress and Mr M.S. Bawa, secretary of the Punjab unit of the congress said nearly 70 per cent Class II and III employees of the FCI had been chargesheeted in connection with the cases of storage losses and loss assessment statement, while the district managers and joint managers (quality control) had not been chargesheeted in this regard. The leaders demanded that the chargesheets issued to the employees should be withdrawn immediately. They demanded that the district managers and the joint Manager should be chargesheeted as they were directly responsible for all acts. The conference also observed that the management’s decisions regarding the vigilance cases and transfer cases varied from person to person. The conference urged the FCI management not to transfer any employee of the category II and III from the state if the vacancy was available in the state. The conference also demanded that responsibility should be fixed for delay in the release of various retirement benefits. The following were elected office-bearers of the Punjab unit of the Congress: president — Mr R.S. Bhanot; senior vice-president — Mr M.S. Harjai; vice-prsident — Mr Gian Chand Garg; secretary — Mr M.S. Bawa; organising secretary — Mr Gurmeet Singh; and treasurer — Mr Brij Mohan. |
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Recommendations of farm panel rejected SAMRALA, May 21 — Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), has rejected the recommendations of the Agriculture Costs and Prices Commission to increase the prices of paddy for the next season by Rs 20 per quintal. Addressing a meeting of farmers here today Mr Rajewal said since October last year, the prices of HSD (diesel) and mobil oil had gone up by more than 56 per cent and of fertilisers and pesticides 15 per cent. Besides, the state government had imposed 4.4 per cent sales tax on agricultural imputs whereas the increase of Rs 20 per quintal in the paddy prices was 3.85 per cent. This would add to the debt burden of the farmers, he added. Mr Rajewal said the Vajpayee government was anti-farmer. He said farmers were committing suicide due to heavy debts and still the government was not ready to do anything for them. Mr Rajewal alleged that bureaucrats and politicians were running a parallel economy. |
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Notify commission, demand arhtias PATIALA In a statement here, association President Bal Krishan Singla said there was growing resentment among the trading class for non-fulfilment of this promise. He said a number of deputations had met the Chief Minister and he had promised the increase many times but nothing came out of it. Mr Singla said on the other hand traders were being asked to give an additional 25 paise on account of labour charges for the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 by the Food and Supplies department. He said this was being done despite the fact that the labour charges had been fixed by the Punjab Mandi Board and paid to the labour subsequently. He said the arhtias were in no position to realise this sum from the labour which usually came from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He said the department was forcibly asking the arhtias to deposit the money and at many places the amount was being deducted from the bills of the businessmen which were still pending for the rabi crop. He demanded an immediate end to this practice. |
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