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| Monday,
June 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Punjab hopeful of loan waiver ‘Make population policy state specific’ Samata to go it alone in panchayat poll One killed in factory blast Hepatitis-B
claims six lives
Henry predicts
mid-term poll Rinwa nominates office-bearers
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Cops to act as animal saviours Crops damaged in over 3,000 acres Bohri Sahib panel
may move court SGPC no to AISSF on ‘path’ venue PCMSA flays stay on
transfers Workshop on AIDS awareness Compensatory benefits
for border villages A halfway institute
Literacy
survey makes tall claims
Man poisons
self, daughters Robbers stalk Jalandhar Goods train used for smuggling SDO booked
for fraud 4 hurt in PACL union clash
Number of NRI seats increased MCA entrance test
on July 1 New heads of
departments
Ginning
mills fail to revive
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Punjab hopeful of loan waiver CHANDIGARH, June 4 — Will Punjab be favoured by the 11th Finance Commission on special term loan waiver when it submits its report by the end of June? Punjab is hopeful that it will get the relief sought. This was demanded even in the supplementary memorandum submitted to the Commission few weeks ago. The Commission has already been conveyed by the Government of India the decision between the then Prime Minister, Mr I.K. Gujral and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on September 8, 1997, to waive special term loan of Rs 5,799.92 crore (the correct figure) to Punjab between 1984-85 and 1993-94 for combating militancy. These loans are repayable in 15 to 20 years. The moratorium on repayment of principal amount and interest was
up to 1992-93 with repayment starting in 1993-94. Punjab has paid a sum of Rs 2,694.67 crore till 1997-98. Source today told TNS that of the total Rs 5,799.92 crore, the repayment of instalments falling due from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 were waived off, including debt relief of Rs 495.22 crore provided on the recommendation of the 10th Finance Commission for the same period. Thus, having availed of the waiver, the outstanding special term loans (principal) stood at Rs 3,772 crore as on March 31, 2000. The 11th Finance Commission thus is expected to waive off this repayment and interest thereupon in tune with decision taken at the level of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, who held two rounds of discussions (July 18 and September 8, 1997).The summary record of that is clear as are decisions of the other Prime Ministers and the 10th Finance Commission. In this backdrop, sources said there was no truth in the media reports appearing today that the Centre (Prime Minister Office) had given any indication that the loan waiver given to Punjab should not exceed Rs 4,500 crore. The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, had said in reply to a question in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the Budget session that out of the total special term loan of Rs 5,799.92 crore (1984-85-1993-94) a repayment of Rs 3,413.11 crore (1995-96 to 1999-2000) had been waived off. For repayments falling beyond 2000, a recommendation by the Government of India to waive off the same was before the 11th Finance Commission. Given that the financial situation of Punjab is worse, sources said efforts to improve the same were on the anvil. While the sales tax and state gross domestic product ratio was better: against 2.83 per cent in 1998-99 it was five per cent in 1999-2000. Even the budgetary deficit was low by Rs 800 crore, approximately. Because of series of steps initiated even the non-plan expenditure increase was marginal, if salary, pension and interest repayment was not taken into account. Punjab can do a lot better in sales tax realisation provided monitoring is improved and loopholes plugged. Expected returns from it in the current year is Rs 3,000 crore. Punjab has the potential to attract private investment given its infrastructure and high levels of income. But, it shall have to take steps to improve revenue income and reduce expenditure besides developing human resource and introducing the right type of education . The status report on the finances of the northern states prepared by the National Council of Applied Economic Research at the behest of the Confederation of Indian Industry, has suggested major fiscal changes to make Punjab a favoured destination for the investors. Besides “right-sizing” of the government it suggests levy of user charges, return on investment in the PSUs by a minimum of four per cent, privatisation or decentralisation of government functions and identifying synergies with resource base of neighbouring regions to benefit advantages the state enjoys. |
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‘Make population policy state specific’ CHANDIGARH: Despite a population control programme operative in the country, since 1951, neither the desired results have been achieved nor rapid increase contained. Despite the family planning or family welfare programmes (with special health care component for women and children), India has crossed the one billion mark. This puts a question mark on the national population policy? All along emphasis was on “one or two” child norm. This required a sea change in the social attitude which did not happen. The state-engineered policies at best can only bring down the birth rate to the level of a desired family size, structure and distribution to a level where quality of life and living standards improve. As long as children are perceived as a source of “income” or the “son-fixation” syndrome persists, the desired goal will remain elusive. Therefore, one finds much merit in what Dr M.S. Swaminathan says: “If our population policy goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right.” If population control policies have failed in the past 50 years, it is due to the indifference shown by the political community and religious leadership. It is, perhaps, in this backdrop that one has to see the statement and strategy on the population policy suggested by Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, Akali MLA, in the Vidhan Sabha on March 9 last. It is another matter that the same was eventually talked out. A population policy must be state specific and given status and authority and made a people’s programme with stress on social change. So there should be a state council for population stabilisation with the right political leadership and bureaucrats as members alongside experts. The council should be delinked from party and political denominational affiliations and considerations. Then there should be a state population stabilisation cell for administrative and logistic support. This should be information, education and communication-oriented and established down to the village level with NGOs joining in. At the district and grassroots level, infrastructure is available. Only a mechanism is required in terms of plan funds, excluding salaries, grants etc. Mr Manpreet Singh has suggested that there should be separate recruitment for primary, secondary and tertiary level health services. A legislation should be enacted to make primary health service a special category service with provision for better salaries, perks and service penalties. This should exclusively engage itself in family planning programmes. As far possible local people should be recruited to make the programme effective. In Punjab 33 per cent deliveries are institutional and 66 per cent are conducted at home. Villages still do not have a trained midwife (“dai”). The state had introduced safe abortion (Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act) in 1971. It was a landmark piece of social legislation, but it failed to translate itself into reality for most women, especially those in villages, as MTP services were thinly spread. The paper lists incentives for the couples adopting family planning norms and expects government servants to take a lead by accepting two-child norm. It even links grants and development initiatives in urban and rural areas to the success of the programme of downsizing the family. The incentives cover both individuals and institutions (panchayats and municipalities). Insecurity about child survival persists. There should be a health insurance cover to the children of acceptors of permanent methods of sterilisation with one or two children. The basic reason why Mr Manpreet Singh has suggested the state-specific policy on population in simple: There are commonalities of approach in the general contours of the national population policy. Yet, specific policies and strategies are desirable to suit diverse demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors prevailing in each state. An effective population stabilisation programme, therefore, must be state-specific and within the state district or even block specific down to being family-specific. The policy has to regard human and societal concerns. As long as the marriage age of girls remains low, fertility will remain high. As long as half the population remains illiterate, social change is difficult. Therefore, education of the girl child must be made compulsory. Boys’ admission should be subjected to a certificate from parents that school-age girls had been enrolled and were not sitting at home. Mr Manpreet Singh hopes the government will take cognisance of the proposed population policy for Punjab, if it seriously intends to match human reproduction with food production and improve the quality of life and raise living standards given the resilience of Punjabis and the state’s geographical disadvantages which impinge on its agro-industrial growth and development. |
Samata to go it alone in panchayat poll HOSHIARPUR, June 4 — With the implementation of the globalisation policy, unemployment in India may increase if industries are not strengthened soon. The government should take steps in this regard and provide incentives to the industrialists in order to make the industries more job oriented. These views were expressed by Ms Jaya Jaitley, President of the Samata Party at a press conference at the PWD rest house here today. Ms Jaitley who came here along with Mr Rajhan Ram Paswan, General Secretary of the party, to address a convention of the state party workers said her party opposed the globalisation policy for the country during the past. The agreement to adopt this policy was signed by the last Congress government. The present NDA government had no other option except to implement it. If the present government broke this agreement it would have to pay a heavy price for it and would have to face opposition from other countries, which India could not afford, she said adding that there was no alternative except to face this challenge and compete with the other countries for survival. Ms Jaitley said the performance of the Vajpayee government had proved that different political parties with a common minimum programme could provide a stable government. She said Mr Clinton’s visit to the country and his appreciation of the NDA government had proved that India had made tremendous development in all fields and had become the biggest power in South Asia. Referring to the situation in Sri Lanka, she said India should not send its forces there. She pointed out that nobody had recognised the sacrifices of the Indian jawans who lost their lives in Sri Lanka. However, the diplomatic policy should be continued to defuse the situation, she said. Replying to a question, she said to overcome the financial crisis being faced by various states in the country, the government should curtail the unnecessary burden of bureaucracy. It should also curtail the security expenditure of VIPs. She said the Central government had already started curtailing these unnecessary expenditures. Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir problem, she said people of the state had realised the gravity of situation and were fed up with terrorism. She said the number of militant groups in the state had been reduced by half. To another question, she said steps were being taken to ensure the return of the Sikh history books to the SGPC which were removed during Operation Blue Star. But said the successive governments had done little for the benefit of women. The NDA government had provided financial assistance for the construction of 25 bridges and toilets for women working in fields in the border areas of Punjab. Ms Jaitley said the organisational elections of the party would be completed by the end of September, 2000, for which the membership campaign was in progress. She said the Samata Party would contest the panchayat elections in Punjab independently. However, an alliance could be possible during the Assembly elections. Later, Ms Jaitley addressed the convention of party workers at the zila parishad hall. Despite heavy rain hundreds of workers from all over the state participated. Mr Inderjit Saini and Mr Ajay
Sud, President and General Secretary, respectively, of the state unit of the party, also addressed the workers.  |
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One killed in factory blast MANDI GOBINDGARH, June 4 (PTI) — One person was killed and 16 injured, seven of them critically, in a blast in an alloy factory here last night, the police said today. Of the 11 admitted to hospital near Patiala, Bansi succumbed to burn injuries while the condition of seven others was stated to be critical. An unexplained explosion took place in J.T. Alloys, the police said adding that a case had been registered under various sections of the IPC against the owners of the factory. FATEHGARH SAHIB (FOC): According to information available here, mostly migrant labourers were working in the mill. Early in the morning, when a consignment of scrap was thrown into the furnace, it exploded causing injuries to workers. Mr Bhalla Singh, SHO, Mandi Gobindgarh, alleged that the owners of the mill did not inform the police in time. The police got information from the SMO and immediately went to the scene. The Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has expressed grief over the incident and announced Rs 20,000 ex-gratia for the deceased and free medical aid to those injured. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Sudan, has ordered magisterial inquiry to fix the responsibilities. He has also announced a grant of Rs 2,000 to those injured from the Red Cross. |
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Hepatitis-B
claims six lives FEROZEPORE, June 4 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, has refused to hold a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances that led to the spread of hepatitis-B in the Ladhuka Mandi area in Fazilka
subdivision over a fortnight. Mr Sidhu admitted yesterday that the disease had so far claimed six lives. He added that a couple of patients were still undergoing treatment at the Fazilka Civil Hospital. Doctors suspected that the disease spread only after quacks in the area reused needles on patients without proper sterilisaton. The Deputy Commissioner said two medical teams had surveyed about 20 villages to detect cases of hepatitis-B, if any. Besides, all quacks operating in the area had been ordered to stop their practice with immediate effect. To a question, Mr Sidhu said the state Health Department had not supplied any hepatitis-B injections so far. But on his request non-government organisations had provided these injections, which had been administered to 875 persons. He claimed that the disease was under control. |
Henry predicts mid-term poll GURDASPUR, June 4 — Mr Avtar Henry, vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, today accused the state government of being hand in glove with certain politician and bureaucrats who had purchased pieces of land likely to be acquired by the government for building Anandgarh to make a fast buck. He said the government should immediately acquire the land at the same prices at which the politicians and bureaucrats had purchased it. Mr Henry, who was talking to newsmen, said the Congress was not in the race for toppling the Badal government and nor would it support any party which wanted to do this. He said the Badal government would face a crisis due to factionalism in the SAD and predicted a mid-term poll in Punjab. Mr Henry said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who claimed to have adopted pro-farmer policies, was a party to the decision to hike the prices of fertilisers. This step would adversely affect farmers to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore. Earlier, addressing Congress workers, Mr Henry appealed to them to turn up in large number at the block-level dharnas proposed to be held on June 7. |
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Rinwa nominates office-bearers PHILLAUR, June 4 — Newly elected Punjab BJP President, Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, today nominated 12 office-bearers. They are vice-presidents — Mr Balbir Chand Kapila (Ludhiana), Gurcharan Kaur (Fardikot), Mr Mahender Bhagat (Jalandhar), Mr Sukhwant Singh (Dhanola, Sangrur); organisational secretary — Mr Avinash Jaiswal (Amritsar); general secretary — Mr Narotam Dev Ratti (Kapurthala). The other office-bearers are Mr Shakti Sharma (Ludhiana), Mr Govind Sharma (Jalandhar), Mr Lashman Dass Sewak (Samana, Patiala), Mr Anil Sareen (Ludhiana), Mr Manjit Singh Rai (Zeera); and treasurer — Mr Sohan Lal Gupta (Mandi Gobindgarh). |
Cops to act as animal saviours JALANDHAR June 4—Police and animal welfare? Seems nothing but something unbelievable or simple juxtaposition of ideas. Yes, it may appear so, but this dream-like thing has been transformed into a reality by the district police by envisaging an Animal Helpline aimed at rescuing of abandoned, sick and injured stray animals and providing medicare and shelters to the hapless creatures. The Animal Helpline, which is probably the first such effort in the police history, will start functioning tomorrow at the local police control room which has been modified to double as a nodal centre for the animal welfare activities. The basic idea behind the project is to extend all possible help and care to all living beings, specially in emergency cases related to animals, say the police authorities, who are gearing them selves up to undertake the novel task. To achieve the desired results and to ensure an immediate ate response to distress calls from any part of the district, two vehicles have been pressed into service in addition to dedication of two telephone lines for this purpose at the Police Lines here. “Anybody who comes across an injured or abandoned animal can call up and inform about it on telephone numbers — 081-221045 and 0181-221046. Of the two telephones, 221046 has exclusively been devoted to the Animal Helpline, which will work round the clock,” said Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, who has envisaged the project after going through a feature on the plight of stray animals on roads published in The Tribune from Jalandhar about two months ago. The nodal centre would be manned by 10-odd cops in three shifts and would be headed by a non-gazetted officer of the rank of an ASI. Mr Charanjit Kumar (DSP control room) would be the nodal officer and the overall in charge of the centre, said Mr Yadav, adding that, the centre would respond to any call pertaining to animals within no time and officials attached with it would rush to the place to take care of sick, injured or abandoned animals. Each of the two wireless-fitted vehicles would be manned by two constables and a Head Constable besides to the driver. After providing on-the-spot first aid, the animal would be brought at the nodal centre where it would be kept till it recovered or was adopted by somebody. “While two doctors in the Police Lines have been instructed to deal with minor animal injuries at the nodal centre itself, in case of an emergency the animal would be shifted to a government veterinary hospital for which the state Veterinary Department will be involved,” said Mr Yadav, who will launch the helpline at the Police lines tomorrow. Interestingly, the Animal Helpline will also deal with other animal problems like adoption of stray dogs and animals and will keep tabs on lost dogs and pups.” For its success we need the help of some social workers and prominent citizens,” said Mr Yadav. To achieve good results, a simultaneous two-day sensitisation programme is also being initiated for cops. Under the programme, the cops on duty would be imparted practical training to deal with emergencies, first aid and to handle injured and sick animals. “All SHOs in the district will be provided with a list containing names and addresses of veterinary doctors and hospitals and they have been directed to visit injured animals, particularly in case of those injured in road accidents in their respective jurisdiction,” said Mr Yadav. To deal with accidents and other animal problems outside the city, particularly on the highways, the district police has planned to use three mobile ambulances which were donated to it recently by the district Red Cross Society. The mobile vans, which are connected to the control room with wireless sets and which were flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Som Parkash, have been stationed at accident-prone points at Kala Bakra, Kartarpur and the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway. “Suppose some body informs that a dog has been injured in a road accident near Phillaur, one of the mobile ambulances will reach immediately and take care,” said Mr Yadav. |
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Crops damaged in over 3,000 acres BATHINDA, June 4 — Even as Irrigation officials have started plugging the breaches in the Bathinda branch and various distributaries of the Sirhind canal, more than 40 tubewells have been adversely affected and the paddy and cotton crops in more than 3,000 acres destroyed by water which entered the fields on the night of June 2. Mr B.N. Pojara, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Department, who along with other officials was present at one of the sites of breach, told TNS that water would flow again in all distributaries and the Bathinda branch by the evening of June 6. He added that out of a total of nine breaches that took place on the night of June 2, eight had been plugged while work on the main breach in the Bathinda branch was on. More than 1,000 labourers had been engaged to plug the breach at the earliest. A portion of agriculture land which had been flooded has been rendered unfit for cultivation as a layer of sand has covered it. The farmers who had sown cotton will not be able to re-sow the crop as it will take a number of days for the water to dry up. Sources said so far no inquiry had been ordered to determine the reasons for the breaches. Mr D.S. Jassar, Executive Engineer, said breaches occurred when water in the Bathinda branch and distributaries overflowed the banks. The natural flow of water in these channels was obstructed when trees uprooted due to the storm on June 2 fell into it and blocked the gates. Sources said farmers had suffered loss worth Rs 10 lakh due to the damage caused to more than 40 tubewells alone. The loss to the cotton and paddy crops was being assessed. |
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Bohri Sahib panel
may move court AMRITSAR, June 4—The management of Gurdwara Bohri Sahib demanded registration of cases against senior SGPC officials and members of the SGPC task force for their failed bid to grab control of the gurdwara last week. The management, led a team of 14 members, met the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner and apprised them of the incident. The SGPC task force, headed by Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah general secretary, Mr Gurbachan Singh Bachan secretary and member Jaswinder Singh advocate, had attempted to take control of the gurdwara a few days ago. The management appealed to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and Bibi Jagir Kaur, president, SGPC to take serious note of the matter and bring the persons responsible to book . Mr Savinder Singh of the management claimed that the SGPC had no jurisdiction over the village gurdwara. He claimed that the functioning of the village gurdwara under the management had been proceeding smoothly for the past many years and the SGPC allegations of ‘funds mismanagement’ were “baseless”. Mr Savinder warned that if no action was taken against the erring SGPC members the villagers would “gherao” the Chief Minister and move court to secure justice. |
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SGPC no to AISSF on ‘path’ venue AMRITSAR, June 4 — The SGPC is heading for a confrontation with the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) backed All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) over the observation of the 16th anniversary of Operation Bluestar following withdrawal of permission to the federation to hold the function at the historic Gurdwara Sheedan on June 6. Meanwhile, akhand paths — in observation of the anniversary as “ghallughara divas” began in the morning at three different places in the district today. The AISSF president, Mr Harminder Singh Gill, and other senior leaders reacting sharply over the denial of permission at the last moment announced they would hold the function as scheduled at the venue which had been selected near Gurdwara
Sheedan. They warned the SGPC against preventing them from holding the function there and said that responsibility for any untoward incident would lie with the SGPC. The federation leaders said the SGPC notice for withdrawal of permission, which was earlier granted about 10 days back, was received last night without assigning any reason. Flouting the directions of the SGPC, the federation, however, started akhand path near Gurdwara Sheedan this morning. Senior federation leaders and senior vice-president of the SHSAD, Bhai Manjit Singh, were present. The federation has dedicated the day to its slain president, Bhai Amrik Singh, who was killed during Operation Bluestar along with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Meanwhile, a few hundred persons, including the staff of the SGPC were present when akhand path dedicated to “martyrs” of Operation Bluestar began at Akal Takht. The Head Granthi, Giani
Bhagwan Singh, performed the ‘ardas’. Another akhand path began at the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Gurdwara Sheedan at Mehta Chowk where Bhai Gurdev Singh performed the
ardas. The bhog of these akhand paths would be performed in the forenoon on June 6, the day when Operation Bluestar took place. |
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PCMSA flays stay on
transfers HOSHIARPUR, June 4 — Dr Tej Pal, general secretary and Dr Ajay Bagga press secretary of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association
(PCMSA) criticised the decision of the government for staying all the recent transfers of about 800 doctors in the state following a meeting with one faction of their association. In a joint press release here today they said that under the pretext of review some of the doctors who were openly doing private practice and running nursing homes were now trying to get their transfers cancelled with the help of money, power and political influence. They alleged that politicians of different hues had entered the transfer drama of PCMS doctors and were trying to influence the review, thereby politicising the functioning of the Health Department. As a result of this Health Department of Punjab has become a political arena. They said that while making the review doctors should be posted in ESI hospitals of the state as per the criteria laid down in the ESI manual as large scale transfers of doctors from ESI hospitals of the state is against the interests of the working class. Dr Bagga and Dr Tej Pal said that doctors who have not served in rural areas in their entire career should be shifted from urban areas and specialist doctors should be posted at those places where they can properly utilise their skill. They said only ex-servicemen, handicapped, widows and divorcees should be posted at the places of their choice on compassionate grounds. They urged the Chief Minister to take necessary steps to stop political meddling in the Health Department, failing which functioning of the department would adversely be affected. |
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Workshop on AIDS awareness BATHINDA, June 4 — The District AIDS Control Organisation (DACO) organised a one-day workshop on AIDS awareness at the local Civil Lines Club here today. More than 100 persons, including artistes, singers and
orchestra parties, participated in the workshop. They presented songs, poems and skits on the theme of prevention of the killer disease. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, who was the
chief guest, while addressing the participants said AIDS might become pandemic unless preventive measures were taken. Since there was no vaccine or cure for AIDS, prevention was the only way to combat the dreaded disease, he added. He stressed the need for creating awareness among rural masses, students and truck drivers and said such workshops and seminars should be organised in villages. He urged the educational institutions to implement a five-point awareness programme launched by the district
administration. Under the programme every Thursday is to be observed as AIDS awareness day, essay on HIV/AIDS are to be included in examinations, to be displayed information about AIDS on notice boards and painting competitions, workshops, poems and quiz contests are to be regularly organised on AIDS. |
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Compensatory benefits
for border villages AMRITSAR, June 4 — Residents of Indo-Pak border villages will enjoy compensatory benefits announced by the Punjab Government with assistance from the Central Government. This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary, Prof Jagir Singh Bhullar, at a series of meetings held at border villages in Valtoha sector here today. He visited Dasuwal, Baliawala, Mahmudpura, Lakhna, Bhurakona and Charr Sahib villages. Border residents whose land falls beyond the border fence were having problems in cultivating and harvesting their produce. Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister, had announced for them compensatory benefits of Rs 8 crore. Along with that, Professor Bhullar said, work on a 20-km road belt would start shortly as also the construction of small bridges on drains. He added that work was anticipated to start on a war-footing on these constructions in Valtoha sector. He promised that the government was seriously considering the proposals to provide jobs to the educated unemployed of border villages and mitigate the sufferings of the villagers in every possible way. |
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A halfway institute HOSHIARPUR: The Swami Sarvanand Gir Charitable Society has set up an institute of computer science and technology near Bajwara, 5 km from the city, on the Hoshiarpur-Una road. The institute has an area of II acres. A sum of Rs 21.5 crore is likely to be spent on the college building, computer laboratories, workshops, library, hostel facilities and staff accommodation etc. The construction is in full swing. Mr Lajpat
Rai, President, Managing Committee, Swami Sarvanand Gir Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bajwara, told this correspondent that three-fourth of the construction work of the college building, including computer laboratories and workshops and hostels for students has been completed. The affiliation of the institute with California State University, Fresno, USA, is hanging fire. The university is not ready to affiliate the institute till the All India Council of Technical Education recognises the institute. Mr Lajpat Raid, an NRI constituted the society in the memory of his late guru Swami Sarvanand Gir. He has not taken any grant or financial help from the government or any other organisation. He clarified that the main object of the society was only to provide modern education to poor students of the kandi area on no profit and no loss basis. |
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Tributes paid to
former MLA AMRITSAR, June 4 — Rich tributes were paid to a
former MLA and President of the District Congress Committee, Partap
Chand Bhandari (76), who passed away last week in Delhi. The local
member of Parliament, Mr R.L. Bhatia, speaking at the Shanti Sabha
held last evening described Bhandari as a true Gandhian who led the
party by setting an example during the seventies. A large number of
Congressmen, social workers and eminent citizens attended the
ceremony. |
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Warning against officers' gherao PATIALA The PSEB authorities today warned the employees that since the PSEB fell under the east Punjab Essential Services Maintenance Act, those employees indulging in such illegal activities would be guilty of offence and would be prosecuted. The management also warned that since any gherao was an unfair labour practice, employees found gheraoing any officer may be punished for committing unfair labour practice The Management further warned that those employees continuously indulging in such an unfair practice may even face termination and dismissal of service. |
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Nurses condemn
transfer policy PATIALA, June 4 — The Punjab Nurses Association has condemned the transfer policy of the state government. In a joint statement, Ms Jiwanpreet Kaur and Ms, Gurcharan Kaur, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, said the government had not adopted the policy of posting widows at places of their choice, as had been agreed upon by the government earlier. They said the association had urged the government not to transfer two nurses who were widows but the Minister of Medical Education and Research had
ignored its request. They said the transfer policy should be streamlined. Postings and transfers should be done on merit. Mr Gurcharan Kaur said if a proper transfer policy was not adopted immediately, the association would have no option except to resort to
agitation. |
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INTUC
rallies from June 15 JALANDHAR, June 4 — The state unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress has decided to hold rallies in different parts of the state from June 15 to July 15. The objective of the rallies is to create awareness among common workers and people about “anti-labour” and “anti-people” policies being pursued by the state government, according to Dr Subhash Chander Sharma, the President of the state unit of INTUC in a press note issued here yesterday. The rallies to be held at Ranjit Sagar Dam, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Patiala, and Nangal township would be addressed by Capt Amarinder Singh, President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. |
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Punjab
IMA office-bearers PATIALA, June 4 — The president of the Punjab unit of
the Indian Medical Association has appointed the following
office-bearers of the IMA, Punjab: honorary state secretary — Dr
Ashwani Goyal (Jagraon); honorary finance secretary — Dr Ashok Kumar
Gupta (Patiala); honorary state joint secretary — Dr Ravinder Taa
(Ludhiana); and honorary assistant state secretary — Dr H.S. Wealthy
(Patiala). These members are in addition to the elected members. They
are Dr O.P. Singh Kande (Patiala) — president; and Dr R.C. Garg
(Barnala) and Dr Manmohan Kaushal (Gobindgarh) — vice-presidents. |
Literacy survey makes tall claims JALANDHAR, June 4 (PTI) — Setting new standards for tall claims, on official survey carried out by government servants has pegged the number of illiterates at 1,361 in a city where the population mark would soon touch one million. Municipal councillors took strong exception to the survey carried out among the urban population and urged the SDM, Mr Krishan Kumar, to order the exercise afresh. At a meeting convened at the local municipal corporation’s meeting hall to discuss the impact of the literacy drive in the district, Mr Krishan Kumar and other senior officials conceded that the survey could not be relied upon. The SDM said the survey, aimed at checking the validity of the earlier exercise, was carried out in just two of the 55 municipal wards and it put the number of illiterate population at 160 while the earlier survey had shown it as nil. The 1991 census put the urban population at 7.28 lakh and it is now projected to be just under a million. The rural segment a decade earlier was 12.98 lakh. The urban literacy rate in the district in 1991 was pegged at 91 per cent while in rural areas it was higher at 92.6 per cent. This compares favourably with the state’s literacy rate of 80.9 per cent — 78.5 per cent for rural areas and 86.9 per cent for urban. Corporation councillors expressed surprise that the survey found merely 1,361 people illiterate in 55 municipal wards. Congress councillor Ram Lal said his ward alone has probably more than that number of illiterates. Mr Krishan Kumar said the literacy drive had succeeded in bringing 50,000 illiterates into the literacy fold in villages. BJP councillor, Manmeet Parihar demanded that special steps should be undertaken to bring maids and servants employed in households under the literacy cover. The Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Ms Babita, urged for cooperation from all quarters, particularly the councillors, to ensure the success of the literacy drive. The city municipal council has 55 members. Prof Lakhbir Singh, president of an NGO, “Pehal”, which is engaged in the literacy drive, stressed on the need to rope in people from a cross-section of society, including artistes, social fora and self-help groups. Among others who actively took part in the meeting were Deputy Mayor Bachan Lal, councillors Surinder Nath
Murgai, Raj Kumar Gupta, Saroj Malhotra, Kanchan Sharma, Harbhajan Bagga and advocate Manu Prakash
Jindal. |
Man poisons
self, daughters JALANDHAR, June 4 — Fed up with wordy duels with his wife, a local tailor allegedly committed suicide after taking sleeping pills. He also killed two of his daughters by forcing them to take the pills. While Surjit Singh, a tailor and resident of Mithu Basti here, and Seema, one of his daughters, died shortly after taking the pills last night, his other daughter, Anju, died this morning at the civil hospital where she was admitted after the incident. According to the police, Surjit Singh was a drunkard and used to pick up fights with his wife Mohinder Kaur over some trivial matter. A similar situation occurred when he beat up his wife and two daughters. Mohinder Kaur then went to some relative’s place along with her daughters. Assuming that everything had returned to normal, she sent her two daughters back home yesterday. An infuriated Surjit Singh then forced the two girls to take sleeping pills. He later took the pills in excessive quantity. A case has been registered and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. |
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Robbers stalk Jalandhar JALANDHAR, June 4 (UNI) — Robbers stalked the district for the third consecutive night, notwithstanding brainstorming sessions and night dominance launched by the police to curb the rising menace of robberies and dacoities which have unnerved people in the countryside. When a gang of robbers struck at the residence of Kuldip Singh at Khaira village of Phillaur subdivision at 2 a.m. today, the family was asleep and they encountered no resistance when they emptied a cupboard of its cash and valuables. Apparently
dissatisfied with the booty comprising over Rs 30,000, a pair of gold ear rings and a “kara” and five wrist-watches, at least five robbers, two of whom were donning “patkas” on trimmed heads, tried to wake up house owner Kuldip Singh. He woke up with a start and hit one of the robbers with an iron rod he had slept with in view the scare which has gripped the countryside because of a spate of robberies and dacoities in the district in the recent past. But in spite of having been hit, the robber managed to escape with accomplices. Kuldip Singh said he saw seven or eight them fleeing from his house in the dark, adding a few of them were apparently keeping vigil outside his house when their accomplices were committing the crime inside. Police sources said had the hit robber fallen and been captured, they would have got a vital breakthrough they had been desperately looking for to stem the wave of crime which had hit the district. The month of June dawned on an ominous note when a gang of three robbers struck at Sanghowal village of Nakodar subdivision and committed a series of robberies in the houses of two widows, Pritam Kaur and Amarjit Kaur, and looted cash and jewellery from the farmhouse of Madan Singh after their first attempt to commit the crime in the house of Dharam Singh failed as the family had woken up on hearing commotion. Two sons of Amarjit Kaur, widow of a police official, were wounded in the assault by the robbers. Even as the police was trying to piece together sketchy evidence of the crime, the robbers struck at Lambra and Lambri villages, before the dawn of June 2. They raided the “dera” of Baba Dumshah, assaulted its Head Jai Parkash Bharati, his brother Harbans Lal and security guard Yash Pal Singh after drugging the dogs to sleep at Lambra. They looted whatever cash and valuables they could lay their hands on. The gangsters then went to the farmhouse of Gurdev Singh outside Lambri, beat him unconscious and looted Rs 25,000 besides gold ornaments. They also hit Gurdev’s nephew Bittu, sleeping in the verandah of the house, before fleeing. The sources said about 30 robberies and dacoities had been committed in the district this year. Alarmed by the spate of robberies and crimes the police has held a series of raids over the past week and screened hundreds of persons, including migrants, in and around the city in their bid to find clue to the rising crime. Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav, accompanied by his gazetted officers, held a meeting with city industrialists here on June 2 to seek their help in screening the labour force employed by them. The industrialists have been asked to provide lists of the labour force employed by them to the police who, the SSP said, would varify the
antecedents of suspects among them from their respective home states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The SSP said Punjab was swept by a wave of similar robberies and dacoities in the early ’90s and it turned out to be the handiwork of denotified criminal tribes from Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere. |
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Goods train used for smuggling BATHINDA, June 4 — The GRP has succeeded in detecting the modus operandi of smugglers who had been sending opium from Rajasthan to Punjab by using the Railway’s goods transportation system. Official sources said the police had seized about 15 kg of opium from a scooter which was transported from Madhopur in Rajasthan to Bathinda in the goods wagon of a train. The opium was concealed in the vacant space around the petrol tank of the scooter. Sources added that when the scooter was unloaded at the local railway station and taken to the parcel office for its delivery to the person concerned railway officials suspected foul play. The officials immediately informed the police authorities. The opium was seized from the scooter when it was thoroughly checked by the GRP personnel. Sources added that the police also found a registration certificate from the scooter. However, when the registration certificate was used for identifying the persons who had booked the scooter at Madhopur station and the person to whom the delivery was to be made it was found to be fake. Sources added the railway authorities were surprised over the seizure of opium. The railway authorities were trying to find out whether it was an isolated incident or goods trains were being used for smuggling narcotics. A few years back poppy husk had been found in the parcel office. A case in this connection was also registered in the railway police station. Mr Harbans Lal, Station Superintendent, when contacted said a vigil was being kept on all goods which were being received in the local parcel office. |
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SDO booked
for fraud ROPAR, June 4 (PTI) — Three officials of the Punjab Irrigation Department, including a Sub Divisional Officer
(SDO), have been booked on alleged charges of corruption and fraud, the police said
today. SDO Joginder Singh Mann and Junior Engineers Gursaran Singh and Nirmal Singh have allegedly shown inflated cost on repair of stands constructed on the Sutlej in Ropar district than the actual cost involved in the construction of such works, they said. The accused had allegedly made criminal deception of about Rs 1.50 crore in 1994 to build a bandh on the banks of the Sutlej passing through Ropar district. |
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4 hurt in PACL union clash ROPAR, June 4 — The president of the Punjab Alkalis and Chemicals Ltd. (PACL) Employees Union, RK Dewedi, started an indefinite fast and his supporters sat on a dharna, yesterday evening, against the decision of the management to
recognise, Rajan Puri, as the president of the union. Supporters of the elected union and those recognised by the management, also clashed in front of the PACL main gate. The clash took place when representatives of the elected union were holding a gate rally before the start of their dharna. Four members of both groups were injured in the clash and have been admitted to the BBMB canal hospital. There has been tension in PACL since two months when the ex-managing director, Mr Veketratnam recognised Rajan Puri as the union president. Elections to the union were held on October 15, 1999, under the jurisdiction of the local magistrate. As per the constitution of the union, the tenure of the elected body is one year. The elected union, after taking charge made corruption allegations against the management and constituted a panel to investigate these. They also got cancelled a salt procurement contract, which was allegedly causing a loss of Rs 1 crore per annum to the company and forced the management to drop the policy of selling the product through commission agents. The PACL management, peeved at the pressure exerted by the union, recognised an alternative president on the plea that he had submitted a list of over 200 supporters. The elected union has, however, contested the claim saying the majority of workers was with them. The immediate provocation for the present action was a letter issued by the management endorsing the recognition of Rajan Puri as president. Members of the elected union have threatened dire consequences, if the health of their fasting president deteriorates. The DGM, HRD when asked to comment on the dharna termed it as unfortunate. He said the fight in the union was its internal matter. |
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Farmer robbed of cash PHILLAUR, June 4 — Armed miscreants entered the house of farmer Kuldip Singh and robbed him Rs 30,000 and gold ornaments at Kherra village in Phillaur subdivision late last night. The miscreants managed to escape under cover of darkness. The Phillaur police has registered a case under Sections 458 and 380 of the IPC. No arrests have been made so far. |
Shopkeeper shot
at Samrala SAMRALA, June 4 — A shopkeeper, Naresh Kumar (40), belonging to Behlolpur village in the police station Machhiwara near here was murdered last night. According to sources, Naresh Kumar was going toward his house at about 9 p.m. when he was fired at by some unidentified persons. He was taken to the local hospital but as he was in a critical state he was referred to Ludhiana but he died on the way. Police officials rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. |
Number of NRI seats increased PATIALA, June 4 — Punjabi University has increased the number of seats and simplified the procedure for admission of NRI candidates in various courses. Giving this information, Dr B.S. Bhatia, Registrar of the university, said here today that from the new session starting in July, the NRI candidates would be required to submit only a copy of the passport and a draft for fees and funds in foreign currency or its equivalent in Indian currency. The simplification of the procedure was expected to attract a larger number of candidates this year. |
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MCA entrance test
on July 1 PATIALA, June 4 — Punjabi University will conduct the entrance test for admission to the master of computer applications (MCA) course on the Punjabi University campus, Patiala, and the Guru Kashi campus, Talwandi Sabo, on July 1,2000. Giving this information Prof Prem Kumar, who is coordinator of the test, said over 1,000 candidates from all over Punjab were expected to sit in the test which would be conducted at Modi College, Patiala, and the SSD College, for Girls, Bathinda. To provide information and assistance to the candidates an entrance test cell has been opened in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering on the Punjabi University campus. |
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New heads of
departments PATIALA, June 4 — Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, under the rules of headship by rotation has appointed new heads of the six different departments of the university. Dr Jagtar Singh has been appointed Head of the Chemistry Department, whereas Dr Meenakshi, Dr S.P. Narang and Dr Y.P. Bajaj have been appointed Heads of the Departments of Education, Library Science and History, respectively. Under another notification Dr S.P.S. Virdi has been appointed the new Head of the Physics Department, whereas Dr S.P. Singh would assume the charge of Head of the Human Biology Department. |
Ginning
mills fail to revive BATHINDA, June 4 — Even as the production of cotton went up to about 10 lakh from 5 lakh bales in Punjab in the just-ended season, the increased production has failed to revive the cotton ginning and pressing industry. Over the years due to continuous fall in the cotton production, the ginning and pressing mills were being closed due to unavailbility of adequate raw material. In last three years, the situation had became so had that more than 200 ginning and pressing mills were closed down abruptly when their owners found it difficult to run their units in the absence of raw material. Official sources said about 210 cotton ginning and pressing mills in Punjab were closed down in 1998-99. More than 70 mills were closed down in the 1999-2000 season in its beginning. Though the production of cotton went up to 10 lakh bales, the owners of the closed down mills did not dare to run the mills as they found they would not be able to run their mills profitable due to the shortage of raw material and an increase in the cost of labour and other inputs. In this State, the cotton ginning and pressing industry, which once used to give employment to lakhs of people and generate revenue worth crores of rupees for the Punjab Government and the Punjab State Electricity Board every year, also started disappearing as the owners suffered huge losses due to fluctuation in the cotton prices. The sources said with the increase in the cotton production after 1980 in Punjab, the cotton ginning and pressing industry mushroomed in this region and the State developed over all capacity of ginning and pressing of 40 lakh bales. However, after 1990, the cotton production started declining every year and it touched the record low in 1998-99 when the State could produce only 5 lakh bales against the 26 lakh bales produced by it in 1989-90. Due to absence of adequate raw material, the owners found that they would not be able to meet their overhead expenses by running their units below their capacity. Mr Fateh Chand Sharma, Vice-President, Northern India Cotton Association (MICA) told TNS that even those ginning and pressing mills were also closed which were recently set up in those areas where the State government had given sales tax and other exemptions. In the current season, the cotton was being sown in about six lakh hectare area in Punjab and bumper cotton crop was being expected. If it happened as expected by farmers and traders then the cotton ginning and pressing industry would revive in the State. He said to promote the cotton ginning and pressing industry, Punjab Government should extend special concessions to it. On the other hand, certain ginning and pressing mill owners, have converted their units in rice mills in Muktsar and Ferozepore belt. Even the Markfed had also decided to convert its cotton mills into rice shelling mills. Mr Ashok Kapur, Director, Export penal, NICA, told TNS that the Punjab Government should formulate a concrete policy for the cotton ginning and pressing industry so it could survive in the bad phases also. |
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