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| Tuesday, July 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Torrential
rain hits morning life LUDHIANA The east wind that had been in operation since yesterday morning brought enough clouds overnight to cause a torrential downpour at around 5 in the morning and the residents woke up to yet another sloppy morning. School-going kids were the worst hit. Those waiting for their school buses had to wait a bit longer than usual as the drivers had a tough time negotiating swelling waters on the roads. Parents escorting their children to school could be seen struggling with their scooters as they ran into knee-deep water at places all over the city. But weatherwise, the rain that lasted more than three hours was a welcome one as it brought about a further fall in the day temperature. With clouds moving over the city and a cool east wind blowing moderately at ground level, the weather was just perfect for an outing. |
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Traders flay
discrepancy in octroi rates LUDHIANA, July 17 — The Ludhiana Traders and Manufacturers Association today sought the removal of discrepancy in the rates of octroi charged in Ludhiana. Raising the issue in a memorandum submitted to the former Union Minister of State for Industry, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, at a seminar organised by the association to highlight various problems being faced by the industry in Punjab, members of the association pointed out the discrepancy in the octroi rates in Ludhiana compared to other districts. They said that during the last two years, the government had issued five notifications for Ludhiana in which octroi had been raised five to six times, more than the rate charged in other districts of Punjab. They said the Punjab Government had promised to abolish the octroi but had now been seeking to rationalise it. The traders and manufacturers appealed that in case the octroi could not be abolished, at least the rates should be reduced. The rubber, chemical and dye industry were worst hit by the octroi discrepancy, it was mentioned. Referring to the difficulties faced by traders on account of sales tax, they said, although the government had abolished the sales tax barriers, officers of the Sales Tax Department were frequently “moving around” and harassing traders. They suggested setting up of a state-level advisory committee for sales tax, in which members from trade and industry should be involved. The traders and manufacturers demanded that the government should launch various schemes of soft loans and other financial assistance in collaboration with banks and other financial institutions so that the small scale industry, which is facing the onslaught of WTO and GATT agreement is able to remain in competition. They demanded the abolition of sales tax on cycle industry, saying the cycle was a poor man’s vehicle and 6.6 per cent sales tax was too much for it. The traders pointed out the discrimination between the farmers and others while providing electricity. While the farmers were being given free power, the traders and manufacturers were subjected to undue and unjustified tariff hikes by the Punjab State Electricity Board. They suggested that instead of effecting hike in tariff, the PSEB should bring down the transmission and distribution losses. Addressing the seminar Mr Sukhbir Badal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, assured the association all cooperation from the government. He said although he was not holding any office or power, he could use his influence as a party worker with the government to sort out the problems of the traders and manufacturers. |
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Make farmers aware
of new techniques: Sukhbir LUDHIANA In his inaugural address, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, ex-Minister of State for Industries, said that the market demand should guide future agricultural policies if we want to get best out of agriculture. He emphasised that merely production related policies would make the farmers poorer, therefore, more efforts should be made to improve the marketing infrastructure. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the university scientists to devise techniques to build up a strong marketing network by using information technology. He also suggested that progressive farmers at block level should be invited to make them aware of new technologies. On this occasion, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister of Technical Education, Punjab, told the university scientists to make the farmers aware against excessive use of pesticides and insecticides which were harming environment. Speaking on the occasion, Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said that efforts should be made to reduce the cost of production so as to thrive in the competition. He also said that there was a need to produce trained manpower. Besides, he also laid much stress on creating job avenues for unemployed rural youth . Dr K.S. Aulakh, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, PAU, stressed on the need to curb exploitation of natural resources. He said that mechanisation had led to timely sowing of crops and increase in productivity. Mr Aulakh said that energy source had become the major requirement. Among others who took part in the seminar were Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, Dr H.S. Sekhon,
Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, Dr A.S. Bansal, president, Indian Society of Technical Education, and Dr S.S. Ahuja, president, Punjab chapter of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers. The inaugural session was followed by a technical session in which lectures were delivered by university professors on the need and ways of bringing modernisation in rural Punjab. |
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Disabled
accuses police of high-handedness LUDHIANA Vinod Sharma, who became an invalid after an accident in 1992, was allegedly rounded up by the police after his stuttering was mistaken by them as if he was speaking in a state of inebriation. While talking to TNS here today, Vinod Sharma alleged that he had knocked at every door to seek justice, but to no avail. He alleged that on June 20, while he was going on a moped to deliver some goods to a client in the Feroze Gandhi market, he was stopped by a few traffic personnel at the Bharat Nagar Chowk. He alleged that the three ASIs from the traffic posted there — ASI Naginder Singh, ASI Ashok Kumar and ASI Karnail Singh, apprehended him and asked to show the documents of his moped. While he was talking to the police officers, his stuttering was mistaken for drunkenness. “They started beating me up saying that I was drunk. In spite of the fact that I presented my identity card issued by the government showing that I was disabled, they put me in their vehicle and took me at Police Station Division No. 5. There I was illegally detained for almost an hour and only when my family members came to the police station, was I let off,” he says. He says that since then, he has moved from pillar to post to seek justice. “I went to the DIG, Ludhiana Range, Mr P.S. Sandhu, with a complaint and he marked it to the DSP (traffic). But almost a month has passed and no action has been taken yet against the accused,” he lamented. |
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Abandoned wells are relics now LUDHIANA, July 17 — At first look, 24 canopies seen in Nehru Rose Garden here appear just a beautiful resting place for the visitors or an attractive part of the landscaping plan of the garden. But, mind you, these are of much higher value than that. For, these canopies were built on 24 wells that used to provide water to generations of Ludhianvis till 1960s when a fall in the water level and emergence of tubewells and motor pumps all around made them redundant. Unknown to most of the present generation Ludhianvis, the wells were filled in 1970s by the Municipal Corporation and later developed as sitting places. Though preserved in this fashion the rich past of the canopies has been forgotten, as no board is visible in the garden informing the visitors about these wells. It is only some old citizens or well-informed MC employees who reveal that the wells used to supply water to not merely a few colonies but also to the entire city. Recalls Mr Sukhdev Singh , a resident of Bharat Nagar here , “ the wells have great significance for the city. In 1930s the city, which was much smaller than today, drew water from the wells and survived. Later, the MC began using tubewells and the wells were abandoned. They have no value for the present generation but for us they have immense emotional importance. Not only my contemporaries but my forefathers also used to drink water from these wells “. According to Mr D.S.Malhotra XEN and Mr S.S. Jandu, Superintending Engineer of the Municipal Corporation here, water was drawn from the wells by a steam engine resembling a ‘boiler’. This engine sucked water from all wells through 24 pipes and then supplied it to various areas. The device planned by the Britishers was improvised with the passage of
time. Two over-head water tanks were constructed in Dressi Grounds and Motchpura area each. However, with the passage of time the system failed to cope with the growing demand of water in the city whose population increased rapidly. According to Mr Malhotra, there were two reasons for filling the wells. One, they were shallow wells and not deep like the modern ones and had dried up. Secondly, the water consumption of the city had soared high. From a 30-litre per person need of water in the 1940s, it is currently 200 litre per person. Due to this increase, there was need to dig more tubewells and install more motor pumps. Mr Jandu said the real change came in 1950s when the Corporation got power supply for providing water through pumps and motors and then use of steam engine for drawing water from wells became obsolete. |
Abolition of child labour sought LUDHIANA, July 17 — A three-day seminar on child labour concluded here with a declaration seeking total abolition of child labour by taking measures for the welfare and betterment of the less privileged children. The seminar suggested holding of regular workshops to create awareness and sensitisation in different parts of the state and to start projects for literacy of the children and their health care in coordination with various organisations. The seminar suggested setting up of legal aid cells for needy children. It asked the Government of India to formulate countrywide rules in accordance with the International Labour Organisation treaty of 1986 and ratification and implementation of the articles 138 and 182 of the ILO convention. The participants emphasised the need for education for all children and providing it free at all levels. Speaking on the concluding day of the seminar, Dr Daljeet Singh, head, paediatrics department in Dayanand Medical College, said children working at tender age face serious health hazards. The situation, he said, was particularly grave in the hazardous industry. A child’s mind and body were not meant for labour and their development, which has an impact on the whole life pattern, is hampered by physical work. Dr L.S. Chawla, former Vice- Chancellor of Baba Farid Medical University, pointed out that a child needs care, love and affection for both mental and physical development. He stressed the need for concerted effort on part of society as whole to improve the condition of children. Dr Arun Mitra, a social activist, drew attention towards the problems of domestic helps. He pointed out, that the law did not consider domestic helps as workers, even though in many cases they were ill treated. Mr M.P. Joseph, national coordinator of the ILO on child labour, also shared his experience of various countries and other parts of the country in the struggle to achieve the goal of total abolition of the child labour. A panel of doctors including Dr Sanjeev Uppal, Dr Tejinder Singh and Dr Bahrti Uppal, besides Ms Amarjeet Kaur, secretary AITUC and national coordinator on this project on behalf of the AITUC, also participated in the discussion. |
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Declare NC members
traitors: AVBP LUDHIANA “The National Conference members who passed this resolution in the House should be declared traitors”, said Mr Ramesh Pappa, all-India organising
secretary north zone), ABVP. He said ,” Our soldiers are sacrificing their lives defending Kargil, and the N.C. government is talking of autonomy.” The
A.B.V.P. wanted the government to review the Constitution too. The students were worried about growing terrorism in states like J&K., Assam and Andhra Pradesh. They alleged that in the
neighbouring countries, like Burma, Bangladesh and Nepal, the ISI had started training camps for terrorists and Naxalities. They also demanded that Mr Advani should
fulfill his promise of bringing out a White Paper on the activities of the ISI so far he had not fulfilled this promise. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the present education policy. They wanted the education to be made student -friendly and more job oriented. |
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Case of mistaken identity LUDHIANA According to the information gathered by TNS here today, the police from police station Division No. 6, has been busy conducting raids in various parts of the state over the last couple of days in search of two notorious killers, Baldev Singh and Baljinder Singh, who are wanted in three sensational murder cases. It is learnt that police parties had been dispatched to Bathinda, Patiala, Moga, Sangrur, Patran and Raikot in search of the two serial killers. Early this morning, a police party that was sent to Raikot allegedly rounded up Balwinder Singh on the suspicion that he was one of the accused, Baljinder Singh. It is learnt that he was then brought to Ludhiana, but the villagers also followed the police party and reportedly vouched for Balwinder Singh and he was then let off the hook almost six hours after being rounded up. It may be noted that accused Baljinder Singh and Baldev Singh are accused in the murders of Harbans Kaur in Kot Mangal Singh locality and the twin murder of a motherson duo in New Simlapuri area on July 13. Other than this they are also alleged to have been involved in another murder in Amritsar. Meanwhile, when contacted, the SHO police station Division No. 6, Mr Nirabhjit Singh, has denied that the police had rounded up Balwinder Singh in a case of mistaken identity. “We had brought Balwinder Singh for questioning as he was believed to be close to accused Baldev Singh and his shop was also situated next to the shop of Baldev Singh. During our investigations, the name of Balwinder Singh had cropped up and this is the reason that he was brought here.” |
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Mind your manners LUDHIANA What could be the possible reason of erosion of good manners? Is it lack of basic education of good manners both at home and school? Or is it because people have acquired a ‘could not care ‘attitude? Or is it because the people have become so callous that they don’t mind ruffling anyone’s feathers? Whatever the reason may be, the people with good manners are hard to come by. We are supposed to be more civilized than people of yester-years. But are we, is the question? Where has chivalry disappeared? Do the men show common courtesy like standing up when a lady enters, or vacating a seat in the bus, or opening the door of a car. These manners exist only in army circles where certain etiquettes are strictly adhered to. So we have to conclude, “Chivalry is dead with Sir Walter Raliegh”. Sir Walter Raliegh was one of the brave and loyal, knights, of Queen Elizabeth I. During these days, the men also used to wear cloaks. Once Queen Elizabeth was riding and had to dismount. But the problem was that there was a big puddle at the spot where she was to dismount. Sir Walter Raliegh quickly took off his coat and spread it on the puddle, held his hand out to the queen and helped her to cross over the puddle without getting her dainty feet wet. Ever since that incident W.R. is quoted as the epitome of chivalry. Men would not become less manly. If they show more courtesy to women. The words like, “please, thank you, pardon, excuse me” act as lubricants and smoothen the life of everyone. Why be boorish and command, when more often that not, the people are willing to do you a service? But most of us like to boss around to show our authority. Sometimes one does not follow what other is saying. Then the person keeps saying. “What? What?” One should say, “pardon” or “sorry”. ‘I did not get you’. When some one says ‘thank you’, the correct
response is ‘you are welcome’, or ‘my pleasure’, instead of the commonly used ‘mention not’ or ‘it is all right’. A sweet tongue can work wonders. A person who speaks sincerely and sweetly gets his work done more easily than a man who is boorish and speaks rudely. In Punjab, most of the language of men is punctuated by abusive words most foul, which makes the listeners’ ears turn red. They use profanities of most vile nature in public. These have to be avoided at all costs. Education plays an important role in imparting good manners. In public, you often see people yawning. Please cover your mouth. While you sneeze, again, cover your mouth and should say afterwards ‘excuse me’. The other person is supposed to say, ‘bless you’. These small courtesies go a long way in making any relationship long-lasting and pleasant. The other thing lacking very sorely in people of today is scant respect for punctuality. If the functions begin at 8’clock, people including the hosts will reach the function late. Time is precious and is not to be wasted. Picking of nose and digging into the nose as if digging for gold, and scratching of groin is a obnoxious sight to behold. People must stop doing these things in public. People must stop doing these things in public and should become conscious of these bad habits. A loud voice does attract attention, but is jarring on the ears. Talk in soft tones, specially when you are amidst a company. The booming tone has to be toned down. During a conversation — do not talk about yourself and achievements and specially never of your ailments. People are not interested in your aches and pains and your problems, Who does not have problems? Just share your problems with your buddies. The world laughs with you. Do not expect it to cry with you. During the conversation religious topics should be avoided. Your religion is your personal affair. Most of the people take their religion very seriously and any comment, light hearted or otherwise, raises their blood pressure and conversation can turn in to a fight. Also, do not try to
argue. Dale Corneige has said that when you win an argument, you lose a friend. Do you want to lose a friend over an argument? It is not worth it. Firstly, do not choose topics that can become controversial. Learn to agree to disagree in polite tones. It is not necessary that people have to agree with you on every topic. Everyone has a right to have his own opinion. |
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New pesticide launched LUDHIANA Mr Kinoshita, Managing Director of Hokko Chemicals Ltd., speaking on the occasion said the pesticide, which they prefer calling a ‘blasticide’, was eco-friendly and had no damaging effect on the rice crop, the soil or consumption of the crop by humans or animals later on. He also informed that the ‘blasticide’ had a bio-chemical effect and was not a synthetic product and had no side-effects. Mr R.G. Aggarwal, group chairman Dhanuka Pesticides Limited, said the blast disease had become a major headache for the farmers as few products could prevent its growth, which seriously affected the paddy yield as well as the quality of the grains. He said, finding a good pesticide for killing the disease had become the need of the hour, especially because it effected basmati rice more than any other variety of food crop. (TNS) |
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Orientation programme for cops LUDHIANA As many as 126 police personnel participated in the four sessions of the programme held at the Police Lines. The promoters of Herbalife, a bio-food delivered lectures on how to live a better life by eating good food overcoming stress and being emotionally stable. The Superintendent of Police, Headquaters, Dr Utpal Joshi said, “Personnel from various police stations as well as the Police Lines participated in the seminar.” He said this seminar was important in the wake of rampant alcoholism because of the stressful life led by those in the police force. |
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18 birds sent to Delhi LUDHIANA, July 17 — Eighteen birds, mostly pigeons and mynahs, found abandoned and injured in various parts of the city, were today sent to the Animal Hospital in the precincts of Digambar Jain Mandir, near Red Fort, in Delhi, by the People For Animal (PFA) organisation. A press release issued by the organisation said most of the birds were carrying cut injuries caused by the dor used in kite flying or had got stuck on railway sheds, where a chemical jelly is used to prevent birds from entering the place. According to Dr Sandeep Jain, sheds at the railway station were frequented by the birds of all varieties but their excreta was a problem for goods stored underneath or machines used by the Railways. In order to prevent this, the railway authorities had applied a chemical jelly on the sheds. The paws of the birds used to stick to the jelly. Efforts to break free only made their wings heavy after contact with the jelly and they would ultimately fall. These birds were treated by the PFA here for a few days but as they require special care and treatment they have been sent to the Animals Hospital in Delhi. Meanwhile, the PFA had a touching and interesting experience when after treating a Bluerock pigeon and releasing it near Phillaur township, the bird returned to the house of one of the activists who had treated it. Further efforts to translocate the bird brought similar results. Now the PFA has sent it to far-off Delhi, hoping it will not return. |
Cyber
accounting goes
multilingual LUDHIANA, July 17 — Now accounting on computer can be done in 12 Indian languages namely; Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Bengali and
Assamese.This privilege is available with Wings 2000 IL software. The software incorporates WERI technology, i.e., Write English Read Indian which allows user to enter transactions in English and take all account books and reports in any Indian language of his choice. One can also design and print invoices and vouchers in any Indian language. One can even create and maintain personal dictionaries to ensure perfect translation. Wings 2000 IL is user-friendly as it incorporates Wings wizard that guides the user at every step. The software is comprehensive since it allows financial accounting, preparation of accounts receivable and payable, invoice designing, inventory management, and also budgeting. It helps in order management by tracking sale and purchase orders and monitoring orders booked, pending and executed. Reports can be sorted company-wise, product-wise or date-wise. The software also helps apply suitable formulae while making reports. Invoices’ and vouchers’ designs allow use of pictures, logos, boxes, borders, text either and variables to make them look as is desired. Other advantages include creation and use of any number of sales tax and excise duty slabs and do complete accounting for there. Above all, the data base is password protected and ensures fool proof security of the accounts. According to Mr Aneesh Soni of Balaji Software Arcade, local dealer of Wings, it is an all in-one accounting software and can be called a mini Entrepreneur Resource Planning (ERP) software. It will be available in the city in a week. The software allows accounting for various branches, divisions and projects of a company. Wings 2000 IL allows accounting on one or multiple computers and even on the Internet. It can work with any operating system of windows 95/ 98 and NT. |
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