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| Wednesday, August 2, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
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Falling water table not due to paddy
sowing LUDHIANA The rice-wheat rotation is also not considered sustainable. The scientist feels that this crusade against rice seems to be based on some perceived notions. The study by Dr G.C. Aggarwal has critically evaluated rice cultivation and the decline in water table, input use efficiency of rice versus that of other kharif crops, impact of rice on soil degradation, farmers crop selection criteria and rice and consequences of crop diversification in India. Evaluation of various crops was done on the basis of the recommended inputs viz irrigation water, fertilizers, other chemicals and their evapo-transpiration needs. Energy cost of various inputs/operations and energy returns were also computed. Almost daily irrigations of rice fields by farmers increases the amount of water applied to rice but does not increase demand on ground water resources as the percolated water recharges the ground water. Lifting of more than required ground water, however, increases the energy consumption in pumping water. In terms of evapo-transpiration efficiency, rice is far more efficient user of water than other kharif crops though irrigation water use efficiency of rice is the lowest. Fall of ground water level is not due to rice alone but is due to 38 per cent increase in cultivated area and 25 per cent increase in irrigated area during the period 1970-71 to 1989-90. Farmers irrigate rice fields almost daily even though "ponded water" is not needed in rice fields. This practice increases amount of irrigation water applied, electricity consumption in pumping ground water and amount of percolated water. However, it does not lower ground water table as the percolated water recharges the ground water reservoir. Evapo-transpiration (water use) efficiency of rice is very high, though irrigation water use efficiency of rice is very high, though irrigation water use efficiency of rice is very low. Water use efficiency of trice, maize, cotton and groundnut is 35.6, 29.2, 12.3 and 15.0 kg/acre am, respectively. Thus productivity of water-use in rice is higher than its productivity in any other kharif crop. The fall of ground water level is not due to rice alone but is due to increase in cultivated area and irrigated area
and shift to high water requirement crops. Evaluation of various crops on the basis of nutrients removed per unit per copy yield shows that rice is an efficient user of fertilisers. According to a study, primary nutrients removed in Punjab during 1990-91 by rice, maize, pulses, oil seeds, cotton and wheat were 19.9, 26.0, 53.3, 32.0, 88.8 and 28.4 g/kg crop yield, respectively. Amounts of secondary nutrients and of micronutrients removed by rice too were the minimum. The recommended use of chemicals for control of insects, pests and diseases in rice is less than that for other kharif crops. Rice is an efficient user of chemicals, it gives highest yield from a given chemical energy input. Attributing increased fertiliser use and mining of soils in Punjab to rice too is unjustified. Evaluation in terms of nutrients removed per unit crop yield, indicates that rice is an efficient user of fertilisers. Reduction in yield of wheat following rice sue to soil health deterioration has seldom been observed by farmers. Punjab average wheat yield has increased from 2724 kg/ha in 1980-81 to 4011 kg/ha in 1993-94 though almost the entire area under rice comes under wheat and same old wheat varieties are being sown. A recent PAU study revealed that yield of wheat following rice was 4.8 and 9.6 per cent higher than yield of wheat following maize in 1994-95 and 1995-96, respectively. Economic returns from rice-wheat sequence too are the highest. Farmers consider average crop yield, yield growth rate, fluctuations in crop yield and economic returns while allocating area into different crops. The above criteria favour rice cultivation in Punjab. During the period 1966 to 1992, yields of rice, maize, moong, groundnut, desi cotton and American cotton in Punjab increased by 126.0, 19.2, 32.5, -3.9, 10.0 and 49.3 per cent, respectively. PAU studies have shown that compared to other kharif crops, variability in rice yield is the minimum. Economic returns from rice too are higher than returns from maize, bajra, moong, and groundnut. No doubt, food grain production has been consistently increasing in India but per capita food availability in India is amongst the lowest in the world. Our food granaries are bulging because many Indians do not have economic access to food. Diversification to crops than foodgrain crops will make food more costly and increase the number of people living below the poverty line. To sum up, rice performs better than other kharif crops as regards yield stability and economic returns and it also efficiently uses water, fertilisers and energy. Moreover, a recent study, "Impact of GATT on Punjab agriculture" has observed that Punjab is quite competitive in production of wheat, paddy and cotton and that the state is expected to remain competitive in these crops in the near future also as the import parity prices of these crops are higher than the domestic market. Water and energy resources of Punjab can be saved as ensuring their efficient use and not by reducing area under rice. |
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Colourful contests mark Teej LUDHIANA In the rangoli competition, there were 40 teams, each comprising two students. The girls used mirrors, flowers, glitters, ghungroos, divas and eatables to adorn their colourful rangoli patterns. In the mehndi competition, 60 girl students applied mehndi on their own hands. In the rangoli competition, Vijeyta Jain won the first prize, Alka Chhabra and Sachinpreet shared the second prize, Anjali Gupta and Vibhuti were declared third and Samridhi and Chetna won a consolation prize each. In the mehndi competition, Megha Nayyar won the first prize, Payal and Rashi shared the second prize, Neha and Simran were declared third and Ashima and Rachna won consolation prizes. All through the contest, girls from the junior sections kept the festival alive with their dance. Swings were hung and bangle stalls had been put up. Ghevar, a sweet speciality of the Teej festival, was specially ordered. Mrs Roop Ranjan Dharni, art and craft teacher, supervised the function. She said the function was organised to bring out the talents of the school children. Also present on the occasion were Mrs Indira Kumar, Principal, Dr Lajpat Rai, president of the school management, Mr Sunder Lal Gupta, secretary, and Mr Prem Agarwal, joint secretary of the school management. |
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Two more youths fall prey to “living it up” LUDHIANA The two cousins, along with another youth Gogi are alleged to have committed a number of daring thefts in and around the city during the past couple of months. Interestingly, all these thefts were committed at jewellery shops, readymade garments and other luxury items shops. Inspector Maninder Bedi, in charge CIA headquarters, said "These youngsters would go the various shops and introduce themselves as elite customers. While one of the miscreants would discreetly leave the shop and wait in the car outside, the other would quickly snatch the expensive goods, dash to the car and they would flee from the spot." Incidentally, the accused come from well-to-do families. While talking to TNS after his arrest here today, accused Jaswinder Singh informed that about one year ago when he met his cousin Kuldeep Singh he found that he was doing very well for himself. ''I asked him about how he managed to own a deluxe Maruti car have a thick wad of notes in his pocket and also satisfy his craze for gold jewellery. He told me that he had found on easy way out to make good money by stealing things,'' he says. Jaswinder also informed that most often they stole those items not for their disposal and making a quick buck but for their own use. The duo together stole three gold bracelets from a jeweller on Dugri Road for , a Zen car from a car bazaar for Jaswinder, branded jeans and T-shirts worth Rs 10,000 from a shop on Malhar Road, two sets of mobile phones from Phagwara, two sets from Mandi Gobindgarh and two compressors of air-conditioners. Kuldeep Singh is also alleged to be involved in the daring daylight theft at Zevar Jewellers on Malhar Road, a few months ago. Incidentally, Jaswinder confessed that both he and Kuldeep were drug addicts and needed Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 for buying their monthly dosage of opium and the limited money given by their families did not allow them such expenditure and so they took this recourse. 'However, when I got to know that Kuldeep was separately involved in this business with Gogi and they were also committing thefts, I decided to call it quits. In fact, when I got to know that Kuldeep had spoken about my involvement in the cases of theft to Gogi, I developed cold feet and returned the two mobile phone sets that I had stolen from Gobindgarh to the shopkeeper by tying them and throwing them in front of his shop,'' he said. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldeep Singh, said that it took the police a lot of systematic efforts to penetrate into their modus operandi and lead to the arrest of Jaswinder Singh. |
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Rs 45,000 relief
on power bill awarded LUDHIANA Mr Narinder Kumar, owner of Plastic Industries, had approached the forum for the refund of a Rs 84,000 bill charged on him by the PSEB. The complainant pleaded that he was a regular payee of bills, when in January 1993 he suddenly received a hefty bill of Rs 37,521. He approached the Dispute Redressal Committee of the board, but to his surprise the bill amount had been increased to Rs 84,095 after charging him a bill amount for the period of two years while the initial bill was of six months only. The committee had also accused the complainant of theft of energy. However, an inspection team of the board did not find any sign of theft on checking the meter of the complainant’s power connection. The complainant then approached the forum for redressal of his grievance. He demanded a refund of the amount of Rs 37,521 paid by him , quashing of the added amount and compensation of Rs one lakh. The
PSEB, through its counsel, however, sought to prove that the bill was based on correct calculations. The forum, upholding the consumer’s argument, directed the PSEB to refund the additional amount of Rs 45,000 if it has been recovered, or quash the order. The forum held that the complainant’s request for a refund of the first bill amount of Rs 37,521 was not maintainable as it had not been filed in the stipulated period of two years. The PSEB has also been directed to pay 12 per cent interest to the complainant. |
City youths return after harrowing LUDHIANA, Aug 1 — They left the country with dreams of reaching out to the stars in a foreign land. Today, after a harrowing experience in Thailand and Malaysia, and their dreams shattered, the two wait for justice from the police in the form of nabbing of the travel agent responsible for their woes. Mr Ravinder Singh, a resident of Tajpur road, and Mr Baldev Singh, a resident of Haibowal, were involved in timber business and were doing pretty well. However, last year in December, Mr Baldev Singh met one of his friends who brought the duo in contact with a travel agent Avtar Singh, a resident of the J-block, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar. The duo, seeing an opportunity of shifting to greener pastures, paid Rs 85,000 each to the travel agent, on the promise that he would get them jobs in Libya. However, the agent, later on told them that he could not get them jobs in Libya and would instead arrange jobs in Malaysia. “When finally we got a visa, it was for Thailand and not for Malaysia and when we raised doubts, he assured us that once in Thailand, we would get our visa for Malaysia” alleges Mr Baldev Singh. In Thailand, the agent took (Rs 10,000 each) from us on the pretext of getting it exchanged in the Thai currency,” he added. He further alleged that they were then asked to follow another man, who took then to an apartment, where they found 25 other men, most of them Indians. “We were made to stay without food for two days and then taken on a steamer. Later, we had to wade through knee -deep marshy water for four km and then walk through a jungle all through the night till we crossed into Malaysia.” “The agents who were leading us would change after a little distance. They were equipped with mobile phones and revolvers,” informs Mr Ravinder Singh. He says that once they reached Malaysia, they were made up work in a firm in Marbo City without any payment. “Later, when we were shunted out of the firm, we were helped by a taxi driver from Tamil Nadu, who took us to a Gurdwara. The sewadars in the Gurdwara, on realising that our visa was for Thailand, asked us to leave the country immediately in order to evade arrest,” rues Ravinder Singh. The duo then again crossed over to Thailand and stayed in a Gurdwara in Bangkok. The two finally returned home on June 27 and reported the matter to the local police. “The police did register a complaint, but no action was taken against the agent. He still continues to cheat other gullible people in a similar way. We want that the accused is punished so that he does not play with the lives of other innocent people,” says the duo. |
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Daresi Ground cries for attention LUDHIANA The reference is to Daresi Ground, located in Old Ludhiana . It is one of the largest open spaces that has survived industrialisation in this mega city and had immense contribution in shaping the history of not only the state but also the country. A number of historic events took place at these grounds. Its reference in the Indian freedom struggle dates back to the War of Independence of 1857 when angry British forces razed houses of Indian nationalists located on the ground. After Independence, it became a prime spot for organising national and state-level movements and political activities. In spite of such a rich past, the grounds today are in a state of neglect. What to speak of care and maintenance , one does not even find a suitable memorial commemorating the historic importance of the place. The neglect is evident not only physically on the ground but in the history books as well. As only a passing reference is found here and there in some books. Ludhiana Tribune talked to a number of old citizens of the city to reconstruct the forgotten history of Daresi Grounds. In fact so short has been the public memory that conflicting versions were available on the genesis of the name Daresi. According to one view, the ground was used by British forces for morning parades and drills after dressing up in complete uniforms. The word ‘Dressing’ with the passage of time became ‘Daresi’ and is still in use. Some persons claimed that the ground was used for dressing up horses of the British forces and was thus coined ‘ Dressing Ground ’ but the local lingo popularised it as Daresi. However, another school of thought links the name to the razing of houses of Indian freedom fighters, which used to exist where the ground is seen today. According to this view, after the 1857 revolt British forces which were housed in the Lodhi Fort just opposite the Daresi Ground, always faced a security threat from a cluster of houses existing in front of the main entrance. To end it , they decided to demolish one full colony where they suspected that Indian freedom fighters used to meet and planned attack on the fort. In Persian language, Daresi word means levelling a ground and thus after that incident the place became popular by this name. The conflict on the genesis of its name notwithstanding, the different versions themselves reflect the various activities associated with the place. Enquiries revealed that after 1925 when the freedom struggle resumed feverish pitch, it became the centrestage of rallies and movements. The popularity of the place did not wane even after the Independence. Several important political rallies were organised at this place. Prominent persons who addressed the Ludhianvis from here included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lok Nayak Jai Parkash Narayan, Dr Kalicharan, Ram Monohar Lohia and Vijay Lakshmi Pandit. Apart from these the place has witnessed regular rallies of state leaders. Besides, the place was also popular for cultural and religious activities. The celebration of Dushera and Ramlila at these grounds is well known. And to cap it all, it was from this ground that acclaimed actor Balraj Sahni collected huge funds for the benefit of Indian soldiers after the Indo-China war. A senior citizen Dr R. Vatsayan says that people of the city are more to blame for the present state of the ground than the administrators. He said absence of a sense of history among the masses has made the administrators to conveniently ignore the grounds. The bad state of affairs of the place is only seen to be believed. Piles of garbage are seen at corners, while the ground which was lush green just a few years ago now presents a bald picture. Apart from poor maintenance, the area of the ground is also shrinking due to encroachment. Dr R. Vatsayan remembers there was a time just 10 to 15 years ago when a beautiful park used to exist here. People from the old city would come here for evening strolls. Some even brought their dinner with them and dined in the cool air. Alas, this beautiful picture seems difficult to resurrect now. Not only the greenery has become a thing of the past but the ground has also lost its attraction for politcal rallies. Due to its location well inside the crowded old city , modern politicians avoid it for security reasons and hold rallies at other open places outside the city. |
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Shani beggars favour change of profession LUDHIANA In keeping with the tradition, two melas are held every year in the month of Bhadon. First, on the day after Janamashtami and the other exactly 15 days later. Close to the Gugga Mari are a number of houses where live members of the clan of ‘Dakaunts’ who have been looking after the Gugga Mari and receiving the offerings. Dwarka Dass (65) is the present patriarchal head of the clan who is ready to get up in the middle of the night to receive whatever alms one has to offer in the name of Shani Dev. But these days it is a different story. Zeal and professionalism of these Shani beggars is on the wane. A large number of young Dakaunts now look down upon begging. Many of them have strayed into other professions. Ashwini Kumar (25), a grandson of Mr Dwarka Dass, took to photography after he failed in 8th standard. He is not totally averse to beg in the name of Shani as this is the family tradition but he does not cherish it either. Hablu (22), another grandson of Mr Dwarka Dass, works as a salesman in a hosiery unit located in Dal Bazaar. He says that other communities like those of Bhatras, have started Shani begging. They beg on all days of the week donning different robes depending on the
day. |
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Postal stamp on
Sobha Singh demanded LUDHIANA In a communication to the union minister, Mr Tarlochan Singh, Vice-President of the Minorities Commission, setup by the Government of India, has stated that Sobha Singh became a living legend when he painted Guru Nanak Dev And Guru Gobind Singh. Both of these paintings had been printed in millions and find place in every Sikh home. Another painting by Sobha Singh which has been acclaimed as a master-piece was that of ‘Sohni-Mahiwal’ painted in 1950s. So it would be appropriate if a stamp is released as a tribute to the great artist by the department of post. Copies of the communication have been forwarded to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, and Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal
Pradesh. |
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Use of residues for combating water pollution LUDHIANA The study notes that pollution is an unavoidable evil of industrialisation, but in Ludhiana it has reached alarming proportions. Every industry, directly or indirectly, pollutes the environment. Increasingly stringent legislation on the purity of drinking water has created a growing interest in the decontamination of water. Toxic organic compounds have become a severe environmental problem. Phenol and its derivatives are often found in the effluents from petroleum refineries, gas and come industries and fibre glass units, smelting and connected metallurgical operations, plastic industries, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, paint and varnish industries, textile units making use of organic dyes, pulp and paper industry domestic waste waters, agricultural run-off and chemical spills. Tertiary treatment should be incorporated to remove aromatic compounds, specifically phenolic compounds and derivatives. As per the Minas(minimum national standard), the minimum permissible limit of phenol in drinking water is .01mg per litre, but even .001 mg per litre phenol imparts disagreeable taste and odour to the water. Mainly chemical industries, electroplating units and refineries are the main culprits for discharging this compound in the main water stream. The tertiary treatment which is used to remove this compound is done by absorption using activated carbon as an adsorbate. But the main problem in India is the poor infrastructure and cost of operation and lack of technology. The cost of operation is also a hindrance. The small-scale industries are unable to adopt the use of activated carbon like adsorbate and prefer to discharge such effluent into water stream untreated. Recently, Dr S.K.Tyagi, a chemical engineer, stated that this costly adsorbent can be replaced by bagasse fly ash and rice husk fly ash, which can be obtained without any cost at the nearby places of any sugar mills. This is an ash of boiler fuel bagasse and rice husk,with proper chemical treatment in terms of temperature, pH time of operation and dose of adsorbent. |
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LUDHIANA CALLING People for Animals, a non-government voluntary organisation, is doing a yeoman’s service in the field of animal care and ensuring for them a more humane treatment from the human beings in Ludhiana. It has been active in the city for the past several years but it is only in recent months that it has begun to make an impact on the problem. The problem of cruelty to animals is quite widespread, says Dr Sajeev Jain and Mr Ajain Jain, both office- bearers of the PFA. As a matter of fact, there is very little awareness among the people on the need to treat the animals with kindness, despite the fact that almost all religions emphasise that they are God’s creation and are in the world to fulfill a particular task assigned to them by Him. The task of the PFA, which has as its patron the Union Minister, Ms Maneka Gandhi, a well-known animal lover, not easy to begin with. While on the one hand, there was inadequate awareness about the need for humane treatment for them, on the other hand the police tended to take them non-seriously whenever they went to it with complaint about the maltreatment of animals. “They tended to treat us as some kind of cranks and would laugh us out the police stations. But we persisted,” recalls Mr Jain. “We took to the police several cases like cruel treatment to snakes by snake charmers, of monkeys and bears by the madaris and of hens and chicken by the butchers....In one case, a Ludhiana court ordered confiscation of all hens and chickens about to be slaughtered by a butcher. It is another matter that the policemen did not know how to take care of them and some of them died of thirst and suffocation in police custody”. It was then decided to organise a training workshop for the policemen. With the active cooperation of the SP (Headquarters), as many as 125 police constables (NGOs) were given lectures on various aspects of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act at a session organised at the Ludhiana Police Lines. Besides, Dr Sanjeev Jain and Mr Ajay Jain, Mr Gurcharanjit Singh and Mr Tajinder Bhanot spoke about the various aspects of the act. Dr Jain says that he is happy to report that there have been positive results ever since the workshop was held for the police NGOs.
SPCA activities In sharp contrast to activities of the PFA, the other body active in the field of animal care is the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The society has its patron the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr S.K. Sandhu, and functions more or less like a government body. In other words, it seems to have so far confined itself to holding occasional ceremonial meetings and shuffling files from one table to the other. The actual work in the field seems to be rather minimal, if not totally absent. Little wonder that when Ludhiana Tribune carried a detailed investigative story on the widespread abuse of animals in the district and elsewhere in Punjab and highlighted the fact that Kila Raipur had become a major transit point for the animals sent to West Bengal and Bangladesh for slaughter, the SPCA promptly convened a meeting and decided to “organise an awareness campaign involving educational institutions and other social organisations in the city”. It was stated on behalf of the SPCA the campaign would go in for extensive campaign by publishing and distributing literature regarding the same and organising seminars in the university and collges, besides projection of the same in cinema halls and through the cable TV. But cynics say that if the past experience is any guide, nothing much may actually taken place on the ground. The SPCA was allotted a two acre of plot of land by the district administration a few months ago at the intervention of Ms Maneka Gandhi for setting up its offices and allied facilities, including a veterinary hospital and a cattle shed for the treatment of injured and sick animals. But so far, the project has not taken off the ground. The main problem with the SPCA seems to be the fact that it is more or less controlled by one family, say officials. When Mrs Maneka Gandhi visited Ludhiana last year, she prevailed upon the PFA to join the SPCA so as to ensure that there was no duplication of efforts and the two bodies do not work at cross purposes. But the unity was shortlived because the PFA found to its dismay that it was expected to do little more than twiddle its thumbs like its sarkari counterpart.
Loveria season College time is a leisure time. "It's time to watch and woo beautiful chics," defines Amit Sehgal, a trendy student. Despite hike in prices of petrol, the young gallant knights drive around girls colleges most of the time. The only thing they desire is a date with one of them. And their search does not always go in vain. In such a hectic schedule, classes automatically take a back seat. If you try to picture a typical college, with typical students and the typical conversation would be: "Let's go to the class, yaar". 'Pagal ho gaya hai kya, aaj picture dekhne nahin jaana?" Before the lecturer arrives in the classroom, half the class is watching the latest movies in the cinemas. For the lecturer, only walls, windows and a few bookworms remain.
Beauty on the wayside "A thing of beauty is joy for ever", said Keats. But these days, with a hectic lifestyle, one does not have time to stand and stare at the beautiful terracota objects of good quality lying in huge quantity on the Ferozepore road. Hundreds of people traverse, but a few people stop to admire the beautiful pots of different shapes and sizes, icons of God, gamlas and very attractive hanging bells. All these objects of beauty have come from Silliguri. Ranjit Pal, who owns the beautiful terracota crafted things, brings them from Siliguri by spending Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 on hiring a truck. The amazing collection of pots in all shapes and sizes, large and small, round and long, fat and squat, to suit all pockets lying on the roadside inviting customers to acquire them. To make the whole collection look more beautiful , Ranjit Pal, has painted some of the ornamental pots with black, brown and maroon enamel colour. He has highlighted the finer points with copper and gold colour. Colouring of the pots and icons adds more appeal. There are hundreds of gamlas, in various sizes. Ranjit Pal is able to earn around Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 hundred a day. He has employed three boys, also from Siliguri, who take his stuff in carts all over Ludhiana to sell them. ''Yesterday those three boys only brought Rs 150. Some days are good and some days are bad. '' He said philosophically. He has come a long way from his home, leaving his family to earn his livelihood and lives in a temporary hut adjacent to his terracota objects of beauty.
Nature's masterpiece No artist, worth its salt, can have such delicate colouring as nature. Nature is the supreme artist. This beautiful photograph, reproduced on the top of the page, of the sunset of a cloudy day proves the truth of the above statement. Just observe the soft clouds (like powder puff) merging with the pale yellow and terra cola red and with grey reddish clouds on the top. The sun has almost set and the tree vibrant in the daylight have taken a darker tones. The sunset is giving a message that what goes down will come up in full glory. The sunrise, the next day proves the truth of the statement. The sun, a massive star, looks a small speck giving us another message 'the mighty are also vulnerable'. Every day the sunset is unique as the earth is moving on its axis. Sadly very few people have the aesthetic sense to appreciate the beautiful works of nature. — Sentinel |
Community policing plan launched LUDHIANA, Aug1—Mr Sarabjit Singh, Director- General of the Punjab Police, inaugurated a special orientation programme on community policing at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, today. All district SSPs and range DIGs of the state participated in the one- day programme. The DGP in his inaugural address says that a new communiting policing programme is being launched in Punjab shortly with a view to ensure peaceful and healthy environment in society. The active support of the public is essential for ensuring desirable public- police interaction in a progressing society. Mr Sarabjit Singh informed all police officers in the state to ensure proper implementation of the new programmes. He also appreciated the efforts of the academy in undertaking modern training programmes in an effective manner. Mr Sanker Sen, a former DGP, in his key note address explained the concept of community policing as existing in various parts of the world. He also highlighted the need and importance of public cooperation in facing the crime threat existing in the country. He further said that time had come when without public help and support the police alone cannot effectively tackle the complex crime scenario existing all around. He called upon every police officer to extend all- out cooperation and help to ensure successful implementation of the new programme on community policing. Mr A.A.Siddiqui, Director of the academy, in his welcome note explained the outlines of the programme as well as the action plan to be implemented shortly. He highlighted the importance of positive media projection for the success of the programme. He further said that with the launching of this programme a new beginning would be made to achieve positive goals. The programme coordinator, Dr D.J.Singh, disclosed that the new programme on community policing was being briefed to all field officers as well as functionaries in batches at the academy. He said that half of the SHOs of the state had already been covered under the programme and the remaining would be covered in the second phase starting from August 7. Among others who addressed the participants were Mr Chander Shekhar, IGP, Mrs Anita Punj, IPS, Mr Praveen Sinha, IPS, and Dr Parmod Kumar from Chandigarh. |
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Woman booked for forgery LUDHIANA The accused, Harbans Kaur, received a grant of Rs 50,000 as relief from the Deputy Commissioner by forging signatures. A case under Sections 419 and 420 of the IPC has been registered against the accused, after the opinion of the DA legal. Man killed: Karandeep Singh was killed when his scooter was hit by a truck bearing registration number PBV-2092 near Gill Chowk on Monday. A case under Sections 279, 304-A and 427 of the IPC has been registered against the driver of the truck Jaswinder Singh, alias Jassa. Liquor seized:
Nine bottles of illicit liquor were seized from Mohinder Singh, alias Kaka, from the Basti Jodhewal area. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been
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DMC guard
beats up driver LUDHIANA Bikar Singh, a driver with a car from Faridkot, was asked by the security guard to immediately take away his car and park it elsewhere. Seeing that there was a delay in parking the car, the guard pounced on the driver and beat him up. Bikar Singh was then taken to the LM Civil Hospital and given preliminary medical aid. Two of his teeth were
broken. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the hospital said the hospital had placed the guard under suspension.
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Five gamblers arrested LUDHIANA In a press note released here, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldeep Singh, informed that a special drive against gambling and betting had been launched by a police party led by the CIA in charge, Inspector Maninder Bedi. As part of this drive, the five accused — Sandeep Kumar, Heera Lal, Kamal Kumar, Jatinder Singh and Jatinder Kumar — had been arrested. A case under Sections 13, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered against the accused at the Kotwali police station. The accused were later released on bail. |
Begging nuisance in shopping areas LUDHIANA, Aug 1 —About a dozen beggars, most of them women, who throng the Bhadaur House
are here, have become a nuisance for local people as well as visitors. The moment a person enters the complex he is swarmed by these beggars. The beggars, mostly women with at least one child in lap and another following on foot, follow people and do not give up till they force the person to part with some money. And they do not accept coins. Their demand is always for rupees. Bhadaur House is not an exception. In fact, most public places in the city like shopping plazas, railway station, bus stand, crossings and cinema hall areas are full of beggars. A handful of them may be physically challenged, but most of them are in good health and favour begging instead of labour. The beggars generally approach a person according to his age, behaviour or company. They shower blessings on the people. A beggar was persuaded to answer some questions with an assurance that she would get some money “for lunch”. She said she was from Rajasthan and had nobody to depend upon. “Since I am too old, I cannot work and am forced to beg from good people”, she explained. And how much did she earn in a day? “Nothing more than two time meals”, she claimed. But another beggar, again a woman flanked by two half-naked children, said, “I do not lie, I sometimes earn Rs 50 in a day, as there are some good people, who pay even Rs 5 to me and my children.” Local shopkeepers and hoteliers said they had been complaining to the police about the nuisance created by the beggars. Bhadaur House complex with a number of hotels is always full of visitors from different parts of the country. One shopkeeper said the beggars mostly target strangers who come from outside. |
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Soaring high
onself-reliance LUDHIANA When Ramandeep was three years old, he suffered from retinitis pigmentoisis, a disease in which cells of one layer of retina gets damaged. He gradually lost his complete vision. Even still there is no treatment of this disease. Ramandeep did matriculation from New Lourdes English High School in Mumbai. Studying in a normal school gave him more exposure and more knowledge, even though there were some big obstacles. In his school, Ramandeep had won the Best Student award. He once even bagged first prize in an inter-school quiz contest. There he was also the President of the Science Club. After his matriculation, Ramandeep shifted to Ludhiana with his family. Here he took computer course at Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre. This is the place where he was introduced to speech synthesiser which speaks out the text that is typed on the computer. This machine has been his biggest aide for making softwares. He has made softwares on accounts, payroll, stocks, export documentation and production control. He has now bought a more advanced speech synthesiser which will help him work in new softwares arriving in the market. It will also enable him to independently access the Internet. For his assistance, Ramandeep has employed a personal assistance and a management executive. Ramandeep had also won the Best Handicapped Self-Employed award in 1996 from Mr Shankar Dyal Sharma, the then President. He acknowledges the support of his entire family, especially his father, Manjit Singh
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