Youth Congress leader held for murder
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — A senior Youth Congress leader, Mr Ashok Prashar, alias Pappi Prashar was today arrested by the CIA staff on charges of illegally disposing off a dead body after murder and for criminal conspiracy in the Daboo murder case.

According to the information available, a team of the CIA staff raided the house of the YC leader this morning and arrested him. He was booked under Sections 201 and 120-B of the IPC and was later presented before the duty magistrate.

There was hectic activity in the courts with around 200 persons present there before the accused was brought before the duty magistrate. In fact, a few lensmen who had gone there to get a photograph were manhandled and prevented from taking photographs by the relatives and supporters of the YC leader.

It may be noted that Sanjay Kumar, alias Dabbu, was murdered and his body later thrown into the Sirhind Canal on May 25. The murder of Dabbu had raised a lot many eye brows as he had been allegedly got released from a police station by two petty criminals who doubled as police informers and was later handed over to his enemy — Aman Goel. The accused, along with three others was then allegedly murdered by them.

Dabbu had been picked up by the Model Town police on May 22 for gambling in the Dhakka Colony along with six others. While all others were allegedly later let off by the police at the instance of certain local politicians, Dabbu was kept in police custody.

On May 25, Dabbu was released by the police at the instance of Kuldeep Singh, alias Sonu and Sukhi. These two persons then took Dabbu on a scooter to a pre-decided destination, hardly 100 yards away from the police station and handed him over to Aman Goel. Aman Goel and his three other accomplices- Karamjit Neelu, Davinder Singh Kaki and Om Dutt Raja, pushed the victim into a waiting car and stabbed him to death.

After the victim was killed, the accused took him to a place near Ayali village and then called up the accused YC leader, Ashok Prashar. It may be noted that Aman Goel and the victim had become enemies in their efforts to maintain one-upmanship. Aman Goel was also alleged to be a close aide of Ashok Prashar. After the accused informed the YC leader , he reached the spot along with his gunman, Phulla and the two helped the four accused in throwing the body of the victim in the canal.

While, the main accused, Aman Goel had surrendered before the Model Town police a few days after the murder, and confessed to having murdered Dabbu, the CIA staff later arrested the other accused on June 3 and booked them under Sections 302,364 and 201 of the IPC.

It was later during the investigations that the role of the YC leader came to be known and he was booked in the case. However, the police had again marked an inquiry into the case on the request of the accused YC leader and inspite of the fact that the police had obtained the arrest warrants of Ashok Prashar a couple of weeks ago, he was not arrested.

Paswan pulls up telecom staff
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The city will soon have two new telephone exchanges and the Chief General Manager, Telecom, Punjab circle, will meet the Press every month for the appraisal of problems faced by the public.

Besides this, the postal department will re-start the delivery of mail twice a day and the department will open a customer care centre at its head office for the immediate redress of the grievances of the public.

Announcing this today, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Communications Minister reprimanded senior officials of the Telecom and Postal Department for not solving the problems faced by the people.

Mr Paswan was given a memorandum of complaints by a number of organisations and individuals. One such memorandum given by Mr Raju Sharma said most of the city’s area especially falling in the Mata Rani exchange area was declared non-feasible area due to which people was facing immense problems.

Even mediapersons complained of faulty telephone services to the Press and not providing lease lines to them.

One of the major complaint against the Postal Department was the practice of delivering post only once a day while in other cities it is delivered twice a day. The matter of missing money orders sent by migrant labourers to Bihar and UP was also brought to the minister’s notice.

Mr Paswan visibly upset at so many problems disapproved of the functioning of the staff of the Telecom and Postal Department and warned of immediate replacement if people were not satisfied.

Mr Paswan asked the telecom and postal officials present at the press conference about the problems and when satisfactory answer was not given reprimanded them.

Mr Paswan specially criticised the functioning of the Telecom Department and said the department was financially stronger than the Postal Department and, it was expected that it would take better care of the subscribers. He directed the officials to verify why so many areas of the city were declared technically non-feasible and ordered them to make some alternative arrangement for the areas.

He announced that the customer care centres to be opened at these offices would take care of the problems of the subscribers.

Postal services computerised
Tribune News Service.

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Communications Minister, today, inaugurated the fully computerised postal services at the Head Post Office in the city.

With this inauguration the city has become the first one in the state to boast of such a facility.

The minister also inaugurated a new post office at Rajguru Nagar and also performed the opening ceremony of a fully computerised business office at railway station in the afternoon.

Addressing the gathering at a function organised at the Head Post Office Mr Paswan said the computerisation was the need of the hour if the country was to keep pace with the world.

Explaining the need, he elaborated that in the modern world only time was a scarce commodity and the computerisation was aimed to save as much time as possible of both the postal employees and the customers.

He announced that with the computerisation, customers would avail of single window service at the office. All procedures of availing of any service of the department would be available at one window only.

Similarly , he said the computerisation would prove much beneficial to the employees too. They need not remember anything as computers would do all work. He said the computer would take away a lot of load from the employees.

Mr Paswan said the business office opened at the railway station would be of maximum use to the industrialists of the city and would bring more revenue to the Postal Department too. The business office would book all parcel orders and the delivery would be immediate from the station. Even bulk booking orders would be accepted here, he announced.

Stamp on Sobha Singh sought
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Communication Minister, has assured to release a commemorative stamp on Sardar Sobha Singh on his birth centenary which falls in November 2001.

Two Excise men attacked by liquor smugglers
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10— In yet another incident of Excise personnel being attacked by liquor smugglers while performing their official duties, at least three persons, including one officer, were injured in an armed attacked by liquor smugglers in Abdullapur Basti here late last night.

According to the information available, it is learnt that a team of Excise officials had gone to conduct raid on a shop owned by Maheshi, alleged to be a liquor smuggler, when the team members were attacked by a few of the accused's henchmen. Officials of the Excise Department had received reliable information about rampant smuggling of liquor from this area. Even a few days ago, the department officials who had planned a raid on the shop of the said liquor smuggler, had reportedly met the same fate.

It is learnt that goons of the alleged liquor smuggler, led by one Babbu, first tried to stab one of the Inspectors, Mr Ashok, with a dagger, but another Excise Inspector, Mr. Balwant Rai Sallan, came to his rescue. The accused persons then beat up Mr Sallan with the handle of a sharp-edged weapon. Two policemen who were accompanying the Excise officials, head constable Mehar Singh and constable Jaswant Singh were also attacked by the goons.

Later, the senior Excise officials reached the spot and the police from the Atam Park police post was summoned and the officials also brought the incident to the notice of SHO Jaswinder Singh. However, the police has not registered any FIR in the case on the plea that since the incident occurred in a shop along the railway track, the GRP would deal with the matter.

Meanwhile, the injured persons have been admitted to LM Civil Hospital for treatment.

‘Industry hit by faulty policies’
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The growth of the Punjab knitwear industry was suffering due to investment restrictions, import of synthetics at rates lower than market price through unfair trade, high sales tax and excise duty, lack of proper trained labour and limited research and development facilities. Faulty state government policies were affecting their expansion and modernisation plans.

These views were put forth by the industry representatives before Mr Anil Kumar, Textile Secretary, Government of India. He had come here to meet the representatives of the industry to know their views about the ministry's policies and the problems faced by them. About 70 representatives from Ludhiana Knitters Association, Knitwear Club, Ludhiana Shawl Club, Readymade Hosiery Manufacturers Association and Spinners Association participated.

According to Mr Vinod Kumar Thapar, President, Knitwear Club, the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) of Rs 25,000 crore instituted by the Union Government had become useless as they were asked, unlike other states, to submit a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board. This was not available under the new rules and expansion had become next to impossible.

Similarly, to increase the electricity load, NOC from the Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation was demanded even from old industries. Mr Thapar claimed that about 60 items, including textile cloth, toys and leather items, under the reserved category, which accounted for about 30 per cent of exports, had greater potential for growth. However, it required that intermediaries used in their manufacturing should be exempt from excise and sales tax.

Mr Ajit Lakra, President of the Ludhiana Knitters Association, asked the Textile Secretary to take steps to safeguard the interests of the knitwear industry. The government should either impose anti-dumping duty on synthetics imported from Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong on rates lower than market price, or the excise duty on it should be abolished.

The industry representatives also demanded extension of accelerated depreciation to export-oriented hosiery industry, so that firms were able to charge 100 per cent depreciation in a year, instead of the prevalent five-year period. For greater benefits to the industry, the scheme should be extended to manufacturers producing for the domestic market.

They also demanded that the financing of reconditioned knitting machines should be allowed under the TUF, like reconditioned textile machinery. Another demand regarding training-cum-R&D centre was raised. The representatives assured support to any initiative in this regard.

Mr Anil Kumar promised to look into the issues sympathetically, especially concerning his ministry. He asked the participants to meet state officials regarding local problems. He added that a meeting of the core committee of the Textile Ministry would be held on September 30, in which these issues would be discussed and resolved.

Tenants allege foul play 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — Illegal and forcible methods used by landlords to vacate their shop came to light here today when relatives of deaf and dumb tenants narrated the story of victimisation at a press conference.

According to Mr Anek Kumar, son-in-law of original tenants, Mr Desh Raj and Mr Hans Raj had taken a shop on rent from Mr Ramesh Kumar in Chauri Sarak area about 35 years ago. The rent deal was documented properly in 1982 for a rent of Rs 65 per month. One of the brothers, Mr Hans Raj, died in 1995. Consequently, Mr Desh Raj along with his brothers Mr Om Parkash, 27 and Mr Som Nath, 23 was running his scrap business from the premises. His two daughters were already married. Mr Desh Raj died on March 29, and since then Mr Om Parkash and Mr Somnath, with the help of their cousins were running the shop.

It is alleged that on August 8, the owner along with his friends took possession of the shop forcibly. Meanwhile, he had also filed a case against the tenants in the court and even as the case was in progress, Mr Anek Kumar claimed, the owner of the shop broke open the inner door of the shop near his own house. He allegedly also removed the goods lying in the shop.

The victims claimed that they had complained to the SHO of the police station concerned and also to the SSP but to no avail.

No more skimpy dresses: orchestra body
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — “The dancing girls will not wear skimpy dresses or expose parts of their anatomy. The organisation has imposed a ban on the girls wearing skimpy dresses as it tarnishes the image of the orchestra groups, said Vijay Sahota, president of Punjab. Orchestra Association (regd.) at press conference, yesterday.

“Our organisation will encourage artists and their talents. The artists will have to attract and charm people through their talent and not through exposing. The girls will have to wear knee length dresses with tights. But one parallel organisation, bearing the same name, with political clout is exhorting the dancing girls to wear short dresses, otherwise they are told to leave the profession. The second thing we have decided is that no girl will dance on the stage alone when music is played. Musicians will always be present on the stage to offer protection to the girl artists” continued Vijay Sahota.

According to the members of Punjab Orchestra Association, “Sometimes the organisers only start the exploitation of girls by making boys climb onto the stage to dance with the girls. Since the organisers tell the girls that the boys are close family members and they will not misbehave, the girls allow them to come onto the stage. But one of the artists Madhu said,” The boys misbehave. They use filthy language, and try to get physical too. Sometimes the organisers do not pay us if we do not wear short and skimpy dresses. But now that the organisation has decided that we should be fully clothed, we are happy. Actually we used to feel very exposed and vulnerable, for the drunk guests used to harass us and pass very vulgar comments. We used to feel terribly embarassed. We are on the stage because we are artists and we need money. We are girls from good families. Our parents escort us.

Daisy, another dancer said, “The organisers play foul with us. They do not pay us after taking work from us, for no contract is signed. Boys are encouraged to come onto the stage for they are inebriated and throw money at us, which ultimately goes into the pockets of the organisers. Sometimes when we are fully clothed they do not let us go on stage, which means no money. Sometimes the remarks passed at us are so bad that we flee the stage. When we ask why they say nasty things to us , their reply generally is that we deserve it for we come wearing short dresses; and if we can dress like that we deserve anything. Sometimes the boys follow us in cars. It can be a very frightening experience”.

Mr Sahota said, “We are issuing a strict warning to the other associations that if they force the girls to wear short dresses, we are going to take strict action against them. We will ask the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent Police to take action against indecent exposure.”

Ravi Hans, vice-president of the association said, “Even the public has asked us to stop the indecent exposure, as they feel embarrassed seeing such shows with their wives and children. It is only some mischievous and drunk audience who want girls to expose themselves. So we are following the wishes of the general public.”

According to Sahota, “Surprisingly, even at religious functions the girls are asked to perform dances on popular film tunes in “mini” dresses. That is going to stop too. On September12, Sodal Mela will be held in Jalandhar. We are going to request them not to have dancing girls. Then there will be Baba Farid Shah Mela in Jodhewala. Our endeavour is to stop the exploitation of girls. We are artists. We want to get respect that is due us.”

“If they do not stop what action are you going to take? Someone quipped.

“We are going to take police assistance and help from the administration,” said R.V. Samrat.Someone asked, “Dancers do not enjoy a good reputation in society. They are called C grade artists. A talented artist who takes about Rs 10,000, may not wear skimpy clothes, but a lesser artist, may take less money and to compensate for lack of talent, also expose her body. What are you going to do?

Raj Kumar said, “We will debar those artists from performing and the big artists will also have to conform to the dress code.”

Another major problem faced by them was that of ‘Rahadri’ i.e. the permit they have to take when the orchestra party travel inter-district. Rahadri or chungi is for the newly bought things that enter the state. But their goods are “used ones”, so why this Rahadari. It causes unnecessary delays. “Three years back, we were free from the nuisance of Rahdari. We request the Badal government to abolish Rahadari for the orchestra people.”

They also wanted the marriage palaces to co-operate with them. The district administration orders the shows to stop at 11 pm. But the barat arrives at 10:45 pm. The Baratis want “us to play music as they wish to dance and sing. Sometimes we have to sing at gun point. What are we supposed to do? We are between the devil and the deep sea.”

Mr Sahota said, “There are 5,000 orchestra groups in Punjab and they generate employment for 5 lakh people. Some of the artists pay income tax too. But what does government do for us? Sometimes an artist who is the sole bread winner becomes disabled due to accident; then who takes care of him? So, the government should declare our profession to be an ‘industry.’ We have started organising the orchestra units under different heads. R. V. Samrat is general secretary, Ravi Hans is vice-president, R.N. Dogra is secretary and — Jatendar Chotou is the organising secretary.

Sunita Raj is the president for the Mahila artists. She whole heartedly agreed with the agenda and measures taken by the Punjab Orchestra Association. She said, “I feel relaxed. The girls will be treated with more dignity in future”.

Daisy, Sheetal, Madhu, the female artists employed by the orchestra groups, also were present at the meeting. Infact, Madhu said, “We are happy that we will be getting I D cards. The police often harasses us about our identities. We feel good at the code of conduct set up by the association.”

All the artists agreed, “Money is important, but we do not want to earn it at the cost of losing our dignity.”

COMMUNITY

2700 cr for laying roads: Atwal
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The Punjab government has earmarked Rs 2700 crore for the construction and development of roads in the state. This will also include construction of new bridges and the repair of old roads.

This was stated by the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, while addressing a function organised to distribute cheques for the construction of houses to poor families at Ghomana village, about 40 km from here, today.

He said the state government had launched a special programme to widen and strengthen the road network in the current financial year. He claimed all roads in the state would get a facelift and all bottlenecks at the level crossings would be removed.

The Speaker informed that he repair of all link roads in the bet areas of Machhiwara had already been started and it would be completed within two months. He said the construction work on a bridge to be constructed at a cost of Rs 80 crore on the Sutlej near Machhiwara would start soon. The completion of this bridge immensely reduce the distance between the Doaba area and Delhi.

He presented cheques worth Rs 30,000 each for the repair of the primary school building at Mionwal, Chugian Beghan, Khanpur Bet and Garri Fazil villages.

JD(S) welcomes sanjha morcha
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — A meeting of the steering committee of the state unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) was held here under the chairmanship of its convener, Mr Harish Khanna.

The JD(S) welcomed the formation of a sanjha morcha, comprising 11 non-SAD, non-BJP and non-Congress political parties of the state, to give a befitting fight to the candidates put up by these parties for the ensuing Sunam by-election.

Mr Khanna said the JD(S) would support the morcha candidate, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra. He disclosed that party workers from all over the state would launch campaigns in Sunam in his favour from September 11.

Party leaders from Punjab would also visit Delhi to extend invitation to former Prime Ministers namely Mr V.P. Singh, Mr H.D.Deve Gowda, Mr I.K.Gujral and Mr Chandra Shekhar to extensively tour the constituency in order to canvass support for the morcha candidate, Mr Khanna revealed.

The JD(S) convener said the party would also "expose" the acts of misgovernance of the Akali-BJP regime during the past three years before the electorate of Sunam. He alleged that there was favouritism and nepotism in the state and corruption in all government departments had assumed alarming proportions.

Referring to the law and order situation in the state, the JD(S) leader alleged the cases of child kidnapping, rapes, looting had increased manifold and if the law abiding citizens of the state venture out to hold peaceful demonstration they were lathicharged. He criticised the high handedness of the police on the agitating farmers in Chandigarh and demanded a probe into it.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Mr Balwant Singh Khera (Hoshiarpur), Mr Sham Singh Lalru (Patiala), Prof Darshan Singh (Ferozepore), Ms Raj Rani (Bhatinda), Mr Mehar Chand Bhumla (Nawanshahr), Mr Raj Kumar Nidar (Hoshiarpur), Mahasha Dev Raj (Muktsar) and Master Avtar Singh (Jalandhar).

'Free Muslims from Nepalese jails'
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The International Civil and Human Rights Council (ICHRC) has appealed to the United Nations to intervene and secure the release of innocent Indian Muslims who have been detained by the Nepalese Government without any valid cause.

Mr Jagjit Singh, president, ICHRC, said in a press not released here today that the council strongly condemned the "illegal detention of these Indian nationals without assigning any reasons which was in violation of the Geneva Convention rules".

Mr Jagjit Singh stated that in case of any civil or human rights violations in the state, Mr G. S. Kahlon should be contacted at Jalandhar, Mr Jaswinder Singh at Ludhiana and Mr Satwinder Khanna at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.

Inner Wheel president installed
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — “Oliver Golding of the UK started the first Inner Wheel Club, and due to her a new club, Inner Wheel with the motto Friendship and Service, started and spread all over the world. Friends are Strangers, we have never met is IIW Theme for the year 2000 to 2001.” Mrs Asha Paul, District chairman said these words at the installation ceremony of president of Inner Wheel Club’s function held at Sutlej Club yesterday.

The past president Mrs Rekha Munjal welcomed the District Chairman, Mrs Asha Paul, who was the chief guest on the occasion. She was accompanied by Mrs J. Toor (past district Chairman).

Itni shakti hamein dena Daata
Mann ka vishvas kamzor na ho

This bhajan by Mrs Meera Puri, the secretary of the Rotary Club, set the right tone for the proceedings to start. Mrs Rekha Munjal thanked her team and gave away her collar to the new president Mrs Veena Bhandari. The past secretary, Mrs Manju Khosla told the audience about the new project Inner Wheel had planned for mentally challenged children of Nirdosh, the most important project being run by members of Inner Wheel.” Nirdosh, in fact, is the soul of Inner Wheel.” said Mrs Khosla.

Mrs Bhandari, after taking charge as a president, introduced her new team. Mrs Manjula Jain took over the charge of the secretary. Some prominent members, Rtn. president Harbhajan Singh, Rtn. Suresh Chaudhry, past district governor, Mr Vijay Munjal and some other important members of other Rotary Clubs were also present to felicitate the new team.

Before the installation ceremony, Mrs Paul along with the members, had visited Nirdosh, the school for mentally challenged and celebrated Teachers’ Day. All teachers were given gifts. Haibowal Balwari run by the Child Welfare Council was also presented with a big durri, water coolers and stationery. Ration consisting of dal, sugar, spices, biscuits were given to ‘old age home’ in Agar Nagar. Through sale of flags, Rs 2000 were collected and were handed over to executive member, Mrs Ruby Fernandes, of ‘Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre for the Blind’.

Mrs Paul suggested the members to take up projects on ‘stress management’, ‘keep your city clean and green’ and on ‘tackling abuse of child labour’. A news letter called bliss was also released.

Lack of jobs lands them here
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — A roadside barber is a common sight on almost all major streets of Ludhiana. They work in the open, either under a tree or on the narrow pavements, with a piece of tarpaulin giving them protection.

This correspondent found that most of the barbers were from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It was lack of job opportunities that made them come to Punjab. Their initial investment is not more than Rs 1000.

Birinder had come from Aligarh. He is a disillusioned man as in spite of working hard, he cannot make more than Rs 50 to 60 a day. His clients are generally rickshaw-pullers and daily-wage labourers. Ashok Kumar earns around the same amount everyday.

Bihar sends a lot of unemployed persons to Ludhiana. Pawan has also set up his trade on the roadside. The municipal corporation takes away his tarpaulin and if they ask for too much money, he leaves his things with the civic body. Rajkumar works for 7 to 8 hours everyday. Madan earns around Rs 2000 a month. For them, rain means no work.

They have a union that operates from Jamalpur. Most of the barbers think it is too far. They do not know the name of the pradhan and what his plans are. Most of them have no time for celebrations.

Night of jagratas
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The town was virtually dipped in religious elixir last night as devotees sang hymns in praise of Maa Jagdambey and other goddesses at a number of jagratas held in the city.

While the Ma Bhagwati Club organised a fabulous jagrata at Dandi Swami, shopkeepers of Chaura Bazaar also showed their devotion to the mother goddess by holding the night-long programme at Chowk Ghanta Ghar.

A grand programme was also organised by residents of Sukhdev Nagar, Focal Point, in the Dashera ground.

A kirtan darbar was jointly organised by residents of MIG and HIG colonies at Jamalpur. It was presided over by Sant Niranjan Singhji, Jawaddi Kalan wale. Bhai Sarabjit Singh, Bhai Gurmukh Singh, and Bhai Jaswinder Singh entranced audience with their masterly rendering of various shabads.

The Sri Guru Amar Dass Sewa Society organised a kirtan darbar at Ghumar Mandi. Various kirtani jathas were honoured on the occasion. Mr Apinder Grewal, Mayor, was among those who addressed the gathering.

A free medical camp was also organised which was inaugurated by the District Youth Congress president, Mr Pawan Dewan. Nearly 500 patients were examined and given free medicines.

Shanti Swaroop Oberoi dead
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — Shanti Swaroop Oberoi, a leading advocate of Ludhiana, died here today after a brief illness. He was 89. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and five sons, including Dr N.K. Oberoi, a don of Panjab University, Chandigarh.

According to family sources, the funeral procession will start from his residence opposite Arya Higher Secondary School, Ludhiana, at 9 a.m. on September 11.

CRIME

Lottery bookie arrested
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — The CIA staff today arrested Jaswant Singh, alleged to be involved in the number lottery results-fixing scandal in the city, and booked him under Sections 13-A, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act.

It may be recalled that Ludhiana Tribune had reported about number fixation in lotteries going unchecked and thousands of unsuspecting lottery players being duped of their hard earned money by allegedly fixing the results of one digit and two digit lotteries.

It is alleged that the accused is one of the biggest players in the satta market and was making lakhs of rupees by buying tickets of the fixed number. It is learnt that the CIA staff arrested the accused from near Cheema Chowk yesterday.

BUSINESS

Industry hails package for SSI units
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — Mr Joginder Kumar, president, Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India, has hailed the package recently announced by the Prime Minister for small-scale industry, particularly the enhancement of central excise exemption limit from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Mr Kumar described it as a step in the right direction as it would avoid fragmentation of the units. It would also save the units from the clutches of central excise officials. He welcomed the 12 per cent capital subsidy for modernisation and technological upgradation for SSI units and appreciated the efforts of Minister of State for SSI, Agro and Rural Industries, Mrs Vasundra Raje, who had convinced and prevailed upon the Finance Ministry.

Mr Joginder Kumar, who had recently participated in the SSI Board meeting held in Delhi, emphasised that though policy measures were announced, but they generally lacked implementation by the authorities concerned .

He demanded that fair and active participation may be given to the tiny and SSI sector in the Central Government committees especially in the board of trustees for the ESI and provident fund and central board for workers’ education under the Ministry of Labour.