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| Saturday, September 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Amarinder, Bhattal campaign jointly SUNAM, Sept 15 — Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a senior Congress leader and former Punjab Chief Minister, today declared that there were no differences among party leaders on the Sunam byelection. She said “we have a common candidate for whom our campaign will also be common”, and “Congress is fully united under one constitution and one party president”. Rise in crimes against women Rowdyism leads to poll postponement 4 members of Kale Kachhewale gang held SSPs violated DGP’s orders: CAG |
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Cong ‘discriminated’
against Punjab
BATHINDA: Residents in most localities here have constructed ramps or bench-like structures next to their dwellings, creating traffic problems. In various mohallas the streets are already narrow and it is difficult to go through them by car or other four-wheeled vehicles. At a large number of points these structures over drains have made the roads even narrower. Sarovar panel suspends relay fast Drivers adopt injured stray dog Baba Farid birth centenary
festival begins Curbs on use of harvesters at night Enthralling qawwalis by Wadali brothers Power cut during PM’s address! Recruitment rally held at Ropar IAS officers’ body
adopts group insurance scheme
BDPOs for correcting pay anomaly Revival of roster system sought
500 IMFL crates seized MUKTSAR, Sept 15 — The district police has impounded a truck carrying 500 crates of IMFL. It was plying without a permit.
Overcrowding problem in schools PATIALA, Sept 15 — Many prestigious schools here have crowded classrooms as admission to these schools is much sought after. Parents while prevailing upon the school authorities to admit their wards despite overcrowding in classrooms forget about the impact this will have on their children. “Admission into prestigious schools is most important and parents rarely object to overcrowding in the classrooms’’, said a parent whose child in studying in a prestigious school of the city. UGC move draws flak
ABVP rally at Jalandhar today
NFL staff union stage dharna Traders protest against PSEB
men’s behaviour 
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Amarinder,
Bhattal campaign jointly SUNAM, Sept 15 — Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a senior
Congress leader and former Punjab Chief Minister, today declared that
there were no differences among party leaders on the Sunam byelection.
She said “we have a common candidate for whom our campaign will also
be common”, and “Congress is fully united under one constitution
and one party president”. Mrs Bhattal was addressing a joint press conference along with PPCC president, Capt Amarinder Singh, here before launching the Congress campaign for Mrs Parmeswari Devi widow of late Bhagwan Dass Arora. Besides Mrs Parmeswari Devi, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, MLA; Mr Sant Ram Singla, vice-president of the PPCC; and Mr Brij Lal Goyal, a senior Congress leader, were also present. Mrs Bhattal claimed that the Congress would win the seat with a big margin. She said the fight was between secular and communal forces and the CPI, CPM and BSP should unite behind the Congress. Capt Amarinder Singh said the decision of the Communist Party of India (CPI) to contest the byelection would benefit the SAD indirectly. He said the Congress did not know why the CPI had snapped its relations with Congress on the issue of this seat or what type of understanding it had reached with the SAD. He said the CPI had unilaterally decided to contest this byelection on its own although the Congress had left 14 seats for the party in the 1997 Assembly elections and a Parliamentary seat (Bathinda) in the last Lok Sabha elections. He said (Sunam) was a Congress seat as it had been won by the Congress in the past two assembly elections. Col
Harsharan Singh Sandhu (Retd), chairman of the All India Rashtriya
Raksha Dal, a body of ex-servicemen, also announced the dal’s
support for the Congress candidate on the occasion. Later, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and other top Congress leaders went on to campaign in Sheron, Jakhepal and Nangla villages. The Election Commission appointed two general observers and one expenditure observer for the Sunam Assembly byelection. Giving
this information here today, Mr Praneet Bhardwaj, Returning Officer
for the byelection and Sunam SDM, said Mr Sharda Prasad, IAS, from
Delhi, and Mr A.K. Sarkar, IAS, Joint Secretary, Health, Government of
India, had been appointed as general observers while Mr K.C. Bhadok,
IRS, had been appointed as expenditure observer. |
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Rise in crimes against women CHANDIGARH, Sept 15 — There has been 100 per cent to 500 per cent increase in heinous crimes against women in Punjab during the past 10 years. Against 281 cases of murder, rape, molestation, dowry death and kidnapping registered throughout the state in 1988, when militancy was at its peak, the number of such cases increased to 845 in 1998 and 985 in 1999. This year, until this morning, the number was 806. While the increase has been minimal in murder cases. the maximum increase has been witnessed in rape, molestation and dowry death cases. The changing socio-economic scenario, police sources maintain, is mainly responsible for the alarming increase in crimes against women. These crimes are mainly because of family problems, turbulent relationships and also because of illicit relationships. Police officials say that they have a very limited role in preventing or minimising crimes against the weaker sex. Let us have a look at the figures relating to the murder of women in the state. In 1988, 58 women were murdered in the
state. The number dropped to 50 in 1989, increased to 57 in 1990 and dropped to a mere 19 in 1991. In 1993, 39 women were murdered. In 1996, the number reached the triple figure — 100 to be precise. It was 143 in 1997 and 110 in 1998. In 1999, 123 women were murdered while this year, until this morning, the number stood at 90. A look at the past five years indicates that every seventh murder case pertains to a woman in Punjab. These figures do not include dowry deaths. In spite of stringency in law and special instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on the investigation of dowry death cases by officers not below the rank of DSP, the increase has been nearly 300 per cent during the past 12 years. The incidence of dowry death, investigations reveal, is more in the lower middle, middle and upper middle classes. Against 44 dowry deaths in 1988 — fewer than the number of women murdered in Punjab in that year — dowry death cases now outnumber murder cases. In 1989, there were 61 dowry deaths against 50 murders while the figures for 1991 were 50 and 19, respectively. In 1995, dowry deaths (139) were almost three times the number of women murdered(48). In 1998, against 110 murders, there were 211 dowry deaths while in 1999, there was a drop in dowry deaths to 169 against 123 murders. This year also, dowry death cases have been 50 per cent more than the number of cases of murder of women till date. The incidence of rape has witnessed a nearly 500 per cent increase during the past 12 years. The increase has been consistent for the past five years. For example, after 49 rapes in 1988, the number increased to 108 in 1994. It dropped to 96 in 1995. Since then it has been constantly increasing. In 1996, there were 159 rape cases, 171 in 1997, 190 in 1998 and 260 in 1999. This year, with nearly 14 weeks to go for the year to end, 213 cases of rape have already been registered in the state. Molestation of women is another area where the increase has been again between 400 per cent and 500 per cent during the past one decade. This is another cause of concern. Interestingly, in the early 90s, molestation cases almost became negligible before they started shooting up after 1994. Against 33 molestation cases in 1988, only seven cases were reported in 1991 and 12 in 1993 and 30 in 1994. The graph started rising rapidly afterwards. The number was 52 in 1995, 83 in 1996, 99 in 1997, 107 in 1998 and 160 in 1999. This year, there have been already 152 cases of molestation. In fact, 1991 was the year when crimes against women were perhaps the lowest during the past one decade. Against 99 kidnapping cases in 1988, there were only 40 kidnappings of women in 1991 — the lowest in the past 12 years. It was in 1991 that the incidence of murder of women, molestation and kidnapping of women was the lowest in the past 12 years. Kidnapping cases started increasing after 1992 (53) and rose to 80 in 1993, 99 in 1994, 111 in 1995, 163 in 1996, 180 in 1997, 227 in 1998 and 273 in 1999. This year the cases registered under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC are 225 so far. (To be concluded) |
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Rowdyism leads to
poll postponement PATIALA,
Sept 15 — Turbans and chairs flew in the air in the Sanaur Municipal Committee hall, near here, today with opposing groups of councillors fighting bitterly with each other after the start of proceedings to elect the president of the council. The trouble started after all Councillors took the oath administered by Sub Divisional Officer Manjit Singh Narang. Even as the ballot papers were being distributed, two councillors Kuldeep Singh Kamboj of the Congress and Parkash Singh of the Shiromani Akali Dal, got into an argument. Soon they were fighting with each other. Other councillors soon started hurling chairs at each other. The SDM and the police party tried to intervene and pacify both groups but when this failed, the SDM announced postponement of the election to the office of president of the committee . SDM M.S. Narang said that Mr Surjit Singh
Kamboj, Mr Parkash Singh and Mr Chaman Parkash had been arrested under Section 107/50, adding that they were let off on bail afterwards late in the evening. Meanwhile prohibitory orders have been passed in Sanaur under Section 144 for 15 days keeping in view the tense situation during which assembly of more than four persons anywhere in the town will not be allowed . The Congress party, however, accused the Returning Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagjit Singh of being hand in glove with councillors of the ruling group and not doing anything to avert a quarrel so that the election process could be postponed . The election was scheduled for today evening at the Municipal Committee hall in Sanaur. Only two days were left to hold the election as according to guidelines, the President of the Committee must be elected within 90 days of the election . Pradesh Congress Vice-President Lal Singh alleged that the Returning Officer and the DSP remained mute spectators to the bashing up of Congress councillor Kuldeep Singh. He said the councillor was beaten up by people owing allegiance to the ruling combine and that the incident was used as an excuse by the Returning Officer to postpone the poll . Mr Lal Singh said the trouble arose when the Congress councillors who enjoy a strength of nine among the 13 members, proposed the name of Mr Surjit Singh Kamboj for the post of President. He said four councillors loyal to the SAD proposed the name of Parkash Singh. He said when the Akali councillors realised they were in a minority they purposefully picked up a fight with Congress councillors. He alleged that the SDM used the opportunity to postpone the elections. The SDM has, however, refuted the allegations, saying if there was any mala fide on his part he would not have administered the oath to the members and even started distribution of the ballot papers. He said both groups had been restrained from indulging in fighting and that the election process was postponed only when the situation went out of hand. He said he would submit his report regarding the incident to Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh
Bir, following which new date for electing the president of the committee would be announced. |
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4 members of Kale Kachhewale gang held BATHINDA, Sept 15 — The district police has arrested four members of the 70-member gang of Kale Kachhewale involved in countless murders, dacoities, robberies and looting in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. With the arrest of the four members by a team led by DSP (R), Mr Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, the district police has succeeded in identifying the other members of the gang for the first time in the state. Different police parties have been pressed into service to apprehend the others. The criminals involved in the Bhuchomandi incident, in which two occupants of a house were killed, have also been identified. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, addressing a press conference here today, said that now, in a few months, of looting, robbery and dacoity that took place all over Punjab would be traced. Operating under the pseudo names of Bollywood stars, the members of gang used to commit crime in a pre-determined dwelling and then shift to another town and commit a crime there for 15 days consecutively in each town. After looting jewellary items and cash, they used to bury them in the soil near the place of crime and dig them out later. They would operate in the radius of 100
km of the place of living and travel on bus and train from one place to another. They would commit crime in the dead of night. All the 70 members of the gang belong to a particular community and are related to one another. The gang was divided into four sub-gangs, each headed by Dheera, Greebu-I, Greebu-II and Angoora. The gang led by Dheera was involved in the Bhuchomandi incident. The gang members were spread over different sites in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi. The sites have been identified as Mirch Mandi (Rajpura), Sadiq Chowk (Faridkot), Malout, Babnia village and Ajnala. They used to live in reverse U-shaped hut and would escape when the police raided them. They would take all valuables with them by hiding them in pillows. Mr Jain pointed out that the gang members had divided work among them. Some members were assigned the task of identifying the dwelling where the crime was to be committed by organising the shows of jugglery. During night, they would see a movie first, then drink liquor and rush towards the pre-decided spot. They except one the others would go to sleep near the spot hidden under bushes or other things. At the dead of night, they would remove some of their clothes and enter the dwelling from the roof, side window and front door. One section of members would injure fatally every occupant of the house while the other section would steal the valuables. One member would keep watch outside the dwelling for raising the alarm in case of danger. They would rarely use firearms in the crimes. Interestingly, the gang has its own inbuilt system of training the young members in this profession. The elder members of the gang would act as trainer and guide. While one member acting as ‘Ustad’ would distribute the booty among the gang members. The gang had killed a police sub-inspector in Bijnore district of UP and committed a dacoity in the house of a police officer at Yamunanagar in Haryana. Four members of this gang have also been killed in various incidents. Earlier, the members of this gang were arrested by the Haryana police many years ago. Those arrested by the district police today have been identified as Tashim Ilias Mohommad, alias Mian, Rashid, alias Duni, and Chhotta. In this connection, three cases have been registered in three different police stations. Dr Jain said that police team led by Mr Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, DSP(R), which has achieved this success would be rewarded. |
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SSPs violated DGP’s orders: CAG CHANDIGARH, Sept 15 — In contravention of the orders of the DGP, Punjab, a large number of Special Police Officers (SPOs) were recruited by the SSPs of five police districts. This has been highlighted in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG). The report was tabled in the recently concluded monsoon session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In pursuance of the instructions of the Finance Department, the DGP instructed all SSPs in Punjab to stop the fresh recruitment of SPOs against the posts falling vacant due to dismissal or absorption against the vacancies of constable. However, the audit of records of five police districts — Batala, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib — revealed that 1,833 SPOs were recruited afresh till March, 1999, in contravention of the orders of the DGP. As a result, the department was not only saddled with an expenditure of Rs 13.84 crore on pay and allowances from the date of their appointment to March, 1999, but a recurring financial liability of Rs 4.56 crore per annum was also created due to the irregular appointments. When this was pointed out by audit officials (between November, 1997, and May, 1999), the SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, stated that the SPOs were appointed keeping in view the law and order situation. The reply was not acceptable in view of the complete ban on such recruitments. The SSPs of Batala, Ropar, Ludhiana and Faridkot stated that the recruitment was made within the sanctioned strength. This reply was not tenable as no appointment was to be made against the vacancies arising out of dismissal or absorption as constable in the police. The sanctioned strength in the cadre was to be reduced to the extent of the posts falling vacant. The matter was reported to the government in May, 1999, but there was no response in this connection from the authorities concerned. The report also highlighted the non-recovery of Rs 14.15 crore from certain Central Government organisations which were provided with security guards from 1989 to 1998. The report said the Punjab Police Rules provided for recovery on a monthly basis of the cost of establishment from the borrowing governments and their agencies in advance and also laid the condition that additional police force should not be provided till the advance payment required under the rules had been realised. Scrutiny of the relevant records of the SP, CID (Zonal), Amritsar, in March, 1999, revealed that security guards were provided at checkposts of certain Central Government agencies till March, 1998. An amount of Rs 11.91 crore on account of establishment charges had not been recovered from the Central Government agencies concerned for providing the guards. Likewise, scrutiny of the records of the Commandant of 5th Indian Reserve Battalion, Amritsar, in February, 1999, revealed that establishment charges amounting to Rs 2.24 crore in respect of the police force provided from February, 1995, to November, 1998, to Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, J and K, Rajasthan and Delhi had not been recovered. When this was pointed out in the audit, the DGP stated that special efforts were being made for the realisation of the outstanding dues from the states concerned and the Union Government. Regarding the non-recovery of the establishment charges in advance, the DGP stated that this lapse was on the part of the SP, CID (Zonal), Amritsar. |
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Cong ‘discriminated’
against Punjab BATHINDA, Sept 15 — Mr Gurpreet Singh Kangar, member, zila parishad and former General Secretary, Youth Akali Dal (YAD), today said the Congress always discriminated against the state of Punjab and it was the main reason that state had been lacking in basic amenities. Addressing mediapersons here, he pointed out it was the Congress which denied the state its own capital, denied Punjabi-speaking areas and fair share in river waters according to
riparian principles. Mr Kangar, a close associate of former Union Minister, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, claimed that in the Sunam byelection, the people would punish the Congress for its discriminatory attitude towards them during its 45-year-rule in the state. He further claimed that in the past three years after the SAD-BJP combine took over, every section of society had benefited. For the traders, the procedure of sales tax had been simplified, sales tax had been abolished on necessary goods, schools had been upgraded and facility of free electricity and water had been extended to farmers and Dalits. He said the victory of SAD-BJP candidate in Sunam byelection, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, would be a mandate on the performance of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the past more than three years. |
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Impeding street traffic BATHINDA: Residents in most localities here have constructed ramps or bench-like structures next to their dwellings, creating traffic problems. In various mohallas the streets are already narrow and it is difficult to go through them by car or other four-wheeled vehicles. At a large number of points these structures over drains have made the roads even narrower. In many cases such encroachments have been in existence for years. The areas most affected by the encroachments include Namdev Nagar, the Quila road, Nai Basti, Bibiwala road, Model Town, Guru Nanak Pura Mohalla, Paras Ram Nagar, Partap Nagar, Kalkatte Wali Gali, the Power House road and Ganga Ram Street. In the main
bazaars, footpaths, too, have been encroached upon by shopkeepers, creating difficulties for pedestrians and shoppers. The offenders use the footpaths to store or display their goods, with the authorities turning a blind eye to the violation. Mr S.K. Mittal, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, said action would be taken against those who had violated the rules and gave an assurance that the structures would be demolished as early as possible. |
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Sarovar panel suspends
relay fast SUNAM, Sept 15 — On an assurance given by the Punjab Government and the district administration regarding starting of the kar seva at the local Sitasar sarovar immediately after the Sunam byelection, the Shree Neel Kantheshwar Ram Mandir Sitasar Sarovar Committee here today suspended its relay fast here started since September 7. The committee was protesting against the hurdles being created by some miscreants in the starting of kar seva of the sarovar and government’s indifferent attitude to settle the issue. The committee has also demanded action against the accused against whom criminal cases had been registered in 1996 to demolish the boundary wall of the sarovar. It has also demanded from the government that adequate security should be provided to committee members after starting of the kar seva. |
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Drivers adopt injured stray dog JALANDHAR, Sept 15 — There are still a few people in this world who don’t serve suffering creatures just for the sake of getting media gaze or money, but entirely for the satisfaction of their inner self. A group of taxi drivers of a taxi stand facing The Tribune sub office here has been selflessly tending to an injured mixed breed stray dog for a couple of days. Their effort has converted the taxi stand a centre of attraction for passers-by who watch the dog lying comfortably on a make-shift bed with a drip bottle tied to a stick and a tree branch acting as a drip stand for giving glucose to the canine. The dog, with black and white patches all over its cream furry body, was idling on the busy G.T. road near Namdev Chowk on Wednesday when a rash driver hit it, rendering the poor animal motionless and unconscious. As nobody came to claim the dog, five drivers picked it up and took it to the taxi stand immediately, before calling a veterinary surgeon who administered some medicine, and continues to do so. Recalling the rescue of the animal, Mr Dharam Pal, a driver, said, “initially, we had lost hope. The condition of the dog was critical. It could barely move. We heaved a sigh of relief when the doctor told us that it had no fracture and could survive if, given proper care, which we decided to provide collectively”. The spirit of camaraderie was all pervasive, with a dozen-odd drivers joining hands to serve the innocent dog, recuperating at the taxi stand. They feed it with milk, change its bedding and the drip bottle. Minta, another driver, is all praise for officials of Pashupalika, a Punjab police-run animal shelter, which responded to their call and provided on-the-spot treatment to the dog. He said the dog would be all right within two weeks. “The doctor has diagnosed it to be suffering from brain paralysis after being hit by the speeding vehicle,” he said. The taxi-wallahs say that they have developed a special bond with the animal. “It is so sensitive that sometimes it cries with pain like a child, with tears rolling down its eyes. At times, it seems to be asking when it will be all right”, said one of them. He added that in all probability, the bond was likely to grow, particularly if the canine guest preferred to stay with them forever. |
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Baba Farid
birth centenary festival begins FARIDKOT, Sept 15 (UNI) — Folk theatre, fine arts and rural sports would be the highlights of the Baba Sheikh Farid ‘aagman purb’ (birth centenary). A week-long festival began here today with the inauguration of a drama fest depicting the life and teachings of the saint who lived in this ancient town during the Sufi movement in 13th century. Baba Farid had blessed the people of this town about 800 years ago and it is a common belief that since the blessings of the saint, bestowed upon the natives, the town never suffered any calamity or attack. The folklores relating the life history of the saint were well dramatised by 15 theatre teams from villages across Punjab. A blood donation camp was organised this morning which was followed by a painting workshop organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi. An exhibition of paintings depicting cultural and religious heritage of Punjab was also one of the attractions of the mega event. A grand cultural programme to mark the ‘aagman purb’ would be held on September 22. Half a dozen troupes from the North Zone Cultural Centre and Northeast states would present a colourful bonanza on that day. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is scheduled to preside over the September 22 function where Gyan Peeth award recipient Gurdial Singh would be honoured. |
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Curbs on use of
harvesters at night MANSA, Sept 15 — The farmers have been asked not to harvest paddy until it is fully ripe as this has an adverse effect on its quality and may put off purchase agencies. The Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Raji P. Srivastva, has banned the use of combine harvesters from 7 in the evening till 8 in the morning. The decision was taken after meetings with representatives of different purchase agencies. He said only
licensed commission agents will be allowed to purchase paddy in mandis. She asked officials of the Punjab Mandi Board to provide the facilities such as light, sanitation, drinking water and toilets before September 21 at all purchase centres. There are 95 purchase centres in Mansa. This year Rs 2.67 crore was spent to laying concrete floors at 24 purchase centres. She said this year about 4.63 lakh metric tonnes of paddy will arrive in mandis, while last year the figure was 4.20 lakh metric tonnes. The District Agriculture Officer, Kulwant Singh Sonar said the area under paddy had fallen by 13000 hectares this year. Talking about steps to check pesticide adulteration he said 114 samples had been taken in the district and 10 samples had failed. Dealers whose licences were cancelled following the raids are Ms Modern Insecticide Ltd, Ludhiana Sandhu Trading Co, Sardulgarh, Ms Anu Products Ltd, Faridabad Chahal Kheti Sewa Center, Bhikhi, Ms Anu Products Ltd. Chahal Kheti Sewa Centre Bhikhi, Ms Dara Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Bahadurgarh and Garg Pesticide Co.
Bhikhi. |
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Enthralling qawwalis by Wadali brothers GURDASPUR, Sept 15 — A large number of men, women and children, both young and old, thronged Masanian, a small village on the Batala-Srihargobindpur road, 40 km from here, last night to savour qawwalis rendered by the famous Wadali brothers. The event which assumed the shape of mela was organised on the premises of the dargah of Baba Shah Badar Dewan. It was organised by the Punjab chapter of SPIC-MACAY as a part of the month-long Virasat-2000 festival. Mrs Manveen Sandhu, coordinated the programme. Puran Chand and Piara Lal, popularly known as the Wadali brothers, enthralled the audience with religious and romantic qawwalis in their melodious and capturing voice. The people showed appreciation by showering currency notes. The couplets which moved the crowd included Baba Ne Phar Layee Bahn, Saiyo Mein Suhagan Hoi, Tu Pir Mera Mein Talab Tera, Ishaq Na Hunda, Mehboob Na Hundi, and Dahda Sek Ishaq Di Agg Da. Such an event was held in the area for the first time. Among the audience were Mrs Gurmeet Ray, Director Cultural, Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI), representatives of Unesco, United Nations Development Programme and Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner. Mr Jagdish Sahni, MLA of the area, lighted the lamp. Mrs Ray said that the function was aimed at promoting Indian classical music and culture among the youth and sending the message of unity and integrity of the country. The dargah is being maintained by funds collected by the villagers. Mrs Ray said now the CRCI had decided to conserve the dargah. The funds would be provided by Unesco, and the UNDP. The CRCI will also undertake development of the village. |
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Power cut during PM’s address! PHAGWARA, Sept 15 — Residents of Phagwara could not view the much a waited live telecast of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s address to the American Congress yesterday night due to a power cut from 7.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. much to the chagrin of people. The telecast was done by Doordarshan from Washington. The power went off when the Prime Minister was about to arrive in the hall and returned after he had addressed the US Congress. Several Vajpayee enthusiasts flayed the PSEB for the unscheduled cut. Some even asked why the power cut was not rescheduled so as to allow the public to watch the telecast. When contacted, the local power authorities said the orders to impose the cut came from “above”.
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Recruitment rally
held at Ropar ROPAR, Sept 15 — The Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth, has trained 67,550 unemployed youths in the state and provided employment to more than 40,000 since its inception. This was stated yesterday by Lt-Col D.S. Sandhu, Director-General of the organisation, who was here for a recruitment rally for youths from Ropar, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. The selection of youths was done at district and
subdivisional-levels by committees comprising the Deputy Commissioner, the SSP, the Employment Officer, the Medical Officer and an officer of the organisation, he said. The organisation also sponsored youths to various Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in the state, he added. |
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IAS officers’ body
adopts group insurance scheme CHANDIGARH, Sept 15 — For the first time, the Punjab IAS Officers Association has adopted the group insurance scheme (GIS) for its members besides setting up a welfare fund. The two schemes are the brainchild of Mr
R.P.S. Pawar, who successfully piloted these. The association executive has approved them. Mr Pawar told TNS today that the LIC had agreed to the GIS, which provided for insurance of Rs 1 lakh for each member. Under the GIS, a member was required to pay a lump sum of Rs 2,400 as annual subscription. Of this Rs 1,070 would go to the welfare fund. Thus, in the event of death of a member, Rs 2 lakh would become available to the bereaved family. The response was awaited, though more than 60 IAS officers had opted for the schemes so far. Mr Pawar said he had also spoken to the Punjab PCS (Executive Branch) Officers Association president, Mr Jaswant Singh, on the schemes. The response was
favourable.
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BDPOs for correcting
pay anomaly BATHINDA, Sept 15 — The Block Development and Panchayat Officers’ Association, Punjab today said it would use all possible means to fight the injustice done it by the Anomalies Committee Report in matter of pay scales. Mr Jagbir Singh Brar, president of the association, in a press note issued here today, said the anomalies committee report was biased and a reflection of the colonial hangover of the bureaucracy. In 1993, the pay scales of block development and panchayat officers were fixed at Rs 2410-4000. But the state pay commission recommended that those who were BDPOs on 1.1.1996 would get a pay scale of Rs 7880-11660 while those recruited and promoted after 1.1.1996 would get a pay scale of Rs 7000 to 10980. He said this discrimination was pointed out to the anomalies committee but in its final report it failed to undo the discrepancy. He said that association had demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal intervene into the matter so that employees could be saved from unnecessary
harassment. |
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Revival of roster
system sought JALANDHAR, Sept 15 — A group of former Congress ministers from Punjab has opposed the revocation of the Roster system, pertaining to promotion of the Scheduled Caste and employees of backward classes by the state government. Five former Punjab ministers led by Mr Santokh Singh Choudhary, in a memorandum to the Punjab Governor have demanded that the Roster system should be revived to grant the benefits of reservation and promotion to the Scheduled Caste and backward classes employees.Mr Choudhary alleged that the Punjab Government had been pursuing anti-Dalit policies. |
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500 IMFL crates
seized MUKTSAR, Sept 15 — The district police has impounded a truck carrying 500 crates of IMFL. It was plying without a permit. Mr Kultar Singh, SSP, said certain traders had been evading excise duty by sending liquor out of the state without a permit. The truck was going form Khasa (Amritsar) to Jaipur. A case has been registered under Section 30 of the Excise Act. |
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Overcrowding
problem in schools PATIALA, Sept 15 — Many prestigious schools here have crowded classrooms as admission to these schools is much sought after. Parents while prevailing upon the school authorities to admit their wards despite overcrowding in classrooms forget about the impact this will have on their children. “Admission into prestigious schools is most important and parents rarely object to overcrowding in the classrooms’’, said a parent whose child in studying in a prestigious school of the city. Most of the schools here accommodate students beyond their capacity. Classrooms in all leading schools here which once had not more than 30 students are keeping more than 60 students. Sources said in most of the cases, management of such schools is to be blamed for the overcrowded environment. People who own the schools are basically business-class people whose aim is to make money. The management compels the school authority to give admission to excess number of students, even if their case is not meritorious and the admission would cause problems to other children studying in the same class. A teacher working in Lady Fatima School said that maintaining discpline in a crowded classroom was next to impossible. Another teacher from St. Pater’s Academy said parents were so eager to get their children admitted to the school that they dared not ask about the number of classrooms in the school and what would be the ideal number of students per class. This view was held by most parents with only few saying they would admit their child in a lesser known school where student strength was less and hence more individual attention was provided to each student. Sahil Singh, a student of Buddha Dal Public School, said it was hard on both students and teachers to complete the syllabus on time in a classroom where the student strength was 67. It was impossible for the teachers to give even two minutes of individual attention to each student, he said. This has given rise to the tuition culture, said Roop Sidhu, another student of the school. To understand a subject better, students, especially from the science stream, are left with no option but to seek tuition from the tutorial homes. In a crowded classroom students are regarded as passive learners and the course material mainly syllabus-oriented. Thus schools today do not much help in developing individuality of students, said Dr Rajinderpal Kaur Sidhu, an educationist from Punjabi University. UGC move draws flak PATIALA, Sept 15 — The decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to appoint its own observer in the selection committees for promotion to the post of Professor has drawn a flak from the Punjabi Universtiy Teachers Association (PUTA) which today appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to ignore the letter as it undermined the authority of the university. PUTA Secretary Hari Singh Boparai said here that an executive committee emergency meeting of PUTA took serious note of the letter and condemned the decision of the UGC . He said the committee felt that such a decision amounted to unnecessary interference in the autonomy of the university and the state. Dr Boparai said the UGC decision would create hurdles in the promotion of the teachers who were facing stagnation for more than 15 years and that it would only result in stalling the promotion process under the scheme which had been started only recently. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the UGC letter and disclosed that the All-India Federation of University Teachers Association (AIFUTA) had directed all the universities to hold dharnas and rallies on their respective campuses to protest against the UGC move. The executive committee decided to wear black badges on September 18. According to the UGC notice, all the universities have been directed that its observer would be deputed to observe the process of selection adopted at each selection committee meeting conducted by them to consider cases for promotion to the post of Professor under the Career Advancement Scheme. The UGC had asked the universities to inform the body about the schedules of such selection committee meetings at least three weeks in advance to enable the UGC to depute its observer and inform the concerned University well in time. ABVP rally at Jalandhar today FARIDKOT, Sept 15 — The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will hold a state-level rally at Jalandhar on September 16 to urge the Central Government to take concrete steps to improve the quality of education in the country. This was stated by Romesh
Pappa, organising secretary, north zone unit of the parishad at a press conference here on Wednesday. Mr Pappa suggested the formation of a national education foundation to monitor the entire educational structure to strengthen the nation. He also stated that priority should be given to introduce more and more vocational guidance. |
NFL staff union
stage dharna BATHINDA, Sept 15 — Activists of Lal Jandha NFL Mazdoor Union, affiliated with the Central Indian Trade Union (CITU), today organised a dharna in front of the gate number 2 of National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) to express dissatisfaction with the management which was not taking care of the workers. Members of other trade unions, affiliated with the CITU, also participated in the demonstration. The activists raised the slogans against the NFL management and the Punjab government. Mr Vishram Singh, president of the union, said that the workers were facing financial problems and had poor living conditions. He added that worker working as a thekedar got only Rs 1696 per month which was not enough. He demanded that their basic minimum salary should be increased to Rs 3500 per month. All activists criticised the Punjab Government for not taking care of the workers. Mr Satpal Bharti, general secretary of the union, said the management of NFL had decided to deposit the provident fund of the ‘thekedar workers’ in their respective states. He added that the PF of workers was being deposited at Shimla, Delhi, Madras and Hyderabad and it was difficult for them to go there. He demanded the PF of the workers should be deposited wherever they were working. He complained that the rates of essential basic commodities were being taken from the wholesale shops by the management. He added that the rate lists should be taken from the retail shops as the workers had to purchase the commodities from the retail
shops. |
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Traders protest
against PSEB men’s behaviour BATHINDA, Sept 15 — Traders at the local Dhobi Bazar and Post Office bazar closed their shops today in protest against the alleged highhandedness of members of the flying squad of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). They alleged that flying squad members were harassing them for the last many days on one pretext or the other with an aim to extract ‘undue’ benefits from them. They said flying squad members entered a shop and told the owner he was
liable for a fine as his electricity meter was not working properly. They added that when the shopkeeper pointed out that members of other flying squads had okayed his meter few days ago, they started threatening him. After this incident the shopkeepers closed their shops and came on the street. They went to a police station and lodged complaint against the flying squad members for their high handedness. Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, president, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, in a press note issued here, said all flying squad members should approach the traders' representative of the area before carrying out any anti-theft operation. He demanded an action against those who were involved in the harassment of traders. |
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