L U D H I A N A

Food scenario grim, warns Khush 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27— Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, the man behind the green revolution in rice farming, today painted a grim picture of global scenario on the food front. He pointed out the food situation was precarious as the rise in food production did not match the increase in population of the world. “When the population of the world is increasing at the rate of 1.3 per cent, the increase in food production was only 1 per cent”, he said while expressing his concern.

Rs 1.24 crore okayed for tourism information centre  
LUDHIANA, Sept. 27 — The Central Government has approved Rs 1.24 crore for the opening of a tourism information centre that will become operational soon in Ludhiana. It will provide vital information regarding hotels, their rates and tourism centres in Punjab.

She laid down her own rules
LUDHIANA: 

We are such stuff
As dreams are made of,
And, our little life is rounded up with this sleep,
And, again,
men, must endure,
their going hence, even as their going hither,
Ripens us all.

It is this ripeness that forms the core of Mrs Manjula Jain — a woman of substance. A woman of substance because she has never gone by the rules — rather laid them down herself.

Congress joins issue with Badal 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — Senior Congress functionaries today joined issue with the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, over what they termed as ‘false and malicious’ campaign against the Congress during electioneering in Sunam.

Sukhbir’s ex-guard beaten up for eve-teasing
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — A former security guard of former union minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been transferred to the city only two days ago, was yesterday allegedly beaten up by the public after he was caught eve-teasing.

Tipper crushes girl, MC blamed 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — On the morning of September 19, Harjot Kaur, a final year student of B.Com in Khalsa College for Women, left her house in Rajguru Nagar, never to return back. An aspiring and lively girl, who was also pursuing studies in IT, was crushed under a heavy vehicle of the municipal corporation, which according to parents of the victim, was being driven in a rash and reckless manner.

Paddy procurement picks up
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — With the entry of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the mandis in Punjab, the procurement of paddy had picked up and in Khanna, the biggest grain market in the region, 60,000 quintals of paddy had been purchased today.

UP Urdu Akademi honour for Dheer 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — The Uttar Pradesh Urdu Akademi has announced its prestigious National Literary Award for eminent Urdu fiction writer Dr Kewal Dheer. The award has been announced for his recently published book of short stories “Kahaniyan” which carries a purse of Rs 30,000 and a citation.

Attempt to kidnap infant thwarted 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — The alertness of a mother thwarted an attempt to kidnap her two-and- half-year-old daughter.

COMMUNITY

Industry to oppose govt candidate in Sunam
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — About 36 industrial and trade associations affiliated to the Industry and Trade Forum, Punjab, held a meeting here today under the chairmanship of Mr Harish Khanna, President, of the forum, and decided not to support Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, candidate fielded by the SAD (B)-BJP combine, in the ensuing byelection to the Sunam constituency.

Protest rally by PAU non-teaching staff  
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — The non-teaching employees of Punjab Agricultural University held a rally in front of the Administrative Block of the university, today, in protest against the decision of the authorities to abolish 1300 posts of different cadres of the employees.

An evening of glitz, glamour 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — It was an evening full of glamour and glitz, flavoured with music and catwalk that held the entire audience in awe for almost two hours. The occasion was JD Annual Design Awards-2000. As the fashion market at the national and international panorama hots up, Ludhianvis frequently get an opportunity to watch these fashion sessions live.

• Pensioners demand payment of arrears 

• PNB staff shine on ‘Hindi Divas’ 

• Home gardening tips

CRIME

BUSINESS

Bank launches e-trading 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — With the launch of online trading facility at IndusInd Bank, persons maintaining accounts in the bank will now be able to avail e-trading at the main branch of Mumbai as well. The facility has been launched in collaboration with infinity.com, financial securities of Aptech group, which will enable the investors to buy and sell securities on National Stock Exchange online, informed Mr Jeet P. Chugani, executive director of the bank.

EDUCATION

SD students celebrate function  
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — The students, staff and the management of Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School celebrated annual prize distribution function on the campus of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College here today.

COURTS

Pay retired scientist, HC directs PAU  
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — In a recent order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University to pay superannuary benefits to a senior scientist of the university, along with penal interest at the rate of 18 per cent .

CULTURE

Chhou dance, a visual treat 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — Chhou dance performance was held at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Public School, here today, under Virasat 2000 sponsored by the Ludhiana chapter of the SPIC MACAY. Chhou dance is from Purulia district of Chhota Nagpur Division. The Sitalpur Ganesh Chhou dance party presented a most beautiful colourful dance. This dance forms a cultural activity of Purulia district. It is mainly a mask dance and believed to be 100 years old and essential part of the ritual of the festival of Shiva.

HEALTH

Fellowship for Dr Dinesh Garg 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — Dr Dinesh Garg, Consultant Ophthalmologist in the eye department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital has been selected for the prestigious Retina Fellowship by Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Glasgow (Britain). 

SPORT

Trials for games on Sept 29 
LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — The trials for the selection of Ludhiana district teams for athletics, handball, kabaddi, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics for the Punjab State Games for Women would be conducted on September 29.