The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, October 18, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

FARIDKOT
POLIO DRIVE: A meeting of Health Department officials was held here on Tuesday to finalise the arrangement for pulse polio drops on November 5 in the district.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
MEMORANDUM: The district unit of All India Anti Corruption Cell today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and to the SSP highlighting the problems being faced by the public. The delegation led by Mr Jai Singh and Mr Ravinder Kumar Rana, District Chairman and President, respectively, told the media persons that they have urged the district administration to take steps for regulating traffic in Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh towns of the district, to shift the venue of cattle fair from the G.T. Road, Sirhind, to some other area, because it causes traffic blockade on the G.T. Road and to depute police personnel in plain clothes near girls’ schools to nab eve-teasers. They said to check the menace of corruption during the loading of special foodgrain trains by the FCI, Punsup and Markfed some special measures should be taken. The Deputy Commissioner and SSP assured the delegation that all their demands would be met and assured full cooperation in curbing corruption in the district.

GURDASPUR
DENTURES: As many as 60 dentures were distributed among the needy at a function held here on Tuesday by the local branch of Indian Dental Association. The association held a painting competition for school children in which Golden Model School got the first prize and DAV High School for Girls the second.

LUDHIANA
CONTEST: More than 45 students of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School participated in an embroidery contest organised by Vardhman Knitting Yarns on Tuesday. The Contest was open for the students of Classes XI and XII. The students were given cloth pieces with a stamp of bunch of flowers on it. They were asked to pick threads of any colour provided by the company. Time allotted to the girls was two hours. The first prize was won by Rashima Kapila, Amandeep Kaur was declared second and Meenakshi stood third. Mr C.B. Sharma, senior sales manager of the company said that the competition was organised to revive the dying art of embroidery among youngesters. He said a similar competition would be held on October 21 at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar. Ms Neeraj Mahajan, home science teacher of the school, coordinated the competition.

PENSION: More than 5 lakh Punjab Government employees and pensioners have urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to disburse salaries and pensions for the month of October before Divali. Members of the association said disbursement of pay and pension will help them to celebrate the festival without any financial hardship. Mr Yash Paul Ghai, Additional Secretary of the association, said the association has sought immediate release of the DA instalment due from July. “The Central Government has already sanctioned DA instalment for its staff and pensioners, the Punjab Government should follow suit", he added.

DESIGNING CLASSES: Mr Rohit Khare, General Manager, Usha International, inaugurated the evening batch of dress-designing classes for girls and women, at the Param Institute. In his inaugural address, he said that more than 700 schools were being run by Usha International throughout the country. The schools had made the girls and women financially independent by giving them training in stitching and embroidery. Mr Amarjit Singh, Chairman of the Param Institute, made a vote of thanks to Mr Rohit Khare and Mr M.K. Vyas for their cooperation. Parminder Kaur, Principal of the Institute, said that a course of textile painting had also been started by the institute. Mementoes were presented to Mr Khare and Mr Vyas by the management committee of Param Institute.

MALERKOTLA
ROAD MISHAP: Sukhdev Singh (30), son of Harbans Singh, was killed on the spot and his sister sustained serious injuries when they were hit by a car on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road near Bhogiwal village on Monday. The woman is stated to be out of danger. The car driver managed to escape.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested a notorious criminal, Mohammad Gafoor, who had escaped from Bihar after murdering Sheikh Husaini and his two children. Stating this to mediapersons, DSP Surinder Singh Sani said he was wanted in Bhagalpur district in nine cases of robbery, kidnapping and theft. Mr Saini said the police had informed the Bihar police regarding the arrest.

PATIALA
HONOURED: Dr Gurdev Singh, a renowned critic and scholar, former professor and head of the department of Punjabi, Punjabi University, has been nominated as life member of the American biographical Institute Research Association’s Board of Governors. Dr Singh has been made Deputy Governor. This honour has been bestowed on him for his contribution to the development of healthy literature, culture and criticism. Dr Singh has over 30 books to his credit and he has worked in various capacities in the academic world. This was stated in a press note issued by the university here on Monday.

PETRO HIKE: The Excise and Taxation Department Pensioners Welfare Association on Tuesday urged the government to withdraw the price hike in the petroleum products. Issuing a press note the association president, Mr D.S. Virk, said the recent hike in the petroleum products will add to the miseries of the pensioners who already are reeling under the heavy inflation of essential commodities. Even the enhanced dearness allowances (D.A.) was not enough to keep pace with the increasing price rates of various commodities, he said.

PHAGWARA
CELEBRATIONS: Shri Vishawkarma Dhiman Sabha will celebrate 90th Vishawkarma Pooja Mahotsav at the local Banga road on October 27. It will undertake medical, educational, religious projects on that day. This was disclosed here at a press conference on Tuesday by Mr Kapoor Chand Dhiman, president of the sabha.

SAMRALA
KARVA CHAUTH: The Ladies Club, Samrala celebrated the festival of ‘Karva-Chauth’ at the residence of SDM, Samrala, Monday evening with zeal. Ladies bedecked with jewellery, colourful bangles, sindoor, bindis, and mehndi recited katha and exchanged thalis. Ms Manjot (SDM’s wife) gave away the prizes to the winners of the Mehndi competition held a day before. The first prize went to Ms Geetika and the second to Ms Shalija Marwaha. The gift for the best dressed suhagan was bagged by Ms Manjeet Dhillon, wife of Mr Harpal Singh Dhillon, President, Arhtia Association, Samrala

TARN TARAN
TRAINING: About 300 medical officers working in the health centres and civil hospitals in the Amritsar district have been imparted referal training at the civil hospitals in Tarn Taran, Patti, Baba Bakala and Ajnala under the programme of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. Dr Rakesh Bharti, Deputy Medical Commissioner of the PHSC, was the coordinator of the programme in the district.

CHANDIGARH

YOUTH FESTIVAL: Nearly 10,000 students of 110 colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh will participate in the forthcoming Panjab University Youth Festival. The calender for this year’s festival was issued by the Panjab Youth Welfare Director, Dr Iqbal Singh Dhillon. The colleges have been divided into 12 areas. The Chandigarh Zone A will have competitive events among the girls’ colleges of the city being hosted by Government College for Women, Sector 42. The events include competitions in music instrumental and vocal, classical and folk songs, creative writing, poetry recitation, one-act play, folk dances, debate and declamation. Chandigarh Area B competitions will be held between November 1 and 3 at Government College, Sector 46.

CELEBRATIONS: After a year of successful completion of its telecast, Alpha Punjabi, an integral part of Zee Network, is celebrating its first anniversary here on Wednesday. The channel’s keen understanding of the tastes of the Punjabi audience has helped it in soaring to great heights in just a single year. Its concentration on the religious aspect of Punjab has also helped the channel to carve a niche for itself.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office bearers of the Tribune Youth Club: Advisers — Mr Lalit Bhatia, Mr Ashok Sharma, Mr Uma Shankar, Mr Sanjeev Benjwal and Mr Rajan Raikhy, president — Mr Inder Kumar; vice-president — Mr Vishnu; general secretary — Mr Mansa Ram; office secretary — Mr Pradeep Sundriyal; joint secretary — Mr Ashok Yadav and Mr Sukhiwinder Singh; sports secretary — Mr Gaya Baksh Yadav and Mr Ramesh Kumar; cashier — Mr Ajay Kumar Tayal; propaganda secretary — Mr Raman. The executive committee consists of Mr Sanjeev Dean, Mr Ramesh yadav, Mr Rakesh Kumar, Captain Shekhawat and Mr Harish Pandey.

COMPETITION: A Poster-making competition was organised by the Department of Fine Arts, Goverment College of Education, Sector 20, to celebrate ‘World Food Day’, here on Tuesday. The themes given to participants were non - availability of food, importance of balanced diet, starvation, adulteration and grow more food.

DECLARED: The Following were declared as the vice presidents of the New Vayopar Mandal Chandigarh: Mr Lile Singh,Mr Ashwani Kumar, Mr Ashok Sharma, Mr B.M Khanna, Mr Shiv Dayal and Mr Bhushan Mahajan. This was announced by Mr Bhasin, general secretary of the mandal, here on Tuesday.

PROCESSION: Various employees unions have decided to take out a torch-light rally on Thursday from Matka Chowk. The march is being organised in protest against the non-accepteance of their respective demands by the Administration. The working committee of Sweepers’ Union has decided to participate in the totch light procession. The Public Health Maintenance Technical and Sweepers’ Union, at a gate meeting also decided to take part in the procesion. Employees of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Roads Workers’ Union, according to Mr P. Kamraj, general secretary of the union, will also participate in the procession. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Public Health Workers Union, also announced its decision of taking part in the torchlight procession. The Sanitary Installation Workers Union will also be taking part in the Thursday’s march. Mr Jasmer Singh, general secretary of Sewerage Employees’ Union, announced that his union too would be participating in the forth coming procession. The UT Building Maintenance Workers’ Union would also take part in the torch procession to lodge its protest to the Administration for non acceptence of their demands.

SELECTED: Twelve students from the city colleges and the plus two level schools were selected, as the National Service Scheme volunteers for participation in the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi, at Government College for Men, Sector 11, here on Tuesday. A 10-day pre-Republic Day parade camp will held from November 5 to 14 at Government College, Ropar. The following are the names of the students: Mr Vikas Sharma and Mr Pravesh Kumar Saini of Government College for Men, Sector 11; Mr Deepak Aggarwal of SGGS College, Sector 26; Ms Shelly Juneja of Government College of Education, Sector 20; Ms Prachi Yadav of M.C.M DAV College, Sector 36; Ms Urmil, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18; Ms Deepti Negi, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22; Ms Panita, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 23; Ms Mini Goel, Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Sector 18; Mr Anil Kumar and Mr Rohtash, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8; Mr Surinder Singh, Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19.

SAS NAGAR
PROBLEM: Residents of Phase 5 here have urged the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to take remedial measures to prevent flooding in the area. Ms Deep Kaur Shyan, a municipal councillor of the area, said the rainy water of Phase 1,2, 3-B 2, 4 and Madanpura village flooded the low-lying areas of Phase 5. The residents met the Punjab Urban Development and Housing Minister, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, urging her to solve their long-pending problem.

HARYANA

AMBALA
recruitment drive: The army recruitment rally for Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanager, Panchkula and Chandigarh will be held from November 1 to November 3 at Karnal Stadium, Karnal and on November 8 at Parade Ground, Chandigarh. According to a press note issued by the recruitment officer, Mr Vinod Kumar, on November 1, the recruitment of Sikh-Majhabi, Ramdasia-Sikh, Gorkha-Ahir, Muslim and Gujjar will be made while on November 2 Jaat and Rajput will be recruited. November 3 Brahmin and the candidates of other cases will be recruited. On November 8 the kin of working army personnel, ex-servicemen and war widows will be recruited at Chandigarh.

'Ahlan' in city: Allied Bev. Co Ltd, Sharjah, UAE, would soon be launching their ‘Ahlan’ range of soft drinks in North India. The managing director of Indian operations, Mr Surender, while inaugurating the agency of the products here on Monday, said upper middle class Indians would relish its soda, lemon, orange and cola products.

APPOINTED: Mr Viresh Sandilya has been appointed the vice-president of the Farmer Cell of HPCC. Former minister Phool Chand Mulana and DCC president Balwant Gupta welcomed the appointment of Mr Sandilya.

BHIWANI
ARRESTED: The police is said to have arrested two of the suspects who had attacked Mr Madan Lal Verma, president of Adarsh Youth Club here. The members of the club had threatened to block road in this connection.

TEACHERS’ DEMAND: Ad hoc teachers have demanded that their services should be regularised. In a statement issued on Tuesday the press secretary of ad hoc Adhyapak Sangh, Bhiwani, Mr Sandeep Wadhwa, said resentment prevailed among teachers for releasing selection lists of C and V teachers and their regularisation.

EYE CAMPS: Eye camps will be organised at community health centres in the district under the National Blindness Eradication Programme. According to a spokesman, a camp will be organised at Tosham, on October 18, at Bond Kalan on 20 and 21, Gopi on 19-20, Loharu on 29-30 and Jhojhu Kalan on 30 and 31.

SUICIDE: One person committed suicide here on Monday. The deceased, a resident of Shiv Nagar colony, was working as an assistant with the Animal Husbandry Department at Lalhana village. He was admitted to the civil hospital where he died. The police has registered a case.

PROTEST: The Gaushala Mazdoor Union here has threatened to celebrate black Divali if the sacked labourers were not taken back in service. They declared to demonstrate here on Tuesday against the management of Gaushala.

FATEHABAD
MEETING: The Health Department organised a “panch sarpanch sammelan” at the Civil Surgeon’s office here on Monday. The Civil Surgeon, Dr S.K. Makkar, presided over the meeting. The Civil Surgeon informed them about the pulse polio campaign to be organised by the department.

JHAJJAR
LIQUOR SEIZED: As many as 520 caskets of illicit liquor were seized by the Bahadurgarh police on Monday near Rohad village in the district. The police has arrested eight persons and impounded two vehicles. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

JIND
MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 508 patients were examined at a medical check-up camp organised by the local Rotract Club at Ganga Hotel here on Sunday. Medicines were given to patients free of cost. A team of specialists from the town examined the patients.

KAITHAL
NSS CAMP: The 10-day NSS camp organised by DAV College at Teontha village, concluded on Monday. Addressing the NSS volunteers, chief guest KK Sirohi, Principal Kuldeep Gupta and the DPRO, Kaithal, Dr Rajbir Singh commended the volunteers for the work done by them during the camp.

KURUKSHETRA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Senior Citizens’ Forum, Kurukshetra, president — Mr Jagjit Singh Virk, vice-president — Mr R. K. Bhardwaj secretary — Mr M. L. Pahwa treasurer — Mr S.S. Sharma — Mr S.K. Shahi.

PROGRAMME: The Transport Minister, Haryana, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, said here on Monday that the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, would listen to the public grievances under the “sarkaar aap ke dwaar” programme scheduled to be held at the PWD rest house, Pipli, 5 km from here, on October 19. he said the emphasis would be on rural development works. He presided over a meeting of senior district officers.

SIRSA
ARRESTED: More than a dozen cases of looting and robbery were solved as the district police got hold of Makhan and his accomplice, Tarsem. Makhan was arrested by the Yamunanagar police a few days earlier but was subsequently handed over to the Sirsa police. Makhan has been sent into police remand till October 20.

CAMPAIGN: An inter-city meet was organised by the local unit of Rotary Club to discuss the anti-polio campaign underway. Speaking on the occasion the Additional Deputy Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the club in this direction. The meet was also addressed by polio specialists from Ambala and Bathinda along with the local civil surgeon.

SONEPAT
DEMOLITION: Officials of the demolition squad of the Northern Railway, accompanied by the police, razed unauthorised structures and buildings constructed by educational institutions and individuals on railway land here on Monday.

UPGRADED: The Haryana Government has upgraded 31 schools in the district during the current financial year. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that the schools had started functioning since the commencement of the academic session. He said the state government had spent Rs 5 lakh on the repair of 13 school buildings in the district.

POWER HOUSE: The haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and the uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam have jointly completed the work of the upgradation of the existing 11 KV trunk feeder-II to 33 KV second circuit between 132 KV substation, Fazilpur and 33 KV substation, circle office, Sonepat, at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. According to official sources, this line will improve the voltage condition and will help reduce the unscheduled cuts.

DENIAL: Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner, denied on Tuesday that Sonepat was turning into the dirtiest city in the state and claimed that concerted efforts were being made by various official agencies to improve the sanitary conditions in the city.