The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, November 1, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

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

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
ELECTED: Dr Jai Rup Singh, Professor of Human Genetics and Coordinator, Centre for Genetic Disorders of Guru Nanak Dev University was elected as council member of the International Association of Human Biologists during elections held recently in San Antonio, Texas, USA. He will represent South Asia.

DHURI
EYE CAMP: A medical camp was organised by the local eye bank samiti in collaboration with Nishkam Seva Sabha Dhuri at the local Mangla Ashram on Sunday. As many as 215 patients were examined and provided free medicines.

GURDASPUR
INJURED: Four members of a family in Basu Treti village under Pathankot subdivision were injured in a factional fight here on Monday. The injured have been identified as Achhru Ram, Shakuntla, Swarn Ram and Om Dutt. Villagers alleged Prem Chand, Vijay Kumar, Balbir Chand and Balwan Singh attacked Achhru Ram’s house when the other members of the family were away to attend a marriage party. The injured have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Pathankot.

INSTALLED: The following were installed office-bearers of the local Lions Club here on Monday: president — Mr Prem Gupta; vice-presidents — Mr Ashwani Tondan and Mr Jawahar Aggarwal; secretary — Mr Vijay Verma; and treasurer — Mr Vijay Marwaha.

LUDHIANA
CONTEST: More than 35 BCom (I) students of Khalsa College for Women took part in freshers contest held on Tuesday. There were four rounds in the contest. The first round was a look-over round as all the freshers sashayed down the ramp. Second round was an introduction round and in the third round girls exhibited their talent using diyas as props. For the final question-answer round, ten girls were screened. Finally, Ms Fresher, first runner up, second runner up, Ms Catwalk, Ms Lovely Eyes, Ms Lovely Hair, Ms Graceful and Ms Beautiful Smile were selected. Later the students presented cultural items in which Gagan of BCom II sang the number Tum dil ki dhadkan mein. This was followed by a group dance on the numbers Chad di jawani chal mastani, Dupatta tera sat rung da and Piya piya. Then the girls presented a dance parody Sona disda ve mahi. The judges on the occasion were Ms Harbans, Ms Priyanka, Ms Simarjit and Ms Gursimran. The contest was compered by Rupal Khemka and Sumedha Aggarwal.

WORKSHOP: The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is organising a seminar-cum-workshop on fashion forecasting for autumn and winter 2001-2002 collections, on Wednesday. It is being organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. Mr Ram Kumar Singh, deputy director of the council, in a press note said the trends would be presented by Promostyl, Paris, a leading fashion trend bureau with network spanning over 19 countries. During the programme, audio-visual presentations, samples from overseas markets and the fabric trends for the autumn and winter could be analysed. There would be an interactive session with the participants. The books on trends will be also available on the occasion, said Mr Singh.

CAMP: The surgery department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, with the assistance of Social and Prevention department of the DMCH, has made an effort to introduce the concept of surgical camps by organising the first surgical camp in the rural health care centre at Pohir. Mr Prem Nath Gupta, secretary of the managing society of DMCH and Dr S.C. Ahuja, principal, DMCH in a joint statement informed that it would help the weaker section of society to get their surgeries done in the best of OTs and by the best doctors of the DMCH. About 150 patients came for the check-up, out of which, 60 needed to be operated. These patients can be operated in OTs of DMCH within a month’s time, at a low cost.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation will hold a blood donation and blood group testing camp at their regional office in Bhavishyanidhi Bhavan, near bus stand on Wednesday. The camp will be organised in collaboration with Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Charitable Hospital, informed Mr S.K. Aggarwal, Regional PF Commissioner.

RALLY: Rotary club of Ludhiana-North, organised a polio eradication rally under the leadership of its president, Mr Mohan Singh and the Secretary, Mr Ravinder Kumar. The rally started from PAU Gate Number-2 for the Civil Surgeon’s Office, Civil Lines. The rally was flagged off by Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon. More than 1000 school and college students along with rotarians, with multi-coloured banners in their hands, participated in the rally. The rally was organised to create awareness among public for pulse polio. Fruits were distributed among the participants. Participants included distinguished persons like Mr Kalyan Singh, MP, Mr Kuldeep Singh, SDM, and Dr Harvinder Singh, District Immunisation Officer.

PATHANKOT
AGITATION: The agitation by the Jila Banao Sangarsh Samiti entered its 20th day on Tuesday. The Bar Association which has been extending support to the samiti has decided to continue courtwork so that litigants do not suffer.

PATIALA
INAUGURATED: Punjabi University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Ram Murti Goel on Tuesday inaugurated a three-week refresher course on “Atomic, nuclear and solid state physics” in the Department of Physics on the campus. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Goel said the university had accepted the responsibility of providing an opportunity to the teachers of the region to participate in refresher courses and meet the deadlines set by the University Grants Commission for advancement of their careers. Dr S.P.S. Virdi, head of the department and coordinator of the course, said 35 candidates from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana were participating in the course, which would continue till November 20.

COACHING: The IAS and Allied Services Training Centre at Punjabi University will start coaching for IAS preliminary examination for Scheduled Castes and general category candidates soon. Disclosing this here on Tuesday, the centre Director, Dr G.S. Bajwa, said applications were invited for the course till November 14 and interviews for Scheduled Castes students would be held on November 16 and general category candidates on November 17. He said the Scheduled Castes students would be provided free coaching and scholarship.

CHANDIGARH

BLOOD DONATED — As many as 180 units of blood were donated at a blood donation camp at Government College, Sector 11 on the occassion of Rashtriya Sankalap Divas here on Tuesday. The camp was held in collaboration with the PGI Blood Bank Society. Volunteers of the NCC and NSS motivated the students to donate blood. This was stated by Dr S.N Singla, principal of the college.

PRAYER: The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) organised a ‘sarv dharam prayer’ meeting to commemorate the 16th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Congress Bhavan, Sector 35, on Tuesday. Mr B.B Bahl, president of the CTCC, presided over the function.

MEETING: The UT Building Maintenance Workers Union on Tuesday held a gate meeting in Sector 38 in support of the dharn call given by the Federation of UT Employees and Workers for November 14, here today. The union is demanding filling up of vacant posts, regularisation of daily wage earners and the release of bonus.

HAILED: The Chandigarh Nagrik Sabha has welcomed the decision of Punjab Government to issue an ordinance to amend the East Punjab Rent Restriction Act, 1952, and allowing the NRIs to have one residential and one commercial premises for personal use. This was stated by Mr Amarjit Singh Sethi, general secretary of the sabha, in a press note released here on Tuesday.

TOURNAMENT: The All-India Civil Services Carrom Tournament 2000-01 will be held at Guwahati from November 29 to December 4. This was stated here on Tuesday by Lt-Col C. S Bewli, secretary of the Central Civil Services Regional Board for Culture and Sports, Chandigarh. All the interested players of the central government departments located in Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh should report to the secretary at the Survey of India Complex, Sector 32 at 10 a. m. on November 2.

DONATED: The Government College for Men, Sector 11, celebrated National Rededication Day on Tuesday by organising a blood donation camp on the college campus in collaboration with the PGI Blood Bank Society, Chandigarh. As many as 150 students and members of the college faculty donated blood.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: The Bank of Rajasthan Ltd, Sector 17 branch and its extension counter at Sanjay Public School, Sector 44 are celebrating ‘Customer service and deposit mobilisation fortnight’ from Wednesday. The bank has been in the process of commencing anywhere banking within top 66 branches and has tied up with INFOSYS for technology support. This was stated by Mr Suman Kumar, officer in charge in press release on Monday.

STRIKE: The indefinite ‘pen down’ strike by the Haryana General Category and Backward Classes Employees’ Welfare Organisation, Chandigarh. entered the 15th day on Tuesday. According to Mr Pratap Singh Sangwan, member of the action committee, employees of the Food and Supplies Department and those from Technical Department, had announced that if their demands were not accepted by Wednesday, they too would join the strike from November 2.

IRANIAN MINISTER: Mr Hadi Khaniki, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology and Press Adviser to the President of Islamic Republic of Iran, called on Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, here on Tuesday. The meeting was to explore collaborations between the universities of Iran and the PU, especially in the field of mass communication, science and technology. The Vice-Chancellor briefed the visiting dignitary about the alumini produced by the Department of Mass Communication. Mr Khanini proposed to have Iranian students trained at the department. It was agreed to provide short-term orientation programmes in English by the Department of English, PU before the Iranian students take up courses in the areas of their interest. The VC asked the visiting minister to provide the university with a detailed outline of the proposals to enable the university to move ahead in this matter.

OATH: All Government Colleges of the city on orders from the Chandigarh Administration administered an oath against corruption to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the college. The oath taking is part of the celebrations of the anti-corruption week which begins today.

RELEASED: The Punjab Public Relations Minister, Mr Natha Singh Dalam, on Tuesday released a book “Prophet of Peace” written by Dr Karam Singh Raju. The book pertains to the life and works of Guru Gobind Singh.

CONDOLENCE: The staff of Haryana Warehousing Corporation on Tuesday held a condolence meeting in memory of Mr B.R. Sharma, secretary of the corporation, who passed away on October 29 after rendering more than 38 years of service. The officials of the corporation paid tributes to the departed soul and highlighted the qualities of their beloved colleague.

PANEL'S VISITS: A delegation of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes led by its Chairman, Mr Dileep Singh Bhuria, will visit Chandigarh on November 1. The commission will call on the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, on November 2. The commission will also hold meeting with the Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the State government to review the welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes. The commission will meet representatives of the Scheduled Castes Employees’ Welfare Association of Haryana.

PANCHKULA
CAMP: A blood donation camp was organised on the Government College campus, here on Tuesday. An exhibition on blood donation was also held to motivate the students for blood donation. The Governor of Haryana visited the camp. This was stated by Mr R.L. Madan, principal of the college in a press release.

SAS NAGAR
ROBBER HELD: The local police today arrested another member of the dreaded gang of robbers involved in cases of highway robberies and car thefts. Police sources said a stolen car (PIX 2122) had been recovered from the suspect Gurvinder Singh, alias Goldy, a resident of Barnala. The sources said Goldy was planning to set up a factory at SAS Nagar and the car recovered from him was taken away away at Samana. Meanwhile, police officials of Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and other districts of Punjab contacted the local police to take remand of the suspects in connection with the cases which took place in their respective jurisdictions.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
DATE EXTENDED: The last date for depositing phone bills in the district have been extended in view of corporatisation of the Telecom Department to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). According to a press release issued here on Monday consumers with phone numbers of level 29 of Hodal, Palwal, Tigaon and Pali can now deposit their bills by November 10, instead of October 30. Similar extensions have been granted for other level numbers.

CONTROVERSY: The difference in fare charged between various points between Faridabad and Delhi by different transporters is a frequent cause of friction. The fare between Old Faridabad and Badarpur in Delhi on a Haryana Roadways bus is Rs four while Delhi Transport Corporation buses charges Rs nine for the same distance. DTC bus operators argue that the fare is charged on the basis of a particular stage. However, this is resented by passengers.

HISAR
CONFERENCE: The third biennial conference of the Animal Nutrition Association will be organised at Haryana Agricultural University here from November 7. According to a press-note issued here on Tuesday the conference is being organised on the theme “Livestock feeding strategies in the new millennium”.

JBT SELECTIONS: Two ex-servicemen have claimed that their claims to JBT teachers posts under their category were ignored . In a press-statement issued here on Monday ex-subedars Mr Ram Gopal and Mr Baljet Singh said that they appeared for interviews before the District Primary Education Officer of Fatehabad on December 22 last year. There were 39 seats under ESM category in the district and there were only six candidates. But despite this their names were missing in the final selection list issued recently.

JIND
ARRESTED: Three persons were arrested here on Monday for selling kerosene on the black market, Mr Rajpal Singh, SP, said here on Tuesday. These arrested are Ranbir, Om Parkash and Pala Ram. Cases under Sections 409, 420 and 411 of the IPC and under the Essential Commodities Act have been registered.

PANIPAT
ORGANISED: A blood donation camp was organised here on Monday by the District Red Cross Society. As many as 58 students and lecturers of Arya High School donated blood.

RAIDS CONDUCTED: Fortynine bottles of country liquor, 36 bottles of illicit liquor, 1,973 pouches of liquor and 180 kg of lahan were seized during raids conducted in September and 24 cases were registered under the Excise and Taxation Act. This was stated by the SP.

SENTENCED: Sahib Singh of Assan Khurd was sentenced to one year imprisonment and Sukhvinder Singh of Krishna Nagar was sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 was imposed on him in separate cases of milk adulteration.

SANCTIONED: As many as 380 connections were sanctioned by the city subdivision of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam in September. Out of these, 340 were domestic, two industrial and 38 tubewell connections, Mr M.R. Anand, Deputy Commissioner, said.

SCHEMES: Under six Bal Vikas schemes, 10,242 pregnant and lactating mothers and 38,898 children in the age group of six months and six years were provided supplementary diet through 541 “anganwadi” centres in September, the Deputy Commissioner said.

ECONOMY DAY: The National Savings Organisation and the Haryana Small Savings Directorate organised World Economy Day at Bal Bhavan here on Monday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand, was the chief guest. He said during 1999-2000, the district had done a commendable job in securing small savings up to Rs 47.29 crore against the target of Rs 46 crore.

SONEPAT
TRAINS DELAYED: Train services on the Sonepat-Delhi section of the Northern Railway remained disrupted for more than two hours following the snapping of electric wires near Subzimandi railway station about 45 km from here on Monday. Three passenger trains and the Bathinda Intercity Express were delayed for two to three hours as a result.