AMRITSAR
CONDEMNED: A meeting of the district pensioners cell of aided schools was held at the Prem Ashram Senior Secondary School here under the presidentship of Mr K.K. Sehdev, patron of the cell. The meeting condemned the state government for not implementing an agreement signed between the government and leaders of the union in 1999.

BARNALA
SEMINAR: Lions Club (Harmony) here will organise a seminar on “Better Retired Life - An Agenda for Senior Citizens” here on Sunday. This was stated by Dr Sandeep Kumar, president of the club.

GURDASPUR
RACKET UNEARTHED: The police has unearthed a racket involving the sale of fake audio cassettes with the arrest of Kuldip Singh, Jagdev Singh, Rajesh Kumar and Simen Masih of Batala. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued here on Friday said 204 cassettes were recovered from their possession.

HUMAN CHAIN: More than 2000 persons, including representatives of various social clubs, employees of the Health Department and schoolchildren participated in a human chain formed here on Thursday to mark the polio-immunisation programme. Earlier, a rally was held at the Civil Hospital here which was presided over by Mr Kartar Singh Pahra, MLA.

SEMINAR: The Vigilance Bureau organised a seminar at Government Senior Secondary School, Kahnuwan, on Friday, as part of the awareness programme launched by the department. Mr Husan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, presided.

HOSHIARPUR
LIQUOR SEIZED: A team of the Excise Department, headed by Mr Randhir Singh, ETO, raided the house of Jagdish Chander at Tahli Mohalla here on Friday and seized 84 bottles of countrymade liquor. Mr P.C. Pyasa, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said on Saturday that a case under Section 61/1/14 of the Excise Act had been registered.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested Raj Kumar of Madinpur, Sukhdev Singh, alias Gori, of Amritsar and Harjinder Singh, alias Jinda of Darapur Tanda under Section 302/34 of the IPC in connection with the murder of Chanan Singh of Urmur Tanda on November 1. This was stated by Mr R. P. Mittal, SSP, in a press note issued here on Friday.

KHARAR
ASSOCIATION: The Retail Karyana Merchants Association, Kharar, has given a cash grant of Rs 2,25,000 lakh for the ongoing construction of a community centre to be known as Shri Ram Bhawan, in Kharar, on Saturday. They said that the remaining amount would also be given very soon. They said in addition to this amount, the members of the association would extend all types of help for this project. They have appealed to the other business and social organisations to come forward and give maximum financial aid for this project. 

LUDHIANA
DECLAMATION TROPHY: In an inter-school Punjabi declamation contest held at New Central Model High School, Janta Nagar, the team of Suneet and Harleen from Guru Nanak Public School bagged the Jagan Nath Malhotra Running Trophy. Over 18 schools from various districts of Punjab participated in the contest. The first individual prize was clinched by Suneet and the second prize went to Charanjit of Guru Nanak International Public School. 

VIGILANCE WEEK: The students of Greenland Senior Secondary Public School observed a vigilance awareness week. A declamation contest on ‘Increasing corruption in society’ was held in which Tanya Lall stood first. Mr Rajesh Rudra, director of the school, asked the students to pledge to fight against corruption. 

TUITION FEE: The District Youth Congress (DYC) has flayed the hike in college tuition fee, effected on the directions of the state government and Panjab University. The DYC president, Mr Parminder Mehta, said the decision was ill-timed and arbitrary. He has urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to intervene and save the students from an extra financial burden. In a statement, he said the massive increase in the tuition fee would adversely affect the poor students. Expressing solidarity with the ongoing agitation by students against the fee hike, he made an appeal to students’ bodies to continue the protest in a peaceful manner. 

EXPORT COMPLEX: The Janata Dal (United) has asked the state government to establish an export complex in the city, where prominent exporters of the region could have their marketing offices. In a statement, Mr K.S. Budhiraja, chairman of the industries and commerce cell of the party, has said that Ludhiana is the industrial capital of the state and a large number of importers visit the city to source their purchases. The foreign buyers had to move all over the city to locate various exporters and faced many problems. The establishment of an export complex, while boosting exports from the region, would enable the importers to get their supplies from a single point. 

VIGILANCE WEEK: The employees of Punjab and Sind bank celebrated Vigilance Awareness Week from October 31 to November 4. A debate on abolition of corruption to create motivation and awareness amongst staff was held on the concluding day of the function at its zonal office. Mr G.S.Saluja, chief manager of the bank, while speaking on the occasion said that there was an immediate need for collective efforts to eradicate corruption from all spheres of life. Prizes were given to the best speakers on the occasion. 

KNITWEAR WEB SITE: An information centre and Web site of Knitwear club will be inaugurated on November 6 for providing better facilities and services to club members. The information center-cum-library has been conceptualised with the support of UNIDO’s Cluster Development Programme, to cater to the information needs of the Knitwear and allied industry of Ludhiana. The website has been hosted with the support of King Infotech Software Solutions which would not only represent the Knitwear club on the worldwide web but also be a source for latest information on technology, government policies, trade developments and other relevant issues. 

MACHHIWARA
DEATH ANNIVERSARY: The death anniversary of Baba Lal Singh Bedi would be observed on November 17, in Manewal village. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Mr Gurcharan Singh Mithewal would attend the function. Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi (Una Sahib wale) and Baba Hari Singh (Randhawe wale) would delight the sangat with Katha-Kirtan.

MEETING: A meeting of the preparation committee of the Punjabi Sabhyacharak Kendra, Machhiwara, would be held on November 11 in the office of the Nagar Panchayat, Machhiwara. According to the president, Mr Shammi Kumar Pehalwan, and the director, Mr Gurmukh Deep, the date of ‘Machhiwara’s 15th mela’ would be finalised in the meeting. 

PULSE POLIO: As many as 181 posts including two mobile teams in Mangat block and 108 posts in Machhiwara block would be set up for the first phase of the pulse-polio campaign according to the SMO, Koomkialan, Mr K.J.S. Kakkar. Under the project, more than 24108 children would be served the polio drops.

PHILLAUR
ROBBERY: A group of armed robbers forcibly entered the house of Jhirmal Singh at Dayalpur village and decamped with a sum of Rs 7,200 and gold ornaments. The robbers bolted the family members in a room before leaving the place.

ROPAR
CORRUPTION CASES: As many as 15 government officials involved in corruption cases were arrested in the district during the past one year. In five cases, the accused were sentenced by courts. This was stated by the DSP (Vigilance), Mr Malvinder Singh, at a function organised to mark the vigilance awareness week at the Khalsa School here on Friday.

CENSUS WORK: Employees who make significant contribution to the ongoing census work will be honoured at state-level functions. This was stated by Mr Inderjeet Singh, Director, Census, Punjab.

SAMRALA
TRIBUTES: Tributes were paid to Ms Pritam Kaur Pannu, the late wife of the noted Punjabi writer, Professor Hamdardvir Nausheharvi and the mother-in-law of Mr Nirmal Sandhu, Chief Sub-Editor of The Tribune, on Friday evening. Many prominent citizens attended the bhog ceremony. 

HONOURED: Citizens of Samrala and members of the Shahi Rural Sports and Educational Society have decided to honour Mr Gurcharan Singh, the boxer who took part in the Sydney Olympics. Mr Gurbax Singh Sandhu, chief coach, Mr Tarsem Lal Gupta, Mr A.K. Mattu, chief of one squad for Sydney Olympics and Mr Mahal Singh Bhullar, ADGP, Punjab, would also be honoured on the occasion. The general secretary of the society, Mr Shahi Gurbir, informed that a boxing championship for women would be held for the first time in Samrala. 

MLA COMPLAINTS: Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA Congress , while complaining about the disbursement of funds said if adequate funds for sewerage were not provided to the Samrala Nagar Council, the workers of the Congress party would come out on the streets. He alleged that the required funds were not being provided as he belonged to the Congress party. 

TARN TARAN
ASI BOOKED: Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh posted at the city police station here, and Billu, a resident of nearby Bagrian village, have been booked under Section 13 (2) R/W 7 PC Act 161 of the IPC on a complaint by Ms Parveen Kumari, a local resident. She has alleged that they had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from her.

TOURNAMENT: The local SGAD Khalsa Senior Secondary School was declared champion in a four-day tournament or senior secondary schools of the tehsil which concluded here on Friday. More than 500 students of 13 schools took part.

DEBATE: Vigilance awareness anti-corruption week was given a grand finale through organisation of a debate on “Modernisation has led to a rise in corruption” at Government College of Education, Sector 20-D here on Saturday. During this week an anti-corruption pledge was taken by the entire teaching, administrative and ministerial staff. The life of Sardar Patel was highlighted. Sachpreet, Jasneet and Gunnidhi were the three winners.

BLOOD DONATION: A blood donation camp for the session 2000- 2001 was organised in Government College for Girls, Sector 11. It was inaugurated by the Principal of the college, Mrs Vijay Lakshmi. There was an overwhelming response from the students as 175 students donated blood. Dr Sadhna Sandhu, Lecturer in the Psychology Department of the college also donated blood. 

SEMINAR: NSS unit of Government College for Men, Sector 11, organised a seminar on ‘Corruption free society’ in the college. Professor S.P. Dhawan Deputy Director, Higher Education presided over the seminar. Dr S.N. Singla, Principal of the college administered a pledge against corruption so as to create a corruption free society. The seminar was held under the observance of Vigilance Awareness Week . 

FOUNDER'S WEEK: The fifth founder’s week of Vivek High School commenced here on Saturday with a religious prayer meeting held in the school premises. The auspicious lamp was lit by the school Principal, Ms P.K. Singh. The morning started with bhajans and shabads.The school honoured staff members who have completed 10 years of service in the institution. Students who had excelled in sports and academics were honoured with medals, certificates, badges and blazers. The founder’s week is celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the founder of the school, late Bhagwant Singh. The school came into existence in 1984 but the founder’s week is celebrated only since 1996. A delightful musical representation of Hans Christian Anderson’s all time favourite fairy tale will be put by students of class III of the school in the school premises at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. 

DERA BASSI
DENTAL CARE: As many as 35 students from three schools participated in a quiz contest on ‘‘Dental care fortnight’’ which was organised by the Health Department here on Saturday. Dr Ram Kumar, SMO, stressed upon oral hygiene and appealed to the students to take dental care. Heading a team of dental experts Dr Ram Kumar also examined the students who were participating in the contest for oral hygiene. Deepak of Deepmala Public School bagged the first prize while Chetan of Sarav Hitkari Vidya Mandir and Laddi of Geeta Public School stood second and third, respectively, in the contest. Meenu of Sarav Hitkari Vidya Mandir was awarded for the best dental care. The Health Department has also displayed an exhibition on dental care, especially for the children, Civil Hospital. 

PANCHKULA
PANCHAYAT: The Rashtriya Saini Panchayat will hold an introduction session for the public for matrimonial purposes at Yavnika open air theatre in Sector 5, on Sunday. The session will be chaired by Mr Gurnam Singh Saini of Dera Bassi. The secretary of the organisation, Mr Mohan Lal Saini, said registration of families interested would be done at the venue and they would be required to produce proof of their age and other related information. 

AMBALA
DC INSPECTS: The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr D Gautam, inspected the Sadar area of Ambala cantonment alongwith officials of the Municipal Council. Mr Gautam has directed that special effort should be made to improve the civic conditions since the areas visited by him did not have cleanliness. He also said the official concerned should look into the matter, a press note said. He said the Municipal Council must generate revenue so that the roads can be improved. He also visited the different development schemes being undertaken through the Local Area Development fund of the MPs. Mr Gautam has directed that in Sadar Bazar, Nicholson Road, Railway Road and other markets, the shopkeepers must be told to keep their goods inside the shop so that the people do not face any inconvenience. 

ANAJ MANDI: Green Circle, a non- government organisation, has sought for the shifting out of the Anaj Mandi located in the Sadar area of Ambala cantonment. In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India, Green Circle has said that everyday tractor-trolleys and trucks transport paddy causing traffic jams and it also causes air pollution. “Unhygienic conditions are prevailing and in case of a fire, the fire-tenders will not be able to reach the spot,” the letter states. 

INFORMATION CENTRE: To enable people to get information faster, the Commissioner of Ambala division, Mr Chander Singh, inaugurated an information centre at the DRDA complex. Through the information centre, people can seek information about a variety of subjects which is going to be accessed through the Internet, a press note said. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chander Singh said that on one hand while all the information of the world is available through the Internet, the various activities of the DRDA would also be known to the people. 

PULSE POLIO: The pulse polio programme will start at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Civil Surgeon R. K. Patnaik, said on Sunday 574 pulse polio booths were going to be set up all over the district for administering the polio drops to children up to five years. While 126 booths are going to be in the urban areas, 418 booths will be in the rural areas and there will be 30 mobile centres at the railway station, bus stand and for the children of nomads, a press note said. Besides the government agencies, the Rotary Club, Innerwheel club and Rotoract Club are assisting in the pulse polio programme. Dr Patnaik requested that children upto the age of five years must be administered the polio drops on November 5, December 10 and January 21.