HOSHIARPUR
SEMINAR: The Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, Punjab, is organising a seminar on the WTO and its impact on agriculture, with special reference to Punjab, at Kheti Bhavan here on Saturday. Mr C.L. Vashisht, general secretary of the Plant Doctors Services Association, said here on Thursday that Dr Devinder Sharma an international expert, would address the seminar.

JALANDHAR
PENSIONERS’ JOURNAL: The All-India Central Government Pensioners Association has decided to launch a monthly journal “Pensioners Friend” on the occasion of the Pensioners Day. Mr V.S. Jolly, general secretary of the association, in a press note issued here on Thursday said the journal would highlight the demands and problems of the state and central government pensioners.

LUDHIANA
ADMINISTRATION'S ROLE: In appreciation of whole-hearted cooperation of the district administration, the Urban Estates Ram Lila and Dasehra Committee presented a memento to Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr S.R. Kler. A deputation of the committee, comprising Mr B.R. Kaushal, senior vice president, Dr Shiv K. Gupta, general secretary, Mr Sushil Malhotra, press secretary, Mr N.K. Sharma, joint secretary, Mr Des Raj Garg and Mr Vinod Bathla met Mr Kler and placed on record the contribution towards redress of public grievances.

MC PLAN: The Municipal Corporation plan to sell MC shops to allottees and to those occupants, to whom these have been sublet, has evoked a good response. According to decision of the state government, the MC shops have been offered for sale to bona fide allottees at 40 per cent of the market price, without right to the roof and at 50 per cent with the right to the roof. Dr S.S.Sandhu, Commissioner, MC, said the shopkeepers in the MC markets had responded in an encouraging manner to the scheme and many had already deposited the first instalment towards the cost of their respective shops. He made an appeal to others, occupying rented MC shops, to avail this opportunity of owning shops, since the scheme would remain in force for a limited period.

OBSERVED: Punjab National Bank, had deposits to the tune of Rs 1200 crore and total advances of around Rs 900 crore in this district. This was stated by Senior Regional Manager of the bank Mr K.I. Singh, while presiding over the 25th foundation day function of the Raikot branch of the bank. He said out of total loans advanced by the bank, almost Rs 400 crore were provided under the priority sector schemes. Mr Vijay Sharma, Senior Manager (Development) explained in detail the PNB krishi card scheme of the bank, under which loans ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs. 3 lakh were available to the farmers, depending upon their land holdings. Besides, the Branch Manager Mr Kuldeep Singh, Mr Mohan Lal, President, Nagar Panchayat, Mr Ramesh Kumar, president of Arhtiya Association, Mr Malkiat Singh Cheema and Dr Nazar Singh addressed the function.

GURPURAB CELEBRATIONS: Niharika Ladies Club, on Friday held Gurpurab celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar. A number of club members — the sangat took part in the celebrations to honour the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. The raagi jatha, headed by Bibi Balwinder Kaur of Fatehgarh Sahib enthralled the sangat by presenting shabad kirtan. “Guru ka Langar” had been organised for the club members and the guests.

DEATH MOURNED: A meeting of the Welfare Society, Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar, was held to mourn the death of N.S. Gill, father of All India Youth Akali leader, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal. The President of the society, Major Sher Singh Aulakh expressed grief and said the death had caused a great loss to Punjabis in general and to the family in particular. The society also paid homage to the departed soul by observing two minutes’ silence. Those present on the occasion included Mr Inderjit Singh Sekhon, Mr Sohan Singh, Mr M.S. Brar, Mr Bhajan Singh, Mr Hardev Singh and Mr Amarjit Singh.

BOOK PUBLISHED: The Punjab Agricultural University has published a book on”field problems of important crops. Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, said the book had been written to provide authentic and readily available information to the extension workers and farmers for the solution of complex crop problems like nutrient deficiencies, insect pest diseases and weed problems. The book contains about 200 coloured pictures, showing the symptoms of these problems, along with the suggested control measures. Dr J.S. Kolar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, and senior author of the book, said the book could serve as an important tool in the hands of field functionaries, farmers and others concerned with agriculture to avoid the unjudicious use of pesticides.

MALERKOTLA
RALLY HELD: A rally led by Dr Mohammed Shabbir, local CMO (dental), was organised by students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School in connection with the Dental healthcare Fortnight here on Friday. It was held to motivate people against the consumption of paan, supari and tobacco. It ended at the local Civil Hospital.

KAUN BANEGA VIJAYTA: The result of the contest “Kaun Banega Vijayta” organised by the Akhila Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad was declared here on Friday. Mr Saurabh Singla, Mr Mohammed Nahir and Mr Vinod Puri were declared first, second and third in group A, respectively, and Mr Aamir Ashraf, Mr Ajay Gupta and Ms Monica Jain were declared first, second and third in group B, respectively. As many as 403 students participated in the contest.

PATIALA
AWARDED: Dr O.P. Singh Kande, President Indian Medical Association Punjab, has been awarded Fellowship of College of General Practitioners (FCGP) and the Fellowship of IMA Academy of Medical Specialities (FAMS), at ACADIMA 2000 a Conference of Indian Medical Association. He has also been awarded a post graduate certificate in Torture Medicine and has been declared as counsellor for treatment of victims of torture and violence. Dr Kande has also established a centre for the treatment and rehabilitation for such victims.

PHAGWARA
RURAL TRAINING: A one-week rural training programme for trainee officers from the Mussoorie academy is being held in six villages of Kapurthala district. As many as 22 IAS, IPS, IFS and IRs trainees are participating.

SAHNEWAL
ORGANISED: A huge nagar kirtan was taken out from Gurdwara Shri Gobind Singh on Dehlon Road, Sahnewal. The nagar kirtan lead by the Panj Pyaras visited all of gurdwaras of Sahnewal. In the afternoon, the nagar kirtan returned to Gurudwara Shri Gobind Singh Ji.

DEATH MOURNED: The Akali Dal of Sahnewal circle passed a resolution to mourn the death of Mr Nahar Singh, the father of Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, president Youth Akali Dal. A two minutes’ silence was observed in this regard.

SAMRALA
DISTRIBUTED: In a function organised by the Lions Club, Samrala, the SSP Khanna, Mr Rajindera Dhoke, distributed woollen garments among fifty economically backward students. The police chief, Mr Dhodke, said the police first aid posts installed at Doraha, Khanna and Samrala had provided first aid to more than 2472 persons.

MISHAP: Two persons were seriously injured in a road accident, on Friday. Mr Jasvir Singh of Bondli village and the ambulance driver, Mr Balbir Singh sustained serious injuries when a Tata Sumo hit a loaded tractor trailer. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

NAGAR KIRTAN HELD: Mr Kirpal Singh Khirnian, member SGPC along with BJP leaders Mr Anil Gupta, senior vice president of Ludhiana district, Mr Pawan Gupta, president block Samrala, participated in the Nagar Kirtan on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

COMPETITION: Blossom inter-school competition, 2000-2001, comprising various events like painting, clay modeling, floor decoration and flower arrangements will be organised by the DAV Model School, Sector 15, on November 14. Schools from Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula are expected to participate in the contests, according to the school principal.

TALK: As many as 100 students of Government High School, Khuda-Lahora, participated in a talk on ''healthy diet and prevention of anaemia'', jointly organised by the Nutrition Society of India, Chandigarh Chapter, and the Servants of the People Society here on Friday. Mr Onkar Chand, Secretary of the society, informed that details on balance diet, role of various nutrients in healthy growth and maintenance of health body were discussed.

EYE CHECK-UP PROGRAMME: The CD Music Co and Welfare Society is going to organise a free eye check-up programme on November 12 at the gate of the Mansa Devi shrine, Panchkula, for the welfare of the poor from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Dr Neeraj Sood of the PGI will conduct the camp.

APPEAL: Mr Lalit Joshi Bhardwaj, President, Chandigarh Territorial Mahila Congress, appealed to all the delegates of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee to vote and select Mrs Sonia Gandhi for the post of President of the All-India Congress Committee in the party's organisational elections to be held on November 12.

AMBALA
BOOKING OFFICE: A new building for booking tickets for the second class will be constructed at the Ambala cantonment railway station. It was stated by Mr Vijay Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, here on Friday. He said that the new building would have all the modern facilities available. The present booking office is not sufficient to meet the demand. Since Ambala is an important junction, a large number of railway passengers change trains from here.

SEIZED: Ambala police has seized 850 gram of opium from a person residing in Housing Board colony here on Friday. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him, the police said.

KILLED: One person was killed in a road accident near Naraingarh. Nirmal Singh died when his motor cycle collided with a tractor. The police registered a case against the tractor driver, who succeeded in absconding from the site.

SONEPAT
GAMBLERS ARRESTED: On the orders of Mr Resham Singh, IG, Rohtak range, officials of the Task Force conducted surprise raids in different parts of the city and arrested 10 persons on the charges of gambling on Friday. The police also seized Rs 15,000 from their possession.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The Bharatia Doorsanchar Seva Nigam has constituted a 31-member advisory committee for the district. The committee will suggest ways and means for improving the telecom services in the urban and rural areas. According to official sources, most of the committee members are the supporters of Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, MP, and the Union Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan.

NEGLIGENCE ALLEGED: A seven-day-old girl died in the Civil Hospital here on Thursday due to the alleged negligence of doctors. According to the parents of the child, there was no electricity supply in the hospital and the authorities concerned had failed to start the diesel-run generator.

MAN ASSAULTED: Mr Ratnu Ram, an aged man, was seriously injured when he was allegedly attacked by his grandson at Chirashmi village, about 25 km from here, on Thursday. According to a report, the alleged assailant, who is a police constable posted at Panipat, managed to escape. A land dispute is said to be the main reason behind the assault.