AMRITSAR
BABY WEEK: The new-born baby week is being celebrated here at Mahajan Children Hospital from Thursday. Dr Kamal Mahajan said hepatitis vaccine free of cost would be provided during the week.

JALANDHAR
CHILD LABOUR: The Sports Goods Foundation of India and the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development organised a painting competition and a magic show at Tazpur village on Thursday to create awareness among the people regarding the evils of child labour.

MEDICAL CAMP: A medical check-up camp was organised at the local railway station by the district health authorities here on Thursday. Migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were examined.

KISAN SABHA: The All-India Kisan Sabha has decided to gherao Parliament on November 30 in protest against the indifferent attitude of all state governments towards the plight of farmers, according to Mr Lehmbar Singh, member, central committee of the sabha, here on Thursday.

LUDHIANA
camp: To mark the national pharmacy week, a blood donation camp was organised at the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Civil Lines, here on Wednesday in which more than 35 students and teachers donated blood. The camp was organised to bring awareness among the students regarding blood donation and AIDS. It was inaugurated by Principal Kuldip Singh of GGN College. Later, Dr Sukhmeet Sethi, paediatrician, delivered a lecture on prevention of AIDS and other blood transmitted diseases like hepatitis B and syphilis. 

RECOMMENDED: Scientists of Punjab Agricultural University have recommended that for late sowing of wheat, i.e. after the fourth week of November recommended varieties are PBW-373, PBW-138 of wheat. They have cautioned that delayed sowing of other varieties causes a gradual decline in the yield. Farmers have also been advised to soak the seed in water for 4-6 hours then spread in a thin layer and sow after 24 hours in order to hasten the emergence of later sown wheat. The first irrigation should be given after 3 weeks of October sown crop and after 4 weeks to the crop sown after that. It has also been recommended that the first irrigation should be relatively light. 

Lectures: Prof N.S. Tasneem, a senior educationist, delivered two special lectures on the Elizabethan and Jacobean drama to the postgraduate students of English literature at G.G.N. Khalsa College, Ludhiana, here Wednesday. Earlier, he spoke on the impact of renaissance on English drama as a part of the series of special lectures organised by the college for the benefit of its students. Principal Kuldip Singh welcomed the guest and urged the students to work hard and exhorted them to pursue the study of literature with single-minded devotion because literature embodied the quintessence of human wisdom. 

CREDIT scheme: The Bharat Oversees Bank Limited has launched a new credit scheme for traders called Shubh labh. The scheme was launched at a customer meet organised here on Wednesday. The function was presided over by Mr Man Singh, president, Ludhiana Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association. It was attended over by several leading industrialists and traders of the city. Speaking on the occasion, the Assistant General Manager, Mr K Gopalnathan, stressed upon the traders to take maximum benefit of the new scheme which was aimed at providing assistance to the traders. The traders, while welcoming the scheme assured all cooperation to the bank. They appreciated the efforts of the bank in providing assistance to them and hoped that the mutual trust between the bank and trade and industry will continue. Mr K. N. Singh Ghalot, Branch Manager, presented the vote of thanks. 

contest held: The youth unit of the Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, organised a district-level declamation contest of the Youth Club members of Jalandhar district at Government Senior Secondary School, Bundala. Twenty seven contestants spoke on topics like creating awareness regarding health care and environment pollution, education problems faced by rural youth, role of youth in controlling social evils and population explosion. Navjeet Kaur and Mandeep of Shaheed Baba Khushal Singh Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Lambra, were declared first and third, respectively. Ankita of Government Girls High School, Bundala, and Suraj Parkash of New Janta Model High School, Nakodar, bagged second and fourth prizes, respectively. Prizes and certificates were given to all contestants. Dr G.S. Saini, Professor of Extension Education and Coordinator ofthe youth programme: Mr Mota Singh, a financial advisor in the UK and Dr Surjit Singh Pattar also addressed the youth.

Symposium: A symposium on ‘Freedom from stress’ is being organised on Sunday at 4.30 p.m. in Punjabi Bhavan by Dr Rajeev Gupta, psychiatrist and Director, MANHAS. The symposium will include discussions on various causes and the management of stress induced problems. Mr K.K. Kapila, Commissioner, Income Tax, will preside over the programme. Dr S. B. Khurana, former principal, DMC, will discuss various aspects of the problem. 

PATIALA
camp: A free eye check-up camp was organised by the State Bank of India, Model Town Branch, in collaboration with a voluntary organisation ‘Nishkam’ at the Sheesh Mahal Colony on Friday. More than 150 persons were checked and free medicines were distributed at the camp. 

resolution PASSED: The All India Telecom Employees Union (Class-III) of the Patiala secondary switching area, has passed a resolution regarding the conversion of DoT (Department of Telecom) into Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) . In a press note the union said the government share after disinvestment should not be less than 51 per cent in any case. A decision was made that if pension to the telecom employees was not granted from the consolidated fund of the government and that BSNL was not kept under the government control, the union would be forced not to mobilise the workers to give any option. The meeting was addressed by the circle secretary, Punjab, Mr M.L. Sharma and the G.M.T Patiala. 

competition: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will organise a state-level competition ‘vidyarthi jagran gyan pratiyogita’ on Saturday. Students from 6th to 12th standard will take part in the competition which will revolve around guru sahaibans and the teachings of three revolutionists Madan Lal Dhingra, Udham Singh and Bhagat Singh. Cash prizes will be given to the students attaining the first three spots in various sections. 

Health awareness camp: The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research of Punjabi University organised a health and drug awareness camp on the occasion of the ‘National Pharmacy Week’ on Friday. Nearly 50 students and seven research scholars of the department took part in the camp in which more than 200 patients were examined for treatment of blood sugar, blood pressure and haemoglobin. 

FUNCTION: A colourful function was organised by Auro Mirra Centre of Education, a branch of ‘Sri Aurobindo International’, for celebrating its annual day coinciding with the Siddhi Day on Friday. Auro Mirra was set up in year 1998 and celebrated its second anniversary today. Ms Kamlesh Mohindra and Ms Ritu Dutta, educationists from Delhi inaugurated the function. The first anniversary was organised with the help of other centres, however, this time the centre celebrated it independently. Students of pre-primary classes presented a cultural programme comprising group dances, songs and play. Ms Baljeet G.B. Singh, Principal of the school, explained that the function was made to coincide with the Siddhi Day that is the day when Sir Aurobindo Ghosh gained enlightenment.

SAMRALA
celebrated: A rally was held on the college premises of Malwa College, Bondli, in connection with the celebrations of the national integration week. The NSS unit of the college organised the rally. A march on bicycles was taken out from the college to Shri Katana Sahib under the guidance of Ms Rustem Devi and Dr Kulwinder Kaur. The march was welcomed by the local DSP, Mr Sushil Kumar, and the Lions Club president, Mr Rajvir Singh Mangat. Volunteers also participated in kar sewa at Gurdwara Sri Katana Sahib. 

inaugurated: The 14th Annual Athletic Games were inaugurated at the local Nankana Sahib Public School by the SDM, Samrala, Mr Sandeep Hans, on Thursday. The games will conclude on Saturday. Mr Kirpal Singh Khirnian, a member, SGPC, will distribute prizes to winners. 

elected: Mr Amar Nath Tagra, Councillor, Municipal Council, has been elected as chairman of the Elementary Education Improvement Plan Committee of Government Girls Primary School, Samrala, by members of the Parent Teacher Association and other committee members. 

charge taken: Mr Mohinder Singh has taken charge as Divisional Engineer (Telephones). Local residents and leaders welcomed Mr Mohinder Singh. 

SUNAM
FAMILY PLANNING: The Rotary Club organised a family planning operation camp, free of cost, at the Civil Hospital here. Mr Rakesh Jindal, spokesman for the club, said on Friday that 216 persons were operated upon.

AMBALA
LOANS: To facilitate the process of granting housing loans, the LIC Housing Finance Limited is going to hold camps twice a month in Ambala. Mr S.M. Manchanda, Regional Manager, LIC Housing Finance Ltd, said the camps would be held at the LIC offices in Ambala on 2nd and 4th Monday of every month. He said that LIC Housing Finance Ltd is rendering services for construction of house to individuals and corporate bodies. The northern region office is providing loan facilities in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Chandigarh and has sanctioned an amount of Rs 99.28 crore to 3715 individuals and disbursed an amount of Rs 86.21 crore to 3360 individuals in this financial year. Mr Manchanda said that LIC Housing Finance Ltd was formed in 1989 and has now got six regional offices. "We are also offering a scheme called ‘Apna Chikitsalay’ for doctors,” he said. 

rally: The 5th District Bharat Scouts and Guides Northern Railway rally was inaugurated by the Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Vijay Kumar, on Friday. The rally is being held at the District Training Centre, Railway Colony, Ambala cantonment. The Additional DRM and District Chief Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Mr Ashwini Kapoor said there are about 2800 scouts and guides in the division. “We encourage the scouts and guides for community development and participation,” he said. He said that Bharat Scouts and Guides are active in fields like social forestry and assistance during calamities. A variety of activities will take place during the rally which will culminate with the rally camp fire to be attended by Ambala MP, Mr Ratan Lal Kataria. 

elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of Haryana Government Railway Police on Friday. President — Mr Suresh Kumar Vamal; Vice-President — Mr Sube Singh; General Secretary — Mr Tajinder Singh; Cashier — Mr Udham Singh; Organising Secretary — Mr Babu Ram and Office Secretary — Mr Satbir Singh. 

NAHAN
POLIO DROPS: Mr Rakesh Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, said 60,000 children below the age of five would be administered polio drops in Sirmaur district on December 10 and January 21 at 541 different booths.

PARWANOO
Fire: A fire broke out in the canteen of Mayur cinema on Thursday, when the matinee show of film Mission Kashmir was going on. Mr Suresh Kumar, the canteen contractor said that he had gone out for some work leaving behind his five-year-old son who was taking food. He noticed dense smoke coming out of canteen and rushed to pick up his son, who had a miraculous escape. SHO Pramod Shukla said the cause of fire was yet to be ascertained. However, no casualty was reported. Mr Ashok Nag, owner of the cinema, has ruled out any possibility of electric short circuit.