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| Monday, December 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
NSS activities come to halt PSEB retracts order to abolish posts UK grant for World War II
prisoners Mob bashes up scribes,
lensman Meeting on WTO treaty fallout on Dec
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Quarantine services to be
upgraded Spate of robberies creates
alarm Overloaded tractor-trailers pose
danger Giani takes charge
Lakhs rendered jobless:
CITU
Residents flee homes RSS leaders to meet
Vedanti Lok adalat settles bank loan cases Capt Kanwaljit opens campaign Molestation charge against
SDO Maneka promises hospital for
sanctuary animals Minister calls for
eco-friendliness
CM cancels orders on
pay scales
Two vehicle
thieves held Gang of thieves busted Taxi driver found murdered
College Principals
threaten stir College teachers to go on
leave today Indo-German training workshop ends Sanskrit college
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NSS activities come to halt BATHINDA, Dec 10 — The activities of National Service Scheme (NSS) units in various schools and colleges of the state have come to a complete halt as no monetary grant has been given to these units for the past two years by the authorities concerned. Official sources said 60 per cent of the grant given to each unit by the Union Government in the past two years had been used by the Punjab Government to tide over its financial crises. Due to the severe financial crises, the Punjab Government had been unable to contribute its share of 40 per cent of the total grant to each NSS units. The sources said students of certain courses run by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) could not get their degree as the authorities concerned could not organise NSS activities due to paucity of funds. Participation in certain NSS programmes is mandatory for getting the degree. Official sources said certain NSS units in schools and colleges had managed to organise AIDS awareness, tree plantation, sanitation and adult education camps. However, this year no NSS unit of any school or college could organise a camp as no grant was given to them by the state Youth Services Authorities. The sources said each NSS unit in the past was given Rs 10,000 per annum and a separate amount for the annual camp. A senior functionary of the Department of Youth Services, when contacted, said he had no authority to comment on the matter. He said funds to NSS units could not be given on time because the Punjab Government was facing a financial crunch. He pointed out that talks were on with the Punjab Government and it was expected that necessary grants would be released within a week and all NSS units would be able to revive their activities by the end of December. However, the sources said the Punjab Government had not given any indication that it would release the grant amount to each unit. The government was offering only a small part of the grant it had received from the Central Government. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC (I), alleged the Punjab Government on the one hand was announcing grants for youth clubs in rural areas and on the other had consumed grants meant for the NSS. |
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PSEB retracts order to abolish posts BATHINDA, Dec 10 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities have withdrawn the notification issued by it last month for abolishing about 6,700 posts belonging to different cadres. Official sources said the notification had been taken back after the Punjab Government decided that abolishing of 6,700 posts would create various problems, including stagnation in promotions for the employees. Sources added that the notification had been issued by the PSEB management without discussing the matter with the Punjab Government on the state Power Minister. On the other hand, the PSEB authorities had sent a project report to the Centre for setting up 1,000 MW atomic power plant near Patran in Patiala district. The necessary sanction for setting up two units of 250 MW each at Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant had been acquired from the authorities concerned. According to sources in another significant decision, the PSEB management would set up a Regulatory Committee shortly and its members would be nominated in January 2001. The PSEB was also looking into the matter relating to the disparties in the pay scales of employees of the PSEB falling under different wings. The PSEB management had also decided to hold talks with the newly created Uttaranchal Government for setting up hydroelectric projects in joint venture. The chairman of the PSEB, Mr G.S. Sohal, would visit Uttaranchal state soon in this connection. Talks with the Haryana Government would also be held to set up a joint venture. The PSEB management had decided to make sincere efforts to generate more income so that the deficit of Rs 1,000 crore could be curtailed. To tide over the financial crisis the PSEB management had postponed the entrance test for the posts of Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE), which was to be held on December 1, indefinitely. The PSEB management had also started talks with the MP-based coal mines to buy coal having less ash content which was also cheaper than the coal from Bihar. It would also save money in terms of the transportation charges. Apart from it efforts were also being made to check the theft of coal. |
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Accounts & audit
staff to wear black badges PATIALA, Dec 10 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Accounts, Audit and Administrative Services Association, has decided to wear black badges in support of the strike call of the All India Electricity Employees on December 12. Disclosing this here today association president Parminder Pal Kaur said a meeting of the state executive of the association condemned the biased attitude of some of the board members towards the accounts cadre of the PSEB. She alleged that the management had not cared to solve the grievances of the accounts cadre and had not tried to solve their problems for the past 20 years despite repeated requests. She said attempts were being made to suppress the entire cadre. Mrs Parminder Pal said the pay scale of the divisional accountant and revenue accountant was Rs 250-535 in the first pay revision of 1967 which was on a provisional basis. She said instead of regularising this provisional scale the board in its third pay revision reduced the same and allowed Rs 750-1300 against the recommended scale of Rs 850 - 1400 by the pay commission. She said further the scale of head clerks was given above the divisional accountant. She said now the Board after qualification of examination by head clerks was promoting them as divisional accountant in the lower scales. |
PSEB staff not
to join strike PATIALA Dec 10 — The Punjab State Electricity Board
(PSEB) employees federation has dissociated itself from the December 12 strike on a call given by various trade unions due to the proposed Electricity Bill-2000, terming the nationwide strike as ‘politically motivated’. In a press note, the federation has said in a meeting held at Jalandhar yesterday that a decision to this effect had been taken and claimed that a massive dharna would be held on January 7 which will be addressed among others by former Prime Minister Mr Inder Kumar Gujral and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal. |
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UK grant for World War II prisoners AMRITSAR, Dec 10 (PTI) — The British Government has announced an ex-gratia payment of £10,000 (6.7 lakh) to the surviving members of those ex-servicemen and women who served the crown and were held prisoner by the Japanese during the World War II. In a communication to Brig Mohinder Singh, President of Indian Ex-Services League, New Delhi, the Secretary-General of the British Commonwealth Ex-Services League has informed of this decision of the British Government. Brig Mohinder Singh told PTI that in case where an entitled serviceman or woman has died. The surviving spouse will be entitled to receive the payment provided that they were still married on or before November 7, 2000. He informed that all claims for this payment were being dealt with by the War Pensions Agency of the British Government and information about the leaflet and claim form were available on the WPA website-www.dss.gov.uk/wpa/index.htm. Any claimant could also e-mail at warpensions@gnet.gov.uk. He added that an ex-prisoner of the Japanese or spouse of an ex-prisoner of the Japanese during World War II who served the crown who has since died also can apply directly by writing to War Pensions Agency, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP, England. The Brigadier informed that the British Government maintained the rewards of every person who was held prisoner by the British and any claim for the grant will be verified against the record before dispersal of the grant. He thanked the British Government for announcing this grant to each claimant as the condition of the World War II veterans was very pathetic. |
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Mob bashes up scribes, lensman JALANDHAR, Dec 10 (UNI) — Two journalists and a photographer were bashed up by a mob who had smashed open a gate, demolished a wall and illegally built a wall of their own in a bid to forcibly takeover a piece of land in nearby Paragpur village today in spite of court’s injunction till December 15. Villagers alleged that the mob led by a rich NRI’s family member Ranjit Singh Rana also fired three shots into the air but the police said no firing took place. But, a Punjab Home Guards (PHG) jawan Swaran Singh, who reached the site on a distress call from the aggrieved, was slapped by a mobster and ASI Om Parkash allegedly told him to keep quiet. SSP Gaurav Yadav tonight told UNI that 17 persons have been arrested, two cases of trespass and assault on journalists registered and the ASI suspended for dereliction of duty. He said the aggrieved has been restored possession of the land and a new wall built by the mob demolished. Karamvir Sandhu, Dainik Jagran photographer, was the most severely bashed among three mediapersons. He was medically examined and the case of assault against Rana and others was registered on the joint complaint of Sandhu and Brij Gupta and Ravinder Sabharwal, reporters of Jagran and Amar Ujala. The SSP said Rana and Maggar Singh, two of the five named as among the many accused in the case, had absconded but Sarwan Singh, Mahinder Singh and Dalbir Singh were among the 17 persons arrested. Most of the remaining were migrant workers who were brought to the site by the mob for illegal construction of the wall and demolition of the wall of the joint property of two families. Sukhwinder Kaur, whose husband Maggar Singh is named as one of the accused, had sold her share of the property to the NRI family of Toot brothers but her cousin Jaswant Singh got a stay because the property had not yet been divided and demarcated between two families who jointly inherited from their respective parents. Assault on journalists took place when Sandhu tried to click main accused Rana, said to be a close relative of rich NRI family of the village having close rapport with the ruling Akali party. Journalists said all four cops, including the ASI and PHG jawan, were present on the site when they were bashed up by the mob allegedly led by Rana. They said the cops remained mute spectators when the mobsters snatched camera and mobile telephone of the photographer and took out the film roll. Sandhu said Rana hit him, snatched his camera and flash gun and knocked him down. On a cue from him the mob kicked him around and when Gupta tried to rescue him, he, too, was beaten. When Sabharwal followed in the rescue act he also received the same treatment at the hands of the mob. SSP
Gaurav Yadav told UNI late in the evening that a case of assault on journalists and photographer has also been registered on the joint complaint of them against Rana and others. |
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Meeting on WTO treaty fallout on Dec
22 BHAGIBANDAR (Bathinda), Dec 10 — Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh today said an empowered committee of eight state Finance Ministers would meet on December 22 at Delhi to work out a policy to deal with the ill-effects of the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) treaty. Mr Kanwaljit Singh, who was here to inaugurate the administrative block of a school, said the policy evolved at the meeting would be discussed with the Union Finance Minister, the Union Commerce Minister and the Prime Minister. He pointed out that though the WTO treaty had not been implemented in toto, the adverse results of its partial implementation had started showing. He said the Indian Government was importing wheat, rice and oilseeds worth Rs 3000 crore under this treaty, despite the fact that huge stocks of these commodities were lying in the country. He said these steps would prove detrimental to the economy of each state and the farmers would face an economic disaster. He said Punjab farmers were capable of producing as much as their counterparts in the USA and Australia but they should be given subsidy on fertilisers, pesticides, seed and agriculture equipment as given to farmers of those countries. He claimed that the Punjab Government had arranged adequate funds for carrying out huge development works in the state without imposing additional taxes on the public. He said such arrangements had been made with the participation of panchayats and development committees, checking of tax evasion and cutting down of expenditure. |
Quarantine services to be upgraded amritsar,
dec 10 (UNI) — With quality and safety becoming important parameters in global agriculture trade under the General Agreement on Trade and Tarrif (GATT) and other trade agreements, India has decided to upgrade its plant quarantine services all over the country. In a chat with mediapersons here today, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry for Agriculture P.D. Sudhakar said in all there were 26 plant quarantine stations in the country and a majority needed to be upgraded to meet World Trade Organisation
(WTO) norms. A beginning in this direction had been made with the setting up of five ultra-modern and fully computerised stations at New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta and here at Rajasansi International Airport, which was inaugurated yesterday.. While the national quarantine station at New Delhi and the four of the five regional quarantine stations at Chennai, Calcutta and Rajasansi had already started functioning, the fifth at Mumbai would commence operations next month, Mr Sudhakar said. He said all five quarantine stations were equipped with ultra-modern laboratories for testing seed and plant varieties being imported or exported and these stations would be inter-linked through computers. Mr Sudhakar said under the new seed policy, quarantine stations would be helpful in certifying imported seeds and planting material. He said better quarantine services would help prevent introduction of exotic pests, diseases and weeds into the country. He said the five ultra-modern quarantine stations had been set up under the joint programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The FAO would run these stations for a year after their commissioning before handing these over to the Union Agriculture Ministry. Regarding the 21 remaining quarantine stations in the country, Mr Sudhakar said these too would be upgraded but in a phased manner. To ensure quality, the best quarantine service would have to be made available to exporters of agricultural commodities. “Then only would our commodities be able to capture the world market which in turn would be beneficial to the farming community,” he added. |
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Spate of robberies creates
alarm MALERKOTLA, Dec 10 — Panic has gripped residents of this industrial town and the surrounding areas after a spate of theft cases during the past 24 hours. Lakhs of rupees in cash and goods were stolen. With the broad daylight thefts in Iqbal Colony and Income Tax Street here the number of theft and robbery cases in the city has risen to five during the last 15 days. In the recent case burglars decamped with cash, ornaments and other valuables worth Rs 1 lakh from the house of Mohammed
Ibrahim, a resident of Iqbal Colony near bus stand. According to information Mohd Iqbal was away from the house with family members. The room and safe were found open on their return yesterday. Similarly, thieves succeeded in stealing valuables and cash worth Rs 1.5 lakh from the house of Pawan Kumar, near Income Tax Street. The family was away to attend the marriage party and the locks were found broken when they returned. The Malerkotla DSP said investigations were on and the culprits would be apprehended soon. He said the night patrolling would be intensified to avert such incidents in future. |
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Overloaded tractor-trailers pose
danger BATHINDA: “Speed thrills but kills”, this catchy advertisement of the traffic police warns rash drivers, who are many times the cause of road accidents. Vehicles, generally tractor-trailers, overloaded with goods can be seen on the busy, overcrowded city roads all round the year. Tractor-trailers loaded with bricks, wooden planks, iron rods and pipes, wheat husk, sugarcane and dry cotton sticks (chhattian) are the common cause of major road accidents. The authorities seem to overlook the fact that these vehicles are a risk to the public and a bottleneck to the smooth movement of traffic in the city. They just ignore them and very rarely challan them. With the onset of the new rabi season, the tractor-trailers with bulging chhattian, wheat husk (turi), and iron rods have increased manifold. As the city is surrounded by the cotton belt, the traffic of these vehicles is quite big. With the pathetic condition of the roads, stray animals, illegal constructions and encroachments on the main roads by the residents coupled with the callous attitude of the authorities makes the roads a death-trap. Mr Kulbir Singh, a resident of the city, remarked that there were no rules on the entry or exit of such vehicles. “No one is there to check them,” he lamented. The traffic of such vehicles cannot be banned but their timings of entry and the roads could be regulated to prevent mishaps, he added. The seriousness of the matter can be gauged from the fact that the number of the road accidents is increasing day by day. The GT road, Mansa road, Bibiwala road and the bridge on the canal near the thermal plant are accident-prone zones. “Rather than challaning the ‘big’ defaulters, only the two-wheeler riders are being asked to follow the traffic rules, wear the helmets, have insurance of the vehicle etc.,” alleged Mr Rajesh Saini, another resident. Mr Karnail Singh, driver of a tractor-trailer, said that the trollies which carry the husk were not overloaded. Mr Harpal Singh, driver of a trailer carrying chhattian echoed the same view. He added that they load their vehicles as permitted by law. Mr R.S. Sidhu, District Transport Officer, said that the practice of the projection of the goods outside of the vehicle was against the rule. He said that even if the load in the vehicle was in accordance with the law, the bulging out of the material loaded in it was not allowed. |
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Giani takes charge AMRITSAR, Dec 10 (PTI) — Giani Puran Singh, who was sacked as Jathedar, Akal Takht, by outgoing SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, today took over as Head Granthi, Golden Temple. At a simple ceremony inside the sanctum sanctorum this morning, Giani Puran Singh was presented a siropa (robe of honour) by the manager of the temple as he assumed his duties as the Head Granthi. He offered prayers at Akal Takht and the Golden Temple before taking his seat behind the holy Granth Sahib inside the temple. He thanked the SGPC chief, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, for the post but refused to say anything against Bibi Jagir Kaur. |
Lakhs rendered jobless: CITU AMRITSAR, Dec 10 (UNI) — The tenth all-India conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (citu), scheduled at Hyderabad from December 27 to 30, will focus on globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation and its adverse impact on Indian agriculture, industry and economy. Talking to mediapersons here today the citu, all-India vice-President, Mr Balwant Singh said foreign goods had invaded the Indian market as a result of which a large number of industrial units had either closed down or were on the verge of doing so. A large number of workers of industrial units had become unemployed and their numbers were on the rise. The Hyderabad conference would adopt a resolution calling upon the government to do away with the policies and dictates of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and take steps to safeguard Indian industry, trade and agriculture, he said. “We are in a debt trap and 59 per cent of the country’s revenue is going in re-paying loans to the World Bank and other international organisations,’’ he claimed. Globalisation had already created a scare in the farming community and the government was not bothered about this fact, he added. Mr Balwant Singh, who is also General Secretary of the CPM, said 5,200 small and medium-scale industrial units had closed down in Punjab rendering a workforce of about five lakh unemployed. This was primarily because of the policy of liberalisation as a result of which cheap foreign goods had made their way into the market, thereby leading to the closure of industrial units. Mr Balwant Singh regretted that for the past five years the minimum wages of industrial workers had not been revised in this border state. He held state Labour Minister Balramji Dass Tandon responsible for this and alleged that the minister was in league with industrialists. Earlier, he flagged off a procession of citu activists from Jallianwala Bagh here. The procession, after winding through different districts of Punjab, will reach Hyderabad for the citu all-India conference.  |
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Residents flee homes BATHINDA, Dec 10 — Mr Harbans Lal, a resident of Poojanawala Mohalla of this city has been forced to abandon his home in which he had been staying for years. He now lives in a rented house in another part of the city. His house has developed cracks and is on the verge of a collapse due to seepage of water into its foundations. Mr Lal is not the only one to flee his home. There are a number of other residents who are leaving for safer places. The residents of Poojanawala Mohalla say the water into the foundations of their houses is coming from faulty underground pipes. The residents made representations to the authorities concerned but in vain. They did their best to save their dwellings from collapsing but with no help forthcoming, they started shifting to other places. Mr Harbans Lal like many of his neighbours has written an application to officials of the Municipal Council and the district administration to save his dwelling. So far none has come to his rescue. Mr Shiv Kumar Mittal, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, when contacted, said a three-member committee had been formed to look into the matter and appropriate action would be taken after it submitted its report. A senior officer of the civic body said one possible reason for the problem could be that the “bearing capacity” of the soil was very low. When underground water got mixed with the soil, it got weakened further and could not hold the weight of the buildings. |
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RSS leaders to meet
Vedanti BATHINDA, Dec 10 — The senior BJP leader and Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan
Mittal, today said RSS functionaries would meet the Jathedar of Akal
Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, to clear all misunderstanding. Talking informally to mediapersons here, he said activities of the RSS in Punjab were not against any religion. All misunderstanding regarding the matter could be removed through negotiations. He pointed out that the RSS was only “projecting the history and culture of the people”. It was making sincere efforts to make the country strong by fighting forces which were trying to create trouble and weaken the
country. Mr Mittal alleged that the Congress was raising the issue of Ram Mandir for political mileage though the Babri Masjid was demolished during the Congress regime. He said Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee was right in saying that Ram Mandir should be constructed after a consensus among the public. He said the Congress was eyeing the Muslim votes by raising the issue of the Babri
Masjid. |
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Lok adalat settles bank loan cases CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — The Punjab Government yesterday organised a special lok adalat at Barnala. Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, supervised the adalat. A press note issued by the government said out of the 294 bank loan cases taken up at the pre-litigative stage, 163 were amicably settled. In addition, 98 other cases were taken up, out of which 48 cases were settled with the passing of awards amounting to more than Rs 65 lakh. At another lok adalat organised in Malout, 361 bank loan cases were settled to the satisfaction of the parties at the pre-litigative stage and awards aggregating to more than Rs 1 crore were passed. |
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Capt Kanwaljit opens campaign BATHINDA, Dec 10 — In the second phase of the pulse polio drive at least 1,64,000 children will be immunised in the district. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, launched the drive today by administering vaccine drops to children at Bhaghi village in the district. HOSHIARPUR: Mrs Mohinder Kaur, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated the campaign at a special function at her residence in Hoshiarpur. She administered polio drops to 21 children. She said 17,355 pulse polio posts had been set up in Punjab to give polio drops to 35 lakh children under the age of 5. |
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Molestation charge against
SDO MOGA, Dec 10 — Manjit Kaur, widow of Sadhu Singh, resident of Jeetasinghwala village under the Baghapurana police station in the district, yesterday lodged a complaint in the court of the Subdivisional Magistrate,
Baghapurana, that an SDO of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) posted at Baghapurana town molested her when he came to her house to check the power meter. She alleged that the said SDO had threatened her with dire consequences if she did not withdraw her complaint from the court. She has demanded stern action against the
SDO. |
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Maneka promises hospital for
sanctuary animals ABOHAR, Dec 10 — The wildlife sanctuary spread over 13 villages in this subdivision, will have state-of-the-art veterinary hospital to treat animals, birds etc. An assurance to this effect was reportedly given by Mrs Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister, to the All-India Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha here yesterday. Sources claimed that Mrs Gandhi offered grant of Rs 25 lakh for the hospital if land was made available another Rs 5 lakh for ambulance would also be released. The sabha demanded that armed security guards be provided in the sanctuary to deal with poachers. |
Minister calls for
eco-friendliness PHAGWARA, Dec 10 — Punjab Technical Education Minister Jagdish Singh Garcha yesterday warned that serious view of the emission of smoke from factories and vehicles needed to be taken. Addressing the concluding function of Environment Fair, the minister opposed deforestation and called upon NGOs to create mass awakening for an eco-friendly environment. Punjab State Food and Supplies Minister Sohan Singh Thandal cautioned the public against noise pollution. Protecting plants was more important than just planting trees, he said. Both the ministers gave Rs 25,000 each to the environment association that had organised the three-day “Vatavarn Mela”. Mr Garcha distributed prizes also. Mr Jagat Singh Palahi, patron, and Mr Kuldip Sardana, president of association, also spoken. |
Pulse
Polio PATIALA, Dec 10
— The second round of the polio eradication programme was inaugurated by the Civil Surgeon, Mr Rameshwar
Chander, at the Civil Hospital at Rajpura. He said more than 1,000 pulse polio camps were held in this district last year, in which more than 2,50 lakh children administered polio drops. Camps were organised by the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation employees, one at the main bus stand and the other in front of the PRTC head office. |
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CM cancels orders on
pay scales AMRITSAR, Dec 10 — While presiding over a high-level meeting in Chandigarh Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has reinstated the status and time-bound promotional pay scales of agricultural technocrats by declaring an earlier notification null and void. The earlier notification dated November 28, 2000, had lowered the pay scales and status of agriculture technocrats in the Horticulture, Agriculture and Soil Conservation departments. The pay scales from the time-bound promotional scales of Rs 7220-11660, Rs 10025-15100 and Rs 12000-16350 were reduced to Rs 5480-8925. The post of Agriculture Development Officer was also redesignated as Agriculture Inspector. Following the nullified notification a delegation of farm technocrats led by Dr Satnam Singh Pradhan, general secretary of the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, met the Chief Minister on December 4, said Dr Hazara Singh Cheema, spokesman for the committee. Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mr Chaman Lal Bains, Financial Commissioner (Development) also attended the meeting. Dr Cheema further disclosed that the committee had decided to withdraw the programme of agitation after this government decision.
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Two vehicle
thieves held MOGA, Dec 10 — The district police has arrested two persons who were allegedly involved in stealing vehicles in the state for the past one year. In a press note issued here today, Mr Paramdip Sandhu, SP (city), said three trucks had been recovered from the suspects. The two have been identified as Sukhchain Singh, alias Gora, and Gurdarshan Singh, alias Raja Painter. The trucks were stolen by the two from Amritsar, Rajpura and Ludhiana. Mr Sandhu said the Judicial Magistrate remanded them to police custody yesterday. Efforts were being made to nab their accomplices. A case has also been
registered. |
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Gang of thieves busted KAPURTHALA, Dec 10 — The district police claimed on Friday to have busted a inter-district gang of thieves with the arrest of two members. Mr Iqbal Singh, SSP, said the arrested thieves have been identified as Ashok Kumar of Jalandhar and Sarban Singh alias Bittu of Kartarpur. As many as 36 colour TVs, 1 generator, 4 photostat machines, 1 Maruti car and 2 AC sets, 2 CD players, among other items were recovered. The cost of the stolen goods was estimated at Rs 15 lakh. The police had earlier arrested three members of this gang from whom 39 colour TV sets were recovered, the SSP said. |
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Taxi driver
found murdered KAPURTHALA, Dec 10 (UNI) — A local taxi driver, who left the city last evening with a fare, was today found murdered with stab wounds at Khusropur, the police said. Mr Munish Chawla, SP (headquarter), said the body of Rakesh Kumar Chawla of Jatpura mohalla was found in the village but his Maruti van was located 2 km away on the road to Sandhu Chatha village. The 23-year-old youth owned the taxi he plied, his colleagues at the taxi stand in the city said. Cause of murder could not be ascertained. |
College Principals
threaten stir AMRITSAR, Dec 10 — The Principals’ Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh has threatened to stage a dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s residence and hold a rally is protest against the “dilly-dallying” attitude of the government towards its demands. At a meeting held here today under the presidentship of Principal Ashwani Kumar Sharma, the federation urged the government to meet their demands by January 10 next year, failing which it would launch an agitation. Principals of colleges affiliated to three universities of Punjab and Chandigarh participated in the deliberations. The Principals’ demands include the release of 95 per cent grant for January and February, 2000 and the release of arrears and consequential benefits on account of the revision of grades from January, 1996, to December, 1998. The meeting called for the immediate implementation of the pension
and gratuity scheme conforming to the Act in this regard. Other demands include the release of HRA for the teaching staff relaxation of the Ph.D condition for the recruitment of principals and increase in the retirement age from 60 to 62 years as per UGC regulations. The federation has also demanded the release of salary for the 26 days during which a strike had been called on an All-India level by college teachers. The Principals who participated included Mr P.S. Sangha, Mr Subhash Kumar, Mr B.D. Budhiraja, Mr R.C. Verma, Mr R.S. Sahni, Mr S.S. Sodhi, Ms Kusum Verma and Mr S.
Madia. |
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College teachers to go on
leave today CHANDIGARH, Dec 10 — Teachers working in Non-Government aided colleges of
Phagwara, Banga, Nawanshahr, Garhshankar, Mahilpur, Hoshiarpur,
Hariana, and Bullhowal have decided to go on mass casual leave on December 11, to protest against the inordinate delay in the acceptance of their demands. In a press statement, Prof.
Manocha, Chief Coordinator, Nawanshar zone Action committee, Punjab and Chandigarh College’s Teachers Union, stated that the teachers would assemble in
R.K. Arya College, Nawanshahr and they would hold a rally near the office of the Deputy Commissioner and later present a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Nawanshahr to be forwarded to the Chief Minister, Punjab. Prof Manocha added that if the state government did not take any positive step to resolve the issues the teachers would organise another protest march cum rally in the constituency of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab,
Banur, Patiala district on December 19. |
Indo-German training workshop ends AMRITSAR, Dec 10 — Scientists of various disciplines should promote collaboration at different levels to achieve concrete results from their research work. These remarks were made by Dr
H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University at the valedictory function of the week-long Indo-German practical training workshop on ‘Linkage analysis of human genetic disorders’. The workshop was organised by the Centre of Genetic Disorders of the university and funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of German. Prof Jai Rup Singh,
coordinator of the centre, informed that the identification of the exact location of the gene through linkage analysis was the pre-requisite of deciphering the hereditary diseases, and the ultimate cure through gene therapy. The present workshop is the eleventh in the series of workshops organised by the centre for genetic disorders to fulfil this objective |
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Sanskrit college BATHINDA, Dec 10 — The foundation stone of a Sanskrit college will be laid in the city tomorrow. The college will be run by a private organisation. The Parkhar Propakar Mission, which will run the college, has been running similar colleges in Rajasthan. The college will have “Gurukul” system of education and will teach vedas. A residential institute, it will be first of its kind in the area. |
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