 |
|
| Saturday, December 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Don’t
reverse Bibi’s decisions: Badal Border farmers threaten
stir Boat tragedy: Pak takes
action Mamta may
not appear before probe officer Installation of martyr’s plaque |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cong to
frame policy for farmers, traders
Increasing
road accidents worry doctors 4 of family die in
mishap KMC for
curbing RSS activities Dosanjh
visits Golden Temple Majitha to play host
to Dosanjh’s wife Highest
taxpayers honoured Jacob visits Civil
Hospital Nominate
Army widow to PCS: Father The
minister who is not! Pre-arrest
bail for Gurbax Singh in Mukhija case Lawyers
flay appointment of retired Judges Farmers gherao SDM’s
office Foodgrain
traders to hold dharna Sell surplus food to
weaker sections Pollution on rise in
Malerkotla Minister’s gesture
to TB patients
Power theft: 3 PSEB
men held Probe
into illegal felling under way
Crude
bombs thrown at Tata Sumo, 2 hurt
Students
opt out of science stream PTU to
start IT courses for rural students CBSE willing to
introduce Punjabi as compulsory subject
|
|
Don’t reverse Bibi’s decisions:
Badal MUKERIAN (Hoshiarpur), Dec 22 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said the decisions taken by Bibi Jagir Kaur during her tenure as President of the SGPC should not be reversed. Mr Badal, however, clarified that he could not comment on the issue of retrenchment of employees appointed by her since the matter was pending before the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. Commenting on the allegations by the President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, that corruption was widespread in the state, Mr Badal said if Mr Rinwa had specific instances, he should bring these to his notice. He said Mr Rinwa should not make any statement which could create fissures in the SAD-BJP alliance. Mr Badal, who had earlier laid the foundation stone of a power sub-station at Bhattian Jattan village, near here, said the project would be useful for people of the area in 37 villages it would enable them to get uninterrupted power supply. He further said the state government was trying to improve the quality of education and his government had decided to open a girls school in each of the 117 assembly segments where modern methods of education would be applied. The state government would spend at least Rs 20 lakh for improvement of education in each of the assembly segments and all vacancies in middle and high schools would be filled as soon as possible, he added. He announced that the construction of all three proposed bridges on Beas and Sutlej would be started in the first week of February. The three proposed bridges included the one to be constructed at Naushehra Pattan near Mukerian which would reduce the distance between Mukerian and Gurdaspur. |
|
Border farmers threaten stir FEROZEPORE, Dec 22 — Agitated over the indifferent attitude of the government towards the problems of border area farmers, members of Border Area Sangharsh Committee have threatened to take to streets in the three border districts of Punjab. Ridiculing the Central Government’s package to compensate the owners of the lands along the Indo-Pak border, the committee has sought the allowance for landless tillers, who have been cultivating these fields for a number of years. The committee leaders have charged the authorities of favouring the outsiders, who are now purchasing the lands close to the border to pocket the compensation, even as the demand for transferring the government land to the tillers at concessional rates is hanging fire. The committee president, Mr Resham Singh and the secretary, Mr Hansa Singh, told TNS that since most of the land near the border was being cultivated by the local tillers, the compensation to the rich landlords had brought little joy to them. Although a memorandum of demands was handed over to the Chief Minister during his visit at a public meeting at Guru Harsahai a few months ago, but the matter had been allowed to linger on indefinitely. The two leaders categorically demanded that the compensation of Rs 3,000 per acre be awarded to the poverty stricken tillers, who were actually encouraged by the government to bring the area under cultivation by the successive governments from security point of view. While these tillers continue to demand the transfer of these lands at concessional rates, the government has abruptly announced the package for the owner, prompting the influential outsiders to purchase properties in the area. “This has eclipsed the fate of thousands of families relying on the lands for living”, Mr Hansa Singh lamented. He added that the lands actually belonged the Central and state governments and should be transferred to the tillers on humanitarian grounds. They also charged that the outsiders with criminal background were buying these lands for smuggling with the help of the revenue authorities by staking false
possession claims. Accusing both the Congress and the Akali Dal governments of evicting the tillers, the two leaders announced that the residents of all three border districts - Ferozepore, Amritsar and Gurdaspur would jointly hold agitations in the coming months to “wake up” the sleeping government. Referring to some other problems of the frontier farmers, the two leaders said that the security fencing raised in border villages to check infiltration be shifted near the international boundary, instead of three to four km ahead of the zero line to minimise the inaccessibility to the fields. This would also enhance the land price, the two leaders pointed out. |
|
Boat tragedy: Pak takes
action HOSHIARPUR, Dec 22 — After long persuasion by the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission the Pakistani Government has started legal proceedings against the culprits and has ordered to all departments concerned to proceed in this matter expeditiously and submit their report to Mr Omar Asghar Khan, Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis. This was disclosed by Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the mission, after his return from Pakistan here today. A four-member delegation of the mission went to Pakistan and came back yesterday after two weeks’ visit there. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Khera said in Pakistan no action was taken against the culprits and travel agents who were involved in this tragedy. It may be recalled that 31 youths of Pakistan were killed in this tragedy. Mr Khere said the mission on its visit created awareness throughout Pakistan by holding press conferences at Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Gujarat. The Pakistani Government realised the gravity and seriousness of the case. As a result, Mohd Yunous of Lahore the main accused, was arrested at Karachi by the FIA. The other culprits were now absconding. He said the mission had accomplished its objectives, such as meeting the families of 31 victims, recording the statements of survivors and meeting officials of the Foreign and Interior Ministries and the Overseas Pakistani Foundation. The delegation also met the Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Mr Omar Asghar Khan, in his office at Islamabad. The delegation urged him to take up this case with international agencies and other associate governments’ release a status report regarding this episode, charge sheet travel agents involved in the case and institute criminal cases against them. It was also requested in the memorandum to release substantial relief to the parents of the victims and legal aid for providing counsel in the ongoing cases in Malta, Italy and Greece. He said three meetings of the bereaved families were held at Peshawar, Islamabad and Lala Mussa, a town of Gujarat district. The mission displayed four documentaries carried by the delegation to depict the story of the episode. |
|
Mamta may not appear before probe officer CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — Mamta, who allegedly accused Punjab’s Additional Director-General of Police (Security), Mr B.P. Tiwari, of attempting to molest her, may not appear before the Inquiry Officer, Mr S.V. Singh, Additional Director-General of Police (Crime). The Punjab Human Rights Organisation led by its chairman, Justice Ajit Singh Bains, and the convener, Mr Inderjit Singh Jaijee, today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to make the report of Mr B.P. Tiwari into the disappearance of Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaunke, public. “It is apparent that Mr Tiwari has given an inconvenient report to the government indicting Mr Badal’s favourite officer and the report may have gone against certain politicians. The whole story seems to be a frame-up. “To clear his position, the Chief Minister must make the report on Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaunke public. Otherwise it would appear to be an effort to punish a non-compliant officer. The enquiry should be handed over to the CBI,” Justice Bains and Mr Jaijee said in a written statement, suspecting a deep-rooted conspiracy in the Tiwari episode. Though formal orders of the inquiry being entrusted to Mr S.V. Singh were issued on the morning of December 19, he is yet to start his work. Until this evening he had neither received a copy of the complaint nor had the complainant appeared before him in person to narrate the sequence of events to set the inquiry rolling. In the absence of a formal complaint, even the recording of statements by others, presumed to be eyewitnesses, or those who could give evidence in the case, could not start. Mr S.V. Singh was given 15 days to complete his inquiry and submit a report to the state government. The inquiry was ordered suo motu on the basis of allegations made by Mamta at a press conference here. Nineteen-year-old Mamta, who was employed at Mr Tiwari’s residence as a “maid servant” between December 11 and 14, had also allegedly accused Mrs Promila Tiwari of assisting her husband in his “advances to her”. Mr Jagjit Singh Sandhu, who claims to be a “sworn brother of the mother of Mamta”, told The Tribune that neither he nor Mamta would appear before Mr S.V. Singh. “We have no faith in the Punjab police,” he said reiterating that they would wait for the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on their application that an inquiry into the entire case should be entrusted to the CBI. The hearing on their petition has been adjourned until January 5. Mr Sandhu alleged that he was receiving threatening calls on his mobile phone. “I received two threatening calls from Uttar Pradesh today,” he said apprehending that his security guards might be withdrawn by the Punjab police. “I want that I should be given security guards from a Central police organisation ,” Mr Sandhu said. |
|
Installation of martyr’s plaque PATIALA, Dec 22 — The Municipal Corporation and the Public Works Department today came into confrontation on the issue of the installation of a granite plaque of martyr Major Manwindra Singh, who was killed by insurgents in Kashmir recently, at the Yadvindra Public School Chowk on the Stadium Road before the former had its way and the installation work started late in the evening. Public Works Department officials today stopped corporation employees from installing a granite plaque at the YPS School claiming that it would cause a traffic hazard. The decision to install a granite plaque had been taken by the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, after family members of the late Major met him and discussed changing the name of Stadium Road, which linked the martyr’s house to the city, to Shaheed Manwindra Singh Road. The minister felt it might be difficult to get the name of the road changed and suggested the chowk on the road be named after the martyr . When the family members of the martyr agreed to the suggestion, Capt Kanwaljit Singh directed the Municipal Commissioner to take necessary action in this regard. However, when corporation workers started work on installing the plaque at the chowk, they were stopped by officials of the PWD. They said as the road had a high density of traffic any plaque or subsequent statue installed on it would reduce visibility considerably. It also cited that a board put up by a private company had also been removed due to this reason only. Work on the installation of the plaque, however, restarted in the late evening with the Municipal Commissioner, Mr K.S. Kang, directing that it should be completed before the bhog ceremony of the martyr tomorrow despite objections of the PWD. Mr Kang while talking to the TNS said while technically the PWD had control over the road, it could not become a hurdle once a decision in this regard had been taken at the highest level. He said if PWD officials had any problem in this regard they should take up the matter with the higher authorities. “I am determined that the entire installation exercise should be completed before 9 a.m. tomorrow”, he added. He also said there would not be any problem to the traffic due to the plaque being installed there. The Commissioner said right now a plaque with the name of the martyr was being installed and brief history of the martyr would be inscribed on it later. He said a bust or statue of the martyr could also be installed at the chowk. The proposal of renaming the road in the name of the martyr would be recommended in due course of time if needed. Meanwhile, the PWD officials maintained that their objections were valid and if the plaque was being installed at the site it was on the corporation’s behalf. |
Cong to frame policy for farmers,
traders GURDASPUR, Dec 22 — Mr Ashwani Kumar, senior Congress leader, talking to newspersons here today, said the Congress would go to the electorate during the coming assembly elections in Punjab for their support on the basis of an economic policy that would benefit farmers as well as traders at every level. The party would ensure adequate water and power supply and raw material for industries and agriculture. Mr Kumar said the Congress would unfold its comprehensive industrial policy for rapid industrialisation of the state in order to create employment potential and to generate more revenue for undertaking development works. He said the Congress would not dissipate its energy by fighting its internal battles but would collectively contribute to secure the welfare of people of the state. Mr Kumar said the party would also launch a mass contact programme. He said elections mid-term or on schedule would be held on the discretion of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. |
Increasing road accidents worry doctors AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — Orthopaedics-cum-trauma-trained doctors have expressed deep anguish over the rising rate of road accidents in the country due to lack of sensitivity of the government and planners. The newly-elected president of the Alumni Association, Switzerland’s India Chapter of the Fracture Management Group, Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu, while talking to the press yesterday said there had been phenomenal growth of vehicles on the road in the past 25 years. What had alarmed the doctors was that while the public transport system had totally failed to help the commuters which could be gauged from the fact that the number two-wheelers on the road grew by 11,500 per cent while the government continued to be in slumber as highway network infrastructure did not match the growth of the vehicles. Dr Sandhu added that in 1987, our country, with one-sixth of the population of motor vehicles in the world, had accounted for the largest accidents. During 1987 itself in India, 160 lakh accidents accounted for the death of 29,000, a mortality rate of over 18 per cent in comparison. Japan had more than six accidents cases and only 8,790 were fatal. He pointed that the highly advanced nations like Japan could reduce the fatality rate by laying more emphasis on planning to reduce the fatality rate of accident-related trauma. It was surprising that no such effort had been made which resulted higher death rate which had trebled in the past 10 years from 29,000 to 72,000. About the economic impact, he said in 1987 the USA reported 50 lakh accidents with 1,00,000 deaths and 10 lakh required hospitalisation leading to 22 million hospital days and at $ 750 per day it amounted to a huge economic drain. If one extrapolates data for the Indian scenario of 72,000 deaths around 7,20,000 required hospitalisation and medical care and in case not treated properly may account to several thousand crores. This could be a wasted expenditure. It was thus essential that trauma care was planned and managed on a professional basis and it could reduce mortality by 150 per cent and also morbidity, disability by 50 per cent and that would be the ideal way to run trauma care organisation. |
|
4 of family die in mishap GURDASPUR, Dec 22 — Five persons, including four occupants of a Maruti car and conductor of Tata Sumo 407 died on the spot yesterday when the two vehicles collided near Suchetgarh under the Dhariwal police station. The occupants of the car, who belonged to one family of Sohal village, have been identified as Kulwinder Singh (26), his wife Hardeep Kaur (24), his daughter Kiranveer Kaur (3) and his son Sahibpree Singh (6 months). The conductor of the Tata Sumo has been identified as Avtar Singh, alias Gabha, son of Tasveer Singh, resident of Dyal Garh in this district. The car was going to Batala and the Tata Sumo loaded with tyres was coming from the Batala side. The driver of the Tata Sumo after overtaking another vehicle was running at a fast speed and lost control over the steering which resulted in the vehicle turning upside down. The Tata Sumo fell on the Maruti car crushing the occupants on the spot. An FIR No 269 was registered yesterday at the Dhariwal police station under Sections 304A/279, and 42 of the IPC. The Tata Sumo has been impounded and its driver arrested. |
|
KMC for curbing RSS
activities AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — The Khalra Mission Committee is contemplating to curb RSS activities by urging the Akal Takht Jathedar in a letter to issue a hukamnama against the activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS). In a press note KMC president Surinder Singh Ghariala suggested that Akal Takht should issue a hukamnama on the same grounds as the one issued to the Nirankaris against the RSS. “The time has come to take a strong decision against an organisation which is out to create trouble for the Sikh community”, he said. The KMC has appealed to the Sikh panth to gherao, RSS workers and restrain them from entering villages and towns where they have been spreading misleading propaganda. |
|
|
Dosanjh visits Golden Temple AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee led by its president, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, accorded a warm reception to the Premier of British Columbia, Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, here. Mr Dosanjh and his family members paid obeisance at Sri Harmandar Sahib. He was accompanied by Mr Talwandi, the Punjab Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister, Mr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Mr Vir Singh Lopoke, Capt Balbir Singh Bath, both MLAs, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, and senior civil officials and members of the SGPC. Mr Talwandi presented shawls, pictures of the Golden Temple and a set of religious books to the British Columbia Premier and other members of his entourage. Mr Dosanjh, who is visiting Amritsar again on December 24 and 25, will visit Sri Durgiana Mandir and Jallianwala Bagh on December 25. He will also visit Sur Singh, Attari, Khalsa College, Amritsar, and Majitha where public receptions will be organised in his honour. |
|
|
Majitha to play host to Dosanjh’s wife AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — The sleepy town of Majitha in this district was decorated with streamers to welcome its daughter, Mrs Raminder Kaur Dosanjh, wife of Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, first Indo-Canadian Premier of British Columbia, who will come here on December 25. Mrs Dosanjh who belongs to Majitha town would be visiting her native place after a long gap of 14 years. A large number of near and dear ones of Mrs Dosanjh from Majitha extended invitation to her at Guru Nanak Dev University today. She had come here along with her husband who was conferred a doctorate at a special convocation. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, who was addressing the special convocation in honour of Mr Dosanjh, asked Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, to escort her on the dais as she was the actual success behind the man. He asked Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majithia, Rajya Sabha member, to give a red carpet welcome to Mrs Dosanjh on her proposed visit to Majitha. Talking to TNS, Mrs Dosanjh said she was happy she would visit her native place after a long time. In chaste Punjabi, she said she would meet everyone during her brief visit to
Majitha. |
|
|
Highest taxpayers
honoured HOSHIARPUR, Dec 22 — A ‘samman samaroh’ was organised to honour the highest tax payers at Maurya Palace by the Income Tax Department here today. Ms S.K. Aulakh, Commissioner of Income Tax Department Jalandhar, presented the ‘samman patras’ to Ms Monica Sud, proprietor, Sud Clinical Laboratory, Hoshiarpur, Ms Sneh Lata, proprietor, Modern Service Station, Saila Khurd, and Mr Shashi Kant Kakkar, JCT Ltd, Chohal. MANSA: The local Income Tax office organised a ‘samman samaroh’ yesterday at Surya Residency to honour the honest tax payers of the district. Dr K.P. Singla, proprietor, Krishan Nursing Home, Mansa, Mr Pawan Kumar Jindal, Deputy Manager (retd) of the Mansa Central Cooperative Bank Ltd and Mr Naresh Kumar Bansal, financer and commission agent of Budhlada were given ‘samman patras’ by Mr Harbhajan Singh, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Bathinda. |
|
Jacob visits Civil
Hospital FATEHGARH SAHIB: The Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob,
(rtd), made a surprise visit to the local Civil Hospital recently. He enquired about the utilisation of a grant of Rs 2 lakh which he had sanctioned during his earlier visit at the time of the train accident near Jeewanpura village. He also made enquiries about the injured patients who had been discharged. Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, told the Governor that Rs 55,000 had been spent on the injured patients admitted at the time of the accident. The rest of the amount was being spent on maintaining the disaster
management arrangements. Taking keen interest in the working of the hospital, he took a round of the wards and distributed fruit among patients. He was surprised to know that only five dental chairs were available in the rural areas, each catering to about one lakh persons. He also sought information on the new building being constructed by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. He expressed concern over the unavailability of an ultrasound machine and other important equipment at the Civil Hospital. The Civil Surgeon told the Governor that even though the staff strength was adequate, there was lack of proper equipment, which was to be provided by the corporation. The Governor was informed that 17 wards of this 50-bedded hospital were being used for office purposes by the Civil Surgeon and his staff. Besides, no provision had been made to house this staff in the new wing being constructed by the corporation. He urged Mr Balwant Singh
Shahpur, MLA, who was also present, to take up the matter with the government. He also expressed concern over insanitation. He directed the Civil Surgeon to ensure cleanliness in the hospital. While talking to The Tribune, the Governor appreciated the good work done by the district administration and the doctors of the hospital at the time of the train accident. Later Mr Sudan gave details of the ongoing development projects in the district. |
|
|
Nominate Army widow to PCS: Father PATIALA, Dec 22 — The father of Major Manwindra Singh who was killed by insurgents in the Baramula Sector in the Kashmir Valley on December 12 , has appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to nominate the widow of the late officer to the PCS (Executive). In a letter to the Chief Minister, Col (retd) Bakhtawar Singh, said as his daughter-in-law Punamdeep Kaur was a postgraduate and had also attained a M.Phil degree, she should be nominated to the PCS on the pattern of the services offered to Parneet Shergill, daughter of Brig Shergil, who laid down his life for the country in Kashmir. Col Bakhtawar has also requested that the 25 bed Primary Health Centre in the ancestral village of the late martyr in Dudhan Sadan, be upgraded to a 50 bed hospital. He has requested that a memorial should also be constructed there. The officer demanded that the Stadium Road in the city, which connects the house of the martyr to the city, be renamed as Shaheed Manwindra Singh Road and also requested to the Chief Minister to attend the Antim Ardas of the martyr on December 23. |
|
|
The minister who is not! ROPAR, Dec 22 — Is Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, still a minister? This was the question that was hotly debated at the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela at Chamkaur Sahib which ended today. Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Printing and Stationery Minister, Punjab, arrived at the mela in her official Contessa car (PB-14-1020) with the national flag in front of it, which indicated, she was still a minister. She also catered to the people of her constituency, in a usual fashion, signing or recommending their letters to various officers. However, the legal experts are of the view that once her election had been declared invalid by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, she could not continue as a minister. Legally the continuation of Ms Sandhu as minister is only possible if either the Supreme Court grants a stay on the High Court orders or she is again administered the oath. If she is again administered the oath, she can continue to be in the office for another six months without elections. At present any order issued by the minister has got no legal validity, the experts say. However, the High Court order seems to have no effect on Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, who continues to enjoy all facilities as a minister. According to sources, the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had advised Ms Sandhu to stop using the national flag in front of her car in view of the court orders. He gave this advice to the minister when she had come to attend the function of the Youth Aggarwal Sabha at Ropar, a few days ago, in her official car. The sources also told that the Punjab Government was also thinking of amending the rules to add the Ramdasia caste in the reserved categories for the purpose of elections. After the amendment it would be sent to the President for his approval before it can be implemented. |
|
|
Pre-arrest bail for Gurbax Singh in Mukhija case MOGA, Dec 22 (UNI) — The Ferozepore District and Sessions Court has granted interim pre-arrest bail to Gurbax Singh, the main accused in the murder of Congress leader Harmesh Kumar Mukhija. The court also issued notice to the prosecution for January 4. The District and Sessions Judge considered the bail petition of the accused, who is absconding, yesterday on the plea that the accused was not present at Dharamkot on November 13, the day of the murder. The accused pleaded that he was arrested by the Ludhiana police on November 12 under the Excise Act and produced in the court the following day and released on bail the same day. The police have already arrested four of the six accused who remain in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the Dharamkot police have sought the court’s permission to declare Gurbax Singh a proclaimed offender. The district Congress committee, demanding a CBI inquiry into the murder of its leader, continued relay hunger strike on the third day today. |
|
Lawyers flay appointment of retired Judges HOSHIARPUR, Dec 22 — Presidents and secretaries of various District Bar Associations of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, at a meeting held here today, condemned the appointments of ad hoc judges from the retired sessions judges/additional sessions judges. Mr R P Dhir, President of the District Bar Association, said in a press note issued here that the meeting was of the view that these appointments would send wrong signals to the society. It was resolved that a request be made to the government to appoint the High Court Judges from the District Bar Associations also. The meeting supported the demand for separate High Court for Haryana and Punjab, as it would bring more efficiency. A new body—Indian Confederation for Lawyers — was constituted and Mr R P Dhir was appointed its President. Mr N C Nanda, President of Chandigarh Bar Association was appointed as General Secretary. The meeting also conducted election for all four state units. Punjab unit- President — Mr Harish Tanda, President; Bar Association Ludhiana; General Secretaries—Mr Narinder Singh, President of District Bar Association Jalandhar, Mr KS Nagra, President; District Bar Association Patiala and President District Bar Association Bhatinda. Haryana State unit:- President — Mr Gauri Shanker President District Bar Association, Hisar; General Secretaries — Mr Ajit Singh, President District Bar Association Bhiwani. Himachal Pradesh unit:- President, — Mr Shashi Pandit, President Bar Association Solan; General Secretaries — Mr Manoj Vishwa Mitter, President Bar Association Una and Mr SK Soni President District Bar Association Dharamsala. Mr Dhir claimed that a complete strike was observed in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh today. He said that a deputation of the confederation would meet the Union Law Minister, Chief Justices of various states as well as Chief Ministers. He said that the next meeting of the confederation would be held in the second week of January, 2001 at Chandigarh. Meanwhile, members of various Bar Associations including Hisar, Sirsa, Malerkotla and Balachaur observed strike today in protest against reappointment of retired judges. The call for the strike had been given by the Hoshiarpur Bar Association. In a memorandum submitted to Deputy Commissioners, they expressed their resentment over the proposal to reappoint retired judges. They said that the decision was against the interests of lawyers. They demanded that the proposal should be shelved. |
|
|
Farmers gherao SDM’s office TARN TARAN, Dec 22 — Against the alleged exploitation of farmers under the market committee, Naushehra Pannuan, hundreds of farmers today gheraoed office of the local SDM here. They agreed to lift their gherao after the SDM, Dr Gurinder Pal Singh, assured them that their grievances would be removed. On a call given by the Kisan Sangharash Committee, these farmers marched in the town and later gheraoed the office of SDM and demanded that the cut from the payment made to them against the paddy procured recently be dropped. They also demanded a high-level probe into the alleged scandal of procuring paddy from farmers at less rate and which was later entered in the account of the government agencies as full payment. They also demanded the Rs 350 crore grant released by the Union Government for farmers in Punjab. |
|
|
Foodgrain traders to hold dharna MOGA, 22 — Members of the Moga Foodgrain Traders Association at a meeting here yesterday declared to hold dharna in front of the offices of the Markfed and Punsup government procuring agencies in the respective districts if these agencies did not make payments of the paddy sold to them during the month of September and October. A spokesman of the association said here that several crores of rupees had not so far been paid to them although they had repeatedly reminded them about their outstanding. The meeting has also submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this respect asking it to intervene and help them to get their payments. |
|
|
Sell surplus food
to weaker sections Amritsar, Dec 22 — The Yuva Shakti Sangathan Punjab, (YSS), has demanded a probe into the sale of wheat from the Bhartiya Khaad Nigam. In a statement president of the YSS, Mr Sohan Lal Amrohi, said wheat stocks from 1979 should be scrutinised and discarded. He said vigilance should be kept on officials who “fraudulently declare” the complete stock as non-consumable and derive undeserving benefits. Mr Amrohi, in a strong statement,
suggested to the Central Government to sell the “consumable quality” of wheat stocks to poorer and needy sections of the society at minimum rates instead of letting the food stock go waste or into unscrupulous hands. |
|
Pollution on rise in Malerkotla MALERKOTLA, Dec 22 — The state Pollution Control Board authorities have failed to check the increasing air, water and noise pollution in the town which has posed a serious threat to the health of local residents. The township has a number of large, medium and small-scale industries, including chemical and engineering units. These industrial units have been discharging untreated effluents into the sewer system and the authorities concerned have utterly failed to check it. The residents also alleged that the authorities have not even prepared any action plan for tackling the problem of environment pollution in the city. Besides, no serious efforts have been made to check the disposal of sewage and solid waste by the municipal council. |
|
|
Minister’s gesture to TB patients AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — Mr Manoranjan Kalia Punjab Minister, Medical Education and Research, has acceded to the request of Seva Bharti organisation to accord education, medicines and treatment free of cost to TB patients. The organisation president and secretary, Mr Puran Chand Malhotra and Mr Inderjit Mehta, respectively, profusely thanked Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla BJP MLA for her active support of the benevolent cause. |
Power theft: 3 PSEB men held TARN TARAN, Dec 22 — The Punjab State Electricity Board
authorities here with the help of residents of Vainpoin village have nabbed three persons identified as Ranjit Singh, Balwinder Singh (both residents of Saqquianwal village and Jaswant Singh of Kalwan village who posing as PSEB employees were indulging in the collection of money from villagers alleging that they were resorting to power theft. Mr R.K. Salwan Deputy Chief Engineer (Operation) of the local circle, told reporters yesterday here that the nabbed men had already collected money ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 700 per house when the villagers doubted them as they had come in a Maruti car and had a gun also. The villagers nabbed Balwinder Singh and Ranjit Singh whereas their third colleague Jaswant Singh escaped. They were handed over to the Goindwal police. Mr Salwan added that the indulgence of such more gangs in the area could not be ruled out. According to added information, Satinderjit Singh, bill distributor, and Kashmir Singh, working as officiating bill distributor under the Fatehbad subdivision under local suburban, had been replacing the original advice being sent to computer with fake advice. According to another information, Balwinder Singh, JE, a resident of the town, has been held responsible for power theft and fined Rs 800 for it. Balbir Singh was also arrested by a team of Vigilance Department for accepting a bribe from a consumer some time back. Mr Salwan further said the Board authorities had launched a campaign against power theft and 1,800 points had been checked and a fine of Rs 18.20 lakh charged from the consumers. Additional SE M.S. Khehra was also present on the occasion. |
|
Probe into illegal felling under way MANSA, Dec 22 — In wake of a writ petition in the high court, the Forest Department and the Vigilance bureau are inquiring into the illegal felling of trees. Though the Forest Department is trying to put the records straight the Vigilance Department is keen to see the facts on the ground. The records of District Forest Officer, Bathinda, have become controversial as it offer no explanation for the missing 300 kikker and sisham trees. This action is being taken in wake of a public interest petition filed by Mr Shiv Charan Dass Suchan, former Municipal Commissioner and leader of the Bharatiya Communist Party. The Vigilance Department raided officers of the Forest Department in Mansa and Bathinda district and took some records in its custody. The Vigilance Department has said the above raids have revealed that there have been illegal fellings in both the districts. Most of the felling was reported during 1996 to 1999, which reveal that about 50 trees were felled daily in Mansa forest division only. Mr Suchan had alleged in his petition that at least 50,000 trees worth Rs 8 crore were felled in Mansa forest division. |
Crude bombs thrown at Tata Sumo, 2
hurt FARIDKOT, Dec 22 — Two persons were seriously injured in a bomb blast on the Faridkot-Bholluwala road here at about 8.15 p.m. last night. The injured have been identified as Mr Joginder Singh, president of the local Baba Farid Truck Union and general secretary of the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Cell, Punjab, and his nephew Surjit Singh. Both had been admitted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, for treatment, according to family sources. Mr Gurcharan Bhandari, former president of the local municipal council, immediately rushed to the city police station here to report the matter. Mr Raj Pal Meena, DIG, Faridkot police range, and Dr Arun Kumar Araon, SSP, along with other police officials rushed at the site to enquire into the matter. According to reports available, all three persons were coming in a Tata Sumo from their office located on the Bholluwala road when four unidentified persons threw four crude bombs in their direction, injuring two of them on the spot. Mr Joginder Singh got a serious injury on his right eye whereas Mr Surjeet Singh was seriously wounded in the chest and shoulder. Talking to mediapersons here today, the SSP said a case under Sections 307, 148, 149 and 427 of the IPC and Sections 5 and 6 of the Explosives Act has been registered against Harjeet Singh and Virsa Singh of Faridkot, Chaggar Singh and Mohinder Singh of Pakhi Kalan village, and Atma Singh and Hansa Singh of Pakka village on a complaint filed by Mr Gurcharan Bhandari on behalf of the injured persons. No arrests have been made so far. In another incident, four unidentified persons equipped with sharp-edged weapons injured three men working in a restaurant located at Baba Farid Cultural Centre last night when all of them were sleeping. |
Students opt out of science stream ZIRA (Ferozepore), Dec 22 — Sensing foul play in the frequent shiftover of science students to the humanities group in higher secondary schools of rural areas, the administration has sought five years’ record from at least four senior secondary schools. Sources in the administration reveal that the strength of science students in rural areas is on the decline. It is observed that students opting for science in +1 often shift to humanities at the +2 level, even after having cleared their exams in the previous stream. Administrative officials apprehend that this may be an outcome of the teachers’ inability to help students clear the +2 science examination. The possibility of the science teachers discouraging students from pursuing the subjects beyond the +1 level to avoid being “exposed” during external marking cannot be ruled out. Since papers of +1 examinations are checked internally, the teachers may be helping the students clear these. The Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Bakhtawar Singh, who has sought the record from four senior secondary schools, said these apprehensions had prompted him to probe the matter. He felt that the erring teachers may be doing so to save their posts from being scrapped once their capabilities were established in the +2 examinations. He observed that the rate of decline in science students’ strength was significant and the matter needed investigation in the larger public interest. The schools, which have been asked to furnish the record are Government Senior Secondary School for Boys and Government Senior Secondary School for Girls in Zira and Government Senior Secondary School in Makhu and Mallanwala. The Principals of these schools have been directed to respond immediately. On being contacted, the District Education Officer (Higher Secondary), Mr Lachman Singh Brar, said his department was aware of the problem and would respond to the SDM’s communication in due course of time. He, however, declined to go into the reasons for the declining strength of science students. |
|
PTU to start IT courses for rural students JALANDHAR, Dec 22 — To provide employment to rural youths, the Punjab Technical University (PTU) would start various courses, especially for rural-based school and college dropouts and partly self-employed women. The university would provide a number of value-added courses for such persons at its recently set-up regional centres in the state. The proposed courses, including the online ones, are aimed at generating self-employment for rural students, particularly school dropouts and unemployed and partly employed rural women. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Vice-Chancellor of the PTU, Mr H.S. Gurm, who were concerned over these youngsters, were keen to start such courses for them. The Punjab Government, according to Mr Gurm, had already instructed all Deputy Commissioners in the state to collect data about the increasing number of such rural school and college dropouts. The university had already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a number of private IT companies, including the Offshore Information Limited (OIL), Med Trans, Medicos Institute of Medical Transcription, King Infotech Software Solutions Limited and the Netbrainz Software Solutions, for providing the technical knowhow are required infrastructure for these courses, including the cost-effective one-year postgraduate diploma in medical transcription and the postgraduate diploma in web energy and web engineering. Mr Gurm said the cost of each of these courses was about one-third of fee charged by private companies. Mr Gurm further said the objective of the university, notwithstanding financial constraints, was to generate employment for rural school and college students, who dropped out due to financial constraints and other reasons. “Actually, it was a chance meeting with Mr Badal, which made the PTU to bring about IT and other employment generating courses to the doorstep of people, since Mr Badal, disturbed over the rising frustration and trend of taking drug among rural youth, wanted IT to be a household phenomena in the state and to enable the youth to be self employed”. He said though the PTU would be charging much lesser fees from students, it would be able to generate funds to the tune of Rs 56 lakh form these courses and the agreements with different private companies regarding this in a single year. “The rural and poor students will be able to reap the benefit since we have brought the cost of a course from an average Rs 80,000 a year to a mere Rs 20,000.” The university has already started these courses at its regional centres in Ludhiana, Gujjarwal, Jalandhar and Chandigarh. Mr Amarjit Grewal, the newly appointed Director (Outreach) of the university and Head of Department of Informal Education, said a number of courses had been designed to cater to needs of the rural women, who were though self employed but were not earning much for want of new technology. “For instance we have designed a tailoring and fashion design course for those women who are in tailoring but are not aware about new technology in the field. Similarly, we are going to launch a number of online courses, including the software export technology courses in collaboration with the Aptech,” Mr Grewal further said, adding that these value added courses would be started within a period of one month. “Actually, we want rural women to be more techno savvy in their respective fields,” said Mr Grewal. He said most of these courses would be open to public as part of the online curriculum of the university, to be launched soon. Mr Grewal said in a situation where the agriculture had ceased to be a profitable venture, such courses could prove beneficial as a practical substitute to formal education which could not provide employment. “We at the PTU think that the agriculture has attained its optimum level of production and hence cannot generate more employment for rural youth and the IT could be a best substitute for it. And we feel duty bound to prepare rural youth for that,” added Mr Gurm and Mr Grewal. |
|
CBSE willing to introduce Punjabi as
compulsory subject LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shown its willingness to implement a proposal mooted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) to make Punjabi a compulsory subject up to matric in all schools affiliated with CBSE. Stating this here today, Prof Ashok Ganguly, Chairman of the CBSE, said he had no objection in implementing the proposal but the PSEB had not made a formal request in this regard. The Chairman was in the city to lay the foundation stone of Sant Kirpal Humanity Centre (Orphan House) at Jalandhar bypass here today. Announcing another development, he said the syllabi of Social Studies and Mathematics of tenth class would be simplified from the next academic year. He said this was being done after the board received a large number of complaints by students and teachers that the present syllabi of the two subjects was too vast and difficult. The Chairman also announced that from the academic year, 2002, the board would start a new grading system for evaluating the performance of students in the examinations. In the nine-point grading system, the students would be given grades from A-1 to E. |
|
Schools to close from Dec 25 CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — All government and private recognised schools in Punjab will remain closed from December 25 to 31 on account of the winter break, according to an official press release issued here today. |
|
GND varsity vacation AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — Guru Nanak Dev University, in a notification issued here today, has extended its winter vacation from December 31 to January 2, 2001. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
