Police prepares new accessibility plan
From Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 26 — With an aim to end the complaints of inaccessibility and as a New Year gift to the residents, the district police today decided to ensure easy accessibility to those in need by working on time management of the force. It has also fixed timings for the officers, above the rank of the DSP, to meet public in their offices daily and regularly.

A meeting of senior police officials held today discussed the strategy to improve the image of the police in the ensuing year and to provide better services to the public. The new plan would be made public shortly.

According to sources, the district police was, in fact, discussing the problem of inaccessibility for the past few weeks. Due to frequent visit of the VIPs, the pre-occupation of the police officials with court cases and the increase in complaints, people were feeling that the police was not available for the common man.

Sources said that the change would be initiated from the top. All visitors to the SSP's office would be issued a token number on ‘first come, first served’ basis. Earlier, it was a common complaint that the needy people who had no ‘recommendation’ had to wait for hours outside the office, while ‘influential’ persons easily got their way.

The SPs and the DSPs will be available for the public on every working day from 9.30 to 2 p.m. In case the officers had to go out, they would put a notice outside their offices mentioning their time of return and the name of the next officer to be met in case of emergency.

The DSPs would also be approachable over the phone. It has been decided in the meeting that no DSP and his junior officers would have telephone operators and would directly receive the calls.

The police had already made it mandatory for all SHOs to remain in their respective police stations from 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The policy would be followed more religiously in the coming year. Sources said the non-availability of SHOs at the police stations was one of the major reasons for a number of people seeking time from the senior officers.

Confirming the developments at the meeting, SSP Kuldip Singh said the measures had been taken for improving the image of the police and to manage time according to the needs of the public. He added that keeping in mind the needs of mediapersons, the DSPs have been directed to remain available to the media for giving the police version in crime cases.

The SSP said these were the few steps which the police had finalised to implement from the New Year. He said the police had initiated a change vis-a-vis its relation with the public and was looking forward to an equal cooperation from the public. He called upon the public to meet, first of all, the police officer of their respective police station for the redressal of their grievances and meet the senior officers only when absolutely necessary.

It is pertinent to mention here that the police in the district was facing flak from the public for its ‘inaccessibility’. It was a common reply from a police officer's assisting staff that the Saheb had gone out on some VIP duty or had gone to attend a court hearing. The needy persons were left either on the mercy of the subordinate staff or they kept making rounds of the office concerned.

There was a public criticism of an old plan of the police in which the senior police officers were supposed to meet people in the police stations of their respective areas on a fixed date. Large notice boards, declaring the availability day and time, were set up at the entry of all the police stations. The plan was, however, not properly implemented. Even the notice boards were removed from all the police stations, barring the Kotwali and the Division No 6, where these could be seen even now.

The SSP, Mr Kuldip Singh, said the boards were very old and were not updated, so he had ordered the removal of these boards. 

Strike affects work in SBI branches
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Dec 26 — In response to a call for a two-day strike by the SBI Staff Association, work in 144 branches of the State Bank of India in the city and many other districts was virtually paralysed.

The main branch of the bank in Civil Lines, as also, 40 other branches in the city, wore a deserted look. The working of bankers' clearing house, however, remained unaffected and the instruments of all other banks, excluding the SBI, were transacted in a normal manner.

The SBI management, however, claimed that working was partially affected and with low attendance, most of the SBI branches were offering only skeleton services.

Addressing a rally of the striking employees, Mr O.N. Bindroo, general secretary of the Chandigarh circle of the SBISA, alleged that the bank management was resorting to transfers of trade union activists under a well thought out conspiracy. The employees were forced to intensify the agitation and go on strike as the adamant attitude of the management had left them with no other alternative, he said.

He further charged the SBI management with working at cross purposes. While the chief general manager of the bank had asked them to start negotiations, the deputy general manager had bluntly told the activists of SBISA that there was no such move. With the general manager, Mr D.L.Manwani, proceeding on leave and the AGM, Mr J.C. Bhutani, giving a cold shoulder to

the employees, the indifferent attitude of the management towards the problems of the employees was more than evident.

Mr Bindroo claimed that all seven circles of the SBI, all over the country, were observing 'protest day' today and the Haryana module will go on a two-day strike from tomorrow. He gave a call to the employees to be prepared for a prolonged and decisive battle to achieve justice.

A village of eye donors
From Shivani Bhakoo

LUDHIANA, Dec 26 — Gosalan, a small village of a few hundred households near Malaud town in Ludhiana district, has set a noble trend that may help in bringing light into the lives of many people. There is hardly any household in the village which does not have at least one persons registered as an eye donor.

The village has become quite active in the movement of eye donation. All the villagers have committed themselves to the noble cause of eye donation. Almost in every household in the village someone or the other has pledged to donate his or her eyes to the eye bank. Two people donated their eyes to the eye bank, Mansuran, recently.

The eye bank received the 10th eye donation call from the same village immediately after the death of Darshan Singh. The villagers of Gosalan want their village to be recognised nationwide for the cause of eye donation.

Villagers have also decided to persuade their relatives to donate their eyes after death. And they lived up to their commitment by giving the fourth eye donation.

Darshan Singh was a social worker and had always been ahead in the eye donation movement.

The second eye donation was received from the family of Gian Kaur (99) immediately after the death of the latter. Gian Kaur's husband, Gurdial Singh Buttar, was a driver and bodyguard of Mahatma Gandhi, and hers is the family of freedom fighters. Earlier also the family had donated the eyes of Inderjit Kaur about two years back. The whole family is committed to the cause of eye donation.

PAU modifies recruitment procedure
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 26 — The board of management of Punjab Agricultural University has modified the procedure for the appointment of teachers of all ranks in the university. At a meeting held recently, the board decided that the Vice-Chancellor would be the chairman of the selection committee for all posts of teachers from assistant professor and equivalent to professor and equivalent.

The board decided that the selection committee for appointment of professors and associate professors would comprise seven members, including the chairman. In addition, an academician, who would be nominated by the Chancellor of the university, would be a member of such a committee.

The other members would include three experts from outside in the subject/field concerned, the Dean/Director concerned and the head of department of the discipline.

The board also decided that "at least four members, including two experts from outside must constitute the quorum." As for the appointment of assistant professor and teachers of equivalent rank, the selection committee would comprise six members, including the chairman. The VC would be the chairman of such a selection committee.

Significantly, in accordance with the recruitment rules which were modified by the governing body of the university in August, 1998, and notified by the Registrar on September 7 that year, the selection committee for professors, associate professor and assistant professor consistently considered only four members, including the chairman. Besides, instead of the Vice-Chancellor, the deans/ directors concerned used to head the selection committee. Three outside experts were also included in such a selection committee.

The board constituted a committee of three members, including Dr B.S. Dhillon, members of the board, the director of research and Dean, College of Agriculture, to scrutinize the list of experts from outside in various disciplines before sending it to the Chancellor for his concurrence.

COMMUNITY

Ceasefire extension condemned
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Dec 26 — The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front has taken strong exception to the extension of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre, observing that the government had failed to learn any lesson from the earlier unilateral ceasefire during the month of Ramzan which was marked by unabated violence in the valley.

Mr Jagmeet Singh Bawa, President, and Mr Yogesh Diwan, General Secretary, of state unit of the front, said in a joint statement here today that the government had knelt down to the pressure by western powers which had vested interests in Jammu and Kashmir. Peace in the disturbed state would not be restored till the government decided to deal with the situation firmly.

They said that it had been proved beyond any doubt that terrorism in J and K was sponsored by Pakistan and the ISI had been carrying on its nefarious activities for the past more than 20 years.

Mr Bawa and Mr Diwan urged the government to effectively check the increasing misuse of the constitutional right of freedom of expression to malign the security forces by certain disgruntled elements. "It was reprehensible that J and K Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik, while speaking on the Delhi University campus on Kashmir issue should blame the Indian security forces for killing members of the minority community in the valley."

Functionaries of the front, which is headed by former Indian Youth Congress President Maninderjit Singh Bitta, hailed the decision of the United Nations Security Council to impose broad sanctions on Afghanistan's Taliban regime.

Phone exchanges out of order
From Our Correspondent

MACHHIWARA, Dec 26 — The telephone exchanges in Chaunta and Baliewal have been out of order for the past 42 days.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Rajinder Singh, President, Sarpanch Union, from Koom Kalan said that they had been meeting the authorities for the proper functioning of these exchanges but nothing had been done so far.

The consumers have threatened to launch an agitation if the exchanges are not set right.

Seminar on challenges before women
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Dec 26 — The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle organised a seminar on ''Challenges before women in the 21st century and new avenues'' at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Harnam Nagar, here yesterday.

Principal Manjinder Kaur of Mata Ganga Girls College, Kotan, read a paper on women education. Dr Sukhmeet Sethi, pediatrician, spoke on the ''role of women in maintaining good health of family members''. Ms Kuldip Kaur, ex-Principal, Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, spoke on the ''challenges before women of 21st century''.

While addressing the sangat, Ms Kiranjot Kaur, General Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, said, ''Women have boldly faced several challenges in society and created a niche with their own efforts.''

In the seminar, five resolutions were passed by the members of the circle pertaining to censoring of obscenity in films and video albums by the Punjab Government, bringing equal opportunities for men and women, subsidised education for girls, giving women a chance to take over higher positions in religious bodies.

Xmas celebration by non-Christians
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 26 — It was a pleasant experience when children of the poor sections gathered to celebrate Christmas in a small church in the Salem Tabri locality.

About 800 people, including more than 300 children, studying in the school that is being run by the St Mary’s Church on the Jalandhar bypass, Jalandhar, had gathered.

About 60 children of this school and from other convent schools from the city presented different cultural items. A langar was also served by the community.

Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister of Punjab, was also present on the occasion.

Machhiwara Jor Mela concludes
From Our Correspondent

MACHHIWARA, Dec 26 — The three-day historic Jor Mela at Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib concluded here yesterday. The mela is organised every year in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh who had reached here after the Chamkaur battle between Sikhs and Mughals. He had stayed in the town for three days.

Gurbani kirtan was recited by the Ragi Dhadi jathas.

LUDHIANA CALLING

It was the policemen who were most relieved. One of them remarked that usually, on such occasions, their duty hours get stretched too long. But Mr Badal made them shrink. A great relief indeed.

Merry Christmas

Among the various events and programmes held in the city in connection with Christmas celebrations, was a small procession taken out by the Nava Kerala Arts and Sports Club on Sunday evening in Urban Estate, Jamalpur. Leading the procession were a couple of kids holding the club banner. Then followed the merry Santa Claus and his band comprising a drum beater and some youngsters dancing it out on the road. “Merry Christmas”, “Merry Christmas”, were the exchanges. Women carrying burning candles lined the procession on both the sides making it quite a spectacle to behold and remember. Passersby stopped in their tracks to watch and admire the spirit of the procession which, needless to say, was quite jovial. “Merry Christmas” again, please.

A lonely battle

She looks fragile, smart and a rather submissive working lady, cleaning parking lots, streets and offices. She speaks softly and attracts attention by the strokes of her broom. If one wants to give her some money in charity, she accepts it thankfully. She does not forget to tell you that she is fighting a lonely battle in this ‘male dominated’ world, and against the lewd eyes of the men of her own community.

Babli’s husband died a few years ago. He was employed with the Corporation and she got a job of a cleaner in his place. She did not accept the suggestion of her relatives to become a ‘keep’ to live a respectful life. She decided to live alone instead, with her four children, her eldest son being 17-year-old. Others are studying in school. Her husband has not left any legacy, except for a debt. Though she gets Rs 3,200 per month, she comes home with only Rs 100 after paying creditors. It forces her to seek extra part-time work.

Babli says she will do whatever is honestly possible to bring up her children, but will never live with another man. She fears he might misbehave with her children and harass her. Now she has her own house.

Babli has a grouse against those people of her community who try to dictate her about how to lead her life. She thinks the menfolk are all after her izzat and the house. “I will fight until death, but will never compromise,” she says proudly. Won’t you salute this lonely fighter of Ludhiana? Isn’t there any person or organisation to help such women in their fight against the ‘cruel’ world?

Driving skills

“Maddening” is perhaps the word to describe the traffic chaos prevailing in the city. With more than 100 vehicles added on to the city roads everyday, traffic is becoming uncontrollable. While cops are blamed time and again for failing to control the chaos, the public too, cannot be termed innocent, as many people driving on the city roads lack traffic sense. Red light jumping during the morning as well as late hours, especially in the peripheral areas of the city, is a common occurrence. Drivers are seen jumping red lights without even slowing down. One can only wonder at the driving ‘skills’ of the city residents, who despite flouting traffic rules, manage to avoid an accident.

Callous apathy

A colleague witnessed an incident where a girl, probably in her teens, fell when her scooter skid on a busy road in the city. Despite the fact that hundreds of commuters were seen on the road, nobody came to her rescue. After a span of few seconds she managed to get up and take control of her scooter. Unable to succeed, she stopped another girl passing by her. Both somehow managed to make the scooter stand on its wheels. Many people witnessed the incident, some kept standing, while some did not even bother to stop to help her. Wake up Ludhianvis! Humanity is a value Punjabis have been known for centuries.

Nightmarish experiences

If you are a commuter traversing the road from Clock Tower to Lakkar Bridge, known as the Katchahri Road, and the Deepak Cinema Road, then you are a potential case of high blood pressure and frayed nerves. The traffic here is unruly, nightmarish and uncontrollable. There are two wheelers, auto-rickshaws, cars, pedestrians, rickshaws, and even stray dogs, darting in and out, causing drivers to apply sudden brakes time and again. If they are lucky, they can continue without denting their vehicles, but in case of failure, it will cause a chain of damaged bumpers, frayed tempers, and filthy verbal duals.

Travelling on these roads everyday, does cause a lot of heart burn. There are not many traffic police personnel visible on these roads. Why can’t the road from Domoria Pul to Deepak Cinema Road be made ‘one way’, so that congestion is relieved as it was done earlier? Recently, the SSP, Mr Kuldeep Singh, had assured that he would look into the matter. The tension resulting from negotiating, unruly traffic early in the morning is bound to affect the working of people throughout the day.

Christmas with a difference

It was a Christmas party with a difference. The room was chock -a- block with children who flitted about playfully. The Christmas tree bedecked with colourful bunting shimmered in the pale glow of the softly lit room.

The children appeared to be mesmerized by the Christmas carols that played in the background. It was as if they were experiencing a whole gamut of emotions through the music. The room was resounding with their gleeful laughter.

The hostess moved about with a radiant smile on her face. She seemed to have transmuted her speech into unalloyed affection that found instinctive, takers among the children.

The kids were falling over each other to touch the hostess who extended her open arms to each child. Theirs was a special kind of bond - a bond that defied the norms of the usual social interaction. The whole atmosphere was bathed in the divine light of love.

“These children are special. I loath to call them spastic because that is mere categorization. For me, these children are the most beautiful creation of God. They know no other language apart from the language of love. They can intuitively make out who their well wishers are,” said the hostess, with her glowing smile still intact.

China Bazar

Chaura Bazar one of the busiest and oldest markets, may soon be rechristened as the China Bazar. There is nothing official in it, but the is economics of the place calls for it. Chinese goods seem to have raided the market. The range of articles is enormous. Small pencil batteries to electronic goods, everything has arrived, damn cheap.

While there is nothing new in the arrival of Chinese goods. Earlier also these goods were available in the market but they were brought here in clandestine manner by the smugglers. And these goods were always much sought after.

However, with the change in the economic order and greater liberalisation Chinese goods are arriving here legally and lawfully and they are available in open market. They are believed to be of equally good quality at a relatively cheaper price. So people have been opting for these goods. The local businessmen and industry have objections. But there appears to be no way out. Even heavy duties cannot prevent them from flooding the market. Ludhiana has greater stakes given the industrial character of the city. The only way out appears to be improving the quality at competitive prices. Frankly speaking there is a long way to go for the local industry to match the quality that would be recognised and accepted everywhere, like those of the Chinese goods are accepted here.

The millionaire

It is little story of how easy money changes the attitude of a person towards his family. A resident of the city, working in a local boys college is one of those millionaires who forget their old selves. He was living jointly with his two brothers and parents.The person became millionaire last year when Dam Luck favoured him. He hit a jack pot, winning of first prize of Rs one crore in a lottery.

His brother, who is working in a club, thanked God for blessing them with so much money. He took a loan of Rs 20,000 to celebrate the occasion. He thought the money would change every thing. They would live a prosperous life. But money changed his brother first.

The millionaire is now living in a well-furnished house. He has one more house to earn a handsome rent. But the emotional brother is still paying the installments of the loan of Rs 500 every month.

The millionaire does not bother about the health of his parents who are suffering from a common disease called ‘old age’. Money has really changed everything.

— Sentinel

CRIME

Man attacked, case registered
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 26 — The Jodhewal Basti police today booked seven persons by name and some other unspecified number of people, who had allegedly barged into the house of Mr Gurmukh Singh, a resident of Gaunsgarh village here on December 13 and beat him up.

The police said the case had been registered almost two weeks after the incident, as the complaint was being verified. According to the FIR, the complainant was fighting a divorce case against his wife and the attackers, mostly relatives of his wife, had allegedly attacked him in order to pressurise him to tow their line in the case.

The FIR stated that a number of people, including Jaswant Singh, Balvir Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Jagdev Singh, Jailla Singh, Darshan Singh and a woman, Surjit Kaur, had been booked for attacking the complainant. However, no arrest had been made so far.

Unidentified man dies:
An unidentified man, found in a badly injured condition from near Shiv Mandir, Basant Bihar Noorwala Road, died at the Civil Hospital here today.

The Sadar police station has registered a case under Section 304 IPC, against unknown persons. According to the FIR, Head Constable Sukhwinder Singh, of the Salem Tabri Police Station, received a call last night that some injured person was lying unattended near the temple. On reaching the site he found the person in a bad condition. He got the man admitted to the hospital, but the person died today.

KHANNA

Smugglers arrested:
The Khanna police claimed to have arrested three smugglers and recovered 43 kg of poppy husk from their possession in two separate cases here today.

According to SSP Khanna, Dr R.N. Dhoke, ASI Lekh Raj, in charge Malaud Police Chowk, arrested Soma, son of Bir Singh of Siar village and recovered 38 kg poppy husk from him.

In another case, SHO Police Station Sadar, Mr Ram Singh, stopped two Hero Honda-borne persons at a naka laid near Rattan Heri village. During checking, 5 kg of poppy husk was recovered from them. The arrested were identified as Surjit Singh, son of Harnek Singh of Gujjran village and Gobind Singh, son of Jaswant Singh of Suhag Heri village, Fatehgarh.

Two separate cases under the NDPS Act have been registered at the Payal and Khanna Sadar police stations respectively.

JAGRAON

Opium seized:
Mr Baldev Singh Brar, Inspector and Mr Nahar Singh, Sub-Inspector of the local police station, arrested Bhagwan Das and Vinod Kumar alias Pappu of Mari Bulari Mohalla of Uttar Pardesh and recovered 1,000 gm and 1,100 gm of opium from them respectively. Cases against both of them have been registered separately under Section’s 18/61/85 of the NDPS Act at the local police station.