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| Thursday, December 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Kalam promises help to science
city Criteria for ministers’ quota
amended Punjab slashes Internet
rates SAD proposals to panel on Sikh identity Punjab Gaurav Samman for
Dosanjh SDMs to sanction pension |
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| Bank strike brings factionalism to
fore FEROZEPORE, Dec 27 — The two-day strike call made by the State Bank of India Staff Association Chandigarh circle has brought to the fore the infighting between the warring groups of the association.
SHSAD-Talwandi honeymoon
over? Unite against
communal forces, Communists told
A nihang plays the ‘gatka’ at the Shaheedi Jor Mela in Fatehgarh Sahib on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma Distress sale of sugarcane in Nurpur Bedi area An award, long overdue Bathinda choking on
pollution Prelude to Harballabh
Sammelan Shun drug abuse, exhorts
Jathedar 1 killed, 7 hurt in bus-canter collision Spread communal harmony:
DIG IT payers honoured Women complain against
SP 2 die in road mishap A-I flight cancelled
at last moment
Army busts
gang making fake papers
Expedite work on
Udham Singh Memorial College
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Kalam promises help to science
city CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — For Prof APJ Abdul Kalam, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Union Government, Punjab is high on the priority list for the success of the Vision 2020 programme. Prof Abdul Kalam, currently on a visit to Punjab, has not only accepted to be Chief Patron of the Science City at Kapurthala, but also promised all help for this ambitious project, including all assistance from various central departments and organisations dealing with science and technology. Accompanied by his Scientific Secretary, Dr Y.S. Rajan, and the Punjab’s Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Mr Rajan Kashyap, Prof Abdul Kalam visited Kapurthala today for an on-the-spot study of the proposed Science City. In the morning, he made a presentation to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. “Vision-2020 is the work and contribution of a large number of scientists who are working to make India a developed nation from a developing country. At present our GDP is about 6 to 7 per cent and if we have to take it to 9 to 10 per cent, we have to have a vision for the future. “As a nation of one billion people, we have about 300 to 400 million people who are below the poverty line. To bring these people above the poverty line, we have to accelerate our growth and raise the GDP to 9 to 10 per cent per annum,” says Professor Kalam. For Vision-2020, he says, a five-point strategy has been adopted. Agriculture and agro-processing is the No. 1 priority area. “While Punjab is in the group of states which are advanced in agricultural production, we have to adopt a “seed to system” approach here. Agriculture alone cannot solve the unemployment problem fully. The present agriculture sector needs to be supplemented to give job or employment satisfaction to 60 to 65 per cent of our population. “Value addition, food processing, agro processing and introduction of biotechnology are some of the areas. Only with a proper package, agriculture and agro processing can become an engine of growth ,” Prof Kalam said. A scientific project of providing neat and clean milk is being stated a Milkfed Ludhiana. “Punjab is now at the top of per capita milk production. But milk in India is not free from either bacteria or chemicals and hence cannot be exported. So with our novel project at Ludhiana, we want to introduce bacteria free and chemical-free milk,” he stated. In agriculture, other scientific studies being undertaken in Punjab are about soil salinity. Another interesting area suggested for study by the Punjab Chief
Minister, he said, was the cleaner village ponds, that were contaminated. Education and healthcare is the second priority area under Vision-2020. “Wherever the literacy rate is higher, the healthcare system is better,” says Professor Kalam by quoting example of Kerala and some other states maintaining that focus would be more on education of girl child and women. Talking about the Reach programme, prof Kalam said this was to provide excellence in selected technologies through a network of engineering colleges and Indian Institute of Technologies. At present, there are nearly 780 engineering colleges and IITs throughout the country, of which nearly 50 are in Punjab. “We have realised that only a few thousand could get admissions to ITIs in the country from a field of nearly two lakh students every year. There is a big group of 30,000 to 35,000 who are equally good but cannot be accommodated in ITIs. So we want these institutes of excellence to admit these students and in cooperation and sponsorship of the industry, nurture their talent. As a part of this programme we will select 18 institutes throughout the country. We have already selected eight, including Thapar Institute of Engineering at Patiala, where specialised training would be in agro-industry and bio-technology. The institute would work in coordination with Thapar industry,” he said. Another important area under this programme would be to try distant learning through the use of information technology and CD-ROMs. “We are trying to experiment with one school where only one teacher, with the use of latest technology, can conduct classes for rural children in general and girl children in particular. This way, interactive teaching is planned to be introduced throughout the length and breadth of the country. For upper and high performance computer education or super computer, a centre has already been set up at Panjab University, Chandigarh, which would serve as a resource centre for all prospective students aspiring to be in computeronics or information technology. “Punjab has the potential of providing both hardware and software. The location of Semiconductors Limited is very useful and we are looking at Punjab to be major force in both hardware and software. We want to take our software exports from the present $ 5 billion to $ 50 billion in the coming years,” Prof Kalam said. Talking about Science City, he said that it would reverse the present trend of moving towards urban areas. “We want this city to be planned in a form of loop around Kapurthala around which emerge the centres of economic activity. The proposed city would have everything, including primary health centre, school, warehousing for the farmer, including facilities for cold storage, chilling centre and also for
communications. The loop road will have bus service in either direction and would connect the Science City to the main towns of Jalandhar and Kapurthala. “We want to involve private industry and private sector also. The government has earmarked Rs 70 crore for this project. The emergence of Science City will come under Information Technology and Communication head — the third priority area of Vision-2020. Infrastructure development and crucial technologies are the remaining two areas of attention under the programme, he said.
Kalam visits science city to review
progress KAPURTHALA, Dec 27 — Principal
Scientific Adviser Prof Abdul Kalam visited Pushpa Gujral Science City on the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road here today to review the progress of the project. Mr Kalam accompanied by Principal Secretary, Punjab, Mr Rajan Kashyap, Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council Executive Director Y.S. Rajan along with other senior officers discussed in detail various aspects of the project. Mr Kashyap told mediapersons that Professor Kalam, who was also the chief patron of the science city, had a detailed discussion with the Chief Minister and secretaries of various departments in Chandigarh yesterday regarding science and development of Punjab. He said Professor Kalam told the Chief Minister that he would soon hold a meeting of union secretaries to involve various departments like space, metereological and oceanography for their involvement in the science city. The science city will display the development in the field of defence and depict the history of Punjab, he added. Mr Kashyap stated that PCS officer
A.S. Bains had been appointed as Director of the science city.
CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — Prof A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Union Government, is a keen environmentalist. During a brief visit to the Pinkcassia tourist resort of the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation at Ropar today, Prof Abdul Kalam did not miss an opportunity to have a look at migratory birds who have arrived here. He wanted his Scientist Secretary, Dr Y.S. Rajan, to look at the winged creatures from Siberia by using binoculars. Professor Kalam on his arrival at Ropar was received by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, besides the Managing Director of the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, Mr Sanjay Kumar. Professor Kalam cherished “lassi”, “makki ki roti and saag” served to him at the restaurant. He also inquired about pinkcassia plant, the colour of its flower and the flowering
season. |
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Criteria for ministers’ quota
amended AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — In an apparent move to woo the voters belonging to various religions and communities, the Cabinet-in-Council has decided to amend criteria for the allocation of funds by ministers from their discretionary quota. Earlier, the ministers could allocate funds from their discretionary quota for developmental purposes only. However, the new decision of the Cabinet-in-Council would empower them to give funds for temples, gurdwaras, churches and mosques. Addressing a well-attended state-level Christmas day function here today, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Minister said religion should not be misunderstood for fanaticism. Religion preached humanity, tolerance and universal brotherhood from time to time. Mr Badal announced Rs 25 lakh for the construction of Masih Bhavan here on a demand by Mr Munawar Masih, president, Christian Front, Punjab. Mr Badal said he had already allocated Rs 1 crore for “kar seva” of Durgiana Temple and would give Rs 25 lakh for the construction of a mosque at Malerkotla. On the demand of the Christian Front Mr Badal agreed to give due political share to members of the Christian community in the state. He said after the appointment of Mr Munawar Masih as member of the Punjab State Services Selection Board, more members of the Christian community would be adjusted at higher posts. He announced extension for Ms Rani John, Director, Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation, for one year. Mr Badal agreed to accept other demands of Christians in due course of time. In yet another significant statement, he claimed that Punjab was no more a cash-strapped state. It would take up many developmental purposes, including remodelling of Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) at a cost of about Rs 200 crore. Replying to a question, he said his government would take up all pending demands of Punjab with the Central Government. He said the state government was formulating a scheme for providing compensation to the farmers of the border belt, who had their agricultural land across the Indo-Pakistan fencing. He claimed that his government had initiated a number of developmental projects for overall development of the Majha area. He refuted the charges that Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts were ignored from the development point of view. The Chief Minister said the international road form Wagha to Jalandhar would be four-laned on a priority basis. He said he was taking personal interest for the development of the international airport at Rajasansi. During the next financial year, bridges, roads, bus stands and link roads would be constructed on a war-footing. Mr Badal announced that he would direct all those concerned to hold religious functions, especially by minorities, without any restrictions. Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, general secretary, SAD, and the Rajya Sabha member also promised the Christians for holding of their religious functions without any restriction. Among those who were present on the occasion included Mr Emanwal Gill, vice-president, Christian Front, Punjab, Mr Dazy Victor, state president, Christian Front, women cell, Mr Raj Kumar, district president, Cabinet Ministers Rattan Singh, Sucha Singh Langah, Baldev Chawla, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Natha Singh Dalam and Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha, member, Punjab SSS Board. |
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Punjab slashes Internet
rates CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — The Punjab Telecom Circle today decided to slash internet rates besides promising to provide quality service to net browsers as four high capacity and 14 medium capacity internet nodes will become functional by the first week of the New Year. The Punjab Circle of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam also contemplates introducing mobile service by the end of 2001. Talking to newsmen here this afternoon, the Chief General Manager of Punjab Telecom Circle, Mr S.C. Chaudhary, and the Principal General Manager, Mr R.C. Vaish, said Internet subscribers would not only get access though normal telephone lines but also through ISDN dial up and leased line access for wider bandwidth and higher speed. The subscribers would also get countrywide roaming facility. Besides one subscriber and one of his relatives or a friend can also use his Internet account elsewhere in the country simultaneously. These facilities, are not available with any other service provider. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, they said, would have 8 MB connectivity to Delhi while other service providers have much smaller band width connectivity available from the Punjab Circle. Between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. on all week days and on Sundays and national holidays, the Internet access would be free. To facilitate subscribers, there would be no registration fee or any form for taking an Internet connection. They said that though VSNL has a licence in some parts of the Punjab Circle, BSNL will have its own independent service from New Year throughout the circle. At present, the Chandigarh SAS has about 4000 subscribers. Mr Chaudhary and Mr Vaish maintained that improved services would also ensure smooth and faster download, wider bandwidth, quicker and reliable connectivity. Existing subscribers would be shifted to new nodes shortly and their e-mail addresses would be changed after due intimation to them. Talking about the mobile service, Mr Chaudhary and Mr Vaish said service was likely to be in place by December next year. “We will have 95,000-line capacity installed to connect 51 stations throughout the circle. The process of inviting tenders and acquisition of machinery for mobile service is likely to start in January next year. We hope to provide cheaper, competitive and reliable service,” they said. Mr Chaudhary also announced a special package of enhancing commission to PCO holders in Chandigarh. Against the existing uniform commission rate of 20 paise per unit, the new commission rates would become effective from New Year’s Day. For up to 4,000 units, the increased commission would be 22 paise per unit. And for use of 4001 to 8400 units, the commission would be 25 paise per unit. In the next category would be 8401 to 16700 units where the rate of commission would be 27 paise per unit. For PCOs doing more than 16,700 units, the commission would be 30 paise per unit. At present, there are 3363 PCOs in the Chandigarh SAS, of which more than 1370 have 10,000 units or more in a month. Talking about Chandigarh’s Telephone Directory, Mr Chaudhary said that it would be with the subscribers in April. The telephone directory on Internet would be made available by January 30 next year. Similarly 14 lakh telephone subscribers directory in Punjab will be progressively uploaded on net by end of February next year. Telephone directories for most of the Punjab districts would be available by February-March next year but in the case of Ludhiana it would be delayed until May or June. Mr Chaudhary further said that all 11 field units of the circle and the office of the Chief General Manager would be interconnected by e-mail which would improve internal efficiency and working of the circle. This e-mail service would be for exclusively for departmental use. To improve telephone restoration time, he said that linemen in Chandigarh are being provided pagers. The linemen in rest of the circle are also likely to be provided pagers by the end of March next year. |
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SAD proposals to panel on Sikh identity AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — Even as the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has not come out openly with a statement against the claims of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, in offshoot of the RSS, that the Sikhs are descendants of Luv and Kush”, the stand of the SAD headed by Mr Badal is clear that the Sikhs are a distinct identity. The proposals of the SAD, submitted to the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) under seal and signed by Mr Badal hardly leaves any room for discussion on this issue. The proposals, reportedly drafted by Sikh intellectuals, especially Mr H.S. Mattewal, Punjab Advocate-General, have said that the Sikhs enjoy a separate status. Page six of the proposals reads: “Earlier, at the annual session of the Congress at Lahore in 1929, when complete independence was declared to be the political goal of the Congress, an assurance was given to the Sikhs and Muslims that no future constitution would be acceptable to the Congress without their consent”. The proposals enlisted the promises made to the Sikhs by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders before the Partition which showed the “separate identity of the Sikhs. However, the point which is being exploited by the RSS is that Giani Puran Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, during his tenure as Jathedar Akal Takht had once stated that “the Sikhs are descendants of Luv and Kush”. RSS activists say though Giani Puran Singh had openly said that the Sikhs were descendants of Hindus, the radicals had been raising a hue and cry on the issue. A few days after taking over as SGPC chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi had taken a clear stand against the RSS. He had said it had no locus standi to interfere in Sikh affairs. The Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, who initially dithered on this issue, also said the RSS was increasingly interfering in Sikh affairs. He had directed the SAD to incorporate the “separate identity of Sikhs” at the time of reviewing the Indian Constitution. Sikh scholars feel that after the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on March 29 which had considered Guru Granth Sahib as jurisdic person, nobody could raise a legal point on the separate identity of the Sikhs. The judgement read: “Guru Granth Sahib can not be equated with any other sacred book such as the Gita, the Bible or the Koran or with an idol”. The SAD proposals also plead for the rephrasing of explanation II of the Article 25(IB) which clubs Sikhs with Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. Though the SAD has already conveyed its stand to the review commission on the separate identity of the Sikhs, Mr Badal wants to keep a low profile as his party has an alliance with the BJP. |
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Punjab Gaurav Samman for
Dosanjh DOSANJH KALAN (Jalandhar), Dec 27 — It was a greatful “pind da puttar”, Mr Ujjal Dosanjh, British Columbia Premier, upon whom the Punjab Gaurav Samman was conferred by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at his (Mr Dosanjh) native village. Mr Dosanjh got emotional after getting the award. He said “I do not have words to express my gratitude to Mr Badal and my people who have showered so much of love upon me”. Reacting to the grant of Rs 14 lakh announced by Mr Badal for development of his village and Rs 10 lakh each for the development of Maoli and Kharaudi villages, from where his mother hails, he made people laugh when he said. If my association can bring so much, I think I will be bombarded with
invitations from across the state.” Turning nostalgic he narrated how he would graze cattle of his maternal uncles at Maoli village of Hoshiarpur district and used to enjoy stolen sugarcane. “I remember those days and cannot forget those sweet memories,” he said. Our forefathers, including Kamagatamaru freedom fighters, had to struggle a lot and that struggle is still on in one way or the other”, he said. Mr Badal said Mr Dosanjh had brought honour for his village, the state and the country by becoming the premier in an alien land. Mr Badal urged NRIs to contribute towards the development of the state. The state government had decided to give an equal amount if any NRI spent money on the development of his ancestral village. Others who were honoured by the Chief Minister include US-based surgeon, Dr Kamaljit Singh Paul (Punjab Gaurav Samman), Mrs Raminder Dosanjh and Mr B.K. Srivastava (special awards). PHILLAUR: British Columbia Premier Ujjal Singh Dosanjh on Wednesday reiterated his call for social justice and equality emphasising that migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar must get equal status and rights in Punjab. Addressing a reception in his honour at the residence of an industrialist at Goraya, he advocated a merit-based system so that everyone could get an opportunity to rise, like he had been able to in an alien land. “I accomplished what I have due to a democratic society which functioned on prosperity, equality and justice”, he said. He had a word of caution for Punjab youths aspiring to go abroad, saying that it looked glamorous from outside. It was a hard struggle abroad, but the system was clean and straight, he said. Without hard work, nothing could be achieved even abroad, he added. When asked to comment foreign investment in Punjab, Mr Dosanjh said state governments abroad did not make investments, but they worked to facilitate each other by exchanging joint ventures in the fields of trade, industry and information technology. PHAGWARA:
Mr Dosanjh maintained here on wednesday that anybody who was Indian should have equal rights. He gave this answer when reporters asked his comments on the opposition by certain political parties to Mrs Sonia Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister. “When I can become Premier after becoming a Canadian citizen even though I was born in India, then what is wrong if Mrs Sonia Gandhi aspires to be the Prime Minister”, he said. Mr Dosanjh opened an NRI counter of Central Bank here. He planted saplings in a park adopted by the local Rotary Club Central. HOSHIARPUR: The municipal council and the local NRIs Sabha accorded a reception to Mr Ujjal Dosanjh at Services Club here on Tuesday. The municipal council and the NRI Sabha gave a memento to Mr Dosanjh. Earlier, he inaugurated a village life improvement programme foundation project being carried out by NRIs of Kharaudi village. The first stage of this programme will be to provide basic infrastructure to villages. |
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SDMs to sanction pension BATHINDA, Dec 27 — The Punjab Government has given powers to Subdivisional Magistrates (SDMs) to sanction old-age pension after following proper procedure. Earlier, the old-age pension was sanctioned by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) along with the District Social Security Officer (DSSO) of each district. Official sources said the application forms for the old-age pension would now be accepted by the District Social Security Officer and sent to the SDM concerned for
scrutiny, verification and sanction. After granting sanction, the SDM would open a bank account of the beneficiary and that bank account number would be sent to the DSSO. The DSSO would deposit the pension amount in the account of beneficiaries every month. At present any woman, who is 60 or above and a man, who is 65 or above is entitled to a pension of Rs 200 per month. The pension would be given only if the applicant was in the prescribed income group. Sources said the Punjab Government had taken the decision to empower the SDMs to sanction pensions when it felt that the sanction of pension through the ADC (General and the DSSO was taking long time and the beneficiaries were suffering loss on this account. The sources added that more than 40,000 applications were lying with the authorities concerned which were yet to be processed. The staff of Social Security Department could not run the pension scheme effectively as it had been facing an acute shortage of the field staff. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Punjab Science and Technology Minister said SDMs had been empowered to sanction pension to avoid inconvenience to the applicants and extend the benefit of this scheme at the grassroots level. He added that apart from it the Punjab Government had also decided to open LPG centre at every focal point of the state. He said when the SAD-BJP alliance took over the affairs of Punjab state, only 2.24 lakh people were getting pension but the number of these beneficiaries had reached 6.75 lakh. |
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Bank strike brings factionalism to
fore FEROZEPORE, Dec 27 — The two-day strike call made by the State Bank of India Staff Association (SBISA) Chandigarh circle has brought to the fore the infighting between the warring groups of the association. At the local branch of the State Bank of India yesterday, only 10 clerks in addition to nine officers reported on duty against a total strength of 79 employees, due to which the public had to face inconvenience. The striking employees gathered in front of the bank and raised slogans against the alleged highhandedness and unfair policies of the bank management. The regional secretary of the SBISA, Mr Vipin Vats, in a press note issued day before yesterday had decried any attempt to go on strike. He alleged that such calls had been given at the behest of cetain elements that wanted to gain publicity by spreading false propaganda whereas on the other hand Mr P.K. Talwar, district secretary, SBISA, while refuting the statements published in a session of press terming the strike unethical asserted that the decision to go on strike had been taken by the competent authority and the strike was not meant for the sake of any individual but against the unfair policies of the bank management. He said the bank management was oppressive towards the association because it had objected to the bank’s waiving policy of Rs 6300 crore non-performing assets against big industrialists. When contacted, Mr R.L. Khu-rana, Chief Manager of the bank, claimed that the bank had ensured smooth and normal functioning despite the thin presence of the clerical staff. He said yesterday the staff worked till late night hours in order to complete the pending jobs so that the routine work was not hampered. According to the sources, the SBI staff had objected to transfer of Mr Updesh Passey, assistant general secretary of the SBISA. The staff had been resorting to daily lunch-hour demonstrations against the management for the past one-week. According to Mr Talwar, the said transfer was made by the management in a hurry, ignoring the bank’s own instructions. The Deputy General Manager of the bank in a press note day before yesterday had said the management had not been given any notice about the strike. Terming the strike as unethical and illogical, he said the chargesheeted employee had been given reasonable opportunity to represent the case. |
SHSAD-Talwandi honeymoon
over? AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) and SGPC chief Jagdev Singh Talwandi honeymoon seems to be over. The leaders of SHSAD, including its president Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who had hailed the appointment of Mr Talwandi as SGPC chief, have now started criticising him for “apologising” before Mr Parkash Singh Badal over the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Golden Temple. Talking to TNS, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, an Akali MLA and former SGPC Secretary, said if Mr Talwandi had to
apologies for any of his “wrongdoings” he should have sought forgiveness from the Sikh sangat. Mr Calcutta said the SGPC was a statutory body which had come into existence before the formation of the Shiromani Akali Dal SAD. He said SAD was formed to assist the SGPC and safeguard interest of Sikhs. “Mr Talwandi must know that he was holding a coveted post of a supreme body of Sikhs,” he said. Mr Calcutta said Sikh scholars had taken a strong exception to the utterances of Mr Talwandi that in future he would seek guidance from Mr Badal for taking any decision of the SGPC. He said the SGPC had been fighting against the interference of government in religious affairs. However, the SGPC chief himself had been inviting interference by the state Chief Minister, which the Sikh masses won’t tolerate. He said what right Mr Badal had got to interfere in the affairs of the SGPC, which was running according to the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. He said it was a matter of regret that Mr Talwandi, who had been fighting himself for non-interference of the state government in the Sikh affairs, had become a “tool” in the hands of Mr Badal.” He is no more the iron man of Sikhs”, he added. On the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh, Mr Calcutta alleged that the ruling SAD was responsible for the current Panthic crisis. |
Unite against
communal forces, Communists told TARN TARAN, Dec 27 — The Communist Party of India (CPI) has stressed on the unity of Communists in India to fight against the imperialistic and communal forces. The decision regarding this was taken here yesterday at a district-level conference organised by the party in connection with its 75th anniversary. Hundreds of party workers participated. Ms Vimla Dang, veteran CPI leader and a former MLA, addressing the party workers stressed the need to be united to fight the challenge given to the democratic and non-communal forces by the BJP and the RSS. Dr Harish Puri, Head, Dr Ambedkar Chair, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Parminder, organising secretary Zamhuri Adhikar Sabha, Punjab, Comrade Rattan Singh Randhawa, district secretary CPI, Mr Harbhajan Singh, national council member, CPI, and others too spoke. |
Shaheedi Jor Mela ends amid
fervour FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 27 — The three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela concluded here today with religious fervour. However, the mela will continue for another week as a large number of people are pouring in. A nagar kirtan was taken out from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib after an “ardas” was performed by Bhai Jaswinder Singh, Head Granthi of the gurdwara. The procession left for Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib. More than five lakh devotees, “gatka” parties and Nihangs accompanied the procession. The nagar kirtan was led by the “Panj Piaras”. Bhai Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht, Bhai Jaswinder Singh, Bhai Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib, and Bhai Puran Singh, Head Granthi Darbar Sahib, performed the seva of Golden “Chour Sahib”. The palanquin was followed by Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, SGPC, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former SGPC President, Capt Kanwaljeet Singh, Finance Minister and Akali leaders, among others. “Gatka” was performed by Nihangs. Schoolchildren played the band, members of the Sukhmani Sahib Seva Societies recited the Gurbani and devotees showered flowers. No gambling stalls and sale of meat were seen in the mela due to the ban imposed by the district administration. The play “Ladle Gobind De” was appreciated by the public. Addressing a joint press conference Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr H.S. Saran, SSP, said no untoward incident was reported as the police had made elaborate security arrangements. |
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Distress sale of sugarcane in Nurpur Bedi area ROPAR, Dec 27 — After paddy, it is sugarcane that is being sold at a price less than the minimum price fixed by the government. Farmers in the Nurpur Bedi area are selling sugarcane at a price of Rs 70 per quintal against the minimum price of Rs 100 per quintal fixed by the government. The farmers are selling sugarcane at lesser prices to migrant gur makers who have installed their makeshift units in the area. Sources say the farmers in the area shifted to sugarcane sowing about a decade ago due to the lesser availability of water for irrigation and the vicinity of the Nawanshahr and Morinda sugar mills. These sugar mills used to produce sugarcane from a “kanda” (weighing machine) installed near Aulakh village in Nurpur Bedi block. The mill owners used to charge Rs 2 per quintal from the farmers as the charges for procurement in their area. Since 1997 the sugar mills have stopped procuring sugarcane at the kanda in the region. They are accepting sugarcane only at the mill gates. The farmers of the area are finding it unviable to take their produce to the mills that are situated at a distance of at least 50 km from the area. So they are being forced to sell their produce at much lesser prices to the gur makers. The gur makers are selling gur on roadsides or in the local markets at the rates ranging from Rs 17 to 20 per quintal. The farmers of the area allege that the migrant gur makers are making profits at the cost of the farmers due to the faulty policy of the government. They have demanded that the government should direct the sugar mills to start procurement from the kanda in the area. The Chief Cane Development Officer of the Morinda sugar mill when asked admitted that the mill had stopped procuring sugarcane from the respective areas. Now the mill only accepted sugarcane at the gate and the payments were made to the farmers at a rate of Rs 100 per quintal, he said. He further added that earlier, the mills used to procure sugarcane from the kandas in various parts of the state. In lieu of this procurement, Rs 2 per quintal was charged from the farmers for the cost incurred on transporting the sugarcane to the mill. However, in 1997, the Punjab Government increased the deductions to be done from the farmers to 5 per cent of the total amount paid to any farmer. Due to the increased rates, the farmers stopped bringing sugarcane to the kandas and the mills were forced to stop procurement there. However, the farmers allege that they are still ready to sell sugarcane to the mills, even if 5 per cent of the total amount paid to them is charged as transportation costs. Only the farmers of the areas in the vicinity of the mills have stopped bringing their produce to the kandas. The mills have used this as an excuse to stop procurement at the kandas all over the state despite the fact that the farmers even in far-flung areas are still ready to offer 5 per cent cost of their produce to the mill if they lift the crop from their area. |
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An award, long overdue CHANDIGARH: The news that Waryam Singh Sandhu has won an award, that too the Sahitya Akademi award, comes as a surprise. Not that he didn’t deserve it. He should have been given it long back. But odds were heavily against it. First, his own temperament. He is too shy and straightforward to try for it. Awards these days we all know are “earned”, not conferred. If given a choice, Waryam is the sort of person who would pass it on to a friend. Then he was a born
Jat. That too in Majha where physical strength is valued more than the power of the pen. Sursingh village, which falls in Tarn Taran tehsil of Amritsar district and where Waryam studied, grew up and became a school teacher, is famous as the land of the Ghaddari
Babas. During militancy this village was often in news. Wrestler Kartar Singh also belongs to this village. Not just this village, but the whole area was bereft of writers. Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari and novelist Nanak Singh lived near and in Amritsar. They had little influence on
Waryam. Growing up in such an area, how Waryam became a writer is itself a wonder. Looking back, Waryam remembers: “It seems when as a child I used to sit in my grandmother’s lap listening to her stories till midnight or early morning climbed on to my grandfather’s shoulders to go to the gurdwara and heard in rapt attention the Bhai’s tales, the seed of story began to sprout within me.” I was in college when I read Waryam’s “Lohe De Hath” (1971). Short tales on social injustices and deprivations could ignite rebellion in any youth. It was a product of the Naxalite movement. Once Waryam was lodged in jail as Naxalite boys used to visit him and village elders went to the police station and got him released. His second book “Ang Sang” appeared in 1979, third “Bhajian
Bahin” in 1987 and fourth “Chauthi Koot” in 1998. In these stories Waryam’s thought and craft matured. His stories are usually long, but the narrative remains gripping. His characters — picked up from rural middle class families — stand out. They all, like the author, struggle for a better life. In Punjab while Ph.D degree holders occupy high positions in universities, writers remain neglected and financially insecure. Waryam would have languished in Sursingh but for his friends and well-wishers, particularly Harbhajan Singh
Halwarvi, who made him leave his school job and ensured a more respectable job at Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar. Punjabi writers often feel very enthusiastic if they are written about in English, their public advocacy of Punjabi notwithstanding. You ask an average Punjabi writer for an interview, he or she would land at your place with his/her photographs and books. When I used to write a column “Window on Punjabi Literature” in The Tribune, I wrote to Waryam requesting a meeting and a photograph. He replied, talking about our common relatives, but neither sent a picture nor mentioned a meeting. I had to buy his books and the write-up was published without his photograph. The only other writer who refused me an interview was Paash (also a Sandhu — Avtar Singh). He had agreed to meet me, but at the last minute changed his mind and instead went to the Rose Garden along with his friend, Shamsher Singh Sandhu. I can understand why none of the English newspapers — whose reporters are desperate for interviews and can pick on any model or pop singer to fill the pages — have written about
Waryam. In a way, it is good for him. Had he been in Chandigarh, he would have been embarrassed to hear from a bubble-gum journalist: “Uncle, what do you write?” By selecting Waryam for the Sahit Akademi award, the akademi has bowed to talent (which is rare) than to favouritism (which is all too common). Perhaps it had limited options. Who else deserved the award more than
Waryam? It has redeemed its soiled image — partly. |
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Bathinda choking on
pollution BATHINDA, Dec 27 — Mr Sawtantar Singh, a local resident, was going to the market but had to rush to an eye surgeon midway as some foreign body entered his eyes and started troubling him. He had to keep one of his eyes closed with a bandage after the eye surgeon removed the foreign body. Rupinder Singh, another resident, who was going to his house to have lunch few days ago, experienced a similar situation. Apart from missing the lunch, he had to take leave from his office for the second half. There is a significant rise in cases relating to eye ailments, asthama bronchitis etc due to high level of pollution in the air. Eye specialists, whom TNS talked to said there was about 20 per cent rise in patients reporting with foreign bodies in their eyes, in the past six months. Dr Bawa Ram Gupta, Civil Surgeon, when contacted, said there had been a significant rise in the indoor and outdoor patients of conjunctivitis, asthama, bronchitis and emphysem. He added that in 1998 there were only 3,165 outdoor patients suffering with asthama, bronchitis and emphysem and in the current year up to October the number of such patients had crossed 6,800. Similarly, the number of conjunctivitis patients which was 912 in 1998 went up to 1,112 in 1999 and touched 972 in October 2000. The residents pointed out that they were doubly cursed after the setting up of coal based thermal plant in the city. On the one hand, they had been facing power cuts and on the other, they had been exposed to various pollution-related diseases due to emission of ash from the four chimneys of the local Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP). On December 14, 2000, Dr Bawa Ram, Civil Surgeon, in a letter to the Chief Engineer, GNDTP, Mr U.S. Lucky pointed out that residents had been suffering from various respiratory and eye problems due to ash contents being emitted from the chimneys. Mr Lucky, when contacted, pointed out that eye and other ailments were not rising in the city due to emission of fly ash from the chimneys of the thermal plant which was under control since 1988 after the installation of electrostatic precipitator (ESP) with every unit. He added that to further cut down the quantity of ash contents being emitted in the air, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities had made plans which would be executed in phases. He added that the PSEB authorities were planning to change the design of boilers and change the collecting and emitting electrodes in the ESP to cut down the ash contents in the air. He claimed that the emission of ash contents in the air was less than that prescribed limit of 350 milligram fly ash particles per cubic metre. He said since Bathinda city had been declared as protected area the emission level would have to be brought down from 350 milligram to 150 milligram. He said the pollution in the city had increased due to increase in the number of vehicles and industries in and around the town. |
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Prelude to Harballabh
Sammelan JALANDHAR, Dec 27 — “Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan”, the three-day annual musical rendezvous and a source of inspiration for classical music maestros and enthusiasts as well, virtually took off today with a music competition for children on the sprawling Devi Talaab Temple lawns, serving the purpose of a prelude to the extravaganza slated to showcase top classical artistes on December 28, 29, 30 starting on Thursday night. Even as the onset of the main function will be initiated tomorrow night when Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is expected to inaugurate it, the sprawling Devi Talaab Temple lawns started reverberating with soothing tunes created by small children, for whom organisers held a music competition today. The competition was held in two parts one for students of music and the other was aimed at judging talent among wards of artistes and teachers of music. Besides artistes, the organisers were expecting the presence of eminent journalist Kuldip
Nayyar, General V.P. Malik and a number of MPs associated with the city, including Mr Kartar Singh
Duggal. On December 28, the function will take off with a “havan” at 9 a.m. followed by a music competition and “Sarasvati
vandana”. In the evening, artistes like Vijay Rajput, shehnai player Mahabir Prasad, vocalist Gundecha
Bandhu, the creator of Mohan Veena, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and vocalist duo
Rajan-Sajan Mishra will aquaint the music lovers with finer details of their talent in their respective fields. The Friday part of the sammelan will open with “Saraswati
vandana” at 2 p.m. followed by performances by last year’s winners Sitarist Sanchari Bakshi, vocalist Ms Nivedita Singh, vocalist Kumar S.
Munge, Sarangi player Pt Ram Narayan, vocalist Ustad Ghulam M. Khan, Meeta Pandi and famed tabla player Pt Krishna
Maharaj. The special attraction of the night will be “jugalbandis” by Bhure Lal and Mehmood Dhaulpuri (Harmonium) and by Danish Aslam Khan
(sarod) Sayed Zafar Khan (sitar). The concluding day on December 30 will witness performances by artistes like Neeraj Shandil (Tabla), vocalist Kalpani
Komkani, sitarist Biswajit Sarkar, vocalist Madhup Mudgal, sarod player Pt Brij
Narayan, vocalist Madhumati Ray, sitar player Shujat Khan, vocalist Dr Prabha Atre and vocalist Pandit Ulhas
Kashalkar. |
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Shun drug abuse, exhorts
Jathedar AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — Flaying the growing tendency of drug abuse the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Mr Joginder Singh Vedanti, has exhorted the youth to shun this habit. Jathedar Vedanti said this while inaugurating a seminar on health issues yesterday at Sri Ram Dass Hospital organised by the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC. The camp-cum-seminar was attended by representatives from various schools, including those from Pathankot and Dera Baba Nanak areas. In another meeting of the Amritsar Vikas Manch Dr Baldev Raj Chawla Health
Minister, also stressed on the need to check drug abuse. While presenting an agenda for the development of Amritsar, the manch suggested the formation of a development authority to supervise funds for development purposes. It suggested a tourist reception centre, of international standard, water sports, trade centres, museums and shopping malls in the city to promote tourism. The manch stressed the importance of setting up of a visa consulates early four-laning of the national highway on the G.T. Road and the approach road to the airport. The demand for an IT centre with a software technology park and earth station was also put forward. |
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1 killed, 7 hurt in bus-canter collision BATHINDA, Dec 27 — One person died on the spot while seven others were injured, three of them seriously, following a head-on collision between a bus and a Canter on the Bathinda-Mansa road near Kotshamir village this morning. The victim, identified as Surinder Singh, was driving the bus which was heading towards Sultanpur Lodhi from Talwandi Sabo. The accident took place when the driver while trying to overtake another vehicle lost control and collided with the Canter. The driver and cleaner of the Canter are missing. Sources said those injured have been admitted to the local civil hospital. The injured are Bhagwant Singh, Sukhpal Kaur, Karamjit Kaur, Harwinder Kaur, Sukhpreet Kaur, Jaspal Kaur and Jaspal Singh, all bus passengers. A case has been registered. Punjab Science and Technology Minister Chiranji Lal Garg, who reached the site of the accident, said the government would bear the expenses of treatment of the injured. If the need arose, those seriously injured would be shifted to Ludhiana. Meanwhile, the State Samajwadi Janata Party President, Mr Darshan Singh Zeeda, and member of the National Council of the Nationalist Congress party, Mr Amritpal Singh Brar, alleged the authorities concerned had failed to take steps to check road accidents. |
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Spread communal harmony:
DIG SUNAM, Dec 27 — Mr S.S. Bhullar, DIG, Intelligence, Punjab, called upon people to disseminate the message of communal harmony. Mr Bhullar was presiding over a function which was organised in connection with a fashion show-dreams 2001 and a trade fair at Bombay Palace here on Monday. The fashion show and trade fair were organised by Computer Concepts. More than 50 models from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh participated in the fashion show. In the trade fair, various electronics, lubricant and garment traders took part and displayed their wares at the stalls. LML company introduced a new motor cycle model-LML Aldreno. Bobby won the ‘Mr Fattest Boy’ contest. A cultural programme was also presented. Mr Bhullar gave away mementoes to those who participated in the fashion show and the trade fair. |
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IT payers honoured KAPURTHALA, Dec 27 — Ms S.K. Aulakh, Commissioner, Income Tax, Jalandhar zone, was here to preside over the Samman Samaroh function organised by the local Income Tax Department to honour Dr Madu Gupta in the professional category and Mr Deepak Anand in the business category for paying highest income tax in town. She said the department had earned a revenue of Rs 160 crore from two lakh assessors of Jalandhar range comprising Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts. She said the Jalandhar region had earned an increase of 47 per cent in revenue collections till November 2000 as compared to revenue collections last year till November ‘99. Addressing a meeting of tax payers of Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Phagwara and Jalandhar, she urged them to come forward voluntarily paying income tax which would help in nation building. Addressing the function Ms K. Anand, Additional Commissioner, said that the number of tax payers had increased from 6,100 to 18,200 during the past three years in Kapurthala and the revenue from income tax here had increased to Rs 3 crore. Mr M.L. Sharma, Income Tax Officer, also addressed the function. |
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Women complain against
SP AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — Three women — Mrs Hardip Kaur, Mrs Arvinder Kaur and Mrs Gurbachan Kaur — residents of Basant Avenue have alleged that a Superintendent of Police has been conniving with a property dealer to grab their two acres of land in Rakh Jhita (Mana Wala) village under Majitha police district. They alleged that though an inquiry was conducted by two Superintendents of Police, yet they were influenced by the said SP. They alleged that when they had complained to senior police officials against him, their kin were harassed by the police. Complaints to high officials in this connection had yielded no result, they alleged. BATHINDA, Dec 27 — At least two persons were killed and 22 injured in road accident near Poohla village, about 20 km from here when the tractor-trailer in which they were travelling overturned. The deceased have been identified as Gurheet Kaur (35), and Galo (32) of village Poohla. Two of the injured have been referred to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, and others have been admitted to Nataha hospital. There are six children among those injured and all of the injured and deceased belonged to the same family. Most of the injured have received head injuries. Police sources said the exact cause of the accident could not be established. |
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A-I flight cancelled
at last moment AMRITSAR, Dec 27 — Passengers of Air India flight number 5111 were stranded here last night as the flight was cancelled at the last moment. The passengers said they were booked on the flights to Canada and the USA and now they had to reschedule their plans and make fresh bookings. The spokesman of Air India, Mr Arora, said the plane did make three attempts to land at Raja Sansi Airport, but due to poor visibility the pilot could not land. The aircraft had to return to New Delhi. |
Army busts
gang making fake papers FARIDKOT, Dec 27 — The Army has busted a gang allegedly involved in preparing fake documents for the purpose of recruitment at Sadiq village in this district. One of the members of the gang, Saranjit Singh of Mari Kalan village Amritsar district has been nabbed. Two copies each of false residence, caste and kandi area certificates duly affixed by the Tehsildar, Pathankot and a stamp each of Principals of Government Senior Secondary Schools at Bhangali and Khemkaran were released here yesterday. Col K.K. Marwah, recruiting officer, said the Army had organised a rally at Sadiq on December 22 to recruit Mazhabis, Scheduled Castes and Ramdasia Sikhs when the culprit was found roaming in suspicious circumstances. He was arrested and during interrogation he confessed to working for Jasbir Singh leader of the gang. The SSP, Faridkot, said a case under Sections 420, 472, 473, 259 and 260 IPC has been registered against Sharanjit Singh. |
Expedite work on
Udham Singh Memorial College ABOHAR, Dec 27 — A function to celebrate the birth centenary of Shaheed Udham Singh was held at Guruharsahai yesterday. The organisers said it was resolved at the function that the government be asked to expedite the construction of Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial Government College, the foundation stone of which was been laid by the late Mr Beant Singh and the land for which was donated by the panchayat of Utar ke Hithad village. It was also decided that the Centre be asked to install a statue of Shaheed Udham Singh at Jallianwala
Bagh, place his picture in Parliament and issue a stamp in memory of the great martyr. |
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