R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
OLD-AGE PENSIONS: The District Social Security Office, Fatehgarh Sahib, has released a list of 737 beneficiaries to State Bank of Patiala, Amloh branch, for payment of old-age pension for the months of February and March. According to the bank officials, out of 737 names in the list supplied to the bank by the DSSO, the account numbers of 366 persons were not found to be correct and the matter was brought to the notice of the SDM, Amloh, Mr R.S. Jangu, on Monday. When contacted, he said, the matter would be taken up with the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday. The pensions of 44 people, amounting Rs 1,42,700, which were lying unclaimed, have been refunded to the department. 

LUDHIANA
TRAINING PROGRAMME: Sixty five students of Nishkam Sewing School Centre underwent 15-day training programme in the making of ‘achars’, jams, chutney, sharbat, sauces and sweets of papaya, jelly, kheer of potatoes and many other things. Mr Anant Ram of Fruit Training Centre, Ludhiana, gave instructions-cum-demonstrations to the trainees at the centre. Mr Sarwan Kumar, President of the Nishkam Sewa Centre, while awarding the certificates said, “Do make use of the training imparted at this centre. Prepare these products when the fruit is in abundance in the market and is available at the lowest price. While working in the kitchens ensure the nails are properly cut. Also use neat and clean cloth for handling food products. Clean the utensils thoroughly to avoid infection.” 

SEMINAR: Fortis Heart Institute organised a seminar on “Advances in cardiac care” here on Sunday. The seminar was addressed by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalra, Dr Jagmohan Verma and Dr Amit Verma. The objective of the seminar was to discuss the latest advances in the world of cardiac care and the facilities available in the country. Leading cardiologist from all over the state attended the seminar. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Harinder Singh Bedi said heart disease was number one killer. In the last decade, new changes took place in the world of cardiac care. The cardiac surgery had progressed from doing bypass surgeries to robotic video-endoscopic heart surgery. The new procedure caused lesser pain and helped patients get back to normal life much quicker. Dr Amit Verma emphasised on the need of emergency care of patients. Dr Jagmohan Verma, senior consultant, invasive cardiology said new form of therapies were coming, which would improve the quality of life of patients having severe heart failure. 

INAUGURATED: Mr Gurbir Singh Sarna, Secretary, GNE Trust (Gujarkhan), inaugurated Indian Bank, Model Town branch, on Monday. Mr G.S. Sarna in his inaugural address commended the role played by the bank in allround development of Punjab. He appreciated the customer service rended by the bank and land mark achievements of Model Town Branch. Mr S.K. Vermani (D.G.M.) circle head of Chandigarh circle of the Bank while thanking of clients for their support informed that the bank with a network of 1421 branches has crossed the Global Business of Rs 33000 crore and has planned to achieve Rs 38,000 crore by March 31, 2002. 

CAMP: Over 350 physically challenged persons were examined during a ‘handicapped identification camp’ at Gurdwara Urban Estate, Phase I, Dugri, here on Monday. The camp was organised by the State Red Cross Society. Mr Kirpal Singh Kalra, advocate, District Courts, in a press statement said that Dr Aggarwal and his team of doctors identified the needy in the camp. The camp was organised with the efforts of Dr Prem Singh Chawla, secretary, Red Cross and Deputy Director, Public Health Services, and the management of Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. Those identified in the camp will be given wheel chairs, tricycles, artificial limbs, hearing machines and sewing machines. 

PATHANKOT
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the MES Builders Association of India here: chairman — Mr Manmohan Singh; and general secretary — Mr Sawarn Singh Rana. The chairman and the secretary of the association have been authorised to constitute other office-bearers of the committee.

PHAGWARA
SDM: Mr Amarjit Pal has joined as SDM here in place of Mr Pritam Singh.

GRANT: A grant of Rs 25,000 will be given to rural youth clubs fighting drug addiction and mahila mandals preaching Gurbani. This was announced by the Punjab Tourism Minister, Mr Swarna Ram, while addressing villagers at Ranipur and Harbanspur villages on Sunday.

KILLED: Surinder Singh (22) was crushed to death by a private bus on the GT road near the local Chahal Nagar on Saturday. The police has impounded the bus and nabbed the driver.

KANSHI CRITICISED: Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Minister Santokh Singh on Monday claimed that BSP activists and Dalits were joining the Congress due to the alleged dictatorial attitude of Mr Kanshi Ram, BSP President, and also due to the pro-Dalit policies of the Congress. A massive rally of the PPCC held at Jalandhar on June 3 had given a clear signal that the Congress was pro-Dalit, he added.

POLICE CLUELESS: Even four days after the kidnapping of seven-year-old schoolboy Sawan Kumar, the police is clueless. Questioning of 12 persons, combing and search operations of six localities and raids at several places, have borne no results, Mrs Gurpreet Deo, SSP, Kapurthala, said here on Monday. A case under Section 363 of the IPC had been registered.

SAMRALA
NEW SDM: Ms Bachhir Kaur Khaira took over the charge of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Samrala, on Monday. Mr Sandeep Hans has been transferred to Bassi Pathana. Ms Khaira was earlier posted at Bassi Pathana. 

CONDEMNED: It is very unfortunate that the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, has called Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) as real Panthic Akali Dal. His statement shows that Mr Parkash Singh Badal is using the supreme authority of Sikhs for his personal interests, said Mr Rupinder Singh Mundi, president of Sarb Hind Youth Akali Dal, while addressing a meeting of the party workers, here on Monday. Later while speaking to the mediapersons at the local Civil Rest House, Mr Mundi said by issuing his statement to the press, Jathedar Vedanti had presented himself as a spokesman of SAD, which was very unfortunate for the Panth. 

DEMANDED: Talking to the mediapersons at the local rest house on Monday, Mr N.S. Tuli and Prof Hamdardvir Nausheharvi Pannu, secretary and press secretary, respectively, of the Punjab Non-Government Aided College Retired Employees’ Forum, said that though an Act for pension and gratuity for non-government aided college teachers was duly passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on March 30, 1999, yet it has not been implemented so far. Prof Pannu also informed that the forum would put its demands before the Chief Minister at a sangat darshan programme and warned that if pensions are not released with effect from April 1, 1992, by August 15, the forum members would begin a fast till death. 

TARN TARAN
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local PSEB Subdivision Employees Federation: president —Mr Charan Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Baldev Raj; secretary — Mr Balwinder Sharma; and treasurer — Mr Sukhwinder Singh.

CHANDIGARH

SAS NAGAR
ELECTED: Mr Joginder Singh Sondhi has unanimously been elected president of the local Gurdwara Coordination Committee for a period of two years.

HARYANA

AMBALA
FUNCTION: The Sewa Samiti organised its annual function at Ambala city on Sunday. Mr Faquir Chand Aggarwal, an advocate, was the chief guest. The president of the samiti, Mr Amrit Lal, presented memento to the chief guest.

PLEA: The Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Dal has demanded an underground bridge at railway crossing in Ambala City. The chairman of the dal, Mr Ashok Kharbanda, said in a statement here on Monday that the crossing is located in the heart of the city. Several educational institutes, government offices and the courts are located across the crossing. The people have to wait for its opening some time even for half an hour. He said he had already sent a memorandum to the Union Railway Minister in this regard.

MEETING: A meeting of the district unit of the Shiv Sena was held under the presidentship of Mr M.L. Gupta. It was decided in the meeting that the sena activists would go to different villages and reach out to villagers. To generate awareness, it was decided to set up boards of the sena in the villages, according to a press note, Mr Vinay Sharma was appointed as president of the youth wing of Ambala Cantt and Mr Vipin Sharma as press secretary.

DHARNA: The Forest Department Mazdoor Union staged a dharna here on Monday to press for their various demands. Union activists, who started the dharna in the morning in the forest complex in Ambala city, demanded the reinstatement of employees and also action against those who had allegedly tried to assault two women labourers in Kurukshetra. Among other places, activists had come from Faridabad, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Kaithal.

LEGAL ADVICE: Mr Bhagirath Lal Nauharia, an advocate, has offered free legal advice. Mr Nauharia, who is also the president of the Greater Chandigarh Senior Citizen’s Council, said the advice would be given for different types of cases. Mr Nauharia can be contracted on telephone number 0171-652093.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NAHAN
KISAN BHAVANS: The Citizens Welfare Committee of Paonta Sahib organised a silent march on Friday at main bazar, Paonta Sahib, in protest against the auction of three Kisan Bhavans in the district and imposition of the new entry tax. They also submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this connection. Meanwhile, the Congress party at Paonta Sahib has adopted a resolution to oppose the entry tax. In a statement, Mr Roshan Lal Mishra, president of the Congress unit, has said demonstrations and dharnas will be organised.

NURPUR
BURGLED: A sum of Rs 32,000 was stolen from Himachal Filling petrol station at Jassur on Sunday. The manager of the petrol station had gone to the market after locking the cash box. A case has been registered.