LUDHIANA
CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUGS: The working committee of Bhai Ghanaya Ji Sewa Sanstha (regd) in its meeting held recently lauded the campaign against drugs started by Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Ludhiana. The members appealed to the principals of schools and colleges, gurdwara parbandhak committees, NGOs and service clubs to launch such programmes to fight drug menace. The president of the sanstha, Mr Jagtar Singh Garib, said their organisation would render its full support to such programmes aimed at warning people against the grave consequences of drug addiction. 

STATIONERY DISTRIBUTED: The Rotary Club of Ludhiana north organised a function at Anand Model High School, Humbran Road, on Thursday. Students presented dance, songs and plays as a part of a cultural programme on the occasion. Fruits and stationery items like notebooks, pencils and erasers were distributed to the students. A cash amount of Rs 1,600 was donated to the school. Mr R.S. Grewal, Principal, GGN Public School, was the chief guest. Principal Kuldip Singh, president of the club, urged the students to work hard. 

CARD LAUNCHED: The Swisscom launched its prepaid global roaming sim card here on Friday. The card will enable the subscribers to call from 112 countries around the world at a uniform rate. Announcing this here on Friday, a company official, Mr Vikram Kashyap, said the product required no contract, no monthly rental or no connection fee. He said the calling rates were about 80 per cent less than other alternatives available in India. He said a call from London to India so far cost Rs 130 per minute, but with Genie it would cost Rs 70 only. 

JAIL SUPERINTENDENT DIES: Mrs Paramjit Kaur, Superintendent of the Women Jail, Ludhiana, passed away after a short illness here on Friday. She was 47. She is survived by her husband Rachpal Singh, and two sons and one daughter. Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, attended the funeral procession. Among others who attended the funeral were Mr Swarana Ram, Tourism Minister, Mr S.K. Datta, Assistant Inspector General Jail, Mr Gursharan Singh, Superintendent Central Jail, Mr Ajit Singh Kochar, Minister Jails, and Mr R.S. Chalia, IG Prison, have also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family. 

CONDEMNED: The People for Animals (PFA), Ludhiana, has demanded an inquiry into the killing of seven cows in Sohian Kalan village in Majitha Police District of Amritsar. Stating this in a press note, Dr Sandeep K. Jain, president of the PFA and member of the Animal Welfare Board of India, said a strict action should be taken against the culprits under Sections 428 and 429 of the IPC and the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001. Dr Jain said he had requested Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, to intervene and order an inquiry into the case. 

CAMP: Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle organised a dharam vichar camp at Guru Tegh Bahadur Public School, Noorwala Road, here on Friday. Principal Satnam Singh, member of the organisation, said the students should follow the teaching of Guru Granth Sahib. He asked the teachers to strive for creating religious awareness among the students. Ms Mandeep Kaur, another member, delivered a lecture on personality development. A question-answer round was also held. A quiz based on questions from various religious books was organised and winners were awarded books. Ms Manoj Khosla, Principal, appreciated the efforts of the students and gave away the prizes. 

DOCTOR HONOURED: Dr Ramesh, Director, Eye Bank Mansuran, was honoured by the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, during the district-level Independence Day Function at Government College, for his services to humanity. The eye bank has organised many free medical and eye operation camps in the district. Dr Ramesh also motivated several villagers for the noble cause of eye donation. 

FAMILY WELFARE CAMP: The Health Department organised a district-level family welfare camp at the Dr B. L. Kapoor Memorial Hospital on Friday. Over 45 tubectomy and vasectomy operations were conducted during the camp. More than 135 eye patients were examined on this occasion. The camp was inaugurated by Dr Neelam Bassi, District Family Welfare Officer, and Mr S.P. Puri was the guest of honour. The camp was sponsored by the Rotary Club.

ELECTED: Mr Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu was unanimously elected state president of the government Ayurvedic and Unani Upvaid Union, Punjab, during the recent elections of union. A 28-member executive committee was also formed on the occasion. The union leader demanded early implementation of their demands by the state government. 

PATHANKOT
EVE-TEASING: Mr Bachan Singh Randhawa, SP, said here on Friday that persons engaged in eve-teasing would be strictly dealt with. He said such persons would be booked and a register recording their names would be maintained under the Punjab police rules at police stations. He said the traffic system would be channelised to remove hazards and ensure smooth flow of traffic.

PHILLAUR
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE: A state-level educational conference will be organised on Saturday at Rajpura. The conference is being organised by the Punjab Private Schools Organisation headed by Mr Manjit Singh Kauli. Its chief adviser, Mr P.L. Kheti said the conference would extend felicitations to the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, the Punjab School Education Board Chairman, Dr Kehar Singh, and others for accepting demands of the organisation. 

KAPURTHALA
MEETING ORGANISED: The district police on Thursday organised a meeting of Dastak, a public grievances redressal forum, on the premises of the local CIA, according to Mrs Gurpreet Deo, SSP. She said 53 complaints were entertained at the meeting and a compromise was effected in nine cases.

KHARAR
RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among residents of Daon Majra, Radiala, Ghataur, Alapur and Sahoran villages over the alleged loading of cattle for slaughter houses from Focal Point, Daon Majra on the Kharar-Kurali road. The villagers have decided to stage a dharna outside the office of the SDM on Thursday if the administration failed to impose ban on the loading of cattle. According to a press note issued here on Friday by Mr Ranbir Singh Dhillon, president Punjab Kisan Sabha, a demand for the shifting of the loading centre was made to the Deputy Commissioner. On the directions by the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) visited the spot on Friday where the sarpanch of the village along with others requested him to shift the loading centre as it was creating problems for the residents of the villages. The ADC assured them of sending recommendations to the Punjab Government.

NAWANSHAHR
INAUGURATED: Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Welfare Minister, inaugurated a link road and laid the foundation stone of a Dalit dharamshala at the nearby Chahal Khurd village on Thursday.

PLANTATION DRIVE: Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, on Thursday inaugurated a sapling plantation drive launched by the local World Youth Club Organisation by planting a sapling at Adarsh Public School, Khatkar Kalan, about 10 km from here. The organisation has selected 23 villages for planting saplings. Prof B.S. Balli, DPRO, Mr Jaswinder Singh, Sarpanch, Mr Kashmira Singh, president, PTA Committee of the school, Mr Harjinder Singh Gulpur and Mr Desh Raj, president of the organisation, were among those who addressed the gathering.

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: Devotees of the Dera Sacha Sauda (Sirsa) organised ‘‘naam charcha’’ at Mehli village, about 25 km from here, on Wednesday to mark the birth anniversary of Sant Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. This was stated by Mr Ashok Kumar, local sevadar of the dera.

AMBULANCE DONATED: Mr Gurcharan Singh, an NRI belonging to the nearby Chakdana village, has donated an ambulance to the District Red Cross Society. He handed over its keys to the Deputy Commissioner on the occasion of the Independence Day function organised here.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The local Lions Club (Nawanshahr city), in collaboration with the Blood Donors Council, organised a blood donation camp at the local BDC Complex on Wednesday to mark the Independence Day. Mr Iqbal Singh, president of the club, inaugurated the camp at which 33 units of blood were collected.

PATIALA
WEBSITE LAUNCHED: Patiala walian bibian, a Dhadhi jatha, launched its website here on Friday. The jatha, which claims it is the first Dhadhi jatha of women in Sikh history, gives an account of history of Dhadhi vaar and Guru Hargobind’s efforts to promote this art. The jatha has been the first such religious organisation that has tried to promote Sikhism through multimedia. The jatha includes Bibi Jaswinder Kaur, Bibi Rawinder Kaur, Bibi Balwinder Kaur and Mr Jatinder Singh Sidhu. The jatha has not only been successful in India but has also performed well abroad. Bibi Jaswinder Kaur, founder and president of the International Women Dhadhi Sabha said the Dhadhi vaar singing was a folk art and must be promoted at the school and college level. The jatha felt that the Punjab government, the SGPC and other Sikh organisations were not doing much towards preserving the art. The website provides complete information about the jatha and its motives, achievements, awards and honours. The site has been prepared by Rahul Prabhakar, a 10-year-old boy. The site provides links to SGPC, Sikhnet, Sikhpoint and Sikhhistory sites.

SAMRALA
MC ELECTION: Mr K.K. Bharti has been elected vice-president of the Nagar Council, Samrala. His name was proposed by Mrs Malkiat Kaur Dhillon and was seconded by Mr Jeet Singh while all members of the SAD and the BJP remained absent. 

PROGRAMME: A programme on tree plantation, breast feeding and malaria eradication scheme was organised in Khahra and Dayalpura villages, near here, on Friday with the help of the respective panchayats. The chief guest, Mr Parminder Singh Brar, Medical Officer of Mehdoodan, spoke on the eradication of malaria while Ms Avtar Kaur, CDPO, stressed the importance of breast feeding. They also planted saplings on the anganwadi grounds. 

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Paras Rang Manch Samrala: president — Mr Paramjit Singh; vice-president — Mr Gurpreet Singh; general secretary — Mr Umesh Sharma; finance secretary — Mr Kuldeep Singh; chief advisers — Mr Gurdev Bimbra and Mr Vijay Balli; and patrons — Mr Surinder Bhalla and Mr Som Nath Sharma. 

RELIEF CAMP: The newly constituted Punjab Police State Apex Committee of NGO Projects organised a relief camp at Dairy Training Centre, Beeja, 10 km from here, on Thursday, with the help of Khanna police. Food items, clothes and money were distributed to 30 destitute old persons by the Helpage India on this occasion. Cheques and free notebooks were given to 12 poor students by Baba Deep Singh Health Care Welfare Society of the Lions Club, Greater Khanna. A blood donation camp was also organised on the occasion, wherein 21 persons donated blood. Besides, a special award was presented to the Head Constable, Mr Jaspal Singh, who is in charge of the Police First Aid Post, Samrala. The function was presided over by Mr R. N. Dhoke, SSP, Khanna. Dr P.S. Jassi, a consultant of UNICEF, and Mr Gursharan Jeet Singh, secretary of the committee, were the chief guest and the guest of honour, respectively. 

I-DAY CELEBRATIONS: The Lions Club Chandigarh Shivalik celebrated Independence Day by creating awareness about Diabetes, its control and remedies, amongst people residing in colonies. Handbills were distributed in Hallo Majra, Mauli Jagran villages and labour colony No. 5 by the club members under the presidentship of Mr R.S Vasdev. They were told about the symptoms of the disease and the do’s and don’ts. The project was undertaken by the club as per the directions by the Lions Club International USA and district Governor, Mr D.K Sood. Meanwhile, more than 250 person were examined during a free diabetes detection camp organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Moonstar under the leadership of Mr A.S Bedi at Sector 19-C market. The club also organised a light breakfast for the children of Bal Niketan and distributed books and stationery among them. The function was inaugurated by its regional chairman, Mr Sanjeev Gupta and zone chairman, Mr Sushil Goyal, of district 321-F. 

AMBALA
RICKSHAW PULLERS' MEETING: A general meeting of the Haryana Rickshaw Chalak Sangh was held under the presidentship of Mr Mohan Lal at Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Office. In the meeting it was decided that the rickshaw pullers would not contribute money to any organisation till basic facilities, like rickshaw stand and drinking water was not provided to them. A meeting of rickshaw pullers from all over the state has been called on September 9, according to a press note. Among others, Mr C.M. Masih, Mr Nathu Ram, Mr Phool Chand, Mr Amarnath Tiwari, Mr Ram Chandra Yadav, Mr Raj Kumar and Mr Prem Kumar were also present. 

SAPLINGS PLANTED: In the second phase of the saplings plantation programme, Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, planted saplings at MDSD (Girls) College, here. Students and NCC and NSS volunteers planted saplings within and outside the college complex. Mr Gautam said the programme was initially targeted from August 3 to 14 but due to the overwhelming response of the people, the drive had been extended to August 24. 

PLANTATION CAMP: MDSD Girls College, here on Friday organised a sapling plantation camp in the college. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam and Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahender Kumar, who were present on the occasion, planted some saplings within and out side the college premises. The NSS, NCC and youth club of the college also participated in the campaign. Around 100 saplings were planted on the occasion. Mr Gautam stressed on the need of saving the nature from pollution by planting more tree. He urged the students to take part in such activities. Mrs Kiran Angra, Principal; office-bearers of the management and other prominent citizen were also present on the occasion. 

SIX INJURED: Six persons were injured when the matador in which they were travelling rammed into a tree on the Ambala-Jagadhari road near Mulana here on Friday. According to information, the injured along with others were on their way to Saharanpur when the accident took place. They were taking ashes of one of their elders to Hardwar. While crossing Mulana, the driver lost control of the matador and it rammed into a tree. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. 

FARIDABAD
WELFARE SOCIETY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Senior Citizen Welfare Society, Community Centre, Sector 16, Faridabad: President — Mr M.L. Batra; Senior Vice-President — Mr C.L. Verma; Vice-President — Mr D.R. Talwar; General Secretary — Mr C.S. Dahiya; Secretaries — Mr B.K. Arora; Mr I.C. Manchanda and Mr R.L. Narula and Treasurer — Mr O.P. Goyal. Ten executive members were also elected.

JIND
ROBBERY BID: Three motorcycle-borne armed youths made an attempt to loot a petrol station near Safidon town, about 30 km from here, on Thursday. According to reports received here on Friday, one of the youths fired shots from his pistol when employees of the petrol station put up a resistance. Ranbir, an employee, was injured in the shooting. The youths snatched a bag containing Rs 500 from an employee and fled. Ranbir has been admitted to Community Health Centre at Safidon.

WOMAN DIES: Chando Devi, a married woman, succumbed to her serious burn injuries, at the local General Hospital on Thursday. According to reports, she was seriously burnt when her clothes caught fire while she was cooking food.

SONEPAT
SHOPPING COMPLEX: The Sonepat Municipal Council has decided to construct a shopping complex on the premises of the old Civil Hospital on the local railway road. According to official sources, the shopping complex will consist of 21 shops, an office, 78 showrooms, 46 double-storeyed booths, 18 booths, a bank premises, a verandah and a parking lot. A sum of Rs 50 lakh will be spent on its construction.

BILASPUR
ROAD CONSTRUCTION: Villagers of the gram panchayats of Chhadole, Kutehala and Jagatkhana gathered at Jagatkhana, near here, on Wednesday and expressed resentment over the failure of successive governments to complete the construction of the link road from Jagatkhana to Baned. This road is said to be under construction for the past 40 years. Presided over by Mr Sukhdev Bhatia, a social worker of the area, a meeting of villagers urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to order a high-level probe into the matter.

SPECIAL COMPONENT PLAN: The government will spend Rs 7.87 crore under the special component plan during the current financial year on the uplift of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the district. Presiding over a district-level meeting of officers to survey the work done under this plan during the past three months, the acting Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.L. Sharma, said Rs 2.98 crore would be spent on providing stipends to students.

KUMARHATTI
ELECTROCUTED: Gorkhiya Ram, an ex-serviceman, was electrocuted after he climbed an electricity pole to rectify a fault at Sheel, his native village, under Kakkarhatti panchayat, about 24 km from here, on Wednesday. According to information, he climbed the pole around 9 p.m. when electricity was disrupted in the village.