The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, August 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India

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PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
CREATIVE CENTRE: Guru Nanak Dev University will establish a multi-faculty creative centre and prepare Hindi dictionaries. This was announced by Mr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, here on Wednesday. He said the university was responsible for the development of both Hindi and Punjabi. The centre would play a vital role in publishing Hindi short stories collection and poetry.

DREG MEETING: Doctors of the Religio-Ethical Group (DREG), at a meeting here on Wednesday expressed anguish over the fact that certain ultrasonographic centres were still doing sex-determination tests, violating government instructions. The DREG would accelerate its efforts to curb the menace of female foeticide. The group appealed to all centres to desist from this crime, otherwise it would be forced to adopt “stringent” measures.

WORKERS’ PLEA: Mr Phool Chand, president of the Punjab Improvement Trust Workers Union and presidents of other local organisation have urged the authorities to implement scheme to regularise senior daily paid workers.

CPI RECOMMENDATION: The District Council (Urban) of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has recommend Mr Amarjit Singh Asal as secretary of the state council as well as party candidate for the ensuing Assembly elections from Amritsar (West).

RESULT DECLARED: The result of 29 candidates of MBA (4th semester) examination, which was held in May, 2001, has been declared. This was informed by a spokesman of the university. The result of the remaining candidates will be declared when their evaluated project reports are received by the university office.

SURPRISE CHECKS: Surprise checks were conducted on ultradiagnostic centres here on Wednesday on the orders of the Civil Surgeon, Dr Ajaib Singh. A three-member health team enquired about determination tests or MTP (abortion) being conducted on female foetus on the premises of Bhandari Nursing Home and Randhawa Diagnostic Centre. All centres were asked to put up notices outside their centres declaring that sex determination tests were banned.

BATHINDA
RESOLUTION: A meeting of the local Municipal Works Union, was held here on Tuesday at which a resolution was passed against the move to abolish octroi. A press note issued by Mr Ravinder Singh, general secretary of union, said if the government was adamant on abolition of octroi, it would resort to an agitation.

DRUGS INSPECTOR: Mr Dinesh Gupta, District Drugs Inspector, has advised the chemists to sell drugs on bills. He was speaking at a meeting of the Punjab Chemists Association (PCA) here on Tuesday. In a press note, Mr R.D. Gupta, president of the PCA, said the chemists should sell medicines at prescribed rates.

DORAHA
EMPLOYMENT DAY: The employment department would observe Friday as Employment Day in Guru Nanak National College here. According to Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, principal of the college, students and staff members of various educational institutes would gather in the college on the occasion and would be addressed by various experts on the subject. An exhibition would be organised and meritorious students of the college would also be honoured on the occasion, he said.

RALLY: The octroi contractors, led by Sukhwinder Singh, on Thursday held a rally in protest against the state government's decision to abolish octroi. Starting from the grain market, the rally passed through the main market and reached the railway station. The contractors demanded that the move by the government would generate more unemployment. They threatened to continue their agitation until their demand of taking back the decision was accepted.

GURDASPUR
DC CONDUCTS RAIDS: Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, on Tuesday conducted raids on different government offices. According to sources, Mr Sidhu raided the office of the District Education Officer, the District Development and Panchayat Office and the Food and Supply Office. He found some employees of the FCI and the DEO(P) absent. He warned the office heads to remain present in the offices during working hours or else face disciplinary action.

HOSHIARPUR
EXCISE PROPOSAL: The Excise and Taxation Department has proposed enhancing the limit of the summary scheme from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh. This was stated by the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, while addressing a meeting of the District Chemist Association here on Wednesday. He said it was also proposed to further extend deemed assessment up to 1999-2000. He appealed to the members of the association to deposit sales tax.

DEAD: Meena, 35-year-old wife of Tarsem Lal, a resident of Chakkowal Sheikhan, succumbed to her burn injuries in the PGI, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. She was first admitted to Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, and later referred to the PGI.

HELD UNDER ARMS ACT: The Tanda police arrested Kewal Singh under Sections 302, 307 and 34, IPC, and 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act on Wednesday. Kewal Singh and his brother were wanted in a murder case. His brother, Gulzar Singh, has absconded.

JALANDHAR
MURDERED: Ashok Kumar, a local resident, was found murdered at his residence here on Wednesday. According to the police, there were injuries on his head. A case has been registered under Sections 302 and 201, IPC.

KHAMANO
MEETING: A meeting of the SC/ST Sarpanches/Panches’ Union was held at Gurdwara Babangarh Sahib under the chairmanship of Mr Kartinderpal Singh Pammi, the sarpanch of Singhpura village and the state president of the union. Mr Sher Singh, the sarpanch of Chandiala village, was unanimously elected as the district president of the union, and was authorised to make block-level units. A total of 17 resolutions were passed during the meeting, and it was decided to send these to the state government. The meeting was attended by over 10 sarpanches, 30 panches and some leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha of the district.

FLAYED: In a meeting held at Gurdwara Shaib Ranwan, Mr Bhinder Singh Ranwan, general secretary of the Dalit Kisan Dal, and other leaders of the party condemned the adoption of Water Dispute Reform Bill in the Lok Sabha recently, and the role of Shiromani Akali Dal (B) in this regard. They said not a single MP of SAD spoke against the bill, and termed it as a betrayal with the people of Punjab, especially farmers of the state. They said they would make sure that water of Punjab was not given to other states at any cost.

RECOVERED: The Punjab State Electricity Board has recovered a sum of Rs 50,000 from the people indulging in a power theft, both in domestic and agriculture sector, till the month of July this year. This was stated by Mr Rajesh Kumar, SDO, PSEB, recently. He added that about 130 temporary power connections had been granted to needy farmers for the paddy season. He claimed that villages would soon be supplied with power for 24 hours.

SCHOOL UPGRADED: Government Primary School, New Kailash Nagar, was upgraded as a middle school at a function held on Wednesday. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, laid the foundation stone of the school. Mr Jagdev Singh Tajpuri, a former minister, said the upgradation of the school would benefit a population of 70,000 in 12 colonies of the area. The schoolchildren performed shabad kirtan and sweets were distributed among them. Mr Surinder Chhinda, president, PTA, was also present on the occasion.

KHARAR
LIONS CLUB CAMPS: As many as 662 patients were examined for diabetes in different camps organised by the Lions Club units at Kurali, Morinda, Ropar and Chamkaur Sahib of Zone III. According to a press note issued here on Wednesday by Dr Anil Gupta, Zonal Chairman, these camps were organised in connection with Independence Day celebrations. He said handbills regarding do’s and don’ts for patients of diabetes were also distributed.

POWER CUT: Three industrial units situated on Kharar-Kurali Road at Khanpur village and Daon Majra have alleged that on an average eight-hour power-cut had been imposed on them during the day time for the past many months and they were facing acute hardship due to that. A letter in that regard has been written by Punjab Pesticides Industrial Co-op Society Ltd., Saraswati Agro Chemicals (India) Ltd., and Sanjeev Rice Mills to the SDO, PSEB, Kharar. They have demanded immediate redress of their grievance.

LUDHIANA
CONFERENCE: The All-India Majlise Ehrar Party would hold its second All-India Khatme Naboobat Conference in the city on October 13, according to Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Saani. The maulana, who was addressing a meeting of the party here on Thursday, said the conference was being organised on a popular demand. He said the purpose of the conference was to spread the message of love and promote communal amity. Hoping that the proposed conference would be a far bigger affair than the one held last year, the maulana said the conference would be a live example of national integrity. Others who attended the meeting were Mr Ateequr Rehman, president of the Indian Muslim Council, Punjab; Mr Hassan Kaiser, Mr Altaaf-ur-Rehman, Mr Mohammad Akbar, Mr Mohammad Shakir and Mr Haroon Rashid.

VACANT: A number of seats in dress designing, computer operators and Punjabi stenography are lying vacant at the Satguru Ram Singh Government Polytechnic for Women, Haibowal, according to a press note by the Principal of the training institute, here on Thursday. Those who want to get admission to any of the courses may contact the institute authorities within a week, the Principal added.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
RECOVERED: The local police has arrested Surinder Singh alias Shina and Balbir Singh alias Bunty, both residents of Madanpur Chhabri village, and recovered a stolen scooter (PBV-1345) from them. A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 457 and 380, IPC. In another case, the police arrested Sohan Singh, a resident of Nasrali village, and Rajinder Paul, a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, and recovered a stolen scooter (PCI-5326 and 150 kg of iron from them. A case has been registered against them. This was stated by Mr Devinder Singh Malhi, SHO, here on Thursday.

DHARNA: Mr Babu Lal Yadav, chairman of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, stated in a press note issued here on Thursday that the union would hold a dharna in front of the district administrative complex at Fatehgarh Sahib on Froday, to press for the acceptance of demands of the working class. He said the labourers were demanding a fixed amount of more than Rs 4,000 per month and full salary, including DA, during factory lock-outs. They also demanded that they should be issued ration cards and be regularised after completion of 240 days. Mr Yadav added that besides INTUC, unions of rickshaw-pullers and chips-‘ragdai’ workers would also participate in the proposed dharna.

NAWANSHAHR
ONE ARRESTED: The local CIA staff has arrested Sarabjit Singh, alias Sabha of Mahalon village, and seized a countrymade pistol and a live catridge from him. A case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against him, informed Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note on Thursday.

SCHOOL FUNCTION: Bhagwan Mahavir Public School, Banga, 13 km from here, on Thursday celebrated “akhand Bharat divas”. Mr Ramji Lal, SP (Detective), presided over a function held on the occasion where students presented a cultural programme. A declamation contest on “Kashmir hamara hai” was also held.

DECLAMATION: A declamation contest on “nasha-ek lahnat” was organised at Swami Roop Chand Jain Model High School, Banga, 13 km from here, on Wednesday. Mr J.D. Jain, a social worker, presided. Anupam Sharma, Akashdeep and Varun bagged the first, second and third prizes, respectively.

SEMINAR: The District Education and Employment Department jointly organised a career awareness seminar at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Rahon, 7 km from here, on Wednesday. Mr Jatinder Kumar Sareen, Employment Officer, Mr Narinder Singh, District Guidance Counsellor, and Ms Harkanwaljit Kaur, principal, addressed the students.

COMPETITION: The NSS unit of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Rahon, 7 km from here, organised a calligraphy competition on Wednesday. Gurvinder Kaur, Mamta and Arti bagged the first three positions, respectively, in English calligraphy whereas Surinder Kaur, Anita and Kuldip Rani and Anita, Gurvinder Kaur and Sunita, bagged the first three positions in Hindi and Punjabi calligraphy, respectively, informed Mr Balbir Kumar, NSS coordinator.

FRUITS DISTRIBUTED: The local Lions Club distributed fruits and sweets among inhabitants of the local Doaba Kushat Ashram to observe “Pinghalghar day” here on Wednesday, according to Mr Iqbal Singh, president of the club.

LITERACY CAMPAIGN: Mr Jagjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, District Literacy Society, presided over a meeting of cluster officers, block literacy project coordinators and sakharata sewaks here on Thursday. He asked them to work wholeheartedly for the success of the post-literacy campaign in the district.

PATIALA
RALLY HELD: The Class IV Government Employees Union, Punjab, organised rallies against the Irrigation Department’s Executive Engineers at the offices of the I.B. Circle, Sewerage Circle, Lining Circle and Bhakhra Main line circle and other associate divisional offices. The union president, Mr Darshan Singh Labana highlighted the demands of the daily wagers and part-time workers who had not been regularised even after orders in this regard were passed by the government on January 23, 2001. Mr Roop Lal Bawa, Mr Prem Kumar Arora, Mr Jagmohan Singh Naulakha, Mr Jinder Singh, Mr Dev Ram Sharma and Mr Sukhdev Singh were the other leaders who addressed the rally.

DEMANDED: All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), Punjabi University unit, Patiala, demanded improvement in the re-evaluation scheme of the University and construction of new hostels in a meeting on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by the unit president, Mr Jaspal Singh Manjhpur. The federation requested the authorities to allow the students to take the improvement exam in September, presently they can appear for this test only in April. The federation further demanded that atleast one meeting of students, wardens and chief wardens of the hostels must be held each month to solve the problems of the hostel residents.

RAJPURA
LOK ADALAT: A Lok Adalat will be organised at Patel Memorial National College, here on Saturday. It will be presided over by Mr Justice H.S. Bedi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This information was given by District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.N. Aggarwal while presiding over a high level official meeting, here. Mr Aggarwal said more than 2,500 cases would be taken up by 23 Lok Adalat benches on the occasion. He said earlier such an adalat was organised in Patiala on March 3 and about 1,200 cases were solved.

SANGRUR
BODY FOUND: The local police on Wednesday found the body of a 35-year-old man near the office of the District Red Cross Society here. A police official said the police had initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr. P.C. in this case. The deceased had consumed poison, he added.

CHANDIGARH

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has introduced a computerised Management Information System (MIS) to monitor the progress of the major projects being executed by the organisation. Revealing this, the Chief Administrator, PUDA, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, said PUDA had been assigned the job to build district administrative complexes at Patiala, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda. With a view to ensure proper monitoring, in physical and financial terms, a computerised mechanism has now been installed. The software has been developed in house by PUDA and Mr D.P. Mittal, Divisional Engineer, has been assigned the job to monitor the projects.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Class IV Punjab Government Employees Union: president — Mr Gurcharan Singh; chairman — Mr Jagdish Chander; general secretary — Mr Gulab Singh Chauhan; vice-president — Mr Mohan Lal Nautiyal; chief adviser — Mr Bishan Singh Bhandari; cashier — Mr Kharak Singh; press secretary — Mr Gurdeep Singh; chief auditor — Mr Gurnam and propaganda secretary — Mr Uzagar Singh.

ASHA SCHOOL: A cultural programme presented jointly by inmates of Asha School for the physically and mentally challenged students and Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Vocational Training Centre, marked the conclusion of the three-day anniversary celebrations of AWWA at Chandigarh on Thursday. The GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion.

COMPUTERISATION: As part of the ongoing computerisation at the PGI, the computer section at the PGI on Wednesday started a training programme for the staff concerned. The programme was inaugurated by the PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, who urged the faculty and the staff of the institute to become computer literate. Chairman, PGI Computerisation Committee, Prof Amod Gupta, said aim of the training programme was to obviate an individual’s mental blocks against the new technology.

WORKSHOP: A 10-day workshop on Cardio Pulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation started on Wednesday in the PGI. Funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the workshop is being jointly organised by the UT branch of the Trained Nurses Association of India. Speaking on occasion, Anaesthesia Department Head, Prof P. Chari stressed the need for the nurses to know resuscitation techniques. Other speakers, including Dr V.K. Arya, Dr Arun Aggarwal, Ms Baljit Kaur and Ms Neena Vir Singh, also emphaised on better skill development. The workshop was inaugurated by the Chief Coordinator Ms Saroj Parvej.

BRAVERY AWARD: The Indian Council for Child Welfare on Wednesday invited applications from children between the age of 8 and 18 years for National Bravery Award -2001. The award will cover the period from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2001. The details and application forms are available at the office of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, UT branch, Chandigarh, Bal Bhavan, Sector 23-B, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The last date for submission of forms is September 15.

PANCHKULA
ELECTED: The following have been elected members of the Bangiya Parishad: President — Mr SC Das, Vice Presidents — Mr Rajat Sen, Mr Tarun Nag, Mr Debashish Mukherjee; General Secretary — Mr Samir Ghosh; Joint Secretaries — Mr Nabendu Roy, Mr Sanjeev Banerjee, Mr Bandhan Sarkar; Treasurers — Mr Prakash Biswas and Mr Sanjib Parial.

PLANTATION: Saplings were planted on the occasion of vanamahotsava organised at Government College, Naraingarh, here on Thursday. The Principal, Mr J. Mitra, stressed the role of plant biodiversity conservation in solving the problem of environmental pollution.

SAS NAGAR
STRIKE: A hunger strike by members of the Punjab Wireless System Employees Union at the Balongi roundabout entered its fourth day here on Thursday, according to Mr Saheed Ahmed, president of the association.

MEDICAL CAMP: A medical camp was organised by the House Owners Welfare Association of Phase-I at the PUDA complex in Phase 1 here on Tuesday. Inaugurating the camp, the Chief Medical Officer, Mr R.S. Saggu, urged the social organisations to hold more such camps. Mr P.S. Virdi, president of the association, said 350 patients were examined at the camp.

TELEPHONE BILLS: The Consumers Protection Forum has criticised the Department of Telecom for not delivering telephone bills to the consumers and instead asking them to collect the same from TRA or Custormer Call Centre at Sector 34, Chandigarh. Lieut-Col Angad Singh (retd) said delivering the bills was the responsibility of the department concerned and it was merely shrugging its responsibility.

WELFARE ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the United Cooperative H/B Society Welfare Association: president — Mr Rajeev K. Saini; vice-president — Mrs Pritpal Kaur; general secretary — Mr Manmohan Singh Longia; treasurer — Mr Dilbagh Singh; joint secretaries — Mr Harpreet Singh Hollok and Mr Sushil Khandelwal; and adviser — Prof B.S. Mundi.