 |
|
| Saturday,
August 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Men lock horns over animals Ludhiana, August 24 Students boycotted their classes and staged a dharna in front of the PAU dairy farm here today. They said they would intensify their agitation if the university authorities did not
concede to their demand of concluding the course at once. While the university claims that it has been training the farmers under the Progressive Dairy Farmers Training Course to make them self-dependent in dairy management and farming, students view the programme as a threat to their job prospects. The university seems to be in a Catch-22 situation as the farmers have also threatened to launch a statewide agitation in case the university buckles under the pressure of students. To end the conflict, the university authorities, after a series of meetings, had announced that they would only train farmers in the management and nutritional aspects and not the technicalities like artificial insemination, pregnancy detection and disbudding. In a letter dated August 21, the Dean of COVS, Dr R.P. Sehgal, had said the course would only include the management and nutrition aspects. However, students said farmers were being trained in technicalities as well. Students said they would go to the extent of locking up the university gates to get their demands accepted. Students said they had seen the farmers learn disbudding at the dairy farm, while the authorities said they had discontinued this training. Farmers who had come here from all over the state said they had joined the 45-day course on July 16 and students prevented them from learning when they had been about to receive practical training. They said they were learning these techniques as they had a large number of dairy animals and they would like to
manage these professionally. Mr Sukhdev Singh, a progressive farmer who has come here all the way from Moga, said the PAU had selected only 10 farmers for the course that would not make them competent enough to compete with veterinary professionals. He said Students said, by training farmers in the technicalities of the job, the university was promoting quackery in the state. The President of the Veterinary Students Association of the university, Rajinder Kumar, said that these farmers would return to their villages posing as “trained doctors”. He said, for villagers, any person who could inject a medicine into an animal was a doctor and these farmers would certainly cash in on their ignorance. Moreover, the students said pregnancy detection test, artificial insemination and disbudding were techniques that were too complicated to be handled by farmers. They said the job was of true professionals only. Students also said the university otherwise did not allow students to practice such techniques at its research farm. However, farmers were getting a chance to try out the techniques on farm animals. |
|
‘We’ve orders not
to talk to Press’ Ludhiana, August 24 But yesterday, according to the official crime file, the division number 2 police booked two persons under Section 160 of the IPC for “quarreling with each other and 'disturbing the peace of the general public”. It did not mention the name of any complainant either except the fact that Mr Surjit Singh, ASI, was the investigating official of the case. As it did not mention the place of occurrence, this reporter rang up the division concerned. “Namaskar, Shriman jee, thana division number do hazar hai” “Namaskar
Ji, Can you please tell me where did this incident take place?” No, sir. Why not, I just want to know the chowk or the street where the ‘peace of the area was disturbed’, “We send FIRs of all cases to the PIC from where you can have the details” “But we are not given the FIRs nor do we have the time to go through each and every FIR. So please just tell me where did the incident take place”, I pestered. “No Sir, we have orders that we are not to give any news to the press” “Orders? what kind of orders and when were these issued?” “Sir, we have written orders not to give any information to the Press and we got it almost a month ago”. So that was that. While on one hand the district police chief is trying to make police personnel under his command accountable for their misdeeds by asking them to submit details of their properties and other assets, on the other hand, instead of making the working of police more transparent, he is actually doing otherwise. What was the harm if someone at the police station had read out a portion of the FIR on the phone to a crime reporter of an English-language daily? Or maybe the PIC people should prepare the crime file in such a way that a reporter does not have to grope in the dark. |
|
PAUTA election
campaign gains momentum Ludhiana, August 24 There is a straight contest between the reigning Brar-Gupta group, which includes Dr Hari Singh Brar and Dr
M. L. Gupta, and Batra-Brar group, which includes supporters of Dr R.
S. Brar and Dr R. K. Batra. The groups have, however, started going from department to department today in the first phase of campaigning that picked up momentum today afternoon. While the Batra-Brar group said it would announce its candidates only on August 25, which is the last date of filling of the nomination papers, the Brar-Gupta group today revealed to Ludhiana Tribune that they have decided to field the serving team, with one or two changes for the seats of councillor. Dr H.S. Brar said the winning formula had not changed. This team, he said, had been winning elections with increasing margin of votes every time for the last three years and thus he does not see any reason for changing the team. Both the groups were giving final touches to their election manifestoes. The serving Brar-Gupta group has prepared a detailed document of their achievements and efforts for improving the teachers lot. Not to be left behind the opposing group has also prepared a detailed document of the ‘failures’ of their rivals. Both the groups differ on all but one issue. The representatives of both the groups shared the view that they would fight for the implementation of the Career Advancement Scheme from January 1, 1996 instead of July 27, 1998 as dictated by the UGC. The electioneering is likely to become intensive in the coming days as a controversy have already erupted on the issue that whether the serving president, Dr Hari Singh Brar, and the secretary, Dr M.L. Gupta, can contest the elections as they were already holding key posts for the last consecutive three years as it was not in accordance with the constitution of PAUTA. Listing the achievements of his group in the last term, he said one of the major successes was that PAUTA had succeeded in payment of arrears to its employees. The arrears of the new UGC pay scales with effect from January 1, 1996 have not been paid in any university and the PAU was the first to do so. He said PAUTA became instrumental in providing incentive increments for M. Tech and Ph. D teachers. Another notable achievement claimed by him was the awarding of non-practicing allowance (NPA) allowance to the Veterinary faculty. However, the Batra-Brar group has started their poll-campaign with the slogan “Dislodge Favour Seekers, Restore Teachers” Dignity. In a printed appeal to the voters, the groups have listed a number of alleged cases in which the serving PAUTA members have got undue favours from university authorities. It has also accused the Brar-Gupta group of not standing up for the cause of the teachers. Dr R.K. Batra said if voted to power, his group would fight for freedom from all kind of oppression. Other main promises include that no teacher would appear for any kind of assessment before a committee prior to his promotion. His group would struggle for bringing to an end to such kind of humility of the teachers. The group would work for enhancing the
retirement age of the teachers from the 60 to 62 years on the pattern of central university teachers, which has also been adopted by Panjab University. Other main promises include re-installation of AC’s, rotation for the post of Associate Directors and payment of retirement benefits within a month. |
|
MC initiates
measures to enforce building bylaws Ludhiana, August 24 As a step towards this direction, the MC Commissioner, Dr S.S. Sandhu, said the building bylaws should be widely publicised among public. Those carrying out construction of residential, commercial and industrial buildings in the city, must be aware of all the provisions of building bylaws and should be made to follow the provisions in letter and spirit to avoid penal action, including demolitions. Moreover, the people must be fully informed of certain violations, which were not compoundable, so that they were not misled by the intermediaries and fleeced on the false promises. According to Mr
S.K. Sharma, Additional Commissioner, who heads the building branch of the MC, the non-compoundable violations of building bylaws included construction in the house line on front and back for all types of buildings, making the compulsory parking area habitable and exceeding permitted covered area and floor area ratio (FAR) in commercial and industrial buildings. While excess covered area to the extent of 5 per cent would be compounded only in residential buildings at a composition fee of Rs 25 per square feet, any covered area beyond that would be liable to demolition. While making an appeal to the public to commence construction of all types of buildings only after a building plan was sanctioned, Mr Sharma informed Ludhiana Tribune that the building fee of Rs 2.50 per square feet of permitted covered area was payable in respect of residential buildings while the commercial and industrial buildings would be charged at Rs 5 per square feet. In case, any building was raised without a sanctioned building plan, a composition fee of Rs 12.50 and Rs 25 per square feet will be charged for residential and commercial buildings, respectively. The builders would have to pay dumping charges ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 2000 depending upon the extent of covered area and size of plot and development charges (applicable in undeveloped colonies) of Rs 20 per square yard for a plot size upto 150 square yard, Rs 40 per square yard upto 250 sq yd, Rs 60 upto 500 sq yd and Rs 80 per sq yd for plots above 500 square yard, Mr Sharma added. The maximum permissible height for residential buildings would be 38 feet 6 inches with front house line between 5 feet and 20 feet, covered area between 80 to 50 per cent and FAR between 1:2 and 1:1.25 on the basis of plot size. Similarly, for commercial buildings upto plot area of 500 square yards, the covered area would range between 80 to 60 per cent, FAR between 1:1.5 and 1:2 and parking between 20 to 40 per cent. Basement parking would be compulsory for buildings having a plot area of over 500 square yard while covered area, FAR and parking would be 50 per cent, 1:3 and 50 per cent, respectively. The maximum height of the commercial buildings would be between 38 feet 6 inches and 70 feet 6 inches, depending on the size of the plot and width of the road. Mr Sharma, who had recently undertaken an intensive survey of the commercial complexes and other buildings, under construction in several city localities and had many of them partly demolished for different violations of the building bylaws, made it clear that the MC would book no violation of the bylaws, currently in force and defaulters would be sternly dealt with.
|
|
Campaign
on driving licences Fatehgarh Sahib, August 24 Giving details about the camps, Mr Vikas Partap, Deputy Commissioner, said that during sangat darshan programmes, it was a common complaint of the public that it had to face a lot of hardships and problems in getting learner’s driving licences. He said in field camps, the issuing authority DTO or the SDM were issuing on-the-spot learner’s licences to applicants by completing all formalities and there was a good response from people. He further informed that a doctor and an attesting authority were also being deputed to issue medical certificates and attest the copies of the required documents, if needed on the spot. Mr Surinder Singh Sidhu, DTO, who is conducting the camps in the district said that at a camp in Pola village last Friday, 60 licences were issued. He appealed to people to make maximum use of this facility and bring the documents relating to the proof of residence, date of birth and medical certificate along with the application in the camps. He informed that the new RCs of the vehicles were being issued within a period of one week from the receipt of the documents. He also appealed to the drivers not to use intoxicants and attend to mobile phones while driving. |
|
Farmers, labourers taken ill due to insecticides Ludhiana, August 24 At least two deaths allegedly because of the ill-effects of spraying of insecticides have already been reported from Lohgarh Village near Raikot during the last 15 days. A Ludhiana Tribune survey of a number of villages has revealed an alarming number of such patients that report to the local doctors. A survey of villages including Rajgarh, Aandloo, Dhalian, Bhainin Arora, Pakhowal, Halwara and Kailey revealed that at least 10 to 12 persons in each village was suffering from the ill-effects of the insecticides. Informed villagers revealed that a number of persons had died in the last few years due to the spraying and thus now if any person complains of the symptoms, they rush him to a doctor. Some times the condition of the patient deteriorates to such an extent that he has to be referred to better hospitals. One such patient was admitted in the DMC Hospital last night while two others were admitted in Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital from Pakhowal village in serious condition. According to a Pakhowal based doctor, the clinics in rural areas are flooded with such patients whenever the spraying season commences. Although it happens during the cultivation of other crops, the incidence is highest during the paddy season. He said insecticides which were highly volatile and toxic in nature were harming the human the most. Some villagers said sensing the risk factor, the farmers had to give more labour to the labourers to engage them for this work. The insecticides affected the human beings by getting mixed with the blood by absorption through the lungs. The insecticides, being highly volatile in nature are inhaled by those spraying them and got instantly mixed with the blood. Doctors said the only cure was to inject an antidote of the poison intravenously. The doctors also said the villagers were falling prey to the poisons as they were quite careless in handling these. They resorted to spraying these without wearing face masks. The most of the cases were reported during the noons as these chemicals became more volatile due to the heat and affected people easily. Even the insecticide manufacturing companies had written a warning on the packing stating that these should be sprayed only during the cooler hours i.e, during the mornings and evenings. Moreover, certain farmers used some oils on their skin before spraying the insecticides. The experts said this was a misconception that the layer of oil on skin acted as a barrier for the chemical. The experts said, however, the application of oils on the skin resulted in better absorption of the chemicals which came in contact with the skin. The experts said the broad spectrum insecticides were better as compared to the others as these had lesser volatility and had lesser chances on getting inhaled. The farmers were also advised to wear face masks during spraying and never spray during noon. The farmers were also advised not to start spraying on empty stomach as this
aggravate the problem. |
|
Over 900 phones dead Ludhiana, August 24 Mr Gurpreet Singh Mandiani, general secretary, Circle Akali Jatha, Mullanpur Dakha, said earlier the villagers had sent several complaints to the BSNL officials in Ludhiana that they were not able avail the Internet services in the villages under this exchange due to some fault. However, even though several months had passed since the filing of the complaints, the BSNL officials had not rectified the fault. |
|
Sangat darshan programme Fatehgarh Sahib, August 24 These directions were given at a weekly sangat darshan programme organised in Bachat Bhavan here today while disposing off a complaint regarding the non-availability of some officers in their offices for public. On the long pending complaint of the panchayat regarding the dispute of the site for the community toilets to be constructed in the villages, for which the government grant have already been released, the Deputy Commissioner, deputed ADC (D) to personally visit the village and find the solution to the problem by listening both the parties and going through the record. On a complaint of an old woman resident of Sirhind regarding the construction of illegal wall by her neighbour on municipal land in connivance with the lower staff of the municipal committee, the DC directed the E.O. of the M.C. to personally visit the site immediately and demolish it if he find the construction illegal. He also directed all the Executive Officers of all municipal committees in the district, to strictly check the illegal and unauthorised construction on the MC land. On the complaint of Dharam Dev Singh of Chari Bhari village regarding the illegal encroachments on both sides of the village road and periphery, the DC directed the BDPO to inspect the site and remove the encroachments if established. On the suggestion of Mr Daleep Singh Pandhi, a former minister, to improve the quality of education in government schools and to ensure the re-sanction of discontinued genuine pensions, the DC told the District Education Officer (S) and CDPO to take urgent action in this regard. Among others who attended the sangat darshan programme include Mr B.S. Sidhu, ADC (D), Mr R.S. Brar, A.C. (G) Mr Shammi Kumar, SP (Operation), Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, a former Minister and Jathedar Gurnam Singh, vice-president, District Akali Dal. |
|
Only 10 pc
budget for development: Arora Ludhiana, August 24 These views were expressed by Mr N.K. Arora, Chief Secretary, Punjab. He was delivering a key-note address in the seminar ‘Growth Agenda of Punjab- — Ludhiana in Focus.’ The seminar was organised by the Ludhiana Management Association. He said: “The state had small budget for the development of the infrastructure sector. In fact, only 10 per cent of the budget is available for development as 65 per cent of budget is spent on the salaries and 25 per cent on the interest payments of state loans. So industrialists should not expect any sops.’’ He said due to lack of financial resources the state government was not in a condition to provide even clean drinking water, pollution-free environment or health care services to the people. He blamed the lack of work culture in government departments for all these ills. While talking about the efforts of the state government to improve the situation, he said the
government would build a ring road around Ludhiana and improve infrastructure through the Rs 500 crore Infrastructure Development Fund. Prof
K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, in his lecture on ‘Role of Agriculture in the Development of Industry in Punjab,’ said: ‘‘ Though India has only 2.4 per cent world geographical area, it is supporting 18 per cent of the total world population. Despite 61 million tonnes of food reserves, the country has failed to ensure food to the poor population.’’ He disclosed that India was among the top three nations in the world in production of banana, coconut, milk, wheat, rice and a host of other agricultural and dairy products, but the focus should be shifted to the food processing industry like in Brazil and Philippines, which processed 78 and 73 per cent agro items. However, processing of agriculture items in India was just 1 per cent. On this occasion Mr Suresh Arora, DIG, Ludhiana, Mr S K Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr S S Sandhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana also made their valuable contributions during the seminar. Earlier, Mr. Rajinder Gupta, in his presidential remarks, stressed the need for increase in competitiveness, higher standards in technical education in the state, flexibility in labour laws and coherence between the government and industry while formulating policies to achieve better productivity and efficiency in industry. |
|
AT THE CROSSROADS ENGLISH
and various Indian languages complement each other. I recall an observation by Sir Winston Churchill before a class of undergraduates in 1945. He said an Englishman who knew only his mother tongue was an illiterate person and rightly so. Knowledge of an old language or at least one regional language is necessary for a person to understand his or her own language properly. If he or she also knows English, he or she will see new vistas of thought and expression opening up. Matthew Arnold was not wrong when he said that English literature could be properly evaluated only by critics that were fully conversant with French and German literature at least, if not Greek or Latin literature. I wonder if we can admire, in the right perspective, the poetry of Bhai Vir Singh, Amrita Pritam, Bawa Balwant, Ishwar Chitarkar or Shiv Kumar unless we are acquainted with the works of Kalidasa, Hafiz Shirazi, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Browning, Walt Whitman, Tagore and Subramaniam
Bharati. T.S. Eliot was right in saying that European literature, right from Homer to the present day, formed one continuous whole. In the same way, all regional languages of India and English constitute one ever-growing organism. The most depressing thing is the education policy that intends to divorce literature from English. Literature came into being before the written word. The recitations of Vedas have cast magic spells over the ages. Tulsidasa’s ‘Ramayana’, ‘Heer’ by Warris Shah, ‘Suraj Parkash’ by Santokh Singh and Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali’ can teach a student more about the use of words than any book on communication skills. Imagination, it appears, is being dislodged from the human mind to provide space for the cult of bland information. The sole purpose of such a move at the highest level is to reduce posterity to mere automation that is devoid of the faculty of independent thinking. While it cannot be denied that most rural students find it hard to learn English, the fault lies not with the language, but with the method of teaching. With a view to covering up the inadequacy in the existing methods of teaching, the persons at the helm of affairs introduce after a quarter century a new system of teaching. The days of experimentation are now over. The need is to inculcate in the young minds a love for their mother tongue. The next stage is to learn English, which should be more literature oriented than language oriented. We need a George Orwell of ‘1984’ to tell us what is store for this country in the 21st century. Perhaps in the days to come, information and knowledge, instead of understanding and wisdom, will occupy young minds. In the corridors of these minds will then reign supreme ennui, listlessness, mechanical thinking and mindless conformity. N.
S. Tasneem |
|
Petrol
stations sans security Ludhiana, August 24 The gang of robbers, which struck at the petrol station, was obviously armed with iron rods or with some other conventional weapons as well with which they smashed the heads of their victims. Had the gang possessed a gun or say even a desi katta, it would not have resorted to killing. This correspondent visited some petrol stations on the G.T. Road and in the city and found business going on as usual with no cops or other security personnel around. The owner of a petrol station, whose name is being deliberately withheld for obvious reasons, said that there were no security arrangements at his station against a possible looting attempt. Why didn't they buy a revolver or something for use in an emergency? He said his men were not trained in the handling of firearms. He said that after the looting at Laxmi petrol station on the Ferozepore road last year, the police had provided a couple of armed constables at all petrol stations. But the practice was discontinued after a week or so. The Laxmi petrol station robbery case is yet to be solved. The manager of another petrol station, which also does not have any anti-looting arrangements, opined that even if none of the petrol stations is trained to handle a firearm, the mere fact that a gun exists on the premises would surely discourage possible looters. Meanwhile, the police has failed to make any headway in the double-murder case four days ago. The Senior Superintendent of Police could not be contacted either at his office or at home in spite of repeated attempts by this correspondent in the afternoon. |
|
PET TALK IS the bark of your dog worse than its bite? Does your enthusiasm level fall each time you smell your dog's smile? Bad breath is not only a problem in humans but also in animals. The most common cause of bad breath in pets is excessive calculus and plaque deposits on the teeth. Growth of bacteria, their secretions and deposition of calcium carbonate, form the dental calculi from microbial plaque. The bacteria live and feed in the plaque and produce gum and bone infection, pain, and bad breath. These may lead to chronic infections that are low grade and are often not apparent, but may proceed to heart and kidney infections. Calculus is a crusty collection of food particles, minerals, and bacteria that forms at the teeth-gum borders, eventually leading to gum disease, mouth odours, receding gums, bone destruction and infection. Daily removal of plaque minimises these complications. It is important for you to make brushing a regular part of the pets grooming routine. The teeth may be brushed daily or on alternate days or on weekly basis depending upon the condition of the teeth of your pet. Like humans, the teeth of dogs are classified as incisors, canines, premolars and molars. The most critical area to look for calculus is the fourth premolar to second molar. The surface of teeth towards the tongue is cleaned by the tongue itself. The surface in contact with cheeks is the one that needs constant attention. Good dental care comprises of home care and veterinary help. But only few dogs get either. So make sure that your pet gets the regular care. The mechanical effect of brushing is a significant factor in removing the plaque. Toothbrush training needs a patient approach. Start at a comfortable place, only one to two teeth at a time. You may use a soft but firm brush. Animal toothpastes are available in market but human pastes show good result too. You should check with your vet on what he recommends. If the pet is not comfortable with a brush then you may try using a strip of gauge around your index finger, and once the pet starts to appreciate the routine then shift to a toothbrush. The area to be targeted is the one with crusty deposition along the gums by gently massaging them using a finger while taking care not to harm the gums. Feeding of fibrous diets, chewy toys and raw vegetables may retard the deposition of calculus. With just a little bit of your time you can make a lot of difference to the personality of your pet and save him from discomfort and pain. But if you already have a pet with too much of calculus to be cleaned at home, a visit to your vet's clinic is advised. |
|
Workshop on energy management by CII Ludhiana, August 24 The day-long workshop featured diverse aspects of energy management, including audit methodology, centrifugal pumps, fans and blowers, air compressors, boilers and stem systems, electrical motors and lighting, among others. The faculty comprised of senior technical staff from the CII-Energy Management Cell (EMC). Earlier, welcoming the participants, Mr S.P. Oswal, Chairman, Punjab State Council, CII (Northern region), spoke on the importance of energy conservation practices. He said in the situation of persistent shortage of energy resources and a perennial demand for the same, it had become imperative to effectively utilise and manage energy resources. It would enable not only cost savings, but also ensure that an effective energy management system was established. Industry should be made aware of the latest trends in reducing energy costs, so as to become globally competitive, added Mr
Oswal. |
|
Sikh morcha changes name Ludhiana, August 24 Mr
G.S. Middha, general secretary of the morcha, said in a press release that the morcha had been re-christened as Democratic Sikh Morcha. |
|
Class IV union plans dharna Amloh, August 24 At a meeting held here today, Mr Hari Chand, district president of the Class IV Employees Union, said: ‘‘The government has failed to regularise the services of the part-time employees. Even bonus and dearness allowance (DA) instalment have not been paid to them.” The union has threatened to oppose the ruling party in the elections. It decided to give a memorandum to the Panjab Government through the executive officer in case the demands were not accepted. It warned that rallies and dharnas would be organised at the district headquarters. |
|
Harnam
Dass Johar Ludhiana, August 24 |
Bid to grab land; 3 booked Ludhiana, August 24 According to a copy of the FIR received here today, the incident took place on the evening of August 21, when the complainant, Rakesh Kumar, along with a friend Shiv Charan Sharma had gone to Baba Jeewan Singh Basti to see his land. However, he was shocked to see that three persons namely Murrad Masih, Kashmira Singh and a woman Darshan Kaur were busy in construction of the hut on his plot. He said when he challenged them, the said persons fled from the scene. Later the police recovered some building material from the plot and a case was registered. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
