R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

• A model library of newspapers
• WHO honour for ‘pulse polio’ doctor
• Camps to treat infertility

PUNJAB

AMLOH
POLICE-PUBLIC MEET: Separate teams of police have been formed to check the whereabouts of tenants living in different wards of the town. The exercise is being undertaken to check the crime as in most of the cases, investigations revealed the involvement of migrant labourers and domestic servants. This was stated by Mr Inder Mohan Singh, DSP, Amloh, in his first meeting with councillors, political leaders and businessmen in the local police station on Monday evening. Inspector Balvinder Singh, SHO, appealed residents to cooperate with the police. Mr Rajpal Garg, president of the BJP unit, Amloh Circle, Jathedar Kahla Singh, president SHSAD, Amloh Circle, Mr Baldev Singh Aulukh, president, Municipal Council, Amloh, Mr Dilbag Rai Sood, former vice-president, Municipal Council, Mr Jiwan Puri, Councillor, Mr Manjit Dalla and Mr Lekh Raj Gandhi, Youth Congress leader, also expressed their views.

BATHINDA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local unit of Seva Bharti: president — Mr Y.R. Handa; vice-presidents — Mr Ashok Kumar and Mr L.D. Gupta; general secretary — Mr Kamal Garg; organising secretary — Mr I.D. Pal; joint secretaries — Mr Ram Kumar and Dr Hari Ram and treasurer — Mr Madan Gopal Jindal.

LABOURER LOOTED: Babu Ram, a labourer, was robbed of money and other items at the local railway station a few days ago. The incident came to light on Wednesday when Babu Ram, who was admitted to the Civil Hospital became conscious. He said a man and a woman had offered some eatables to him after which he became unconscious. A social organisation found him in an injured condition from near Haziratan Gurdwara and admitted him to the hospital.

HOSHIARPUR
THIKRI PEHRA: Mr Kirandeep Singh, District Magistrate here, has ordered all able-bodied persons in rural areas to perform “thikri pehra” in the respective areas outside their villages. The order had been issued keeping in view the recent incidents of looting throughout the district. The orders will remain in force till May 18. Mr Kirandeep Singh issued the orders at a meeting of the District Sainik Board to review the welfare works being done for service and ex-servicemen held here on Monday.

KAPURTHALA
LAMBARDAR REMOVED: Kanwar Imtiaz, poet and journalist, was removed from the post of Lambardar of Thigli village falling under the subdivision by the Deputy Commissioner. In a press note issued here on Tuesday, Mr Rakesh Kumar Verma, Deputy Commissioner, said Imtiaz had been removed from the post following an inquiry into the allegation that he was neither a resident of the village nor owned property in the village.

LITERACY CAMPAIGN: Mr Rakesh Kumar Verma, Deputy Commissioner, has said the district had been divided into 625 clusters to eradicate illiteracy in the district. Presiding over a meeting of the District Literacy Samiti in the local Yojna Bhavan on Monday, Mr Verma said a survey had been carried out in the district in order to identify illiterate persons in the age group of 15 to 35 years.

KHARAR
INSPECTION: Mr Sukhwinder Singh Gill, SDM inspected schools and four government offices and found six employees absent. Mr Gill inspected Government Primary School at Majara village and found the in charge of the school absent. He also inspected the Sub-tehsil office, BDO office, Block education Office, CDPO office as Majri village and found six employees absent from duty. Mr Gill said he had written to the Deputy Commissioner Ropar, for taking suitable action.

LUDHIANA
VISIT: The Chairperson of the Red Cross Hospital Welfare Section, Ms Sunil Aggarwal, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, on Wednesday visited the local Civil Hospital along with the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, and other social workers. She distributed fruits and biscuits among poor and needy patients. Mr S.P. Malik, Executive Secretary of the district branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, in a press statement said during the last financial year, Rs 4,61,201 were spent for financial assistance to needy and poor persons and Rs 3,50,371 were spent on the medicine and treatment of poor and needy patients.

PROGRAMME: Davinder Gill Film Production is celebrating the birthday of Dadasaheb Phalke, on April 30 at Haibowal Kalan, Chudpur road. A cultural programme will be presented. Dhanna Singh Rangeela, Chattar Singh Parwana, Surinder Sonia, Karmdip Virdi, Bhupinder Bhindi, Manju and Gurmail Rahi will participate. Mr Darshan Singh Shivalik will inaugurate it, while Mr Gurdarshan Singh Khalsa will be the Chief Guest.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Link Road, Haibowal Kalan Association: chairman — Mr Rakesh Chaddha; president — Mr Rakesh Sapna; vice-presidents — Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr Ashwani Kumar; and general secretary — Mr Sukhjit Singh Sandhu.

BOOKS DISTRIBUTED: Students of Government High School, Shahpur road, received free books, notebooks, pens and slates during an annual function held here on Wednesday. On the occasion, three meritorious students of each class were given shields by Ms Pritpal Kaur, District Education Officer (Secondary Wing), who was the chief guest. A family of the area distributed free uniforms among the students. Ms Joginder Kaur, Principal, thanked the members of the Parent Teacher Association for conducting the function. Mr Rakesh Prashar, president, and other members of the association, including Mr Dina Nath Bajaj and Mr Rajinder Kumar, were present.

CAMP: Nearly 150 students of Kundan Vidya Mandir took lessons at the Gau Seva Siksha camp that went under way at Gobind Gaudham on the Humbran road, here on Wednesday. Mr Ashok Duggal, Secretary (Finance), UP Government, is also attending the camp in his official capacity. He will study some gaushalas in the state so that cow shelters on the same pattern could be set in UP. He also participated in the cow-worshipping ceremony that marked the beginning of the camp.

MEDICAL CAMP: A two-day free medical check-up camp organised at Darshan Academy, Bhamian Kalan, by Dr K.S. Gill Memorial Charitable Trust concluded on Tuesday. A team of doctors headed by Dr G.S. Gill, a former Deputy Director, Family and Welfare Department, examined students and patients of the area. General health check-up and dental check-up was conducted and free medicines were distributed, said Ms Amrit Mangat, Principal, Darshan Academy.

YOGA CAMP: A yoga-cum-meditation camp will be organised in the memory of Dr B.L. Kapoor at Dr B.L. Kapoor Memorial Hospital from April 26 to May 5. Mr K.L. Malhotra, secretary of the hospital, in a press note said here on Tuesday that a Mumbai-based yogi, Shreeniwas, would teach ‘yogic kriyas’ to avoid bye-pass surgery, management of high and low blood pressure, tension and stress. The patients suffering from asthma, spondylitis, piles etc could also benefit from the classes. The camp would be inaugurated by Mr Rakesh Pandey, State Minister for Printing and Stationary, he said.

HONOURED: The Lions Club, Ludhiana North, held a meeting at Malhotra Mahal, Dugri, here on Monday. Mr J.P.S. Saluja, spokesperson of the club, said the meeting was presided over by Mr Rajiv Lochan Mahajan. In the meeting Dr Wahegurupal Singh and Dr Ajay Pal Singh were honoured for their services to humanity. 

MALERKOTLA
MAN KILLS WIFE: Joginder Singh of Bhurthla Mander village killed his wife Baldev Kaur by hitting her on her head with an iron rod while she was sleeping on Tuesday. According to DSP Rajbachhan Singh Sandhu, the reason for the murder was family dispute. The police has registered a case.

MOGA
COUPLE KILLED: Deepak and his wife Rashmi, belonging to Nihalsinghwala village, about 25 km from here, were killed while their teenaged son was seriously injured when the car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a tractor-trolley near Singhanwala village, 7 km from here, on the Moga-Kot Kapura road. A case has been registered.

SUICIDE: A married woman, Lakhbir Kaur, allegedly committed suicide at her residence in Alamwala Kalan village under Baghapurana police station, in the district on Tuesday. According to a report, the deceased was married to Sukhjinder Singh a few months back. The police has registered a case against her in-laws and sent her body for a post-mortem examination.

ANIMAL FAT SEIZED: A police party led by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Varinder Kumar, has seized several tins of animal fat from some shops in raids at Baghapurana town in the district. The animal fat was reportedly being used in pure ghee and by certain hoteliers for preparing food.

PATIALA
SEMINAR: A national-level seminar on “Integrating human values in technical education” and the annual convention of the Indian Society of Technical Education will be organised at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, on April 26. Dr D.S. Hira, Principal of the college, said Dr S.S. Johi, Vice-Chairman, Planning Commission, Punjab, would be the chief guest and Dr H.P. Sinha, Executive Secretary, ISTE, New Delhi, would preside over the function.

CLEANLINESS DRIVE: The “Clean Patiala” campaign was launched at Our Lady Of Fatima Convent Secondary School here on Wednesday. Students held a procession from the school premises to Leela Bhavan carrying placards and banners depicting environmental pollution and methods to control it. The school authorities have chalked out several programmes to motivate the students for the campaign.

OFFICE-BEARERS:- The following have been elected office-bearers of the Punjab Draughtsmen Association (IB unit, Patiala): president — Mr Ravinder Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Ravinder Singh; secretary — Ms Manjit Kaur; treasurer — Mr Gurdev Singh and auditor — Mr Jai Hind. 

QUESTION PAPER: Students of BA III from S.S.D. Girls College, Bathinda, have appealed to the Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, to grant them at least 20 grace marks. The students claim that the English compulsory question paper was not set according to the prescribed syllabus.

PHAGWARA
BURGLARY: The house of a bank Manager, Mr Husan Lal, at Green Park here was burgled on Tuesday. The burglars took away two golden rings, 25-tola silver jewellery, 40 suits and other costly articles.

SAMRALA
HOUSE GUTTED: At Madpur village, 5 km from here, due to fire the house of Mr Paramjeet Singh was gutted on Tuesday. The cause of fire is said to be litting of stove by his daughter. Mr Bhupinder Singh, sarpanch, demanded compensation. 

MEETING: Prof Hamdardvir Nausheharvi, a noted Punjabi writer, has appreciated the sacking of the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, and also registered the corruption case against Ravi Sidhu, Chairman of the PPSC. He also urged the Chief Minister to hold inquiries against another corrupt officials and former ministers.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CAMP CLOSED: The local Civil Surgeon, Dr S.L. Kaushik, said an illegal health camp being held at Saunda village was closed. He said on receiving information about the camp, the Community Health Centre in charge, Dr K. K. Chaudhary, was sent to the village and the camp was stopped. He said villagers were explained about the consequences of an illegal camp. He said according to rules, such camps should be held only after the permission of the Civil Surgeon and vaccines should be administered in the presence of an MBBS doctor.

RESENTMENT: A meeting of the Citizens Welfare, Association, Mahesh Nagar (East), was held at which residents expressed resentment over the house tax bills. Mr Vijay Sharma, secretary, said the residents had also demanded the abolition of fire tax. He said if the government treated these colonies as unauthorised, then it had no right to impose the house tax.

EKTA DIVAS: The Sant Nirankari Mandal, Ambala cantonment, observed Wednesday as “Manav Ekta Divas.” A number of programmes were held to mark the day, including a Seva Dal rally and a satsang programme.

POSTAGE STAMP: A commemorative postage stamp on the completion of 150 years of Indian Railways is available at different post offices in Haryana. The design of the stamp and the miniature sheet show the first train moving away in the distance on its journey to Thane. The First Day cover is an artist’s impression of the old Byculla Railway Station located on the track connecting Bombay to Thane. A Station Master’s watch showing the time when the train commenced its historical journey from Bombay is part of the design.

BHIWANI
2 KILLED: One person reportedly died in a road accident near Sanga village on Tuesday. According to reports, Jai Bhagwan, a resident of Durga Colony here, was killed when he lost control of the motorcycle which he was riding. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital here in a serious condition. He later succumbed to his injuries. In another incident, Bahadur Singh of Lajpat Nagar here was killed after he consumed wrong medicines. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital but could not survive.

KURUKSHETRA
FLOOD RELIEF CAMP: A five-day state-level flood relief training camp, organised by the Haryana Revenue Department, was inaugurated by the Commissioner, Ambala Division, Mr Maha Singh, at the Brahmsarover here on Monday. Over 100 trainees and training officers from various districts in the state are participating.

KAMBOJ SABHA: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Kamboj Sabha: president — Mr Didar Singh Kamboj; vice-president — Mr Joginder Singh Nagla; secretary — Mr Surinder Kamboj; organising secretary — Mr Malkit Singh Pehowa; and treasurer — Mr Ishwar Singh.

BANNED: The District Magistrate, Mr Abhilaksh Likhi, has promulgated Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 with immediate effect banning the setting on fire wheat fields after thrashing the same with combine harvester till May 5. He said any person found guilty of violating the order would be liable for punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: The Sant Nirankari Mission here, in collaboration with the local Regional Hospital and Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, Shimla, organised a blood donation camp in which 92 persons donated blood. The zonal in charge of the mission, Mr Teg Singh Chaudhary, and the local organiser, Mr Harnam Nadda, said here on Tuesday that as many as 40 such blood donation camps had been held in various towns by the mission.

MASS DHARNA: The Berry Darolan Pul Nirman Sangharsha Samiti here has warned the government that the samiti will organise mass dharna and demonstration and gherao the District Collectorate here on May 15 if the government does not lay the foundation stone of the bridge over the Sutlej here which has been causing inconvenience to the residents of the area.

CHAMBA
RELIEF DISTRIBUTED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Anand, said here on Tuesday, a relief of Rs 5 lakh had been disbursed to 18 families whose houses were burnt at a conflagration at Makkan village in Churah subdivision of the district bordering Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 29. The Deputy Commissioner said the victims had also been provided nine tents, nine tarpaulins, 59 blankets and clothes worth Rs 18,000, besides free ration.

NAHAN
NAVRATRA FAIR: A 15-day-long Navratra fair at the Shri Bala Sundri shrine at Trilokpur, 22 km from here, is going on peacefully. Mr Rakesh Sharma, SDM, Nahan, and member secretary of the temple committee, said here on Tuesday that during the past nine days over two lakh pilgrims visited the shrine and offered Rs 18 lakh, 244.6 gram of gold and 19.61 kg of silver.

SOLAN
MEETING: In view of the ongoing statewide strike by the secretaries and salesmen of co-operative societies, entrusted with the job of distributing essential commodities under the Public Distribution System, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bharat Khera, convened a meeting of officers concerned here on Tuesday. The meeting decided that in case the strike was not called off before April 30 the managing committees of the societies would be authorised to lift stocks of foodgrains directly from the depots of the Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation (HPSCSC).

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

A model library of newspapers

SINCE Haryana’s inception Mukund Lal National College, Yamunanagar, has kept copies of The Tribune well bound and stacked in a chronological order. Since the state’s birth on November 1, 1966, every issue of this daily is available to anybody without the need to search for it.

The college Principal, Dr Ramesh Kumar, claimed there might not be any other institution where copies of the daily spread over 36 years are available for information, research or reference. He said this novel idea given by a former principal, Dr Tilak Raj Chadha, who headed the institution for about 25 years. He said this section had been created in the library, is the biggest for any college in the state. There were about 1 lakh books on its shelves.

Dr Ramesh Kumar stated it was an open library which receives 24 newspapers and 112 journals and magazines and has a large reading room, a well-equipped audio and video section and a video theatre. There was also a book bank with about 60,000 books. Books were issued to the students for the whole session. Meritorious students were allowed to borrow as many books as they required. The reference section was vest with 63,000 types of encyclopaedias.

Dr Ramesh Kumar pointed out that computerisation of the library was going on at a fast pace. This would enable the college to compete with university libraries and make it one of the best places of learning in the state.

WHO honour for ‘pulse polio’ doctor

Dr Vinay Sharma has recently been honoured for his achievements in the medical field not by an ordinary or volunteer (social service) society but by the World Health Organisation.

The WHO conferred a certificate of merit on him commending his services in the medical profession.

Dr Vinay Sharma, a child specialist, has been working as a medical officer at Civil Hospital, Pathankot. He worked hard and contributed generously to the polio eradication programme. He has been the leading light of the pulse polio programme since 1995 for which several social organisations have been honoured.

Camps to treat infertility

Amritsar is the only place in the North where a team of renowned gynae-endoscopic surgeons of Bombay are regularly conducting free camps for childless couples.

A microsurgery camp for childless couples is being held from April 24 to 26 at Adlakha Hospital, Race Course Road, Amritsar.

With micro-endoscopic gynae surgery, blocked fallopian tubes, polycystic ovaries, fibroids uteruses and endometriosis are treated. Such obstacles are one of the major causes for infertility. Blocked fallopian tubes are treated with laser.

Endoscopic microsurgery is the latest way to treat infertility, needing a short stay in hospital, fewer medicines, quick post-operative recovery and minor blood loss. Dr Sharda Adlakha, Dr Neeta Warty and Dr Rakesh Sinha of Bombay will carry out the operations.

Contributed by Ashwani Dutta, Bharat Bhushan Dogra and A.L. Adlakha.